The Luxurious Life of the Rat- Part Two
Steve had taken surprisingly well to Minty, and, come to think of it, so had Cameron. They had had her for almost a month now, and Steve had been exercising more often then normal. House told Cameron that he was showing off to Minty, and that only good could come from her being here. Cameron complained saying she still didn't like rats, but House knew she was lying; he could always tell.
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"Greg, could you feed the rats and get in the car. We're already late"
"Fashionably late" He corrected her
"You don't show up 'fashionably late' for work"
"I do"
"Well, I don't. You don't need to play with them every morning. Just put the food in the dishes and get in the car"
"I'm coming; I'm coming" Steve whined a bit as House walked out the door, causing him to say "Steve- daddy will be home soon. You have fun with Minty, and don't worry; your mother is just paranoid about being early for things"
"Greg!"
"What? It's a healthy paranoia"
"Get in the car. Now"
"Don't get your panties in a bundle" she pursed her lips "I've always wanted to say that. Actually, I wouldn't mind if the bundle was on my bedroom floor…"
"Greg!"
"It doesn't have to be the bedroom"
"Shut up and get in the car"
"Fun-killer"
"There's plenty of fun in me. Just not before work"
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House was in a very good mood that afternoon. Wilson had informed him that Julie was having a party, and he wanted House and Cameron to come. House had asked if 'the kids' could come along, and Wilson had humored him
"Sorry, there's going to be alcohol. I know a good babysitter though"
"Nah, I'll just bring them to Chase's. He can handle them for a night, don't you think?"
"Chase with kids? Maybe if he had instructions…"
"Cool. The party's at your place?"
"Yup."
"Can Allison and I borrow your room?"
"Greg, I know you love her and all, but this is a fancy thing. You can't just go around-"
"No, no, no. I need to give her something, and I thought that the party would be a good chance, but if there are lots of people… it'll be uncomfortable."
"Go ahead"
"Thanks"
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"Chase!" House called his duckling over from where he was standing
"Yes, Dr. House?"
"Allison and I are going to a party, and I need you to watch the kids." Chase was shocked. Kids? They've only been together just over a year! How did Cameron hide it? Wait- there are more then one? Chase's mind was blurred with questions
"Now," House continued, "you have to give them dinner at six, and they have to be in bed by nine, unless Barbara wants to watch TV. Cameron doesn't think Steve is mature enough to stay up late. In that case, she should be in bed by ten. I'm trusting you with this, Chase, so don't screw it up." Chase nodded nervously. He didn't know how to take care of kids.
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Cameron's pager went off while she was in the clinic. It read 'Emergency-Kids in trouble'. She panicked, and then thought, what kids? Then she remembered how House was always calling them his kids. She rushed to his office.
"Are they okay?"
"They are now, but they won't be when they go to Chase's"
"What are you talking about?"
"Dinner. Tonight. You, me, Julie, Wilson, and their friends. Dress nice. It's more of a party"
"Greg I can't go. You know I'm having dinner with my parents"
"Cancel"
"I can't cancel! They're my parents! We've been planning this for weeks!"
"Look- make up an excuse or something. You need to be there" he had never used this tone before, and it scared her
"G-Greg… What's wrong?"
"Nothing! There is absolutely nothing wrong as long as you come to Wilson's. Trust me, it'll be worth it…" she nodded and went back to the clinic, still slightly frightened. After she left, he added "I hope."
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Come on, Come on. Hurry up! House waited for Cameron to come out of their bedroom, and was getting worried. She always wanted to be on time, and the one time he did too, she was taking forever to get ready.
"Allison!"
"Relax" she said as she emerged from the door. She wore a pretty red dress, similar to the one she wore to the charity poker thing. She was holding a necklace, and she came up to him and held it out. "Could you put it on for me? I can't get the clasp"
"You look beautiful" was all he could say as he lifted her hair to put on the necklace
"Thank you. You look very handsome. Now, do we need to drop them off at Chase's, or is he coming here?"
"We're dropping them off there"
"Okay. Just let me grab my coat" She did so and he grabbed the cage, carrying it to the car.
"Allison, we need to hurry!" He said as he got out of the car outside Chase's apartment building
"Relax, Greg. This is one of those things you can be 'fashionably late' for." She pressed the call button and Chase answered "Chase, it's Cameron. Can I come in?"
The voice on the other end was hesitant "Uh… sure." The buzzer sounded and Cameron opened the door, holding it for House and the cage.
"You don't have to carry that. I'll take it for you; it must be hard with the cane"
"No. I'll be fine. Wouldn't want to got that dress all rat-smelling, now, would we?" she laughed and answered.
"At least we don't have to go up stairs" she knocked on one of the doors, and Chase opened it.
"Hi Cameron… oh, hi House. Where are the children?" House gestured to the cage he was holding
"Greg! You didn't tell him they were rats?"
"No, he didn't." She gently slapped his arm
"I'm sorry Chase. Oh, shoot! We're going to be unfashionably late if we don't get moving. I'm assuming Greg gave you directions, Chase?"
"Err… yes, he did. He mentioned TV- your rats watch television?" House had already started towards the front door, so Cameron had to answer the question
"Yes- Greg put him portable television in there, and Minty like to watch General Hospital re-runs. Steve should just curl up on the bed"
"Minty?"
"Yes. Barbara Minty; don't ask. Look I need to get going. Thank you so much for doing this!" She gave him a friendly peck on the cheek before running after House.
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"Greg!" Julie answered the door and greeted them cheerfully. "Is this Dr. Cameron?"
"Yes, I'm Dr. Allison Cameron. Please, call me Allison" Cameron held out her hand and Julie took it.
"It's very nice to meet you; James was right about you"
"How so?"
"You are very pretty, too pretty for Greg in my opinion"
"Thank you… he said that?"
"Mmm hmm" Julie nodded, so Cameron assumed this meant yes.
About half an hour went by, and they still hadn't eaten. Cameron was quite content sitting and talking to Julie. House, however, did not like this. He needed Cameron alone, and Julie wouldn't let him do that.
"Greg" Wilson said, trying to get House to listen to him. House's head snapped in his direction.
"Yeah?"
"What are you planning on giving her?" House leant over and whispered something in Wilson's ear. Wilson's face was a hilarious sight; he was smiling like he had won a million dollars, and he looked completely shocked and horrified at the same time. "I'll tell Julie. That'll pull her away from Cameron long enough for you to grab her, don't you think"
"Thanks man"
"No problem" Wilson said, and stood up and patted House's back twice.
"… and then he looked over at the bird and-"Julie was cut short by Wilson tapping her shoulder "Just a minute, dear, I'm telling a story"
"I'm sure it can wait just a second. I need to tell you something"
"Fine. Take off that tie, I showed you a nice one this morning."
"You gave this to me"
"No I didn't. It's hideous. Looks like something I'd give my dad" Cameron had learned from the beginning of Julie's story that she didn't like her father very much.
"I'll change it later. I need to talk to you"
"Okay, okay. Allison, dear, I'm sorry. Will you please excuse us?"
"No problem." Cameron was barely done saying this when House came and grabbed her arm. "Greg- what are you doing?" She would have yelled if there weren't so many people present. He dragged her into Wilson's bedroom, and she shock her head "No, Greg! We're at a party! At Wilson's!"
"That's not what I want. Well, not at the moment anyway. Sit down on the bed"
"Why?"
"You talk too much. Just listen, and do what I tell you"
"Okay…" she sat and could have sworn he muttered something like 'Steve's gonna kill me'.
"Allison Cameron. Will you marry me?" He pulled a box out of his pocket and opened it. He waited a bit, and when he got no response, he told her "This is the part where you kiss me and say something like" –he pathetically imitated her voice, just like he had in the pet shop- "Yes, Greg. Of course I'll marry you! I love you Greg!"
She smiled a bit, then her smile grew to the size of the Cheshire Cat's smile. "Of course I'll marry you Greg! Nothing could make me happier!" She kissed him passionately before he pushed her away.
"No, no, no! Sit down!" She sat like a well trained dog. "Okay. First off, you can't kiss me until I put the ring on your finger. Second, you have to say 'I love you Greg'. It always goes that way."
"Well, can you put it on then, before I have to break the tradition again?" He gingerly put it on her finger, and it fit her perfectly. "I love you Greg" she whispered, before kissing him again with, if possible, more passion then before.
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Steve curled up in the bed at precisely 9:00 that night. Chase looked at the rats curiously. Minty was nudging the portable TV set with her nose. Chase assumed she wanted him to turn it on, so he pulled it out of the cage and did just that. He flipped through the channels until he found a General Hospital re-run. Well, he assumed it was a re-run. He didn't watch it but he didn't think House would miss a new one for some party at Wilson's. The rat sat on her couch and stared at the television.
"That is so weird" Chase said aloud, and the rat looked at him with an insulted expression. "Sorry. I've just never seen a rat watch television before." He couldn't believe he was apologizing to a rat… and of his own free will, too.
