Chapter 1

"No! I won't go," House shouted, staring Cuddy down.

She sat at her desk, exasperated. Blinking tiredly, she retorted, "That's too bad. It's going to be a lot harder to drag you to Las Angeles against your will, which I will do if you refuse."

"I've been shot! I'm only a doctor, but I assume that means I need to recover," he sneered. He hated doctor conventions. The hotels were great, but it meant that you actually had to spend time with other doctors. The only worse alternative in House's opinion would be to spend time with patients.

"You were shot six months ago. So was another doctor who will be there. Do you know how many internationally famous doctors will be there? You're one of them. Go."

House shook his head vehemently, saying, "You know who will be there. I can't stand those two. They both have egos large enough to fill the state they live in. No wonder they always have patients," he seethed. "Their greatness makes me sick, too."

Cuddy smirked as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Pompous doctors. Huh," she said, "it's a good thing we don't have any of those in this hospital."

House knew he was losing, so he thought he better get something out of it while he still could. "One condition. My team goes with me and I get two weeks out of clinic duty."

His boss sighed as she consented, "Deal. You'll be there an entire week starting this Friday."

House nodded as he turned to walk out of the room. "One more thing," he said, shifting his head back to look at her. "My hooker bill gets sent to the hospital. I hear they're something else in LA."

Cuddy shooed him out with her hand. "Get out." She waited to smile until he shut the door.

TBC

Chapter 2

House left Cuddy's office, stewing. He was glad to get out of clinic duty for two weeks, but the pain of the week to come was almost unbearable. House hated world-famous doctors, and he especially hated the two he would have to see. They were cocky, alpha males to the extreme, and handsome. They had nurses and doctors, hell any woman with two eyes, eating from the palm of their hand. House could flirt a nurse into something, but they didn't fall all over him just because he stood there.

Secretly, his stomach felt tingly from butterflies at the thought of spending a week with Cameron in a hotel, but he also despised the idea of her being infatuated by them. He had threatened Cuddy into allowing his team to go so that he wouldn't be swallowed up by the crowd alone. He didn't feel comfortable in large groups, and he'd be damned before he was the only uncomfortable one.

Wilson came up and started walking with him. "So, you're going to this LA thing, too, right?" House asked without even looking at him. He didn't want his friend to see his nervousness.

Wilson glanced at him questioningly. "Cuddy got you to go this year?" he asked. "How?"

"She's buying my hookers."

"What about those that shall not be named?" Wilson asked, bracing himself.

"I plan to torment them the entire week with brazen comments and sarcasm. Sound like a mature and psychologically sound idea?"

Wilson smiled. "You really don't like them, do you?"

House's face scrunched incredulously. "Do you know that they actually call that guy Dr. McDreamy? Euthanasia should never be outlawed. He needs to be put out."

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Meredith Grey: No matter how many years of school you take. No matter the amount of books you read and knowledge you attain. You're never ready for Life. It pushes you and pulls you until you just give in and take it.

It was pouring again outside of Seattle Grace Hospital. Miranda Bailey watched the drops fall from the large windows on the indoor balcony as she waited for her interns. She saw them scurrying in a huddle towards her. "Good news people. The Chief is rewarding us with a trip to LA."

"Why?" George asked innocently. He was excited to go to LA. Callie and he had broken up about a month ago and he needed something to take his mind away from it.

"Doctors Convention," Bailey replied. "All the allegedly smart people in one place to talk about smart things. I'll basically be there to supervise your rambunctious butts since you can't be trusted for more than about eighteen hours. We'll be there a week. Train leaves in three days." Bailey left them after giving them their assignments for the day.

"We're going by train? Wouldn't it be easier to fly?" George asked, his eyebrows scrunched.

"It was a figure of speech, Bambi," Christina smirked. Patting him on the head, she added, "Try and keep up."

Meredith fell into step with Christina. "This will be my first weekend away with Derrick," she told her friend. It had been six months since she had slept with a married McDreamy. He finally left Addison, and went back to Meredith, but Addison had yet to leave the hospital. In fact, the chief had promoted her to head of the OBGYN and Pediatrics Wards.

"Well, that will be fun," Christina droned. "If the tops of the top are going, then you know the ex-Mrs. McDreamy is going to."

Meredith winced. "Damn it."

TBC

Chapter 3

House walked into the conference room, finding Cameron alone at the table. Passing her, he limped to the coffee machine and poured himself a cup. He got her one, too.

Cameron looked up, surprised, when he handed her the coffee. "Thanks," she stammered.

"What are you doing?" He sat down across from her. House forced himself not to stare at her.

She was near contemptuous. "I'm reading. We have no patient, remember?"

He sighed. "We have no patient because we're leaving tomorrow, remember?" he said snidely.

"A trip to LA with you. What fun," she said sarcastically.

House smiled. "It will be if you have dinner with me."

He had said it so quietly, she thought she hadn't heard him right. "What?" she gasped.

House leaned over the table. "I already have reservations made."

She did not know what to say, so he kept going. "Make sure you're dressed like a model. Maybe we'll score free food."

This time, Cameron opened her mouth to say something, but Foreman and Chase busted into the room. "You'll never guess who's going to this thing," Chase said excitedly.

"Derrick Shepherd and Preston Burke." House replied, seemingly bored with the whole topic.

Chase's shoulders hunched as he stood there deflated. House cursed under his breath as he saw Cameron's face light up. She exclaimed, "Are you serious? Shepherd is the best neurosurgeon in the country. And Burke is almost a sure bet to win Chief at Seattle Grace when the current one retires."

"Oh, please," House whined. "They're surgeons! You can't find anyone more annoying and egocentric than a surgeon."

Chase, Cameron, and Foreman just stared at him, barely containing their laughter. House rolled his head in frustration. "Go do your jobs."

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Burke found Shepherd in the lobby of Seattle Grace. He put his hands on his hips, his eyes darting around observing the people in the hospital. "House is coming to the convention this year."

Derrick Shepherd rolled his eyes. "Oh, no. Gregory House?" he asked. When Burke nodded, he added, "Can there be anyone more obnoxious than that diagnostician? He would hit on Addison every time we saw him."

Burke laughed softly. He was anticipating a week away with Cristina. Ever since the shooting, he never felt like the man he had before. Burke wanted to prove to Cristina that he could be. Deep down, maybe he hoped she could prove it to him.

Derrick scratched the back of his head. "So what are we going to do?"

Burke blinked his thoughts of Cristina away. "About House?" he asked. Chuckling, he added, "We'll do what everyone does with Greg House. Hand him some Vicodin and step back."

Chapter 4

Meredith Grey was getting dressed Friday morning. Derrick's arms came up behind her, pulling her to him. He nuzzled her neck, growling lightly. She smiled, lifting her hands to his head. "Good morning," she purred.

Derrick kissed her shoulder, swaying her side to side. "Are you ready to go?"

She turned to face him, putting her arms around his waist. "With you? Always."

They went down stairs to meet an expecting George and Izzie. George and Derrick dragged the women's bags to the car. They had planned to all drive to the airport together. "What do you have in these bags?" George asked, hidden under Izzie's suitcase on his back.

She sighed. "We're going to be in Las Angeles for a week, George. I need something to wear."

"The Gap's entire inventory is just not something to wear." George whined. Meredith and Derrick chuckled at the scene. They were all relieved that Izzie was starting to heal from Denny's death. She had come back to work about three months ago. The Chief had allowed it, but gave her stipulations. For the longest time, Izzie was just functioning, so it was good to see her laugh and tease George.

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Foreman, Chase, and Cameron drove together to the airport. They checked their bags and waited for Wilson and House to show up.

"You asked her out?" Wilson asked animatedly.

House didn't want to talk about it. "Yes," he replied, exhaling a long breath. "I made reservations for dinner. That's it."

Wilson raced to keep up with House, who had persuaded him into carrying both their bags because of his leg. "Why now?"

House limped steadily toward the bag check. "Because dinner with Cameron means two hours less of the surgeons from hell."

"Right," Wilson said dryly, "that's all it is. You like her. And you've finally, somehow, grown up enough to tell her."

Wilson and House finally walked up to the other three. Barely acknowledging them, House kept walking. "Let's get this over with."

As luck would have it, House and Cameron sat on the plane together. House had the window seat. He looked out the window. Cameron took a deep breath as she stared at him. "Is this a date?"

His head swung around to Cameron. Acting glib, he glanced around the plane. "No. It's a flight." Conspiratorially, he leaned closer and whispered, "But if you want, we could join the Mile High Club."

Cameron didn't budge. Frowning, she said, "You know I meant dinner."

House looked down. "Yes. I was hoping that it was."

Confusion clouded her green eyes. "What's changed since our last date? Do you think I no longer have the need to nurse you back to health or have your standards lowered?

House shook his head, a small, frustrated smile on his lips. She wasn't going to let this go. "You're not the one who's changed. Wilson told me I like to be miserable. I don't want him to be right."

He looked deeply in her eyes. His glowed warmly, full of meaning. Then he turned his head back around and stared out the window. Cameron didn't push it further for once.

She rested her head and tried to take a nap.

Meanwhile, Foreman, Chase, and Wilson sat together in the middle aisle. "Drs. Preston Burke and Derrick Shepherd," Chase said, shaking his head in awe. "I can't wait."

Foreman gave him a sideways glance. He smirked, "I'd rather see the female doctors. Have you heard about Addison Shepherd? House said she's a twelve year-old's dream doctor. "

Wilson sighed. "Sorry, Foreman. She's married."

Foreman's brow furrowed. "No, she's not. They got separated about six months ago."

Wilson shifted back in his chair with a smile. Addison was a Montgomery again. That was good news.

TBC

Chapter 5

House, Wilson, and the underlings stepped out of the taxis in front of the hotel. They went into the lobby and found their sleeping arrangements at the front desk.

"Apparently someone thought it would be fun to mix up the East coast and West coast hospitals," House told the gang as he learned that he had to share a room with Derrick Shepherd. Wilson was paired with Burke. Foreman with someone named George O'Malley, and Chase with another no-name called Alex Karev. Cameron was going to share with Isobel Stevens. "We're East Coast, man. Where's Puff Daddy when you need him?" House asked.

The doctors of Seattle Grace had beaten them there. Most of them were coming down the grand staircase of the hotel to meet them. All of the boys of Princeton Plainsboro noticed Izzie first. "Now that was what I was talking about," House told Cameron. "If you look like her tonight, like a model. We will so get free stuff."

Chase's eyes bugged. "She is a model," he exclaimed. "I remember seeing her half-naked on the cover of…" His words trailed off as he noticed that they were staring at him, snickering. "I read the articles," he countered.

"I call dibs," Foreman said.

"You can't call dibs on a woman!" Chase cried. "Especially that one."

Foreman motioned to Meredith. "Why don't you go for her friend?" he told Chase. "The one with stringy hair and attitude. I'm sure you could manage her a lot easier."

House chuckled. "Oh, here comes Pissing Contest #5,432. Who do you think will win?"

Cameron smirked. "Girl like her won't be able to resist Chase's winning smile."

House tapped his cane against the floor. "I've got a fifty that says Foreman has it in the bag."

"Why?" Cameron laughed. "Are you planning to insert another inappropriate race joke here?"

He gave a lopsided smile. "No," he said. "Remember what I told you about pretty doctors."

She glared a little at him. "That they're screwed up and damaged?"

"Exactly," he said proudly. "She's got double the damage. That chick must have paid for medical school through modeling, which means she must have been poor. Screwed up and poor. She'll go for the bad boy. This one's Foreman's."

Wilson interjected. "I'll bet a hundred they both go home empty-handed."

All this time, Chase and Foreman stared at Izzie, barely listening to the conversation.

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George, Cristina, Meredith, Alex and Izzie walked down the staircase. "These are our roommates for the next week?" Izzie asked. "They look friendlier than we do."

"That's because we're not friendly," Cristina replied. "The guy with the cane is hot." The women moaned in agreement.

George stopped on a step. "What is it with you people and authority figures?" he beseeched with his puppy-dog face. Then he finally saw Cameron. He stopped again. "Whoa, who is that?"

"Bet's she's slept with at least one of them," Meredith said.

"Do you know how weird that sounds coming from you?" Alex asked. "Men are like Pringles chips to you."

"What?" she asked, slightly amused.

"If you have one, you can't stop." The group laughed as they continued to size the others up. "Damn, she is hot," Alex said of Cameron. "O'Malley, you don't have a chance."

George pouted. "Why not? Chicks like her find me adorably sweet."

Alex harrumphed. "Sweet does not get you laid. I'll show you how it's done."

Both groups finally conjoined. House was the first to speak. "Hi, I'm Dr. Gregory House. You must all be interns."

"Yeah," Karev said cockily. "Why do you say that?"

Cristina interrupted, stepping up to House. "I just want to say, sir, that I've always wanted to meet you. I'm so glad I have."

House's face scrunched to make his point. "That's why you're interns," he said. "She's a brown-noser, you really want to be tough, the blonde is too cute, the kid reminds me of Bambi, and that one," he said of Meredith, "is sleeping with her Attending."

George looked at him in awe. "How did you know that?"

House winced at his innocence. He was even more squeezable than Cameron, which he hadn't thought was possible. "Because each year, at least one of you screw-ups sleeps with an Attending. She's the only one of you that looks like she's addicted enough to drama to do so."

Meredith's jaw dropped. She thought she had seen everything when she met Bailey. Dr. House was as bad as Derrick had mentioned. She pointed to Cristina. "She's sleeping with one, too," she announced.

"Meredith!" Cristina cried. Meredith shrugged her shoulders.

Cameron interrupted by stepping up next to House. "Hi, I'm Allison Cameron. This is Eric Foreman, Robert Chase, and James Wilson. It's very nice to meet you," she said with a smile before she scolded House with a glare.

Cristina refused to give up. Addressing House again, she blurted. "You know, I call George Bambi, too."

TBC

Chapter 6

They all headed to their rooms. There was to be a meet and greet at 6:00 that evening. The doctors wanted to be showered and presentable by then.

"So you work with Dr. House? You choose to?" George asked as he grabbed clothes from his suitcase.

Foreman addressed him from the bathroom while he shaved. "Yeah, sounds crazy and unstable, doesn't it?" he replied, laughing.

George's big blue eyes looked up. "Does he ever make you cry?"

Foreman laughed harder. He knew this kid wouldn't survive Gregory House, but he had the feeling that he could in a couple of years. "He tries to make us weep. Doesn't usually work. He's really good at making you feel like crap though."

George digested his comments, realizing he never wanted to work for the man. "What about you, O'Malley?" Foreman asked. "What's it like to work with Burke and Shepherd?"

The younger doctor retuned to his state of puppydom. "Burke is great," he replied. "He even let me stay with him and Cristina for a while. The guy's a great surgeon."

Foreman stopped using the razor and peaked his head out the bathroom door. He smiled, saying, "So what about Shepherd. Do they actually call him McDreamy?"

George gazed at him in awe. How did he know that already? What was it with these people from the East Coast? he thought. Putting his head on his hands, he said with a sigh, "Yes. He's the attending that's with Meredith Grey."

Foreman's eyes went wide. "Meredith Grey," he repeated. "She's not any relation to—"

George nodded. "Yep. That's her mother."

It was Foreman's turn to be impressed. "No wonder you hate him. If she's anything like her mother…"

George shook his head. "It's not that," he interrupted. "I…liked her for the longest time."

Foreman caught on. "And she didn't even see you because of McDreamy." Foreman had to choke the name out. He teased his coworkers, but Seattle Grace must be another world. It certainly wasn't anything like PPTH. For once, he was positive he had made the right choice to stay.

"So Allison," George said. "Is she seeing anybody?"

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Chase stepped out of the shower. He was excited about the meet and greet. It would mean another chance to see Izzie Stevens. After Allison had introduced all of them downstairs, the Seattle doctors had introduced themselves as well. When he shook her hand, volts of electricity pounded through his body. Her hand was warm and feminine, but strong. Chase knew that she must be the same way: warm, strong, and completely a woman.

"Dude," Alex said from the bedroom. "You're from Australia? You should have stayed. I hear the chicks are a lot hotter down under."

Chase's forehead crinkled. "Dude, I came to practice medicine," he retorted. "Plus, I don't see what you have to complain about. You're here with three of the prettiest women I've ever seen."

"Yeah, well," Alex said almost bitterly, "two of 'ems sleeping with our superiors and the other is still grieving for her dead fiancé." He tossed a towel down on the floor.

"Izzie?" Chase asked. When Alex nodded, he cursed under his breath. He hoped that he could compete with a deceased boyfriend. "What is it with all the attractive doctors? They really are all damaged."

Alex looked towards the door as Chase left the bathroom. "Do you mean Cameron?" he asked, disappointed but seeing a ray of hope. If her lover was dead, that meant she was single.

Allison Cameron placed her red dress in the closet. Her stomach was doing flip-flops. After the meet and greet, she was going on her second date with House. She knew that he did not do well on familiar ground, so she was afraid to see what he would do in LA.

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"You really have a date tonight?" Isobel Stevens asked as she slipped her skirt over her thighs.

"Yes." Cameron rechecked her makeup in the mirror. It was the third time in the last ten minutes.

Izzie smiled at her. She remembered being that nervous. She could recall her butterflies with Alex, but they didn't compare to the twists her heart made when she had looked at Denny Duquette…

She shook the thought out of her mind. "Who are you going with? An old friend from LA? Dr. Wilson or Chase maybe?"

Cameron stopped reapplying lipstick. The tube almost fell from her hand as she chuckled. "Not even close," she replied as she thought about how weird it would feel to date either one of them. Taking a deep breath, she answered, "I'm going with House."

Izzie choked on the sip of water she had just taken from her glass. "House?" she exclaimed. "Why?"

Cameron shut her eyes. She went over and sat down on the bed. "He hides behind all of his bluster and sarcasm," she said. "Greg House is the best man I've ever met."

Izzie just stared back at her. She was almost positive that she could find a better one by throwing a rock at a mini-mart.

TBC

Chapter 7

What had he gotten himself into? A date with Cameron. A room with McDreamy. And he had forgotten to pack an extra bottle of Vicodin. If karma did exist, he had really pissed somebody off.

House got showered and dressed. He was the only one in the hotel room. He figured Shepherd was off spooning somewhere with Meredith Grey. Looking at himself in the mirror, he didn't like what he saw. House wasn't sure why anyone would. But he wanted to find out. If Cameron said she liked him, he wasn't going to let his self-destructive behavior, well, destruct him.

House closed his eyes. He could see Cameron in the blackness of his mind. She wouldn't leave his thoughts. She was so beautiful and good. He never wanted to mar that, and he would be damned before he'd allow someone else to either.

He checked himself one more time and went down to the meet and greet. He saw Foreman and George first. House could tell that Foreman was itching to mock him. House rolled his eyes, saying, "Oh, just say it man."

"So you're going to go through with this?" Foreman asked, his face twitching from withheld laughter.

"Through with what?" George asked. Foreman and House noticed that there was something about this doctor. He was innocent and different, but he had something that drew a person to him.

Foreman raised his eyebrows. "He has a date with Cameron," he said, choking on laughter.

House looked down, his mouth forming a straight line. "Why does Cameron tell you anything?" he asked sarcastically.

"She's going out with you?" George asked incredulously. Disappointment and near outrage was plastered on his face.

House looked at him with a dramatized expression of hurt. "Are you trying to give me a complex, Bambi?"

George blushed. "I'm sorry," he stammered. He then freaked out in a George O'Malley manner. "Dammit! What is it with these chicks and their bosses?"

Foreman and House stared at him. "They really screwed you up this year, haven't they?" House asked.

The rest of both gangs showed up in the dining hall. Alex sidled up next to Cameron. "So, this is a great convention, right?" He tried to look as manly and seductive as possible.

Cameron gave him a sideways glance. Smiling, she said, "Yeah, I can't wait to go to the Pier sometime during a break."

Alex rubbed the back of his neck. "You know, we could go tonight after this thing."

She smiled at him again. This one will never give up. "Sorry, Alex. I've already got a date." She walked away from him and headed towards Foreman, George, Wilson, and House.

Alex's face registered confusion. Chase was standing next to him. Alex watched as Cameron giggled at something George said. "I can't believe this," he told Chase. "How did O'Malley get to her first? I'm glad I gave him syphilis."

Chase's bottom lip dropped. "You gave him syphilis!" he cried. Then deciding he would rather not know why or how, he responded, "It's not O'Malley. She's going to dinner with House."

Alex really looked perturbed now. "The dude with the cane?" he asked stunned. "Women," he sighed, turning his head to scope out other female doctors.

Cristina and Burke were approaching the group. "Do you want to go out after this thing tonight?" he asked. His voice rumbled and was quite seductive.

Cristina wasn't even paying attention. "So you know House, right?" she asked. "Can you maybe get me on his good side or something?"

Burke squinted at the man. He was never usually jealous of another man, but he had always been a bit envious of Greg House's intelligence. Now he was irritated by Cristina's interest. He replied, "He doesn't have a good side to get on."

House turned as he saw Burke coming. "Dr. Burke," he said. "Heard you got shot. You piss off a patient, too?"

Burke smiled slightly as he looked down. "No, I was in the crossfire."

"Hmm," House mumbled thoughtfully. "Must just be me then."

Cameron's eyes warmed at his self deprecation. His biting humor could bite a little too hard sometimes, but she appreciated his originality and honesty. He would never tell her she was pretty if she wasn't, or smart, or a good doctor. House told her what he thought. The only thing he wouldn't tell her was how he felt about her.

"How are you, Greg?"

Everyone turned to see that Derrick and Meredith had joined the group. House gripped his cane a little tighter. "I got shot and have a limp," he announced. "What about you, McDreamy?"

The entire group's jaw fell collectively. "How did you know that we call…?" Izzie started to ask, but faded off when she saw Meredith's face.

House's lip turned to a smirk. "Nurse Brenda transferred to Seattle Grace two months ago. We're pen pals."

"Nurse Brenda," George whispered, shuddering at the very thought of her.

"It's always great to see you, too, House," Derrick muttered.

Bailey finally came down the stairs. She was missing home and her baby like crazy. She had been cursing the Chief since their plane had taken off. Her knowing interns separated like the Red Sea so that she could pass through them. Bailey looked smart in an attractive pants suit. She made fast strides to the PPTH doctors. "Dr. House, nice to meet you," she declared. "I'm Miranda Bailey."

House shook her hand. "Nice to meet you, too," he told her as he looked her straight in the eye.

Bailey continued. "I know you're reputation, Dr. House. You're frightening. But I want you and all of yours to know," she said, pointing to Foreman, Chase, and Cameron, "that I will be a nightmare if you mess with my interns."

Chase broke in, saying, "Dr. Bailey, I'm sure—"

"No," she interrupted. "I have to get these fools back in one piece. They can't do that on their own."

House put his hand on his heart. "You have my word," he replied. Everyone was shocked that his answer showed no signs of attitude or rebellion.

"Thank you," she said, then headed for the bar.

Wilson stared at House. "How did she do that?" she asked him.

He rubbed his head. "She's spunky. And a hell of a lot more terrifying than Cuddy," he answered. Looking back at Bailey, he added, "I like her."

House turned to Cameron. "I think we've met enough people for an entire year's quota. Ready to go?"

TBC

Chapter 8

Cameron looked up at House, surprised. "I have to get changed. I didn't think we were going to leave yet," she rambled.

"Okay," he said. "I'll be down here."

After she was out of House's sight, she scurried to her room. Cameron put her dress on and rechecked her makeup and hair.

When she got back down to the lobby, she noticed that House wasn't wearing the same outfit either. His jeans were a darker blue and hugged his legs attractively. House had on his white t-shirt that brought out his eyes and the strength of his torso. A black jacket topped it off. Cameron thought that he could fit in LA. She knew that he looked amazing to her.

House swallowed as he watched Cameron walk towards him. All the men in the room were watching her. Her red dress was fashionable and skimmed over her figure in all the right places. The dress came to the middle of her thigh, leaving one's eye to follow her silky legs down to the tips of her toes. Her fire truck red shoes matched her dress. Cameron wore her silver pendant around her neck. It fell in between the low-cut slit perfectly. Her hair was half up so that strands could dance around her neck. She knew that the few extras minutes of preparation had been worth it when she saw the look on House's face. She could see his blue eyes sparkle at the sight of her several feet before she even reached him.

"Ready?" He murmured. House ignored the glee on Wilson's face.

Cameron smiled at him. "As I ever will be," she responded, breathily.

They stepped outside to see a waiting limo. She stopped so suddenly that she almost broke her heel. "House," she exclaimed. "We're riding to a restaurant in this?"

He nodded, but hid his gratefulness that she was impressed. "Sure," he said. "We don't have a car here, and you're nobody in LA if you don't have a limo."

They got in and sat in the back. He poured her some champagne. "I have a confession to make," he said nervously.

Here it comes, she thought worriedly. Cameron was so afraid that this date would go just like, or worse than, the last one. "What?" she almost pleaded.

"I don't have dinner reservations. Sure, I have reservations," he rambled. "Like, are you going to throw a drink in my face when I say something rude? Or will I burp during inappropriate intervals? But, dinner reservations, I don't have."

She shook her head to clear away the weirdness of his statements. "Where are we going?"

House took a sip of his champagne. "I have a friend out here that's doing me a favor."

Cameron stared at him, questioningly. "A friend? You?"

He rolled his head with exaggeration. "Okay, not a friend," he said, "but I saved his life about a decade ago and told me he owed me."

She tried to hide the curiosity that was washing over her face. "What does he owe you?"

"You'll see," he said with a secretive grin.

Cameron looked down now, remembering a conversation from earlier. "House, we need to talk about something first."

Fear hazed his eyes. He didn't respond, so she said, "You told the interns that they were screw-ups for sleeping with their boss. If that's what you think, why are you here with me now?"

House rubbed his forehead with his hand. "They're different," he replied. "They still act like they're in high school. Their internships are a huge game to them. They jump blindly. Except for that night with Chase, which you had a good reason for, you know what you're doing. You know what you want, Cameron. You're a woman. A strong woman."

Tears stung her eyes. She was hoping it was from the alcohol. Before she could say anything, the limo stopped. They stepped out. All she saw was a big sea of concrete and several warehouses. "Are you planning to kill me?" she said with a laugh.

He smiled. "We live in Jersey. If I planned to whack you, I wouldn't wait until we got to LA," he teased.

House led her to the second warehouse. "You're favorite movie is Casablanca, right?"

Cameron's eyebrows rose. "Yeah, how did you know that?" she asked.

House feigned hurt, wiping away a fake tear. "I do listen to you every now and then. I heard you tell Foreman one day."

They entered the building. "I can't give you Africa," he said, flipping a switch. "But we'll always have Paris." His voice was gravelly and exciting.

Light poured over them. Cameron stared in awe. It was a movie set. They were standing in the middle of a fake street. A fake street in Paris. Quaint boutiques, cafes, and restaurants lined the roads. Little iron tables sat outside of the buildings on the sidewalk. At the back of the set, a down-sized replica of the Eiffel Tower was lit up. A table for two was set in front of the Tower. A single rose in a glass vase sat in the middle of the table. The table itself was encircled by pink, red, and white rose petals on the floor.

"Who the hell did you save: Martin Scorsese?" Cameron asked, gazing up and down the streets.

"Can't rightly say," House said. He scrunched his face seriously. "Doctor/Patient confidentiality and all that."

She smirked. "Because you always follow the rules."

They walked over to the table. Their dinner was already sitting on the plates. Cameron and House began eating. "You look good," Cameron told him. "LA suits you."

House gave a sideways smile. "I like it here," he joked. "I'm thinking about buying a blackberry."

She laughed. A while later, Cameron could no longer keep the question sitting on her tongue. "Why did you do all this?"

He looked at her like the answer was obvious. "You've had a rough year," he replied. "I haven't helped it any."

She knew he was starting to retreat. He had brought them this far, and now he was bailing. Her heart sank as she tried to hold on, asking, "So that's the only reason. This is an apology for all the crap that happened this year?"

He looked down. Cameron went on, saying, "I don't need an apology. Life happens. I don't want pity and I don't want to forgive you. I've always known you're going to do infuriating things. It's what you do. I have nothing to forgive you for."

"No," he said quietly. It was now or never. "I am not apologizing."

"Then what is this?" Cameron pleaded. "You have to tell me. You once promised me, House, that you wouldn't crush me. But you're crushing me now. You've got to be honest with me."

He saw the worry in her face. Pressure was building inside his chest. He sort of hoped it was a heart attack, because that would be a hell of a lot easier than this. Taking a deep breath, he said, "This is a date. I wanted it to be special. Because I like you."

Cameron had waited so long to hear those words that she didn't think she had heard him right. Smiling, she attempted to make a joke. "Good. If I look taken, maybe that Alex guy will leave me alone."

He chuckled, but secretly hated hearing that he was competing with someone like Alex Karev.

After dinner, he took her back to her hotel room. In the hallway, Cameron took the initiative and put her hand in his. House's hand felt warm and strong. She liked holding it. He almost could not take her touch. It was the first time he had felt her skin next to his in a more than professional way. His cane slipped a little as he tried to regain his mental balance. At her door, she turned to him. She knew that she was so close to having him. If she planned to get him and keep him, she was going to have to do something major.

Cameron knew how much puzzles drove him crazy. She was going to give him a big one. When she slid her hand from his, she made sure that she brushed the back of his hand. She gazed up at him with those honest, green eyes. "Chase told me that if I want you, I should take you. That I should jump you," she said.

House looked at her bewildered. He hadn't expected this response. But she went on to say, "I'm not going to do that though. Thank you for the dinner. Goodnight, House." She slipped her card in the lock and opened the door. She shut it on him before he could have time to say something.

TBC

Chapter 9

Wilson watched House and Cameron leave the hotel for their date. For once, he was jealous of his friend, but not because of Cameron. He was glad that House was finally moving forward, but it was at a time when Wilson's own life was stalling. Julie had left him. He was disappointed in himself for moving in with one of his own patients.

But now his stomach tingled with anticipation. Continually eyeing the staircase, he barely listened to the conversations swirling around him.

"So, she's really on a date with Dr. House?" George whined.

"Meredith, I can't believe you announced to everyone that I'm sleeping with Burke in order to save your own hide!" Cristina declared to her friend.

"Hey, check that chick out at the bar," Alex said to no one in particular. "She's hot. Bet she's vulnerable, too," he added as he moved that way.

"What? You didn't think everybody would find out when Burke started following you around with those big brown googly eyes demanding you give him a commitment?" Meredith retorted, swishing her hand to stay Cristina.

"He's not even nice," George continued to whimper about House.

"I do not follow Cristina around with big brown googly eyes," Burke snipped, towering over Meredith.

"Geez, these people can talk," Chase murmured to Foreman who chuckled in response.

"That's nothing," Izzie said, coming up from behind him. "Wait until they're caffeinated. Now that's a show."

Chase loved her smile. It was friendly and real. Blonde bangs brushed over her eyes slightly. Both men longed to push that hair away with their hands. Chase gave her the smile that had wooed many a patient into signing a dangerous affidavit and many a woman into his bed.

Foreman wasn't having it. "Izzie," he asked huskily but still politely, "we all thought we'd go to the Pier tomorrow after the last seminar. Would you like to come?"

Her face brightened with relief. Both doctors noticed that her shoulders relaxed as if she had been carrying a heavy load, but was no longer. They were right. Izzie was happy to do something that sounded like fun. Denny would have wanted her to. "Sure," she answered. "Which one of you is going to win me a stuffed animal?"

"I am," they answered simultaneously. Chase and Foreman competitively glared at each other.

Wilson stepped out of the pack when he saw her. Addison Montgomery-Shepherd ascended the stairs in what seemed to the oncologist as slow motion. No, he thought gleefully, no longer Shepherd. Wilson watched each graceful step. She looked just as beautiful now as she did fourteen years ago. Heat washed over him as the room started to blur. He could only see her. Past memories hit him straight in the eyes as he recalled each fateful event of 1993.

James Wilson was starting his first day of fellowship in a NYC hospital. He was eager, excited, and scared out of his mind. Getting married four years prior had been much less stressful than this. But it had gotten more stressful. It was his first marriage, and he had always hoped his last, but life was not going well at home. They were getting into more and more fights. She didn't like the fact that he was never home.

His strong stride made heads turn as he entered the hospital. But so did his gorgeous brown hair that tended to fall over his equally unsettling eyes. His mouth looked strong, yet sensitive. When he greeted a doctor or nurse with a "hello," everyone noticed his eloquent voice that seemed to glide like a swan on a lake.

Wilson was determined to do well. He wanted to be head of a department someday, to be on the board of directors in an amazing hospital. The young doctor refused to let anything stop him.

Until he saw her.

She was the most striking woman he had ever seen. Her long, slender body moved perfectly as if to music. Firy red hair gleamed tauntingly in a professional yet stylish bun. She looked more like an actress or model than a doctor. Wilson chided himself for sounding misogynistic, but he almost could not think at all.

He had never seriously thought about being with another woman other than his wife until now. Wilson quickly discovered that she was doing her fellowship, too. At lunch, he hurried to sit down next to her, knowing that a woman like her wouldn't be in want of a tablemate for long. He always had known that he had a thing with women. Hopes, dreams, and aspirations—HDR—that had been the first thing he learned in college. Smiling, he said, "You can't sit by yourself in a cafeteria. Some creep will come along and sit down next to you."

Her bright green eyes warmed to his. Then she saw his wedding ring. With an eyebrow cocked, she said dryly, "I'm so glad you were here to protect me."

He cursed himself for flirting with her. It had been wrong, and she subtly had called him on it. The HDR tactics fell away until she saw the real James Wilson staring back at her. Sticking his hand out, he said, "I'm Jimmy Wilson."

She liked this version of the man a lot better than the first. "Better than Jimmy Olson, I suppose," she said with a friendly twinkle in her eyes. She shook his hand. "I'm Addison Montgomery."

His heart flopped in his chest. Oh, boyI'm in trouble, he thought, not realizing that he would say the same thing to his best friend fourteen years and two wives later.

TBC

Chapter 10

Wilson watched her progress towards the group with a knot in his throat. He had not seen Addison Montgomery for five years. At that time, both were married to other people. Although that had not stopped him the first time, he knew that her marriage certificate would stop her. They had been cordial that time. No one would have realized the love they had shared by seeing them then. But everyone had noticed it over a decade ago when they worked together. Those memories took his breath away again.

They had become close friends. Neither had been as ready as they thought once they started their residency, so they had clung together for support. Addison had no close family and certainly no significant other. He felt like she understood him so much better than his wife. They were going through the same thing and had gotten to know each other. Wilson stopped trying to chase her after that first day in the cafeteria. She was his confidant and closest friend. Addison viewed him as hers as well.

It had taken a year for their feelings to boil over.

Their professional paths crossed when they had the same patient. It was a small child with cancer. Addison was still young and not ready to see a boy die this horrible death. Wilson entered the boy's hospital room late one night to check his stats. Addison was sitting next to the boy, holding his hand while he slept. He came to her and lifted her chin so that he could see her. Her makeup was splotchy from weeping. "Add, why don't I take you home?" he asked, squeezing her shoulder.

She nodded her consent, but took several moments to stir. Addison had refused to admit they had feelings for each other, but she needed him to tell her everything was going to be all right. His hand gave her comfort. Wilson grabbed her jacket and they headed for his car. They talked all the way back to her apartment.

He walked her to her apartment door. "Thanks, Jimmy," she said, wiping her still tearful eyes. Ashamed of being so emotional, she added, "Maybe, I'm not supposed to be a doctor."

Wilson's heart broke as a tear slid down her cheek. He dropped her jacket on the hallway floor, reaching for both of her hands. His brown, expressive eyes squinted at hers. "Oh, Addison, no," he whispered. "You are a good doctor. You can handle this. We'll do it together."

Those were the words she had secretly wanted to hear for months. She knew it was not right. She did not want to feel the way she did, but Addison loved James Wilson. He glanced down at her parted lips as he listened to her shallow breathing. He held on for as long as he could until the impulse overtook him and he kissed her. The kiss was light and tender, like two old souls finally meeting. Addison wrapped her arms around his waist. They fit so perfectly together. Still crying, she opened the door and let them in.

Thus began their relationship for the next six months. Addison and Wilson spent as much time away from the hospital and his wife as they could. They hated themselves for what they had become, but, they reasoned, they were in love.

Addison began pushing Wilson to get a divorce. "We can't keep doing this, Jimmy," she threatened. "I won't do this to your wife or myself much longer."

Wilson propped his head on his arms. Sighing, he replied, "I know, Add. And I love you, but she won't give me a divorce." It was true. Wilson had told his wife that he had an affair, that he still was having an affair. His wife refused to leave him. Whether it was because she loved him, or out of spite and hurt, or some other reason he never found out.

One day, Addison went into his office just before he left for home. He could tell something was wrong. Her vibrant face was pale and ghost-like. She sat down across from him, nervously wiping her mouth with her hand. Her voice was shaky and hoarse when she asked, "Do you love me?"

Wilson pushed his hair back with his hands as he looked down. He said quietly, "You know I do."

Her green eyes glowed with a ray of hope. "Then leave with me," she said firmly.

He shifted his head in aggravation and raised his voice to her for the first time, saying, "Addison, you know that I cannot."

The light in her eyes dimmed as her face contorted with a steely resolve. "Then I've met someone else. His name is Derrick Shepherd. He's a good man and he has asked me out. I'm going to say yes."

His jaw dropped as he leaped from his seat. "Don't do that, Addison. Please," he pleaded.

The much older Wilson smiled bittersweet at her now, remembering the most painful words he had ever heard. As she had left his office that day, she had looked back at him and said, "I think he may be my soul mate." When he got home, he told his wife that the affair had ended. The next day, she handed him divorce papers. He desperately wanted to go back to Addison, to tell her he was free. But he wasn't free. Those words had ringed in his ears everyday since Addison uttered them.

Wilson transferred to New Jersey. He met Gregory House two years later. He married two more times after that once he had heard that she married Shepherd, but his heart was never in it. Once he had an affair with her, once he had realized what he was foolish enough to have lost, he never tried very hard in another relationship.

She finally walked over to him. Holding her breath, she said, "Hello, Jimmy."

He still had a hard time looking her in the eyes. "It's great to see you, Addison."

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Wilson was too distracted by Addison Shepherd to notice when House and Cameron returned. After Cameron shut the door on a disturbed House, she let out a breath of air. Forcing him into their first date had failed, but she hoped that this tactic would not. They were so close to actually getting somewhere, and she knew she had to keep him on that same path. Cameron knew House well enough to realize that if she really confused him by her actions, he would not give up until he solved the puzzle. She didn't know how long she could keep it up before she actually did just jump him, but she was sure going to try.

"So how was your date?" Izzie asked. Cameron jumped. The room was dark, showing no signs of inhabitance. She had assumed Izzie was still at the gathering downstairs. In truth, the Seattle doctor was exhausted. Izzie used to love to be with immersed with people, to hear their stories, and see their smiles. Even though she was excited to go to the Pier tomorrow, tonight had grown to be too much. There was a hole in her stomach and a void in her heart. When she closed her eyes, she still dreamed of Denny. The pressure squeezing her was sometimes unbearable. Izzie missed him terribly and thought that she would never heal from the loss of him.

Cameron collapsed onto the other bed after she had changed into pajamas. "Well, it went a lot better than the first," she told Izzie.

Izzie's nose twitched in the blackness. "You went out with him before?" she asked.

She put her hand on her forehead as if to push away an imminent headache. "Yes, about eighteen months ago," Cameron replied.

The other doctor scoffed. "I've known men to wait a week to call you back, but a year and a half…"

Cameron let tension drip away from her body as her back rested on the mattress. Staring at the ceiling, she said, "Everything is complicated at PPTH."

Silence filled the room for several moments. Finally, Izzie said with a sigh, "Everything is complicated everywhere."

Cameron bit her lip. She wasn't sure how to bring up the issue, but she was too curious. Maybe she had been around House too long. "One of the others let it slip that you're on probation at the hospital. What happened?"

Izzie rubbed her eyes with the palms of her hands. She did not want to cry again. "I cut a patient's L-Vat wire."

House's 'teddy bear stuffed by Grandma' felt the need to reassure her. "Things happen," Cameron said. "We can't always prevent a patient's death."

Izzie shook her head. She was glad that Cameron couldn't see her in the dark room. "No," she answered, "I intentionally cut the wire. My fiancé needed a heart transplant."

"Oh," Cameron replied quietly. She knew she was judgmental and her tone didn't hide it.

"He died anyway."

The reply was so simple and painful that Cameron's prejudice disappeared. Tears clouded her eyes. "I'm sorry."

Izzie flipped over to her side, tucking her hands under her head. "You know," she said sniffling, "I had a baby when I was young. I gave her away. I never thought I would go through something that terrible again. Until now." She had surprised herself. Izzie rarely told even close people this information. None of the other interns knew that she had a little girl. But there was something about Cameron that brought out the truth in people. It felt cathartic to let it all out.

Cameron's need to comfort the woman returned. "I got married young. He died six months later. I knew he was going to die before I married him, but it still hurt like hell."

"I know it was wrong to cut the wire, but I had to do it," Izzie said. She was surprised that she had so much in common with Cameron.

Cameron was just as surprised. "I loved my husband, but I would never have been brave enough to do what you did," she said with certainty. But she also added with even more certainty, "House would have."

They let those final words float in the room as they both shut their eyes and fell asleep.

TBC

Chapter 11

House was irritated. As he undressed in the empty hotel room, he meditated on the fact that Cameron had been able to get under his skin tonight, but he hadn't bothered anyone.

That was one of the best dates he had ever been on because he usually screwed them up. His former patient had come through. Everything looked perfect. House looked down at his hand. They hand Cameron had held. It still tingled when he thought about it. He could still feel her touch and smell her perfume.

What was Cameron trying to pull? She had come on so strong before, but as soon as he opened up, she backed away. Was she trying to drive him crazy? Because it was working.

He knew that he had to come up with a plan as well. If she was going to step back from him, he was going to take two steps towards her.

Stripped down to his boxers, House pulled back the covers and got in bed. He turned on the television and watched a lacrosse game on ESPN. House's body relaxed as sleep washed over him. He jumped when the light came on.

"Hi, House," Derrick said as he and Meredith came further into the room.

House squeezed his eyes shut in pain. He did not want to deal with the vapidness of others; he had enough of his own. "Can't you find a supply closet somewhere?" House moaned.

"I take it your date didn't go so well," Derrick surmised. He sat on the bed and started untying his shoes.

"And why do you say that?" House practically snarled as he hit his pillow with his fist to readjust it.

"Well, because you're you for starters. And because you're in here alone," Derrick remarked. His eyes twinkled with victory.

House rolled his eyes. "Just because you bagged your employee the first round out, McDreamy, doesn't mean we all strive to be man-sluts," he countered. Then, with a pouty lip, he added, "There's just so much pressure to put out now."

Derrick kicked his shirt out of the way. "We're going to bed," he said, the twinkle now gone. House always had more poison on his tongue than Derrick could ever match.

House sat up. "You're not sleeping in here," he declared, staring at Meredith.

Meredith finally spoke. "Relax, Dr. House. We're just going to sleep. Nothing else," she reassured him.

"That better be it," House warned. "If I hear that bed squeak, so help me, I'll put you both in chemically induced comas."

"Dream sweetly, House," Derrick said dryly.

House shut out the light.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"How have you been, Addison?" Wilson asked. He had a hard time catching his breath as he looked at her in her deep green cocktail dress.

She had never been very good at lying to James Wilson, so she inhaled deeply and replied, "I've been better, Jimmy. A lot better, actually."

He put his head down and looked at the drink in his hand. "I heard about your divorce today. I'm sorry."

She gave him that same smile she always had fourteen years ago. "No you're not," she told him. "But thank you." Addison glanced down at his hand, noticing that he no longer wore a wedding ring. "You're not married?" she asked, trying to sound casual.

He shook his head. "Ended six months ago," he answered. Wilson gazed up and down Addison's body until his dark brown eyes rested on Addison's. Quietly he said, "I missed you, Add."

She felt her stomach tensing from nerves as every cell in her body quivered. Addison knew why Wilson had switched back from calling her Addison to Add. They were both free now, finally, and they both were equally aware of it. Not ready to address the situation, she changed the subject. "Do you want to get a bite to eat?" she asked.

He smiled. "I'm starving," he said anxiously, although she wasn't quite sure if he was actually talking about food or not. "Let's order room service. We can share in my room," he continued.

Addison was reluctant. "Aren't you rooming with Burke?"

Wilson shrugged. His face brightened with that boyish charm of his when he said playfully, "I'll put a tie around the door knob."

TBC

Chapter 12

House woke up with a headache. Sitting up, his head turned toward the other bed. Meredith and Derrick were still asleep, snuggling peacefully underneath the blankets. "For the love of everything sacred," he muttered as he grabbed his clothes and went into the bathroom to take a shower.

Knowing that several of them were going to the Pier today after seminar, he put on one of his favorite t-shirts and a pair of new jeans he had just purchased before the trip. He looked in the mirror one last time, cursing mildly at what the day had in store for him.

House went downstairs to the hotel café to get some coffee and breakfast. Burke was sitting at the counter with his head in his hands. The diagnostician did not want to sit next to this man, but he had the urge to annoy him, so he climbed onto the stool. "You look like three day old hell."

Burke shot him a look, then laughed lightly. "I'm not sure what that means, but I didn't get a lot of sleep last night."

"Wilson keep you up all night playing truth or dare and knitting sweaters?" he asked, a glint in his blue eyes.

Burke scoffed, "I couldn't even get in my room. Karev saw him go in there with Addison."

House's eyebrows shot up. He was pretty sure Addison had been the love of Wilson's life. "They're both divorced," he said, not realizing that before.

"It's not like you to state the obvious, House," Burke mocked. "You jealous that Addison got to him first."

House gave him puppy-dog eyes. "Wilson means nothing to me. You know you're my one and only."

"I'm going to go take a swim," he announced, sliding of the chair. "Take care, House."

House was no longer paying attention. His eyes shifted upstairs at the thought of Wilson and Addison and what that might mean.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"I can't believe we stayed up all night," Addison said in between bites from the breakfast Wilson had ordered in for them. She was still in her dress, propped up on the bed.

"We had a lot to catch up on, Add," Wilson answered, sitting on the other bed, sipping his coffee.

That is the way they spent the night: Wilson on one bed while Addison was on the other. They talked about everything that had happened in their lives for the past fourteen years. Neither made the move to push it farther. Both were just happy to see each other again. "I lost my best friend when you left Addison," Wilson said, his long lashes sweeping over his cheeks.

She smiled humbly. "You didn't do so badly. You have House."

Wilson laughed. "House isn't as much fun to kiss." He noticed that Addison had shrunk uncomfortably at the mention of intimacy. "Why did you cheat on him, Ad?" he asked quietly.

She twirled her fork on her plate. "He had started ignoring me. I guess I realized one day that I had made a mistake. But you were gone," she said. Her green eyes pierced his hauntingly. "So I went to his best friend."

"I'm sorry for how I handled things," he said. His features looked downtrodden and guilty.

Addison tilted her head to one side. "It wasn't all your fault. Derrick once told me that he asked me out just so I would get away from you."

House leaned over to grab his wallet from his back pocket. He looked at the expectant waitress ruefully, saying, "I'm sorry. I left my wallet upstairs." House hurried back to his room to get it. His brows knit together as he watched Wilson plow through his door.

House followed him into the room. Wilson stood like a bull, his fists clenched at his sides. The man looked as if he were nearly quaking. Derrick and Meredith were still in bed, obviously woken up from the intrusion.

"What the Hell did you do?" Wilson bellowed

TBC

Chapter 13

"What are you talking about?" Derrick Shepherd asked, wiping the sleep from his eyes.

"You asked out Addison to get her away from me," Wilson spat.

Meredith stared in confusion. "What?" she asked. Everyone ignored her.

"You barged into my room to ask me about what happened fourteen years ago?" Derrick asked incredulously. "I asked her out because I liked her. And I thought it might do her some good if she wasn't around you."

"You sorry son of a—"

"Wilson, I know you're in a rage right now," House cut in, trying to distract him, "but this whole outburst would be so much more fun for me if I knew what you all were talking about."

"Shut up, House," he barked, as he waved his hand in caution. "Not now."

Derrick rejoined the conversation. "You were never healthy for Addison, James. You never will be," he said.

Wilson smiled bitterly. "And you two had a healthy relationship? You fled to the other side of the country, got a girlfriend, dumped her for your wife, and then slept with said girlfriend after swearing to fix your marriage," he countered. "Aren't you just the regular shiny knight for perfect marriages?"

Derrick was no longer in love with Addison, but he felt the need to protect her. "Stay away from her," he threatened.

"Or what exactly?" Wilson taunted. "You've always been a coward, Shepherd. Always." Motioning to Meredith he said, "What's your plan? That ninety pound girl going to throttle me?"

"Stay away from my wife," he warned again.

"Stop!" Meredith shouted, tears forming in her eyes. "Addison is a grown woman," she reasoned, her head darting from one man to the other. "Let her be one." She shoved away Derrick's reaching arm and stomped out of the room, slamming the door shut behind her.

TBC

Chapter 14

"George!" Izzie said animatedly. "Good morning." She ushered the young doctor into the room as he handed her a cup of coffee.

"I brought you some, too," George said as he gave Cameron the other cup in his hand.

"Thank you, George," Cameron said with a smile. She took a sip and then sat it down in order to finish her makeup. "You're here awfully early," she added inquiringly.

"We live together," George answered. "It seems odd not to see each other before breakfast."

Actually, he had two reasons to be there and Izzie knew it. One, he was checking up on her to see if she was okay. And two, he wanted to see Cameron. George's type was strong, intelligent women that would never fall in love with him. He was the puppy you couldn't kick away. And Izzie loved him for it.

"You all live together, too?" Cameron asked. "Do any of us have lives outside of a hospital?"

"Well, my last girlfriend lived in the hospital," George declared. "Had a cot and everything." The two women stared at him and laughed uncontrollably. "So, how was your date?" he asked, changing the subject.

"It…was…surprising," Cameron replied with a small grin. "I guess we'll see how today goes."

Izzie jumped when they heard a knock at the door. Opening the door, she said, "Robert, what are you doing here?"

Chase stepped into the room. "I thought I'd bring you some coffee before this ridiculously long seminar," he said, beaming.

"Thank you, but you're too late I'm afraid," Izzie said sympathetically.

Chase's face dropped at the sight of George. At least he's after Cameron, Chase thought. The Australian brightened back up, saying, "Are you ready for this afternoon? I've promised to win you something stuffed and cuddly."

Cameron rolled her eyes and Izzie said, "You better." She looked over at the clock. Grabbing her purse, she added, "We better go or we're going to be late."

They all headed for the door. As George opened it, he froze, his mouth slacked. House stood in front of him in the hallway, two cups of coffee in his hands. His eyes scanned over Izzie, Cameron, George, and Chase, his face twitching with amusement. "If I would have known these conventions were this wild, I would have started coming years ago," he quipped. House noticed all of the coffee cups in the room. "Guess you don't need this," he said to Cameron with a disappointed grin, lifting the steaming cup in his hand.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Meredith, where are you going?" Derrick shouted down the hall as he ran towards her.

She kept marching away from him. "Seriously? Seriously?" she hollered back at him. Meredith finally spun around, causing Derrick to almost fall into her.

"What's wrong?" he asked, panting.

She shook her head, disbelief written all over her face. "You didn't even realize you said it, do you?" Meredith threw her hands in the air. "You're freaking unbelievable."

Derrick grabbed her arms. "What did I say? Wilson was attacking me," he cried.

"You said wife, Derrick. You told him to stay away from your wife," Meredith rumbled with anger.

"Meredith—"

"No," she commanded, slicing her arm through the air. "Until you no longer want to say wife, then take your own advice. Stay away from me."

TBC