Chapter 19
Shrieks of horror and fear bounced off the walls of the room. Sheet swished in the darkness as humiliated beings were vainly trying to retain last shreds of dignity.
House looked like a bronco ready to charge as he shifted his cane up farther into his hand in order to use it as a weapon. He had never witnessed an actual caning, but he assumed he understood the process.
"What are you doing, House?"
The words were uttered so quietly and femininely that the fog in his head clouded his recognition of the voice. Snapping his head around, he saw that Alison Cameron was standing behind him—in the hallway. Her arms were folded, wrinkling her beautiful black dress. She rested her weight on one hip, conveying her annoyance and amusement.
House's face paled as white as the knuckles gripping his cane. He realized then who must have been in the room. He heard padded footsteps stomp to the door. Chase stood there before him in an angry stance, a sheet wrapped around his body. "What the hell?" he asked dangerously.
House put his head down and scratched his eyebrow with his thumb. "I bet fifty dollars that Foreman would beat you to it. I guess I was protecting my investment," he lied.
Chase snorted and slammed the door shut. Bailey, irritated by the noise, barged into the hallway. She had witnessed Chase yell at House. Her lips puckered when she saw who had caused the commotion. Marching up to House, she tilted her head up to look at him. "I haven't had a decent night's sleep since I got pregnant. You told me you'd keep your kids away from my interns," she scolded. "I haven't slept. I want to sleep."
House stared down into her serious, scary face. Her brown eyes never blinked as she waited for an answer. "You know these young doctors," he reasoned. "They're all like a bunch of stupid bunnies dying to procreate."
Bailey turned to Cameron. "Just make sure Izzie is careful," she said meaningfully. When the other doctor nodded in understanding, Bailey shot House a warning and then went back into her room.
"She wants you to make sure the blonde bombshell uses condoms?" House asked with a raised eyebrow. "They really do care more in Seattle."
Cameron stared at her hotel room door. "That's not what she meant," Cameron said quietly. "Bailey wants her to be careful with Chase."
House and Cameron stood together awkwardly now, finally realizing that they were alone in the hallway. He was tired and a little tipsy, so he rested his back against the wall and slid down until he was sitting on the floor, his legs stretched out. Cameron glanced down at him, her hands on her hips. Licking her lips, she decided to sit by the wall across from him. He rolled his head in exasperation. House was not ready for this conversation. "Why did you bust through that room when you told me just a few hours ago that I was an issue to you?"
House noticed her jaw was clenching. It tended to do that when they conversed for more than three minutes. His voice thick and deep as he said, "I told you and Chase that I made a bet and—"
"And you lied," she declared. "Tell me why I'm a problem to you?"
House crooked his head to the side and remained silent.
It had brought tears to her eyes the last time she saw him do that, when she had quit in his apartment. But now it invoked anger. "Am I a problem or are you really thinking that you are?" she asked doggedly.
His head jolted up. She could always read him. "I can't be who you need me to be. I can't ride roller coaster or run with you or dance with you very well. I can't be Alex."
Cameron puffed out a gust of air. "Are you serious? I don't want Alex," she exclaimed. Pushing a strand of hair from her eyes, she looked directly at House, saying, "I think I've made it perfectly clear these past two years what I want. You're all I need, House. You are just going to have to accept that."
They smiled at each other as their hearts beat loud enough for the other to almost hear the thumping. Cameron swallowed down nerves as she asked, "Do you want to grab a beer down at the bar? Maybe we won't be accosted by McDreamy and McMeredith this time."
His middle grew warm as he laughed. No one else seemed to find her funny but him. House contemplated taking her up on the offer, but he was afraid that he would screw up, so he thought he should end on a high note. Shaking his head, he said, "No, I better take a Vicodin and go to bed before someone decides to shoot me again."
Cameron chuckled lightly and looked down with a smile. House felt his body grow even warmer. "Okay," she said, realizing he was afraid of ending a good night badly. She stood up and then turned back to him, remembering something. "Did you know this hotel has a swimming pool and sauna indoors? Hope you brought some trunks, Ester Williams."
TBC
