Title: Crashing (2/4)

Author: ladirambaldi

Rating: PG-13 (for now)

Spoilers: S3x03 Informed Consent.

Summary: Cameron felt as if she was lost. But she didn't know that someone was there to find her.

Disclaimer: Don't own House. But I do want him for my love slave. Think David Shore will lend him to me? Nah, didn't think so either.

'When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears

When you scream I'd fight away all of your fears

And I held your hand for all of these years

But you still have all of me'

My Immortal

Evanescence

They ducked and weaved through the traffic, House handling the bike with expert ease. Cameron had already ridden with him before, so she knew that he knew what he was doing.

Her hands were holding on tightly to House's waist, but not because they were speeding along. She felt as if she needed to be this close to somebody. So she rested her head up against House's back. House knew what she was doing, and although he wasn't quite comfortable with it, he suppressed the urge to flinch away.

When they got to her apartment block, Cameron slowly untangled herself from House's waist and got off the bike. Seeing that House was shivering a little, she took off his jacket and helmet and returned them to him. She muttered a thank you, then turned around and headed towards the apartment block. But just before she got to the doorway, she stopped. She was expecting House to speed off back to the hospital; instead she was surprised by the sound of his bike's engine turning off. She slowly turned around and saw him (ungracefully) get off his bike.

'What are you doing?' Cameron asked.

'You honestly believe I'm gonna leave you here, by yourself, when you're acting all dark and broody? I've seen what you look like after you've taken crystal meth. Don't want you bonking the wombat again. You don't know what sort of diseases you might catch.' House said with sarcasm dripping from his voice.

Cameron rolled her eyes at this. 'I'll be fine. I'm just going to take a hot bath and go to bed. I'm tired.'

House smirked and had an evil glint in his eyes. 'Hmm. Naked Cameron in a hot bath. Sounds like fun! Can I come and watch?'

Cameron didn't know whether to be offended or amused. 'No, but I suppose you are welcome to come inside.'

'Good, because I wasn't in the mood to bring the smack down on you. Bum leg, you see. But the cane is extremely useful.' House illustrated this by waving the cane menacingly at her.

Cameron smiled a little bit at this, turned around and they both started walking back up to her apartment.

When they got inside, House had a bit of a look around. He had never been inside Cameron's apartment, although that wasn't through a lack of trying. He noticed the light in the room. So white and airy. So unlike his dark and dingy apartment. Cameron walked into the kitchen.

'Do you want something to drink?' Came the cry from around the corner.

'No.' House answered. He looked around some more, heading towards the mantle above her fireplace. There was a picture of her and her family. Mum, dad and what looked like a younger brother. They were all smiling, almost laughing. He could see where she got her beautiful looks from. Her mother was gorgeous. Her dad was handsome. Her brother even looked like her. He moved further along and noticed that there wasn't a picture of her dead husband. There was a picture of a beach sunset, one picture of a white Labrador and another picture of her brother. House wondered why there was a lack of pictures of her late husband. Surely someone like Cameron would have a picture somewhere of him? Maybe in her bedroom. But he wasn't about to go snooping in there. Yet.

Cameron got herself a glass of water and headed back to the lounge room. She saw him at the pictures at the mantlepiece. She stood there and just watched him, wondering why House was being uncharacteristically nice to her. House felt a pair of eyes burning his back, so he turned around.

'So…' House said awkwardly, trailing off and looking around. Anywhere but where Cameron was. He knew that he had to take Cameron home, but he honestly didn't think the rest of this plan through. He was feeling terribly awkward. Cameron was feeling the same way. But there was something inside her that just wanted to ask the usual why questions. She wanted answers. And she was going to get them.

'Why, House. Why are you being so nice to me? Why did you bring me home? Why are you still here?' She asked with more confidence than she was feeling.

House looked at her, surprised. 'Woah… what's with the 20 questions!'

'Just answer them, House.'

House wasn't sure if he wanted to. But he also knew that Cameron wouldn't give it up, so he tried to answer her, trying to keep his caustic, snide remarks in check. She didn't need to hear them right now. She was still feeling quite delicate.

'I brought you home because you were in no state to drive. You would've had an accident a few miles up the road, and then you would've been in the E.R. I know the Wombat and mini Hitler would want you to come back tomorrow in one piece. And I need some eye candy to drool at. Secondly, I'm being nice to you because after what you did last night, you need someone to be nice to you. I know that someone shouldn't be me, but I am the one that's here. And thirdly, I'm here because I care about you…' House stopped. What the hell did he just say? He wasn't ready to admit that. He looked horrified that he let that slip.

Cameron stood there, shocked to the core. She couldn't believe her ears. Did House just say that he cared about her? No… no…. she must be dreaming. Because only things like that happen in her dreams. Never in reality.

House couldn't look her in the eye after that. He looked at the floor. He was mentally kicking himself. He had been too truthful. Yes, he cared about her. He hated seeing her in this much pain. He knew why Cameron took Ezra's life. Cameron knew that he was terminal, just like her husband. Before yesterday, he didn't really want to admit to himself that he was attracted to her, let alone admit out loud, TO HER, that he cared about her. He couldn't see why she liked him in the first place. Still can't. But she did like him. And he was attracted to her.

Now that the words had flown out of his mouth, he didn't know what to do. So he contemplated just forgetting the whole thing and headed towards the door, but Cameron stopped him, finally finding her voice.

'Wait a second… you… care about me?' Cameron said, waving her arms about, hoping to wrap her head around everything. 'Is that why you're here?' Cameron asked, disbelieving.

House turned and looked at her incredulously. 'Is that so hard to believe?'

Cameron was shocked. Anger started to spill over. 'It's so hard to believe because of the way you treat me! Before today, you've never once shown me one ounce of respect, let alone kindness. You've shown me nothing but animosity, cruelty and stubbornness!'

House was getting pissed off himself now. He just stared at her, stone-faced. He had had enough.

'Fine. Forget I said anything. See you at work tomorrow.'

Cameron wasn't going to let him get away with that. This was the first time House had shown any sort of emotion towards her and she wasn't about to leave it there. She could feel something snap in her mind. The next thing she knew, she walked over to the door, slaming her palm up against the doorframe, blocking his escape route.

'No. No… I'm not going to forget anything. You just said you cared about me. You know I care about you. I've never stopped caring. Why can't you just deal with this so we can move forward? Why do you have to shut me out?' Cameron was yelling. She didn't care. She didn't care if the next door neighbours could hear. She was sick and tired of running around in circles. She was sick and tired of the games that they had been playing. She had had enough. The emotions from the last couple of hours had left her emotionally and physically drained. But she wanted to deal with this. And she wanted to deal with it here and now. Staring intently into his eyes, she willed him to say something. Anything. Just so they could move from here.

House was rooted to the spot. He didn't know what to say. She was right. He knew it. The stubbornness in him just wouldn't let him vocalize that. He was just as sick and tired of these games they were playing. He wanted her so badly. But he had been alone for so long. He had gotten so used to pushing away everyone who cared about him. He didn't know how to let anyone else back in anymore. But looking into Cameron's eyes... he knew that she could be the solution to that problem. The high walls that he has surrounded himself with for so long started to crumble.

So he decides not to say anything to her.

He was going to show her.

He looked at her with his deep blue gaze, walking over to her with purpose.

He stood just inches from her. Cameron didn't flinch once. House lifted a finger to her chin and lifted it up to meet his.

And he kissed her.

End part 2.