"Does she feel the same way?" Cameron asked, having cornered House in his office again.
"Why don't you ask her yourself," House answered. "Cuddy is perfectly capable of answering your questions. If you don't mind I'd like to be there when she tells you it's none of your goddamned business."
"Cuddy isn't here so I'm asking you."
"And it's none of your goddamned business. Just what will it take to make you shut up about it, some holy water and a stake through the heart? A silver bullet?"
"You didn't answer my question." Cameron stood at his desk, as frosty as ever.
The older doctor put his feet up and matched her stony stare. "I'm not going to. You know, Dr. Cameron, every time you come in here with your little ice princess act and question the legitimacy of my feelings toward you and Dr. Cuddy, I have to say it makes me respect you less and less. You're not acting like a doctor, you're acting like a spoiled cheerleader who got dissed at the prom, and believe me, that's getting old real fast."
"If it bothers you so much why didn't you say anything before?"
"Because I'm saying it now. It's getting old, Cameron."
The young woman sat down, she obviously wasn't finished yet. "Why didn't you go to Des Plains with her?"
"None of your business."
"Are you going to marry her? Are you going to have kids?"
"None of your business."
"Does she feel the same way?"
"Ask Cuddy yourself," said House. "But she's not going to tell you what you want to hear, either."
"Fine. I will," Cameron shrugged. "I'd like to hear what she has to say about you."
"Be my guest," he told the immunologist, looking her up and down. "Why are you wearing green today, Allison, because you're envious?"
"I don't envy anyone," she frowned.
"Oh sorry, my mistake. What color goes with jealousy?"
"Don't patronize me." She resumed her stance in front of the desk.
"Stop acting like a brat and I won't have to patronize you," House said, his patience with the young woman starting to wane. "You're shooting to the top of my shitlist with a bullet, Allison. If you think I was kidding about emptying bedpans, you just try me."
"I'm not afraid of a little dirty work," Cameron smirked.
The diagnostician raised an eyebrow. "How noble of you. In fact, I'm so fucking bowled over by your honesty and nobility, I'm ready to jump you right here and now."
"What would Cuddy say about that?" Dull afternoon light glinted from her eyes.
House had to grin at her steely reserve. "Cuddy would say 'Cameron can't satisfy you the way I do,' and she'd be right."
"Are you so sure about that?"
"Yes," House said dryly, he was getting fed up with the Cameron's silly games. "With the way you've been coming in here and pissing me off lately, I wouldn't have you if you were oiled up and served on a silver platter."
"You son-of-a-bitch–"
"Still haven't learned that I play rough, huh, Allison?" The older doctor sneered, getting to his feet. "Now that I'm utterly and thoroughly sick of you and your attitude and your pathetic little mind games, it's time to lay down the law. From now on you are to come in here and shut your mouth and do your job. When I want your opinion, I'll ask for it. If you have a question about a patient or a diagnosis, feel free to ask. If you have a sick relative and need some time off, just say so. Now, if you come in here one more time and question me about my relationship with Cuddy, which for the last time, is none of your fucking business, I'm going to toss you and your cute little ass out the front door myself. One more word and you're gone. Do I make myself clear?"
"Very clear." Her cheeks were so red House almost expected to see them melt and drip all over his pens and desk blotter.
"I mean it, Cameron," House said solemnly, the seriousness of his threat oozed from every word. "You're a good doctor, too good to be caught up in this drama queen shit. Get over yourself, and fast. Now, don't you have a patient to check on?"
"Yes," Cameron said softly, the redness of her cheeks was slowly spreading down her neck.
"Great. Now get out my sight and check on your patient."
As he watched the immunologist turn into the hallway, House knew it wasn't over. In two and half days Cameron would be out front, waiting for Cuddy. His only regret was that he wouldn't have a front row seat for the show.
