Chapter 35

Day Six

The Decision

House opened the door to Quig's office without knocking. Quig looked up in surprise, which quickly became concern at the look on House's face. House tossed some papers on Quig's desk and took a deep breath.

"I need your help," House said.

"I've been waiting for you to say that," Quig replied. "What's this?" he asked, picking up the papers House had tossed at him.

"Is this place any good?" House asked, pacing the floor. Quig flipped through the pages quickly, then glanced up at House.

"It's excellent. It's one of the best. How did you find it?" Quig asked.

"I didn't," House replied. He sat down in one of the leather chairs, slumped forward with his elbows on his knees and put his head in his hands. "Cameron gave it to me a while back."

"Gotta love that Dr. Cameron, huh?" Quig said lightly.

"Yeah," House said to the floor. "Can you get me in there?" He lifted his head to look at Quig.

"When can you leave?" Quig asked, picking up the phone.

"Right now," House replied.

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Wilson was shuffling papers on his desk, not really working but just trying to keep busy. He jumped when his cell phone began to ring. It was odd, because the only people who ever call him were at the hospital, and they certainly would have called his office phone. Wilson took the cell phone out of his pocket and glanced at it. House Calling, read the screen. Wilson hesitated. He wasn't sure if he was ready to talk to him yet.

"House?" Wilson answered.

"I need a ride to the airport," House said.

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Wilson and House drove silently in Wilson's car to the airport. House had packed himself just one bag, which now rested on the backseat. Wilson assumed this meant House wouldn't be gone long.

"Running away from home?" Wilson began, trying to keep things light. "Mommy will be angry when she finds out."

"I'm going to Atlanta," House said shortly.

"What's in Atlanta?" Wilson asked. He could tell from House's tone he wasn't in the mood for their usual banter.

"Rehab center," House answered. Wilson glanced over at his friend and raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. They drove in silence for a few more minutes before Wilson spoke again.

"Staying long?" he asked.

"Few weeks, a month maybe," House said. He closed his eyes and rested his head on his seat. "Jimmy, I need you to do something for me."

"Anything," Wilson said, and meant it. House only called him Jimmy when he was teasing him about something, which he certainly wasn't doing now. Whatever this was about, it was deadly serious.

"Talk to Cameron. Make sure she's okay," House said. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out an envelope. "And give her this." He handed the envelope to Wilson.

Wilson held the envelope against the steering wheel until they reached a red light. Then he began tapping it on his leg.

"I won't lie to her," Wilson said, without looking at House. "I need you to tell me the truth. Did you sleep with her?"

"Not yet," House answered. "Why?"

"Not Cameron," Wilson said. "Paula?"

"You know I did," House said. "What is this about?"

"I mean last night. Cameron's going to ask," Wilson said.

"No," House said. He looked at Wilson, and Wilson looked back. Wilson nodded, then put the envelope in the inside pocket of his jacket. The light turned green, and Wilson started driving again.

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The Conclusion

Cuddy sat waiting at the glass table in the Diagnostics conference room. She had paged Cameron, Chase and Foreman to join her there. She stared at the whiteboard, and then glanced at House's dark office.

Foreman and Chase joined her in the conference room. Both glanced at the whiteboard, and then at Cuddy, expectantly. She merely motioned for them to have a seat.

"Just waiting for Dr. Cameron," Cuddy told the boys. Chase opened his mouth to ask her about the whiteboard, but Cuddy raised a hand to silence him. "I'm only doing this once. Questions will have to wait."

Cameron walked slowly toward the conference room. She peeked through the glass to make sure House wasn't there. She really did not want to see him. Seeing Cuddy and the boys, she let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding and stepped inside. Her eyes were drawn immediately to the whiteboard. She sat next to Foreman, but her eyes were glued to the message.

Gone to Atlanta. Back in a few weeks.

You kids play nice.

H

PS –Chase no touching the markers!

"Dr. House will be unreachable for the next two or three weeks, possibly a month, while he enters a drug rehab center. The department will have to continue to take on any new cases that come in during that time. Dr. Wilson and myself will be available to consult with you on any and all cases at any time you need us. The three of you will have to share Dr. House's clinic duty, in addition to your own while he is gone. Questions?" Cuddy spoke professionally, but the tone in her voice gave away her concern.

"Will you be in charge of the team, or Dr. Wilson?" Chase asked.

"Actually, Dr. Chase, at Dr. House's request Dr. Cameron will be in charge during his absence." Cuddy replied. At this, Cameron's head whipped around to face Cuddy.

"What?" she breathed.

"You heard it right. Dr. Cameron, you're the boss, for the next few weeks anyway." Cuddy looked at the team. "It's been a long day, and you don't have a case at the moment. Go home; get some rest. You're going to need it." She smiled at them all and left.

Foreman and Chase didn't need to be told twice. They both remembered the difficult time they'd had with the case Foreman had accepted the time House had been snowed in at the airport in Baltimore. A few weeks of that would be hell, not to mention all the extra clinic hours.

Cameron remained seated at the table staring at the whiteboard. She sat there for hours, as the hospital darkened around her. Wilson found her there when he got back from the airport. He sat beside her for a few minutes without speaking. Finally, Cameron turned to look at him.

"How long have you been sitting here?" he asked her.

"I don't know," she replied. She looked around the room and then out the window, seeing the dark for the first time.

"He'll be okay, Allison," Wilson reassured her.

"I hope so," Cameron replied. She gave him a sad smile. "He left me in charge while he's gone."

"He trusts you," Wilson said simply.

"No," she refuted him. "He's just playing me. That's House."

"Do you really believe that?" Wilson asked her. Cameron just looked at him. Wilson shook his head. "He's not playing you Allison. He cares. He's just … bad at showing it."

"I'd call sleeping with a hooker and dating me at the same time a little more than bad at showing it," Cameron replied. Her voice held no venom, no malice, only pain and exhaustion.

"He didn't," Wilson explained. "He didn't sleep with her. Well, not last night anyway."

"He told you that?" she asked. Wilson nodded. "And you believe him?"

"Yeah, I do," Wilson answered slowly. He took the envelope from his pocket and handed it to her. "He asked me to give this to you, after I made sure you were okay." Cameron put the envelope on the table and looked at it. Wilson stood and made his way to the door. He paused, and then turned back to Cameron.

"I once told you that you'd be surprised what you can live with," Wilson said. "I think you'd also be surprised what you can't live with." Cameron looked at him questioningly. "He can't live with himself hurting you. That should be worth something." Wilson turned and left Cameron alone.

Cameron fingered the envelope for a minute before opening it. A thin sheet of paper slipped out. She picked it up and read the two words in the handwriting she knew so well.

Wait. Please.

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House sat in the airline seat; head tipped back, eyes closed. He was tired, more tired than he could remember being for a long time. The phone in his pocket vibrated. He knew he was supposed to turn it off before boarding, but he was hoping to hear from someone. He took the phone out of his pocket, and looked up and down the aisle to be sure none of the flight attendants would see him. He opened the phone, and the screen indicated he had a new text message. He pushed a few buttons, and a message from Cameron appeared.

Still waiting.

House smiled.