Chapter 4

House slowed as he came to his office and stopped before he would become visible. He cocked his head to better hear Cameron's conversation - at least her side of it.

"Yeah right, you just want me for the meds," she said lightly. "No, no, keep talking, I'm coming around here." … "You're on," House could visualise the smile she wore when she was that happy. "No, I might have to stay late, so I'll meet you there." Her next words she spoke slowly, like she was concentrating on something else. "Seven… thirty… Great. If you get there first, mine's a seven/seven." … "I work for House," she laughed. "Every day is a tough day."… "OK, great, see you later."

House walked into his office in time to see her putting something in her pocket. "Talking to yourself? Never a good sign."

"Eavesdropping?"

"Hey, it's my office."

"I'll leave you to enjoy it then. Your messages are on your desk."

"Where are you going?"

"Clinic."

Cameron left and House seated himself behind his desk. Taking a pencil, he pulled the pad on his desk towards him and began rubbing the pencil lightly over the pad.

"What is that, a coin rubbing? Even you can't be that bored," said Wilson, sitting down opposite him.

"No, coin rubbing would be juvenile. This is snooping."

"Much more grown up."

"Was there something you wanted?"

"Just came to see if you were busy tonight."

House finished rubbing the pencil over the pad. "I wasn't but I am now. How do you feel about a drink at," he squinted at the paper, "Ruby's, say seven forty-five?" he looked up expectantly.

Wilson sighed. "Are you even going to bother telling me what's going on?"

"Why would I? You'll only frown and tell me I'm a bad boy. Come to Ruby's tonight and you'll see for yourself, anyway."

He shook his head. "Fine, I'll be there."

III

Cameron was nervous as she walked in. She looked around. It was busy and it took a few moments to spot him at a table near the back.

He stood up and smiled as she came close.

"Sebastian," she hugged him. "It's good to see you."

"You too, you look great."

"Thank you."

"Sorry it's so busy in here, I didn't realise it would be. I think this was the last table."

"Don't worry." They sat down. "Before I forget," Cameron rummaged in her purse. "Your meds." She handed a paper bag over. "And please tell me you didn't give all the others away."

"Only what I hadn't taken by the time I left." Cameron looked doubtfully at him. He held three fingers up. "Scout's honour."

"I'll bet you made a cute boy scout," she teased.

"I was more a Dennis the Menace type."

"You?!"

"Oh yeah. Always into something I shouldn't be."

"I don't believe it."

"It's true. And I only asked you out tonight because I have an ulterior motive."

Cameron's smile slipped a little. "Oh?"

"Don't look at me like that, it's nothing bad. My brother's getting married this weekend, which is why I came back. I'm the best man."

Cameron looked confused. "And you need me, because he wants to make it a double wedding?"

"No." he laughed. "Well, actually, he'd be fine, his fiancé on the other hand, Clarissa… I don't think she'd like her thunder stolen by someone as pretty as you."

Cameron blushed. "So why am I here then?"

"Well, it's the maid of honour. It's Clarissa's sister and she's fourteen. Unless I have a date… Well, you know what's supposed to happen."

Cameron laughed. "You're worried about fending off a fourteen year-old girl?"

"Hey! She's very mature for her age, not to mention she has a brown belt in karate. I could be in serious trouble here."

They both laughed.

"So what do you say, will you go with me?"

"What a surprise seeing you two here."

Cameron looked up. "House!"

"I didn't know you drank here, Cameron." He pulled the chair out from beside Sebastian. "Don't mind if we join you, do you? It's a bit crowded in here and my leg is killing me."

Wilson sat next to Cameron murmuring, "Sorry about this."

House turned to Sebastian. "So, how many sick kids have I saved since you left?"

"You saved?"

"I saved your life, ergo, I saved their lives. It's a karmic thing."

"In that case, you've probably let a few million die in that time."

"Oh, so negative. You should really look at the positives in life."

"Look who's talking," said Cameron, glaring at House.

"I'm sorry," he said sweetly. "I'm sensing a little hostility. Did I interrupting something? Were you two lovebirds on a date?"

"Not at all," said Sebastian smoothly. "Just two friends enjoying a drink."

House looked condescendingly at Cameron. "I can't tell you how pleased that makes me."

"The date's not until Saturday," said Sebastian, smugly. "That way we don't need to get up for anything in the morning."

"Really? I'd have sworn Cameron was more of a third date kind of girl." He turned his gaze from Cameron and looked Sebastian in the eye.

"I guess that depends on who the date is."

"Ouch! Touché."

Cameron stood up. With scarcely concealed anger she said, "I think I've had enough testosterone for one night. Enjoy your evening."

As she walked away House looked to Wilson. "Was it something I said?"

House picked up the cocktail menu from the table and began to browse through it. Sebastian stood up beside him.

"I know you don't like me, Doctor House, but who your staff sees is none of your business."

House looked up. "Me? Have a problem with you?" he looked puzzled. "Where would you get an idea like that?"

Sebastian walked away. House looked back to his menu. Wilson shook his head and sighed.

"What?" asked House. "Not having fun?" Wilson glared at him. "I'll fix that." He hailed a passing waitress. "Two Black Deaths."

"What's in a Black Death?" Wilson asked.

"Dunno, but it sounds good."

III

House paused outside his building and looked at the dark windows. Not often but sometimes, he wished he could come home to someone. It would be nice, now and again, to see someone else's clutter around the place, to see lights on as he approached, to know someone gave a crap if he was too late or too drunk or too stoned one night.

Tonight he was neither late, nor drunk nor stoned. Wilson hadn't been impressed by his stunt, not that House had really expected him to be, but for the next half hour he alternately questioned House and dispensed unwanted advice. The only option had been to leave.

A part of House knew Wilson was right, he either had to have a relationship with Cameron or he had to let her go. What they had wasn't enough for either of them, but he couldn't let someone in. Not again. Equally, he couldn't see her happy with someone else. That would be torture.

He slid his key into the lock and opened the door, turning the lights on as he pushed it closed with his cane.

"How did you get in?"

"You… and Foreman. Between the two of you I know just about every trick there is."

House headed towards the kitchen. "Whatever it is can wait until tomorrow."

"No it can't. I can't do this any more, House. You don't want me but you don't want anyone else to have me. Why can't you let me be happy?"

"You wouldn't be happy with him."

"How do you know?"

"Because I know you."

"You think you know me."

House returned from the kitchen with two bottles of beer and sat beside her, handing her one.

"I don't think I know you. I do know you. And I know you would never be happy with him?"

"Why? Because he's not damaged or crippled or dying? Believe it or not, it is possible for me to like a healthy man." She glared at him. "It actually makes a nice change."

"That's not why you wouldn't be happy." House took a swig of his beer. "First of all, you're driven, you need to prove yourself. Why else would you apply for a job with someone notoriously difficult to work with, like me? Because I'm the best and you want to be the best. Second of all, you're smarter than he is. He didn't do nearly as well as you at med school. And finally, treating TB in Africa is boring. Same symptoms day in day out, same diagnosis, same treatment. If you'd wanted that you'd have become a family doctor, treating the sniffles and passing any interesting cases on to a specialist. No. You need someone who can challenge you, someone who can make you into the best doctor you can be."

"Someone like you?"

"That's not what I said."

"But it's what you meant."

"Drink your beer."

Cameron looked at the bottle like she hadn't seen it before. She took a sip and they sat in silence for a while. House picked up the TV remote and began flicking through the channels.

"I know why you do it," she said softly, staring at the bottle she was holding in her lap. House ignored her. "You're testing me. You want to know how much I can take before I leave, walk out on you." She was silent a moment. "I was wrong, you know. When I said I had only one evening, one chance with you. But you're wrong too. You think you have endless chances but you don't, because I won't be here forever. I will move on."

Cameron sat forward and placed her bottle on the table.

"Thanks for the drink." She made to get up but House placed his hand gently on her arm.

"You're not going anywhere," he said firmly.

Cameron didn't quite know how to respond, so she didn't.

House turned the TV up. "The Shining is coming on. I can't watch it alone."

Cameron found herself settling back down. She knew this had nothing to do with a film. Trouble was, she had no idea what it was about. She thought she understood a little of how Alice felt as she fell down the rabbit hole.

"Another beer?" House asked.