Title: Getting through to you

Author: thousandmiles

Rating: K+

Disclaimer: Wish I owned House… or Hugh for that matter, but I don't.

Spoilers: S1. Set after the events of the date in Love Hurts.

Summary: After their date there are still issues to deal with. House decides to visit Cameron again and Cameron doesn't want to talk to him. House/Cameron.

Author's notes: This is my first House MD fic. The show just started airing in the Netherlands and I was hooked immediately and shipped House and Cameron at once. I bought the S1 DVD's. And after seeing the date in Love Hurts, I got this fic idea. I wanted the story line to continue. House said quite a lot and I feel like Cameron would have reacted. We just didn't get to see it. I like an assertive Cameron who doesn't back down and can handle House. . So I decided to write it. And since this is the episode before Stacy enters the picture… let's forget about Stacy. Anyway, first fic. Not quite sure how long it's going to be or where I'm going to go with it. Reviews are welcome and appreciated. Ideas and suggestions are also welcome. English isn't my native language… so there might be a few grammar mistakes. Thanks to Trista for helping me out!

Chapter one

There was that familiar knock again. The one she really didn't want to hear at this moment. After last night's somewhat disastrous date, she wasn't quite sure what to do. She hated that she was an open book to the man with the great brain and ocean blue eyes that looked right through her. She hated it even more that it didn't seem to work the other way round.

The knocking on the door continued and she knew she could no longer hide. Reluctantly she opened the door half way, blocking him from looking inside her apartment. Maybe he would see it as a 'back off' sign.

Needing to get rid of him as soon as possible she decided to take a page out of his book. "What do you want?" She asked curtly.

"And hello to you too, sunshine."

A silence fell wherein House kept looking at Cameron, making her avert her eyes. "Why are you here?"

"Gonna let me in?" He knocked on the wood of the doorway with his cane.

"I don't think that's a good idea." She needed to be strong with him and she didn't know if she could do that with him in her apartment. He had a way of turning things around, making her feel guilty when she hadn't done anything wrong. He confused her like no one else, yet she couldn't deny the feelings he evoked in her either.

House simply ignored her and pushed the door open, letting himself in. He took his time looking around. Her apartment was comfortable, light and warm. And orderly too. It all was so very… Cameron. Finally turning around he found Cameron a few steps away from the door. Her posture was defensive, her arms crossed, her eyes hard.

He knew his words last night had been too… direct. But this was who he was. She'd told him to be himself… and that's who he'd been. He'd gotten to an age where he wasn't going to change anymore. He was damaged good and she needed to know that. He didn't know yet if he was ready for his. He knew he had to be careful. For both their sakes. He'd been hurt before… more so than he wanted to admit. He wasn't going to let himself get hurt like that again. Then again, this was Cameron and to be honest with himself he didn't want her to walk away from him or the hospital. She was an excellent doctor and someone with a big heart. He needed someone like that around. He needed…, no wanted her around. At the moment he couldn't only admit that to himself.

She had it with the silence. "Are you going to speak or not? If not, there's the door."

"Feisty, aren't we?" He tilted his head to the side and watched her like he did so many times.

"Look, I'm not going to do this with you." She walked back to her door and opened it. "I believe you said all you needed to say yesterday. I don't need to hear more."

"I don't care." He didn't quite know how to handle this side of Cameron. She was clearly frustrated with him. But he didn't care. He wasn't going anywhere.

"And I don't want to hear it." She sighed. "Look, I'm tired. I don't need to hear your little speech again. Can you just go?"

"You know you asked for it." He said to her, his cane tapping on the floor.

Seeing he wasn't going to leave she closed the door again and leaned against it with her back. "What do you mean?"

"You wanted me to be myself. I was…, I can't help it if you don't like what I have to say."

"You have this idea that you've got me all figured out. That I'm this sweet, innocent, naïve girl that cannot handle the truth. I can and I can also handle you. Maybe I was that person once, someone who needed someone who was damaged… to heal them. But I've been down that road, House and it hurt like hell. I don't want to go there ever again."

"Then why me?"

"I wish I knew." She ran a hand through her hair. She was too tired for this conversation. "Can you ever really explain why you're attracted to someone? Why are you attracted to me?"

He kept silent. His bright blue eyes looking right through her and it unnerved her. "This is not just me, you know." As good as he was able to read her, she could read him too. Sure there were things about him that he didn't want her to see and made sure no one could see. But there were also things that she did see, whether he wanted her to or not. It was probably the latter. "You have your own issues to deal with. The fact that there's someone showing an interest in you scares you. The idea of letting someone close to you, opening yourself up to get hurt again, freaks you out. That's when you become ruder, more sarcastic and start pushing people away. It's what you're doing at the moment." And now she'd said more then she intended and she really wanted him gone. "How about you deal with that first. Then we can talk." Her words even surprised herself. But it was how she felt. Only if he was willing to face his own fears, would she be willing to give more of herself. "Now, get out." Not wanting to wait for him she left him alone in her living room and went to her bedroom where she closed the door behind her.

Some time later she still hadn't heard her front door and she knew House was still in her living room. She grabbed her cell phone and dialled the familiar number. After a few rings someone answered. "Wilson, I need you to pick up House."

"Okay…, where?" The oncologist and House's best friend asked.

"My place."

"Your place? How did he end up there and why do I need to pick him up?" The surprise was evident in his voice.

"He got here by himself. And I want him gone because he's being himself." She was tired and she wanted House gone. It was that simple. "Can you please pick him up?" She asked tiredly.

"Yeah." Wilson realized how important it was to Cameron. "I'll be there in ten minutes."

TBC...