Author: Milady Dragon
Disclaimer: I don't own anything
Author's notes: Sorry about the delay – was out of town, visiting a friend. Thanks for your patience, and thanks again for reading!
Chapter Twelve
The familiar surroundings of the Lab appeared around her as Cameron and House were brought in.
"Well, Tim?" she asked, stepping down from the jaunting pad.
"I am currently sorting through the layers of security around the Intellex mainframe," the artificial intelligence replied. "Perhaps you would care for some refreshment while you wait?"
"That would be marvelous. Is Paul still with John?"
"He is. I will keep you apprised if there is any change in his condition."
House stumped down the three steps behind her. "Too bad I can't come here on my own," he groused. "This would make the best bolt-hole…Cuddy would never find me here."
"Please don't encourage him," Cameron requested dryly.
"Do not worry, Allison. I don't intend to." Tim's mental voice was full of amusement. "What can I get for the two of you? Will you have your usual, Allison?"
Cameron laughed. "A double chocolate milkshake would be great." And they say you could never go home…
"Dr. House?"
"I think I'll have the same thing." There was a dangerous glint in his eye when he said it.
There was a small, tinkling noise, and two tall glasses with curly straws appeared on the scanning table. Once again, to House's credit he didn't react to their sudden appearance; he simply handed one to Cameron, and took the second for himself. He didn't even say anything about the odd-looking straws.
Cameron took a seat at the link table, resting her elbows on the underlit surface. She sucked on the straw; the milkshake was just as wonderful as she remembered.
House joined her, and they actually enjoyed several moments of companionable silence, with only the sounds of thick milkshake being drawn up through the curly straws echoing through the quiet Lab. This was one thing she never would have thought would happen: sharing a milkshake with House. It was all so…adolescent. And she'd never been able to picture Gregory House as a teenager.
"So," House said, after a few minutes, "you actually gave all this up to be normal?"
"You make 'normal' sound like a dirty word," she answered mildly, absently licking a dollop of chocolate off her upper lip.
"Well, isn't it? Compared to all this, I mean." He indicated the Lab with a sweep of his arm.
She sighed. "You just don't understand the pressure being a Tomorrow Person is. Sure, it looks like a lot of adventure and fun, but there's so much more to it than that."
"Enlighten me. Unless you don't think I'll get it"
Cameron watched him as he leaned over his tall glass, swirling the straw through the dark chocolate liquid. "No. I don't think that. It's just that…it's been so long since I've been back in this world. And it's all coming back to me now."
"I hope they are not all bad memories, Allison," Tim piped in.
"Not at all, Tim," she assured him. "We did some real good back then, and I should have remembered that. Hell, I shouldn't have forced myself to forget it in the first place. Those three years were important, and I just tossed it all aside like it didn't matter."
"If it is any consolation to you, John and I never blamed you for what happened."
"That means more than I can say. Although, John must have been disappointed."
"I cannot deny that," the computer answered gravely.
Cameron turned back to House. "John was born to be our leader. He's the best and brightest of us…and if either one of you ever tell him I said that, I'll deny it to my grave."
House mimed zipping his lips.
"He just has this…charisma, that makes you want to be better than you are. I know there are those Tomorrow People who'd never admit it, of course. Sure, he could be pompous and arrogant, but it was usually because he knew our responsibilities better than anyone else did."
"Just what are these responsibilities?"
It then struck Cameron just how odd this situation was. Here she was, sitting in the one place she'd believed she'd never see again, sharing quality time – and chocolate – with Gregory House, having a serious conversation that didn't entail any medical emergency. And he was listening to her! Would miracles never cease?
She decided to take advantage.
"As I told you, we were born like this. In fact, everyone is born with the potential of being a Tomorrow Person; it's just that they don't break out like we did. One day, breaking out will be as natural as…well, as puberty. And our job is to protect the Earth until that happens, to make sure it survives for the next evolutionary stage of humankind."
"Sounds daunting."
"You have no idea." She sucked some milkshake through her straw. "It's not just the idea that the Saps might blow us all up in some war or another; but there are dangers from beyond the planet that nobody has any clue are there. I have no idea how many times alien races have tried to invade – or just plain destroy – the Earth. I'm sure Tim does, though."
"I do indeed," the A.I. answered, "however I have no wish to depress you."
"That might be a good thing."
"I almost feel like I'm in an episode of the X-Files," House said dryly.
Cameron chuckled. "Try living it for a couple of years, and see how you feel."
"With you around, I think that might be a distinct possibility."
She wasn't so sure about that. After all, Cameron wasn't at all certain what being back meant, and just how far deeply she'd get back into that life. She knew she'd keep in touch from now on, but to actually take up the role as one of Earth's protectors…no, that was one decision she didn't want to make just yet.
As much as she didn't want to admit it, she really needed to talk to John.
"Just how many planets have you been on?"
House's question brought her out of her reverie. "Well, I actually spent more time on the Trig than anywhere else."
"The Trig?"
She nodded. "It's an enormous space station, and the seat of the Galactic Federation. It's also where the Overmind is."
"And what's that when it's at home?"
"The Overmind is a collection of telepaths that help guide the Federation. It's really the ultimate expression of telepathic rapport…and it's a great honor to be asked to join."
"Were you?"
"Me?" she scoffed. "No way. I was only a kid at the time, and not exactly the most disciplined TP ever."
"Compared to some," Tim put in, "you were very well behaved."
"I'll take that as a compliment…I think…"
"You should."
"I don't think I could ever picture you as undisciplined," House said, taking a huge slurp.
"I've changed a lot since then. Some of that was John's influence; he's quite possibly the most disciplined person I've ever met. He kept a firm reign on my…enthusiasm. Although I did get into my fair share of trouble." She chuckled. "Tim, remember the time we found those ruins on Venara Prime?"
"Indeed I do," his voice was tinged with amusement. "You very nearly caused an intergalactic incident."
House's eyebrows rose at Tim's pronouncement. "This I have to hear…"
"I had no idea the ruins were viewed by the Venarans as holy, and went exploring even after we were warned away. It really caused an uproar! It took John and Elizabeth nearly a week to smooth things over and get me released from jail."
The older doctor snorted. "I just can't imagine you in jail." He had that look on his face that said, I have some really good blackmail material now, and I'm not afraid to use it! "And here I thought Foreman was the juvenile delinquent."
"Looking back on it, it's really funny now. But then…I still remember the lecture I got once we got home. John was livid! He really read me the riot act, about accepting my responsibility and being a representative of our people. It made me really mad at the time, but he was right…as usual."
"I believe he was more afraid, than angry, Allison," Tim replied.
"I think if you'd told me that back then, Tim, I wouldn't have believed it."
"But now?" House prompted.
"Now…yes, I can see it. John's always been protective of all of us, and that is the responsibility he takes most seriously of all."
They were all silent for a moment, then House asked, "So, what's the strangest place you've ever been?"
Cameron laughed. "Easy one. That would be Sofostria."
"So, tell…"
"The Sofostrians are beings of pure thought. They'd long evolved past the point of needing physical form, and their world reflects that. It's like a mindscape, where everything you need all you have to do is think of, and it appears. It's truly an amazing – and bizarre – place."
"I still can't believe you turned your back on all that."
"I have to admit…it was surprisingly easy. I was tired, and fed up, and didn't want to have anything to with being a Tomorrow Person anymore."
"I hope that John and I didn't factor into your decision," Tim said.
"I could never hold anything against you, Tim. But, John…well, that lecture he gave me after Venara Prime didn't help, even though I knew, deep down, that he was right. It was just that, at the time, I was hanging with a group of kids who just didn't belong anywhere. All they wanted to be was normal, and accepted. Their attitude wore off on me. So, it was pretty easy for me to pick that last fight. I remember the look on John's face when I tore into him…it was pure shock. He hadn't been expecting it at all."
"You are correct, Allison. He was surprised and hurt by your words. And yet he abided by your wishes."
"I know, Tim. In a way, that makes it worse, doesn't it?" She pushed the near-empty glass away from her. "You know, in those first months, I kept hoping he'd come knocking on the door again? That he'd want to make amends with me?" She snorted. "But, after that, I just pushed everything deep down and blocked it all out."
"And now it's all back," House said.
"For better or worse," Cameron agreed.
"I would like to think it is for the better," the artificial intelligence added somberly.
She didn't answer. She wasn't sure about the answer to that yet.
"I have finally managed to get into the Intellex mainframe," Tim announced into the sudden silence. "And what I have found is quite fascinating."