Sorry for the late-ish and small-sh update. As some of you may know, Texas is experiencing statewide power outages due to the winter storm that rolled in a couple days ago. We've been getting temperatures of under 15 degrees Fahrenheit for days (and 4 inches of snow). That's kind of insane for Texas! Everything is closed due to the power outages. I have power so far, but am currently limiting my electronic use as I have schoolwork to do and am conserving energy. Hope to get more chapters soon. Thanks for reading, as always! **
Over the past five weeks, House had helped Cameron with housework, dressing her injuries, driving her around, and even feeding her cat. It took until the third week, but she was finally staying at her own apartment, alone. House would occasionally hear the phone ring at 3:00 A.M. and Cameron would be crying into it, but she was getting better. House had learned everything that happened. He honestly worried at first that she wouldn't be able to adjust. She had regressed slightly during week four when she begged House to stay over and refused to leave her bed for the entire day. Cameron, however, was back to normal the following day and slept alone that night. House made sure to call her at exactly 9:30 P.M. every evening.
"How was 'The L Word?'" Cameron asked as she combed through her hair.
"Hot as ever," House said through the phone. "I'll never understand how a man could be gay."
"Still as misogynist as ever, I see." Cameron joked.
"I love the female body; the big asses, firm nip-" he stopped, realizing the inappropriateness of his joke. "Err- anyways ... What did you have for dinner?"
Cameron sighed. "It's okay, House. You can still joke around. I'm not offended."
"That wasn't the question."
"Spaghetti and meatballs."
"Oh, with meatballs? Doesn't sound too Cameron if you ask me."
"I didn't ask you. But, if you must know, they were turkey." She could hear how pleased he was.
"Now, that, sounds like Cameron."
She laughed. "You're a weirdo."
"I know you are but what am I?"
This joking was different than anything Cameron was used to. House wasn't being mean or crude, but silly and jocular. She liked it.
"You sound tired." Cameron told him, yawning in the meantime.
House faked a yawn. "I think that's you you're hearing."
"Maybe." She was tired, but didn't want to end the call.
House knew that Cameron delayed hanging up, she was still getting used to staying alone again. He didn't blame her. "I'll come by at 8:00 to pick you up tomorrow morning as usual, okay?"
"Okay." The small brunette yawned. House thought it was so cute.
"Goodnight, Allison."
"G'night."
"54-year-old woman with fatigue and vomiting," Cuddy said, handing House a file. "She has a history of hypertension, coronary artery disease, atenol-"
"I read the file, Dr. Cuddy." House was struggling to keep up with Cuddy as they sprinted down the hallway.
"The case sounds pretty boring. Especially for you. Why the sudden interest?"
"Thought I'd do something simple, help the woman, get my 'feel good' high today." He appropriately added air quotations.
"That doesn't make sense. Not for you. Now, are you gonna tell me why you're choosing this case or not?"
"If I tell you, will you sleep with me?" House quipped.
Cuddy rolled her eyes.
House gave in. "Cameron wanted it."
"And you're suddenly taking her opinion into which cases you choose?"
House stopped walking and turned around. "She has pretty eyes."
"What exactly are you trying to achieve, House?" Her tone was serious and demanding.
"god, you're so pushy!" He tapped his cane on the ground. "Getting back to work is good for her. Working on cases and helping diagnose patients is keeping her mind on something other than what happened last month."
Cuddy sighed. "House. I know how you feel about Dr. Cameron. And you're walking on very thin ice here. She's vulnerable and you're an easy comfort figure."
House stopped Cuddy in her tracks. "Are you telling me that you think vulnerable women see me as a big, fluffy teddy bear? Normally, I'd find that appealing, but coming from you, it just sounds mean."
Cuddy looked into the distance. "I'm saying be careful. You know how she feels about you. She admires you. And now, with you taking care of her, she's gonna feel something."
"Relax, woman. I'm not trying to get in her pants." He grabbed the file from Cuddy's grip. "Jealousy's hot on you though."
Before turning and walking away, she scoffed, "I'm not jealous, House."
"Houuuuse," Cameron called down the hallway. "Do you you have the patient's file?" She walked up next to him, looking up with her gushy green eyes.
"Mhmm. It's right here." He handed it to her.
She skimmed it. "This isn't the case I wanted." She looked up so directly; it wasn't a statement but rather, a cue for House to retrieve the 'correct' case file.
Foreman raised an eyebrow and Chase tilted his head. "Since when does Cameron get to pick the cases we work on?"
House turned toward the male members of his team. "Since I made her the new boss."
"What?!" Chase and Foreman exclaimed simultaneously.
"Just kidding. But, she's kinda cute so I'll let her make the decision."
Cameron looked utterly pleased with herself.
House read through the file as he walked back to his office. After examining the patient's symptoms, it was obvious what the diagnosis was. He knew what happened. Anybody could figure it out. Nothing was hiding in the shadows. "Cameron, can I see you outside for a moment?"
The brunette's eyes widened before she answered, "Sure."
"Why do you want this case?" He kept is tone soft.
"I want to help this woman."
"You and I both know what happened. Bacterial vaginosis, hepatitis, PTSD..."
Cameron eyed the floor for several seconds before looking back up to House. "I dunno- I just-"
House lifted his hand to her chin and tilted it up slightly. That caused Allison's bottom lip to quiver, signalling that she couldn't hold it in any longer.
"It came back positive." Her voice sounded so small, so vulnerable.
"What did?"
She took a deep breath. "The kit. For forced penetration." Cameron hardly uttered the words. "Eric's dad raped me when I was unconscious."
House felt his heart shatter for her. He guided her to a private hallway with less traffic. He was filled with rage once again, wanting to tear the man limb from limb. He didn't let his anger show, not yet. "Allison," He just let her fall into his comforting grasp again. "Please don't let this change how you think of yourself."
Cameron just cried harder at his words. "I just wanna help this woman. The same thing happened to her."
House slid his hand through her hair. He couldn't work on the case. Other doctors could just the same- he needed to focus on those only his team could diagnose. "Cameron, you know it's not helping anyone to do that."
But she wanted to work on it. "Why don't you care?" The immunologist jerked her head up and pushed House's chest away from hers.
"Hey, Cameron, it's not that I-"
Her glistening eyes narrowed. Something had taken over her suddenly. "Get away from me. All you care about is the latest puzzle you can solve. You never cared about me or this woman. Just yourself." Nothing Cameron was saying was true. But, she was hurt. Trauma does that to a person- makes them speak irrationally and makes everyone around them seem like traitors. Cameron was filled with paranoia.
"Allison-" House could feel slight anger rising up in his own body. All he had done was try and help her over the last several weeks. He knew she was suffering, but it didn't mean he wasn't human. "You know that's not true."
Cameron screamed back. "Yes it is! You don't care about me! Why should you? I'm just the stupid, damaged duckling. Right? Right?!" She was getting up in House's face now.
"Cameron! Stop it! If I didn't care then why would I spend all my free time attending to your every fucking need?!" House regretted the words the moment they left his mouth. god fucking damn it. Why did he have to lash out? House grabbed at his pockets in hopes of finding his Vicodin bottle.
Cameron just stood there, eyes wide and in shock. House's words slapped her back to reality.
"House!" Wilson yelled. He had witnessed all he needed to. "Allison, are you okay?"
She kept her glare steadily on House.
"Come on." Wilson guided her to his office, staring down House as he passed.
Wilson refused to let House anywhere near Dr. Cameron. She had been staying in his office for hours. He calmed her down as she begged Wilson to tell her why House had said such an insensitive thing. Wilson wanted to have the answer.
"I dunno, Cameron. Sometimes House is just- uh- House. An unpitying, unsparing asshole."
There was a knock at the door.
"Leave, House."
Cameron stood up. "It's okay, Wilson. It's partially my fault. I yelled at him first. Accused him of things that weren't true."
Wilson sighed. "He shouldn't have belittled you."
"I'm gonna talk to him." She headed to the door, turned the knob, and barely opened her mouth before House said,
"Damn it, Dr. Cameron. I fucking love you."
Guys! I swear, it's gonna be all House/Cameron cute fluff later. You all are in for a real treat. I'm just prolonging it. I don't want to rush into anything just yet. ;)