A/N: Wow it's May already! Where does the time go? We hope you're all still enjoying this story. One more chapter and then the third installment will be posted. So yes, there's much more to come :) Stay safe, everyone!

Chapter Six

The next morning, when House didn't show up for work, Cameron called him but there was no answer so she called Wilson and was glad to find him at home.

"Hey Wilson, it's Allison. Is House there, do you know?"

"Let me check."

There was a pause for several seconds before he returned. "His bike is here so yeah. Why? What's going on?"

"Well he should be here, but he's not."

"I guess he slept in. Want me to go wake his sorry ass up?"

"No, it's okay. I'm coming over myself." She ended the call, grabbed her stuff and headed over to House's.

House heard the doorbell, and dragged himself out of bed. "I'm coming! Keep your panties on."

When he opened the door, Cameron was startled. The man exuded sex from every pore. Other than his T-shirt and pajama pants, his eyes looked more blue than usual and his hair was disheveled. He looked like he'd just gotten out of bed, which he had.

"What?" he snapped at her as he leaned against the door frame.

Cameron gave her head a shake as she tried to get her thoughts together.

"Why aren't you at work?"

"There's nothing to do. We don't have a case and the department doesn't officially open until January."

"You can't just not show up."

He cocked his head to one side and gave her a sexy smile. "We've got four doctors on the payroll. Just send them to the ER and the clinic and tell them to find us some cases."

"You need to get the word out that we're open for business and willing to take on those cases. They're not just going to fall into our laps."

"Bullshit," he said as he turned around and headed into the kitchen with Cameron on his heels. "They've been coming in from everywhere for weeks. And last I checked, it's also your name on the door."

"I've been hiring doctors for you to patronize and intimidate. Thankfully Gill and Poole are on to your game and they're willing to play along, but do you think the others are going to be so forgiving when we don't have anything for them to do except scut work?"

"The department isn't open until January!" he reminded her. "Besides, Gill and her brother went home to pack their stuff and tie up loose ends and Poole has to finish out her time at Princeton. It's just you and me, baby. Oh, and nerd boy and chatty Cathy."

"Is this all a big joke to you?"

"Not at all, but I could turn it into one if you'd like. Want a bagel?"

Cameron blinked. "What?"

"Do you want a bagel?" House asked, speaking slower as he held one up to her face.

"Oh, okay fine."

"Good. You can start the coffee. Pods are in the drawer. I'll take an espresso."

Unable to come up with a witty retort, she found the pods and put one in the machine.

"So is that the only reason you came over? To get my ass out of bed so I could come to work and do nothing? Or did you just wanna see me in my sexy pajamas and bedhead?"

Cameron wanted to say "Why yes, yes I did," but she just shook her head as the bagels popped out of the toaster.

House put one on a plate and shoved it towards her. "There's cream cheese in the fridge."

"So are you going to come into work today?" she asked him as she finished her bagel.

"No, and I think we should have a set day off during the week. Because sometimes we might have to work over the weekend and we need that break. So since it's a Wednesday, I'll make it my regular day off. You can have whatever day you want as long as one of us is in the department."

"That makes sense. It's been a long time since I've had a day off mid-week. I'll pick Monday then."

"Long weekend. Nice."

"Assuming we don't work weekends. I know we'll have to sometimes."

"That's what the team is for. They can work it, and call us only if they have to. But if we have a patient, one of them can stay and monitor them. Or whatever. We'll figure it out."

"So the Christmas fundraiser is this weekend. Got your suit?" she asked as she worked on the second half of her bagel.

"Yep. What about you? Got that sexy dress all ready?"

She nodded. "Yep. It's in its garment bag in the closet as we speak."

"Nice. I wonder what the other ladies will wear."

Cameron shrugged. "No idea, but when I told them your criteria, Gill merely laughed and Poole looked amused. One could also say it borders on sexual harassment."

"It's all in good fun, and it's a festive occasion. Everyone's going to be dressed in their finery."

"Gill doesn't seem like the glitz and glamour type."

"Her brother might be," House said with a grin. "One could say I have an all girl team."

"Now that is sexual harassment," Cameron replied as she got up and took her empty plate to the dishwasher.

"It doesn't seem to bother you when I do it."

"Because I'm immune to your charms. Or lack thereof."

House winced and placed his hand over his heart. "Ouch."

"Well come on, House," Cameron laughed, "you're not known for your bedside manner."

He moved closer to her, their hips touching, and whispered in her ear, "Depends on which bedside you're referring to."

Cameron's heart immediately began to race and she couldn't move. House was standing right next to her, and she could feel his warm breath against her cheek as he spoke. She knew if she turned her head he would most likely kiss her. She also knew that if she kissed back, she wouldn't be able to stop.

But she could feel the heat from his body against hers as he stood there, waiting.

"Allison," he said, softly as he brushed the hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear. She knew he was being serious now because he never called her that.

"What?"

"Don't you think it's time we bury the hatchet and just...I don't know, give in to what we both know we want?"

"It's not that easy."

"Yes it is. You're the one making things difficult. And if I'm not mistaken, you kissed me first. There's so much sexual tension and when it finally erupts, hot damn! I'm all for that, but I don't know how much longer I can last like this. I'm serious."

"Why did you call me Allison?" she asked in an attempt to divert his attention.

"I was just trying it out. I thought maybe we might try going from a professional working relationship to a personal one."

"Greg," she sighed and gave her head a shake. "We shouldn't."

Hearing her say his name did something to him that he couldn't put his finger on. It was like an electric shock of sorts. And he liked it. "Well I think we should."

"We work together. If it fails then what?"

"You don't even want to try? That doesn't sound very Cameron-like. You're the optimist between the two of us."

"I'm also a realist."

"So am I. And I think we should at least see if it will go anywhere."

"Like a date?"

"That's a start. Be my hot date at the fundraiser. You won't be disappointed."

Somehow, she knew he was telling her the truth. From what she'd heard from Amber and Wilson, House could be a gentleman when he wanted to. Maybe...just maybe...

He could see her resolve melting and he knew he had her, but he didn't dare get his hopes up. Not yet.

She sighed again and nodded. "Okay."

As if on cue, Cameron's pager went off and she checked it. "It's the ER. I gotta go."

House nodded and walked with her to the door. "So was that okay to being my date, or okay about making things work outside of work?"

"Let's just start with the fundraiser and go from there."

"Okay. What time do you want me to pick you up?"

"Well, I'm helping set up so why don't we just meet there, okay?"

House nodded. "Sounds good." Then he stepped forward, closing the gap between them and softly took her face in his hands. "I'm not one to talk about my feelings but I know when something feels right."

Cameron's eyes fluttered closed as soon as his lips touched hers and she let out a soft sigh. It felt as if she completely melted against him, and he wrapped his arms around her to keep her close as the kiss continued. She let her hands slide up his back and her fingers buried in his silver hair.

Her fingers in his hair only made him want more, and he deepened the kiss by sweeping his tongue against hers. He could feel her hardened nipples pressing against his chest as she leaned against him.

"Mmm...Greg, I really have to go."

He groaned in frustration but very slowly pulled back, sucking gently on her bottom lip as he did so.

"See you tomorrow."

"Yeah," she said as she grabbed her purse that she'd dropped on the floor. Still slightly breathless, she made her way to the car and once she was inside, she gave her head a shake and composed herself. Damn that man!