A/N: We hope everyone is still being safe and staying healthy. I'm so over this pandemic. They're very slowly lifting restrictions where I live but its a long, drawn out process. I just want a haircut! Is that too much to ask? LOL

Also thanks to Shippercrazed for bringing something to our attention that we missed. It's now fixed. Enjoy! :D

Chapter Seven

The party was in full swing and Cameron had to admit, everything and everyone looked great in their formal attire. It was a Monte Carlo theme and while she was enjoying herself, she wondered if House was going to show up. It was getting late and he hadn't arrived yet. She was afraid that by the time he got there, she'd be too drunk to care. Every time a server passed by, she'd take a glass of champagne from the tray.

"Dr. Cameron!" Gill called to her from the bar. She wore a royal blue sequin dress and sparkling silver high heels. The dress clung to her like a second skin and showed off her long, shapely legs. The v-neck accentuated her cleavage and collar bones. Poole leaned against the bar beside her.

"Wow, that dress is incredible," Cameron said as she looked Gill over.

"Thanks. I love it."

"I'm sure House would approve, if he ever makes it," Poole smiled. She wore a plum colored slip dress that showed off her cleavage as well as her toned arms and legs.

"I don't know, he did say cleavage but I don't really have any," Gill giggled as her brother handed her another scotch.

"That makes two of us," Cameron said dryly as she downed another flute of champagne. She looked over at Poole who sipped something clear and bubbly. "I think you've got enough cleavage for all of us."

Poole winked at her and Cameron grinned saucily.

At the entrance to the hospital lobby, House stopped short. His view of the bar was unobstructed and he saw Cameron turn as she sipped a glass of champagne. Her long blonde hair was braided and formed a crown on her head. Her makeup accentuated her delicate features and she wore a cream colored dress with embroidery surrounding the deep V that gave him ample view of her cleavage. The skirt flowed back from a slit that showed her long slender legs. House felt his breath catch in his throat and his heart begin to pound. Sweat broke out on his forehead and he had to turn away to get control of himself. Taking several deep breaths, he adjusted his tie and gripped his cane. He slowly made his way toward her.

"You should slow down with those," he commented. Her eyes widened and her pupils dilated as she looked at him. He'd trimmed his beard and his silver hair was swept to one side and curled a little over his brow. He smiled slightly as she openly ogled him in his dark suit, white shirt and silver tie. When she looked down at his right hand, she saw his cane with a skull head on it. He leaned forward slightly to get a better look at the mole on the inside of her right breast.

"Nice," he breathed.

Cameron cleared her throat as color bloomed on her cheeks. Heat coursed through her as he continued to stare at her. She would need a lot more champagne to get through the night.

"You look very debonair, Dr. House. The female donors are going to love you," she told him.

"That's the point. Now, where's the craps table. I plan to win a small fortune tonight." He offered her his arm with a sexy wink. "Care to blow on my dice? And by dice I mean..."

She smiled in a way that sent fire straight through him.

Gill, her brother and Poole watched the two of them walk together to the craps table. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Parkinson asked them.

"Yep. She'll be doing the walk of shame tomorrow morning," Gill replied.

"Hopefully she's not too drunk to remember it." Poole added with a laugh.

XXX

Two hours later, House won a hefty sum at the craps and roulette tables. He also tried to get Cameron to drink plenty of water but the way she was downing the champagne he knew she was very drunk. She could barely stand and Gill helped House take her out to his car so he could drive her home. They managed to get her out without any of the donors or board members seeing her.

"Mmm where're we going?" she murmured as he made sure her seat belt was fastened.

"You are going home to sleep it off," he said as he got in and started the car.

"We going to play doctor, Dr. House?" she giggled as she placed her hand on his leg.

"Behave yourself so we can get home in one piece," he said as he drove out of the parking lot and headed to her apartment. Once they got there, she was barely able to walk on her own, and they made quite a pair as he used his cane to support her extra weight as she hung onto him.

"Where are your keys?" he asked.

She smiled wickedly as she leaned forward giving him a view straight down her dress. "You'll have to find them."

House swallowed hard, shook his head and took her purse. After rummaging around, he found them and unlocked the front door.

"Wanna come in for a nightcap?" she slurred.

"You've had enough nightcaps for both of us. You need to get into bed and sleep it off," he said as they entered her apartment.

"Yeah, sleep sounds good. I've wanted to sleep with you for a long time, House," she said as she stumbled into her bedroom. House followed to ensure she didn't hurt herself.

"Not tonight," he said.

"Why? In case you haven't noticed, I am throwing myself at you, you dumb, blind prick!"

House stared back at her as she wrapped her arms around him.

"Name calling is beneath you," he said as he removed her arms from around his waist and guided her over to the bed. "Now sit. Where are your pajamas?"

"I sleep in the nude," she giggled as she pulled her dress over her head and dropped it on the floor. She kicked off her peep toe pumps and stood before him in a lacy, cream colored thong.

"Oh for the love of…" he groaned and picked up the dress. Limping to her closet, he hung it on a hook and took a few moments to get his erection under control. The sight of her nearly naked was almost his undoing. Averting his eyes, he went to her dresser and opened drawers until he found a cotton night shirt. "Here, put this on."

"Aww you're no fun. I thought you wanted me, House."

"Not like this."

"Not like what?"

"Drunk!" he snapped as he wrestled her into the night shirt. "I'm not sleeping with you just to have you puke all over me and then not remember what happened."

"Then stay and keep me company."

He actually considered it, due to how drunk she was. Once she was dressed for bed, he pulled back the covers and she climbed in, yawning.

"I'll get you some water."

He went to her bathroom and filled a glass with water, and as a precaution, grabbed the trash can and put it next to the bed. "Here, drink up."

She did what he asked so he went and refilled it. When he returned, she was out cold.

Stripping down to his boxer shorts, he got into bed next to her, hoping for a restful night but prepared for the opposite.

Cameron's retching woke him up a few hours later. At least she had the decency to make it to the bathroom first. So he got up and found her sitting on the floor next to the toilet, sweaty strands of hair plastered to her face.

"My brain is on fire," she groaned.

"Gee, I wonder why," he said as he wet a washcloth and wiped her face with it.

"I'm never drinking again."

"I've heard that before, too."

"Why did you stay?"

"To make sure you didn't drown in your own vomit."

"Mmm..you're my knight," she murmured as she slowly got up and went back to bed. "Thank you," she murmured again as she pulled the covers up over herself. "Don't tell the team about this, okay?"

"I won't have to. Gill already knows. How else do you think I got you into the car? You were like a dead weight."

"How did you get me here?"

"You managed to walk by yourself by leaning on me."

"Lovely."

When he heard her deep, slow breathing, he knew she was asleep and hoped she'd sleep until morning. When he eventually woke up, she was still asleep but he was hungry. Careful not to wake her, he got up, pulled on his trousers and dress shirt, then went out to the kitchen. He started the coffee and found some bread to make toast.

"What's the best cure for a wicked hangover?" Cameron mumbled as she padded into the kitchen. Her face was pale, her hair half hanging loose from its braid, and she covered her eyes from the bright sunlight flooding into the kitchen.

"A good spanking," House replied as he took the toast out of the toaster and slathered jam on it. "But then maybe you like that."

"Not now, House," she groaned as she went to the coffee maker and poured herself a large mug of it.

The doorbell rang and House slowly rose to answer it. Poole stood looking impossibly alert and holding a large bag.

"Got food in there?" he asked.

She smiled and he stepped back to let her in. "Not anything you'd want. Elaine called me this morning. She's hung over but asked me to check on Allison."

"You don't seem surprised to see me here," he commented as he followed her to the kitchen where Cameron sat on the floor cradling her coffee cup. Apparently, walking to the kitchen table proved to be too much for her.

"Elaine said she helped you take Allison out to your car so you could take her home. I figured you'd stay since it was so late." Poole began to pull items from the bag.

House sat back down at the kitchen table and picked up his toast. "Who is Elaine?"

"Gill," Cameron and Poole responded in unison.

House leaned back and narrowed his eyes at Poole. "You are a scary little pixie."

"I just stopped in to make a hangover cure," she told him with a smile.

"You were drinking seltzer all night," House commented. "And I know you don't drink so how do you know about hangover cures?"

"I may not drink but my husband and one of my sisters does." She helped Cameron up and guided her toward a chair. Then she began opening cabinets until she found a clean glass. "And before you ask, no, I don't abstain for religious reasons. I just don't like the taste."

She quickly and efficiently mixed up a drink for Cameron and set the glass in front of her. "Drink up," she said.

Cameron made a face but drank the reddish brown liquid. Poole took the glass, rinsed it and left it in the sink.

"Well, I'm off," she said to Cameron. "If you need anything, let me know."

Cameron nodded. She was already beginning to look better.

With a smile at both of them, Poole left.

House looked at Cameron. "Feeling better?" he asked.

She nodded. "Whatever was in that really worked. I'm a little hungry."

House got up, fixed her some toast and a glass of water.

"Here, eat up. And then I'm going to head home. I need a shower and a change of clothes."

She nodded and ate her toast while he went into the bedroom to get the rest of his things.

"You did look good last night, you know," she said as he grabbed his keys.

"So did you. Now take it easy. Doctor's orders."

She managed a small smile and a wave. "Yes, Doctor."

To Be Concluded…

A/N: That bit about the cure for a hangover being a good spanking was actually said by my Grandpa. I called my Grandma asking for a hangover cure, so she repeated the question to my Grandpa and "a good spanking" was his response. I had to use it :)