Sorry about the delay! I know Valentine's is over, but, I'm a slow writer! I know I have started writing previews, but seriously, I had no idea what I was gonna write for this chapter, and I've kind lost direction. This chapter and the next few are kind just fillers. I'm going through writer's block, and school has just started, and I'm trying to concentrate more, and get all my extra-curricular activities in order (Duke of Ed coming up), I've gotta pick a sport, decide if I'm gonna do the audition for school musical, so yeah, I'm just really not together, so this chapter will be possibly be rather badly written.
Three months. Three months had gone by since she had left.
In three months House and Cameron had had around four fights and four make-ups, enveloping the whole hospital with House's mood swings. In three months, Cuddy announced that she and Wilson were planning to have a child together. In three months, turned down several advances from various women. In three months, there had been no word from her.
"Is it possible for anyone to make sense of a legal document, or I am I just getting stupid?" says House staring at a file in his hand.
"Well, maybe if you didn't feel the need to get us sued every time we have a patient, you wouldn't have to be reading that," says Cameron
"Only every other time," says House.
"Remind me again why they are suing us?" says Foreman, hand on his temple.
"What do you mean, why? You performed a totally dangerous and invasive test which she didn't consent to," says Cameron.
"Hey, a man's gotta start somewhere," says House.
"He was the one who told me that she had said yes," says Foreman pointing at House.
"Yay and nay sound so similar though," says House.
"If I lose my medical licence because of this, I'll be the one suing you," says Foreman to House.
"Relax, when the results come back positive, we save her life and she'll drop the case,"
"What if it doesn't come back positive?" says Cameron.
"Then we're screwed," says House.
Cameron stares at him, seething with rage.
All the while, Chase sits quietly, playing with a pencil. He was thinking about her, and why she hadn't contacted them, and more importantly, why she had been gone so long, when she had promised only to be away for a few weeks. He knew that she was wild and free-spirited with a mind of her own, but she could've called, and her lack of communication with them was making him worried. He felt that something was wrong.
"Chase?" says Cameron.
"What?"
"What's wrong with you?" House asks.
Chase opens his mouth and pauses. Everyone looks at him strangely.
"Don't you guys think that it's weird?" he says
"What's weird?" asks Foreman.
"Oh, I don't know, how about, why Kimee has seemingly lost complete contact with us, and disappeared off the face of the earth?" Chase says
Everyone is silent, and glances are darted at House's direction. His back is turned from the team, facing the window.
"Chase, I'm sure-" begins Cameron.
"Her whereabouts doesn't concern you," says House icily. He turns around. "Its none of your business,"
"OK then," says Chase crossing his arms. "Do you know what she's doing? Why she hasn't called, or written or emailed? Why she said she would be back in two weeks, but has been gone for three months?" asks Chase, creasing his forehead. House remains silent. "Well, do you?"
House stares sternly at him, his eyes cold and hard, not saying anything. He then, without a word, limps out leaving his team sitting in silence.
"That was really insensitive," says Cameron.
"Oh, and when has anyone been thoughtful when it comes to House?" says Chase.
"Chase," says Cameron. "He has feelings too,"
"Yeah, I'm sure. He doesn't even care about his own niece," retorts Chase.
"Of course he cares!" exclaims Cameron.
"It's kinda hard to care when you're the world's most miserable bastard,"
"Chase, he has noticed Kimee's prolonged absence. He has noticed that she's basically vanished. He has noticed. And he is upset about it. It just so happens he isn't going to let it show," says Cameron.
"Yeah Chase. Even House would notice and be concerned that his niece has virtually gone missing. You're not the only one who cares about her," says Foreman.
Chase sighs.
"Everyone is worried about her," says Cameron. "But, you're letting this get to you way too much. Because she's not your girlfriend, she's not one of your oldest, and best friends. She's not even a colleague. She's your boss's niece, and I think that you are becoming too emotionally attached to her for your own good,"
"What do you mean?" says Chase, though he knew perfectly well what she was saying.
"Chase, you obviously have feelings for her. But having feelings for her, would mean risking your career," says Foreman. "House would go insane, and you could jeopardize everything you've worked for…and I hate to be the one to say this, but I don't think any feelings of that sort are reciprocated,"
Chase is silent for a while.
"Chase, we all adore her. But you have to draw the line between friendship and relationship," says Cameron.
After a moment, Chase opens his mouth.
"I don't know what you guys are talking about," he says. Cameron and Foreman glance from him to each other.
"Chase…"
"Seriously. I'm just vexed about a friend. Sorry if I went too over the top…must be too much caffeine," he says and then quickly gets up and walks out.
Cameron and Foreman exchange glances.
-0-
House barges into Cuddy's office, blatantly ignoring the protesting secretary. Cuddy doesn't even look up.
"Hello, Dr House," she says cheerily. She looks up. "What can I do for you today?" she says with mockingly
"Where's your boyfriend?" he demands.
""If you paid any attention to his life other than aspects including you, you'd know he's at an oncology conference," Cuddy says. "Why?"
"Oh, someone's over-protective of their precious boy,"
"I'm over-protective with everyone when it comes to you," Cuddy says. "Spill,"
"Nuh-uh, secret boys club business. No girls allowed," says House, taking out his pill bottle and tipping out a Vicodin.
"Yeah," says Cuddy. "Right then,"
"You wouldn't understand," says House popping a Vicodin into his mouth. He then turns to leave
"Of course not," Cuddy says, and then after a pause says: "Its about Kimee, isn't it?"
House stops, but doesn't say anything.
"I know it must be… distressing not knowing why she hasn't…" Cuddy says, drifting off. "I…I'm sure she's OK. She's a tough girl,"
House doesn't reply.
"She might have some other reason why she left…why she hasn't come back…"
Cuddy pauses to see House's reaction.
"I'm sure that this must be unsettling, and everything, but she must have a good reason, or why would she-" Cuddy continues but stops when House glares icily at her.
"Whatever you think you might know about me and how I 'feel', is wrong. How could you possibly have the faintest idea what's going through my head?"
"How could I possibly…House, you don't need to act like this. It's perfectly normal-"
"Normal? Yeah, totally normal for a nineteen year-old girl to be God knows where doing God knows what. You're pathetic Cuddy. Acting as if she's your child, acting as if you're her mother. Well you know what? You're not. Hey, you're not anyone's mother, because you can't get pregnant, no matter how hard you have tried," House yells.
Cuddy stops and looks at him, her eyes reproachful and despondent. There is a long silence.
"If she does have… then it's not my concern. Nor is it yours," says House and then turns around and leaves.
Cuddy sighs, and leans back in her chair.
-0-
Chase sat in a surgery waiting room, head in his hands. He usually wasn't like this, but…he couldn't help himself. It just was so… messed up. He was distracted, and agitated.
"Dr Chase?" says a voice from behind him. Chase turns around to see Wilson there.
"Oh, yeah, I'm fine," says Chase.
"Yes, you look fine…I usually clutch my head as I'm rocking backwards and forwards. Though I prefer a padded cell," says Wilson
Chase just looks at him despondently.
"Sorry. Too much time around House, I guess," says Wilson as he sits down. "What's up?"
"Oh, its nothing. I…I'm just having a bad day,"
"A bad day? It's ten o'clock in the morning. You haven't had enough time to have a day yet, good or bad,"
"Well, I've been having a lousy week. A few lousy weeks," says Chase
Wilson nods, an expression of knowing on his face.
"This is to do with Kimee's prolonged absence," says Wilson.
"You noticed?" says Chase with a hint of sarcasm
"I've noticed, that's for sure," says Wilson.
"I don't get it. We have had no contact from her, she's been gone for months…I just…don't get it,"
"Well, she's young, and inquisitive, and free of anything tying her down. She waltzes from one place to another without a care…she's…she's House's niece," says Wilson. "She craves excitement, and maybe…"
"Everyone wants excitement. But you don't just get up and leave without a word of warning," says Chase.
"You're right. But…you have to trust that she's OK. And that she's not here for all the right reasons,"
"And what are the wrong reasons?" asks Chase.
Wilson sighs.
"That she's run away from something,"
Chase looks at him sceptically, but there's a part of him that believes it.
"Really?"
"Running seems to be a habit for her family. And not necessarily physically," Wilson says.
"Run? When has House run away from anything?"
"Are you serious? House is the master of running away. If it weren't for his leg, he'd do a whole lot more running, both emotionally and physically,"
"House is a miserable jerk. Kimee is nothing like him," says chase.
"You'd be surprised," says Wilson getting up. "I don't think you know her as well as you think you do,"
And with that Wilson walks off, and Chase looks at his departing form exasperatedly.
-0-
House sits in his office, watching one of the many Asian DVDs Kimee had left behind on his Plasma.
At that moment, Cameron walks in.
"Why are you watching TV?" says Cameron.
"After all this time of working together, you actually still ask that question?" House says.
"Right, what was I thinking," says Cameron, and gives him a reproving look.
"Oh, stop being such a kill-joy," House says and pats the spot next to him on the couch.
"A woman is dying, and all you can do is watch TV?" says Cameron, but sits down anyway.
"Well, it serves as a good distraction," says House. Cameron just sighs.
"Greg, with Kimee-"
"Shh, Nala is about to tell Jiangjun she's in love with him," says House, his eyes glued to the screen.
Cameron glances at the TV.
"What are you watching?" she asks him
"A Korean show," says House, and temporarily tears his eyes away from the television as he says: "You wouldn't understand,"
"No kidding," says Cameron. "Look-"
"Leave it," says House
"It's-"
"Seriously, Allison. I'm telling you. Leave it alone," says House sternly.
Cameron opens her mouth again but then stops.
"OK," Cameron says, finally giving in. Then silence.
"You can talk you know. I know you want to say something," says House
"Ok, well, do you know what the date is today?" Cameron asks, propping herself up.
"February something…" says House. Then it dawns on him. "No…"
"Yes," says Cameron with a grin. "Valentine's Day tomorrow,"
"Oh God," says House. "Of course you look forward to the most inane holiday of the year,"
"Naturally," says Cameron.
"How can somebody who went to med school actually acknowledge such a ridiculous nonsensical, superficial and stereotypical holiday? You know its only purpose is to feed big corporate companies more money,"
"I do, and it is ludicrous, but…but this is the first time in a while that I've had someone to share it with," says Cameron. House looks at her and sighs.
"OK!" he says melodramatically.
"OK what?" says Cameron, playfully.
"OK Valentine's Day," says House.
"Yay!" says Cameron like a sixteen year old. She gives House a kiss. "So what do want to do?"
"Strippers," replies House.
"I'm going to ignore that," says Cameron. She jumps up, and says to him: "Pick me up at seven. I expect to be taken somewhere where I can wear my new Manolos,"
And with that she walks out.
House then quickly gets up, goes out side to his balcony, hops over to Wilson's side and barges into his office, where Wilson is sitting.
"What the hell are Manolos?" is his first question.
"Valentine's Day?" says Wilson knowingly.
"Do I look like I celebrate Valentine's Day? Do I look like I celebrate any day?" says House.
"I know what you mean. Lisa has redecorated my whole apartment. She sprayed perfume on my pillow. On my pillow! I can still smell the Chanel," says Wilson
"Whoa. That's bad," says House.
"Tell me about it," says Wilson. "What are you gonna do?"
"Well I'm banking on falling ill with a mysterious and incurable disease," says House.
"Yes, because you're girlfriend would know nothing about medicine," says Wilson.
"God, who created this stupid day anyway? If I ever meat this Valentine dude…"
"Go with something simple. The classic dinner and movie combo-"
"Stop. Candlelit dinners? Romcoms?"
"Romcoms?"
"Romantic comedies, you idiot," says House.
"Right. Well, I guess you could do something weird and out-there…skywriting,"
"Skywriting?" repeats House.
"OK, bad idea,"
"Maybe I should stop talking to you,"
"Hey, I've got more romance experience than you,"
"Yeah, I bet you whirlwind ideas really swept all three of your wives away," says House.
"You came to me, remember?"
"And now I am intensely regretting it," says House and gets up.
"You asked for it," says Wilson.
"I'm a moron I know," says House and walks out.
-0-
The next day, Cuddy sat in her office, sorting through some files. A huge smile is on her face. Valentine's Day had been a holiday she avoided like the plague. But now that she had James Wilson in her life, she was suddenly very festive. She had even gone to the trouble of having the hospital decorated. Love hearts, roses and red was all that you could see when you stepped into the main lobby. Even if it did annoy the hell out of half the staff and patients.
There was a knock at the door, and Cuddy looks up.
"Dr Cuddy," says a smiling Cameron
"Dr Cameron. Happy Valentine's day," Cuddy says getting up and walking around her desk to give Cameron a hug.
"Happy Valentine's Day," says Cameron, hugging her back. The two women were both in rather high spirits now that they had someone to share the one hated holiday.
"Would you like one?" says Cuddy, offering Cameron some chocolates on her desk.
"O, yes please," says Cameron taking one. "Wilson gave you these?"
"Yes, and a dozen red roses," says Cuddy gesturing at the flowers in a vase.
"They're beautiful," says Cameron.
"What about House?" asks Cuddy. "Did he get you anything, or has he chosen to stick with the jerk-image?"
"I don't know …I haven't seen him yet," says Cameron.
"He's probably hiding. Start with the coma guy, exam room one and surgery waiting rooms," advises Cuddy.
"Actually, I've been avoiding him," says Cameron.
"Why?"
"Because I don't know what he's gonna do," says Cameron. "I don't want to be let down,"
"Didn't you try threatening him?"
"I did the pleading yesterday. Hope I don't have to resort to threats," says Cameron with a smile.
"Well, he's definitely no Casanova but he's not an idiot. Besides, I think I saw him coming in with a rose in his hand," says Cuddy.
"Really?" says Cameron. "Well, I better go find out, eh?"
"I think so," says Cuddy and the two women exchange smiles before Cameron walks out.
-0-
House opens the door slightly, and pokes his head in. He scans the room, and makes sure that there is no sign of human life. The conference room is empty, it seems. He quickly walks in, a secretive jaunt in his step. He swiftly goes over to Cameron's desk and slips a note and a rose on the table. Then with another quick glance, hobbles out of the room.
-0-
Cameron walks into the conference room. She heads over to her desk, and rummages through a stack of papers. Then she spots the rose and note. She smiles, and picks them up, and smells the rose. She then reads the note.
WARNING: ANYBODY WHO ISN'T ALLISON CAMERON AND IS READING THIS NOTE WILL BE PROSEUCTED AND HEAVILY PUNSIHED
Dear Allison.
If you want your V Day gift
You will have to take the lift
Therein you will find
Another note of this kind
Love You-Know-Who
Cameron made a puzzled face.
"Lift?" she says out loud.
-0-
Cameron goes to Wilson's office, and knocks on his door.
"Come in," says Wilson.
Cameron quickly walks in.
"Hey, do you know what a lift is?" asks Cameron.
"What do you mean lift? You mean like the picking something up?"
"No, I got this note from Greg, telling me to 'take the lift',"
"How like him to make everything cryptic," says Wilson. "Well, I've got no idea,"
"OK then," says Cameron.
"Sorry, and good luck," says Wilson with a smile.
"Yeah," says Cameron and quickly walks out.
-0-
Cameron is re-reading the note, when she bumps into Chase.
"Whoa, what's the rush?" says Chase.
"Oh, nothing," says Cameron then stops. "Chase?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you know what 'take the lift' means?"
"Take the lift? You mean elevator?" says Chase
"Elevator?"
"Yeah, it's the Australian slang for it. Funny, House asked me how you say-" says Chase but Cameron doesn't hear the rest as she runs off towards the elevators.
-0-
Cameron reaches the elevators in the lobby, and on one of the elevators there is a sign.
THIS ELEVATOR OUT OF ORDER. USE ANOTHER ELEVATORCameron smiles, as she presses the elevator button. The doors of the operating elevator open, and she steps in. She looks around, and then spots a post-it note on one of the walls.
FOR ALLISON CAMERON'S EYES ONLY
Yo, baby, you found yo clue
There's a gift waitin' fo you
Press the button below the two
It will lead you to…your present
…
P.S I know that doesn't rhyme
Cameron then pushes the button. Level one. Clinic.
-0-
Cameron steps out of the elevator, and looks around for her next clue. But she doesn't see anything. She sighs, and looks at the ground. Then a frightened-looking nurse comes up to her, eyes darting about.
"Dr Cameron?"
"Yes?"
"I was told to give you this," says the nurse, her voice panicky
"Oh," she says as the nurse hands her a folded up note.
Cameron read the note:
Hide-out spot number #102Instantly, Cameron headed for Exam Room 2.
Inside she found a patient having their prostate examined.
"Oh, I'm sorry," says Cameron to the man.
"It's OK," says the guy.
"Dr Cameron," Dr House left a note for you," says the doctor, pointing to the counter.
Cameron picked it up and then hurriedly heads outside.
"Goodbye," calls the patient.
Cameron looks at the note.
Start at the bottom of the staircase
Then take 500 hundred steps, no less, no more, then walk outside, and see which level you are on
Cameron looks at the note weirdly, but heads over to the staircase anyway.
-0-
Cameron finally counted 500 hundred steps. And with a deep breath, opens the door. She was back on level three. Where she had started…
She looks around for more cluse, but doesn't see anything. Then she sees a small black arrow drawn on the ground. She shakes her head.
"You've got to be kidding me," she says. The arrow is pointing towards…the Diagnostics conference room.
With another sigh, she walks towards the room, hands on her hips. She opens the door, and walks in. There sitting on a chair is House, leaning on his cane with a mischievous face.
"That was not funny,"
" I thought it was," says House.
"Was there any point in sending me on that wild goose-hunt?" says Cameron.
"Well, I had to get in here inconspicuously," says House, and then pauses. "OK, there was no point,"
"Do I at least get my present?" asks Cameron.
"Here," he says handing her a CD.
"Oh my god," says Cameron. It is the Shins album, 'Oh Inverted world' "I've wanted this for like, ever!"
"Yeah, and when you're done listening to it, you can lend it to me,"
"You are so self-centred sometimes," says Cameron.
"Really? Well, then if I'm so self-centred, maybe I should cancel those dinner reservations I made…"
"Hey, aren't I allowed to joke?" says Cameron.
"No, because then I'd become the sweet-as-sugar killjoy," says House.
"I'm not a killjoy!" says Cameron indignantly.
"So, where's my present?"
"No, since you made that callous remark, you'll have to wait," says Cameron playfully. And then with a mock sniff, marches out of the room.
"Lingerie," House says to himself, and happily settles back into his chair.
-0-
Chase sits in his apartment, absentmindedly-watching TV. It was the most romantic day of the year and he was sitting at home watching 'The OC'. It was really depressing. Especially when all he could think about was her. And she wasn't here. She was virtually gone form his life, and he had no idea if he would see her again in the near future.
At that moment, his phone rang.
"I wonder…" he thought, and picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Robert?"It was his stepmother, Hélène.
"Oh, Hélène," says Chase, a hint of disappointment in his voice.
"Robert, I'm sorry to call you on Valentine's Day…""No, its fine," says Chase. He and his stepmother had never…been on the friendliest of terms.
"I know today of all days-" Hélène says, and sobs."What is it Hélène?" Chase asks urgently.
"I'm so sorry to be the one to tell you this but…you father passed away,"Chase doesn't respond. He is frozen. He couldn't believe what he just heard. It couldn't be true…he…he had seen him. Just a few months ago. He seemed perfectly healthy.
"How…"Chase manages to say.
"Darling, it was the cancer,"
"Cancer?"
"Yes…did…didn't you know?""No…he never told me,"
"Oh, Robert, I'm sorry-""Why didn't he tell me?"
"He…he probably wanted to protect you…""From what?"
Hélène sobs again.
"Robert, come home. Come back for the funeral. He would've wanted you here,""I…I don't know if I can,"
"Please, Robert. We need you,"Chase says, the tears stinging his eyes.
"OK," he chokes, and then hangs up the phone.
-0-
House gathered up the last of his things, and shuts the blinds. He had to go home to get ready for tonight.
One of the downsides of relationshipsHe rifles through a stack of DVDs on his desk, when one falls out. It opens on the floor. House picks it up, and finds that a piece of folded paper fell out of it. One the front it says:
From Kimee-0-
Cameron quickly gets out of her car, and rushes to House's apartment and bangs on the door. She is wearing a blue-green sating dress with a corset back and purple peep-toe heels. Her hair is done in a messy-bun.
"Greg!" she yells. Pounds her fist. "Open the door!"
Suddenly the door opens and House appears.
"Hello?! You were supposed to pick me up an hour ago!" she says. She looks at him. "Why aren't you dressed? You know Aprils' Fool is not for another month!"
"Sorry," says House. "I don't really feel up for it tonight," he says and then walks inside. Cameron follows him, a look of exasperation on her face.
"Why not?"
House picks up a piece of paper.
"I found this today," he says. "It's a letter from Kimee,"
Cameron stops, her face softening.
"What does it say?" Cameron asks.
"Read it," House says handing her the letter. Cameron takes it, her eyes on his.
She reads it out loud:
"Dear uncle,
By the time you read this, I could've been gone a day or a year. However long it has been, I want you to know I'm sorry. I know I should've told you this, but…I won't be coming back. Not in the near future anyway. I cannot explain why I have left, or why I didn't tell you. Well, I didn't tell you, because I didn't want you to try and stop me. Because if you had simply said the word, I would've stayed. Even though I wasn't meant to. One day, I will be able to explain, but for now, just trust me that I am alright, and that you don't need to know where I am, or what I'm doing. And tell everyone, Eric, Lisa, James, Allison and Robert that they shouldn't worry. They don't need to worry. Because, I am OK.
Love Kimee,"
Cameron looks at House.
"What is going on?" she asks.
"No idea," House responds. "For once in my life, I have no clue,"
-0-
TBC…OK, I'm gonna try really hard to finish this fic, soon, as I want to start a new fic, which is taking up some of my time. So bear with me, alright?!
Please review, and criticism, advice and suggestions are all welcome!