Amazing Grace- A House/NCIS story

DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything House related except DVDs. Ryan is mine, though.

Chapter four:

"So, what's it like being the only woman in the team?" Cameron asked Ziva as they left the office.

Ziva smiled. "I think you know as well as I do. I do think it gives us a sense of power."

Cameron laughed. "Yeah, every now and then I'll say or do something, and the guys are like 'wow, you're a girl.' You know?"

"Yeah. Tony and McGee are more like 'wow, you can defend yourself without a gun'."

Cameron stopped at the elevator and snapped her fingers. "That's what I need! A gun. Maybe then House will listen without me having to look like a total idiot."

Ziva laughed and they stepped into the elevator together. "So, Chase and Foreman... twelve year old boys posing as adults?"

Cameron considered her co-workers. "I'd say, Foreman sixteen, Chase twelve and House about eight. You?"

Ziva mused thoughtfully. "Tony is definitely a sixteen year old boy. McGee is more thirteen."

"Then they should all get along great. Abby seems nice."

"She is. I feel I should be closer, considering how few women there are though."

Cameron nodded in agreement. "That's how I feel about Cuddy. I mean, she runs the hospital, but in the end, she's the same sex and has to put up with House as much as I do."

Ziva chuckled. "Yeah, he seems...interesting."

Cameron snorted. "That's one word. I can supply more, trust me. Gibbs seems...distant. Like I'm not sure to trust him or not."

"That's because he's deciding whether he should trust you or not. He'll come round. Work always comes first with Gibbs."

Cameron smiled, and gave a faint smile as they approached the patient's room.

"Did you see how DiNozzo looked at Cameron?" Chase asked Foreman as they watched Adam go through the MRI.

Foreman raised an eyebrow. "What? You jealous?"

Chase snorted. "No. I think House is though. And I can't see that working in our favour."

"No. You think Cameron's into DiNozzo?"

"I don't know. If she is and something happens, I don't want to be near House when he finds out."

Foreman laughed in agreement. "MRI's clean."

"Adam doesn't like to talk about his trips," Dana told Cameron and Ziva, shooting anxious glances at the clock to see how long her husband had been gone.

"His theory was, while he was away, he was at work. And that work takes him away from me and the girls."

"I can't imagine missing chunks of your children's lives would be enjoyable," Ziva commented.

"It's not," Cameron murmured, not realising the other women had overheard.

"Do you have children, Dr. Cameron?" Dana asked.

Cameron smiled sympathetically. "No, I don't. But my father and brother are in the navy. Well, my dad's retired... but having him gone for months at a time was horrible."

Dana nodded enthusiastically. "Oh, I know. Adam never even wanted to join the navy! His father was in the navy, and wanted his son to live on the glory... Adam even convinced his best friend to enlist with him!" Her voice quietened suddenly.

"What is it?" Ziva asked her comfortingly.

Dana hesitated. "A few months ago, right before Adam left... his best friend... the one who he enlisted with... he was killed."

Cameron and Ziva gasped. "That's horrible. I'm so sorry," Cameron said quietly.

"Adam blamed himself. Ben wanted to be a lawyer, but Adam convinced him the navy would be... an adventure I guess. He felt if Ben had gone to law school instead, he would have lived."

"He can't believe it was his fault!" Cameron said reasonably. "Surely Ben would have said no if he really didn't want to enlist."

"That's what I said!" Dana agreed. "But Adam... he's nothing but stubborn." She stifled a sob, and her shoulders shook violently. Cameron laid a comforting hand on her arm.

"Dana, this isn't the ship. We have more equipment, more medicine, more everything so Adam can get the best treatment available. We're doing everything we can to diagnose him."

Dana nodded, trying to control herself and Cameron hesitated. She hated to suggest it, but it as part of her job, and if she didn't, there was a chance House would, and she knew Dana wasn't strong enough for her boss's antics.

"Dana, I hate to ask... but did Adam ever use any drugs? Grief can do funny things to people, and if he wasn't home..."

"No," Dana interrupted. "I mean, he drinks and smokes and did pot in college, but nothing more. Well, not that he ever told me about."