Amazing Grace- A House/NCIS story
DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything House related except DVDs. Ryan is mine, though.
AN. Just a quick note to say how much I love Tony in this chapter!
Chapter seventeen:
The couple began searching for a new place the very next day, House even enlisted the help of Wilson and Cuddy to find their new home together. On their three-month anniversary, House took her back to Cafe Spiletto, and presented her with another corsage, along with a beautiful silver diamond necklace, which she wore to work the next day. Finally, ten days before Cameron had to be out of her apartment, and six days after she began to panic because they hadn't found a place yet; they stumbled across the perfect place. Cameron had managed to drag him out of bed early one Saturday morning, and taken him to North Princeton so she could look around for a birthday present for Jacqui. While she looked around the various stores, House wandered around aimlessly. He persuaded her to sit down for lunch when a sign caught his gaze.
"Come on," she said abruptly, startling her.
"What? Why? We just sat down and I haven't found anything yet!" she protested, while he pulled her to her feet.
"Allison, her birthday isn't for two weeks, you can come back. Right now, we have to go."
He limped off, and she hurried to catch up, breathless. "Why? Go where? Greg, you're not making any sense!"
He led her to the car and drove off, looking for a particular street. Finally, after a ten minute drive he pulled up alongside a small house and shut off the engine. Cameron looked over at him in confusion.
"Okay, where the hell are we and what was all that about?"
He ignored the question and looked out the window. "What do you think of the house?"
Cameron frowned in confusion and glanced at it. "It's nice. Greg, you're scaring me. What are we doing here?"
"It's for sale. You didn't notice?"
"No," Cameron replied slowly. "How did you know about it?"
"There was an advertisement for the open house on the notice board behind you at lunch," House explained. "An open house which closes in twenty minutes."
"And you couldn't have said anything about this before?" Cameron gaped at him.
"I wanted to see the house first."
Cameron leaned forward and had a closer look at the house. "It looks nice. What do you think?"
House nodded. "I like the outside, that's why I'm suggesting we go in."
Cameron unbuckled her seatbelt and opened her door. "Ok, then."
Hand in hand, the couple headed up the front path, and while they waited for someone to open the door, Cameron looked around. It was a beautiful house, with a large oak tree in the front garden and several flower beds around the porch. She was just reflecting on the quietness of the street when the door was opened.
"Hi, are we too late for the open house?" Cameron asked anxiously.
The woman who greeted them smiled broadly. "Not at all, come on in. I'm Belinda Enderby, the listing agent, it's nice to meet you."
Cameron shook her hand as they stepped into the foyer. "I'm Allison Cameron, and this is my boyfriend Greg House."
"Well then, let me show you around," she said cheerfully.
"Has there been much interest in the house?" House asked, speaking for the first time.
Belinda gave a small nod. "A few. Mostly older couples and a few young couples, but the asking price is a little beyond their budget. They're either looking for a place to retire, or to start a family. How about you two? How long have you been together?" she asked, addressing Cameron.
Cameron glanced at House with a quick smile and a faint blush before answering. "It's complicated. Officially, it's only been three months," she explained, but House cut in.
"Yeah, but unofficially it's been about three years."
Belinda seemed unsure how to react, so she simply nodded and smiled. "Wonderful."
"Just how much is the asking price?" Cameron asked the agent.
Belinda named the price, and Cameron and House exchanged a small smile. It was perfectly reasonable for them, but House merely nodded thoughtfully.
"Of course, you're welcome to make an alternative offer, but the couple who are selling will probably go with whomever goes closer to the asking price," Belinda cautioned.
Then she began the tour. The home had three bedrooms, a study, formal and casual living and dining area, the formal of which contained a large corner for House's piano. There was a large backyard, and huge kitchen which pleased Cameron. It would be a longer commute to and from the hospital than before, but neither couple minded that especially. After the tour, Belinda stepped away to give the couple a moment to talk.
"What do you think?" Cameron asked her boyfriend anxiously.
House looked around and shrugged. "It's alright. Do you want it?"
Cameron looked tense, and House felt her clench. "Yes, but I don't want you to tell her we'll make an offer if you don't."
House rolled his eyes, and kissed her hard. "Allison, I like the house. Really I do. Do you want it?"
Cameron relaxed and grinned. "Yes, I want it."
"Okay then. Let's go tell Barbara-"
"Belinda," Cameron corrected.
"Whatever her name is, that we'll make an offer."
Belinda was ecstatic and she helped them fill in an application before shaking their hands again happily and waving them off. Cameron was trying not to get her hopes up, after all, they didn't know for sure they would get it, but every time the phone rang, her heart leapt. When they arrived at work on Monday, they hadn't not heard anything, but fortunately, they had a new case to distract them.
"Is there any reason why you and House seem tense today?" Foreman asked her as they performed an MRI on their patient.
"Did you fight or something?"
Cameron smiled and shook her head, then decided to tell her friend. "We made an offer on a house on Saturday. We're waiting to hear from the realtor."
Foreman's jaw dropped. "You're moving in together? After three months?"
"Stacy moved in two weeks after their first date," Cameron pointed out. "Besides, it just happened. My lease was up, I didn't particularly want to renew it; but everything was too expensive."
"So... you asked him to go halves?"
Cameron grinned. "Actually, it was his suggestion."
"Wow!" Foreman was amazed. "What did he do? Just announce it in the commercials?"
She laughed. "While I could see him doing that, no. It was sweet. We were eating dinner, he suggested it, I nearly choked on my food-"
"Very romantic," he interjected, but she shushed him and continued.
"Ha ha. I asked if he was sure, he told me yes and that he loved me. Sweet and simple."
"Gee, Cam. You're making him soft," Foreman teased and Cameron's eyes danced.
"Only a little around the edges. But don't expect him to be nice to you."
"If that happened, I would choke," he chuckled.
When they returned to the office with the results, they began a second differential. When the phone rang, Chase answered it.
"Hello?"
"Tell whoever it is to ring back when we're not saving lives," House called out to him.
Chase ignored him and lowered the phone. "They're asking for either you or Cameron. She said her name's Belinda Emmerty or something?"
"Enderby," Cameron said breathlessly, her eyes widening and she dashed passed House to grab the phone.
"Hello, Belinda? Yeah, hi... ok... ok, thanks. I will... okay, bye."
Cameron hung up and turned to House, her face blank. He raised an eyebrow at her questioningly and she gave a small shrug.
"That was Belinda,"
"No shit," he rolled his eyes, and she pursued her lips.
"Fine, I won't tell you we got it then."
House stared at her for a moment, registering what she had said. "We got it?"
She nodded, trying to be mad at him, but failing as an excited smile spread across her face. "We got it!"
She giggled as House stepped forward and embraced her, picking her off her feet, while Foreman grinned and Chase looked confused.
"What did you get?" he asked.
"A house," she beamed, practically dancing on the spot.
His jaw dropped. "Wow, congratulations! Where is it?"
"North Princeton," she explained. "And it's so beautiful! It's got three bedrooms and a study and this huge kitchen that lets so much light it! And this big tree in the front yard..." she trailed off, recalling every detail she could about her new house.
"I can't wait to see it," Chase assured her.
"Well, you can see it in two weeks when you help us move in! Thanks for volunteering and saving me the trouble of blackmailing you like I'll be doing with Foreman and Wilson." House told his stunned employee brightly.
Foreman rolled his eyes. "You don't have to force me, I'll be happy to help," he said to his boss.
"Cool. That just leaves Wilson..." he suddenly turned to his girlfriend. "You have lots of guy friends, any chance you can rope them into helping?"
She laughed. "Sure, because Wisconsin, Washington and Ireland are just practically a block away," she teased.
"But you're pretty! They can't say no," House begged.
"I'll call them to tell them the news. Maybe if you're lucky they'll volunteer," she giggled.
She called Tony once they had finished the differential. House, to conclude had assigned Foreman to do a PET scan, Chase a lumbar puncture, and Cameron to "provide manual labour workers for the big move."
"Hello, this is Special Agent DiNozzo- how may I be of service today?"
Cameron burst out laughing. "Wow, your customer service skills have improved dramatically!"
"Well, if it isn't my lovely immunologist friend! How are you doing, Ally?" Before she could answer, she heard a commotion in the background like someone grabbing the phone. "You'll get a turn to talk Abigail, but wait!" Tony swatted Abby's hands away, who in turn, smacked him on the back of the head, for calling her Abigail.
Cameron giggled. "Tell Abby I say hi, and put me on speaker phone," she replied.
"Awww, but I feel important going first," Tony pouted.
"Do it DiNozzo!" she ordered and he complied grumbling, calling the others over.
"Hi, Ally!" Abby greeted enthusiastically.
"Hi, Abbs. What are you doing up there?" she asked her friend.
"Playing some new music for McGee," she explained.
"Anything good?"
"Yeah, I can send you some stuff if you want."
"Great."
"What's new with you? How's Greg?" Ziva asked her.
Cameron beamed. "Good. Actually, that's why I'm calling...partly. I have some news."
"He proposed?" guessed Abby excitedly.
"No," she laughed.
"You're pregnant?"
"No."
"Did you get promoted?"
"Ha! I wish."
"Ooh, did you elope?"
"Abby!" chorused several voices in unison, Cameron included.
"Sorry," she apologised.
"What's the news, Ally?" McGee asked her, moving forward.
"Greg and I just bought a house together."
"That's great!" Ziva cried, and the others added their congratulations.
"Whose idea was this?" Gibbs asked, startling Cameron, and she guessed correctly he had just entered the room.
"Hey Gibbs. Actually, it was Greg's."
"Wow! When a guy falls for you, he doesn't do it in halves does he?" Tony exclaimed.
"When's the big move?" Ziva asked.
"Uh, two weeks. I think Greg was going to rope the boys into helping," Cameron laughed.
"When are you gonna come visit?" Tony asked. "We haven't seen you in ages!"
"It's been three months, Tony!" Cameron laughed. "And I call at least once a week."
"It's not the same," he whined and she giggled, remembering House's instructions.
"You could always come out to New Jersey to help us move," she said jokingly.
"Ooh, let's do that!" Abby cried enthusiastically.
Cameron was shocked. "Abbs, I was kidding!"
"I'm not! What do you guys reckon?" she asked the team.
"Well, I've always said I don't spend enough time flying interstate to help my friends move house," Tony said cheerfully.
Cameron laughed. "Are you serious?"
"That I actually say that? No. But I think I could spare a weekend to come visit a friend. Probie and I can be moving buddies," he said, slapping McGee on the back.
"Sure, it's not like I have a life," McGee muttered.
"Don't feel pressured, Tim," Cameron interjected.
"Shush, Allison. We're good at peer pressure," Tony retorted. "Ziva?"
"I could spare some time to come visit," Ziva agreed.
"Awesome. Boss?"
Gibbs was silent for a moment. "I'll check my calendar."
"That's a yes," Tony whispered loudly into the speaker, and Cameron giggled.
"Well... if you're sure..."
"You can't have a house warming party without us," Tony cried. "We provide a service. So my dear, we shall see you in two weeks!"
He promptly hung up the phone before Cameron could protest. Just as she replaced the receiver in its cradle, House entered the room after lunch with Wilson.
"Did you con Wilson into helping?" she asked dryly.
"In about thirty seconds. A new personal best," he replied.
"I think I won. I just got five interstate volunteers," she grinned.
"NCIS?" he guessed.
"Yeah. Tony also volunteered us into throwing a house warning party while they're in town," she giggled.
"Ah, see. That makes you lose half your points, so I win."
"How do you win?"
"I got Wilson, Chase and Foreman. That's three, you had five, but lost half which gives you 2.5. I win."
"No, no, no! Foreman volunteered! So you got Chase and Wilson. So I win. 2.5-2."
"Bummer," House sighed.
Cameron grinned. "So, what do I win?"
House considered the matter. "You can choose dinner tonight, and you don't have to clean up."
"Wow, be still my heart!" Cameron said sarcastically.
"Not too still. I find you're more fun when you're alive," House retorted, going into his office.
Two weeks later, Cameron took the Friday afternoon off in order to meet the NCIS team at the airport. She was exhausted, after a constant two weeks of packing and organising things. The house was now officially the property of Dr. Gregory House and Dr. Allison Cameron, House's townhouse had been sold quickly, and she had spent the previous weekend with Jacqui and Cuddy painting and cleaning their new home to perfection.
"Ally!" squealed Abby excitedly, dashing forward to embrace her friend as the group emerged from the plane.
"Hi!" she laughed, hugging her tightly before greeting the others. "Thanks for doing this, you guys. It's so great to see you!"
"I enjoy physical labour," Tony smiled at her. "I always said if I wasn't a NCIS agent, I'd be a removalist."
"Ok, I get it, you don't like heavy work." Cameron scowled at him. "You didn't have to come, DiNozzo!"
He hugged her. "Are you kidding? I wouldn't miss this for the world!"
Cameron ignored him and embraced Gibbs, who had been hovering at the back of the group. "Hi, Gibbs. I'm glad you came," she said sincerely.
"I'm glad I came too," he smiled, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.
The team was generously being accommodated by various PPTH members, as to avoid staying at a hotel. Gibbs would be staying with Wilson; Ziva and Abby with Cuddy; Tony with Foreman; and McGee with Chase. Cameron and House did not have anyone staying with them, due to the fact they were moving.
"So, I'll take you all to where you're staying and then we're going to meet up for dinner tonight," Cameron briefed them as she led the way to the parking lot. "And then everyone's meeting at Greg's place tomorrow at nine; then we'll do mine, and then it's just setting up the new house. Hopefully, Sunday, you guys can relax or do whatever, then lunch at the new house to celebrate, and then you guys fly out on Sunday night, right?"
"Right," Gibbs confirmed.
"Be sure not to fight over who turns out the light," Tony chuckled and Cameron glared at him.
"Don't push me, DiNozzo."
They piled into the car, and she dropped everyone off at her co-worker's homes, before returning to her apartment to dress. She and House had decided to take them to dinner at Cafe Spiletto, an idea on House's part because he thought it would be funny; and on Cameron's part because she knew Tony and Ziva would love the food. House let himself into Cameron's mostly boxed up apartment that evening and headed to the bedroom, where he found his girlfriend wearing a black lacy dress and in the process of pinning her hair up.
"Oh, I like it when you wear it down!" he moaned.
She made a face at him in the mirror over her dresser. "Tough. I'm wearing it up."
"Spoilsport," he muttered, kissing her scented neck.
Dinner was loud and enjoyable, with lots of laughing, especially when Cameron informed Tony they were only allowed two bottles of wine for the night to "prevent you from lifting my grandmother's furniture with a hangover."
"You're no fun," he grumbled.
"That's what I told her about half an hour ago," House said lightly, and Cameron smacked his arm playfully.
The move itself went well, with no broken items. Cameron was stationed at the new house, and she ordered the boys around as they entered with boxes and furniture. Gibbs was appointed to supervise the loading of the truck Wilson had hired; and House was put in charge of lunch run by Cameron, because his self-appointed duty was to sit in the passenger side of the removalist truck watching soaps on his portable television. When everything had been moved inside, Cameron made the boys move the furniture to her perfection, and then she ordered all the men out while she and the other women helped her unpack.
By the time everyone arrived at the couple's new home on Sunday evening, they were amazed. Cameron had unpacked and organised most of the main rooms, and even persuaded House to help her cook dinner.
"As long as you don't go into any of the bedroom, the house looks great!" Cameron laughed, when McGee commented on this. They were having an early dinner, as the visitors' plane was due to leave at eight. As they left, Cameron hugged them all tightly, thanking them for their help.
Ziva and Abby made her promise to come out to Washington to visit soon, and she agreed.
"Whenever I get time off, I'll come visit," she swore.
"That's code for 'see you at Christmas'," Tony teased, and Cameron hit him on his way out the door.
Finally, when all their guests had gone, Cameron cleaned up the kitchen, locked up the house, and the couple went to bed, happily reflecting on their new home.