Chapter three- Favours.
"How are my kids?" House said loudly, after dry swallowing a Vicodin to take his mind off things.
"Great" Said Foreman "No new cases... the patient's responding to your treatment. In fact, he's due for it any minute now… shall I?"
"Yeah" said House "Foreman, keep the patient alive. Go treat him. Then do your clinic hours. Chase- I want you to run some tests on our samples, and log them, we need to be able to have a better way to recognise this… and you can do your clinic hours, too."
Chase piped up "So, is Cameron coming as well? Those tests will take until lunchtime without help."
"Exactly" House said, widening his eyes a little for emphasis "and this afternoon Chasey-wasey can do his clinic hours, or does he need Cameron to hold his hand doing those too?" He taunted in a false baby-ish voice.
After Foreman had strolled and Chase had scurried out of the conference room, Cameron moved over towards House and handed him his morning coffee.
"Good morning, House" She smiled. Somehow she felt special, because he hadn't dismissed her like the others. Taking a sip of his coffee, her boss raised his eyebrows in greeting. He liked how she was still here. It made him feel almost special, that she hadn't scurried off to bury herself in papers and tests like she used to when he didn't specify her a job to do.
"Good morning, Cameron" She loved how his voice sounded when he said her name, she thought. But then she inwardly scolded herself for using his name and the word 'love' in the same sentence.
He continued: "Go do my clinic hours… and yours. I get to slack before you because I'm the expert" With that he handed her his name badge.
She smiled and started to quickly tidy files and books the boys had left scattered on the table. House watched her. It figured she'd want everything neat again before she left. Fixed, in its place.
He smiled inwardly, and considered the fact that really, if he were Wilson, he would hit on Cameron rather than Mindy-Lou, or whatever her name was. The he remembered his warning look at Wilson at this very suggestion. So Wilson felt she was out of limits? That's rich. But why had House ensured that Cameron had a 'don't go within twenty feet on fear of cane beating' sign stapled to her forehead? He wasn't going to think about it. But before he even got the chance to think things through, his mouth had moved without first consulting his brain.
"And Cameron" What am I doing! His brain screamed, but it was too late to back out now without looking like an idiot. At least, that was what he told himself before adding "Uh, and come get me when you're going to the cafeteria"
Wow. Thought Cameron. She considered asking a question which would force him to admit what he wanted, but a small part of her told her that this was not what he needed.
"Sure." She smiled at him again before sweeping out of the room leaving House alone with his thoughts.
The only thought running through his head, though, was 'you idiot.'
Cameron knew it was stupid, but she couldn't help but feel thrilled that House actually wanted to spend time with her. Granted, it was probably a 'take that' to Wilson, but she didn't care. She was careful to avoid Cuddy at all costs when wearing the 'Dr G House' badge which House had given her earlier. She also tried not to look Nurse Brenda in the eye when saying 'So, those were the hours for Dr House, if Cuddy asks', she knew that all she would get was a disapproving shake of the head or even a tut.
It was one thirty before Cameron even realised it, and despite being pleased to see she had done both her and Houses clinic hours plus overtime, she couldn't help but feel a sickening sinking feeling in her stomach when she looked at the clock, House probably got impatient and went to lunch a good hour ago. She practically ran to the office.
On her breathless arrival, she couldn't help but smile. House was standing by his desk and when he saw her widened his eyes as if to say 'finally' and hobbled towards the door. Grabbing her by the crook of the arm and limping away with her in tow he said:
"My God woman, do you not feel hunger?"
"I'm so sorry, I didn't notice the time and..."
"Don't sweat it" he cut in. She worried too much. "At least this way, we have a guarantee of running into Cuddy. She tends to hover in the cafeteria around now. I take it I did my clinic hours this morning?"
"You did" she smirked as they got into the elevator.
"And I take it I was polite, caring, and dare I say it nice?"
"That would be a yes" Cameron smirked again and looked at House who raised his eyebrows. "To all three." She finished.
He grinned at his little protégé, before saying:
"Now THAT is what I pay you for! That, and the nice body you've got going on." She rolled her eyes, before he carried on. "Who knows, we may even get positive patient feedback. I need to see Cuddy when that happens. Oh, will her face be red!"
They quietly bantered as usual as they made their way to the cafeteria. They picked their meals up, well actually, Cameron went all 'mother hen' on him, and ordered his meal for him. In fact, she did everything for him as they approached the tills; she even made sure he had paper napkins. He was about to make a snarky comment, but he stopped when he saw the careful way in which she filled his drink up, placing it on his tray, getting him a straw. It fascinated him that she would even bother to do these things.
She paid for him! Without question! He gleefully realised this fact, and realised he better be at least half way to nice with her this afternoon. Even Wilson only paid for him because he had to. House couldn't help but acquire a pompous strut (as much as he could, with his cane) as if to say 'Yep, I'm eating lunch with Dr. Cameron, guys, and yep, she paid for me!' Still the alpha male of the hospital.