Chapter nine- In your absence.
Lunch carried on with a pretty low key exchange about the weather, and the holidays. The conversation was thankfully only occasionally permeated by a snide comment from House, so the tension at the table was kept to a minimum. Despite the relatively easy conversational flow, it was inevitable that two separate talks would branch off. It so happened that House and Wilson came to discuss 'The Gravedigger' whilst Cuddy and Cameron discussed nothing other than where they got their Christmas cards from this year. House caught snippets of the women's discussion, and for him, snippets was more than enough.
As their meal came to an end Wilson had an emergency page from the oncology department and had to rush off, leaving what had become a relatively comfortable four as a now awkward three. It was clear that House was getting bored. Cameron noticed this when he started to try and balance his credit cards in a tower. Cuddy had ignored him for the past few minutes, after all the women's conversation had taken a turn to wrapping paper, and Cuddy was not going to give House the satisfaction or indeed the opportunity to mock them for it.
It was not until he had started to tap his cane on the leg of the table in an irritating rhythm that the older woman finally suggested they go and bus their trays. However, as she got up to leave, House put his cane out to block her way.
"What?" Cuddy asked flatly.
"Are you letting me have her back?" Everyone around the table knew that by 'her' House was referring to Cameron.
"Well that depends, now doesn't it?" Cuddy teased for a moment before adding "No, actually" she turned to the young doctor "I want you to take an afternoon off. Mostly because 'he' works you to the bone whether you have a case or not, and as I said to Wilson earlier, I don't want to be recommending you a shrink two months from now."
House went silent. For once, he was actually speechless. He really didn't want Cameron taking the afternoon off. Somehow, it seemed criminal that someone who usually did his dirty work for him was actually being allowed time off. By Cuddy! He inwardly considered that perhaps he should learn to decorate dumb Christmas trees and start wearing barrettes, too. He was also irritated at the fact that he would have no slacking buddy for an entire afternoon.
It was Cameron who spoke first. She had been staring at House for a few seconds, before letting her eyes flicker back up to Cuddy.
"Uh, thanks, but… we might get a patient" She was surprised at the fact she wanted to stay in the hospital that afternoon. Prior to her afternoons with House, Cameron was pretty sure she would have jumped at the chance of an afternoon off.
However, in her usual manner, Cuddy got her way. Just a raised eyebrow at Cameron, and a nudge at Houses cane later, it was official. At Cuddy's retreating back, Cameron let out a half laugh, half sharp sigh and looked at House:
"So, I'm guessing I got the afternoon off" She tried to keep her tone cheerful.
"I'm guessing you did." He moved up swiftly and moved to dump his tray at the other end of the cafeteria. For some reason, Cameron noticed, House seemed annoyed at her. So she scrambled off after him, hurrying as she bussed her tray and practically had to run to catch up.
"What was I supposed to do? To say? Cuddy told me I need the time off, she's right"
"Why are you trying to defend yourself? This is not an issue!" He argues back, jabbing harshly at the elevator button, before saying under his breath "Come on."
"It sure seems like it is!" She half laughed at him then.
"Well, it's not!" He hissed back. His jabbing at the elevator button became more and more urgent until, with a defeated angry sigh he stopped.
For an instant, Cameron internally debated what to do. She stepped forward and gently pushed the elevator button. At once, the doors opened, and Cameron desperately tried to hold in a laugh at Houses expression. As the lobby disappeared from sight, Houses anger went with it:
"Well, you might as well laugh now." He said, smirking when Cameron let out a rather unladylike snort of laughter.
"Sorry, it was just, your expression!" She was quite breathless after being given the permission to let out the laugh she had been holding.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." He rolled his eyes, but it was clear that he was not upset or angry anymore.
They made their way back to the diagnostics department in companionable silence. House left her before reaching the differential diagnosis room in favour of his office. She collected her coat and wrote a note on the white board.
'Foreman and Chase
Gone home, Cuddy gave me the afternoon off. Had to brag about it to you guys before I left. Anyway, have a good afternoon. Page me if anything comes up. See you later.
Cameron.'
It was then that Cameron had an inner turmoil to face. She didn't feel bad for leaving Foreman and Chase, but she certainly felt guilty about leaving House. Exactly 26 minutes after he had departed her company (not that he'd been counting) Cameron entered Houses office.
"I thought you'd left already" It came out more bitter than he had intended so he added, feigning hurt "and without even saying goodbye! That's just mean"
She smiled shyly at him and approached his desk. It was only then that he realised that she had her hands full. Someone's been to the gift shop! He thought gleefully, but didn't let any such feeling show on his face.
"I got you… some things" She said "Because I'm not going to spend the afternoon with you. And I'm sorry" He broke off eye contact then. Why is she so god dammed NICE all the time? He thought.
She continued, placing items onto his desk as she listed them:
"There's, well, its some kind of monster truck magazine. Then, I made you a coffee. Umm, and a muffin, triple chocolate chip, I think that's right?"
"It's right."
He was staring at her now, analysing her, eyes narrowed. It was certainly making her feel uncomfortable. When he still didn't speak, but developed an amused smile, she said almost desperately:
"Say something!"
"Thank you?" He questioned "You're feeling guilty"
"Nice observation." She nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"You can go now. Cameron, my i-pod's missed me. He could do with my attention for an afternoon"
Five minutes later, and Cameron had left. She had been stalling, and that had amused him somewhat. But eventually he had persuaded her to leave.
So the hospital continued as usual. Clinic patients came and went. Doctors busied themselves treating people, and working in their offices. Others ran tests in various labs throughout Princeton Plainsboro. And then there was House, who spent his afternoon with his i-pod and magazine. And, unlike the rest of the hospital which bustled along like always, the absence of Doctor Allison Cameron had an effect on the usually solitary man. He missed her.