-cheers- Final chapter! The whole 'theme' of this one was that things don't change as much as they should- despite of the fact that order tends to disorder. Thermodynamics at its best, right mishy-mo? ;) But the reason for the title is in the very last lines. Oh, I'm pretty sure there's not going to be an epilogue, because I'm happy with this ending. I hope you guys like it, and don't think House is too OOC. -worries-

Anyway, a huge thanks to everyone who read my first House fic, it means a lot. :D I have another House idea bouncing around, so maybe you guys can check that out once I get around to writing it! Hope you enjoy the last chapter, and as always, please review!

Disclaimer: I've begged and begged, but they still won't give the characters
to me. I can't imagine why… :p

It had been two weeks since Cameron had returned to Princeton Plainsboro. In those fourteen days, nothing, with the exception of the 'inadvertent hand holding' when Hannah had been there, had happened. Working for House this time around was the same.

And she hadn't really expected anything different. The cutting remarks were still there, his pills were a constant, and Cameron was always the first of the team at the hospital, making coffee.

Part of her wished she had just stayed away, while the other half was glad to be back. The part that was happy to be working again liked to believe that while House's sarcasm was ever-present, the undertone was less cruel than before.

At the very least, Cameron would tell herself, being here has to be better than working with Yule.

The morning of the fourteenth day found Cameron sorting mail in House's office. This was another of the things that hadn't changed when she had returned.

Cameron was setting an invitation to a conference in Seattle into the 'things I have no reason to read' pile, when the office door slid open.

"Dr. House," Cameron said, when she saw him in the doorway.

"Up," House commanded by way of greeting, and began limping towards her.

Cameron carefully placed the conference letter onto the pile that was significantly larger than 'to read' stack, and stood. She quickly moved around his desk so she could stand in front of him.

"You can stop your secretarial duties. We have a patient," House explained, waving a file in front of her face. "I know you love mail sorting, but the whole 'saving people' thing is actually a part of the job."

"You found a patient all by yourself?" Cameron asked, feigning shock.

"It was either I make the ducklings perform endless tests at my command and avoid patients all together, or spend my day rotting away in the clinic, talking to people who claim they have smallpox. It's pretty obvious I chose the former."

"I see," Cameron said, hoping the case was interesting. "What do you want me to do?"

"Gather the troops and assemble in the conference room. We attack at 0600."

Cameron rolled her eyes.

"Get Foreman and Chase, and show them the file. It's not life threatening at the moment, so we have some time to spare," House said. "I'll be in as soon as I clean your cooties off my desk."

"Right," Cameron said, and began walking away past him.

"Cameron." The sound of his voice reached her ears and she turned back around.

"Yes?"

"Why didn't you accept the offer from Yule?" he asked. Whatever Cameron had been expecting certainly wasn't this.

Because he wasn't you.

"Does it matter why?" was what she actually said.

"Depends on your answer." House took a step towards her, closing the distance.

"Because my sister needed help taking care of Hannah." It was the half-truth, at least. Cameron didn't think he needed the whole truth.

"And she doesn't now?"

"Hannah's older, and Molly understands she can't keep have me baby-sit forever."

"But why did you take this job back? I'm sure you had other offers."

Why does he care? And where's his sarcasm?

"Because you're a great diagnostician, you're the-" Cameron stopped suddenly when House took another step forward. It was the closest he'd been to her since he had held onto her hand her first day back. She barely had time to register what was happening when his hand shot out and touched her face gently.

And then he kissed her.

For a few blissful seconds, Cameron kissed him back, not believing what he was doing. But almost as soon at it had started, she pulled back abruptly.

He looked at her, surprised by her sudden action.

What is he doing to me?

"I can't, House!" Cameron said, her voice rising, finally daring to let some of her emotion out. "I left because you didn't like me. And I can't come back and have you kiss me in your office! I can't come back here and have you screw around with me!"

What is he doing to me?

Cameron bit her lip and closed her eyes tightly, refusing to cry. She knew she was right in breaking the kiss, and she also knew she needed to leave before he spoke again. If he did, he'd break her resolve. Cameron turned and began to walk away, but as soon as she had taken a step, something hit her shins and stopped her.

House's cane.

"I can't," she repeated, her voice breaking. She didn't turn around.

I have to protect myself. I'm not over him, but I know he doesn't like me, I asked him. Cameron'smind automatically replayed the scene from almost a year prior. The scene she had thought about innumerable times after she had quit. The scene where he had said he hadn't liked her. Cameron had no clue what House was playing at now, but he had made his feelings clear early on.

They like you; everyone likes you, he had said

Do you like me? I have to know.

"Yes."

What?

It was House. Cameron turned around, confused. It took her a moment to realize she had spoken aloud.

"And you still like me," he continued. It was a statement, and not a question.

"You're still a misanthropic jerk," Cameron countered shakily, daring to look at him. She couldn't believe she had been repeating their conversation out loud.

"Some things," House replied, his lips twitching upward, "have the tendency to remain the same."

And this time, when House kissed her, Cameron didn't pull away.