Chapter 8

Three weeks later

"Good morning."

Cameron looked up from the computer. "You're late."

"That's because I had to service myself this morning. You'd think when you cohabit, things like that would be a thing of the past."

Cameron blushed. Despite living together, she and House usually made their own way to work, mainly because House was never ready when Cameron wanted to leave.

"Guys!" moaned Chase.

Foreman didn't react.

"Oh relax. I had a meeting with Cuddy this morning. Pack your bags, we're going on a field trip."

Foreman looked up. "Where?"

"Pharmaceutical conference. Stoia Tucker are paying for seven of our doctors to go to their conference, three days, two nights, all expenses paid." He headed through to his office.

"But you hate those things." Cameron argued, following him through with Chase and Foreman.

"Usually, yes."

"What's different about this one?" asked Chase.

"The venue. We're going to Las Vegas." He said, gleefully.

Foreman nodded. "And you're going to try and gamble away your life savings."

House frowned. "I don't have any savings. I'm raiding Cameron's account before we go."

Cameron gave him her best 'that's not very funny' look.

"Great," said Chase. "When do we leave?"

"Friday morning."

The doctors all turned to return to the conference room.

"And make sure you go to the bathroom before we leave, no stops!"

III

They arrived Friday afternoon and made their way to the hotel to unpack. The conference consisted of two hours on Saturday morning, listening to someone pitch the latest drugs. The rest of their time was theirs to do with as they pleased.

Chase headed straight down to the casino to look around.

Foreman left the hotel to sightsee some of the less gaudy areas of Vegas.

House and Cameron stayed in their room, discovering each other.

"I have got to get me one of these." House informed her as he pushed the vibrate button again and the bed flared to life.

"It's tacky!" Cameron laughed.

"It's therapeutic. Better than a massage." He lay back on the bed and, closed his eyes, groaning with pleasure. "Admit it, it's nice."

"Very nice." She handed him his drink, took her robe off and climbed in beside him.

He ran his hand over her side. "That's nice too."

Cameron laughed. "There was me worried I'd never drag you away from the casino, I'm not going to get you out of this room, am I?"

"Are you complaining?" he asked, putting his drink on the side table and turning Cameron onto her back as he hovered above her.

Cameron shook her head as House began kissing her neck. "No complaints here."

III

Saturday lunch time the whole gang enjoyed lunch together after the talk was over.

"Wasn't too bad." Chase ventured.

"I can put up with that again for three days free holiday." Foreman agreed.

House rolled his eyes. "I didn't think you could be so easily bought."

Foreman laughed. "I didn't say I'd buy their product, but I'll take their hospitality."

"What's everyone got planned for the rest of the day?" Chase asked.

"I'm going to gamble away your wages for this month." House told them.

"Very funny," Chase told him. "Foreman?"

"I have a date."

"Not another drug rep?" House asked.

Foreman grinned. "No."

Cameron laughed. "He's not telling, he must really like her." Foreman grinned by way of a reply. "Chase, what about you?" she asked.

"I'm meeting a showgirl later."

House frowned. "You managed to pull a showgirl? Must be the hair."

"Leave him alone." Cameron admonished.

"What about you?" Foreman asked her.

"I'm going to live vicariously through House."

"You aren't going to place a bet?"

"I work too hard for my money, but I'll happily watch him spend his."

They finished their lunch and headed their different ways, agreeing to meet in the lobby at noon the next day for the trip home.

III

House was on a roll. He'd changed $500 into chips to begin with but currently had over $11,000 sitting in front of him.

Cameron sat beside him, goggle-eyed as he continued to win almost every hand of blackjack he played. Tempted by his luck, she'd changed $100 into chips, and promptly lost it in four hands. She stuck to watching him win after that.

House had drawn quite a crowd, all eager to see someone on a winning streak.

His stash of chips dropped by $2,000, then rose by another $6,000. The crowd was behind him all the way, sharing his triumphs and mourning his losses.

House called it a day at $27,420. The crowd was disappointed, but House was adamant.

"My leg's cramping. Besides, I need to pee!" He asked Cameron to cash in his chips, put the cash in the hotel safe and meet him in their room.

III

It was after 11pm when they set out from the hotel for a celebration dinner. House was probably the happiest he could remember being in a long time. He was mellow with the whiskey he's downed (on the house) elated with the money he'd won and more sexually satisfied than any man had a right to be.

"How did you do it?" Cameron asked as they strolled arm in arm, away from the hotel.

"Easy, I counted cards."

"But that's against the rules."

"They can't see what I'm doing in my head."

Cameron was silent.

"Are you upset with me?" he asked.

"No, I'm impressed."

House's happiness level rose another notch.

"Where did you learn to do it?"

"In college. There's lots of books written on counting cards, it just takes practice."

"Yeah right, it's that easy!" Cameron leaned over and kissed him on the cheek before resting her head on his shoulder. "Will you ever stop surprising me?" she asked quietly.

"Not any time soon." He answered. "Marry me."

Cameron stopped dead in her tracks. "What?!"

House stopped too and turned to face her. "Marry me. Now, tonight." He repeated.

"You're not serious?"

"Is that a no?"

"No."

"Then it's a yes?"

"I…"

Taking her arm he led her over to the side of the road to hail a cab. "Come on Cameron, live a little."