Cameron jumped out of her car, which she parked in the emergency department parking lot, and Chase followed after her. "This isn't your space, Allison. If whoever parks here, sees your car here they'll get it towed and that is the last thing that we need.
Cameron was five feet ahead of Chase but started to slow down as she approached the main emergency room door. Chase caught up to her and Cameron just smiled at him. "We're only going to be a minute. They won't miss their spot, trust me. Now, come on."
Chase grabbed Cameron's wrist and pulled her backward. "Just wait a second. Do I really have to go in? Can't I just wait at the car?"
"Rob…what has gotten into you? We are just going in real quick and we'll be out in a flash. What is there a monster in the ER or something?" Cameron teased.
Chase rubbed the back of his head. "No, but if I even step foot into the ER some random doctor or nurse is going to need my help and I'll never get out of there. The last thing that I want to even consider is going to work now."
"Oh, fine you big baby." Cameron gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "You wait in the car." She tossed her keys at him. "I'll be out in a minute."
Cameron waved to a few passing paramedics and stepped through the double doors of the ER. She was greeted with the same noise and confusion that always accompanied the ER. Cameron stopped to converse with a few doctors she was vaguely familiar with, but soon continued her path.
She made her stop in the locker room where she opened the locker she was given a while ago. Opening it, she pulled out her coat and her old pager. As she was getting ready to leave, the door flew open and smashed Cameron in the face. "Oww…"
Two nurses stomped in and soon noticed the hunched over in pain Cameron. The nurses pulled Cameron up and immediately recognized her. "Dr. Cameron!" They yelled in unison. "We are so sorry about that."
It was nurses Nadia and Susan.
After Cameron was sure that they hadn't broken her nose, she gave them a quick hug. "How are you two?"
Susan smiled, "Fine."
Nadia flashed Cameron a look. "Where have you been, girl?"
Cameron looked at the ground. "I left the ER for an immunology position in Pediatrics. I'm so sorry to abandon you. I mean, I should have said I was leaving."
Susan gave Cameron a firm pat on the back. "It's alright. The ER isn't for everyone."
Cameron agreed and nodded. Maybe I could ask them… "Have you see Dr. Noah today? Isn't he in today?"
Nadia gave Cameron a confused look. "No, he left about an hour ago. He isn't due back in until Wednesday, why?"
Wait…I thought he said he was coming here after we met up during lunch. Wasn't he late? Cameron shook her head. "No, I just saw him during lunch. He said he was late coming here."
Susan laughed awkwardly. "He must have made a mistake, dear. I'm sure Dr. Noah meant no harm by that. Were you looking for him?"
"Umm…no, I was just wondering."
Nadia gave Susan a strange look. "He hasn't told you yet, has he?"
Cameron lifted her eyebrow. "Tell me what?"
Susan smiled and tilted her head. "Well, I'm sure he'll talk to you soon."
"About what?" Cameron demanded.
Nadia opened the door and let Susan out first. Before leaving herself, she turned to Cameron. "Well, it's a surprise. I wouldn't be much of a surprise if we told you."
They left leaving Cameron to think about what they said. After standing there for a moment, she decided that she'd leave. Is EVERYONE so secretive down here? I hope he isn't planning that stupid surprise party like the one he mentioned earlier. Cameron returned her pager at the triage desk and headed out the doors.
Still clutching her coat, Cameron made her way through the sea of cars to her own car. I told Chase we wouldn't get the car towed. I was only a few minutes. Cameron peered in her car to surprise Chase, but when she looked in…where is Chase? He just can't stay put, can he? Maybe he's battling some guy on getting the car towed…Cameron mused to herself.
She opened the door and jumped into the driver's seat. Cameron landed in something wet. What the…she stepped out of her car and rubbed some of the mystery liquid off of her pants. She looked down at her hand and screamed. It was blood.
Cameron reached in and rubbed her hand against the black polyester of her car seat. She pulled her hand up and it was covered in even more blood. She was holding back the urge to cry, scream, and pass out all at the same time. Oh my god…where is Chase? Please be somewhere safe, please be somewhere safe, and please be ok.
She noted that the keys were left in the ignition, but the car was off. Cameron decided against taking them out in case it was evidence. She shut the door and turned to run, but her foot slipped slightly on what appeared to be a nametag.
Cameron picked it up and began to run, not to the ER, but towards the one place where she was known best…the clinic.
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Tears streamed from her face as she busted through the clinic doors and right to the front desk where Nurse Brenda was. "I need some help…" Cameron's weak voice strained to find the words.
Nurse Brenda looked up and she ran around the desk to hug Cameron. "Honey, what happened? You've got blood all over your hands. Come on…lets get you cleaned up."
"No…I need to…I need to see Cuddy." Cameron sobbed.
Nurse Brenda rubbed her shoulders. "You're bleeding. Let's get you cleaned up first and then you can see Cuddy."
In a sudden fit of rage, "It's not my blood! It's…Rob—I mean Chase's"
In an instant, Nurse Brenda started to rush her towards Cuddy's office. Cameron could see House in there with Cuddy at the moment. Brenda ushered her forward. "I'll page for Chase to see if he is anywhere in the hospital. In the meantime, you go talk to Cuddy."
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"House…" Cuddy's voice was exasperated. "You need to hire a new team…now."
"All of your candidates suck." House rapped his cane on the floor.
"I'm sure they don't like you either." Cuddy mumbled. "Look, if you weren't prepared to hire a new team, then why did you get rid of them in the first place?"
"I didn't get rid of all of them. I fired Chase. Cameron and Foreman got rid of themselves."
Cuddy slammed her pen down. "Then why did you push them away? You let them go. You caused it, you fix it."
House was silent for a moment. "Just get me a new round of morons to choose from, then."
Cuddy stood. "No, House. You will choose from the bunch that you have. You have until the end of the week to come to a conclusion. If you don't, I will. End of story."
"We're not done—"
The door creaked open and Cameron walked through. She looked like a mess. Blood stained her hands and her face was filled with tears.
Cuddy ran over to her. "Cameron? What happened?"
"He's gone…" she whispered. Cameron looked up to see House staring in silence.
"Who?" Cuddy asked.
"Chase." She squeaked out before tears fell from her face.
House stepped forward. "Is that who's blood is on your hands?"
Cameron nodded.
Cuddy rushed to her phone. "I'll call the police. We'll get a search party out and everything. We'll find him Cameron."
Before Cuddy could even lift her phone, House asked, "What happened?"
Cameron explained everything from the nurses in the ER and their strange comments to what she discovered in her car. But what she did notice was that House hasn't changed. He didn't seem to care, but this only interested him because it was a mystery…and he liked mysteries.
"I found this by the car…I knew it. I knew it all along…I should have done something about this earlier." Cameron handed House the nametag she found.
Cuddy walked over and peered at it. "Oh my god….I know him. I know him very well."
And this is where it ends for now. The story will be coming to a close in a chapter or two (maybe), but I might pack it all into one chapter. There is going to be one shocking reveal at this story's finale and I can bet that you'd never guess it in a million years.
Thanks for reading and supporting "Under the Stars"!! Please R and R!!!