Chapter 13

House stayed as long as he could to listen to the congratulations. He shook hands with Foreman, Chase and Price when they offered, and then watched with inner amusement as they retreated to the opposite side of the conference table, knowing that not even his engagement was reason enough to chat. Wilson approached and House stuck out his hand instinctively to ward off the hug, but Wilson wouldn't have it.

"Fine, you can hug me, but keep your hands above the waist," House grumbled. Wilson smirked in that wry 'whatever you say House' way he had, and give him a quick, manly hug. House even half-hugged him back in a one-armed manner. House noticed a flash of greenish gray from the other side of the room and saw Chase handing Foreman what looked like a fifty-dollar bill.

House narrowed his eyes at the Aussie, but Wilson's knowing glance dispelled his anger. Given his history, House probably would have bet the same way. If asked a few months ago, he would have quickly and forcefully squashed the notion of him becoming a married man.

A prolonged 'aawww' from the ladies corner of the room pierced his ears like an ice pick through the forehead, so he unobtrusively motioned for Wilson to follow him into his office. As the door swung shut behind Wilson, House let out a sigh of relief. Too much glee in one place was bad for his mental health.

"So, I finally get to be the best man at one of your weddings?" Wilson asked cheerfully.

"One of my weddings?" House asked. "Did my name change to James Wilson while I wasn't looking?"

"Very funny. Did you ever consider giving up your medical license and taking that show on the road?" Wilson asked.

"Sure, but the groupies can be such a pain the ass," House snarked and Wilson smiled.

Before Wilson could reply, Cameron and Cuddy entered from the conference room. Cameron was carrying the bag she had brought, and House looked at her expectantly. She shook her head slightly, and turned the bag so he could read the name on the side. Recognizing it as a novelty store that carried, in addition to rubber chickens and whoopee cushions, a selection of 'adult toys', House nodded, all the while wondering what Cameron had purchased there and calculating the quickest way to get Cuddy and Wilson out of his office.

"Congratulations Greg," Cuddy said as she attempted in vain to dry her eyes. House nodded. "Now get down to the clinic, you owe me three hours."

"I just got engaged, I'm far too emotional to see clinic patients now," House whined.

"House, it's an engagement ring, not a get out of jail free card," Cuddy retorted. "Price tells me the latest treatment is working and your patient is improving so there's no excuse not to be there."

House nodded and shooed her away with his hand, eager to see what Cameron had bought him. Cuddy exited, and Wilson followed behind after giving Cameron a chaste and very quick kiss on the cheek under House's watchful eye.

"So, I bought you some presents," Cameron said, leaning against House's desk as she deposited the bag there.

"When did you go shopping?" House asked, curious. She certainly hadn't time last night, he remembered fondly to himself.

"I stopped before I came to work. You know," she drawled, "it's amazing the things you can accomplish when you don't sleep until noon."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," House said impatiently, gesturing his disapproval at her teasing him. "What'd you get me?"

Cameron smirked at him. She turned her back and House craned his neck from his chair to sneak a peek. She turned back and held something behind her, shielding it from his view. He rolled his eyes.

"Well, you seemed to enjoy the little massage I gave you last night. What little of it I was able to finish anyway, so I got you these," Cameron said, and from behind her back brought out a set of scented massage oils. House eye's lit up.

"Are they edible?" House asked hopefully and Cameron blushed, but nodded. "You said presents. What else?"

"This one's not as much fun," Cameron warned. House made a face. "Well, you gave me this beautiful ring and I love it and I want to show it to everyone who will look."

"How else am I supposed to tell every man who looks at you 'hands off'?" House questioned her. "I could have you branded, but then you'd have to walk around nude. Not necessarily bad for me, but you might catch a chill."

"Anyway," Cameron interrupted loudly, "I think you should have something that says to all the women who look at you 'hands off'. At least until you get your wedding ring."

"Right," House said dryly, lifting his cane. "I'm literally beating them off with a stick."

"Don't laugh. I've seen the way you flirt with the lab techs when you need something fast. And if I catch Nurse Katie from the clinic staring at your … assets… one more time…"

"I like a jealous Cameron. It's hot," House said.

"Here," she said without further preamble and handed him a jewelry box. House was surprised. He wasn't exactly the sort of guy who cared about this stuff, but he'd assumed that he would get to pick out his own wedding ring. "It's an engagement ring," Cameron explained.

House opened the box and laughed. No matter how many times he thought he had her figured out, she somehow always managed to through him for a curve. He would have expected all seriousness and gravity from Cameron over an engagement. The Gravedigger ring she'd bought him proved him wrong about her once again.

"You are just so cool," he said. Cameron laughed. High praise from Greg House indeed.

Later that afternoon, their patient on the mend, Jasper entered House's office. He was reclining in his oversized yellow chair with his headphones on and although he looked like he was sleeping, Jasper had been watching him and knew he was actually awake. Nobody at the hospital had ever seen him in such a good mood, rumor had it he'd actually smiled at a clinic patient, and she needed a favor. What better time to ask?

"Dr. House?" she tried once for good measure. She'd been told by Cameron that she should get used to his trying to ignore the world and that if she wanted his attention she should just grab it. Getting no response, she reached forward and removed one his earphones.

"If somebody's not dying they will be soon," he threatened her, one eye now open.

"I'd like to ask you for next Friday off," Jasper said.

"And I'd like for Cameron and Carmen Electra to be twin sisters who do everything together," House replied. Jasper just rolled her eyes.

"Dr. House, I'm asking for next Friday off," Jasper stated forcefully.

"Why?" House asked.

"Why do you need to know?"

"Knowledge is power," House told her. She closed her eyes in frustration. It was like talking to all five of her brothers at once, and it was tiring. And just like dealing with her brothers, she decided it was just easier to give him what he wanted.

"Rob and I are going to visit my family," she told him.

"Meeting the family? Big step," House commented. Jasper just looked at him. "Fine, take the day but you'll be covering my clinic hours for the next week."

"Like I wouldn't be doing that anyway," Jasper retorted as she walked out the door.