OK! Here's a cliffy! Ugh, I know, I know! But trust me, I know where it's going so I should have a couple of chapters up this weekend:o) Hope you like, and thanks for the reviews! Steph

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

It wasn't until Cameron had the cold water hit her face in the shower did she realize she was in her own apartment and House was bossing her around, telling her to take a shower? The nerve of him! When she was done she got out, quickly dried off, dressed, combed her hair, putting it in a ponytail and opened the door of the bathroom.

She was met with the most god awful smell anyone could imagine. It sort of smelled like food, but she couldn't be sure. She followed the stench and was about to yell at House as to what he was cooking and was met with the most hilarious sight she had ever seen.

House was standing in his boxers and t-shirt, picking out in a bowl what she supposed was the shells from the eggs he'd just cracked, sizzling hot frying pan which was spraying grease all over her clean stove top, smoke rising from her toaster, where she assumed toast was being burned and a very black long strip of something on a paper towel on a plate.

He cursed and hurried back to the frying pan, where he tried to turn over a piece of bacon and burned his finger from the grease. He flung his hand in the air and put the finger in his mouth to take the sting away.

Cameron smiled, went back to the bedroom, grabbed his pants and returned to the doorway of the kitchen.

"You need butter on that burn," Cameron said softly, so as not to scare him too much. From what she was seeing, he'd probably knock the frying pan onto the floor and he'd blame it on her.

"Jesus, Cameron!" he yelled, taking the frying pan off the burner and set it on the back one. He put his hands on his hips and shrugged his shoulders. "I…I was trying to make…"

Cameron smiled sweetly at him and finished his sentence, "…a mess. And you've succeeded. Put these on. Let's get some real food." She handed his pants out to him.

As he took the pants she said, "I appreciate the thought, though."

"Yeah, well, what can I say?" he said with a laugh.

"Um, saying you can't cook would be a great start!"

About an hour later, they were sitting in a little diner around the corner eating a real breakfast. They just talked about little things, nothing substantial. Neither one discussed the events that transpired the night before, specifically in the bedroom. For one, Cameron didn't want him to think she was making a big deal out of it and start talk about marriage, and for the other, House didn't want Cameron to think he'd enjoyed it, which he did, tremendously. But from the way they were eating, as if they were ravished after working a long shift at the hospital without food, it told the other more than words could say.

House was just finishing his last pancake when he waved at the waitress for another cup of coffee.

"I thought Debra looked really good, considering what she's been through. Do you think she's holding up okay?" Cameron asked.

"Sure."

Cameron loved his short answers of avoidance. "Did you notice their body language? I think they are into each other."

House's eyebrows flew up at that. "How do you mean?"

"You know, they were sitting beside the other, their bodies were facing the other but their heads would look off during the conversations.

"And that would mean…?"

"Oh, Lord, King of All Observation! You hadn't noticed?!" she said then laughed.

"Yeah, I did."

"Would you be upset if they did get together?" she asked.

"Damn, Cameron! I really am not in the mood to talk about feelings right now. Let's just talk about…pancakes."

"Okay, fair enough. Can I ask you something?" Cameron asked as she set her silverware in the plate, pushed it back and leaned back in the chair.

"Sure, but do I have to answer?" he asked, looking at her with trepidation.

"No, not if you don't want to."

House wiped his mouth, threw the napkin on the plate and sipped the last of the coffee.

"Okay, but you owe me one. Shoot."

"That's somewhat fair. Ok, what was Debra talking about after she was … shot? Do you know what she meant?" she asked, her curiosity had gotten the best of her.

He looked at her, just a flash of anger that quickly dissipated. "Yeah."

Just then the waitress came by and refilled his mug then Cameron's and took the empty plates.

Cameron sat there expecting him to continue but he didn't. "Hey, why don't we take Debra and Wilson some breakfast? After all, it was Debra's idea to have us go on the double date," Cameron asked.

House thought about it for a minute, shook his head 'no' but said, "sure, but I'm not buying."

Cameron was happy that she'd at least gotten him to make a nice gesture, but left what Debra said alone.

As the two walked out of the restaurant, one with a cane in the right hand and the other with a cane in the left hand, Cameron holding a bag with Styrofoam trays, House leaned into Cameron, shoulders touching and said very quietly, "because I killed my grandmother."