A/N: I wrote this during English because my English teacher is pregnant and has the emotional maturity of a 12-year old, so she was too busy complaining about how her stomach hurt and her ankles were swollen to notice that I was writing fanfiction instead of reading the assigned book (Which I actually finished weeks ago). However, you can thank the fact that we won a really tough soccer game for putting me in a good enough mood to type this all up before Gilmore Girls started. Happy reading!

-------------

Cameron hid her surprise at his offer to drive her to the restaurant as she gathered her belongings. By the time she was ready to go, House had listened to three songs on his iPod and had beaten up countless aliens on his GameBoy. He looked up as she re-entered his office, taking a minute to finish the level before he turned the game off and stood, grabbing his jacket from the back of the recently vacated chair. Wordlessly, he led Cameron out of his office and closed the door behind her.

-------------

She had to bite her lip to stop from grinning when she saw that he had driven the bike today. There was something about motorcycles that made her happy. His motorcycle especially. He produced two helmets, snarking only mildly at her as she climbed on behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. He was secretly glad that the restaurant was on the other side of town. He would never admit it, but he liked the feel of his younger colleague's arms around him.

Gunning the engine, House drove off into the darkening streets of Princeton, New Jersey. He and Cameron passed through the brightly lit downtown district, filled with restaurants and the couples that patronized them. House could practically feel Cameron's grin as she rested her chin on his shoulder and tightened her hold on him. He even smiled himself as the warm night air whipped past his face.

All too soon, they arrived at the restaurant to find Wilson already there. He waved them over to his table and they sat down, still flushed with happiness from the ride. Wilson noticed this immediately, and raised a questioning eyebrow at House, who glared back in a way that clearly communicated that any possible discussion of this event would take place later.

The waiter appeared at the table at that minute, and after staring at Cameron until House whacked him soundly across the shin, took their drink orders. The three slipped into easy conversation, Wilson and House relating to Cameron all the funny, scary, and downright wacky cases that had infiltrated the hospital in the past five years. She found herself laughing more that night than she had in a long while, and for the first time since her departure from PPTH, she felt truly happy.

-------------

Dinner was over all too fast, and the discussion over who would pay began when Cameron reached for her wallet. Wilson stopped her.

"My treat, Cameron. Think of it as a welcome back gift."

"Really, Wilson, it's fine." She replied.

"Hey Jimmy, you can pay for me!" House interjected, grinning a little evilly. Wilson glared and reached for the bill. Cameron just laughed.

-------------

"Your house or mine?" House grinned conspiratorially as they climbed back on the motorcycle. Cameron laughed an shook her head.

"The hospital. My car's there, and I want to grab some charts to look over."

"Charts. Riiiight." House winked at her. "Great excuse to give your boss a little something with no one around."

"House!" Cameron was a little surprised. Usually even he wasn't that suggestive.

"Dr. Cameron, I'm surprised at you. I was merely suggesting that it would be an excellent idea if you made me some coffee." Cameron smiled to herself. It was moments like these that made her feel like she had never left.

-------------

Once again, the ride was too short, and before Cameron knew it, they had pulled up in front of the darkened hospital. House shut off the bike and entered the building, closely followed by Cameron. He sat down in his chair and pulled out his GameBoy the minute he entered the office, and smirked as Cameron made a beeline for the coffee maker. He obviously still wore the pants in this office. By the time she had gathered all her files, the pot had finished brewing, and she poured a cup for House and placed it on his desk. He paused the game and took a quick sip.

"Good." He murmured reverently, thanking her in his own way. If she wondered why he was planning on staying at the hospital instead of going home, she never made any mention of it as she bid him goodbye and disappeared through the door.

Even if she had asked, House thought, he doubted he would have told her. His motives were far from complicate, but they would doubtless awaken her sympathy, which, he told himself, was the last thing he wanted. The reason that he stayed at the hospital late that night, the way he had so many nights since she'd left, was that it was better than home. It was better to be here, surrounded by puzzles and distractions than at his house, with only the bottle of scotch for company. He was broken, now more than ever before, and at night time, that broken-ness was harder to hide, even if only from himself.

If he went home, he would see her dark blue eyes the day she had announced she was leaving. He would dream of a future that he could never have, would really believe that he could lead a normal life. He'd wish and think, and maybe even hope a little. Hope was dangerous, he told himself. That's how you got hurt.

He'd stay here, with his GameBoy and his iPod, his tennis ball and his medical mysteries, sleeping in his office chair until Cameron woke him up with her morning routine of coffee. With that thought in his mind, he turned off the game and closed his eyes, the rock music from his iPod pounding in his eyes, and slept under the watchful glare of the flourescent lights.