Chapter 7

By the time that a friend of Cameron's was due to arrive that evening with her dinner, Cameron had already confirmed her suspicions, a little white stick that she had bought from the local chemist telling her what she already knew. She was pregnant. Tears poured down her face as she looked at the positive pregnancy test. She couldn't tell if they were tears of joy, that part of Chase lived within her; or sadness that he would not be there to see his child grow up. Cameron leaned heavily against her bathroom wall, and slid down, until she was sitting on the cool, tiled floor, and pondered her future. She knew that she couldn't return to her work now. She couldn't bare the thought of House discovering that she was pregnant. Cameron looked around her bathroom from where she sat. Everywhere she looked, she was reminded of Chase. It wasn't only when she was at her own home, but just when she was out and about, and especially when she was at work.

Cameron knew from the moment Chase died that her career at PPTH was over. She knew the memories there were too fresh. Resolved, Cameron nodded. This pregnancy had provided the incentive for her to leave and make a new start. Cameron's resolve fell, however, when she realized something. How on earth was she going to explain this to House? He would complain about having to hold interviews for two new "ducklings," and he would know that there was another reason behind Cameron's resignation other than Chase dying. Cameron groaned, feeling a headache coming on. Chances were, House already knew. He probably already had diagnosed Cameron as being pregnant from his visits to her. Cameron got up again and walked to her kitchen, pouring herself a glass of water. Sipping slowly, she looked at the front of the fridge, where a table had been attached, showing who would be bringing her dinner for each day of the week. Cameron found the table very valuable; as it informed her who she had to convince that she was alright. On House's days, she would ensure she looked very respectable and healthy, applying fake tan, make up, and hair products, just to make her look healthy. With Wilson, all you needed to do was be dressed, and to be a good actor. Cuddy was a different thing entirely. She was the only one who Cameron felt comfortable enough with to allow her to see how she really was.

Cameron groaned with relief when she saw that Cuddy was on duty today, and hoped that she hadn't been held up. The previous night had been, supposedly, House's night, but he had obviously been held up at the hospital, and had got Wilson to cover him. Cameron was fiercely grateful for this, as it would have been really awkward if House had seen her sleeping.

That evening, Cameron found herself sitting in her lounge room floor, gazing out the window at the tree lined street below. A quiet knock on the door told Cameron that Cuddy had arrived.

"Come in" she called out. She heard the door open, and saw Cuddy walk in out of the corner of her eye. Cuddy placed Cameron's dinner on the kitchen bench and crouched beside her friend.

"How are you going?" she asked. Cameron almost smiled. That was always the first thing Cuddy said whenever she came over.

"Better, I think" Cameron admitted, not meeting Cuddy's gaze. Cuddy placed her hand on Cameron's shoulder.

"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked. Cameron looked at Cuddy's face.

"I'm resigning" she told her. Cuddy looked shocked.

"Cameron, Are you really sure about this?"

"Yes, Ever since Chase… died" Cameron took a moment to regain her composure, "It was obvious that I wasn't going to come back. I was just in denial of that earlier. It's all in perspective for me now."

"May I ask what put it into perspective for you?" Cuddy asked, curious. Cameron took a deep breath. Steadying herself.

"I'm Pregnant" she told Cuddy. Cuddy beamed and embraced Cameron.

"Congratulations Cameron. How far along are you?"

"Almost ten weeks, the morning sickness has really kicked up in the last week though." At this Cuddy started laughing

"What's so funny?" Cameron asked.

"House has been running differentials on you. He knows you've been losing weight, and you had other symptoms, and he wanted you admitted for tests. Foreman, Wilson and I talked him out of it. I never once heard any of them mention that possibility."

"What, House wanted me to be brought in!" Cameron yelled. Cuddy nodded.

"At least now he won't have to, know we know what's happening"

"No, Cuddy, No. I don't want them to know. House or Foreman, or Wilson can't know. My own parents don't even know yet. I'm not going to tell House."

"He's going to want a better excuse for your resignation, you know" Cuddy told Cameron, who groaned and nodded.

"I know. You would think that my boyfriend and colleague's death would be a significant enough excuse, but no, not for House. "

"I'll think of something, if you wish. What are you going to do after you leave?"

"I'm going down to Philadelphia. My parents live near there, and I think I want to be near them. I think I'll get a job at a hospital there temporarily, until I have the baby. Then I want to spend some time off and enjoy being a mother." Cameron looked out the window, a far away look upon her face. Cuddy smiled.

"I think you're going to be a great mum, Cameron." She smiled. Cameron nodded, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Do you think Chase would approve?" she asked, blinking. Cuddy rubbed her shoulder gently.

"Of course he would. He would approve of anything that felt right to you in your heart," Cuddy assured her friend, "and I think it is a very good plan, on one condition."

"What's that?" Cameron asked, curious.

"You stay in contact with me, as a friend, and at some stage, I want to meet baby Chase, okay?" Cameron smiled.

"You have a deal there."

"Good. I give my full support. If you ever need me, I'm only a phone call away. Now, it's time for the young mother–to-be to have her dinner, come on." Cuddy laughed and helped pull Cameron to her feet.

A.N. well, here's the latest offering. I hope you enjoyed. I should be updating regularly for the next month or so, as I'm on Holidays (yay). As always, please read and review.