Globes and Maps:

Part Three

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Unnecessary disclaimer: None of the characters appearing in the TV show "House, M. D." belong to me.

Abstract: Post Ep. 608, Teamwork. Five years after leaving PPTH, Cameron is roaming an antique store when she comes across the last person she expected (or wanted) to see. HC.

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House tugged at his bow tie. He was reminded precisely why Lisa had to force him to attend these things. But this was different.

"Why did I agree to this?" Wilson muttered.

"Do it for the bald children," House responded in annoyance.

"Why are we doing this again?" Wilson insisted.

House ignored his question, beginning loudly, "Dr. Wilson, tell me again about your patient with the thyroid cancer!" He was nearly shouting, trying to look absorbed with their conversation as they entered.

Wilson stuttered a surprised response, only now realizing House's plan to get inside. "Oh… Lily? Well I have her on a course of radiation therapy right now…"

Once inside, House headed straight for the bar, ignoring Wilson's continuing droning well past the doorway.

His eyes wandered until they found her. She was in a dress of liquid silver, her hair falling in graceful curls upon her shoulders. She held in hand a glass of champagne and moved lithely across the floor, engaging people in conversation. He watched as she charmed hospital patrons out of their millions with only a simple smile. Against their will they became enthralled with the fascinating young woman.

"Cameron?" Wilson said in surprise when he noticed her. "She's back in Princeton?"

"Shut up, Jimmy, I'm trying to hear," House hushed him.

She was coming closer, making her rounds. He could hear her conversing with a middle-aged man. At a lecherous comment, House almost stormed over to give that man a piece of his mind, but, before he could even stand up, she had deflected the comment with such grace that it took his breath away. Her smile never faltered.

A young man with admiring eyes approached and touched her on the arm. House tightened his grip on his cane. The man whispered something in her ear and both suddenly looked in House and Wilson's direction. Cameron gave the young man a grim smile of thanks and moved quickly towards them. House downed the remainder of his scotch.

Wilson cowered as he saw Cameron approach. "Hello, Dr. Wilson," she said civilly.

"Hello, Dr. Cameron," he fearfully responded.

House looked up innocently as Cameron turned her attentions to him. Her careful façade dropped. "What are you doing here?" she hissed.

"Just enjoying the party," House said facetiously. "Another scotch on the rocks," he called to the bartender.

"Don't let him drink too much," Cameron told Wilson with a glare. He nodded in response. She turned back to House. "Look, enjoy the party, have a drink or two, just don't say a word to anyone. If you make a scene, so help me God, I'll make your life twice as miserable as it is now," she said menacingly.

House responded nonchalantly. "Chill out, Cameron. I just want to observe."

"Fine," Cameron snapped. She gave House one last angry look, and nodded a goodbye to Wilson. She then quickly composed herself and walked up to another group of potential benefactors, having fully transformed back into the role of the charming and professional hospital administrator.

-

After a few of rounds of drinks, Wilson was slurring. House, who hadn't actually matched Wilson drink for drink, was still rather sober.

"You're drunk," House said.

"So? You're drunk," responded Wilson belligerently.

"Looks like I should call a cab," House added. The pair made their way outside, and House called a cab for them. When it pulled up to the curb, House pushed Wilson in and shut the door.

"House… what are you doing?" Wilson slurred.

"Sending you home." House turned to the driver and gave him Wilson's address.

"House…" he could hear Wilson calling as the cab pulled away.

Wilson had served his purpose. Now House was really free to enjoy the night.

-

Nearly everyone had gone, and Cameron was exhausted. The benefit had required a lot of work on her part, but it had gone well. Now she was ready to head home to a hot bubble bath. She looked around for her ride, but didn't see him anywhere.

She approached a friend. "Jen, have you seen Dave around? He was supposed to be my ride home."

The woman looked at her, perplexed. "Dave left a half hour ago." She nodded towards the opposing wall. "Isn't that guy taking you home?"

Cameron turned around to see who else but House. She stormed over. "You have no business being here, much less chatting up my colleagues and canceling my ride!"

"I got you a better ride," he answered.

"Oh, really?" she challenged. "There better be a limo outside."

"Not exactly," he hedged.

"Well, then I'll be riding with someone else. Goodbye, House."

"Good luck with that," he said just before she turned to walk away. "Everyone else has already left."

Cameron looked around. He was right—there was no one remaining who wasn't scheduled to be working that night.

She fumed. "Fine. You win. Take me home."

-

They rode to Cameron's house in silence.

When they reached it, House turned off the car and got out. "Thanks, but you don't need to walk me to the door," she stated sarcastically.

"I drove you all the way home and you won't invite me in for a drink? I'm hurt," House said glibly.

Cameron sent a death glare his way but was too tired to fight. "One drink."

-

By the time she was opening the second bottle of wine, Cameron was too drunk to remember to kick him out. House, still in possession of his senses, took advantage of the opportunity to get some answers.

"What really happened when you were gone?" he asked curiously.

"I told you, I went to Chicago, got promoted, and came back."

"But what made you like this?" he asked with a wave of a hand. "What made you so bitter?"

Cameron snorted. "You mean what made me like you?" She looked at him with piercing eyes. House glanced away.

She spoke. "I was in hell after leaving here. I was miserable, lonely, and self-loathing. The divorce finalized six months after I moved to Chicago. I attended a hospital benefit the same day and got a little too drunk for my own good. I met a handsome young benefactor that night and, against my better judgment, let him take me on a date. He swept me off my feet. He took me out on his yacht. We had dinner under the stars. I thought my life was finally improving." She paused in her reminiscing to refill her wine glass.

She continued. "We were together eight months or so when he proposed with the largest diamond I'd ever seen."

Her thoughts turned away from the story to the man in front of her. "You would have given me hell. I was running around with stars in my eyes."

House shrugged, not wanting to deter her from the story. "Then what happened?" he asked.

"It all came crashing down," she said flatly. "Things were going so well. I got in a car accident. I was in the ER hemorrhaging and no one could get in contact with him. He was my medical proxy. They called him over and over. He never picked up the phone."

"You know where he was when they finally found him?" she paused. "He was on the yacht fucking his secretary," she spat out bitterly. "And that was the end of it. I threw myself into my work. That, at least, has paid off."

"You're too ambitious for your own good," House mused.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Cameron asked, getting offended.

"You're a doctor, not an administrator. If you weren't such a workaholic you'd actually be treating patients like you're supposed to be," House explained. "If you're just sitting in an office, my time was wasted."

"Your time wasn't wasted! I'm a damn good doctor." she said, her voice getting louder with each word.

"You should come back to work for me," House said, diffusing the situation.

"After being head of a hospital? I don't think so," she said with a laugh.

"You can travel," he bargained.

"I have vacation time," Cameron argued.

"You don't take it," House volleyed back.

"I can go when I retire," Cameron responded quickly.

"You won't," House answered. "Work is all you have. You'll be too scared to retire because you'll have nothing left. You won't know who you are without it."

Cameron looked at him levelly. "I'm not sure you're talking about me anymore." There was a long pause before either of them spoke.

"Right," House said awkwardly. "Well, it's late, I better be going."

Cameron nodded emotionlessly.

House slipped out, leaving Cameron alone.

Cameron headed to the bathroom to finally start her bubble bath. She started the water but turned it off moments later. It didn't seem so appealing anymore. She turned off the lights and slipped into her king size bed alone.

-

House slipped into bed as quietly as he could, trying not to disturb Lisa. Despite his careful movements, she stirred.

"What time is it?" she asked sleepily.

House didn't answer; he had no idea how late he had been gone.

Cuddy leaned over to look at the clock. "Four in the morning?" she nearly shouted.

House hushed her. "You're going to wake up the whole neighborhood," he said quietly but emphatically.

"I don't care," Cuddy said, though she lowered her voice, belying her words. "What the hell were you doing out until four? I had no idea where you were!"

"You don't have to know where I am at all times, Lisa!" House growled. "I'm a grown man and can make my own decisions about when and where I go!"

"When you live with someone, you're supposed to have the courtesy to keep them from worrying!" Cuddy argued.

"We don't live together yet," he replied angrily.

"Of course you would say that," she grumbled. "Have you even put the condo on the market?"

House was silent. He had no answer; he had been caught.

Cuddy glared. "Are you serious about me at all? This is the first thing I ask of you in three years and you can't give it to me. Do you even care or are you toying with me?" She had tears in her eyes.

House looked at her in consternation. "Of course I care!" he said in frustration.

"Caring isn't enough," Cuddy said sadly. "Look, I don't know if it's because you can't let go of the single life or if you have feelings for Cameron or what, but you need to work it out." She rolled away from him. "Get out of here. If you figure things out, you know where to find me."

House looked at her small form curled up against the far edge of the bed. She radiated sadness. He considered kissing her. He considered telling her he was sorry. That he could do better. He didn't. He walked away.

Cuddy laid awake, silent tears bathing her cheeks until exhaustion overtook her.

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A/N: A few readers have brought this up—yes, you are actually supposed to feel sorry for Cuddy. She is an unfortunate casualty of House's change of heart. Don't worry… there is some hope for her.