Globes and Maps:
Part Five
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A/N: Well, instead of studying for my last final exam, I'm here, updating my fic. :)
As a note on the last one, I chose to have House purchase the ticket only for Cameron because it shows just how much he means to her—he doesn't benefit from this at all. It is a purely selfless act. And I think that really means something!
Thank you all for reading!
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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 arrived the night before her flight. "I don't leave until the morning," Cameron said in confusion as she answered the door.
"I'm making sure you're packed. I don't want to show up in the morning and have you telling me you can't go because you aren't packed," he said with a disapproving look.
Cameron laughed. "Fine, come see the progress."
House followed her through the winding path to the master bedroom. It was filled with rich, decadent fabrics. A heavy cream contrasted with deep mahogany. Across the bed lay a half-filled suitcase, and another one stood by the door.
A cat sat on top of the pile of clothes inside the suitcase. "C'mere, Cat," Cameron said as she sat on the bed. The cat jumped up from its spot and settled itself in her lap.
"You named your cat Cat?" House asked with disdain. "Where's your creativity?"
Cameron smiled openly. "It's short for Catherine," she admitted.
She petted the feline in silence for a minute before addressing House. "As you can see, I really am packing. You can head back to your apartment and relax now."
"Not exactly what I had in mind," House stated.
Cameron looked up in puzzlement. House explained. "We have to leave at the ass-crack of dawn tomorrow and it's not a short drive from my place to yours. I'll be staying here tonight."
Cameron cracked a wry smile. "Nothing like inviting yourself over."
"My bag's in the car," House said as he tossed her his keys and left the room. Cameron rolled her eyes, but went to get the bag. When she returned inside she could hear one of Chopin's preludes wafting from the library.
"Playing my music?" she asked House as she entered the room. He stopped.
"You play?" he asked, turning in his seat.
Cameron laughed. "You thought I just had the piano for the looks? I was classically trained from the age of five."
House scooted over and gestured to the bench. "Play," he commanded.
She shook her head. "Maybe some other time." She headed to the rarely used guest bedroom to set down House's bag.
"Is Chinese alright?" she called as she placed the duffel bag on the bed. "I don't feel like making dinner."
She headed out of the room to nearly collide with House walking towards her. Instead of stepping to the side, he pulled her closer and kissed her square on the lips. A jolt shot through her, freezing her in place. "Perfect. I brought movies," he said nonchalantly, limping past her to reach his bag.
"So…" he said to the still shocked Cameron. "Die Hard or V for Vendetta?"
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V for Vendetta had come to an end and House and Cameron were tensely sitting on opposite ends of the couch. The credits rolled, and Cameron reached over to switch off the TV.
Cameron turned to House. House inwardly groaned. "Don't you think we need to talk about this?" she asked.
"About what?" House asked coolly.
"That kiss," Cameron squeezed the word out.
"What's there to talk about? I think it's pretty self-explanatory," he said.
Cameron looked at him, aghast. "A kiss isn't that simple when you're with someone else!"
"I'm not," he said, pretending to carefully examine the book he had picked up off the coffee table.
Cameron looked shocked. "How long?" she asked breathlessly.
"A few weeks," he answered, looking at her finally. Their eyes locked, and a surge of electricity spanned the distance between them. After a lingering moment Cameron looked away.
"House…" she began. "I can't."
"Why?" he demanded.
"You know why," she said tiredly. Her eyes were sad.
"I'm an idiot," House said abruptly. "And an ass. But that doesn't mean I don't care about people."
Cameron stared, unconvinced.
"I can fix things," he said, continuing softly, "but I need you around. To remind me when I'm getting too far out of touch." His eyes, unguarded for once, were pleading.
Cameron, unable to bear the honesty, turned away. "I want to believe that," she said.
"Then believe it," House urged her.
Cameron turned back to him, their eyes again locking on each other. There was honesty in his eyes that she couldn't disregard.
"There is a way back," he said softly, recalling her final words to him.
Cameron's lips softened into a smile. "Well, what do you know," she said, relenting gently. "Looks like there might be hope for you yet."
House glanced away, embarrassed by his own admissions.
Cameron, sensing his discomfort, switched gears quickly. "Well, how about another movie?" she asked. "This time we watch one of mine," she demanded.
House rolled his eyes, the tension dissipating. "I bet you only have girly movies," he whined.
Cameron gave him a look and opened the cabinet that held her movie collection. To his surprise, only a few were lame romantic comedies.
"Casablanca," Cameron said, pulling one from the shelf.
House sighed. "I knew you would choose a romance," he grumbled.
Cameron's mouth spread into a devious smile. "I know you like it. Humphrey Bogart is a badass."
House conceded. "Humphrey Bogart is a badass."
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Somehow during the movie they had moved closer, and Cameron's head was now resting on House's shoulder. When the movie ended, House poked her gently.
Cameron lifted her head slightly, her hair softly falling in her eyes. "Ugh. Bedtime," she said, lifting herself off the couch with much effort.
She headed into her bedroom and groaned loudly when she arrived.
"What is it?" House asked, poking his head in. Cameron pointed wordlessly at her half-packed suitcase on the bed.
House surveyed the situation. Cameron was nearly asleep on her feet.
"If I help it will go faster," he said.
Cameron looked dubious. "Do you even know how to fold clothes?"
"Military kid, remember? We moved all the time when I was a kid. If anyone knows how to pack well, it's me," he boasted.
Cameron shrugged her shoulders, but moved aside and allowed him to sit next to the suitcase. She moved into the closet, pulling clothes and laying them on the bed.
When she looked over, House had emptied her suitcase. "What are you doing?" she shouted.
"Chill, Cameron! I'm just packing this more efficiently. Maybe you can downsize one of these bags."
"Or I can take more," she mused.
House rolled his eyes. Women.
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The morning came far too soon for both of them.
House awoke to the smell of coffee and eggs. Cameron met him in the kitchen with a steaming mug.
The morning was quiet, both of them introspective about what lay both behind and ahead of them.
Cameron finished the last minute packing as House toyed with her piano. She took the neighbor her key, and they were off.
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"I don't know if I can do this by myself," Cameron said nervously, just outside the security gate.
House let out a frustrated sigh. "Stop selling yourself short. You'll be fine. You'll be better than fine." He looked at her probingly.
Cameron took a deep breath and nodded.
"That's my girl," House replied with a hint of a smile.
She picked up her bags. but stopped before heading into the security line. "I never did properly thank you," she admitted.
House wiggled his eyebrows. "Want to slip into the janitor's closet for a few?"
Cameron rolled her eyes and smiled. "I'll miss you," she said, running a hand down his arm. She turned to go.
"Cameron," House called back to her. "If you need anything…" he said, "Call Wilson."
The smile turned into a grin. She nodded her consent and turned again to go.
House watched the woman he now knew he loved walk away. He felt empty, somehow. Would he know how to be without her for this long?
Just then his cell phone buzzed. He looked down and saw he had a text from Wilson.
"Poker night?" the text message said. House smiled. He would survive just fine.
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Allison Cameron reflected on her new direction as she hurtled through the air miles above the blue ocean she could see far below her window. She was embarking on what could be the greatest adventure of her life.
And when she came home, another adventure awaited. She smiled. After all, she did want some happiness for herself. And she was going to take it.
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A/N: Again, thank you all so much for reading! I really appreciate you all taking the time out to read and review my stories. You are all amazing! 3
For my Saving Grace readers: I promise, I am actually working on the sequel! I am about ¼ of the way through, but I want to get further ahead before I start posting. With school going on, it takes me forever to get anything written, and I don't want to leave it abandoned for any length of time. Thank you for your patience!