A day in the clinic is almost relaxing after the hectic hours and patients they normally deal with. House wouldn't agree but she has been known to disagree with him from time to time. Of course they still lie through their teeth, deny everything, admit nothing and generally act like children. When does poking things into orifices become a socially acceptable pastime, she muses, disposing of another pair of soiled gloves. She smiles at the patient (he'd like her thinking that) and sits, jotting everything down before it disappears into the background.

The door opens behind her, a touch of irritation in her voice as her few precious seconds of peace are interrupted. "I'll be out in a minute, just finishing this."

"That's ok, I was just saying hi." God, Chase, why didn't she think of him.

Forcing a smile, she turns, "Sorry, I thought you were a patient or a nurse or," the pause is momentary, and her mind thinks of only one other person, "somebody."

He shakes his head, noticing nothing amiss, "It's fine, don't worry about it. So where were you yesterday?"

Blinking, she opens her mouth, brain lagging behind body, wanting to tell somebody but god, it can't be him.

"I was... out."

"Obviously, otherwise you would have picked up when I called."

"Yeah, sorry. I never checked my messages when I got home." She hates lying, the truth would be cruel.

"Didn't check the messages on your cell either?" He drops his head, looking questioningly at her, "I was worried Allison." The way he says her name, it grates some part of her. Everybody else calls her Cameron (except Wilson, but he's special) so why can't the stupid wombat.

Pushing those thoughts aside, "Chase, I'm fine. Going shopping is pretty safe around here, in case you hadn't noticed."

He's moving closer, hand on her arm, how does he go from sweet colleague and adequate toyboy to creepy obsessive so easily in her mind.

"Ok, I'm just saying. I care."

She nods a little, wanting him gone in the nicest possible fashion, "I... should get back to work..."

His eyes penetrate her, x-raying her lies and finding them just ever so lacking, "Ok." He barely takes a step towards the door before he's looking at her again.

"Allison, you know I like you, don't you?" She nods, feeling her breathing speeding up, fists clenched, head light.

"I need to get back to work." Finally, the door closes behind him and she drops her face to rest in her hands. Why is getting what she always wanted so infuriatingly difficult.

Sighing softly, she grabs the unfinished chart, scribbling rapidly. That's enough, she doesn't have to be here. Dropping it at the nurses station, she makes her excuses. It's not until the car is idling at the exit to the car park that she realises where she was planning on driving.

No cars around, she calls him. Slow to pick up, typical. Click.

"What?"

"I'm done. Are you doing anything?"

He is quiet for a moment, "No. Come round if you want."

"Thanks. See you soon."


He lets her in silently, eyes assessing and judging her in the peaceful moment.

"Hi." She smiles tiredly, uncertain. Reading her was always easy. Arms slip around her, hugging quietly before limping back to the couch.

"What's up?" Flopping back, the TV blazes into life, volume low.

"Chase wanted to know where I was yesterday." Sitting beside him her head lolls back, eyes closed, hoping the rest of the world would disappear and leave them alone together.

"Hm. What'd you tell him?"

"Said I had gone shopping and didn't check my messages."

"You lied to him."

She frowns, glaring at him, "What did you want me to say? That I was here getting frustrated with you?"

He smirks, "You were frustrated? Hot." She should be angry, mentally cursing herself as she smiles.

"Shut up, House."

Watching her, "You did sleep with him."

Embarrassment wells within her, cheeks blushing as she tries to say something, anything.

"I... I'm sorry. If I'd known what would happen." She searches his eyes for an out, escape, anything.

He just smirks, "I take it that you aren't going to do it again?"

"Of course not! It was just... I needed something... real." Shifting uncomfortably, she finds herself sitting further away from him, his nonchalance frightening.

"Why didn't you ask me?" He's not pulling his blows at all, now she is afraid. Either he doesn't care or he's furious and both are horrifying. She swallows hard, desperately trying to hide the terror assailing her.

"I didn't think..." her voice peters off, unable to proceed without damning herself.

His voice is loud, sharp, "It doesn't matter. If you aren't planning on doing it again, why should I care." She just stares at him.

"I just absolved you. Look happy or something. Oh for god's sake," He bounces over closer to her on the couch, pulling her to his side in a possessive hug. Her entire body trembles slightly and he closes his eyes, praying that she isn't crying.

"Cameron..." That only makes it worse, he cuts his losses, turning and grimacing at the pain in his leg, ignoring it as he pulls her closer, hand rubbing over her back.

She feels like an adulterer, of course he's right and it isn't her fault, but the feeling won't go away that she somehow betrayed him. Wreathing her arms around his waist, she clings, letting the horrid tears stream down her face, pressing closer to his chest to try and hide them. Eventually they slow, emotional baggage discharged.

Sniffing, she wipes her cheeks, mumbling "'m sorry," into the warmth of his shirt.

He nods a little, nosing against her hair, planting a kiss amongst it, "I know. Now be quiet. I'm trying to watch tv."

That makes her smile, "God, you're such an ass."

"I thought that's why you liked me."

"Oh shut up." She's smiling again and she hates him for it, he's far too good at making her forget about the trivial banalities of life. Of course, she loves him for it too.


He wishes he didn't have to move. Unfortunately, his leg has other ideas, the disfigured limb aching after so much time with even her weight resting against it.

"I have to get up." She pries her arms away, curling up on the couch and watching as he stands creakily, snatching up his vicodin and downing two.

"That bad?" He looks down at her, grimacing before nodding.

"Yeah. Could be worse though." He limps down the hall, turning into what she knows is his bedroom.

"Are you coming?" She blinks, getting to her feet and retracing his steps. Peeping around the door, he's lying on the bed, watching the ceiling. He glances over at her, patting beside him. She must look sceptical, because he rolls his eyes at her.

"Oh come on. I thought pain was a turn-on for you." She frowns sternly, moving to lie chastely beside him, hands on her tummy to avoid any completely unintentional groping.

"I would've brought my whip if I knew you were into that sort of thing." Eyes drifting shut, the bed so very comfortable, it's supremely tempting to fall asleep. Work was tiring, he's always tiring (the good kind) and despite earlier indications, everything seems to be going so well.

Rolling onto her side, she opens her eyes to find him watching her. Her arm tentatively extends across him, resting across his stomach. Hooking an arm around her, she is pulled to his side, head resting against his shoulder. His hand is rubbing a lazy circle on her back, eyes closed once more as the serenity soaks in.


Waking up is an exercise in futility, his warmth and her complete lack of willpower trapping her against him. He's still asleep, her line of vision shifting up and down with every breath he takes. Her hand eases down, fingers nudging his shirt up so she can touch the skin hidden beneath. As her consciousness ascends from the world once more, she smiles.

Perfection.


Author's Note: Hope everyone is still having fun. Big reviews make me a happy writer ;)