"Go away," Thirteen said. She had revisited the same stall she went to when she was upset over Amber's accident, and House had come to convince her to get tested. The memory of that event did not ease her pain, but she didn't realize she was in that particular stall until she noticed the same crack in one of the tiles that had been there before. Suddenly she wanted to go home, to get out of the hospital with all of its memories and familiar settings. She wanted to crawl into bed and escape the day through sleep. Her hangover had begun to wane, but she still longed for the solace sleep could bring.
She did not wish for the interrogation she was getting from Cameron, who was outside of the stall trying to convince her to get out.
"I just wanted you to know that House didn't tell me anything."
Silence. And then Thirteen asked, "Why not?"
"I asked him not to."
"Why?"
"I told him that if you wanted to tell me you would tell me yourself."
"Well that was nice," Thirteen said weakly. Cameron smiled.
"House did have a good point though. If you are in some kind of denial about what's happening to you, whatever it is, it can make you feel better to talk to someone."
"I did."
"Someone who isn't House."
Thirteen half-heartedly smiled. She wadded up the Kleenex that had in her hand and tossed in the toilet. She stared at the crack in the tile. That same damn crack she had stared at just moments before she considered getting tested.
Oh why did I listen to House's advice? She thought.
"Let me help you." Cameron said, her voice sounding so sympathetic, so sweet it made Thirteen emotionally ache not to open the door.
"You seem like a really nice person," she said, "Please go away."
Cameron contemplated the words again and again.
You seem like a really nice person. Please go away.
It was House all over again. Why did people push away kindness? It seemed like the more she tried to help, the more people tossed her aside. But it wasn't self-pity Cameron felt, not really. She didn't appreciate being told to go away, but Thirteen's voice, her pathetic, melancholy voice occasionally broken by sobs broke her heart. Cameron felt confused and sympathetic. This mystery problem…how severe was it? And why, oh why had she told House, of all people?
"She didn't tell you," House said.
"No, she didn't" Cameron admitted.
"Do you want me to tell you now?"
"No"
"Liar."
"I'm not lying. I want to know, but I don't want to invade her privacy."
"She has Huntington's."
Cameron froze, held immobile by the words. She felt full-body shock consume her, unable to articulate a single thought in her mind. Her face revealed all the thoughts that she could not utter out loud.
"What?" Cameron said, "Huntington's? But that's…"
"A genetic disease that generates within-"
"I know what it is I just can't believe…Thirteen. That's why she's been so upset. Poor Thirteen."
"She told me because she didn't have anyone else to tell, obviously. But you, could actually help her."
"You betrayed her by telling me. Why did you have to make it worse for her? Why do you make everything worse?"
House flinched. Cameron immediately regretted her choice of words. She apologized, but House interrupted her.
"No, you're right. I usually do. I screwed up big time with Wilson. He'll never forgive me."
"Yes he will."
"No, he won't. Eventually he'll give some semblance of forgiveness to me, because he's like you. He's this decent person, and he knows that I did everything to save her once I'd already screwed up. But inside he'll never really forgive me. I wouldn't forgive me."
"Wilson will forgive you. He loves you, House. You don't understand that but he'll realize that it wasn't you fault."
"It was my fault. I'm not the one in denial here. I screwed up. And I can't do anything to fix what happened. And I can't stop what is going to be a painful, slow death for Thirteen-"
"House," Cameron said, "Please stop. Why did you tell me this?"
"Because Huntington's isn't the only thing that runs in her family."
"What do you mean?"
"Suicide has worked its way into the Hadley family tree more than once. And she lives alone, works all the time-"
"No. House, no. She's not like that."
"How would you know? Do you know her? Do you really know her? What's her favorite color?"
"Don't be a jerk."
"Do you even know her first name?" he asked more seriously.
Cameron paused.
"So what do you want me to do?" she said, "Admit her into counseling? Be her best friend? Tell her it's okay she's going to die?"
"Or just watch her to make sure she doesn't commit suicide."
"Why me? Why don't you do it?"
"Hello. Kind of immobile here. And besides, you're the one that's all into that hallmark caring thing. It's what you do. You care and stuff."
"I care and stuff." Cameron repeated.
"Please," House said, "Do this. Watch her. Not for me, for her. And I never say please."
"You never say please," Cameron agreed. She shook her head, slightly frustrated at the helplessness and the pain they all beared. There had been enough tragedy in the last 48 hours to last someone a lifetime. She sighed, and finally agreed to help Thirteen, unable to say no. Once again, unable to turn away.
Author's Note: I thought that since House felt guilty over Amber's death (which I do not feel he was really responsible for) he might try to make up for it by helping Thirteen. Hopefully that makes it seem more plausible that he would be sympathetic and try to help her.