Good Enough Chapter 7: Papa Loves Mambo
Ok, so if there was a way to make this song play when you read the chapter I would. I could just really see this as a background song for this scene. I suppose you all can pretend. I'll put the lyrics for you. Picture this chapter as a dance that the two do with each other, without actually dancing…if that makes any sense. ;-)
Papa Loves Mambo by Perry Como
Papa loves mambo
Mama loves mambo
Look at him sway with it
Getting so gay with it
Shoutin ole' with it wow
Papa loves mambo
Mama loves mambo
Papa does great with it
Swings like a gate with it
He loses weight with it now
He goes to
She goes fro
He goes fast
She goes slow
He goes left
And she goes right
Papas lookin for mama but mama is nowhere in sight
Papa loves mambo
Mama loves mambo
Having their fling again
Younger than spring again
Feelin that zing again wow
Papa loves mambo
Mama loves mambo
Don't play the rumba
And don't play the samba
Cuz papa loves mambo tonight
Papa loves mambo
Mama loves mambo
He goes to
She goes fro
He goes fast
She goes slow
He goes left
And she goes right
Papas lookin for mama but mama is nowhere in sight
Papa loves mambo
Mama loves mambo
Having their fling again
Younger than spring again
Feelin that zing again wow
Papa loves mambo
Mama loves mambo
Don't play the rumba
And don't play the samba
Cuz papa loves the mambo tonight
Cameron turned yesterday's events over and over again in her mind. He considered them equals. That was what she deduced from the fact that she was now upgraded to his private office collection instead of just generic lobby art. That was mind boggling in itself, but also more incredible after adding in the fact that he turned down Stacey: Love of his life, the proverbial eternal flame, and he told her he didn't want her. That jealousy monster she felt before laughed evilly in the face of this new development. It was not what she had expected at all. And the fact that he had wanted her to stay to see it was also unbelievable. But she hadn't dreamt it; Wilson had confirmed that when he dropped by her office at the end of the day to apologize. She had felt important to House in those few moments. Of course, there was nothing they had to talk about and she had dropped him off at his floor before taking the elevator back down to the ER. But it had been gratifying to know that he wanted her to see him let that part of his past go. Why he wanted her to know, she hadn't figured out yet. She didn't want to hope that maybe this way his way of showing her that he cared for her. It was far too soon for her to jump to that conclusion. Too many years of reading the mixed messages he sent out had taught her at least that.
She sat in her office staring at two cups of iced coffee again.
She had this itch to see him, and the second cup seemed like a good excuse as any. With a little spring in her step and a small smile she grabbed them and made for the diagnostics department.
Up in said department, Gregory House was throwing his ball back and forth, staring at the wall. He was trying not to analyze his own actions from the day before. He didn't want to delve into his psyche to find out just why he had wanted Cameron to see him turn down Stacey. It couldn't be because he didn't want her to think he had any interest in Stacey at all. It couldn't be because he wanted her to know that he saw her as an equal now. That he might even like her. He remembered clearly when he had told her that he didn't like her and the crestfallen look on her face. He definitely liked her smiles better. Those had to keep happening. It was even better when he caused the smile. That made that warm feeling start that made him feel almost safe. Wilson of course tried to be very abrupt and nosy about it, but he shut that down completely on the basis that he no longer had privilege to meddle; at least for the next twenty four hours. He knew Wilson too well and understood the conversation would come eventually and he would pry into what was going on between him and Cameron. It at least gave him some time to figure it out for himself first. When the new case came in, he delegated tasks to the team before sending them off and retreating back into his office to think again. He smiled at the memory of the look on her face when he had called her his superior lobby art and that she was upgraded to his private office collection. He needed an excuse to go see her. He was suddenly almost itching to see her smile for him. He saw the pile of mail next to his desk and grinned. He would simply have to go down there and remind her of her duties she had been neglecting. His charting and mail wouldn't do itself!
He placed his ball back on his desk before working his way out and down the hall to the elevator.
Cameron came up the stairs and down the hall to his office.
She rushed in with excitement, only to feel deflated that he wasn't there.
Just then, Taub came in the room.
"Hey Cameron."
"Hey Taub, where's House?"
He shrugged,
"Dunno…he was here a few minutes ago. Maybe he'll be right back."
"Yeah, I guess I'll wait for a minute or two."
She sat the coffees on his desk and began to sift through the mail.
Down in the ER, House was deflated as well. She wasn't in her office or anywhere on the ER floor. One of her nurses suggested checking the clinic to see if she was doing her clinic hours. He quickly went back to the elevator to get to the clinic.
Cameron put down the letter she was reading in growing impatience. She got up and looked down the hallway, seeing him nowhere.
"Hey Taub, if you see him tell him I was looking for him ok?"
"No problem. Hey, check coma guy's room. Maybe he's hiding out from Cuddy."
"Right. Ok thanks."
"No Dr. House she hasn't been here yet today."
"Ok, I'll just be going then."
"Oh no you don't. You owe me clinic hours. Get to work." Screeched Cuddy.
"But I'm looking for..."
"This patient file. Ms. Crabtree! Room 3 with Dr. House here."
He rolled his eyes and waltzed into Room 3 with the patient.
Cameron poked her head into Coma Guy's room and saw no trace of House.
Maybe he was hiding out in one of the clinic exam rooms.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm positive. They say take one pill for a reason. Tell you husband to follow the instructions and things won't come up like that in the future. And next time, make him come do his own dirty work."
She nodded, he cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
After she walked out, House peeked around the corner to see if Cuddy was around. When he didn't see her he made a beeline out of the clinic and into the next elevator that opened up.
Just as his elevator left, Cameron's elevator opened up and she walked into the clinic.
"Is Dr. House hiding in one of these exam rooms by chance?"
"Actually Dr. Cameron you just missed him. He was looking for you too."
"Really? Ok, did he say where he was going?"
"No, just made a dash for the elevators."
"Got it. Ok then thank you."
"Hey, Cameron was here looking for you." Taub said.
He smiled inwardly.
"She was huh? Oh and she left presents!" he said while picking up the iced coffee.
"Yeah. I didn't know where you were so I told her to check coma guy's room."
"You know me so well." He said with a smirk before strolling out to the elevators again.
As soon as the doors opened he walked directly into an equally hurried body holding an iced coffee.
The impact soon had their coffees each covering the front of the other's shirt.
They stood there a moment frozen before busting out in a fit of laughter.
"I've been looking all over for you." She spoke between giggles and trying to wipe at the coffee dripping down her pink scrubs.
House was shaking the coffee from his arms.
"Ditto."
She gifted him with one of those smiles and he felt himself giving one back.
They walked together back to his office.
"Did you need something?" she asked innocently.
"Did you?" he countered.
"Nope, just wanted to give you your coffee and wish you a nice day."
"I was going to tell you to get up here and finish your office art duties, but I see you already did most of that while I was away looking for you."
"Yes well I wanted to give you your coffee, not have you wear it."
"So much for the nice day."
She pretended to pout.
"Hey, it was the thought that counted."
He rolled his eyes.
"Yes dear. Thank you for the thought." He said sarcastically and gesturing at his stained shirt, while inside he was secretly glad she was thinking of him.
"Well then, I'll leave you in peace for the rest of your day."
She turned to walk away but he stopped her.
"Wanna have lunch?"
She smiled before turning back to look at him.
"You place or mine?"
He gasped in fake shock.
"Cameron, I'm surprised at you. And you haven't even bought me flowers yet. I didn't think you were a skip to sex kind of girl, but if you are offering…"
"My office or yours?" she stated after rolling her eyes.
"Oh yours I suppose. You know what I want, cold, and no pickles."
"Yes dear" she said mocking him before leaving for the ER.