Two days before the benefit for St. Jude's Children's Hospital showed an extremely frantic Allison Cameron. She'd discovered that Richard was going to be at the benefit … with his new trophy. This meant that she had to find someone to go with, or she'd look like the spurned lover and that just didn't sit well with her. Wilson couldn't go with her; he was taking Cuddy. No surprise there. She'd almost sunk so low as to ask one of House's fellows, but that was a last resort.

As House passed her in the hallway, she grabbed hold of his wrist. "Saturday night," she said quickly. "What are you doing?"

House glanced down at where Cameron's hand held onto his wrist and quirked an eyebrow. "Buying a hooker and getting drunk. How about you?"

She rolled her eyes. "Cancel the hooker. You can still get drunk. I need someone to come to the St. Jude's benefit with me."

He laughed. "Hell no."

"Please?" she asked in a slight whine. "Richard's going to be there and you're supposed to be pretending to be my lover anyway, so it would only make sense if you were there with me."

"Cameron, I'm not going to that damned benefit. The only people there will be ones that I can't stand. Forget it."

"I'll pay you," she blurted.

His eyes darkened and he clenched his fist, pulling his wrist out of her grasp. "Keep your money, Princess," he growled.

"House, please. I simply can't go to this thing alone."

"Then don't go at all. I don't see what the big deal is."

"I have to go. I promised. I paid for two seats because I thought I'd find someone by now, and…" She sighed and shook her head. "Never mind. It was stupid of me to ask."

"Trying reverse psychology?" he asked with a smirk.

"I'd never," she drawled, turning to walk back to her office. "I'll just go by myself and you won't get to grope me in front of my ex-husband. It's fine."

House rolled his eyes. "What's in it for me?" he asked. "Well … besides the pleasure of groping you."

She gave a small laugh. "Free alcohol?"

"Getting there."

"Free range on bothering the hell out of aristocrats? I'll pay for your tux."

"You've got a deal."

House was surprised when he picked Cameron up that night. First of all, she didn't live in her old apartment anymore; she lived in a huge house in the nicer part of town. He rang the doorbell and smirked when a maid answered and let him in. At least ten comments about Cameron owning slaves popped into his head, but they vanished when she came striding into the living room and addressed the maid. She must not have seen him; she looked a bit concerned.

"Sylvia, have you seen my pearl necklace?" she asked with a frown as she pushed an earring into her earlobe. "It isn't in my jewelry box and it isn't on my necklace rack. Did you move it when you cleaned?"

"No, ma'am," Sylvia answered. "Did you check in your personals drawer? I seem to recall you putting your more expensive items there."

"Oh, no. I didn't think to check…" Cameron turned to go back up the spiraling staircase that she'd come down.

"Ma'am," Sylvia interrupted with a smile. "Your escort for the evening is here."

"He's here already?" she asked, turning to look at a grandfather clock. "Did you show him into the den, then?"

House smirked. "I'm right here," he called from the foyer, letting out a chuckle when Cameron jumped and turned toward the sound of his voice.

"I didn't expect you'd be early," she admitted with a faint smile. "I haven't even gotten my dress on yet."

He shrugged and leaned against the door behind him. "I can wait. I could go ahead and get lost in your house. Can't say I expected you to buy yourself a mansion."

Cameron rolled her eyes and leaned against the staircase railing. "I didn't buy it," she commented. "I kicked Richard out and kept it for myself. Right, Sylvia?" she asked the maid with a triumphant grin.

Sylvia grinned right back. "Too right, ma'am. My husband thoroughly enjoyed tossing his bags outside."

"Go ahead and show Dr. House into the den. Give him a drink if he wants. I'll go finish getting ready." She turned and jogged up the staircase, leaving House with Sylvia.

With a friendly smile, Sylvia motioned for House to follow her. "If you'll just follow me, Doctor."

"Sure." He was led down a long hallway filled with both classical and modern art. There were a few plants here and there placed on fashionable end tables. He felt like he was in the home of one of his father's colleagues, and he wasn't at all comfortable with the feeling. But he got over it when he was shown into the 'den.' It was a living room with a fireplace, he thought. Dens were a thing of the past. But then, this antique house wasn't exactly from the latest century.

"Would you like anything to drink, Doctor?"

"Uh… No. I'm fine, thanks." Sylvia turned to leave, but House stopped her with a frown. "Cameron's not the type to keep maids around," he commented.

Sylvia crossed her hands loosely in front of her and gave House a gentle smile. "Mrs. Markham … well … formerly Mrs. Markham felt it was unfair to put us out of our jobs just because she and Mr. Markham had marital issues. She kept my husband and me, as well as the cook and the part-time interior decorator. When you have an estate this size, it's fashionable to change its design every six months or so."

"Sounds like a waste of money to me," House commented, looking around the large room.

"Some might think so. But I don't think Mrs.…" Sylvia let out a small laugh. "Dr. Cameron couldn't stand putting someone out of a job, no matter how marketable they may be."

"She's got a soft heart. Always had one."

"My husband and I try to tell her that it will get her into trouble eventually, but she just doesn't listen."

House smirked. "She understands. She just doesn't care."

Sylvia grinned. "I hope you won't mind my asking, Dr. House, but … why, exactly, are you taking Dr. Cameron to this benefit?"

"To make the ex insanely jealous. And because I get to grope her. Really, what more could a man want?" He sat down in one of the chairs and leaned his cane on the side of it.

"I hate to sound too forward, but I feel the need to warn you… If you hurt Dr. Cameron's feelings, you'll have this entire house out after you. She's been through enough heartache as it is."

House frowned and took hold of his cane, tapping it evenly on the floor. "I don't know a whole lot about the heartache. She won't talk about it, no matter how much I ask."

Sylvia stood across the room, wringing her hands together nervously. She checked the hallway and listened for a moment before moving closer to House. "I won't tell you too much because I'm sure she doesn't want all of her skeletons out of her closet." After taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly, she looked around the room guiltily. "Before Dr. Cameron initiated the divorce, she and Mr. Markham got into a rather large argument. They were screaming at each other, which isn't something they made a habit of. We all heard it… Mr. Markham told Dr. Cameron that she was to choose between him and her work. When she told him that her work was a part of her and that she couldn't possibly choose between herself and him, he told her that she could take her job and … well, it wasn't exactly a phrase that you use in polite conversation."

His brow furrowed and he studied Sylvia. "Would I be right in the assumption that Cameron kicked him out after that?"

She shook her head. "Not at first. Dr. Cameron went and slept in a bedroom on the opposite side of the house from Mr. Markham. They continued to argue whenever they saw each other and she cried when she finally told him that she wanted a divorce. He was very upset and he moved to strike her. My husband intervened and Dr. Cameron kicked Mr. Markham out of the house." Sylvia's chest swelled with pride. "She's a strong, smart woman."

"I'm finding that out more and more," House commented with a small smirk. "Thanks for letting me in on the secret."

"You can't let her know that you know, of course," Sylvia said worriedly. "I'd hate for her to be upset with me."

"Mum's the word."

Sylvia smiled as she heard the click of heels. "Dr. Cameron's coming. I'll be taking my leave now." She headed for the door and stopped, turning back to House. "Take good care of her. Please?"

House gave her a curt not and she left. Cameron came in about a minute later and House stood before looking at her. Once he did, he stopped dead in his tracks. She was … gorgeous.

She wore a long, black dress made of satin. Spaghetti straps rested on her shoulders and ran in crossing patterns along her back. The pearl necklace that she'd been looking for lay loosely around her slender neck, and her hair was swept up into a knot at the back of her head with small tendrils curling downward. She noticed his dumbstruck look and smiled slightly. "Ready to go?"

He cleared his throat. "Uh … yeah. Yeah. Let's get going."

During the benefit, House got to see Cameron in her rich, debutante world. He watched her as she charmed more money out of the wealthy, as she got more time out of researchers, and as she carried on small talk with old men who just wanted to be around someone young and beautiful. The wonderful thing about it was that he got to keep his hand securely on her lower back to remind her of who was there with her.

Every so often, he would lean in and make a snide remark about someone in her ear. She would reward him with a small grin before engaging someone else in conversation about how wonderful it would be if cancer research had just a few thousand more dollars. By the time the benefit was halfway to completion, she'd managed to get somewhere between five hundred thousand and one million dollars more for St. Jude's. And he had no idea how she'd managed.

For the most part, the night was completely boring and uneventful, just like House had expected it would be. It wasn't until they were getting ready to leave that drama ensued.

As Cameron bid good-bye to a kindly old gentleman, she caught sight of Richard across the room. House felt her stiffen and followed her gaze. "Ignore him," he murmured in her ear. "You've had a great night so far. Don't let him ruin it."

"I'm not going to," she muttered back. "We're going to leave."

"Good girl." As they went to get their coats, Richard intercepted them with his date hanging on his side.

Cameron stiffened again, and House massaged the back of her neck with his fingers to calm her. "Richard," she said politely.

"Allison," Richard replied. "I see you've brought your doctor friend."

"I see you've brought your … friend," Cameron replied, looking curiously at the bottle-blonde hanging onto Richard's arm.

Said friend smiled at Cameron. "I'm Natasha Winchester," she introduced herself.

"Like the rifles?" House asked.

Natasha smiled brightly. "Precisely."

"…Aren't you supposed to be in San Jose, living in that crazy house that your ancestor built?"

Natasha's smile dimmed to a small, polite, forced one. "We don't talk about Great Aunt Sarah."

"Can't imagine why…"

Cameron held back laughter and elbowed House's side. "Greg and I were just on our way out, so if you'll excuse us…"

But Richard didn't move. "I was telling Natasha about your job," he commented with a sly smile. "She was very interested."

"Oh, yes!" Natasha exclaimed excitedly. "Richard said that you're an Immunologist. What's that about?"

House's eyes widened. This woman couldn't possibly be so stupid … could she? "Immunology," he said flatly. "Immune system."

"Oh, well, yes, I know that," the woman commented with a bright, ditzy smile. "But I mean… What do you do?"

"Ah… I study the immune system and diseases that affect it," Cameron explained. "Things like lupus, HIV/AIDS, allergies, immunosuppressant drugs…" She noted the lost look on Natasha's face. "You … don't know what that means, do you?"

"Not everyone is a doctor, Allison," Richard said coolly.

"Oh, Richard, no need to defend," Natasha said with a tinkling laugh. "I'm sure Allison's just so used to dealing with all of those smart doctors that she just doesn't remember that she's talking to the general public."

"She's even dating a doctor. Aren't you, Allison?" Richard asked with a forced smile.

"She is," House returned with a smirk, bending to drop a kiss on Cameron's exposed shoulder. "Any man who would give her up is a complete idiot."

"Ah." Not to be outdone, Richard hit below the belt. "I believe Allison used to work for you, Dr. House?"

"About a decade ago," House answered honestly.

"Doesn't that make it a bit … odd for you to be dating her now?"

"Not in the least," Cameron chimed in smoothly. "Greg and I had a … small thing before I'd left Princeton-Plainsboro."

"We did," House lied just as smoothly. "When I saw her again… Well…" He grinned down at Cameron and brushed a kiss over her lips. "I realized I should have asked her to stay all along. You know, I was surprised when I found out that she was a divorcee. I can't imagine how lousy you must have been for her to leave you."

Richard's face turned red with anger. "She didn't leave me. We left each other on amiable terms."

"I wouldn't call it amiable," Cameron said flatly. "As a matter of fact, I'd call it somewhere near abusive."

Natasha's eyes widened. "Abusive?" she asked in a whisper.

"Oh, don't worry," Cameron told Natasha with a smile. "He tried to hit me once. Granted, he was quite angry… That was the final reason I left." She gave Richard a surprised look. "You mean, you didn't tell Natasha about that?"

"You little bitch," Richard hissed at Cameron.

"Yeah, she is," House said with a smirk, wrapping his arm around her waist. "Isn't it hot? Matter of fact…" He leaned down and took advantage of the fact that her neck was exposed, sliding the tip of his tongue down a line and nipping at the pale skin. "Let's get out of here." Ignoring social manners, he took hold of Cameron's hand and pulled her away from Richard and out of the benefit.