a/n I haven't written for this pairing in quite awhile, but watching older episodes got me in the mood to do so again. I miss Cameron a lot on the show. So, I felt the urge to write for them again. Wilson/Cameron pairing, mild spoilers for season 7 contained within first chapter.
Allison entered the hotel lobby carrying her bags. She headed for the front desk, hoping she'd be quickly able to get her room and get rid of them. She really shouldn't have packed so much, she thought to herself, but it was a 5 day conference and she was far from home. She got in line behind several other guests and awaited her turn. The line moved slowly and before long more people had joined her in line. She finally made it through check-in and headed for the elevator to go to her room. As she walked, she turned her attention to the packet of material that had been provided for the conference. Paying attention to it and struggling with her bags, she wasn't watching where she was going and ran into someone. She immediately apologized, looking up and meeting a pair of familiar brown eyes.
"James! I didn't know you were going to be at this conference. It's good to see you." Allison's eyes lit up when she seen her old friend, James Wilson.
Wilson smiled at her, glad to see her. It had been a long while and he still missed her presence at PPTH. They had been friends, and she'd been there for him after Amber had passed away. It seemed so long ago.
"I'm giving a speech tomorrow. Is it one you're scheduled to attend?" James said. "It's good to see you, Allison."
"I don't know, I just got here and was trying to go over the information, albeit unsuccessfully. I'm just heading up to my room to dump these bags. I packed way too much." Allison smiled at him.
"Here, let me help you. I'm already settled in my room." Before she could protest, he took one bag from her and indicated for her to lead the way. They headed for the elevator together.
"So are you presenting anything at this conference?" Wilson asked her, making conversation.
"No, no, I'm just attending. Listen, Wilson, thanks for your help, I appreciate this." Allison said, as the elevator dinged and they got off on her floor.
"It's not a problem, Allison. Always did love to help a damsel in distress." He followed her down the hallway in the direction of her room.
Allison just snorted at him, before stopping at her room. She quickly opened the door and held it for him. He followed her into the room, setting her bag down on the floor beside the bed.
Allison set her other bag down beside it before going over to the curtains and throwing them open, letting sunshine into the room. She turned to face him.
"So, are you in a hurry? I'm starving and want to head to the restaurant. I'd love some company and a chance to catch up." Allison was very glad to see him, he was one of the few things she missed about her old job, her old life.
"I was just heading for something to eat when we ran into each other."
"Is that a yes to the company?" Allison smiled.
"That's a yes." James smiled back at her.
"Just let me freshen up, and then I'll be ready to go." She fished out her cosmetics bag and went to the washroom. She wasn't there long, just enough to brush her hair, wash her face and put on a fresh coat of lipstick. She came back out to find Wilson out on the balcony, looking down on the lake.
"Ready?" she asked, joining him on looking down at the beauty of the resort they were at.
"Yes, I just needed some air. I drove up here and I'm still tired. It was a long trip."
"You'll be sleeping before we get our meal! We better move it then." Allison didn't know where all this light and airiness within her came from. She was usually so serious. In a new city, a new job, she hadn't cultivated any new friendships, just acquaintances at work. Being with Wilson was a relief for her. He was familiar, he was safe, he was a friend.
"Nah, I just need a good meal. It will perk me right up. Shall we?"
Cameron smiled, grabbed her purse and headed out the door with him. It didn't take them long to get to the hotel restaurant, which wasn't busy mid-day. They were seated and left with menus, both of them pouring over them. When the waitress came back, they quickly gave their orders and then settled back in. They began to chat.
"So how are things at PPTH?" Allison was curious. Even given all the drama that had occurred there, she found she missed the place more as time went by. The place and the people.
"Same ol', same ol'. Do you really want to know the details?" Wilson asked her. He was exhausted just thinking about the drama that had happened the last year there.
"Start with you. We'll go from there."
"Well, I almost asked someone to marry me again. My ex-wife and I had gotten back together and I was going to propose to her. But it didn't work out." Wilson sighed.
"I'm sorry, James." She really was. James needed a little happiness in his life.
"House and Cuddy broke up. You knew they were in a relationship? Well, it fell apart. House took it pretty hard. Ended up getting married to some girl, trying to punish Lisa. I can see that's going to work out wonderfully." He kind of grunted at that. He had a feeling he'd be picking up the pieces between the two of them for a long time.
"No, I didn't know they were in a relationship. And who did House marry? And why?" Allison was curious and it pinched her heart a little. She still had a few feelings for him. Ones that he'd never returned.
"A girl named Dominika. She needed a green card, he wanted to punish Cuddy for breaking up with him. Win/win, apparently." Wilson shook his head.
Allison didn't know what to say. It seemed an extreme reaction, but then, who was she to say? She'd run from the situation in Princeton.
"How's Cuddy doing?"
"She's hurt, but she's trying hard to hide it."
"Been there, done that. I wish her the best." Allison took a sip of water, putting memories of her unrequited love for House behind her.
Wilson looked at her, sensing her downturn in mood. Sometimes it was better to leave the past in the past.
"Let's say we forget this trip down memory lane? What are you here at the conference for? Which meetings are you attending?" Wilson threw her this lifeline.
"Dr. Turner, the leading doctor in immunochemistry, is giving a lecture and I wanted to hear it. I've been looking forward to it for the last couple of weeks. It's my first conference in a long time. Besides, it gives me something to do. I don't do much of interest." Cameron was relieved when the waitress arrived with their meal.
Wilson looked at the lecture folder that Cameron had brought down with her. "Well, that covers two hours of your time here. Why don't you come to mine? I do give my presentation tomorrow. It will be relatively painless for you."
"I think I'd like that. I'm sure I can fit it into my schedule." Cameron didn't add that she hadn't planned to attend many of the events, and had just been looking for a small vacation. She hadn't had one in a long time and the conference was in a beautiful location. It was a nice perk that she normally wouldn't have gone to, but had actually welcomed this chance to get away from her new job.
"Well, you know what an amazing and interesting speaker I am. I'm sure it will be a delight for you." James deadpanned, getting the desired effect of a laugh out of her.
"Oh, I'm sure it will be. You know, Wilson, it really is good to see you. I've missed you a lot."
"Well, you're presence is definitely missed at the hospital."
"I hate to admit it, but I miss it too. I wonder sometimes if I made the wrong decision. Whether I should have stayed to fight for Chase and I. I did love him." Cameron frowned.
"Have you moved on? Started dating?" Wilson was curious.
"A few dates, nothing serious. I haven't wanted to get involved with anyone. Kind of gunshy." Allison admitted to him.
"I'm not seeing anyone right now, either. Everything with Sam just left me worn out."
They fell silent after this, finishing their meals. Pretty soon they were done, paid the bill and were ready to leave.
"So what are your plans for the rest of the day? Are you going to the dinner tonight?" Wilson asked her.
"I was planning to. Other than that, just was going to unpack and relax. I don't get much chance to just do nothing."
"Care to go for a walk down by the lake?"
"I'd like that." Cameron smiled, walking side by side with him. He'd always been a nice man, especially with her. She wasn't ready to leave his company yet, so she was happy to go. She figured it was nice to have a friend beside her after all this time. They walked in companionable silence, both glad that they'd run into one another.