Wow, thanks for all the reviews! A warning, this chapter contains very tiny spoilers for 4x03.
Drowning in Blue - Chapter Two
She should throw him out; be angry, indignant. She should demand that he leave her property immediately or she will call the police.
"Hi," she says. Her voice is awkward.
He raises an eyebrow at her attire, tight black pants and a low cut, wine colored blouse. "Hot date?"
"Lukewarm," she replies. She wants to get back to her cleaning, but is stilled by his eyes upon her. She had forgotten how very blue they were.
"Chase?"
She can't read him. "No."
He lets himself in, limping past her into her kitchen. Sharp eyes catch the sketches, the wine.
"No," he agrees. "Chase can't draw a stick figure. Who is he?"
His back is to her and in a moment of weakness, she lets herself admire the taut muscle under skin.
He turns to face her, the newspaper in his hand, the question in his eyes.
"What do you want, House?"
He limps closer, not stopping until the base of his cane is resting against her shoe.
"Who is he?" He is curious and leans into her.
"Ma...Matthew," she says, unable to move. She is not free. She was kidding herself. Did she really think she could get this man out of her system in three months?
"Matthew," he repeats. Behind his eyes, she can see him forming a picture of the artist.
"What's wrong with him?"
"Nothing!" She bristles defensively.
"Then why are you dating him?"
She is finally able to look away. She really doesn't want to answer that.
"House, why are you here?" She asks, taking the opportunity to slip past him and resume cleaning.
He leans heavily on his left side and begins tapping her tile with his cane.
"Maybe (thud) I wanted (thud) to see you (thud thud thud)."
She snorts derisively. "Sing me another."
"(thud) I don't sing (thud) unless (thud) I'm drunk (thud thud) at Christmas parties (thud)."
Exasperated, she digs her fists into her hips and looks at him. She regrets it almost immediately. The light blue shirt he is wearing does everything for him and he knows it. He smirks ever so slightly.
"Why do you think I'm here?"
She is relieved he has let Matthew alone for now.
"I don't know. I can't read your mind."
His brow furrows. "Oh, don't worry. Even if you could, you wouldn't find anything interesting. Just imagining you in a bikini (thud thud thud thud thud)."
"House."
"(thud) Seventeen year old boy. (thud) Not cute, so you don't need to see him. He has joint pain, a rash and myocarditis."
"Why are you asking me?"
(Thud)
"Why don't you ask your new team?"
(Thud)
"I quit because I didn't want to be on your team, House!"
(Thud thud thud)
"Oh, shut up!" She moves forward and presses her hand over his to still the cane. His hand is warm.
He steps closer to her, his breath soft on her face. She wills herself not to blush.
"What's the diagnosis, Cameron?" His voice has entered the dark, stumbling ranges of a whisper.
"Could be lupus." Hers is losing its edge.
"Cameron...it's never lupus." He leans forward and picks up her unfinished wine from the counter. He turns it until the imprint of her lipstick is facing him. He drinks, bright eyes never leaving hers.
She has to move. She has to get space. He's too close.
He notices her lean and presses completely against her, framing her between her counter and his body.
She is trembling now and knows that the arm around her waist is aware of it. The wineglass is cool against her back.
She tries to hold perfectly still against him. He lowers his lips to her exposed collarbone and slowly drags them up her neck, pausing a moment to suck on her earlobe. With a cross between a groan and a sigh, she tilts her head away from him, allowing newly-blonde hair to fall out of his agonizing path to her lips. The feeling of his stubble alone is enough to make her weak.
He works his way past her ear, along her jaw. His tongue barely leaves a trail as he pauses over her lips.
"I really do like your hair," he says. He is so close that looking at him is giving her a headache. Instead, she closes her eyes and leans forward to meet his lips with her own.
She meets air. By the time she opens her eyes, her door is closing and he is already gone.
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