Disclaimer: Not mine.

This chapter is just a quick one dedicated to SilvaK who reminded me that I haven't updated in a while- sorry!

I hope you like it- and I promise that in the next chapter Cammie will be coming back.

Please review!

House got his charts. But Cuddy didn't bend on the carpet issue. As a result, the conference room stood empty. House and his team scrounged for office space whenever they could and, failing that, he set up camp in the clinic.

Loud confrontations between him and Cuddy followed his differentials outside her office, but still she didn't buckle. He got the impression that she was waiting for something.

"Arrgh," Lisa Cuddy slammed her office door behind her, "Sometimes I just want to kill that man."

James Wilson smiled sympathetically: "What did House do now?"

"Laser pointer," she replied shortly, his glance clearly asked her to elaborate, "I was in a board meeting."

Comprehension dawned.

"I'm sorry."

It seemed so inadequate, but what was he supposed to say? Neither of them could control House (no matter how much Cuddy liked to pretend she had some influence over him). He was a law unto himself.

"It's only been three days!" Lisa's tone was one of exasperation.

"At least he's got a patient," Wilson offered. But it was poor comfort- the family of the girl he was treating had already lodged a complaint for what they termed 'Dr. House's unprofessional behaviour' after he'd accused her of having a secret coke-habit. The doctor in question had responded by calling them all idiots. It was true (the girl was hooked on cocaine, and her not disclosing it had interfered with the diagnosis), but it wasn't really something that a serious Department Head should say. Cameron would have handled it differently.

"One patient. No clinic hours. And he's disrupting all my meetings," Cuddy scoffed at the other doctor's assertion.

She collapsed onto her couch and lay back.

"I've got a headache from all the yelling, and he never leaves me alone for more than an hour," she moaned, "I can't believe that I almost forgot what a pain in the ass he is."

"Why don't you just give him back his old carpet? I mean, if he's really causing that much trouble…"

"But I can't," she wailed, "I don't know where it is! Don't you think I'd have given it back to him straight away if I'd known he was going to be like this?"

Wilson preserved a sympathetic silence.

"God I wish Cameron were here!"

He looked faintly surprised.

"What?" She sat up, her eyes searching her face.

"Well…I don't know if this is a good idea," his voice was hesitant.

"At this stage, I'll try anything," Cuddy said dryly.

He smiled: "I figured. It's just that Allison left me a number where I could reach her- in case of emergencies."

A thoughtful look came over Cuddy's face; "What constitutes an emergency?"

He sat down: "I don't know, she didn't say," he paused for a moment, "Do you think having her here would do any good?"

She thought about if for a second: "A few months ago, I would have said no. But now…she's grown so much over the past while…" she trailed off, "At least she could get House off my back about the carpet," he looked at her enquiringly, so she went on, "She organised getting rid of it."

There was a long pause.

"She really needs a vacation, you know."

"I know, Wilson, I know," Cuddy sighed, "but I think the hospital needs her here."

"I'm sure she'd be glad to hear that," he smiled faintly.

"Why did House want her patient charts?" Cuddy asked suddenly.

"He's checking them to see if she made some huge mistake that he can taunt her with later."

"It sounds like him."

Silence fell for a long moment.

"So, what do you want to do?"

Cuddy sighed again: "I don't know."

James Wilson leaned forward in his seat; "I think the question is: how long more can you put up with House?…"

AN: What did you think? I like these two as friends...maybe more, who knows? Please review!