Disclaimer: not mine!

Thanks for the great reviews. I just wanted to update quickly cos I'm rushing out the door now. Hope you like the new chapter. I'll try to update again soon.

Enjoy!

Thwack!

Dr. James Wilson looked up from his work, startled by the sound of something hitting against his glass balcony door.

He suppressed a smile at what he saw- an irate looking House was throwing pebbles to get his attention.

"It's open," he yelled without getting up.

House climbed over the low partition wall- something that he could manage quite easily now- and yanked open the door.

He was angrily pacing the office while Wilson watched in silence. He'd tell him what was the matter soon enough.

"Since when did Allison Cameron grow a pair?"

It sounded like a real question- even though it was angrily put- but James Wilson couldn't suppress a laugh.

House shot his friend a look.

"I'm sorry," James apologised insincerely, "were you actually expecting me to answer that?"

"She just told me that she and the other idiots won't work anywhere else but the conference room!" He sounded outraged.

Wilson just looked at him.

"Anywhere else," he stressed, trying to drive home his point.

The oncologist was apparently unimpressed: "And?"

"I am their boss. I run the department. I make the decisions," he was yelling now.

Wilson had to admit that he was slightly surprised by his friend's reaction. He seemed genuinely angry. He wasn't plotting revenge; he was just furious.

He couldn't stop himself from saying: "It sounds like something you'd say," House glared at him, so he went on, "Well, it's basically the same decision that you made: you'll work anywhere but your office; now she's saying that she'll only work there."

"And?"

"I'm just saying it's a very you-thing to say."

"Great. Thank you, Wilson," House's tone was sarcastic, "Not only is Cameron stealing my job and my name, but now she's also trying to become me!"

"Did Allison say she wants your job?" Wilson's voice was sceptical.

House shook his head, "But I know she's just trying to lure me into a false sense of security…and then POW! I'm out on the street and Cameron's filling my office with flowers and teddy-bears and those disgusting little heart-shaped pieces of candy that say all kinds of crap!"

His friend looked amused: "Looks like you're writing yourself a little novel there. House, you're paranoid."

"Just 'cos I'm paranoid, doesn't mean they're not after me," he shot back.

James rolled his eyes: "I'm telling you now that Allison doesn't want your job, she just wants to make sure that you don't screw up everything that she accomplished while she was Department Head."

"Which is?"

"Patients. Donors. And organisation," he deliberately didn't add that she'd done everything that House didn't, but his friend understood the implication.

House stared at him for a second and then he suddenly yelled: "I don't care if she cured every terminal patient in an hundred-mile radius using only penicillin! She's leading a mutiny!"

"Why don't you go and talk to her before you start trying to hang people?" Wilson sounded resigned. There didn't seem to be getting through to him.

"Ha! Only weaklings talk about their problems."

"Let me guess, you're now going to start quoting the Art of War," James' tone was dry.

House ignored him, "In any case, they've all gone on early-lunch."

Wilson started, "What time is it?"

"12.46. Why?" It was interesting to see the effect that these words produced on the oncologist.

"Damn," Wilson threw down his pen and got hurriedly to his feet, "I'm late."

"What for?" House asked somewhat curiously, he could he could have sworn that his friend was looking a bit guilty.

"I was supposed to meet someone for lunch, that's all," he was avoiding House's eyes.

"Who?"

"Hmmm?" Wilson was pulling on his jacket.

"I said 'who'?" House repeated.

Wilson met his friend's gaze briefly: "Allison."

House just stared at him. The woman was trying to steal his best-friend too.

"You're welcome to come too," Wilson offered.

"Thank you, but I'd rather chew off my own arm," it was all he could come up with at such short notice.

"Right," Wilson sounded distracted, "I'll see you later."

He swept the diagnostician out the door, locked it behind them and hurried off to the canteen.

House watched him grimly. Something had to be done about Cameron. She'd only been back four hours and already she was causing havoc.

There was nothing for it but to fight dirty.

AN: How was that? I hope you liked it- please let me know!