Thanks for the reviews so far.
In response to sunny78's comment about a chapter in Welsh, I may put a bonus chapter at the end where I'll put a translation chapter up, see how things go, have to finish this first.
It's looking like it's going to be around 20 chapters, I just need to work out how I'm ending it and then I'm sorted...always have problems with the endings...Anyhow, hope you enjoy this chapter :)
It was definitely turning into one of those days as Cameron tried to organise the chaos occurring in the ER. The little sleep she had got the night before was troubled at best and this really was the last thing she needed. Suppressing a yawn, she got back to the task in hand; cleaning up a head wound before stitching it up. She hesitated. The last time she was in a situation like this it had been House's head she had been attending to that night of the bus crash. Since Amber's death she hadn't seen him much, in fact, she hadn't really seen him at all. She was worried about him, from all accounts he wasn't taking the recent events too well, though how much of what she heard was true and how much was just the nurses blowing things out of proportion she didn't know. A part of her had wanted to go and see him, another reminded her that she was over him and it was no longer her place to see him, the latter had won.
Finishing stitching up the wound, she referred the patient to a nurse for some final checks before he could leave and turned to go to the next patient. As she turned, her eyes met the striking blue orbs of the man who had just been in her mind. From the look on his face he was here against his will, most likely on Cuddy's orders. Ignoring the fact her heart had decided to wake up and beat profoundly against her rib cage, she walked towards him, neither sets of eyes leaving the other.
In fact, House's eyes hadn't left Cameron's form since he saw her working relentlessly to restore some order amongst patients and doctors alike. All around him patients cried in loss, pain, despair, but he didn't want to look at them, didn't want to be reminded further of that night, so he kept them focused on Cameron as she stitched up some guys head. She looked tired, exhausted even, but it wasn't just physical, she looked emotionally exhausted and House could give a pretty good guess as to why that was. Still, he had to admire her efforts to carry on with her life as normal, ever the martyr. When she turned, her eyes finally meeting his, he tried to ignore the connection that formed, the familiarity, but without much luck. Even though he hated to admit it, he needed some familiarity right now, needed something stable in his life.
"Are you just going to stand there or are you actually going to help out?" Cameron's voice interrupted his thoughts, her figure now directly in front of his, a small smile present on her face.
"Well it seems like you have it all under control, no need for a poor cripple like me" he replied, tapping his cane lightly against the floor a couple of times out of habit.
"Right. I'm guessing Cuddy sent you here"
House scowled "It's true, the devils' mistress did send me here, even sent me away from her beloved clinic. I think hormones are starting to get to her; her fun bags did look more perky than usual. Maybe I should prepare some fortifications; the spawn of Cuddy can only mean living hell for me."
Cameron laughed. It was only a small laugh but House had to try hard to contain his smile, he never thought he'd miss the sound of a simple laugh, the sound of her laugh. She looked at him, seeing the glimpse of sadness in his eyes.
"You look tired" he stated before she could question him further. Cameron shifted slightly.
"Well cleaning up after a crash can do that to you" she replied "not all of us can spend the day sleeping in their office, some of us do work around here." She added with a small grin.
"I do work" House answered, feigning hurt and receiving another smile from Cameron. "I hear lover boy is off to Chicago" he pressed.
Cameron sighed; she should've known House would find out about that. "Got offered a better job...better pay" she answered "all that's important to him, how much he's getting paid" she added quietly, looking down.
House's interest increased with her last sentence. "So you're not going with?" he asked, eyebrow raised. "Thought you'd follow him everywhere, get a house with a white picket fence, a dog, kids, live happily ever after."
"Well that just proves how little you know me" Cameron replied bitterly, not in the mood to talk about her failing relationships with the older doctor. House didn't respond, his eyes now firmly fixed on his feet.
"Look House, I have to get back to work, I suggest you do the same if you don't want Cuddy breathing down your neck" Cameron said, glancing at the number of patients still waiting to be treated.
"Last time I was here, you were treating me" House mumbled quietly and Cameron almost missed it under the sound of the ER.
"I know" she replied just as quietly. With that, House gave a nod and to Cameron's surprise began to treat a patient. She watched him briefly. He was hurting, she could see that, but then so was she.