As Cameron pulled up outside House's apartment the next morning she didn't hold any expectation of House actually being up and ready to go, nevertheless, stranger things had happened. Turning off the engine she sat there for a moment mulling things over in her head. Her sleep the night before had mirrored the previous night and the dark circles under her eyes showed evidence of that, despite her efforts to conceal them. The split with Chase was still hurting her and she was mentally kicking herself for thinking that it would be different to every other relationship she had been in, excluding her husband. Her husband was the only person who had put her first in their relationship. He married her to protect her, to make sure what little money he had would be given to her. Despite his worsening health he was determined to do that for her. No other relationship came close to that dedication. On the face of it sure they seemed to give her the world but deep down it was always themselves who came first, their job, money, they would never sacrifice that for her happiness.

A warm bitter tear trickled down her cheek which she swiftly wiped away. Taking a few deep breaths to compose herself she knew it was her tiredness that was making her more prone to emotion. Happy she had pulled herself together; she stepped out of her car and made her way to the door of House's apartment. Three loud knocks, she stepped back a little and glanced at her watch. She would give him ten minutes and then she was leaving without him.

Seven minutes twenty four seconds (yes she was counting that accurately) and a few additional knocks later a rather dishevelled looking House opened the door. Cameron had to hold back a laugh as she viewed him, his appearance almost comical. He was wearing the same clothes as last night telling her that he probably hadn't woken up since she left him. His hair sticking up in random places added to the 'just-got-out-of-bed' look, as did his slightly watery eyes and extra growth of facial hair. In Cameron's eyes it was almost sexy, a thought she quickly dismissed.

"Someone better be dying" House said, his voice more gruff than usual "actually, forget that, there better be at least ten people dying"

"No one dying...well that I'm aware of anyway. I'm just following orders, you did ask me to pick you up this morning, or were you too drunk to remember?" Cameron asked, a small playful smile on her lips.

House let out a low groan. "You are far too cheery for this time in the morning" He grumbled, opening the door further as an invite to come in. "Give me ten minutes" he added, limping to his bedroom.

Cameron couldn't help but smile as she watched him disappear; surprised he didn't just close the door in her face. Hearing the faint sounds of the shower being switched on, she took the opportunity to look around his apartment, anything to take her mind off the fact that a few doors down House would be standing, naked, water dripping down his body.

"Pull yourself together Allison, you're over him remember" she mumbled to herself as her hand lightly traced the polished wood of his piano. Not wanting to snoop too much, she'd never live it down if she was caught, she made her way to the kitchen, her body almost in automatic as she made him coffee. She never admitted it but she had always liked that part of her routine when she worked for him.

As she poured a cup for both him and her, the man himself made his entrance looking just a little more presentable than before.

"Gimme" he said, reaching out for his mug of coffee and taking a large mouthful.

"How's the hangover?" Cameron asked. House groaned.

"Feels like someone has taken a drill to my head, though I'm sure I'd be feeling much better if a certain someone didn't wake me up" he replied, his voice still a little hoarse.

"Well you practically begged me to pick you up and I did warn you"

"I was drunk. You could've told me to confess my undying love to nurse grumpy at the clinic and I would've done it"

"Well I'll bear that in mind next time" Cameron grinned. House just glared at her, finishing off his coffee.

The journey to the hospital was spent mostly in silence, House trying to recover from his hangover so when Cuddy inevitably shouted at him it wouldn't feel like ten nuclear bombs had been detonated in his head. When Cameron parked the car, a little closer to the hospital entrance than normal, House decided to speak up.

"Why did you come up to my office last night?" He asked. Cameron shut the engine off, contemplating her answer; she knew he would ask at some point, it was a puzzle for him; everything was a puzzle for him.

"I just wanted to thank you for helping out earlier, I knew you didn't want to be there" she shrugged. House studied for a moment obviously not completely happy with her answer but giving a nod and stepping out the car he decided to accept it for now, plenty of time to probe a little deeper after his headache had subsided.

As Cameron locked her car her day suddenly went from good to very bad.

"I knew it!"

Both Cameron and House turned towards the voice to see a very annoyed Australian storm up to them.

"I knew it was about him all along. How stupid do you think I am Allison? Giving me this shit excuse about not moving with me because it was too rushed for you, that you can't commit because you were afraid of getting hurt, you had to take things slow...it was all about him. So what, you've been sleeping with him? How long has this been going on? Were you seeing him when you were with me?"

"Robert shut up, you're jumping to conclusions, there's nothing going on!" Cameron replied "House just needed a lift into work this morning; he got a bit drunk last night"

"And you expect me to believe that?"

"Rob, do you really think I'd sleep with someone behind your back? You really think I'm that sort of person?" Cameron asked, hurt evident in her voice.

"Well what am I meant to think, you split up with me when you realise you'll have to move and two days later I see you coming to work together"

"Can you two please stop with the shouting, major hangover here." House winced, rubbing his temple. Both Cameron and Chase stared at him forgetting he was still there in their screaming match. "Look, Chase, nothing is going on and even if there was it's now no longer your business. To be honest, if you can't trust Cameron of all people she doesn't deserve you anyway. I mean look at her, she's the depiction of all things good and innocent."

"Thanks" Cameron replied dryly.

"No problem. Now I don't know about you, but I'm gonna go to my office and sleep for a few hours" House added before making his way to the hospital entrance leaving Cameron to watch his departing figure, thoughts speeding around in her head.

"I'm sorry Allison" she heard Chase say quietly. Letting out a small sigh, she turned back to face him.

"No, I'm sorry Rob, I mean what were you meant to think."

"I'm probably going to move to Chicago early, there's nothing really keeping me here now. I finish work here at the end of the week"

Cameron nodded. "You'll do good there" she smiled.

"Keep in touch" Chase said, leaning and placing a gentle kiss on her cheek before also making his way into the hospital. Cameron leant against the body of her car, running her hand through her hair. She felt exhausted and wanted more than anything to go home, curl up with a glass of wine and just forget about everything but she still had a full day's work to do and for some reason, she just couldn't see it going smoothly.

So there we go, chapter 5. I'm not really happy with it, too many 'out-of-character' slips for my liking but I've fiddled with it enough now. Hopefully I didn't over do it on the Chase thing. I don't have anything against him, honest, but he has shown a few times in season 4 how insecure he gets with the House/Cameron thing and I just wanted to relate that. Anyway, let me know what you think.