To Cameron's surprise, and relief, the rest of the morning went by without a hitch and she quietly got on with her work. One of the advantages of working in the ER was it could get so intense that any worries or issues outside of work were put to one side as taking care of patients took full priority. The mornings events were quickly forgotten and Cameron was almost in her own little world, so much so that she didn't notice the man behind her leaning casually against one of the counters, cane beside him as he watched her finish treat a patient.

"Soooo has the wombat always been that insecure or is it a recent thing?" He asked as soon as she had completed. Cameron jumped at the voice and span around to face him.

"For god sake House! Did you have to sneak up on me?" She exclaimed in surprise.

"Now come on Cameron, I know there are some doctors in this hospital who are scared of me but I thought you of all people would be able to cope with my intimidating presence" House smirked sarcastically at her reaction. Cameron rolled up her eyes.

"I didn't see you come in, and you have to admit, usually you do make yourself known as you enter" she replied. House just shrugged, the small smirk on his face still present. "So why are you here anyway?" Cameron asked.

"Brought you this" House answered handing her a take-out cup of coffee.

"Uh, thanks" Cameron replied, a little taken aback as she took the coffee. "Why are you really here?" She asked. House looked at her, feigning offence.

"I'm hurt that you suspect my actions. I thought after this morning you could do with a coffee, so like the kind, generous and thoughtful person that I am, I brought you one...The fact that Cuddy is currently looking for me and the ER is one of the last places she'll look has nothing to do with it" he grinned. Cameron couldn't help but grin back, seeing any type of smile on House was rare, especially recently, but then annoying Cuddy was one of his favourite hobbies.

"Well thanks anyway" she replied taking a sip of the warm drink, letting the much needed caffeine take effect.

Truth was House had wanted to come down anyway. After the earlier confrontation with Chase his head had been mulling over a number of things, meaning his intended couple of hours of deep sleep turned out to be fifty minutes of light slumber. The way he saw it, Chase must have had a reason to jump to the conclusion he did, no way was the guy that insecure. Also, his reaction and words hinted that he had had something to do with the breakup, well in Chase's opinion at least. It all pointed to the idea Cameron must have done or said something that gave the idea that she wasn't in fact over him. House was surprised that he actually felt comforted by that fact. It was a constant in his life that Cameron had feelings for him and over the past year that constant had seemingly disappeared. She had moved on with Chase and made it perfectly clear that she didn't miss him, but now the idea that this wasn't true and that that constant in his life had remained constant offered a calming reassurance that there was at least one thing in his life that hadn't changed. Of course, this was still pure speculation; he still needed to hear it from her, and if that happened, what he should do next was still causing him problems.

"Chase's reaction earlier..."House started, moving the conversation back to where he wanted it.

"I know. I'm so sorry about that House, I didn't expect him to be so juvenile" Cameron interrupted.

"Why didn't you go to Chicago with him? Could've been a good thing" he stated.

"I don't think it's any of your business"

"Well since Chase seems to think you didn't go because of me, I think it is my business" House countered, taking a small step closer to her. Cameron sighed, her eyes focused on the floor.

"He was asking me to give up my life here just like that, he didn't think about how I'd feel, ask my opinion, he just assumed...I couldn't take that risk with him, I've been hurt too many times..." she replied. House shook his head.

"You didn't go because don't love him, if you loved him it wouldn't matter how many times you'd been hurt, you'd still take that risk"

Cameron's eyes shot up to meet his "That's not true" she answered getting slightly irritated by his analysing "if that was the case, why didn't you take that risk with Stacy when she came back? You can't tell me you didn't love her, I could see how much you loved her"

"That's different" House said, his eyes now avoiding hers.

"How?" Cameron asked, hands on hip.

House never thought he'd be happy to see Cuddy walk in but right now the sight of the hospital administrator made him breathe out in relief.

"House, you were meant to be in the clinic forty minutes ago! If you don't get over there in the next five minutes your hours are going to find themselves doubled" she ordered.

"Yes mom" he replied, rolling up his eyes at Cameron before following the administrator out of the ER.

"House" Cameron called before he left. House stopped and turned around. "Thanks for the coffee anyway" she smiled.

"Yeah, well, I'm gonna need one after I get this over and done with" he grumbled before leaving, still a little annoyed that he had let her twist the conversation towards him. One thing was for sure, she wasn't the naive innocent woman he hired all those years ago, and despite her uncomfortable questions, it pleased him.