In the Shadows

Okay guys, so the wait is finally over, even if it wasn't that long. I had fun writing this and I've decided that this story's chapters are going to be a bit longer than they were in 'Masked Mystery'. I know it might be a bit boring for the first chapter or so but it will get better I promise.

Disclaimer: As you all insist on bringing me down to earth I suppose I better tell you how many rights I own. None. That's right; absolutely Zippo. Zilch.

House watched her walk into the diagnostics office. She was smiling and seemed happy, as usual, but something was off. She was acting normally enough; making coffee, answering his mail. The only thing that made House suspicious was the time. She had arrived after him, and he was an hour and a half late. Cameron was normally early, or so he had heard. After a few minutes of House observing her she got up and knocked on his office's glass door.

House jumped a mile when she knocked; he had been watching her so intently that he hadn't even realised that she had moved from behind her desk and walked towards his office. He grimaced when he realised that he had been staring at her and she had probably knocked to tell him to quit it.

"What?" He called, louder and ruder than necessary. Cameron seemed taken aback by his tone as it took her a moment to compose herself and close her mouth; which had been hanging open after House's comment.

"Um... I was wondering..." She began; still trying to find the confidence House had just rid her of.

"No new cases. We're going on a conference in England this Saturday. How did you not remember that?" House asked, but from Cameron's expression he could tell that she hadn't forgotten; however much she'd wanted to.

"Right... um... about that..." She stuttered and her words were barely audible. Her face was flushed and beads of sweat were beginning to form on her forehead.

"You're going. No excuses. I don't care unless you have a real reason." She shook her head. House had expected just as much but it didn't hurt to try. Now he was sure something was wrong, he wouldn't stop until he found out what. At least he would have a week in England to figure it out. Cameron was still stood there awkwardly. She was looking at the wall that wasn't see-through and looking sort of uncomfortable. "Why are you still here?" House watched as she looked at him and her eyes dropped to the floor almost immediately. Cameron's face was red with embarrassment. She didn't want to go to England, but she couldn't tell House why.

"I... um... I'll go." She shifted on her feet and waited a second before hastily making her way towards the door. Her walk was odd due to the fact that she was shaking slightly. Foreman didn't even look up from the latest medical journal he was reading but Chase realised immediately that something was bothering Cameron. He had been watching her persistently for the best part of three years and even more so after they had sex.

"What's wrong? If you're nervous about the conference in England, don't worry. I've never been out of the country and we're probably not the only ones who are a bit shook up." Cameron smiled at Chase. He had been obsessing with her for a long time but he was still really sweet and she liked that about him. He knew she wouldn't go out with him for just saying that but he did it anyway because he wanted her to feel better.

"Thanks." He would never know why she was so nervous about going to England, or so she hoped. There was no reason he should find out and there was no way she was going to tell him so she would let him believe whatever he wanted to believe. "Um... do you think House would mind if I went home to pack since we don't have a new case?" Foreman looked up at the brunette with suspicion.

"You haven't packed yet?" It was so unlike Cameron to not be prepared for something as big as this. The conference was a little under two days away or at least the flight was. Cameron shifted feet and looked at the ground as she murmured her reply.

"I packed last week. I just need to add some other stuff into my suitcase and get some books for the plane. Make sure I've got my passport and my flight tickets, just last minute stuff like that." Foreman nodded. That made sense enough. He himself needed to get a book for the flight. Luckily he had been seated next to Chase and not next to House, where Cameron was going to be.

When Cameron arrived home she almost regretted leaving work. Her apartment felt empty and she had nothing to do since, as she had told Foreman, she had packed last week. She had two books and a writing pad. She'd left her tickets and passport with her keys on the table by the door, and she'd left a note in the kitchen to remind her where they were in case she forgot last minute. She knew she wouldn't forget, of course, but she had to be prepared for everything.

I think I'm going to skip a day and go straight to the morning of the flight because I don't want to bore all three of you reading this. So as always, I'd love it if you could review but I probably won't update until Wednesday because I'm going back to school (after been off with a badly sprained ankle) and will have lots of work to catch up with but I will try my best to update as soon as possible. Please do review, even if it's bad it's really good to have constructive criticism to improve my writing and it's also nice to have good reviews too, so please leave a few of those too.

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