a/n: This site was acting up again yesterday, so this update had to be delayed. Thanks for those that followed it on my livejournal site.

There are only four or five chapters left. This is one of them. I apologize for the delay in updates, but I have been writing a lot of stuff for this story. I just didn't figure out the proper structure of this chapter until today. Hopefully this will mean more frequent updates until the end.

In this chapter, I mention Cameron has a sister. Now I know in the show they revealed she also has a brother (they never said she didn't have a sister), but in Take the Ducklings Bowling before that was said I wrote she only had a sister. That's my continuity and I'm sticking to it.

Happy reading!

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"We're home!" Chase shouted when he saw no sign of his wife or children.

"Upstairs!"

He and his special visitor climbed up the large staircase and went into the nursery. Cameron was just finishing up with Emily.

"Don't put her down. She's mine."

"Sorry Mom." She handed the baby off. "So how was your flight?"

"Long. Now that I see this precious little darling though, it was all worth it."

Cameron was already leery about showing Emily off. She wasn't a people person. "Careful mom, she's trouble."

"How can such a little precious thing be trouble?"

"She's fussy all the time and only happy after feeding, which is never often enough for her."

Cameron's mother laughed. "You were an uptight baby. Look how you turned out." She held the little child in her arms, making funny faces and swaying her back and forth. Emily got into every moment, even showing a little excitement.

Cameron was surprised. "She likes you. She doesn't like anybody."

"Why wouldn't she like me? I'm grandma."

Cameron walked over to Chase and fell into his arms. "Thanks for getting her. I'm still barely awake."

"Get some sleep. There's enough milk for me to feed Ethan when it's his turn. I can get Emily next time too."

"But my mother just got here."

"I'm here to see babies," her mother said. "I don't want to put up with you when you're tired and cranky. I know what you're like."

"Fine," Cameron replied. "You don't need to twist my arm. Good night."

"Sleep well dear."

Chase gave her a kiss and joined his mother-in-law. She was standing beside Ethan's crib, marveling at his beautiful face and wide open eyes while holding her docile granddaughter. "Oh Robert, he's a doll. What does your family think of them?"

"My parents are dead and I'm an only child. I sent some pictures to my stepmother, but I never heard back."

"I'm sorry to hear that. That explains why you're so far from home." She took some time to throw more goofy faces at Emily.

Chase laughed. "Wow, she really does like you."

"I know how to handle difficult children. I had two of them."

She sank into the rocking chair, never taking her eyes off of the baby in her arms. "Only child huh? So you really don't know what sibling rivalry is like."

"No."

"Allison and her sister fought like cats and dogs. You're in for quite an education once these two get old enough. They're either going to fight each other, or band together and turn against you and Allison. They will constantly keep you on your toes. Enjoy the pet rock phase while you can."

"Pet rock phase?" He replied laughing. "So this is the easy part?"

"Easier. It's never easy."

"So we're learning."

She rocked Emily a few more times. "I was a scared to death parent Robert. I think my girls ended up being uptight because I was. Make sure that Allison lightens up a little."

"When it comes to her behavior, it's out of my hands."

"Both of you just try to enjoy this. It will be over before you know it."

Chase understood what she was saying, and managed to actually steal one of those precious moments by watching his son. He had to wonder if his parents got such delight watching him at that age. If they didn't, they missed out on one of the greatest thrills of life.

"He has your eyes." His mother-in-law told him.

Chase smiled. Indeed he did.

"Pick up that baby of yours and have a seat. I've never set foot out of the US before and Allison mentioned you've traveled the world. I'd like to hear some stories. What's your favorite place?"

Chase picked up Ethan, sat down and grinned. "Right here."

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"What are you both doing here?" Pamela asked, surprised to see both Chase and Foreman.

"Aren't we supposed to be here?" Chase responded, confused by her question. "This is a mandatory meeting."

"Only one of you had to come. Jerry was only looking for a representative from each practice."

"Yeah, but this meeting has free donuts," Chase responded, with Foreman fully backing him up with a nod of solidarity. "The bakery kind too, not the crappy supermarket kind."

"Did you find out what this was about?" Foreman asked.

"No, I didn't get to see him this morning," Pamela replied. "Probably because it was called for first thing in the morning and he didn't go into the office."

"Would everyone take their seats?" Jerry commanded up at the podium. Everyone took their places, coffee and donuts in hand.

"I scheduled this meeting first thing Monday morning for a reason. It's impossible to get doctors and administrators in a room together at one time so this way no one gets confused over when we are meeting. I also sweetened the deal with free donuts."

"You see," Pamela whispered to Foreman and Chase. "You were suckered."

"I'm not going to start with any type of warm and fuzzy pep talk. You are all professionals, you have busy schedules, and if you work for me you don't like hearing crap. As you know, the tough part of any merger is to streamline the business. We have the highest quality care in mind, but we haven't been acting like a business that has any type of plan, let alone a better one. That changes now."

"Uh oh," Pamela said. "He wouldn't be acting like this if he were happy."

"The massive reorganization starts now. I'm personally starting the overhaul of hospital operations." He clicked on the first slide. "Advisory boards at each hospital will be formed with their first task to identify and prioritize objectives. All major decisions though go through my office. We promise to make quick and sound decisions, much like you have seen at the hospital level, but they will be ones in line with business objectives."

Chase noticed the unimpressed faces. "It's a good thing they didn't serve fruit. Everyone would be warming up their tosses by now.

"First priority is staffing issues. Turnover is a big problem, especially with nurses. I'm appointing a Chief Nursing Officer at each hospital that will be responsible for all nursing operations and will report directly to me. The Chief Nursing Officer will be on the advisory board. This person is to address all nursing staff needs and morale issues. Ultimately, as with all departments, we need to hire in some areas, cut in others."

"The idea has merit," Foreman said in a low voice, slightly impressed.

"Also, all managed care and third party contracts will be negotiated from now on through my office."

The room erupted in chatter. "I have no problem with that at all," Chase said. "We don't need that burden."

Jerry continued, quieting the crowd down while moving onto the next slide. "There is a too much overlap between Princeton General and Princeton Plainsboro. We will be consolidating various departments and eliminating others. I've identified five core departments that will be the first recipients of our capital improvements and expansion efforts. These are our money makers, which will provide us the opportunity to float our community programs and indigent care." He clicked on another slide.

"Princeton General will be the new site of our Heart Hospital, continuing their long tradition of exception cardiac care. A brand new state of the art Orthopedics lab and rehabilitation facility will be located there as well. A new cancer wing will be located at Princeton Plainsboro and will be a prominent training ground for the medical school. The primary Radiology department will be located there as well given their already upgraded facilities."

"Cancer hospital?" Chase asked. "That will keep Dr. Wilson busy."

"The fifth area will also be shepherded at Princeton Plainsboro, but with this one we have the opportunity to expand our reach nationally. We will create a one of a kind program that bridges both a growing need in academics as well as patient care."

Many were shocked by the next slide that came up. It read, Diagnostics.

Pamela, Chase and Foreman's jaws all dropped simultaneously, stunned to complete disbelief.

"He didn't mention this to you?" Foreman asked.

"Uh, no." Pamela responded, surprised that he would think that she would keep him in the dark about something like this.

"We are going to drastically expand diagnostics with a brand new

research lab and dedicated testing facilities. Our college of medicine will be offering a new medical specialty for internal medicine students in the field of diagnostics. The program is now open to med students and interns alike, as well as our current fellowship grants."

"Where's House?" Chase asked, noticing the absence of his former boss. "He should be here to hear this. This is going to affect him more than anyone."

"He mustn't have read the email otherwise he would have been here for the free food." Foreman replied.

"Allison's not working for him anymore to point such things out." Chase said.

"There is one primary area of concern that will be addressed immediately. I'm most concerned right now with our practioners and physician network. Our little family is a mess right now. The transition is not going well and communication is breaking down at a rapid rate. Guidelines and expectations are not being met and we seem to be not following any type of order. We have too much overlap in some specialties, and we are sorely lacking in others. We need a network that will give the community a complete spectrum of care or we fail."

The room was getting hostile again. "They will probably start throwing donuts now." Pamela said. "He's going to be very unpopular with those people when he's done."

"I'm sure most of you know Pamela by now." Pamela turned to the crowd and sheepishly waved as all eyes were on her.

"She will be overseeing the overhaul of our physician network. She will identify issues with each practice, both hospital and private, find shortcomings in the system and will address them with my full backing. She will also make recommendations for spinning off hospital practices into private. Any private practice in our network not serving our best interest will be cut loose."

Pamela put on her best professional face to show solidarity, but in her mind she was beating Jerry with a stick right now. When the hell was he planning on telling her this?

"You didn't know this was happening?" Foreman asked shocked.

"Not a freaking clue," she said with clenched teeth, still holding a smile.

The room broke out into uproarious voices, no one taking this news with quiet exuberance.

"Enough!" Jerry commanded to the unruly crowd. "You'll all get to socialize later. I'm moving on to the financial part of the presentation now. Anyone care to know how we plan to pay for all of this?"

---------------------------------

Jerry Anderson entered his office, sat down, pulled off his watch and hit the timer. He had a bet going with himself that the first intrusion would happen in thirty seconds.

"What the hell Jerry?"

Damn, eighteen seconds. He underestimated Pamela's agility. "You have an assignment."

"I know I have an assignment, as does the entire staff now. Couldn't there have been a little warning on your part?"

"That was what the meeting was for."

"I'm your second in command. You don't wait until meetings with the entire staff to let me know what is going on."

"You knew we were reorganizing."

"We've been reorganizing from the day this merger was announced."

"You've been on the meetings."

Pamela threw her arms up in the air in frustration. "Exploratory committees, brainstorming, 'what the hell do we do now' type questions. I don't remember any action being taken."

"Yeah, I know, that's why I did something."

Pamela sat down across from him, crossed her legs and took a calmer approach. The disconnect between them gave her reason for alarm, but she was going to ask professionally. "Are you not happy with my performance?"

"I think you are learning quickly and doing a fine job for someone with your experience level."

"But,"

"The honeymoon is over. You now have to start acting like my right hand man. Woman, whatever."

Pamela took in a deep breath to stop herself from acting on her instinct to reach across the desk and start choking him. "I'm up for the challenge, but is it too much to ask for a little forewarning? This isn't the wild west where you pull your gun and start shooting."

"You'll find I do what I want when I want. Prove yourself here, and you've earned your invitation to your inner circle."

Pamela nodded. "Fine, I'll play along since you make the rules. I'll start auditing and interviewing physicians. You'll have my recommendations."

"Good." Jerry started working on the computer, giving her the cue that their conversation is done.

"Can I ask one more thing?"

"Diagnostics."

"Yes, did you tell anyone like Dr. House or Dr. Cuddy this was happening?"

"No. I mentioned it in passing to the Director of the medical school. The bulk of the work is going to fall on her."

"But eventually it will trickle down to them."

"Yep."

"What about Eric and Robert?"

"That's up to you. They're your problem now."

Pamela smiled, finally getting what he was doing. "No problem Jerry. I'll pass your sink or swim test. When I start doing laps in the pool at Olympic record speed though, I want full disclosure."

"You know I'm not good at sharing."

"You'll get over it." Pamela folded her arms, showing him her defiance.

"Okay, full disclosure. Now will you leave?"

Pamela scoffed at him with head up and walked away. On the way out, she passed Cuddy who was going in. "What the hell Jerry?"

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Cameron wasn't expecting visitors, and didn't exactly look her best. Hell, everyday since she went on maternity leave wasn't her best. She was stunned by who was on the other side of the door. "Come to visit the babies House?"

"Why thank you, I'd love to come in." He stepped inside and noticed the general disorder. "So your luxurious dining room has been converted to a nursery. How quaint."

"If you look around, every room is a nursery. Somehow I don't think you came here to mock my décor and lifestyle change."

"Why aren't you back from maternity leave yet?"

"Let's see, it's only been four weeks and I'm not coming back."

"Sure you are."

Cameron grabbed her head. Her foggy brain wasn't in the mood for such games. "I'm still a little slow due to fatigue. Are you actually trying to say something?"

"I need you back."

Cameron couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Back? I can barely think straight over which child to feed when. I'm not exactly sure I remember anything about medicine right now."

"Sure you do. Medicine is like riding a bicycle."

"A bicycle? I could kill people with medicine. Besides, I have no one to care for my kids."

"There are two spots waiting for you at the hospital daycare."

Cameron paused to take an exasperated breath. She was not expecting this. "How did you manage that? There's a two year waiting list."

"I have the power of persuasion."

She didn't buy it and gave him a suspicious stare. "You blackmailed the director."

"You aren't the only one doing it in hospital supply closets you know."

"I...I can't, do it House. I was going to be a stay at home mom."

"You know you aren't cut out for that. You're career minded. I just spent a good part of my morning in Cuddy's office. This program of ours is now going to be open to med students and interns. I can't deal with their crap. I need you to keep the riff-raff out of my way."

"Oh yeah? How desperate are you?" Cameron enjoyed her newly found bargaining power.

"I'm willing to do anything. I'll even take you on another date."

"I don't think my husband would like that."

"He won't mind. He'll do anything for his former mentor."

"Can I bring my screaming twins along? Pick a place that doesn't frown on me nursing in public. Also be prepared to be called 'Grandpa'."

House shuddered at the idea. "Fine, no dinner."

"I…I would need schedule flexibility." She was determined to talk him out of this.

"Done."

"I want to work no more than 30 hours a week."

"Done."

"I want a job description with outlined duties."

House opened his mouth, but Cameron knew what he was going to say. "Personal slave does not cut it."

House snapped his fingers.

"This is crazy House. You just can't walk in here and expect me to change my life plans on a whim. I need to discuss this with Robert."

"Chase is the one that sent me here. I forgot where you lived."

"You didn't tell him why you were coming though."

"He, Foreman, and that evil wife of his were sitting around trying to figure out what was going on with the practice. Chase probably figured I was paying a social visit."

"He would never think that! He knows you too well. You probably gave him some stupid excuse about updating your rolodex."

House tried to look innocent, but he couldn't do it. "He fell for it, now didn't he?"

"If he was worrying about hospital reorganization, he was probably distracted."

House was ready to move on. "It doesn't matter. So you can start tomorrow?"

"If I start, and that's if, it can't be for another four weeks. Doctor's orders."

"I can fix that."

"No. I'd like my full leave."

"Maternity leave only lasts six weeks."

"I'm taking eight."

House rolled his eyes. He knew she'd be difficult. "Fine, be that way. So you're taking the job?"

Cameron frowned, but showed some sign of open mindedness. "I'll think about it."

"I'm not taking no for an answer."

The sound of a baby crying interrupted them. "Okay, be that way. We can sit down and talk about it some more. You can watch Emily devour my boob all while you hold Ethan. We can have a moment."

House gave her a blank stare, then took his cue. "Take time to think about it and get back to me." He quickly exited out the front door.

Cameron held back her laughter until he was gone. Actually, she didn't need to think about it. The sound of the screaming baby was all she needed to make her decision. She desperately needed to get back into the real world.

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Cameron's mother sat in the living room, marveling over the cozy home that surrounded her. She still had trouble believing that Allison ended up with this life. Given all the trouble she was as a teenager and all the heartache over her first husband, it was thrilling to finally see her land on her feet. She was actually envious. Every bad mistake she made in her life always came back to haunt her. She was pleased to see that both her daughters avoided that trap. It was all mother could hope for.

Her deep thought process was interrupted by the noise of shuffling feet. "You look tired," she said to a weary Cameron.

"Mom, all is forgiven. After spending several weeks with my own children, I've figured out you were an absolute saint."

She laughed. "Oh sure, now you finally realize it."

"I knew you would make me eat it." Cameron flopped onto the couch with exhaustion. "I'm sorry I'm not very good company right now."

"You're fine. It seems you have a lot on your mind. I heard you with Dr. House earlier."

Cameron looked at her with shame. "Yeah, I wasn't sure if I would mention that. I need to talk to Robert."

"You don't really want to go back to work, do you?"

"I wouldn't trade this time I've had with my babies for anything, but I'm not the stay at home mom type."

"You don't have to work. You have a husband that can provide for you. You'll get used to being just a mom."

"These kids having been sucking the life out of me for over nine months now. I've hit a wall and need to go back to what I was."

Her mother touched her hand in assurance. "It gets easier. You're a mother now. Your life will never be what it was."

"I know, but I can't deny that I'm a skilled doctor too. Sitting at home reading files and being away from the hands on medicine is not who I am. What's wrong if I want to be both a doctor and a mom?"

Her mother shook her head, wondering how she could get her point across. She knew Allison never listened to reason. "Allison, I worked because I had to. I was a single parent and it was grueling. You don't have to put yourself through that."

"But I want to."

Their conversation was interrupted by the familiar wails of the eldest child. Cameron looked at her apologetically. "Right on schedule. I'll be right back."

Her mother tried to figure out how to convince Allison she was making a mistake. She couldn't come up with anything. She sighed, knowing that trying to persuade her was useless. A few minutes later Cameron was back with Emily in her arms, ready to deliver a fresh supply of milk. She would let the subject go.

"How did you manage to do this alone, mom?"

"I didn't at first. Believe it or not, your father was very supportive and helpful when both you and your sister were born. I'm not sure what I would have done without him."

"What happened then?"

She sighed, not sure that any easy explanation could be offered. "We fell apart. Life stopped being fun for us, and he always had a bad temper. I thought it was okay for a long time that he only took it out on me. When he stopped caring about you two and life in general, it was time to leave."

"But why did he get that way?"

"I don't know why. I spent a lot of lonely nights asking that question, and never did get my answer. Once upon a time he did love you though, you have to remember that."

Her assurance was hardly comforting. Parents never should stop loving their children, no matter how bad things are. It would never make sense to her.

Her mother paused for a second, and then decided to tell her. "Allison, I don't know if it makes a difference telling you this now, but your father is dead."

Cameron's face grew pale with shock. "When?"

"Last year. Your grandmother sent me a letter recently, letting me know and apologizing for bringing such a son-of-a-bitch into this world."

"How did it happen?"

"Motorcycle accident."

Cameron took a few seconds to absorb the news, then resumed a tough stance. She wasn't sure how she was supposed to feel, but she wasn't about to shed a tear. "I guess that's that then."

"Yeah, that's what I said too."

She now understood for the first time how Robert felt the day he found out his dad died. He was a bastard, but he was still her dad. "I'll have to send her pictures of her great-grandchildren. Hopefully she'll enjoy seeing them."

"I'll get you the address." Her mother got up. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to fix dinner now."

"Thanks mom," she said with a heartfelt gaze, extending her gratitude farther than the gesture for dinner. She was glad she knew.

Her mother nodded and headed for the kitchen. It took another minute, but Cameron realized her mother was right. It didn't make much of a difference.