AN: This chapter's twice as long as the previous two, breaking up the story is a little awkward. It's fluff in the first part, but gets more intense at the end. Thanks to my reviewers, but I'm gonna need more than that to continue this!

"You finally done in there?" Chase asked as Cameron stepped out of the bathroom, fully groomed.

"Just because I care about my appearance-"

"How can you be defending spending thirty minutes in there after you've finished showering?"

"Fine, you don't want me to look good for you?" She was beginning to sound defensive, and she had crossed her arms. This isn't how the conversation is supposed to be going, thought Chase.

He stood up, pried her arms apart, and gently kissed her hand. "You look beautiful no matter what Ally," he whispered in her ear. She wrapped her arms around him, giving in to the sincerity in his voice. "Whether you've just woken up or spent three days fixing yourself up." He caressed her face. "I've always thought you were the most gorgeous person ever." She began pushing him with her body, steering him to her room. "Even after pulling an all-nighter, you still glow." She crawled up onto the bed, tugging at him to join her. "There's no one in the world I'd rather wake up next to." She hovered over him, pinning his arms down with hers. "And I knew from the start that you were just as beautiful inside as you are out." She leaned into him, smiling and blushing.

"Would you just shut up so I can kiss you now?" His face lit up in amusement as he was drawn under her spell again.

"Before we leave, Rob, let me know what I should wear tonight." Cameron stood in front of her closet, scanning her pathetic amount of dresses.

"Anything's fine," said Chase lazily from the bed. "It's not real fancy, but trust me, it's perfect for us," he stressed.

"Okay, well what are you wearing?" she asked, slightly frustrated at the lack of specifics.

"I dunno, I told you, anything's fine. Jeans or something."

She turned to give him an annoyed look, but received a playful wink in return. It was hard to stay angry with a man like Robert Chase.

"Allison, are you almost ready?" Chase called from his living room.

"Well, I wouldn't have to keep reapplying my lip gloss if someone would stop kissing me every five minutes."

"Oh, I see how I is. You don't want any more kisses, then you won't get any," he teased, more confident than usual. She joined him in the living room, looking absolutely stunning to him in a simple black tank top and light washed jeans. That top brought back something, and suddenly he remembered where he'd seen it before.

He's pinned against her wall as she kisses him sloppily. He reluctantly gives in; Cameron has a way of making him weak like no one else can. He stops, realization smacking him hard across his face. This is no sudden change of heart, she doesn't really want him. "Are you high?" he hears himself ask, as if from across the room.

"Uh huh," she admits freely, easily ripping his jacket from his back. He doesn't really struggle due to the fact that he's trying to keep his legs from giving out.

"I thought you disposed of the drugs." All he can force out was this fact, no concern or emotion.

"Not all of it." He hates how easily she's telling him this, how wrong she's letting him know it is. She starts unbuttoning his shirt, and he's helpless all over again.

"Uhh, slow down." As if he can allow this to continue, only slower. "Your pupils are dilated. You're not…" His shirt is off and all he wants to do is rattle off facts about her current state.

"C'mon Chase, don't turn into the good guy on me now." She pulls him in closer, shoving her tongue down his throat. He knows it's wrong, but that can't stop him now. She's pushing herself in more, wanting to get closer that possible, almost as if she wants to become one with him. He can't help but like this feeling of being needed by Cameron. And she controls him like she always does, as her black tank top is torn away from her flesh…

Chase shook his head, trying to rid himself of the memory.

"Well, if you're going to be that way," she said with a smile as she sat down on his lap, putting one arm around his neck, the other on his chest.

He paused, trying to recall what they had been talking about. "Nope, I don't want your-" he broke off as her lips melt into his. He knew he couldn't resist her. She knew it too.

"Don't tell me you have to put more on now," he joked, fully coming back to the present.

She shook her head. "C'mon, let's get going. I'm starved." She stood up from his lap, wrapped her fingers into his, and led them to the car.

"Here, come sit at this booth in the corner," said Chase, leading her to it.

"Rob," began Cameron, confused. "Why is this place perfect for us?"

"You may not understand now, but I think you will by the end of the night." The approaching waiter saved him from expanding in response to her quizzical look.

"Hello Dr. Chase and…"

"Dr. Cameron," said Chase hurriedly. "Charlie, is this booth available?"

"'Course it is, doctor. Help yourself," the young waiter responded. "What could I offer you to drink tonight?"

Cameron sat down, and instead of sitting across from her, Chase squeezed in snugly next to his beautiful new girlfriend.

"I'll just have a diet Coke, thanks," said Chase routinely.

"And I'll have the same," added Cameron. "Want to be sober tonight for some reason?" she asked as Charlie walked away.

"Yes, actually. Well, for some time at least." She gave him another confused look, this one sterner than before. "Listen, we can get drunk off our asses later, you'll understand, just trust me." He needed to be sober so she would take him seriously later. He wanted her to believe him, not blame the alcohol for talking.

The young teen Charlie returned with their drinks and took their orders of Philly cheese steaks.

"You do realize how unhealthy this is?" muttered Cameron, more to herself than Chase, as Charlie slouched away.

"That kind of stuff doesn't matter today," was Chase's simple reply.

Cameron looked up at him and smiled at this man, admiring him for devoting so much of himself to them; getting them together, keeping them together, making them happy. She was glad that he chose to sit next to her because she was able to rest her head on his shoulder and her hand on his thigh.

Chase kissed the top of Cameron's head and wrapped his arms around her. It would take a while to get used to the fact that she wanted to be in his arms as much as he wanted her in them.

Cameron began studying the diner. It was small, but cozy, not cramped. The flowered wallpaper was hardly tacky, it added more to the charm of the place. She could see why Chase liked it here. It was so different compared to the sterile white hospital rooms that they spent too much time in. The change was nice. Not exactly subtle, but welcoming nevertheless.

Chase looked down at the woman in his arms, watching her take in the settings. "It's pretty simple," he said dumbly, lacking a better description. "But sometimes simplicity is needed at times like these."

She picked up her head off of his chest and looked at him with her big, beautiful green eyes. "I know," she whispered softly, understanding entirely what he meant.

Chase's eyes fell outside the window to across the street from the restaurant. "Look," he pointed, "there's a carnival over across the street."

Cameron lifted her head again. "Yeah, there is. Want to go win me a stuffed animal?" she joked.

"We could stop by after," he mentioned, smirking.

"Rob, you make me feel like a kid again. With you, the world is really good, so are people. You look for the positive things, even if there aren't any. It's like," she paused, searching for the right words. "When we're together, I know it'll be okay. I understand this isn't a perfect world, but you just make me feel so safe."

He locked eyes with her, no need to respond with words. He kissed her forehead innocently, but firmly. "Allison," he began, "I-"

"Yer sandwiches, doctors," interrupted Charlie in a drawling voice.

"Thanks," said Cameron. He nodded and wandered away. She spared him a befuddled look, and then brought her attention back to Chase. "What were you about to say, now?"

"N-nothing. I mean, I forgot," he sputtered. That was too close, he thought. Not yet, not quite yet. Chase responded to another of her confused looks with a mysterious smile and let go of her so they could focus on their food.

"Now where to?" Cameron asked as they headed out the door.

"I think we should go for a stroll for a bit. You know, walk off that meal."

She looked at him suspiciously. "We just ate."

It seemed she could never go down without a fight. "C'mon, there's something I want to show you." He grabbed her hand, squeezed it protectively, and led her around the back of the restaurant.

"Oh!" She let out an involuntary gasp and he could feel the breath leave her. "Rob, It's beautiful!"

"Yeah, I found this place a while ago. Ever since, I've wanted to bring you. It reminds me of you."

They strolled through the moonlit garden together, hand in hand. There were wild, overgrown flowers of every color and size. Cameron remembered the last time she and Chase were together with flowers; it hadn't turned out so well. She smiled to herself. This time it would be better.

Chase led them to a bench at the heart of the garden, where they sat side by side, a few inches of space between them.

Now's your moment, Chase thought to himself. Don't mess it up.

He reached out and loosely held her hand. "Cameron, I mean, Allison." His accent was so cute when he was nervous. "I-I may not be the perfect man, hell, I'm nowhere close to it. And I may not be the smartest or best looking or most romantic either." She smiled, agreeing with some, but willing to bet against others. "But if there's one thing I'm sure of, it's this." He paused, sucking in a great deal of air. "I love you, Allison."

She stared blankly at him, then looked away as her eyes began to fill with tears. "I know," she said weakly, unable to stop the steady stream from rolling down her cheeks. "But I don't think I love you…yet."

He looked scared, rejected. She said yet. She said yet. He knew he was out on a limb here, but he couldn't face the though of being alone again.

"I want this to work for us Robert, I really do. I like you, a lot. And I want to be with you. I'm just not sure how I feel right now, everything's happening so fast." The gap between them on the bench seemed so literal, like a brick wall in their relationship. The tears were still steadily falling down her face. "I'm sorry." Her voice was barely audible.

"It's okay," he replied, even though it wasn't. He could feel the sandwich churning in his stomach uncomfortably, but he new his first priority was to comfort her. He pushed away the feeling of hurt inside of him and put his arm around her. This feeling seemed all too familiar.

"Nice catch," she compliments. He shivers at the thought of impressing her.

"Thanks," he simply replies.

"Think even House would be impressed."

Why did she have to bring him into everything? Why House? He felt bitter. "I don't know about that." He keeps his temper even, it's not her fault their boss is an ass.

"Any idea how you want to celebrate?" She teases him, just like she always does, and expects him to give in, just like he always does. But this time would be different. He's ready to make his move, the move he's been planning for years, clinging to every shred of hope she'll see the reason he does. "What?"

"I want more," he blurts out. Lacking in both the subtly and romance, he thinks to himself as he shifts uncomfortably.

She fakes a smile. "I thought you were getting a little worn out, but…" He sees through her bluff.

"That's not what I meant." He knows what's coming, and wishes he wasn't such a goddamn fool all the time.

A look of anger and annoyance creeps onto her face. "I know. I was just hoping you'd take the hint and pretend you never said that."

It's too late for him to turn back now, so he takes a deep breath and tries again, knowing he'll fail. "I want this to be more than it is." He sounds too desperate for her, but he can't simply give up after all this. He has to keep trying. He doesn't want to be alone tonight.

"I thought we were clear." He hopes there is a reason she's dodging giving a straightforward answer. It's a pathetic hope and he knows it, but it's all he's got to hang on to.

"In the beginning, but you can't tell me you don't-"

"Yes I can. And I don't." She sounds cold, almost inhuman. He vaguely wonders if she can feel emotions at all.

Have any sort of feelings for me. Like I do for you, he finishes to himself, I love you. He lets his heart fall to the ground, giving up.

"It was…fun. And that's it." She glares. Not to him. To him it was a mix of fantasy and despair. Being with the woman he loved...without really being with her. It was bittersweet for him, and he just wanted to have a taste of what a real relationship with her would be like.

She breaks the silence that hangs over them this cold, lonely night. "And now it's over."

And she walks away from him, leaving him broken on the street. He doesn't want to go home alone, not tonight. But really, he has no choice. Who was he kidding anyways? He walks off the other way, willing to walk around the entire perimeter of the hospital so as not to run into the woman who should be his. He needs to prolong going home anyway. It's too hard for him to face.

If only he had walked the same way, or grabbed her arm and kept her close to him until she agreed. If only that fool had seen the tears in her eyes as she turned. If only he could see them burning her face now as she dreads he empty house just as much as he does.

"You still up for the carnival, then?" Chase tried to rid himself of that burning memory. It's better now, he reminded himself. Just give her time. He just didn't know how long he could wait.

She sniffled, holding back the rest of her tears as Chase wiped her face with his gentle touch. "Okay," she said shakily. She wanted him to understand. Understand how hard it was to try to let herself love again. How much hurt comes with losing the one you've given yourself to. She never wanted to feel that again. She couldn't face that sort of pain anymore.

Cameron let her hand fall into his as he led them across the street. She knew she'd love this man eventually. Fear of love was simply keeping her away.

AN: Well, you know what to do, any sort of review is welcome. Send them in if you want a fourth chapter.