AN: Okay, so here is the final chapter. I'd like to apologize for how long it took, but school started, and that tends to suck up a lot of time. This is where the title comes into play/gets explained. Kind of random, but oh well. Unfortunately, I have heard that Chase and Cameron won't hook up in season four (after putting them together in the season finale, what the hell?), but David Shore said he would like to put them together just because it'd be awkward for them to work together now that they 'broke up', or something like that. I was fuming when I found out. Anyways, what I love about being a first time author is that no one knows how I end things. Hehe. Sorry, I'll stop rambling now. Thanks to my reviews, and enjoy!
She uncertainly walks to face him again, wondering how many times she'll have to do this before she finally works up the nerve to tell him. She stands at the door, holds her hand to the bell, and then drops it back to her side.
Slowly, she retreats. She stops a few steps down, considering the pros and cons of leaving. She's been over it a thousand times before, and she knows what she wants to do. If only she could…
Suddenly the door opens and he's staring at her, entirely confused, yet she thinks she sees a shadow of amusement slide through his eyes, his smile. "Hi."
"It's Tuesday." She knows she can beat around the bush, make excuses, or simply leave him standing here, but she's not weak and she's not turning back now. (Because she's already given herself away.)
"Uhh…no." He grins and she realizes that he now has the upper hand. "It's Monday." All he has to do is say no now, and that would be the end of it all.
"I know, it's just…" She braves stepping up to his level, pouring all earnestness from her eyes to his. "I just didn't feel like waiting." Or couldn't wait, she thinks.
But every last molecule of doubt is removed when he smiles warmly at her; he's finally won. She can't help but return the smile out of relief, out of true happiness.
He leans forward, with a confidence that he's always lacked around her, and kisses her. Not passionately, not with the hungry fervor that he always has before. This is different. This is soft and gentle and sweet. It's every bit as simple as it is complicated. It's the end of their feud, the start of their relationship. And as casual and chaste as it is, it's their first real kiss. And she never wants it to end.
Cameron sat back on the bench, her eyes burning with hurt and embarrassment. She glared at the stupid flowers, hating them for bringing her so much pain.
It wasn't them. It was him, she told herself, unwilling to believe that Chase could do this to her. They're always following me. Every time we break up, she thought. True, this was our first attempt at a real relationship, but how many times have we ended it?
She remembered the first time they'd slept together. He'd told her it shouldn't happen again. She thought hard, racking her brain for every detail from then. She'd walked out of the locker room, and…was it then? Yes. Then she'd found a white rose on the floor. She'd assumed it had fallen from a bouquet of a patient's, and she'd picked it up. Delicately caressing the petals, Cameron had been reminded of how dirty she'd really felt. She'd thrown it out. One.
Cameron recalled when it was her turn to end it. Chase had wanted more, and she wasn't sure. So, by her strange works of logic at the time, she had detached herself from emotions and had broken it off. Flowers? She questioned, cocking her head to the side as her tears began to ease up. Sure. There were flowers all over the property. There were clusters of them at every entrance and exit, she painfully looked back at. Two.
And then there were the flowers that hadn't been stolen. Cameron rested her chin in her hands, willing them to turn to Chases's. She'd recognized the same bring bloom on one of the paths she'd perused earlier, but knowing Chase, he'd probably paid the restaurant manager for them. She'd told him she didn't want a relationship with him. Not that you didn't have feelings for him, she reminded herself. Three.
There was the last time they had come here. How could I have not loved him then? She questioned herself. Sure, there had been flowers, they were the same damn flowers staring at her then as they were now. Four.
Of course there was their real break up. This one wasn't hard to remember, it was so recent and the pain was still so strong. Cameron had stormed out, her keys jangling loudly as the door slammed behind her. And apparently the person across the hall had had someone who'd cared about them, because outside their door had been a large pot of bright marigolds. She'd considered picking them up and slamming them too against the wall, but inside she'd know it wouldn't really take away the hurt. And she'd stormed off, with tears as strong as a downpour and her mind as clouded as one too. Five.
Cameron closed here eyes, letting the evening's events replay in her head, bringing on a fresh wave of tears. Tonight. Six.
Nausea crept into Chase's stomach as he opened the car door. Why do you say what's on your mind so much? True, Chase tried not to reveal much about himself, but Cameron always made him say stupid things. Always.
You could have had her back there, his head screamed. You had her wrapped around your finger? Why? Why?
Truth be told, Chase knew why he'd walked away. He just wasn't sure how. It dawned on him that back there, he'd really stopped loving her. And though it was only moments ago, the walk to the car had been an eternity. How do you feel now? his head questioned impatiently. He didn't know.
He slammed his head backward into the headrest. Why does Cameron make everything so fricken complicated? He knew he couldn't turn around and accept her now. He didn't know if he loved her and he didn't know if she'd take him back now, but he did know things would never be the same between them.
He drove home, exhaustion from the night before finally hitting him like a brick wall. He crashed in his bed, with an empty feeling still engulfing his entire self.
A screaming child woke Cameron. She sat up on the couch and rubbed her bloodshot eyes as she turned the TV off. She looked up at the large clock on the wall. 8:19. Sighing, she trudged to the kitchen, but nothing looked appetizing.
Cameron had finally stopped pacing at around 2 am. She'd lay in bed and stared at the ceiling. She'd moved to the couch in hopes that Chase would invade her thoughts less there. She'd been wrong. She'd turned on the TV to distract herself, or perhaps for companionship, and had drifted in and out of sleeping, waking about every half hour. How can I let one man do this to me? She hated him. And she loved him. And she hated herself for loving him. But she certainly didn't love herself for hating him.
Cameron knew there was no place she'd rather be than in his arms. His warm embrace, his soothing voice; this is where she belonged. Where she was safe. Where she was loved.
Chase rolled over and stared at the clock. It was almost one this time, so he finally decided to get up. His head felt too heavy, but he didn't remember drinking at all last night. Just turning her away, he thought. That was enough to make him feel drugged up.
He wandered into the kitchen but knew he couldn't eat. Chase had too many things to sort out, and food was just not a priority.
He wished this could be as simple as one of their cases. Simple, Chase scoffed. I never thought I'd call them that. He considered using a makeshift whiteboard to sort out his emotions, but decided against it. He knew the writing would stare back at him scathingly, mocking whichever path he chose, the negative of each choice written plainly in from of him. No, he'd sort it out in his head, just like he always had.
It's late Monday night, but he decides to go for a walk anyway. He has no idea what to do with his new freedom, and he doesn't really know his neighborhood too well either. So he figures a walk might do him some good, might clear his mind.
He opens the door and smells a fire burning nearby. And then he sees her, standing a few steps down.
"Hi," he says instinctively. She's got to stop finding you like this. It'll make it harder to let go. But then he realizes, hopes, that maybe why she keeps showing up is so they don't have to let go.
"It's Tuesday," she says a little too quickly. His suspicions are confirmed, but he's not the least bit worried. Actually, his heart and soul have raised ten notches and he can't keep the grin off his face.
"Uhh…no, it's Monday," he points out jokingly, and for once he actually understands her motive.
"I know, it's just…" she tentatively steps up to him and he's grateful that he's not the one sweating bullets this time. He's actually laughing inside. "I didn't feel like waiting."
He finally has the desperation he's yearned from her. She wants him. She needs him. He's not alone.
He can't seem to hide the smile from before, but it appears to be contagious. He concentrates hard on remembering this image: her pretty face lit up, glowing, in a rare moment of true happiness in her. He freezes this picture as he leans in and kisses her sweetly. Her lips feel firm as they press into his, and he wonders how something so simple can be so perfect.
The shrill of the phone ringing brought Chase out of his daydream. He let it ring. The only one who was important enough to answer for was Cameron, but he still didn't know what too say to her. It was too soon. He wasn't ready.
"Chase? It's Cuddy. I'm wondering where you are; your appointment was over an hour ago. Just… call me back as soon as you get this. Thanks. Bye." She sounded almost concerned for Chase's well being. He didn't buy it. Or didn't want to, rather. Having her tempt him with this new job was just too much right now. Too distracting from what he needed to get done.
Chase knew he had a lot to sort out, but one thought remained persistent: did he love her? He wished the answer were as simple as it should be, but he knew it'd take a lot more work to get there. Still, he was willing.
Did he hate her? No, he thought strongly. How long had he liked her? Since you first saw her, he thought, much less strongly. Why? Obviously she was smart and beautiful. But that wasn't all. She always stuck to her guns, no matter what the odds. She was a woman of mystery; he could never get a good, full read on her. She was amazing to him. She was everything to him. Even now.
Of course he loved her. How could he not? Last night he'd been angry, but he knew that he could trust her. If she said she really cared for him, then he could believe her. He knew that now. He just didn't know if now was too late.
Cameron sat on her couch with a carton of ice cream resting on her leg. She'd finally resigned to food in the late afternoon, and since then she hadn't stopped eating.
The TV was on again, but in all honesty Cameron had no idea what she was watching. There was only one man on her mind, and she could feel each of her breaths become more labored without him beside her.
Cameron had gone in and out of crying spells, had remembered all of the good and all of the bad with Chase, and had regretted every off thing she'd said to him. She'd trusted him. And strangely enough, she still did. He would have told her about the job, she knew it. She should have given him time.
And though he'd harshly accused her of being an addict, she knew there was truth in what he's said. She liked to fix people; she'd even picked it for a career. But even if Chase was fixed, she still wanted him more than any broken man. If only she could tell him.
The day dwindled to night, as the annoyingly perky sun was replaced by bright stars that were then covered by dark clouds. A light rain fell to the earth, but Chase knew that he had to see her. He couldn't stand to be alone anymore.
He grabbed a jacket and ran out the door, figuring he'd walk to few blocks to her place. He pleaded and begged to God that she wouldn't turn him away.
In an enlightening moment of understanding, Cameron knew that she had to see him. The rain had strengthened in the past few minutes, but it was the last of her worries. She bolted out the door, slamming it behind her. She'd go tearing up and down every street in town if she had to. Anything to find him.
Chase jogged anxiously in what had now become a steady downpour. About halfway there, he thought to himself foggily, adrenaline pounding in his ears, through his brain. Almost there.
Cameron used her long legs for long strides down the road, wishing she'd grabbed a coat. She stared ahead, and then blinked in shock. It couldn't be…
There he was, heading toward her in a brisk walk. His soaked hair fell in his face and his t-shirt clung tightly to his drenched chest. A bolt of lightning cracked the sky as she ran.
And then he saw her; wet curls bouncing on her shoulders as she ran for him. He stood shell-shocked, how did she know to come for him?
Cameron sprinted forward and threw herself into Chase. She wrapped her arms around his neck tightly and buried her face into his shoulder. He grabbed her back, pulling her as close to him as he could. She felt her feet leave the ground; they were spinning, they were flying.
Chase finally set her back on the ground and Cameron leaned on him for support, her legs willing to give out any second now.
"I'm sorry," she cried out to him, pouring all her heart into each syllable at the rain sent shivers down her spine. "It's all my fault."
"No! Allison. No. I'm sorry. It's all my fault." Neither of them could bear the weight of their own guilts any longer. Both of them wanted to be forgiven.
"Robert," Cameron rebutted, "I should have given you time. I trust you. And you were right. I was an addict. But now all I want is you." She paused and looked him straight in the eyes, making them feel like the only two people in the world. "I love you."
Chase smiled, he was no longer afraid. "Allison." God, how he'd missed using her first name. "I should have told you about the deal with Cuddy sooner. And I shouldn't have listened to House. I trust you too. And I love you too."
Cameron beamed warmly at him. "I lied. I didn't choose to sleep with you because you were the one I was least likely to fall in love with. You were the most likely." She stopped; drawing up all of the courage she could to admit these things to him, to herself. "I was just too scared to admit it. To myself. But I can now. I guess…I've liked you for quite awhile," she said sheepishly. Chase chucked softly. "I guess it started the first time we slept together." She looked embarrassed and Chase looked away, wanting to give her privacy at the same time he wanted to absorb her every word. "The meth let me do what I wouldn't allow myself to normally." Her voice sounded weak and Chase didn't know if she was crying because of the rain. He shuttered as he returned his gaze to her, wondering which droplets she'd produced and which had fallen on her face.
Cameron looked around quickly; drawing herself out of his brilliant blue eyes that glowed in contrast to the black, wet sky. She laughed, seeming relieved. "There aren't any flowers," she muttered foolishly, more to herself than him.
"Huh?"
"There are no flowers. It'll work out this time." Her deep green eyes were lit with all the sincerity of an innocent child.
Cameron glanced at his confused but amused expression and knew nothing could go wrong. She leaned forward and kissed him.
His hands moved up and down her back, her's raking his hair. His mouth engulfed hers, delivering all of sweetness and seduction together. The rain fell freely, but neither of the cared. They clung to each other for dear life; each of one's fibers needing the other's to live, to survive. It was beautiful. It was perfect. It was love.
At long last they drew back. "You should take the job," Cameron said with certainty. "We'd still see each other."
Chase looked momentarily surprised, but pleased. "Oh, okay. I'll think about it."
"Under one condition," she said, grinning at his puzzlement. "Don't buy me any flowers."
"All right," he agreed, not knowing or really caring why. All Chase needed was Cameron. All Cameron needed was Chase.
They wrapped one arm around each other and strolled down the street, soaked to the bone. Neither cared. As long as they had each other, they'd take whatever life threw at them.
AN: All right, I'm finally finished! I actually started writing this on July 15th, so I'll miss it, even though it feels good to be done. And a nice, romantic ending for the two of them. (Don't expect them all to end that way.) So what'd you think? Questions? Comments? Thanks to all of my previous reviewers once again, and I hope you all liked it!