Can you believe the next chapter is finally up? I know, it's about time. Well, Cameron has arrived to take care of Steve (and House, of course). This chapter is extra long to make up for having you great people wait. All reviews are welcomed. Once again, I do NOT own House or Cameron---if I did, would I being doing this? Enjoy.
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Cameron arrived at exactly twelve o'clock. Trying to balance her purse, the medical bag, and the take out containers, she reached for the doorbell with her elbow. Suddenly the door swung open.
"Need some help?" a gruff voice greeted her.
"You can take the food or the---" Cameron's words faded as House took the take out containers and disappeared into the apartment, "medical bag," she murmured and followed behind. Closing the door, she walked over to Steve's cage and placed her bags on the end table.
Cameron bent down and tapped on the bars. "Hello Steve. How are you today?" A little gray head popped out of the toilet paper cubby. Quickly he rushed over, his whiskers twitching. Standing on his haunches, he sniffed Cameron's finger tip.
"Aren't you sweet," Cameron crooned. "Too bad your dad can't learn something from you," she whispered as he nibbled on her index finger.
"If you're finished flirting with Steve maybe you can come in here and make yourself useful," House called out. Sighing, she straightened up and glanced toward the kitchen.
Coming up behind him, Cameron grabbed the soap and quickly washed her hands. "What do you want me to do?"
House held out the two containers. "Which one is yours?"
"The one with the pickles, of course." Cameron took the Styrofoam box and walked into the living room.
"Figures."
"I had to guarantee that you wouldn't steal my food."
House nodded in approval. "I knew there was a reason I hired you."
Cameron frowned. "I thought it was because I was extremely pretty."
House smirked and his blue eyes flashed brightly. "I had to say something. You would never have believed me if I said I hired you for your brains."
"Everybody lies." Cameron sat down on the couch.
House limped into the room. He stopped beside the couch. "You're on my side."
Cameron gathered her box and moved over. "Sorry."
House sat down with a plop. "Did you bring the ketchup?" Cameron stared at him. "Crippled, remember?"
Placing her lunch on the coffee table, she stood up and went into the kitchen. "Don't forget my drink." House opened his box and began eating.
A few moments later returned with the ketchup and drinks. Opening the can, she handed House his beverage and sat down . Silently they began eating.
"This is good." House complimented and took another bite of his burger. "Hand me the remote." Cameron pass it over and he flicked it toward the TV. "You like soap operas?"
"Uh, sure. Why?"
"There is a General Hospital marathon on Soap Net."
"You're not going to subject me to 'The L Word'?" Cameron inquired as she popped a fry in her mouth.
"Why should I subject you to something you will never put to use?"
"On the other hand, who is to say that watching it wouldn't help improve my technique?"
Throwing her an indescribable look, House flicked the remote toward the set. The strains of the saxophone intro filled the room.
For the next hour Cameron was caught up in the mysterious underworld of doctors and mobsters. She tried to follow the story line, but found herself lost. During a commercial she gathered the trash and went into the kitchen. Grabbing two more sodas, she made her way back just in time to catch a shoot out. Holding her breath, she stole a glance House's way. He stared intently at the screen, his eyes barely blinking.
As the closing credits rolled on the screen, Cameron released her breath. She felt House's stare.
"What?" She tried to quell the butterflies in her stomach.
"What did you think of the show?"
"I'm confused; in the whole hour I didn't see the hospital once."
An insulting remark found it's way to the tip of his tongue when Cameron defused the situation. "Let's get to work on Steve."
"But there are four more episodes."
"If we hurry, we can still catch them." House grabbed his cane and hoisted himself up.
Opening her medical bag Cameron took out two pairs of gloves and handed one set to House. Donning the other, she unlatched the cage and grabbed Steve around the rib cage. Thrusting the small creature toward House, she then began setting up the medicine. Measuring the antibiotics, she filled the syringes.
"Okay, now I'm going to need you to hold him the way you saw me do it the other day. Put your fingers under his forearms and use your second hand to secure his bottom. Make sure he doesn't move his head."
Awkwardly, House tried to comply. Holding the animal still, he watched as Cameron pried Steve's mouth open and deposited the contents of the first syringe. Steve tried to squirm free.
"Hold him still," Cameron commanded. Taken by surprise by her tone, House was both impressed and angered. Still he obeyed by adjusting his grip as Steve strived harder to free himself.
"I'm hurting him."
"You're doing nothing of the sort. He has two more doses, and I don't plan on wearing them nor do I want to get bit. Now hold his head still." Cameron tried to pry Steve's mouth open. "Come on sweetie. Do it for me." Squirting the syringe empty, Steve tried to spit, but Cameron held his mouth closed until he swallowed.
She stroked his grey head. "I'm sorry. I know it tastes bad. This one is much better. Just one more. Come on. If you do this, I'll give you a fry." Before House could blink, the syringe was empty and Cameron was taking off her gloves. "You can put him back in the cage."
House returned Steve and secured the latch. Cameron disappeared into the kitchen. He heard water running. A second later she emerged holding a fry. Bending over she tried to enticed Steve. Warily he approached her, his nose sniffing the air. With deserved apprehension, he looked at Cameron and then at the fry. Quickly he grabbed the treat and raced to the other side of the cage. House went to wash his hands
Upon re-entering the front room, he found Cameron standing beside the cage smiling. A weird feeling started in the pit of his stomach and the urge to drown in her smile overwhelmed him.
Realizing she wasn't alone, Cameron straightened up. Looking over her shoulder, she threw him a look. For a moment their eyes locked.
"Let's go finish watching the marathon," he announced gruffly. He lowered himself onto the cushion. "No more smart remarks."
Cameron threw him a sly smile. "I medicated your rat, so that entitles me to a smart remark or two."
"You've already had it."
Cameron sat down beside him. "Three doses, three smart remarks."
"You're kidding!"
"I could throw in that I brought lunch and that would entitle me to five smart remarks."
"Okay, okay. Three it is." He turned the volume up. Cameron chuckled softly.
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Six P.M. Cameron looked at her watch. "Wow! It's getting late. I guess I'd better get going." Standing up, she stretched her stiff muscles. Throwing a glance Steve's way, she noticed he was fast asleep in his cubby.
"What time is it?" House muttered half asleep.
"A little bit past six. As much as I would like to stay and keep you company, I still have errands to get done, and some shopping to do."
"It's Saturday. Couldn't it wait until tomorrow?"
Cameron stopped in mid stretch. A puzzled smile marred her delicate features. "Is that an invitation to spend the night?"
A wicked glint shone in his eyes. "And if it was?"
"Depends upon who's asking."
"Me?" House pushed himself up from the couch and made his way over to the cage.
"Sorry. I would have said yes if Steve had asked." She walked over to the lamp table and picked up her purse and medical bag. Securing the snaps, she made her way to the front door.
"Is there anything I should look for?"
"What do you mean?" Cameron stopped and turned around.
"Well, like reactions---what if he is to have one due to the medicine?"
Cameron glanced at the sleeping rat. "If he was going to have anything, it would have happened by now."
"Are you sure? I don't want to have to file a medical malpractice suit against you on behalf of Steve."
Cameron took a couple steps forward. "If I didn't know any better, I would say that you are actually concerned for Steve. But since I know that you don't care about anyone or anything, I'm assuming that you are inquiring for safety's sake." Shifting her purse higher on her shoulder, Cameron looked straight at House and held his gaze. "Sometimes the medication can make rats a little hyper, so should he get out of the cage in the middle of the night and raid the fridge, or start swinging from the ceiling fan, then I suggest you give him a vicodin. But I have a feeling he is going to sleep very well."
Leaving him speechless, Cameron once again began walking toward the door. Swinging it open, she looked back at House. "See you tomorrow. Bye Steve." The door closed with a click.
House walked over to the cage. "Alright, it looks as though I'm going to have to draw the line somewhere: no vicodin. I'll share Cameron, to a point, but paws off the meds."
A soft sigh was Steve's only answer.
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Cameron turned the page of the magazine in her lap and rubbed her eyes. Five more minutes and she promised to call it a night.
Suddenly the phone rang. Jolted upright, Cameron placed a hand over her heart and tried to steady her breathing. She glanced at the clock, five past ten, and grabbed the receiver.
"Hello?" she greeted warily.
"He still seems to be fine."
Cameron froze still. "House?"
"Depends, is this Dr Cameron?"
"Yes."
"Then it's House."
Dragging a hand thru her hair, she tried to keep her anger in check. "House, it's ten o'clock. Why aren't you in bed?"
"Waiting for The O.C. to come on."
"So while you wait, you decided to call me."
"I tried to call Wilson, but I think he turned off his phone."
"I can't imagine why." Cameron yawned. "I don't blame him." Closing the magazine, she moved it to the night stand. "How is Steve?"
"Sleeping. Are you sure he's supposed to be doing that?"
"It's the medicine; remember, he is healing. Within the week he should be back to his old self."
"I'm used to him running on his wheel at night; how am I supposed to sleep in a quiet apartment?"
"Turn on some music. Drink a beer. Hire a hooker."
"Ouch! Are you suggesting I mix alcohol with pain medication?"
"Whatever works, I suppose."
"Some nice bedside manner you have there."
"I agreed to take care of Steve. I don't recall you being part of that equation."
"What if I want to be?"
"Be what?" Cameron tried to fight off the fogginess invading her brain.
"Part of the equation---two patients for the price of one?"
Cameron's heart picked up its pace. Don't get your hopes up, she warned herself. "Uh-uh. One ticket, one patient. Besides, I'm a doctor, not a miracle worker."
Silence prevailed for a few moments.
"So what were you doing before I called?"
"What makes you think I was doing something?"
"Lucky guess. Tell me it involved using batteries. Preferably C type."
"You wish. I was reading."
"The Kama Sutra?"
"Why acquire knowledge I'll never put to use?"
"Touché."
"I'm reading a Soap Opera Digest. I figure if I am going to be subjected to General Hospital, I may as well know something about it."
"Anything interesting?"
"I have the synopsis for next week."
"Well, don't keep it all to yourself, what does it say?"
"Uh-uh."
"Dr Cameron."
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"If I tell you, then you will have to do your clinic hours because you'll have no reason to watch TV."
"Just when I decided I hated your martyr complex, you find a way to impress me."
Cameron smoothed the covers down and removed her reading glasses. "How is saving your ass part of my martyr's complex?"
"Not sure, but it does come in handy from time to time."
"Glad to know I can help you thwart Cuddy." Catching herself yawning, Cameron tried desperately to stay awake. "I really need to get to sleep."
"You'll be over tomorrow?"
"Noon. Tell Steve not to do anything too strenuous before then. See you in the morning House."
"Good-bye Cameron." A soft click and then dial tone. House replaced the receiver.
Cameron's last thought was to turn out the lamp and then the sweet blissfulness of sleep enveloped her.