Thank you all deeply for your wonderful reviews :-) Having survived our recent manic weather here is my next chapter, three more remain after this one, baring any last minute changes. Enjoy, Hameron forever, as always, Nic
9
"Where's Wilson?"
Cameron stepped away from the doorway and walked towards the kitchen, ruffling Caleb's hair as she passed him playing quietly on the floor. House took the invitation and entered, closing the door softly behind him. Caleb looked up and smiled broadly before returning his attention to his cars.
"Work, he was meant to watching Caleb but he got called back about ten minutes ago"
"Why?"
He asked, throwing his helmet onto the sofa nearby.
"Palliative patient arresting"
"No, why was he meant to be watching Caleb?"
"Oh, I have a conference call back to London....Coffee?"
He nodded and took the stool opposite her, watching as she reached for the cups, soft white flesh of her hips teasing him briefly before disappearing once more.
"What will you do?"
"I don't know, cancel I suppose. I'm acting as chair so it's too late for anyone else to fill in...."
She paused, reaching for the now brewed coffee before continuing.
"Anyway, I think it might be the safer option rather than being interrupted with Caleb wanting to show me his cool cars"
She laughed, a laugh that was drawn from the memories of past experience and he wished that he shared those memories with her.
"I'll watch him"
Her eyes shot up in surprise and he momentarily wished he'd never uttered the words.
"I couldn't ask that of you"
"I offered"
He stated firmly, belief in himself rising.
"You sure?"
"Yes.... and you can always pay me back in kind"
He grinned, lowering his voice intimately and watching as her cheeks flushed red in the memories of them.
"He's a handful"
"So am I"
She laughed and he saw the doubt slowly seep from her features.
"Ok"
"Ok"
He repeated, a proud smile finding its way to his lips, before turning towards Caleb.
"Hey Caleb, go get your baseball gear. I'm gonna teach you how to play a real sport"
Caleb stood up, cars quickly forgotten, and ran towards them.
"Can I mum?"
Cameron nodded and Caleb let out a small cheer before disappearing down the hall. When he returned, mitt on hand, ball in pocket, dragging the heavy bat behind him and cap almost covering his eyes, they could not help but laugh. Cameron went to him, lifting him in to her arms and sitting him on the counter. She asked House to pass her his sneakers, abandoned nearby, and he marvelled at how small they were before handing them to her. As she was putting them on Caleb turned to him, large hazel eyes filled with excitement.
"Will you teach me how to pitch?"
"Yes"
"Mummy showed me once...."
He could not finish his sentence, beginning to giggle.
"Are you making fun of Mommy's throw?"
Cameron asked, tickleling Caleb's belly and making him laugh.
"Is mommy bad at throwing?"
House whispered conspiratorially.
Caleb nodded eagerly, grinning broadly, causing Cameron to reach forward and softly push House on his chest.
"Don't encourage him!"
He watched her lips purse, as she tried to contain her laughter.
God he wanted those lips.
Shoes finished, she straightened Caleb's cap and lifted him on to the floor once more before grabbing her keys and passing them to House, their fingers touching briefly but long enough to make their eyes meet knowingly.
"Car seat"
She explained but he could see the redness retuning to her cheeks.
He nodded and stood up, feeling butterflies forming in his stomach. As if sensing his nervousness she reached forward and took his hand tenderly, squeezing it while holding his gaze and he felt the self doubt rush from him, returning to the unwelcomed hollows it had emerged from. She mouthed a silent thank you and gave him a smile that made his insides stir before releasing his hand and turning to Caleb.
"You ready?"
He nodded excitedly and looked up at House expectantly.
"Ok Babe Ruth let's go"
He turned towards Cameron, smiling at the affection in her eyes.
"Back by six?"
She nodded and he forced himself to turn towards the door before he could not help but go to her and take her in his arms. Taking the bat from Caleb, he led him towards the door.
"Who's Babe Ruth?"
He asked, looking up at House, eyes filled with innocence.
"Gosh, have you taught this boy nothing?"
He scolded playfully at her, before opening the door and following Caleb outside, stealing one more look at her adoring smile before closing the door.
XXX
He pulled slowly in to the parking lot, the sun beginning to set, painting an orange sky that Turner himself would have been proud of. He turned to Caleb, slumbering peacefully in his car seat and smiled to himself before opening the door and getting out slowly. He stretched widely and allowed the afternoon sunlight to bathe him briefly; enjoying contentment he had never known, before opening the back door quietly and gently unbuckling the seatbelt, trying desperately not to wake the sleeping child. Succeeding, he slowly lifted Caleb in to his arms, allowing his head to rest gently on his shoulder, brown hair falling across his face. He reached up instinctively with his free hand, as if it was the most natural thing in the world and tucked it behind his ear, smiling at the smudge of dirt on his cheek before softly closing the door, clicking on the alarm and heading towards the apartment.
XXX
The door opened and Cameron stood before him, hair falling loosely around her face, a broad smile appearing at the sight of them.
For that briefest moment in time he had a glimpse of a life that had always seemed so foreign and unnecessary to him. He had always questioned Wilson's need for a relationship, the need to have someone close, someone to love. But at that moment in time it felt as clear to him as the soft breathing of the sleeping child in his arms. He understood it to his very core, understood it more deeply than anything he had ever known.
"He passed out. Too many shots"
She laughed, stepping aside and allowing him to enter the apartment where he was met with the aroma of food.
"You should take him more often"
She stepped forward and gently rubbed the smudge of dirt from Caleb's cheek with her thumb.
"Was he good?"
"Perfect"
She smiled proudly, reaching forward and together they managed to gently transfer Caleb into her arms.
"I'll put him in the bedroom. You'll stay for something to eat won't you? Wilson should be back soon"
He nodded and she smiled before disappearing down the hallway. He wandered over to the kitchen, surveying the feast she was preparing, a smile finding its way to his lips.
"He's out for the count"
She announced, surprising him as she stepped up beside him, arms brushing his lightly and leaving a trail of fire against his bare skin.
"He wanted to be perfect. Reminded me of you when you first started here. So eager"
She laughed knowingly and leaned past him to stir the pasta, the heat of her body and smell of vanilla awakening his senses, making him wonder if the world would stop if he reached out and touched her for just the briefest moment in time.
"Pasta?"
He nodded and she gestured towards the salad bowl and garlic bread before him.
"Can you put those on the table?"
He did as she asked and took a seat at the table, watching her as she finished the pasta and brought it to the table before sitting opposite him, reminding him of a time long ago when they had sat like this. He watched as she spooned some salad on to her plate before handing him the bowl. He accepted it, spooning some onto his own plate before returning it to the table.
"It's been six years since you last cooked for me"
She frowned, lips curling playfully.
"I've never cooked for you"
"The day I came home from Mayfield you made me toast"
She laughed and he felt his heart thump against the wall of his chest with pride.
"So, how did Babe Ruth do?"
"Great. He can throw pretty good, nearly took out a couple of pigeons though"
They both laughed then and for a moment it was like they were right back where they had begun all those years ago.
"He's a great kid"
"Thank you"
She smiled sincerely, shyly tucking her hair behind her ear.
"He amazes me. From the moment I decided on IVF, I was adamant that I could do it on my own. But the moment I held him in my arms, so small and vulnerable I panicked that I could never do enough for him"
Her voice trailed off, wrestling with a private demon.
He felt his heart drop, compassion, a feeling he had long since thought had abandoned him, rising from within. Wilson had never mentioned the IVF and he had never asked about the father, fearing a truth far more painful than the one he heard now. Her honesty overwhelmed him and he hoped one day that he would be privileged enough to understand the choice she had made. He reached across the table, taking her hand in his, holding her gaze powerfully. He could have got lost in those eyes, maybe deep down he already had.
"You did good, he's perfect...... even with the accent"
She smiled and he had to will himself not to lean across the table and claim her lips, instead returning her smile ruefully and watching the emotion in her eyes. He released her hand, suddenly aware of how long he had been holding it.
"So how's Princeton? Any good cases"
He shook his head and turned his attention to the pasta. How could he tell he that nothing had changed, that he was still as lost now as the day he had kissed her goodbye and returned to a life that mocked him with its emptiness?
"You know, I half expected you to be in a dysfunctional relationship with Cuddy by now"
He pulled a face of disgust and she laughed.
"It was a hallucination, I was mad, you married Chase remember. We all do stupid things; at least I had an excuse"
"Hey!"
She threw her napkin at him, smiling broadly. He laughed, spooning another morsel of pasta into his mouth.
The soft patter of footsteps drew their attention and they turned as Caleb padded towards them, fluffy hair almost covering his sleepy eyes. Yawning sleepily he reached Cameron and she lifted him into her lap.
"I fell asleep"
He stated shyly.
Cameron smiled, softly running her fingers through his hair and looking up at House.
"Greg said you were great"
"Really?"
"Yes, really"
House replied, not recognising the softness in his voice.
Caleb grinned proudly, allowing the back of his head to rest on Cameron's chest. She kissed his hair, smiling at House as she caught his tender gaze.
"Scoot over little man, let me get you something to eat honey"
He did as Cameron asked and took the seat next to House as she stood and headed over to the kitchen.
Caleb turned towards him, eyes hopeful.
Only one other person had ever looked at him like that, made him feel so pure under their gaze.
"Do you want to watch DVD?"
Cameron's voice interjected.
"Honey, you have to eat first and I'm sure Greg has other things to do"
"No, I don't"
Cameron looked at him in surprise.
"Really?"
He nodded and returned his gaze the Caleb.
"So, do you have Monster's Inc?"
Aware that he was dangerously close to a world he had always thought out of his reach, close enough the feel the warmth of the flames flickering against his skin, flames that were sure to burn him. But for now, in this moment in time, they were the flames that chased away all the darkness within him and for that he felt himself smile.