Thirteen unlocked the door to her apartment, a smile still taking over her entire face. She flicked on the lights and threw her jacket on a hook in the closet. Walking over to her phone, she pushed the flashing button to listen to her messages.
"Remy," Her father. She went into her bedroom to change into a pair of sweats and a tank top as the messages played. "Just wanted to let you know I'll be in the area tomorrow. Was hoping we could get together for coffee, or dinner even. I know how busy you are. Let me know. It's dad, by the way. I uh...love you, kiddo. Okay. Bye." Thirteen rolled her eyes and made a mental note to feel extra obligated in life the next day. She searched for a hair elastic and let the messages continue.
"Remy, hey. It's me...Foreman. I just wanted to say I was thinking about you," Was he drunk? Thirteen was pretty sure he was. She stared at the answering machine in disbelief as the message went on. "I know this is weird. Chase told me you might be interested in someone else at the hospital. If you need to talk or...you know...whatever. Let me know. I'm uh...I just care about you. Alright. Bye."
Remy deleted the message, rolling her eyes. Not the first since they broke up, but definitely the most annoying after the amazing date she'd just had. You'd think after her never mentioning the calls to him or reciprocating the sentiment, he'd get the point.
She gave the answering machine the finger and flipped on the tea kettle. Flicking on some zombie movie that was on TV, she settled into her plush couch, waiting for the kettle to boil. Reflecting on the night, Remy drifted off to sleep with a slight smile on her face before the water had even started to bubble.
Cameron opened her locker, shoving her coat roughly inside. For the first time since she and Chase had finalised their divorce, she was genuinely happy. Shaking her blonde waves from the neck of scrubs, she sighed contentedly. Finishing off her outfit with her whitest runners, Cameron headed to the doctors lounge.
"Still here, Doctor Cameron?" Doctor Cuddy asked her as she was passing by the entrance to an adjacent hall in front of the doctors lounge door.
"Just came back, actually. Sleeping and then back to E.R. Just leaving?"
"Yeah," Cuddy looked at the young woman curiously for a moment. "Is everything alright? You look like you have a secret."
Cameron grinned, ear to ear, and shook her head. "No secrets. Never been better. Have a good night, Doctor Cuddy."
"You, too." Cuddy left, but was not entirely convinced. Laying down in one of the cots, Cameron flipped to her stomach and threw an arm around a pillow. Smiling into it, she fell asleep.
Thirteen didn't know how she got into her bed, she just knew the alarm was going off and she wanted to throw it across the room. Grabbing her hair in one hand, she threw a pillow over her head with the other. Suddenly her eyes snapped open as the events from the night before came back to her. She smiled sleepily into her sheets and hopped out of bed with a bit of a bounce in her step. She didn't forget to undress that morning before she hopped in the shower, or have to use her backup alarm. Pulling on a pair of jeans and a plaid button up she checked herself in the mirror. Yeah, she thought to herself, I still got it. After a quick smile at her reflection, Thirteen swiped her keys off the counter, equipped her feet with a pair of slip on vans and headed out her door.
She pulled into the parking lot and immediately spotted Cameron a foot away from the door, struggling with several files, a purse and what was possibly her lunch. Not able to resist the urge, Thirteen dialled Camerons number and sandwiched her phone between her shoulder and ear as she grabbed the two coffees in their respective cup holders.
"You know, it's a sign of desperation if you call less than forty eight hours after the first date," Cameron had put the majority of her things down on a bench to answer the call when she saw who it was, not knowing the brunette could see every move she was making.
"Oh really?"
"Yes, really."
"Well, I'll keep that in mind. How do you take your coffee?" Thirteen asked, slowly walking up to where the blonde was standing.
"Black, two sugars, please and thank you. Didn't have time to hit Starbucks this morning! I was at work until nearly two, only got a few hours sleep."
"You're welcome, and I'm glad I don't have to make a trip back." Thirteen presented herself, smiling and holding a cup out to the flustered doctor. "Also, hi."
"Hi," Cameron accepted the cup, hanging up her phone. "You're a life saver."
Thirteen found irony in that, but didn't want to spoil the moment with her dry and cynical humour. Gathering up some of Camerons things for her, they headed into the hospital, their arms brushing together slightly with every stride they took.
"So. Question." Cameron looked down before she spoke, trying to sort the thoughts out in her head. "What do we do at work?"
"About...?" Thirteen raised an eyebrow. Cameron thought she might have brain damage to not know what she was talking about, since she knew you had to be smart to work for House. Thirteen picked up on the blondes confusion and clarified. "I mean, we went on one date. For all I know, you never want to see me again, and for all we both know we won't be able to stand each other."
"Oh, yeah...You're right. I just thought that we kind of...but, no. Totally." Cameron swallowed a lump in her throat.
"Cameron, I'm kidding. Coffee is my lame segue to trying to find out what you'd like to do for a second date." Thirteen beamed and placed Camerons belongings onto her desk, folding her arms and adjusting her smile to a slinky smirk.
"You are a jerk!" Cameron shoved Thirteen playfully and spoke over her shoulder as she walked past her. "I'll have to think about it. I'm not sure we hit it off." Shrugging, the older doctor blew into the E.R.
"You brought Cameron coffee," House was waiting for Thirteen at the elevators. "You never bring anyone coffee."
"And?" Thirteen rolled her eyes.
"And that's only the ten millionth time you've helped her bring in her things. Is there something going on between you two?" House knew something he wasn't sharing, but Thirteen knew she'd only get to hear it she played along, so she bristled, knowing that's what he wanted.
"Just because I happen to walk into the hospital at the same time as her, and I'm not an ass, doesn't mean you have to get all Watson on me."
"You two are involved." House could hardly contain his boyish grin.
"Hmmm. Okay, House," Thirteen offered up the sacrificial rolling of the eyes once again.
"Coffee. Helping hands. Oh, and the fact that while I looked out my window last night I saw you two making out in the parking lot. Tell me that wasn't a dream!"
"What do you want, House?" Thirteen crossed her arms defensively, glaring at her boss.
House shrugged, tapping his cane on the floor. "Nothing."
Somehow not believing him, Thirteen stepped into the elevator next the one House had disappeared into. Everyone knows, House rides alone.
By the time Thirteen had got into the differential room, she had calmed down a little about House knowing about her and Cameron. She was kind of right earlier: it had only been one date. Hardly anything for the boys to get worked up over. Speaking of the boys, Foreman wouldn't look her in the eye at all when she sat down at her seat, nodding at everyone in greeting.
"Don't get comfortable," House limped in shortly after her. "We still don't have a case. Can anyone guess what that means?"
"We get to go home and spend time with our loved ones?" Taub offered dryly, not looking up from his paper.
"Close," House nodded. "You are all in charge of finding me a case. The person who finds me one gets relieved of clinic hours. The people that don't find a case gain four clinic hours each. Except Thirteen. The rules are reversed for her, wouldn't want to punish her by putting her in next to her lady love." House said non chalantly, heading into his office.
The boys all turned to look at the only female fellow, who had put a hand awkwardly through her hair. They were all smirking, except Foreman, who tried to feign disapproval towards House but only gave Thirteen the vibe of sheer jealousy.
"Who is it? Hot new triage nurse?" Taub asked, turning his head to the side in curiosity.
"No," Thirteen looked down at a copy of the paper, pretending to be absorbed in a story about a school closing somewhere.
"Hot old triage nurse? I mean, old as in employment standing, not age." Chase chimed in. Thirteen shook her head no, hoping if she cut out verbal response the interrogation would stop.
"Is it a doctor?" Foreman was unable to fight the urge to ask, wanting to know who his competition was.
Thirteen shrugged. "Do you honestly think I'd tell any of you?" She allowed a smirk, hoping it made her look cool and collected. "I'm heading to the E.R. I want to find that case!"
The men exchanged confused glances as they watched the young girl leave. Thirteen had never before been shy about her challenges and conquests.
"We have a problem," Thirteen leaned against the filing cabinet next to Camerons desk, resting her head against the cold metal. "House already knows."
"Hmmmm," Cameron responded, signing off on some paperwork.
"That's it? Hmmmm? We're screwed."
"Doctor Hadley-"
"Call me Remy," Thirteen gave a half smile at the blonde who turned to look at her.
"Okay, Remy," Cameron cleared her throat. "I'm not afraid. We are two adults," she stood to face the young doctor. "Two adults who find the other adult incredibly interesting. I got through one relationship with House on my back, I can survive another one."
The corners of Thirteens mouth twitched up at the blondes choice of words. "You want a relationship with me?"
"Could be," Cameron leaned forward and gave a kiss, smiling when it was returned. "I was thinking, about date number two."
"Yeah?" Thirteen asked, grasping Camerons hand and rubbing the back of it with her thumb.
"I hear you're an amazing cook," the older doctor blushed at the sweet gesture. "Also, I am a horrible one and there is an absolute classic on TV tonight that I have to watch, but I've been thinking about you all day and if you can order my food for me, I should get my way in wanting to see you again."
"Fair. And what are we watching that's so important?" The raised eyebrow that Cameron was coming to adore made an appearance.
"It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. I haven't missed it since as far back as I can remember," Cameron bit her bottom lip in embarrassment.
"Sounds good," Thirteen closed her eyes, resisting the urge to tease. She suddenly remembered the call from her dad. She'd have to remember to feel obligated again tomorrow. Switching her mental note to remember to call him about not being able to make it that day, she swooped in for another kiss. This time, when she pulled back, her eyes darted to the door of Camerons makeshift office. Cuddy had given her what was basically a storage closet with a window, recognizing the doctor was often as busy as she when it came to paperwork and catfights between the nurses. "Shit," Thirteen whispered, her gaze steady past Camerons shoulder.
When the blonde turned around, all she could hear was her heart in her chest. Foreman was looking through the window of the door, his mouth hanging open. Anger, pain, hurt and more anger flitted across his face before he whipped around and rushed off in the opposite direction.
AU: Thanks to all 200 plus of you who are reading and to my two reviewers! You guys made me so excited I am putting up a third chapter for the day!
Lafite: I'm glad you're enjoying the fluff-ness of their relationship. Even though their lives are about to get a bit complicated, I don't want to make their one on one interactions too serious and angsty for the most part, unless of course when necessary.
Quintin Grey: You just may be surprised ;) Thanks for reading!