Extra long chapter and cookies for the long wait? Just to give everyone a concept of time, it's been about seven months since Amber died, and about two weeks before Christmas. Note to any of you who are impatient/ care. I just sent the nexy chapter off to my beta, so it should be coming along soonish, but both of us are still getting into the swing of school. Thank you MissingCanceledShows for betaing.
Jess
Chapter 6: Lost That Loving Feeling and Song Bets
By the time Monday rolled around, House's anger had simmered down – just barely. If Wilson was going to play wounded, then he could play wounded.
Who was he to care anyway?
It was only that his bank account was getting low from having to buy lunch.
Yeah, that was it. He didn't miss Wilson at all.
By the time Monday rolled around, Wilson's hurt had mostly faded to what it had once been – but just barely. If House was going to be an ass, then he was going to be an ass.
Who was he to care anyway?
It was only that he missed his best friend something desperate.
By the time Monday rolled around, Cameron's irritation had evaporated - mostly. If House was going to be House, he would be. So, House had stolen her hang-over cure. She had gotten it back and her headache was gone.
Who was she to care anyway?
It was only that she happened to be in love with the man.
By the time Monday rolled around, Cuddy's façade was back in place – just barely. If Wilson and Cameron were going to refuse her help with House, so be it.
Who was she to care anyway?
It was only that she couldn't bare the thought of Wilson and House not being friends again.
Monday dawned dull, rainy and dreary for four people.
The first pretty big rain storm had hit, and it brought a good amount of car accidents into the ER, as well as the usual assortment of everyday emergencies.
Cameron didn't have a chance to grab lunch, and when she finally had time to grab a break, she was a little woozy and pretty hungry.
A candy bar was chucked at her and Cameron turned to thank whoever had thrown it at her. It was food, wasn't it? Who cared if it had struck her in the shoulder.
"Oh."
"Yeah." House mocked. "Oh. It's me."
It didn't matter, because she was starving, so Cameron ripped open the Hershey bar and took a bite.
"Thanks."
"Not afraid that I poisoned it?"
"I'm surrounded by a bunch of doctors if you did, so it's all good. I'm more concerned about the fact that you're going to try to weasel your way into something."
House affected an air of innocence. "And why would that be?"
"Because you've only ever come down here when you need someone to irritate or need something. And seeing as the fact is that you haven't been here since Amber's death, but now after seeing James you're back down here, it means you want something."
"I want you to break off your friendship with Wilson." House emphasized his name with a frown. When in the world had Cameron started to refer to him by his first name?
"No." It was said around a mouthful of candy bar but the meaning was clear as was the glare that was forming. "I'm not breaking off my friendship with Wilson so you can come in on your white horse eight months later."
"Everything would be back to normal now if it weren't for you."
"I'm sorry that I offered to support my friend when he was going through a hard time. Sorry that his best deserted him when he needed him most and his girlfriend was dead."
Cameron took another bite of the candy bar and stormed off.
"Thanks for the food House, but we're done here."
That was when he made his decision. As soon as he broke got to Cameron she would help him with his relationship with Wilson. And then everything would be okay.
He started off subtle, just showing up in the ER every day like he had been before the accident.
She ignored him, of course, but every once and a while the nurses would force her to go talk to him to get rid of him, sometimes he would chuck a candy bar her way, with an insulting I don't like seeing your bones if you're not a bloody mess, thank you, or I like my women to have bigger butts. Used to the comments – having dealt with snark like that since she was a child – Cameron simply ignored him and continued to stitch up various body parts, set broken bones, or do paper work.
After another few weeks of that House was going to step it up and begin calling her when she wasn't at work. Eventually, he was sure, Cameron would cave.
"He's so irritating Alice. Comes to the ER almost every day and harasses me."
"What are you two, a bunch of ten year olds?"
"What?"
"It's like being on the playground. He pulls your hair so you kick him and then shoves you and before you know it the two of you are at it like cats and dogs."
"You and your metaphors Alice," Cameron snorted. "If you want to say something spit it out."
"He likes you." Alice sang out with a childish smirk on her face.
"Doesn't." Cameron responded immediately, setting down the dish she was washing to glare at Alice.
"Yes he does sweetheart." Alice continued to dry and put away the dishes a smile on her face. "He liked you at one point. And now he's doing something about his feelings."
"He hates me because I took Wilson away from him."
"Or he hates Wilson because he took you away from him."
"That's not true" Cameron protested. "Otherwise he would be harassing Wilson to try to get me to forgive him or something ridiculous like that."
"But while he's harassing you, he's spending time with you. And if you eventually cave, he'll be spending a lot of time with you and Wilson. So on his part it's a win win situation. He gets the girl he wants and his best friend back." She shrugged. "I'm not saying he's not doing this to get James back in his life, in fact, I bet that's most of why he's harassing you. But I think he likes you too."
"Alice, you're giving me a headache."
Alice turned to look at her. "I'll leave you to think it all out for a few days AJ, but I'm going to bring it back up."
Allison sighed and nodded. Alice rarely ever called her AJ, although the rest of her family did, and it was her way of saying that she wasn't letting this go.
…Plainsboro Teaching Hospital requests your presence at the Nassau Inn 10 Palmer Square to raise money for…
…a night full of dancing followed by a silent auction…
…white tie event…
… dinner will be provided….
…please R.S.V.P by….
Cameron set down her mail with a grimace.
This fundraiser was the 'big one'. PPTH got almost half of their donations from this fundraiser, mostly from the silent auction. Christmas brought out the spirit of giving and all that jazz.
The fact that she didn't complain like House didn't mean that she enjoyed conferences or clinic duty or fundraisers. In fact, she basically despised them.
What was worse then dressing up, listen to crappy music and having men try to grab her ass, while at the same time keeping her composure and trying to raise money?
Nothing, really.
She needed to call Tina though, and get her to go shopping for a new dress. Might as well get something good out of the deal.
Her phone rang and she checked the caller ID before grinning.
"You got one too?"
"Of course." He adopted a formal tone. "Allison, will you go to this very important fundraiser as my date?"
She giggled into the phone. "Only if you take me out for real food afterwards and I get protection from ass-grabbers."
"Well, those are some steep stipulations Allison, but I guess that I can accommodate you."
"Thanks Jimmy, you're a dear."
"That's why you love me."
"FOR THE LAST TIME CUDDY I'M NOT GOING!" House turned to limp away and turned back at the last second. "AND NO, I WILL NOT SLEEP WITH YOU - AGAIN!"
Cuddy sighed and brushed her hair out of her face before chasing after House.
"You are going, if I have to show up at your house and drive you there myself."
"You wouldn't," House scoffed. "That's something you would need Wilson for, but seeing as my friend dumped me I don't have to go."
"Dumped you?" There was some amusement in her voice as Cuddy spoke. "I'm pretty sure you're the one who dumped him, House."
"I would never dump my boyfriend Cuddles, not even for you."
"No, you dumped him for yourself House, and none of us did anything to stop you." Cuddy turned on her heel. "I'll see you at the benefit or you'll be in the clinic every day doing rectal exams and dealing with all the overly-concerned mothers. And even if it takes time out of my schedule I'll be down there personally to watch you and make sure you're working."
House scowled as she walked away. "If you do that you'll have to wear a higher top Cuddles or the parents will call the cops for public indecency." She just flipped him the bird as she walked away.
He really missed when he was sleeping with her. None of that stuff was a problem.
"Wow."
"Jaw off the floor please Jimmy, we don't have time for me to pick it up and re-attach it." She paused to consider. "Although then we would have an excuse to not go, so please continue."
He chuckled and gave her another once over.
The dress was strapless with a bit of a plunging back, skin showing until just below her shoulder blades. The bottom was what Wilson would call 'fluffy' but was known as 'pick-up'. There was some light beading around the top that could just barely be seen. The dress was a dark chocolate color that complimented Cameron's skin. Her hair, which had grown back to it's more usually color of strawberry blonde with some light brown mixed in, was loose and flowing in gently waves.
It had been expensive, but worth it. Cameron pulled on a dress coat and smiled brightly at Wilson.
"I don't think I'm going to be able to keep my grubby man ass touching promise, but I'll keep as many as I can away from you." Wilson offered her his arm and Cameron accepted it with a smile and the slightest hint of a blush.
"Let's go."
She was singing quietly, The Beatles again. Hey Jude had always been her favorite song – at least, it had been until Jake had died. She couldn't listen to it anymore. Even the first few bars gave her goose bumps, and tears would well up. Yesterday became her Beatles song. A wistful If Only...
The benefit was long and boring, and Cameron escaped for a few minutes to catch her breath and rid herself of the grubby hands that had been lunging for her at various points in the evening, when Wilson wasn't with her sending off angry, leave my friend alone signals.
He had been pulled into a conversation with some girl and she had slipped away to give him some time to talk to her. Getting Wilson to interact the past few months had difficult, to say the least. Social interaction she would take, even if it meant a few ass-grabs.
She wandered out of the formal room and into the lobby, before taking the elevator up another level to the 'main floor'. It was the check in area, and behind a now closed door was a sitting room for the complementary breakfast and cocktails the place served. The sound of the piano was behind the door, and, curious, Cameron slipped inside.
Immediately, she wished she hadn't. House was sitting there, the music flowing from his fingers. She turned to leave, but his voice stopped her.
"I didn't know my playing was that bad that even Miss Nice couldn't stand it." He stopped and turned to look at her and Cameron looked down at the floor, scuffing her foot awkwardly.
House was relieved that he had seen her walk in earlier, even though she had walked in on Wilson's arm. Otherwise he really wouldn't be able to keep his jaw off the floor. And he had already done that once and embarrassed the hell out of himself.
"You're not – it's just – I – I didn't -"
House tried to hide his smirk. Even after almost five years of knowing Cameron he still managed to make her nervous and stutter.
"I bet I can guess your favorite song." The change of subject startled Cameron, but she couldn't help but smile.
"And if you do?"
"You talk to Jimmy Boy for me and put in a good word."
"And if you don't?"
"Then you can slander my name throughout the hospital."
"I'm pretty sure you've done enough of that yourself." Cameron shrugged. "But I'm bored and you won't guess my favorite song so go right ahead."
"How many tries do I get?"
"Five."
"Cock sure of yourself aren't you?" He snarked at her, but nodded. "Deal." House paused and began to play his fingers light on the keys. "I've always taken you for a fan of older music," he mused. "None of the crap that they play on the radio now." He hesitated and then Billy Joel flowed out of the piano, the familiar notes of 'Piano Man' drifting into the air.
"I do love Billy Joel" Cameron admitted easily, "but Piano Man isn't my favorite."
"Frankie Valli fan?" House switched tunes quickly and began to play Who Loves You.
"And The Four Seasons. But still no. Guess number three. Getting worried?"
"Nope. The Beatles?" He started playing Blackbird and then changed songs after a second of thought. Hey Jude began to play and the goose bumps rose on her skin immediately. Tears were beginning to prick her eyes.
"No." She choked out. "Not my favorite."
House turned his head slightly to stare at her. "It looks like it might be your favorite. You're getting all girly and emotional over it."
"It's not my favorite." If he didn't stop playing soon she really was going to start crying.
House had stopped to her great relief and was staring at her, now starting to look slightly concerned.
"Concrete Angel, Martina McBride." She managed before dashing out of the room as fast as her three inch heels could carry her.
"Woah Allie, where's the fire?" Wilson caught her arm as she sped through the lobby, his eyes filled with concern.
"I need air."
"Okay, I can do that." He led her outside and she sagged against the wall, filling her lungs deeply with cold air.
"What happened?"
"I went to go outside and I heard piano music, and I had to stop to listen. And I went in."
"It was House." Wilson's voice betrayed no emotion, but stated the obvious. House had always escaped during fund raisers when Cuddy gave the bartenders a drink limit for him. Pianos gave him something to do.
"Yeah. He bet me that he could guess my favorite song in five tries. If he did I was supposed to put in a good word with you for him."
Wilson couldn't help the small smile that passed his lips. Maybe there was hope for them after all.
"And what happened?" he prodded gently.
"He guessed Piano Man, Who Loves You, Blackbird and Hey Jude."
Wilson looked at her in confusion. Even he didn't know the full story of Allison's background. Close friends for almost eight months, she still rarely brought up the night that Jacob died, or any time that she spent with Linda and Ron.
"I used to sing Hey Jude to Jacob almost every night. I would change it though, to Hey Jake." Her eyes closed, and she blinked rapidly, trying to keep the tears at bay. "The night he died Ron came home and Jake ran into my room like he always did. I started singing to him" her throat caught and she slid shakily to the ground. "It was the last thing that I did before we went downstairs and got shot at."
Wilson wrapped an arm around her shoulder and hauled her to her feet, allowing her to cry into his shoulder.
"Cuddy won't miss us. Let's get out of here. Do you have all of your stuff?"
"My coat." Goosebumps were beginning to break out along her arms. It was December, after all, and there was snow on the ground.
"Gimmie your ticket and I'll go get them, meet me by the car."
Somehow, they always ended up at Alice's.
Maybe because of the comforting atmosphere, or the free food. Neither was really sure, but the food at the banquet hadn't been the best, and neither of them had touched it, so here they were; waiting for a plate of nachos and a deck of cards.
It was a bit of an amusing site, the two of them dressed in the extremely nice clothes sitting in the little dinner that was full of greasy food waiting to devour some.
Alice slid into the booth next to Allison while the three other people present dragged over chairs. There was no one there, the last people having left now that it was nearing eleven.
"What happened babe? You look like you met the devil."
"Just Dante," was her weary reply. "Through all nine circles."
"And the reality?"
"Hey Jude." Alice nodded. Monosyllabic answers meant that she didn't want to talk about it at the moment.
"That can be your very own tenth circle then."
"Yay!" Allison cheered mockingly. "My very own circle of hell, how exciting."
"Everyone has one dear."
Wilson shook his head at the two. "I thought we came here to be cheered up. I don't feel very cheered up."
"Spoilsport." Allison shot back at him, but she was grinning.
"Poker?" Alice asked, pulling out the change jar.
Every week all the spare change from tips went into the jar and once every two months the workers had a massive poker tournament with all the spare change. The same people had been working there on and off for as long as Allison could remember and they were like an extended family. The stuff Alice let them use had to be put back. The winner of the tournament usually got a couple hundred dollars while the runner ups got one hundred and fifty apiece.
"I'll kick your asses!" Molly, a thirty-some year old single mom declared with a grin. Drew who was sitting beside her shook his head with a grin.
"Never."
Wilson leaned back into the booth with a quiet sigh, chancing a glance at Allison.
Maybe this was why they kept coming back. The people that worked here were slowly but surely growing to be the big family that he had never had.
Whenever you were there it was just a feeling of warmth radiating around you. Of course there were fights and people you didn't like, but at the end of the day the two of them usually left Alice's feeling a lot better then they had when they entered.
House stared at his computer screen for a long moment before typing in the words: Concrete Angel Martina McBride.
Wilson and Cameron had disappeared almost immediately after his little musical performance and Cuddy was not happy about it at all.
At least someone besides himself would be getting chewed out come Monday and that was half the fun of the fact that she left. The other part of him was curious. House didn't just like puzzles, he loved them. He was obsessed with them. And now he had an old one that was more confusing then ever.
When he finally hit 'enter' the screen changed to reveal his search results.
The first two results were Youtube videos, the third Wikipedia. And then various lyrical websites. He clicked on Wikipedia, then the lyrics, and finally clicked on the Youtube video, listening to the song a frown set on his forehead.
Why the hell was this Cameron's favorite song? Shouldn't it be happy? Now at least, he knew why she had laughed when he told her he could guess her favorite song. There was no way he would have ever associated it with Allison Cameron.
It still left the question though – why did Hey Jude have such a strong effect on her?
He found her that Monday, looking exhausted and pale, bags under her eyes that for some reason she hadn't even bothered to cover up.
"Hello. That was quite a disappearing act that you pulled on Friday."
"Thanks, I try." Cameron didn't look up from her paperwork as she signed off on it and went to the next curtain and body behind it, House limping along with her.
"Have you been called to Cuddy's office yet? Can I watch?" He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and got no response. "Why is it that the song 'Hey Jude' can reduce you to tears, why is it that a song about child abuse is your favorite, why won't you help me talk to Wilson, who was Jacob and what happened to him. I know that he was shot, but how and why and how did you know him?"
Allison flinched and struggled for a long minute to keep her face blank and make sure that he voice was steady before shrugging her shoulders and staring at House.
"Who is John Galt?" was her only reply a shadow of a smile on her face at the question.
"Cute. Really cute."
House was itching to start an argument, she could tell. And, truthfully, Cameron was just too tired to do anything about it. She hadn't slept well that weekend, waking up frequently with thoughts of Jacob, Linda, Ron and various other foster people who had hurt her.
She had hurt them as well though, so in some respects it was even.
Cameron had fought as a child. First in her foster homes and her group homes, and when Heather and Ross adopted her she fought them too. She wasn't ready for someone to love her as much as they did.
So, really, when she met House it wasn't weird that he denied feelings, denied even liking her as a person. Because she had been there before. Been unready, unable to accept that she was okay, that it was okay to let people in, to let people love her.
She should have known better then to push House, but she had thought that the man couldn't be as emotionally stunted as she had been. When her sister had first asked her if she loved her Allison had thrown the plate of food she was eating at the wall, only about a foot from where her sister was and stormed out of the room. Nikki had ended up in tears as had Allison. She had also been grounded, because, as understanding as Ross and Heather were they didn't condone violence.
Before she could respond there was the sound of high heels and House smirked, his face lighting up like a child's on Christmas Day.
"Dr. Cameron, my office. Now."
John Galt is a reference to Atlas Shrugged
Dante and the nine circles of hell – The Divine Comedy