Chapter 17. Who'll Stop The Rain?
"Did you leave us any food?" House asked, peering into the bags still on the table.
"Sure did," Pete replied. "'Course, the soup's probably gone cold by now." He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms.
"Yum. Cold tomato soup," House said. "The poor man's gazpacho."
Cameron frowned. "I think we could both use something hot," she said, taking the remaining containers and sandwiches out of the bag. She opened a container of chicken soup and tasted it. "Still warmish," she concluded, smiling, and continued to eat it.
"So how's everyone doin'?" Pete asked.
"Hanging in there," House replied, opening the wrapper on a sandwich and taking a bite. "And this is definitely not a Reuben." He chewed his biteful and took another. "Good, though."
"Pete, you're usually outside in the morning, aren't you?" Cameron asked, ignoring House's comments on the food.
"Yup. I'm out on my boat until about seven, then I mosey up here for breakfast," Pete replied.
"Were you outside or in the diner at about eight Monday morning?" House asked.
"I'm usually headin' home by eight. Now, let's see...Monday." He seemed to give it some thought, then smiled. "Monday after breakfast, I walked across to Luther's." He saw House's quizzical frown. "Luther Hodge builds boats for folks 'round her. He was workin' on one for one of them summer people."
"So you were outside watching him work?"
"Yup. I tell ya, he's a joy to watch."
"Thanks, Pete," Cameron said.
Pete narrowed his eyes. "You think that's when Seth was sprayin'?"
House nodded. "Every one of the patients was outside at that time, and that's when Seth's wife says he was flying. It fits."
"Then how come Luther's OK?" Pete wondered.
"Pete, we don't know for sure whether he is or not," Cameron pointed out. "In fact, there may be lots of other people out there who are sick." She sighed. "After the storm is over, we'll probably have a flood of new patients coming into the clinic."
"If the clinic itself isn't flooded," House had to add, making Cameron's frown deepen.
"I hadn't even considered that."
"Cameron, whatever happens, you can't control it, but you'll be able to handle it," he told her.
She tried to smile. "I appreciate your confidence in my ability."
"Never doubted it." But that was enough pep talk for a while. "Hand me a container of that soup. Might as well eat while we can."
Pete had been watching and listening to them. "I know you two used to work together. Was that just before you came here?" he asked Cameron.
"No, I went to Chicago for a short while after leaving New Jersey," she said.
"Jersey, huh? That where you're from?" Pete asked House.
House hesitated, but decided it wasn't a secret. "Yes."
"And you're on vacation?"
"I quit my job," House admitted, knowing that this would be news to Cameron, but avoiding her eyes because he didn't want to see her reaction.
She put down her soup. "You quit?" She was obviously in shock. "Why? I mean, the last I heard, you and Cuddy...Wilson said..."
He finally looked at her. "It didn't work. We both should have known it wouldn't last."
"Oh!" This put a new slant on what she sensed was happening between them.
"I thought she'd bring me happiness, but she didn't," he stated with a shrug, implying that it didn't matter. "I guess I didn't deserve it as much as I thought."
"But you do!" Cameron said. "I'm sorry." Her eyes were as full of compassion as they'd ever been.
"Are you?" He studied her face.
"Of course. All I ever really wanted for you was a little happiness in your life," she said softly, reaching out to put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "No matter how you got it."
He continued to stare at her but his expression softened.
"I'd tell the two of you to get a room," Pete quipped, "but I guess you're already in one. I'll just leave you youngsters alone."
"You can't go out into this storm!" Cameron protested.
"You don't have to go anywhere," House told him, shaking his head, but studying Cameron.
"'Course I do! I'll just hit the head." Pete stood and walked slowly to the bathroom. He turned on the water and closed the door.
House didn't know what to say.
"So where were you going, when you ended up here?" Cameron asked.
He shrugged. "Don't know. I figured I'd just keep driving until I decided it was time to stop," he finally said. "I didn't think I'd be held up by this storm."
She nodded. "Well, I'm glad you're here right now." She suddenly realized her hand was still on his arm, and pulled it away. She knew he didn't really like to be touched. "I guess Pete thinks there's something going on between us," she ventured.
"Is there?" House asked.
"I don't know," Cameron said, looking deeply into his blue eyes. "Maybe when this is all over, I'll be able to think it through," she added.
"I'll be leaving then," he said. "There won't be anything to keep me here."
She pursed her lips. That wasn't what she'd wanted him to say.
"You know how much I hate clinic!" he explained. "All those snotty-nosed kids and people of all ages with crotch rot! I couldn't do that full-time."
"I have had more exciting cases in this clinic," she managed to say.
He shook his head. "This will probably be it for the next year!" he said, waving his hand to encompass their current cases. Now it was his turn to put a hand on her shoulder. "This place is perfect for you," he said. "The people in this town deserve a doctor like you, one who gives personal and compassionate care. They wouldn't want a sarcastic and grumpy jerk like me."
"You're a lot more than a sarcastic and grumpy jerk," she said. "And you'll be miserable without your medical puzzles," she predicted.
"I guess I'll land in another hospital somewhere. Just not yet."
Cameron studied him a while longer, then came to a decision. She got up and began gathering the empty containers and sandwich wrappers. "I'd better get back to Vivian. Call me when you have the test results." She took the bag of clothing Chrissy had given her, then put a hand on his cheek and kissed House lightly.
"I'll come by later to see you in that outfit," he promised, rather than acknowledge the kiss.
She forced a smile. "You do that."