Chapter 18. Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again

Cameron opened the door and was practically blown back into the room, but she persevered and made it out to the walkway along the motel. Head bent and clutching the bag of clothes to her, she moved as quickly as possible to the door of Room 10. Her thoughts were confused, and so were her emotions. She should have known House wouldn't be sticking around.

Vivian looked up when Cameron opened the door, allowing a gust of wind and a spray of rain to enter with her. Cameron immediately closed the door behind her and tried to catch her breath.

"You're alone," Vivian said.

"You can say that again," Cameron said more bitterly than she wanted. "I'm going to change into some dry clothes," she said, heading for the bathroom.

Vivian just nodded.

Cameron stripped off her soggy sweater and the shirt underneath. Her bra was damp, too, but she didn't have another dry one, and she wasn't about to wear the shirt from Chrissy without it, especially knowing House might be by later to see her. On second thought, maybe I should go braless! Let him see what he's rejected. Again. Her eyes filled with tears but she wiped them away as she dried her face and hair. Don't be ridiculous, she told herself. That kiss in the clinic obviously meant nothing to him, and he obviously isn't attracted to me so what makes me think I can change that?

She took off her slacks and pulled on Chrissy's hip-hugger jeans. Her narrow waist and naval showed above the waistband. Cameron had never really tried to be seductive. She wasn't sure she knew how. She thought that House would make some sexist remark and that would be it. Still, there was always the off chance that she could charm him into staying.

She spread her wet clothes over the shower rod next to the ones that were already drying there, and returned to the bedroom.

Vivian was watching her. "What did the tests show?" she asked.

"We don't have the results yet," Cameron replied. "How are you feeling?"

"A little better. I think the food helped." Vivian hesitated but finally asked, "So, you and that other doctor worked together before?"

"He was my boss for three years, and more recently for a couple of months."

"You work well together," Vivian commented.

Cameron shrugged. "I'm used to the way he works." But she didn't add, 'and I should have known he hasn't changed that much.' She still hoped he had.

–

"You can come out now," House called to Pete.

Pete opened the bathroom door and looked around as he came into the room. "Where'd Doc Cameron go?"

"She went back to Vivian," House said.

"I thought you two..." Pete made a motion with his fingers.

"Well, you thought wrong!"

"Don't you like her?" Pete wondered. "She's sure purty and smart, too. Sweet as can be."

"I'm too old her," House said.

"That's as may be, but I don't think she thinks so," Pete said with a chuckle. "After all, you're a good-looking guy, and sharp as a tack. I bet you've got lots of women after you."

"You don't really know me, Pete." House shook his head. "I may have had a chance with Cameron years ago, but then she found out what I was really like." He thought about their date and how he'd mocked her. Over the years, he'd revealed his true self and there was no way she could still care for him any more than she did about everyone else she knew. The time he pretended to have cancer just to get high was probably the crowning touch. No, he'd already blown it with Allison Cameron.

Pete realized it was time to drop the subject. The two men played some more cards. When Pete won, he avoided asking any more about House's relationship, or lack thereof, with Cameron. House returned the favor, asking Pete about the other patients but not prying too much into Pete's life.

Pete learned that House was a Diagnostician and Nephrologist, whatever those were, and that he liked his steaks rare and his potatoes French fried. House, in turn, found out that Vivian had been married five years before 'the scoundrel', as Pete dubbed him, ran off with the dental assistant; that Pam's father owned the best hardware store in town and her mother was a seamstress who everyone, including Pete, went to for clothing repairs; that the merchants' complaints about the deteriorating Main Street sidewalks had been going on for more than six years; and that Pete, like Chrissy, loved Mo's cheeseburgers.

Finally, the test results were ready. House smiled as he told Pete, "This confirms that everyone's cholinesterase activity was suppressed by exposure to the pesticide." He was anxious to share the news with Cameron, and yet he hesitated to call her. First, he took out the atropine they'd brought from the clinic. He measured out a 2 milligram dose, swabbed Pete's arm with alcohol and gave him an IV shot. "You'll probably need at least one more shot, but we'll see how this works, and we'll have to test your blood again later to confirm that this is having the affect we want. I'm going to treat the rest of the patients," he said, donning the raincoat. Of course, that would include Vivian. He wondered why he was looking forward to going to her room.

Pete nodded. "See you later, Doc."

House stopped at Chrissy and Pam's room. The two girls were having a heated game of 'Go Fish'. It seemed there wasn't much to do in the motel rooms besides playing cards. "Got the test results," he told the youngest patient. "They prove you and the others were exposed to the pesticide Seth Davis sprayed." It didn't really matter what had inhibited the cholinesterase activity. The treatment was the same. "This shot should counteract one of the most harmful affects." He took a syringe he'd prefilled with a lower dose than he'd given Pete, and moved toward the girl.

"Needles! Yuck!" She made a face and closed her eyes.

"OK. All done here," House told her, putting the needle he used in an empty container from the girls' lunches. "You can open your eyes."

"What? I hardly felt anything!"

"I am that good!" House boasted, and Chrissy and Pam laughed. "Gotta go shoot up the other patients, but I'll be back with at least one more for you."

House left them and made his way next door, kicking aside some trash that had blown against the building. He knocked and Cameron opened the door immediately. Was she waiting for me? he wondered. "We were right," he announced. "I'm here to stab Vivian." But as he entered he took in Cameron's clothes. He smiled but didn't comment. "I've already treated Pete and Pam," he said as he quickly swabbed Vivian's arm and gave her a shot.

"I can go take care of Kelly and Harry," Cameron offered.

"And go out into all that rain?" House leered at her. "Too bad that outfit's probably preshrunk."

"It's not revealing enough for you, Dr. House?" Vivian asked with a smile as she rubbed her arm.

Rather than reply, House told Cameron, "No sense in you getting wet again. I'll do it."

"Aren't you going to kiss her goodbye first?" Vivian persisted and Cameron turned pink, but didn't say anything.

"I already kissed her today," House said, watching Cameron's face. "She wasn't thrilled."

"House, I...that was before...that is, I...you...and I..."

"I do think those jeans have affected your ability to speak," House said.

That did it. Throwing caution to the wind, Cameron threw her arms around his neck and reached up to kiss him. It was a powerful kiss, full of all her pent-up frustration and her desire to get him to stay. And it prompted House to respond by pulling her even closer and kissing her in return. She didn't flinch as his hand snaked under the hem of the crop top. His fingers on her bare skin thrilled her more than she had ever expected. She forgot they had an audience until Vivian called out, "About damn time!"