Chapter 19. Rain, Rain, Go Away

House pulled away from Cameron, and glared at Vivian.

"What?" the patient asked.

House's eyes swiveled back to Cameron. "I'm out of here," he said, and headed for the door.

"What was that all about?" Vivian asked Cameron. "Did I do something wrong?"

She sighed. "It's just as well. He'll be leaving as soon as the storm is over. I just thought..." She shook her head.

"But what about the other patients who'll show up then? Won't he even help you treat them?"

Cameron pursed her lips. "He's a diagnostician, and he's solved his puzzle." She shook her head again. "He doesn't treat patients, he just figures out what's wrong with them."

"He's treating us," Vivian pointed out.

"Ye...es," Cameron said thoughtfully. Has House changed or not? He said he'd be leaving. And I won't be able to stop him.

"That was some kiss," Vivian said admiringly.

Cameron sighed. It really had been. Another memory to add to the others, the only thing she'd ever have from him.

–

House made his way next door. The wind seemed to have shifted and was no longer blowing right at the building, but now it was blowing in his face, and the rain hadn't stopped. Through the wetness, he could still taste Cameron's lips on his. What had possessed her to kiss me? he wondered. And why did I respond the way I did? Getting involved with Cameron is still a bad idea. I'll have to be more careful if I'm going to be spending another couple of days around her.

He knocked on the door and waited for Ralph to invite him in. Cameron had told him you never knew what a married couple might be up to, even if the wife was sick.

But all they were doing was playing double solitaire.

"I'm going to have to give you a shot," House told Kelly.

"OK," Kelly said, although she didn't seem happy about it.

House took her arm, found the vein, deftly swabbed it, and gave her a shot. It was nearly painless. "This should reduce your symptoms," he told her. "I'll be back later to check on you and give you another injection."

He was gone as quickly as he'd arrived. One more patient to go. Cameron will be able to handle the rest of the patients after the storm is over, he told himself. I'll just take care of these five.

He entered Harry's room without knocking. The man sat up in bed, staring at the blank TV screen. "Guess what time it is," House told him, grinning maniacally.

"Time for me to go home?" Harry asked hopefully.

"If you've got a boat," House said. "Or if you've turned into a duck. It's one big puddle out there, and the rain's not letting up."

"Then why are you here?" Harry asked. "Not that I mind visitors. It's so boring here all alone."

"Well, you'll be happy to hear you've won the big prize, a needle full of meds," House said, quickly preparing the injection, and grabbing Harry's arm.

When he was done with the man, he made a quick decision. "Get your coat. You're coming with me," House told Harry.

"Where are we going?"

"I'm taking you to Room 10."

"Room 10?"

"Let's go," House said, rather than explain. He took his bag of supplies and led the way outside. He knew that returning the way he'd come, the wind would be at his back.

House wasn't surprised when Harry exclaimed, "It's really coming down out here!"

"You thought we were kidding?" he shouted above the din.

"But it's been raining for a couple of days. I thought it would have let up by now."

"You've been in hurricanes before, I expect," House said, watching for Harry's reaction.

"Well, yes."

They passed Room 9 and finally reached Room 10. House tapped on the door and opened it. Both Cameron and Vivian looked at him in surprise, but the surprise turned to shock when they saw Harry was with him.

"Why did you bring Harry back with you?" Cameron asked.

"Poor thing was feeling 'lonely'," House said sarcastically, but Harry didn't notice. Instead he was staring at Cameron, or rather her attire and the way it showed off her figure. House smiled briefly when he noticed that she'd put on a bra under the crop top. "Besides, I'd rather not have to go on down to his room again if I don't have to. The wind's changed direction. It's coming from the west now."

"I can do the next set of injections," Cameron offered.

"Nah, once I'm gone, you can have the patients all to yourself."

"Dr. Cameron said you were leaving as soon as the storm's over," Vivian said.

House looked at Cameron, then at Vivian. "Yes."

That brought Harry out of his daydream, which centered around Cameron. "You're leaving?" he asked with a smile.

House fixed him with a imposing stare. "Not until after the storm stops."

"But Dr. Cameron will need all the help she can get with the other patients," Vivian argued.

"What other patients?" Harry asked. "I thought there were only five of us."

"There are probably dozens, maybe even a hundred or more people out there who were exposed to the pesticide and will need treatment, too," Cameron explained. She walked over to House, and tugged on his arm. "Can I talk to you in private for a minute?"

There really was no private place they could go in the motel room, except the bathroom. Curious about what he'd done wrong this time, House followed Cameron into the small room, and perched on the counter, waiting for her to speak.

"Why did you bring Harry here?" she demanded.

"I told you. So I wouldn't have to go allll the way to his room," House replied.

"Right. An extra ten yards would kill you!" she said. "Why didn't you bring him to the room you're sharing with Pete?"

"Because I thought this would be more fun," he said with a shrug. "Apparently not."

"I thought you didn't want him near me."

"Yeah, well." He worked his mouth. "Vivian seems to be a good chaperone."

"We're trying to get these people well, and you're playing games!"

"And you're surprised by this?"

Cameron groaned. "Every time I think you really have changed...You wanted to see how I'd react to Harry being here, didn't you?"

House put his hands on her upper arms. "Cameron, we've solved this case. The patients are being treated, but we still can't go anywhere, so..."

"I'm not the one who's so keen on leaving! I'm the one who's going to stay and finish treating everyone out there who's sick!"

"That's really what's bothering you, isn't it? You think I'm going to abandon you."

"Aren't you?" she asked, then opened the door and went back to Vivian and Harry leaving a stunned House to review her words.