Chapter Twelve
She awoke to angry moans and banging. She groaned as she rolled over and through her blurry vision she could see House trying to open a can of something.
"Morning sunshine!"
"What are you doing?" she asked groggily.
"Making you breakfast. Come here."
When she got to the table he instructed her to sit in the chair. Having just woken up, she didn't question him and sat down in the chair he pointed to. He walked around behind her and painfully dropped to his knees.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Magic trick. Look up!" he said as if something was on the ceiling.
While she looked up trying to figure out what he was up to he quickly clicked two handcuffs together, both strapped to her ankles handcuffing her to chair she was sitting in. Grabbing her right wrist he placed another handcuff around it and connected it to the arm rest. He left her left wrist free.
"What the hell, House?" she screamed. "What are you doing!"
"I told you last night to sleep tight because you were going to need your strength to defend yourself when I tried to force feed you."
"You can't do that, it's illegal!"
House sat down across from her. He pained him to have to do this but this was the only way he could think to make her eat. Her ankles and right wrist bound to the chair, she tried to free herself with her left hand to no success. He pushed a plate of food in front of her.
"Start eating and i'll unlock a handcuff once you finish something off," he said seriously, his blue eyes staring through her.
Looking at her plate he had placed a can of heated chicken noodle soup, a bottle of V8, an egg white omelet he managed to score from the cafeteria and hash browns. "House, don't do this to me," she pleaded.
"I wouldn't have to if you ate like i've been telling you to do."
She looked him square in the eyes with anger, "I hate you for this."
He looked down disappointed for a moment and then back up at her, "I'd rather have you hate me, than have you be dead."
Cameron looked away from him. In her experience whenever House was being nice and this time she couldn't figure out his angle. Usually, he had something to gain. Sitting across the table, House held his gaze. He saw her expression change. She softened, he always could tell when she was about to give in to his demands. She picked up the spoon in front of her and started eating the broth from the chicken noodle soup.
I'm not trying to hurt you, Cam, he stated as he started picking at her hash browns. He was never able to watch someone else eat without eating also.
She didn't acknowledge that he said anything and just getting slurping the chicken broth. She turned the bottle of V8 around to look at the ingredients. House noticed this and took the bottle from her and ripped off the label and handed it back to her. Still she didn't acknowledge him. Before he could say anything else to her, there was a knock at the door. House stared at her a moment longer before going to the door to open it.
How is she? Wilson said barging through the door before House could fully open it.
You might not want to see her right now. She doesn't look too hot in the morning, you know, bed head, bad breath.
Wilson walked a little further into the room and nearly shrieked when he saw Cameron handcuffed to a chair. He ran over to her. She sat silent, almost mechanically slurping her soup.
Cameron? Are you alright? House! Did you do this to her? Wilson already knew the answer.
Are you not going to acknowledge the fact that I got her to eat? House said ignoring the question.
House, where are the keys! Wilson said anxiously walking back over to his friend.
You're not getting the keys and I'm not uncuffing her until she finishes that soup and drinks that V8, he said hitting Wilson with his cane when he tried to search House's pockets for the keys.
House! Hallway! Now!
Wilson dragged House into the hallway as he screamed, I'm a cripple! as loud as he could. He shut the door and threw his hands in the air.
You really hit a new low, House. You can't force feed her!
She asked me to hold her, he nearly whispered.
What? What does this have to do with the girl you have chained up in the living room!
I said okay, he couldn't maintain eye contact with Wilson anymore.
Again, where's the link to the chained girl inside? Wilson was getting frustrated.
She said she felt safe, he fiddled with his cane.
House! Uncuff her now! We can find another way to get her to eat!
I wasn't suppose to care about her.
Cuddy can admit her, put her in a program.
I wasn't suppose to fall in love with her, he looked away, staring off down the hall at nothing in particular.
I-, Wilson hesitated. Love her? I mean you love her? You love? He was shocked.
Don't rub it in, I feel shitty enough as it is, he tried to make a joke.
House- Wilson started to say but House walked away.
He limped back into the room to find that most of the soup Cameron had been attempting to eat was gone. Half of the V8 drink was also gone. He watched her for a moment and saw how pained she looked as she picked apart the egg white omelet. House stuck his hand in his pocket and retrieved the key. He couldn't watch her anymore. House handed the key to Wilson because he wasn't going to try to get back down on his knees, to unlock her his leg hurt enough from the first time. Wilson unlocked her ankles and her wrist and helped her up. Still she said nothing.
You okay? Wilson asked gently.
She just nodded. She walked back over to the bed and sat on its edge before slowly laying down. House stood silently across the room still watching her movements. Wilson stood bemused glancing back and forth from House to Cameron. House collected a few of his belongings from around the room while Wilson tried to get Cameron to talk to them.
I'm going back to the hospital, House said,
You should go too. I need some time alone, she directed to Wilson, finally speaking up, well whispering really.
Are you sure, Cameron? I wouldn't feel right leaving you here by yourself.
It's fine, Wilson. I've had a babysitter every minute for the last few days. I need a break from you all, she responded honestly.
After battling with his conscience for a few more minutes, Wilson finally gave into Cameron. Wilson told her he would came back later on to keep her company and he wasn't going to take no for an answer. House just watched their exchange silently, feeling a little jealous of the relationship Wilson had with Cameron but also mad at her because of the hold she had on him. He never really felt that anyone actually needed him around, until now.