Chapter 3

Monday morning rolled around and Cameron dragged herself into work at the ungodly hour of 6:30 as usual. Made coffee, went through files, checked his mail, checked his e-mail, checked her e-mail, and by then it was 7:15. So, she read the paper and figured out the crossword on a separate piece of paper 'til Foreman came in at 7:30.

"Hey, Cam."

"How was your weekend, Foreman?"

"Drew and I had an excellent time on Saturday night."

"Drew?"

"She's a nurse down in pediatrics."

"Gotcha."

Just then Chase came in and Cameron handed him the paper. "Cam, Foreman. How was your date with Drew?"

"So, he knew about your date but I didn't," Cameron asked playfully.

"Oh come on, Cam. This is more of a guy thing."

Cameron rolled her eyes and when back to clacking the keys on her laptop. Foreman and Chase proceeded to talk about their weekend and when that was over they headed down to the clinic to look for a case for House whenever he decided to come in. That left Cameron to do whatever she wanted as soon as her work, well his work, was done.

Cameron got up to get another cup of coffee and stood in front of the window thinking about her weekend. After the Friday night/Saturday morning incident, everything went as usual. She read her book, cleaned house, played with her cat, went grocery shopping, rented a movie, and could barely sleep. She found herself longing for her time in House's bed purely so she could get some decent sleep.

She knew what it was that made her sleep so sound that night but didn't want to think it let alone say it out loud. She had been trying to get as far away from House that was possible and in ended up sleeping in his bed, clinging to his side.

She took another sip of coffee as she watched the campus people move about below; the laughing groups of college kids, the patients heading towards the hospital, the professors reading over their notes for the day, and the various different people who stroll through the park. She wondered what they were thinking about and envied the college kids who could get three hours of sleep and keep going. She was never one to be able-

"I have often walked down this street before, but the pavement always stayed beneath my feet before," House limped in singing loudly but on key

Cameron jumped out of her skin and spilled some hot coffee on her wrist. "Ouch! House what are you doing?"

"Oh yeah, that's right. Singing songs from musicals is your thing. I just thought I'd give it a try."

His eyes followed her to the sink as she ran some cold water over her wrist, thankful none got on her clothes. After she dried off her arm, Cameron grabbed his red mug and made his coffee. She handed him his coffee cup and looked up to find his sky blue eyes looking at her. As he took his cup, she turned away and was mentioning all the people who e-mailed him and such. He never listened but he always watched her move about.

He wasn't sure what it was but he just enjoyed watching her. She was graceful yet a little unsure and she was always moving her fingers when they were at her side. He knew she didn't play piano so wondered what it came from. He too was thinking about their sexless night in bed together and how he couldn't sleep afterwards. He wondered what she did after he left her presence. Knowing her she probably cleaned house and read a book. Just then, Chase and Foreman came in through the glass doors.

"Dang Foreman, Drew is a hotty."

"I was telling you that but you wouldn't believe me."

"Drew? I didn't know you guys were switch hitters. But hey, different strokes for different folks I guess," House teased Foreman.

"I hate sports metaphors," Cameron added from her station at her desk.

"Drew is the new nurse down in pediatrics. If you want I can bring her up here," Foreman said with a well-practiced roll of his eyes.

"You don't have to prove anything to me, Foreman. That nurse is a hot piece of work," House took a sip and looked over the rim of his cup at Cameron. She didn't even pause in her clacking of the keyboard. Foreman just smiled and nodded in the way a man does when he knows he's going on dates with a hot girl. "So, what do the kiddies have for me today?"

They answered in various forms of "no's" and House limped back to his office as he threw over his shoulder, "Well, since we don't have a case I'll be in my office doing doctory things."

The ducklings watched as he closed the blinds and turned off the lights in his room. Chase went back to his unfinished crossword while Foreman got out a medical Journal. Cameron sighed and threw all the requests in the bin.

She needed out of here. He was too close for no reason and she needed to breath. Cameron got up and started towards the door.

"Where are you going," Chase asked. He always needed to know everything about her. It was suffocating.

"For a walk. Page me if we get a case and I'll hurry back. And with that she was out the door and down the hall. Cameron had grown to be indifferent to House and his remarks recently and she liked it that way. It used to be that every remark, some not even directed to her, would sting. Now, the only thing that even slightly bothered her was the sports metaphors. But that was only because she didn't understand most of them. House thinks she is the cheerleader type but in actuality she has never gone to any kind of sporting event in her life.

She got in the elevator and descended to the ground floors, passed the clinic without a second thought, and headed out the doors towards the park. Yes, House had her almost completely wrong when it comes to her social life it seems. Cameron smiled that she was the reason that House was wrong. She took an odd joy in it in fact.

When she reached the lake, Cameron took a deep breath and enjoyed the slight summer breeze. She had always loved nature. It was a place to get away from the noisy city or even the buzzing suburbs. She sat down on a bench by a tree full of leaves and truly smiled for the first time in a while.

She decided to be truthful with herself about House finally. She knew she could only get a good night's rest last Friday night because House was there to comfort her. His presence was always a comfort to her even though it was tinged with the feeling of constantly being on guard. Given the chance she would jump his bones but there was no way that they could have a work relationship after that. There was also no way of them having a romantic relationship without either of them withdrawing and therefore royally fucking it up.

Cameron sighed heavily at that thought. So, the only other option is to give up on House. No, she would give up on him as best as she could. For Cameron he was that guy that you always wanted but could never have. It was frustrating how close she got and then he snatched himself away. He drove her mad and she loved every minute of it. Of course, she rolled her eyes and acted frustrated but deep down she loved the way he tormented her. It was a sub/dom thing; it was just the way she turned out.

Cameron felt her pager vibrate on her hip. The message simply said, "Cuddy needs us."

Well, she enjoyed her escape while she could. Cameron got up and made her way back to the hospital. When she arrived in the conference room she saw everyone in their usual spots. House at the head of the table with his feet propped up, Chase and Foreman grouped slightly down the table on the same side of the table, and Cuddy standing at the other end with her hands on her hips. Cameron took her spot across from Chase and Foreman and waited to hear what Cuddy had to say.

"Now, that everyone is here," Cameron felt like a scolded child who was late to class. But she refused to break eye contact with Cuddy for once. "Since you guys haven't had a case in weeks I've decided to make you all useful and send you to a conference."

Chase and Foreman smiled and bumped knuckles while House rolled his eyes and Cameron asked, "So, where is it at?"

"It'll be in New Orleans."

"Do I have to go," House whined like a child.

"You're the reason for this trip. If you weren't so picky with your cases then this wouldn't have happened."

"Well, then I demand this entire week off to get ready." House pounded his fist on the tabletop on the word demand.

"Fine as long as you actually go this time and not dodge the entire conference. Cameron, make sure it happens."

"Why me?"

"Because I said so. You leave Saturday."

Cameron could have sworn that Cuddy was taking childish lessons from House. Cuddy walked out the door as Foreman and Chase were gathering their stuff so they could head home. They couldn't believe their luck in having an entire week off and then they are going to New Orleans! The scrambled out after each other and on the way out Foreman yelled, "Dibs on rooming with Chase!"

Chase and him knucked again as Cameron rolled her eyes. Somehow she knew that was going to happen. It just seemed as someone was controlling her life and they made sure she ended up closer to House than she had ever been. She gathered her things as well and said, "Well, see you Saturday roomie."