A/N: It's a little quiet out there. Oh well, here's another chapter anyway. I did try to respond to those who left feedback but ffnet is being stupid again. So I'll just say thank you, and hope that when you leave reviews for this chapter, you'll actually get my replies this time. We love ya!

Chapter Fifteen

"That's the third time he's called in the last three hours," Hilary pointed out.

"And he can call another dozen times for all I care!" Cameron snapped back at her sister. "What the hell is wrong with you?" Hilary shouted. "He did it for you! He'll be out of pain…"

"If it worked," Cameron pointed out.

"Why wouldn't it?""He's had Ketamine before. It only lasted a few months."

"Maybe this time it will be better."

"It's a 50/50 chance at best. And if it doesn't, then what? He ruined our relationship for nothing."

"You're seriously going to dump him after all you two have been through?"

"We haven't been through much of anything! We've only technically been a couple for less than a month!"

"So? He loves you! I don't know him very well but I can read people, and I know he wouldn't even contemplate marrying you if he wasn't madly in love with you. He knew you were worried about him taking so much Vicodin so this was the best chance."

"He could have told me! He should have told me! We had a talk before about keeping secrets from each other."

"But this is a good secret!"

"Why are you defending him? Who's side are you on?"

"His! If you leave him over this, then you're being dumb! I know you love him, so why can't you just embrace the fact that he did this for you and get over yourself?" And with that, Hilary stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

House was livid. Cameron wouldn't return his calls after he awoke from his coma a week before.

"She went back to Alpine, House."

"I guess then, so am I."

"Sure you're up to it?"

"I'm going to have to be. I can use the gym there."

"Well, don't be surprised if you get a chilly reception. Mundell isn't pleased."

"Of course he's not. I hurt his little princess. Speaking of which, maybe I should call him first."

"Might be a good idea. Especially if they've already changed the locks."

"Very funny."

House took a deep breath and dialed Mundell, who answered on the third ring. "Doctor House."

"Brrr...chilly."

"What did you expect? A warm reception after what you've done?"

"What is it that you think I've done, exactly?"

"It doesn't matter, but it matters to Allison."

"Don't you get it? I did it for her and for me. I know she hated seeing me in pain and I hated being in pain. The Ketamine treatment worked and I'm not using a cane anymore."

"It worked? You're really pain free?"

"Yes. But Allison won't take my calls or answer my emails. All I want her to know is that I'm sorry I didn't tell her but deep down I know she knows why I didn't. I just wanted to surprise her. How is that a bad thing?"

There was silence on the other end and House knew Mundell had caved.

"Is she there now?"

"Yes. And I'll talk to her, but I suggest if you want to save what's left of your relationship you get the hell up here." And then the line went dead. House smiled as he slipped his phone into his pocket.

He grinned at Wilson. "Looks like I'm going to Alpine."

Two days later, Bennings picked up House from the airport. "At least you don't seem to hate me, Jeeves."

"I don't pass judgement on anyone, Doctor House. What's going on with you and Miss Allison has nothing to do with me."

House nodded. "Good man. Have I missed anything?"

"Nothing out of the ordinary."

"Does Allison know I'm coming?"

"No."

"Good."

"Mister Langston tells me you had some kind of procedure."

"It's called a Ketamine induced coma. I was under for about two days, and also slept through what would have been the worst of my vicodin withdrawal."

"Interesting. I noticed when I pulled up you didn't have your cane, but you still have a limp."

"Yeah, that'll take some time to work on. I've been using it for years. Gotta strengthen the muscles."

"Well, the home gym should have all the equipment you need to do that."

"That's the plan."

Meanwhile, Cameron saw the gates open and the family car drive through. "Expecting someone?" she asked her father.

"No, but you are."

Her face went red. "You called House?"

"No, he called me, since you refused to speak to him."

"And you didn't tell me he was coming?"

"No, because I knew you'd find some excuse to take off before he got here. Really, Allison," he said as he shook his head. "Aren't you overreacting just a little bit?"

"He lied!"

"How so?"

"He didn't tell me he was…"

Mundell shook his finger at her. "That's not a lie, it's an omission. He just wanted to surprise you and he didn't want you to worry about him."

"And you believe him?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact. He loves you. He did this for you as well as himself. You of all people should realize that House never does anything for anyone."

"You hardly know him and you're taking his side!"

"I'm not taking sides, I'm the voice of reason here. Just talk to him. I'd hate to see you throw away a perfectly good relationship and potential marriage over something as trivial as this."

"Trivial?" Cameron shouted and then silenced when she heard the front door open and voices in the foyer. What she didn't hear, however, was the familiar step-thump of House's cane.

"Go talk to him, Princess. You haven't seen each other in over a week. Don't you miss him just a little?" Mundell asked, looking slightly amused.

"That's beside the point," she hissed and stormed off to her room. House heard the slamming doors and sighed as Mundell came down the stairs to greet him.

"You're looking well. Under the circumstances it might be better if you took the guest room."

"You're probably right. Thanks for letting me come out here."

"She's in her room. Why don't you get settled in before you talk to her, let her cool down some."

"Did she know I was coming?"

"Not until she saw you arrive. I figured she'd take off if she knew you were coming."

"Tricky," House chuckled as he went to the guest room and put his things away before he steeled himself and went looking for Cameron. However, when he went to her room, she wasn't there, so he began searching the house. An hour later, he found her outside at the pool. He shook his head. That should have been the first place he looked. She was in the hot tub, sunglasses on, leaning against the side.

"I hope you've got SPF 60 on or higher," House said as he approached. "Wouldn't want that nice smooth skin of yours to burn to a crisp.

Cameron was surprised to see him without his cane. He still had a bit of a limp, but he was definitely walking a lot straighter. It was much like when he'd had the treatment before.

"Of course. What do you want, House?"

"Not to be avoided, for one."

"Yeah, so now that you've found me, start talking. And make it good."

He sighed and pulled up a lounge chair to sit on. "I know why you're upset, but you shouldn't be. You know why I did what I did."

"You should have told me!"

"I was going to, but then I thought that I'd surprise you by walking to you without the cane next time I saw you. I was so sick and tired of being in pain. Tired of being a cripple. Tired of being a liability to you."

"You were never a liability, House!"

"Oh bullshit! You wanted to buy a rancher for Chrissakes! A fucking rancher because you didn't want me to be uncomfortable when I know you'd much prefer something on a much grander scale!"

"That's not true! You think I expect to live this way for the rest of my life?" she asked, gesturing to their surroundings. "I could live in a shack with you and be just as happy. Money isn't everything!"

"It makes the world go round. A rancher might be good enough for you, but not for me. I've never lived in a place like this, but if I'm going to invest in a house, I want a big one. And since my leg is no longer an issue, stairs won't be an issue."

"And if the Ketamine wears off like it did the last time? What then?" she snapped.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. If we come to it. That's not the issue here…"

"Of course it is. You went behind my back! Even after our agreement about trusting each other. What if something happened?"

"But it didn't."

"But what if it did?"

"Wilson was there the entire time. Cameron, relax. Everything turned out fine. I realized that last time I didn't do any physio, I just ran. I should have added some resistance to the mix to develop the muscles in my leg better. If I had, then the pain probably wouldn't have come back. So that's what I'm going to do."

Cameron walked up the steps and out of the hot tub where House held a towel open for her. When she looked at him, he was smiling, and not just any smile.

"Your sexy smile isn't going to work this time, House. I need time to think about this so you best just stay out of my way."

"Fine," he said after her and sighed as he watched her walk back to the house, an obvious swing to her hips that he knew was for his benefit.