"You could always get Wilson to watch you," Cameron playfully fired back knowing House was deflecting.
"He is busy with dying cancer patients and all... no time to watch me. Besides his lectures are only slightly less annoying then Cuddy's," House said not too convincingly.
"You know I'll end up lecturing you most likely on a daily basis," Cameron said calling his bluffs.
"Yeah but you''re much more appealing to watch than Wilson," House said in his usual mocking way.
Cameron used to his games continued on, "Why me House?"
House looked down to the ground looking at something invisible on the ground before looking back at Cameron, "Your insane moral compass, it is what make you different from me... I need that in my life."
Cameron kept herself from blushing or smiling at the possible double meaning of his words, "You hate my insane moral compass. That is what we fought about half the time."
"It's annoying but it is also useful..." House said knowing that Cameron was probably getting all giddy inside the longer this conversation kept going.
"You never listened to me or my ethical objections," Cameron said playfully challenging him.
House groaned... thinking he may have taught Cameron too well to exploit a situation, actually part of him was almost proud she'd become this devious. "Not always.
there were a few times I ended up going to Cuddy or Wilson because you pushed your moral objections into my head."
Cameron grinned enjoying the moment a little toomuch, "I thought I was lobby art?"
"Are you going to call me out on everything I did or said to you?" House said trying to put a stop to Cameron from taking advantage of the situation.
"Yes," Cameron said in a pleased with herself voice, "you came here wanting something. I didn't ask for any of this so if you want anything you got to play by my rules."
House raised an eyebrow at her studying here and finally conceded the point to her. "You still are lobby art," House said smirking, "but now you are lobby art with meaning."
Cameron narrowed her eyes playfully but noted to herself there were two possible concealed compliments in his words. In fact she had been noticing hidden compliments from House for most of the evening.
"You can challenge me... few can. You have ideas different from mine and a different way of thinking about things. That is why I want you to come back," House said hopeing he was finally getting through. Cameron's mood and bodily language seemed to indicate she had forgiven him for transgression he may or may not be guilty of.
Cameron was silent before finally answering, "No."
"Why not?" House said slightly annoyed. He was pretty sure this conversation may go on forever but part of him didn't view that as a bad thing either.
"I have a job here," Cameron said knowinging the excuse probably sounded as pathetic to House as it did her.
"You're not happy here," House challenged insightfully.
"You don't know that," Cameron rebuttled.
"There were no pictures in your office, nothing to make it looked like you belonmged there. You probably still have everything you moved here with still packed in boxes not wanting to malke anything permanent here. Your twice as qualified as any other poor excuse of a doctor in the place you worked at. Your biggest case is dealing with idiots who failed miserably at trying to surfboard. You once told me you missed the puzzles of working for me. You're bored here!" House explained.
"then why'd I take the job?" Cameron objected.
"Because you thought boring would keep you from thinking about what you missed back came out here to surround yourself in lobby art, nothing to remind of Princeton,"
House said in a low voice finishing his anyalazation.
Cameron sighed feeling and finally decided to make a confession of her own, "If I came back things would be the same."
"What do you mean Cameron?" House half expecting something like this.
"Like that!" Cameron said to an interested House, "We have known each other for seven years and we don't call each other by our first names... I know it's stupid..."
Cameron expressed honestly but also knew how petty it must have sounded.
"You're right," House said to a startled Cameron. He had more to say but couldn't find the words to continue.
There was another long moment of silece before Cameron spoke, "So where do we go from here?"
House though for a moment twirling his cane in his hand and confessed, "I don't know... I can only tell you that I don't know if anything will change. I just don't want things to stay the way they are."
"I don't know if that is enough for me," Cameron admitted almost tearfully.
At this point they both stood up from the table knowing they had reached the end of the conversation.
"I understand," House said upset he didn't know of anything else to say to her.
With those words House moved forward and hugged Cameron. At first she was taken aback and then couldn't help but let a few tears slip past her eyes.
"If you ever come back I'll be there for you Allison," House whispered in Cameron's ear and then placed a soft kiss on her cheek. The kiss was unexpecting but an acknowledgement that their paths may not cross again.
Cameron let go speechless and watched House turn around throw some cash on the table and walk back to his hotel. What got her most was how quickly House departed and what she saw was a tear in his eye as he left her.
The pair both saddened by what just happened wondered if they should of said or done something differently. Both also silently wondering if this was really it for the both of them.
A/N: This may be the last chapter for a few days and yes I know this is an almost criminally evil place to stop. I will try to update as soon as I can get my hands on decent technology again.