Thirteen got a text message in the middle of her lunch break, which she was taking in the lab doing blood panels and cultures. She flipped open her phone and took a sip of her coffee.
"What are you doing for X-Mas eve? - Cam"
"Taking over your shift in the ER -13."
"Where are you? - Cam."
"Lab."
There wasn't another text for a while so Thirteen got back to her work. A few minutes later, the door slid open. Thirteen looked up to see Cameron.
"Hey," Thirteen smiled, "What are you doing here?"
Cameron held up another coffee cup, "I brought you lunch."
"Thanks," Thirteen accepted the coffee.
"Are you really working on Christmas Eve?" Cameron asked.
Thirteen shrugged, looking back into the microscope, "And Christmas Day. And I thought you were an atheist."
"I am," Cameron smiled, "It doesn't mean we can't still have fun on the holidays and give people presents. You should come over after your shift on Christmas Eve. We're having a Christmas party."
Thirteen turned from the microscope to Cameron, "Really?"
Cameron nodded, "Of course." When there wasn't an immediate answer, Cameron added, "Please? Chase's friends are coming and they're going to talk about rugby and cricket and bowling. I'm gonna be bored. Please?"
Thirteen laughed, "Well since you begged shamelessly, I'll go."
"Great," Cameron beamed, "Thank you. I'll see you later, but for sure tomorrow at the party?"
"Yes," Thirteen nodded, "I'll be there."
"I'm inviting House too, but he never comes," Cameron added, "You're welcome to bring someone."
"Thanks," Thirteen smiled.
Cameron smiled back before walking out.
Due to their different, but equally demanding jobs, Cameron and Thirteen didn't see either other for the rest of the day. That night, Cameron called Thirteen and they talked for a long time about nothing really important.
The next day, they didn't see each other because Cameron had the day off and Thirteen was working in the ER. Thirteen smiled when her shift was finally over. She changed out of her scrubs and into the clothes she was wearing to the party.
"Where are you off to with that smile of your face?" House's voice asked Thirteen right before she pushed the door to the outside open.
"Christmas party," Thirteen replied not loosing her smile.
"Me too," House added.
"Really?" Thirteen asked, "Cameron's?"
"You too?" House asked.
Thirteen nodded, "I'll drive you."
House looked surprised, "What's the catch?"
"No catch," Thirteen smiled and pushed open the door, "It's Christmas." She held the door open for him.
He limped out, "It's Christmas so you're going to be nice to me?"
"No," Thirteen said walking with him to the parking lot, "I'm going to be nice to you for the hell of it."
"Why?" House asked.
"Because it screws with your head," Thirteen smiled.
A smile played at the corners of House's mouth, "Fine. I'll let you be my chauffer."
Thirteen unlocked her car and let House in.
She started the car and music started playing while the heater started blowing.
"Miles Davis?" House asked, referring to the music playing.
"Yup," Thirteen replied pulling out of the parking lot.
"How many sisters do you have?" House asked.
Thirteen raised an eyebrow, "None."
"Brothers?" House continued to prod.
"None," Thirteen replied.
The questioning continued all the way to Cameron's apartment building. "Why do you answer my questions?"
"Because if I don't, you'll keep asking anyway," Thirteen turned off the car, got something out of the backseat and got out.
House followed her out, "How did you know where Cameron lives?"
"I've been here before," Thirteen stated.
"Who's the present for?" House asked referring to the small rectangular box Thirteen got out of the backseat of her car.
Thirteen ignored that last question and slipped the present into her jacket pocket.
They walked to the door and Thirteen knocked.
Cameron opened the door and smiled at the two doctors. She hugged Thirteen first, "I'm glad you could come." She then turned to House, "I'm glad you came too." He allowed her to hug him.
She moved out of the way so they could come in. There were a bunch of people already there. A group of guys, including Chase, were watching something on TV. There were people in the kitchen eating and drinking and people sitting at a table playing poker.
Cameron followed Thirteen and House into the kitchen. "Can I get you something to drink?"
"God yes," House said looking around.
Thirteen smiled, "What do you want?" She looked over the different bottle of liquor sitting out on the counter.
"Manhattan. Dry," House said.
"I don't know how to make that," Cameron stated.
"She does," House told Cameron and they watched Thirteen get to work on the drink, "She bartended her way through Med school."
Cameron looked confused and Thirteen smiled, "I drove him here so it was fifteen minutes of the third degree." She handed House the drink. He accepted it and walked off. Thirteen looked at Cameron, "Do you want something?"
Cameron shook her head, "You're the guest, I'm supposed to get you something."
"It's okay," Thirteen leaned back on the counter, "I'm a big girl."
Cameron chuckled, "What do you want?"
Thirteen shrugged, "I don't care."
Cameron rolled her eyes, "C'mon just pick something. I can stand here all night."
"You won't," Thirteen smirked.
"I'll decide for you," Cameron picked up a beer out of the sink that was filled with ice and being used as a cooler. She twisted off the top and handed it to Thirteen.
"Thanks," Thirteen smiled.
Cameron got one for herself and raised her bottle, "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas," Thirteen echoed. They clinked their glasses and took a swig.
After a short silence between the two, Cameron spoke up, "I'm really glad you came."
"I'm really glad you invited me," Thirteen answered quietly.
Cameron opened her mouth, but someone else's voice interrupted her, "Hey Allison! Where's the popcorn?"
The blonde looked at Thirteen, "Excuse me."
Thirteen nodded and watched Cameron walk away.
About an hour later, the party was in full swing. Cameron was making her way through the apartment, looking for Thirteen and checking to make sure House hadn't made anyone cry. She found them both at the poker table.
Thirteen was wearing someone's trucker hat and some of Cameron's sun glasses. House was sitting at the end of the table with his poker face on. A few other people were playing and a bunch more were standing around the table.
"So you're a doctor too?" one of Cameron's friends, Bridget, asked Thirteen.
Thirteen nodded tossing in a few chips.
"Do you have a specialty?" Bridget asked taking the seat next to Thirteen and tossing in her ante.
Thirteen smiled, "Internal Medicine."
"Interesting," Bridget smiled back.
"Hey," Chase said to Cameron as he walked over, "Didn't Bridget just break up with her boyfriend?"
Cameron nodded.
"Well, she's been flirting with Thirteen all night," Chase smiled.
Cameron looked over at the two who were obviously flirting with each other. "Hmm…" Cameron felt a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach and this time it didn't have anything to do with alcohol. She was jealous. Cameron chalked it up to being jealous that Bridget was monopolizing all of her new friend's time.
The whole group was looking at House, waiting for him to make a play. He studied Thirteen for a moment before going all in. Thirteen bit her lip and toss her cards in.
House smiled as all the chips were racked over to him.
Thirteen turned to one of the women standing behind her and motioned for her to lean down. When the woman leaned down, Thirteen whispered something in her ear. The woman smiled and walked toward House's end of the table.
Thirteen stood up and made her way to the kitchen and Bridget followed her. Cameron wanted to know and break up whatever was happening in her kitchen. The jealous was growing exponentially and the previous explanation for it was beginning to wear thin.
Cameron turned the corner to find Thirteen pouring a drink and Bridget eagerly watching her. "There you are," Cameron smiled.
Thirteen looked up and smiled back.
"Hey Ally," Bridget smiled cheerfully, thinking that Cameron was talking to her.
"Do you want something to drink?" Thirteen smirked.
Cameron giggled, "Not right now. Thanks though."
"It's snowing," Thirteen mentioned.
Cameron glanced out the window, "Wow." She grabbed Thirteen's sleeve and dragged her off, leaving Bridget behind. They stopped at the front window and looked out.
"It's so beautiful," Thirteen breathed.
"Yeah," Cameron smiled.
They stood for a moment, watching the snow fall before Bridget came over and whisked Thirteen away. Thirteen just gave Cameron a lingering smile and shrug before following.
Another hour later, Cameron walked up to Bridget and Thirteen who were talking in the living room.
"Hey Ally," Bridget smiled at Cameron, "Did you know she has a hot tub on her balcony?"
Cameron looked surprised, "You have a balcony?"
"Yeah," Thirteen smiled, "The door is in my bedroom by the record player."
"You have a record player?" Bridget asked Thirteen who nodded.
"I guess I wasn't paying attention," Cameron told Thirteen.
"Why don't we go get in the hot tub?" Bridget asked Thirteen seductively.
The seduction was completely lost on Thirteen. "Okay." She looked at Cameron, "You coming?"
"Sure," Cameron smiled, not really wanting Thirteen and Bridget to get any alone time.
"Where are we going?" House asked.
"Hot tub," Thirteen replied.
"Good, I'm ready to go home," House stated.
Thirteen looked around and grabbed her jacket off of the back of a chair. "I'm going to take him home and I'll meet you and whoever else you bring at my apartment in thirty minutes?"
"Sounds great," Cameron beamed.
Thirteen reached into her jacket and pulled out the present. She handed it to Cameron, "This is for you.."
Cameron looked a the present and grinned from ear to ear. "You didn't have to."
Thirteen put her hands in her back pockets and shrugged, "It's Christmas."
Cameron pulled the ribbon undone and opened the box. She was stunned for a moment when she was looking at the gift inside. She ran her fingers over the small silver dragonfly on the necklace in the box. She looked up at Thirteen, "You remembered? I think I only mentioned it once."
Thirteen just smiled.
Cameron threw her arms around Thirteen's shoulder's, "Thank you so much."
Thirteen carefully placed her hands on the small of Cameron's back, "You're welcome." Their hug lingered a little longer before Thirteen started to pull away.
"I got you something too, but it's not as thoughtful," Cameron grabbed a flat, square shaped present and handed it to Thirteen.
Thirteen smiled and opened it. Her mouth dropped open. "This is great." She hugged Cameron again, then looked at the LP in her hand, "This is amazing."
House leaned over her shoulder, "Ellingtonia Volume Two? That's way better than the one you got me."
"Forget it," Thirteen tucked the record under her arm, "This one's mine."
Cameron beamed, "Okay. I have to go dig my swimsuit out of the back of my closet." She hugged Thirteen again, "Thank you so much."
"Thanks," Thirteen warmly accepted the hug then walked with House to her car.