House had barely slept a wink. The cold weather played havoc with his thigh. Turning the muted throb diluted with Vicodin that he'd begrudgingly grown accustomed to, into an intense searing ache that even an overly generous dose of additional Vicodin couldn't get within a mile of to take the edge off.

After tossing and turning for several hours, juggling home remedies of heat patches and cold compresses trying to find an ounce of relief, he realised he wouldn't be getting any sleep.

By 2 am he was soaking in the tub with the water as hot as he could physically withstand, something his genitals wouldn't thank him for, but drastic times call for drastic measures.

He'd managed to nod off cocooned in water and bubbles for an hour or so, only to startle awake in lukewarm water thinking he'd wet the bed.

He was tempted to tap into his supply of morphine and drug himself into a pain-free stupor, but his supply was dwindling, certainly not enough to knock him out and while his pain was bad, he'd dealt with much worse. He would have to make-do and manage with just Vicodin.

Even with the cold bathwater around him, it still took a good amount of time, effort and willpower, mentally going through the pros and cons before deciding to haul himself up and out of the tub.

He made do with a half-hearted attempt at drying off before putting on a pair of boxers and collapsing onto his bed in a pained and uncomfortable heap.

-x-x-x-

Cameron was first into the office, as punctual and reliable as ever, immediately putting the coffee on and sifting through the stack of mail.

She sat down with her coffee and morning bagel and began reading the mail, organising them into piles of easy responses and possible cases. She barely noticed Foreman saunter in and make himself a coffee, much less Chase, but what was glaringly obvious was the lack of a certain cantankerous House.

It wasn't unusual for him to hobble in past 9 am, in fact, it was pretty regular, but now it was closer to the next hour and it was beginning to plague on Cameron's mind as to where he was. She knew Wilson was in having seen him hot on the trail of a nurse not half an hour earlier.

Distracted from the task she had started, Cameron found herself staring out into the corridor watching and waiting. She could feel Chase's eyes on her, burning into the back of her head. She bit her tongue until she heard him petulantly sigh.

"What?!"

Chase looked stunned for a second before finding his voice, "why do you care so much? House is a grown man, he's in his 40s! He doesn't need someone to mother him and make sure he's at his desk on time."

"I'm not apologising for showing concern for my boss. But why do you care so much? Huh?"

"You think if you show him compassion, he'll somehow fall in love with you. News flash, House will never want you. Get over him."

Cameron felt the wind had been knocked out of her sails, was she really that transparent? Yes she had a crush on House, well more than a crush. Had done since she had first seen a small picture of him in a medical journal, it was the piercing blue of his eyes that captivated her.

She toughened her stare back at Chase, "I'd rather go unloved by House then have to settle for an immature boy like you."

Stunned into silence except for Foreman's whispered "damn, burn!" Cameron picked up her jacket and headed out, strutting the corridor with purpose and one destination in mind, House's apartment.

-x-x-x-

She had only ever been to his apartment once but she knew the address from memory. It was an easy find especially with his Repsol Honda parked out front, it was practically his calling card. She glanced around the parking lot and spotted his Dodge haphazardly parked across more so than in one of the handicap spots. Unless he'd taken a cab or gotten a lift, he was definitely home.

The front door to the building was open, Cameron breathed a sigh of relief at not needing to be buzzed into the building. She knocked hard twice at House's door, hovering her ear close to the wood grain trying to listen for the tell-tail thumps of his cane, but only silence. She tried knocking again but to no evail.

Being part of House's team meant breaking and entering into patient's apartments on a disturbingly frequent basis. But one thing she had learned from him was that breaking and entering wasn't always necessary when there's a key available. Channeling his nouse, Cameron looked around the door, under the mat for a spare key. Running her fingers across the top of the door frame she struck gold.

She would lying if she said she wasn't nervous crossing the threshold into his apartment, this was House's domain, him home. She wouldn't take too kindly if the boot was on the other foot but needs must.

She pushed the door wide open and knocked, calling out into the apartment, "House? House it's Cameron, you okay?"

Getting no reply, she shut the door and ventured further inside, down the dim corridor until she reached his bedroom. The slightly ajar door gave her the confirmation needed, House sprawled out across the bed.

"House? You okay?"

Hearing her voice, House's head emerged from the nest of pillows looking less than amused. "How'd you get in?"

His voice was harsh, dry and roughened by sleep and his blue eyes lacked their usual vibrancy, instead looking pained and weary.

"The spare key above the door." She held it up as if to prove herself, earning herself a nod of approval. She dared to step further in, breaching beyond the bedroom door. "Are you okay?"

House eyed her for a few moments, those blue/green eyes of hers full of care and empathy. He knew he couldn't fob her off. "No." He shook his head, "my leg is killing me. Vicodin is barely taking the edge off and I don't have enough morphine to knock myself out."

"Jesus, House. Why didn't you call one of us? You didn't need to be suffering here alone."

"I don't need mothering!" He spat, making her take a step back. Something in the back of his mind, maybe it was the hurt look on her face or the pure empathy and urge to help, but he found the words falling from his lips, "Sorry."

"It's okay, do you want me to get you anything?"

"Coffee would be good." He began easing himself up from the bed, "I'll get up now."

Cameron nodded and disappeared into the kitchen, getting the coffee on and mugs laid out on the counter. House hobbled past, clad in just his t-shirt and boxers, and slumped down heavily onto the couch.

Making his coffee exactly how he liked it was second nature to her, just the right amount of sugar to take the slight bitter edge off. As she walked into the living room she saw him awkwardly lain on the couch, trying to arrange the pillows and get himself somewhat comfortable.

"Here, let me help you House."

She placed his coffee mug on the table and started with the pillows at his back. Plumping them so they supported him before arranging a couple beneath his thigh, keeping it slightly elevated and supported. She handed him the coffee which he eagerly took a sip from and sunk into the pillows with a blissful sigh.

"Better?"

"Yeah, thanks. You don't have to hang around y'know? There's probably a case that needs your feminine touch."

Even though his voice was laced with sarcasm, Cameron smiled. "I can stay, I'm sure Chase and Foreman can handle a case if one comes up. Do you want anything else?"

"I don't suppose you've got a knockout dose of morphine handy?"

"Sorry, no. But I… no, it's silly. Forget I said anything. Do you want something to eat? I could go and-"

"I want you to finish what you were going to say."

His eyes now piqued with curiosity stared up at her, she would never be able to deny him.

"I did a course in massage therapy, it actually came in as a helpful side earner for Med school. I could massage your thigh, see if it helps with the pain?" She mistook his silence as a firm no and shook her head, "Stupid idea. Sorry, I'd better go."

"No!" His hand shot out and wrapped around her wrist as she moved to go past him. "I'm in agony here Cameron, I'm willing to try anything. I'd let you cut the damn thing off, please? Help me out."

"Okay, okay. Do you want to stay there or go to your room?"

"Here, I can't get up again. There's some massage oils in the bathroom and grab some hand towels."

Cameron did as she was bid, tingling with excitement at the prospect of massaging House. She found the small bottle of sandalwood oil and a bottle of lotion. She collected a pair of hand towels and brought them up to her nose, unable to resist breathing in the scent of House that lingered in the fabric.

She took a spare pillow from his bed and put it down alongside the couch, kneeling down she was finally able to see his scar in its gnarled beauty. She could feel his eyes on her, watching her every move. She mentally traced the shape, every contour, every finite detail of incision and stitch. Each mark a collaboration of the story.

"Hideous isn't it? Trash can is just over there if you want to throw up."

His voice was heavy with self-loathing and pity that made Cameron look him in the eye. "Not at all. It's part of you and I happen to think you're very handsome."

"Yeah, well your opinion is baised, you're crazy."

"Charming as ever."

Cameron poured a liberal amount of oil into her palm, rubbing her hands together gently warming it. Her breath caught in her chest as she caressed his hot skin for the first time. Her touch was incredibly gentle at first, barely there but that didn't stop House from flinching, not from pain but out of pure instinct.

Her thumbs ran the length of the scar, tracing and lightly pressing the oil into the skin. Pressing a little deeper, she worked in sweeping motions that soon had House groaning lightly, eyes closed his head rolled back against the couch, surrendering to her touch.

She completely devoted herself to the task at hand, listening to the subtle vocal cues and hitches in his breathing to know when she was hitting the spot or going too far. It consumed her. Her hands played his thigh as expertly as he played his baby Grand Piano.

For a split second, her eyes deviated from his thigh to his crotch and her breathing hitched. His white, form-fitting boxers left little to the imagination, especially the steadily growing semi they were now holding in. She would be lying if she said she hadn't thought about that aspect of him, he talked a good talk, but then again so did a lot of guys. For once, he wasn't all mouth and no trousers, so to speak.

Her mind began to wander, imagining what House would be like as a lover. But as her mind wandered, so did her hands. Innocently at first, just grazing the hem of the bottom of his boxers. But growing in confidence and daring, on the next pass she let her pinky finger graze his shaft and immediately House sprang up to attention, as did the man himself.

Cameron channelled her best innocent face, "are you okay? Is the pain easing up?"

"A little. Although, I'm throbbing elsewhere now."

Before she had chance to respond to his sultry comment, he swooped down taking her face in both hands, taking her lower lip between his in a soft kiss.

He pulled back a little, searching her eyes giving her the opportunity to call quits. Seeing nothing but lust and desire in her eyes, he kissed her again. Pouring everything into it, all the pent up feelings of wanting her, lusting from afar. It was almost brutal, bruising, but she returned it with equal vigour, finally tasting what she had wanted for so long.

His hands caught hold of the tops of her arms, urging her upwards wanting her to straddle his lap.

"No." She mumbled against his lips. "Your leg."

"S'fine, you're not gonna be riding that."

As she stood up, House's hands went straight to the fastening of her trousers, undoing them with ease and letting them pool at her feet. He took her hand and helped her straddle his hips, grinding up against her, letting her feel the full effect she was having on him.

He watched her with vested interest as she unbuttoned her blouse until all she was wearing was her plain underwear and a shy yet seductive smile.

It was an all encompassing moment and House felt a moment of clarity. "I'm an idiot, denying you for so long."

"Lose the t-shirt."

He lost the t-shirt in a swift movement, tossing it over the back of the couch. Cameron's eyes feasted on the masculine body beneath her, letting her palms caress over the strong contours of his broad chest. Her lips dropped to his collarbones, nibbling and tasting his skin until she reached his nipples and grazed them softly with her teeth.

"You're gorgeous House, so, so gorgeous." Every word was pointed with a kiss up to his lips.

He wrapped his arms around her, crushing her to his chest letting his hands toy at the clasps of her bra, eventually opening them.

Breaking the kiss, House leaned back to get a good look at his handiwork.

"It's criminal you cover these up." He growled whilst circling each nipple with the tip of his nose. "Bet they're smarter than those other two tits on the team."

Any response died on her tongue as House took a nipple between his lips, lathed his tongue over it and suckled. The other nipple received the same treatment leaving Cameron gritting her teeth, fighting against the waves of pleasure that threatened to sweep her away, he'd barely touched her and she was already teetering on the edge.

"House, stop. Stop." She gasped and backed up a little, freeing herself from his talented tongue.

She knelt up and pulled his boxers over his hips, watching with undisguised delight as his erection sprang free. Her fingers itched to touch but were barely able to reach around him.

"Imposing yet impressive."

"That's what all the hookers say. Speaking of which, how much is this gonna cost me? Hookers tend to charge through the nose for this kind of service."

She snatched her hand back as though scolded. "I'm not a hooker House. I can easily get up and leave you high and dry."

"Don't you dare!"

He pulled her underwear to the side and caressed over her centre, finding her hot and oh so wet. Unable to resist, he slid two fingers inside her, delighting in her mewls of pleasure. He worked her until her hips rocked against his hand, seeking out more.

Cameron whined pittifully when House removed his fingers. Grinning devilishly, he smeared her wetness over himself and began teasing with his tip, nudging at her clit for a few seconds sending her into a frenzy.

It suddenly dawned on him that he wasn't only teasing her but denying himself. In one swift flex he buried himself deep inside her. The intrusion knocked the wind out of Cameron making her collapse onto his chest, sinking her fingers into the muscle, holding on for dear life.

House took her face in his hands, dotting kisses over her cheeks and lips. "You okay?"

"Yeah, just...Shit you're big."

House barked out a laugh which morphed into a delicious deep purr as Cameron tentatively swivelled her hips and began rocking against him. His hands caressed down her body until he reached her hips, guiding their rise and fall as she drove them towards nirvana.

"How many times have you fantasised about this? Tell me…"

"Every night." She gasped out, her hips now picking up the pace.

"Yeah? Do you scream my name, or do you whisper Greg into the pillows?"

"House!" She wailed, falling forward she buried her face in his neck, "You're always House to me."

He wrapped his arms around her and drove his hips upwards. Her fingernails dug into the strong muscle of his shoulders as her orgasm consumed her body, sending her to a higher plane. Feeling her fall apart and tighten around him, House's hips bucked to and fro until he spilled into her with a gasp of her name, "Ali."

They lay silent, save for the sound of their twinned heavy breathing, basking in the afterglow and quietly contemplating the new aspect of their relationship.

It was House that broke the silence first.

"I don't know about you, but I think we should keep this to ourselves for now. I don't want the other two thinking they need these kind of perks of the job too."

Cameron smiled, "I agree." Her fingers caressed his bearded cheek, delighting in the feel of the bristles against her fingertips. "I need to ask though, did you ever fantasise about this? About us?"

For the first time ever she saw the mighty Greg House look somewhat bashful.

"You did! Tell me." She began kissing along his jawline until he caved.

"Okay fine. Yes I did. Whenever you would get me all fired up on a case, I would hire a hooker that looked like you and y'know."

"You could've just told me, asked me out or made a pass at me. Could've saved you a lot of money."

"Yeah well. I didn't know if it was just one of those older guy fixations or whether or not you actually wanted me."

She stroked his hair, looking deep into his eyes. "Pretty boys are ten to a penny, I want a man with substance and you tick all the boxes. How's your leg feeling now?"

"Not too bad, nothing another round won't cure…"