Saving Grace:

The Proposition

Unnecessary disclaimer: None of the characters appearing in the TV show "House, M. D." belong to me.

Abstract: When Cameron's marriage with Chase falls apart, she decides that she cannot wait for another man to come around to be a mom. What happens when a wrench gets thrown in her plans? HC

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House was half-right.

It lasted about three days before they had a blowout. Chase blamed hormones, which made Cameron even angrier. She didn't have it in her to kick him out after 3 days, but by the end of the week it was clear; there was no hope for the pair. She had finally taken off her wedding rings, a sign that things were really, truly over.

However, House had been wrong about the second thing. Cameron did not cry; she was stoic. House was proud.

Chase sorrowfully moved out again. Cameron once again lived alone in the apartment she had begun to hate. She couldn't sleep in her bedroom; she could only think of the man whom she had shared it with. She couldn't sleep in the second bedroom either; she could only think of the child it had been purchased for. She found herself sleeping on the couch, and again looking for a new apartment.

House had only said it once: "I told you so."

News of the divorce had now permeated the hospital. Before their second attempt, they had been able to keep things fairly civil, but the week of fighting had taken a toll. People stared at her in the halls. She dreaded the day when they discovered the pregnancy, as if the divorce news was not bad enough.

She had been going to Princeton General for all baby-related things so far, but she thought she would probably transfer to Princeton-Plainsboro later on, when she couldn't keep it a secret any longer.

-

One morning Cameron was paged by Dr. Cuddy. She knocked at the door to the Dean of Medicine's office.

"Come on in," Dr. Cuddy said with a wave of her hand.

Cameron entered. "What was it you needed, Dr. Cuddy?"

"I have a proposition for you. Why don't you take a seat?"

Cameron did so, curious about what this could possibly be.

Cuddy shuffled some paperwork and put it to the side. She moved her focus to Cameron. "Dr. Cameron, I have a new position for you, if you're interested."

A surprised look crossed Cameron's face, but she leaned forward in interest.

Cuddy sighed. "As we both know, in your current condition it is not advisable for you to be working your usual shifts in emergency."

Cameron raised her eyebrows, but wasn't surprised that someone had told Cuddy about the pregnancy. "Who told you?" she questioned.

"Wilson was concerned," Dr. Cuddy answered.

Cameron nodded in understanding and allowed Cuddy to continue.

"Normally we would just transfer you for the time being, or put you in the clinic full-time, but I have a permanent position for you back in Diagnostics that you might prefer."

Cameron interrupted. "I don't want my old job back," she said earnestly.

"This isn't your old job," Cuddy said with a smile. "I need someone to run the Diagnostic department in an administrative capacity."

Cameron looked skeptical. "Does that make me House's secretary?"

Cuddy laughed. "Not at all. Your job will be paperwork, yes, but also making sure the department runs smoothly, making sure House follows the rules of this hospital," she said, quickly adding, "To the best of your ability, of course, and it will be your job to keep me updated on what is going on in his department. You'll also be part of the team, sitting in on differentials and working with the patient."

Cuddy paused for a moment. "However, there are two big differences between you and his team. One, you will report to me, not House, and two, you won't be on call. Your job is 9 to 5. Not to mention, you'll be getting a raise and your own office."

Cameron looked amazed. "That's a lot to take in," she said finally.

Dr. Cuddy softened. "Cameron, I know what it's like to be a single mother working at this hospital. I only want to make this easier for you."

Cameron met Cuddy's eyes, which were filled with understanding. "Thank you, Dr. Cuddy."

Cuddy stood. "Can you let me know your decision by the end of the week?"

"Yes, thank you so much!" Cameron responded, standing as well.

After exiting the office she took a moment to think. She wasn't surprised that Dr. Cuddy knew about the baby, but she wondered how many other people in the hospital did.

She placed a hand across her still flat stomach. With her small frame, it wouldn't be long before everyone would know. She wasn't quite ready for that yet.

-

Cuddy had been watching the younger doctor from the inside of the office.

She didn't dare ask her what had broken up her marriage, but she secretly wondered if House was a part of it.

In a way, she was hoping there could be a romance between the two. She realized this was pretty irrational. Cameron was pregnant and in the middle of a divorce. House was, well… House. Cameron was close to House though, or as close as anyone could really be to him, she mused. However, from the outside it appeared to be completely platonic.

Cuddy sighed. It had only been a year since Chase and Cameron were happily in love, and she had wanted House for herself. What had changed? She guessed that the change for her had occurred after House revealed he had been hallucinating. She had a hard time thinking of him in a romantic or sexual capacity after that day. He hadn't needed a lover; he needed a friend then.

Cuddy shook her head. She needed to stop daydreaming and get back to work. When she glanced out the glass doors again, Cameron was gone.

-

Cameron left the hospital that day with a lot to think about. She had another huge life decision to make less than a week after she and Chase had decided to call it quits a second time. Talk about stress.

She hadn't been keeping down too much of her food lately, and she wondered if it was due to the pregnancy or the stress. What she really needed was a nice, relaxing evening at home with a chick flick and bubble bath.

She drove home, and, rather than bothering to eat dinner, simply ripped off her clothes and plugged the tub, allowing the hot water to fill it.

She examined her naked body in the mirror. There was a very slight bulge in her midsection already. She sighed. It hadn't been visible with clothing, but it was only a matter of time.

She lowered her body into the hot water, sighing with pleasure. This was exactly what she needed. Unfortunately, only a few minutes into her soak, she heard a knock on the door to her apartment.

She looked confused as she ascended from the water, grabbing a soft robe to wrap around herself. The knocking became louder and more persistent.

"I'm coming!" she shouted, making her way to the door as fast as she could, with a towel wrapped around her hair.

She answered the door to see House standing there, cane in one hand, the other carrying two bags of Chinese food.

"What the hell?" she exclaimed.

"Chinese," he said by way of explanation, lifting up the bags for her to see. He pushed past her to enter the living room. "You look like a drowned rat, by the way."

She rolled her eyes. "You interrupted my nice, relaxing bubble bath. You don't get to complain about how I look."

He moved to sit on her couch, but stopped, seeing that it was made up as a bed. "Hasn't Chase moved out?" he asked.

"Yes, of course," she answered, confused.

"Then who is sleeping on your couch?"

Cameron looked embarrassed. "It's not important," she responded, clearing the couch so that they could sit.

He looked at her strangely. "Why are you sleeping on the couch?"

She sighed. She was never able to keep things from House. "I can't sleep in the bedroom. Too many memories," she explained, her cheeks still flushed.

House leaned over to peer down the hallway from where he sat. "See that door right there?" he said, pointing. "That's a second bedroom. You know, another place to sleep?"

Cameron looked uncomfortable. "I can't sleep there either."

House had his mouth open to ask the next obvious question, but Cameron cut him off. "Leave it alone, House," she warned.

He surprisingly did as she asked. He rummaged through the bags of Chinese food.

"Egg roll?" he offered.

-

She was receiving sidelong looks in the halls. The news had gotten out.

As uncomfortable as it was, it was just as well; she was beginning to show, and didn't want to have to explain to everyone why she was suddenly gaining weight.

She had accepted Cuddy's offer, but wasn't going to be moving departments until the next week. That news, at least, hadn't leaked, but she was sure it would cause more great gossip about her and why she was returning to work under Dr. House. People would always think she had ulterior motives with him.

The connection they shared was undeniable, but she was happy to have managed to transform their bond from volatile attraction into a stable friendship. She needed a friend in a time like this, even one like House.

The days in the ER seemed even longer and more grueling as the whispers about her whirled about and her energy waned. Coffee was nixed per her doctor, and going without it was not only tiring but also extremely frustrating. Its enticing scent permeated the hospital.

She would have to be content to simply breathe it in for the coming months.

-

Cameron was in the middle of a long shift in the ER when House approached her.

"So, I think you should move in with me," he said, dropping the bombshell right away.

She raised her eyebrows. "This is a joke, right?"

"Not in a romantic way!" House exclaimed. "But I wouldn't turn down free sex, even though you're knocked up," he added with a wink.

"You're a pig, House," she said. She gave him a look. "Stop teasing. Explain."

"You're preggers and shouldn't be alone in case anything happens, you want to move out of your apartment, and I like your coffee," he said simply. "It's logical."

"I don't know what kind of logic you operate on, House," she said, raising an eyebrow.

"The baby daddy is MIA."

"Robert hasn't dropped off the face of the planet. He still wants the kid," she said, rolling her eyes.

"But if something happens, you'll be in that apartment alone. Someone should step in, and me doing it will really piss Chase off. I like that," he said with a smirk.

Cameron shook her head. "I don't know, House."

"Tell me when you decide so Wilson can move your stuff in," House added, already halfway down the hall.

Cameron just shook her head again in disbelief, smiling in spite of herself. The man was crazy.

-