Saving Grace:

The Bombshell

A/N: Thank you so much to those who have read and reviewed so far! I have been terribly nervous about posting this, as it is my very first multi-chapter fic (not counting Life as a House as it is essentially many one-shots). I am so glad that you all have enjoyed it so far!

This is probably going to be close to 20 chapters long (I have the majority of it written), and I intend to have it all posted before the Season 6 premier comes along and ruins my little fantasy. :)

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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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It had been several days and Cameron still hadn't given House an answer.

"If you don't answer me now, the offer is off the table," he said to her.

"House…" she sighed, raising her eyes to the heavens.

"And then you'll be all alone in that apartment you hate," he stated smugly.

"I can't make this kind of decision quickly. I need time to think."

"You've had time to think," he grumbled, glowering as he walked away.

Cameron sighed, putting her hands on the small of her back to stretch.

She had enough to deal with, getting ready to move to his department again, and anyways, could she really deal with him both at work and at home? She understood that he had a very good point, but she really didn't like the thought that she might need help.

Even when married to Chase, she was an independent woman, and took care of herself. Relying on others wasn't really her strong suit.

She checked her watch. She needed to hurry; she didn't want to be late to her appointment.

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She was on her way back to her own department when Chase found her. Found her might not be the correct description; nearly collided with her would be more accurate.

"I need to talk to you," he said breathlessly.

"What about?" she responded, feigning nonchalance, but her heart was in her throat immediately. Why was Chase speaking to her? Then had pointedly avoided each other since he had moved out the second time.

"Let's talk privately," he said, eyeing the people around them who attempted to look disinterested. The pair slipped into an empty patient room. Chase closed the blinds.

"What the hell is going on?" Cameron asked, alarmed at his actions.

He turned to her, his eyes filled with both fear and regret. "Allison, I…" he ran a hand through his hair. "I'm going to Melbourne."

Cameron stared at him. "Why? For how long?"

He swallowed. It was harder to tell her this than he had thought. "Permanently."

Chase couldn't look her in the eye.

Cameron, on the other hand, was still staring.

"Why?" she asked again, in a dangerous tone.

"I can't deal with this," he stated quietly. "Everything I wanted, everything I was supposed to have is staring me in the face constantly," he said, glancing pointedly down at her growing stomach.

"How dare you, Robert," she said, irate. "You can't deal with this, so you run away? How fucking mature."

"Don't you talk to me like that," he said, raising his voice. "Mature is being able to remember to take your damn birth control pills!"

The air cracked with her sudden slap. The spot on his cheek deepened to crimson.

He was really angry now. He decided to throw the barb he knew would hurt. "I heard you're moving into House's condo and back to his department. It's always been about him, hasn't it? It always fucking is," Chase raged.

"This has nothing to do with my friend," she said pointedly, her anger turned to ice. "This has everything to do with you abandoning your child."

"Look," Chase said, trying to calm things down. "I wanted that life with you, but you turned it down. I want to do this thing my way, it's my choice."

"What about my choice?" Cameron said softly, tears brimming in her eyes.

Chase moved to leave. "If I want to hear from you or the kid, I'll contact you."

He left Cameron in the room shaking with anger. "Bastard," she whispered, fingering the large white envelope that had been in her hands the entire conversation. She had meant to deliver it to him, but had no intention of doing so now.

-

House looked up at the sound of a door opening. Cameron was at the door, tears running down her face.

She attempted to smile through the tears as she plopped down on his sofa. "Is the offer still on the table?" she asked in a small, sob-choked voice.

House shook his head. "You're pathetic," he said.

Her sobs grew louder as she dropped her head into her hands.

House rolled his eyes exaggeratedly. "Yes, of course it is."

The sobs stopped, and suddenly a teary, pregnant Allison was on top of him, hugging him.

"Jeez, woman," he said, patting her back awkwardly.

When she pulled away, he wrinkled his face in disgust.

"What?" she asked fearfully.

"You got my shirt all wet and gross," he complained.

She started crying again.

House laughed.

He laughed until he was gasping for air.

Cameron had stopped crying, but was looking at him now with an expression caught between confusion and indignance.

"Damn, you're hormonal!" he said good-naturedly. "I'm going to have fun with you!" he said.

Cameron huffed, sitting down on his couch again with all the dignity she could muster.

"Now tell me what happened," he said.

-

Cameron had left the room, and House was seeing red. That stupid Aussie rat-assed bastard was going to get it! Who the hell did he think he was, abandoning Cameron like that? He had always disliked Chase, and this really sealed the deal. He wished Chase was still working for him so he could torture him, and then fire him (again). He raged around the room until something caught his eye.

A white envelope was sticking out from between the couch cushions. He lifted it up, examining it. It was battered, wrinkled, and tear-stained. No doubt it had been Cameron's, he thought wryly after noting the tear stains. He debated whether it would be an invasion of privacy to peek, but his nosy side won out. He opened up the envelope, pulling out the contents.

He smiled, thoughts of bastard Aussies having slipped away. He looked at what he held in his hand. Sonogram pictures.

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