************

Chapter 5

House made his way to the ER, using Kutner as an excuse for being there and pretended to search for him behind several of the curtains. He looked across the room and saw Cameron putting a bandage on a small boy's arm. He stepped off to the side so she couldn't see him and continued to watch. He could tell by the expression on her and the boy's face, that she was telling him something funny. The boy started to laugh and she reached up to dry the tears on his face. The child instantly melted into Cameron's touch and wrapped his little arms around her neck. A small smile crossed House's face. She can charm them no matter what the age, he thought. She helped the small boy off the bed when an older man stepped into view, presumable the father of the child and took the boy's hand. The man leaned in close to her and whispered something into her ear. House heard Cameron give a little laugh and wondered what the man had said to her. It surprised him that he felt a little jealous watching this.

Cameron stepped out into the hall with her young patient and waved good bye to him and the older man. She turned to see House leaning on his cane, watching her. She slowly walked towards him.

House didn't expect Cameron to catch him watching her and held his breath when she started walking towards him.

"A friend of yours?" He managed to say casually and motioned to the man and boy walking away.

Cameron looked over her shoulder. "Sort of. He works for hospital security. His son cut his arm."

"Looked pretty friendly to me." He said seriously. "He was leaning in pretty close to you."

Cameron rolled her eyes. "Must you make something out of everything?" She asked, seeing that a drop of pudding had fallen on his chin. She stepped closer to him, causing him to pull his head back slightly. She grinned and took her finger and wiped the drop of pudding from his chin then stuck her finger in her mouth. "Mmm. Taste pretty good."

He was surprised at her move and wondered if she was only talking about the pudding. "I'm looking for one of my children that I sent down here. What have you done with him?"

"He was here. He left over an hour ago. Why did you send him down here anyway? He sure was asking a bunch of questions." She asked eyeing him.

"Maybe he's just curious. I sent him here because he needed something to do and I thought you could use the help."

"Why don't I believe you?" She asked accusingly. "Because you're House, that's why." She answered her own question and shot him a coy smile.

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he followed her into the break room. She grabbed a mug and poured herself a cup of coffee. "Would you like a cup?" She asked adding a little bit of the vanilla cream sitting on the counter.

"Did you make it?"

"No, but it's not bad."

"I'll pass."

She watched him. "You look like you have something on your mind."

He let his eyes travel down the front of her. She looked like she had lost some weight, something she couldn't afford to do but he noticed even with her hair gathered in a mess on top of her head and even in the pink scrubs, she was very attractive.

She tried not to let his stare rattle her as she filled her cup with coffee, waiting for him to tell her what he wanted. "Ah. The silent statement. A sure sign there is something on your mind. And of course there are the other signs."

"What other signs?" He asked with curiosity now looking into her green eyes. He had forgotten how pretty her eyes were.

"First, you help me this morning at the vending machine. Then you send Kutner down to help and now you're down here being… civil to me. Too much niceness from House makes one wonder what's up?"

He stood a little uneasy as he leaned against the counter. He didn't like it when he didn't feel in control. He cleared his throat. "Actually, helping you at the vending machine gave me an idea. What time do you get off today?"

She was taken back with his question. "At five. Why?"

He looked away nervously. "How about grabbing a bite to eat with me after work? I have a proposition to run by you."

She looked at him with a half grin. "Really? And this requires dinner?"

"Just thought I would run it by you over food. You do still eat don't you?" Wondering if she actually did any more.

She watched him for a minute before answering, trying to read his thoughts. "Okay. I'm intrigued. Where?"

"I thought about that steak place down the street. Steak is always good."

"Wow. This must be quite a proposition if you are going to woo me with steak." She looked at him. "Wait, are you paying?"

He sighed and rolled his eyes. "I'll pay."

"Promise?" She asked skeptically"I see you haven't changed. You always make things harder than what they need to be. I said I would pay. I've paid for your dinner before."

She knew he was referring to the date they had two years ago. "Yes you did. However, I seem to remember you turning into an ass in the middle of that dinner, causing the fact that you paid not to matter so much. Are you planning on being an ass tonight?" She asked in a teasing but serious tone.

"You should know by now that I never plan it. I'm just that way naturally. But to answer your question, no, I will be on my best behavior."

"Okay." She said accepting his answer. "Do you just want me to meet you at the restaurant after I'm through here? It'll be around five thirty."

"That'll work." He looked her over. "You need to change your clothes though. You can't go in there dressed like that and do something with your hair too."

She smacked him on the arm. "Don't make fun of how I look. I work hard. Don't worry, I won't embarrass you." She walked out of the break room. "I'll see you later."

He watched her as she walked away thinking about the evening.

**********

The rest of the day was uneventful in House's world. He kept Taub and Thirteen in the clinic and he wasn't sure where Kutner or Foreman had run off to. Wherever they were hiding, it was good. He didn't see any of them until four o'clock.

Taub found House in his office playing with his PSP. "Do you think we can go home early today?"

House didn't look up.

A minute later Foreman stepped in. "Do we have any new cases coming our way?"

House still didn't look up. "None that I'm aware of."

Foreman let out a long sigh. "This is going to be a long week if we don't.

House stopped playing his PSP and looked at the two men standing in front of his desk. "Go home."

Taub smiled and went into the other room to grab his stuff.

"Sounds good to me. See you in the morning." Foreman said as he walked out of the room.

"Don't let Cuddy see you leaving." He yelled at them before they all left for the evening.

Once everyone was gone, he put his game away and walked over to his window to look out. It had started to snow again. He cursed himself for riding his bike. He knew he should have taken a cab in. He grabbed his bag and started packing everything up for the day. He wanted to get to the restaurant before Cameron so he could have a couple of drinks to loosen up. He was putting his coat on when he heard a knock at his door.

"Yeah."

Wilson poked his head in.

House just looked at him.

"Are you going to tell me what you're up to?" Wilson whined.

"I will tomorrow. I have to see how things play out first." House said as he walked towards the door where Wilson was standing.

"That's not fair. Are you asking Cameron to come back to work for you?"House stopped in front of him. "What if I am?""I think that would be great, but I would ask why."

"I have my reasons." House stated bluntly."So you are asking her to come back?" Wilson asked again.

"This is killing you isn't it?" House asked amused.

"I hate to admit it, but yes it's killing me." Wilson regrettably admits.

"See, being kept out of the loop isn't fun, is it?"

"Are you doing this because I didn't tell you that Cameron and I have been talking?"

House smirked.

"You have got to be kidding me. This is ridiculous."

"Is it? I gotta go. I have plans." He said wiggling his eyebrows. He walked out, waiting for Wilson to follow so he could lock his door.

"So, we aren't having dinner together?" Wilson asked."Were we supposed to have dinner together?""No, I just thought we would since that is what we normally do."

"Not tonight Jimmy boy. I have something I have to take care of."

Wilson let the subject drop as he watched House walked to the elevator to leave.