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Chapter 12

Cameron managed to walk out of the ER a little after five and stepped outside into the cool damp air to give Chase a call. She wanted to try and talk to him one more time before she gave House her decision. She stood off to the side where she would have some privacy and hit the button that dialed Chase's number. After the fourth ring, he answered.

"Yeah?" He said in a short tone.

Cameron could tell by his tone that he was still angry. She took a deep breath. "Hey. I wanted to talk to you before I went to see House."

"Why?" He asked coldly.

"Because I want you to understand why I am doing this Chase and it's not because I want to be with House. I want to be with you. However, I want to work in diagnostics again. Can't you understand that?" She pleaded.

"So, you're accepting his offer?"

"Yes."

"You are only fooling yourself Allison. House is poison and he's going to kill us."

"Don't say that. Can we have dinner together and talk about this?"

"I made other plans. I figured you would be celebrating with House and too busy for me, so I made my own plans."

His self-pity angered her. "You are an ass Chase. I wasn't planning on celebrating with House. I was hoping to spend the evening with you."

"I really find that hard to believe. I need to go. You enjoy yourself with House."

Before Cameron could say anything else, she heard a click on the other end.

Great, she said softly and put her phone back into her pocket. She continued to stand outside for a minute, trying to clear her head before heading to House's office

Just a short distance from where she was standing, Cameron had no idea that a pair of dark eyes were watching her every move.

**********

House looked at his watch. He hadn't heard a word from Cameron yet and his patience was growing thin even though he knew her shift had only ended fifteen minutes ago. He picked up a file and tried to focus on its contents hoping it would keep his mind off the clock. After a few minutes, he tossed it on his desk and picked up the gold slinky and started paying with it. Where the hell is she? He wondered.

Cameron approached House's office quietly, stopping a few feet away from his door and leaned against the wall to catch her breath. Her heart was racing. She hated that she was so nervous. After collecting her thoughts for a couple of minutes she proceeded to his door and paused again. It's now or never, she said under her breath and reached up and tapped softly on the glass door.

House barely heard the soft knock and quickly picked up the file he had tossed on his desk only a few minutes ago and pretended to read the documents inside. Before he could say anything, Cameron opened the door and peaked in.

"Is this a good time?" She asked, her voice shaking slightly.

"Yeah, come in." He tossed the file on his desk, once again.

He watched her walk in, still in her pink scrubs. Her hair was pulled back allowing him to see the dark circles under her eyes.

"You look like hell." He said, somewhat concerned.

His statement surprised her. "Do I look that bad?" She asked, placing a smile on her face.

"Not bad, just tired." He responded.

Cameron walked over to the two chairs that were in front of his desk and sat down in the one closest to the wall. She could still feel the weight of his stare on her and looked up to find him staring at her in his usual House manner, which was trying to read her thoughts before she said them out loud.

"I suppose you're here because you have an answer for me." He said not wanting to engage in any small talk. He had been waiting long enough.

Cameron rubbed her sweaty palms together but didn't say anything.

"You have made a decision, haven't you?" House asked, hoping she didn't need more time.

"Yes. I've made a decision."

House was desperately trying to read her thoughts. Surely she isn't going to say no, he wondered.

"We didn't discuss what my salary would be or when I would start." She said doing her best to hold out on giving him her answer since she knew it was driving him crazy.

"So you expect to be paid for working with me?" He teased.

"Funny." She smirked.

House stared intently at her. "Cuddy has agreed to accommodate your promotion with a salary that I think you will approve of."

Cameron raised an eyebrow. "So, you consider your offer a promotion?"

"You wouldn't?"

"You do remember it is you I will be working with." She jabbed at him.

"If I remember correctly, you liked working for me."

"The key word is liked." Cameron let a coy smile cross her lips. She liked the teasing banter between them. "I can't just leave the ER without notice."

"Cuddy agreed on next Monday but if she doesn't have a replacement for you by then, you will have to work here and in the ER until she finds one."

Cameron stared at him with her mouth slightly open. "And whose bright idea was that?"

"Mine. Cuddy isn't thrilled that you are leaving. If you continue to work in the ER full time, she will take her sweet time finding someone. However, with you working in both departments, she will feel guilty, which will make her work faster in finding the person who she will consider worthy of replacing you."

Cameron narrowed her eyes at House. "Thanks, I think."

"You're welcome."

They were both silent for a few seconds.

House cocked his head to the side. "So, what is your decision?"

Cameron kept a blank expression on her face. "I accept your offer."

House let out a sigh, surprising himself at the relief he felt. "So, we have a deal?"

"It would seem so." Cameron said feeling the excitement take over her body.

House stood. "Okay. Now that that's been decided, let's talk about something more serious. My stomach. I'm starving. Do you have any dinner plans?"

Cameron stood also. Her conversation with Chase crossed her mind. "No. Not really."

"The wombat must be working late." House said throwing her a look.

Cameron averted her eyes downward not letting House see her reaction but he didn't need to see her eyes to know the question bothered her.

"Actually, he has other plans." She said trying to disguise the emotion in her voice.

House opened his mouth to say something else but decided now was not the time.

"Let's grab Wilson and go have a burger. We'll make him buy."

Cameron laughed. "I need a minute to change and grab my things. Where do you want me to meet you?"

"In the lobby. I'm riding with you. I took a cab in, remember?" "You did?"

"You told me to."

"I know but I'm surprised you actually listened."

"I listen sometimes."

Cameron followed House across the hall to Wilson's office and watched as House opened the door without knocking.

Wilson looked up from his desk to see House standing there. "House, I'm busy." He said in an annoyed tone. However, the scowl on his face quickly disappeared when he saw Cameron.

House didn't miss the smile that was exchanged between the two. "See how you are when a pretty blonde walks into the picture." House said, a little annoyed at the ease Cameron and Wilson shared between each other.

"Hi Allison."

"It looks like Cameron is going to be the new girl around here. We thought we would celebrate with burgers. Wanna join us?"

Wilson's face lit up. "I'd love to. I have about a half an hour of work to finish. Where are you two going?" He asked.

"Thought I would take her over to Oscars. See you there in half an hour?"

"Sounds good."

House closed Wilson's door.

"I'll lock up and you go and change. I'll meet you in the lobby." House said to Cameron and turned back towards his office.

Cameron headed back to the ER so she could grab her things from the locker room. She quickly changed into the jeans and sweater she wore to work, still feeling the excitement of accepting House's offer. She slipped on her shoes, grabbed her things and made her way to find House.