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Chapter 26

Steven Mayer leaned against his dark blue Toyota Corolla and zipped up the fleece lined jacket to his neck as the cold air whipped across the parking lot. You wouldn't know spring is around the corner, he thought and took another long drag of the menthol cigarette he swore he wasn't going to smoke any more. He breathed the cold air in deeply and tried to digest the turn of events that had rocked his world this morning.

He awoke, expecting it to be a normal Monday morning when a phone call from his younger sister, who lives in Chicago, changed that thought. She was calling to inform him that she was finally leaving her no good husband and that she and his four year old niece would be needing a place to stay for a couple of weeks. This was not the best time for her to visit but he wouldn't turn his only sister away. She would arrive later this week and take up space in the extra bedroom of the home that he had modestly furnished. Having his sister's presence would definitely hinder his plans but the news didn't completely ruin his morning. Little did he know that was about to change.

When he pulled into the hospital parking lot, he was surprised to see Allison's car already there. This pleased him, to say the least. He headed into the hospital to begin the routine he had been doing for the last six years. He took the elevator down to the basement and entered the small office and clocked in. He poured coffee into his brown travel mug and headed towards the ER. As he entered through the double doors, he immediately scanned the room for the attractive blonde doctor he was so obsessed with but he didn't see her. He presumed she was busy with a patient behind one of the green curtains and continued to walk around, pretending to be there for a purpose, waiting for her to appear. As he passed by the break room, he overheard two gossipy nurses talking about something that made him stop dead in his tracks.

"Dr. Cameron" they whispered, had gone back to work for Dr. House.

This piece of news shocked him and he was positive they were wrong with their information. He was certain Allison wouldn't go back to Dr. House, not after all the times he had hurt her. Still the news didn't sit well with him, so he darted up the stairs to the fourth floor to find out for himself. He walked slowly down the hall, his fingers tingling with anticipation as he approached the room enclosed with glass walls. His breath quickened as he got a glimpse of her long blonde hair. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. There she was, sitting with the others, listening to the arrogant Dr. House speak. His heart was beating so hard, it felt like his chest was going to explode.

He quickly ran up the stairs to the outside balcony on the fifth floor and leaned over the edge to catch his breath. What is she thinking! How can she go back to him?! The loud voice kept saying over and over in his head. The thought of her working with that bastard again made him sick to his stomach and he thought he was going to throw up the greasy egg sandwich he had consumed for breakfast. He squeezed his eyes tightly shut until the voice in his head silenced and the tightness in his chest went away. He took in several deep breaths to clear his head when it occurred to him that this move by her had gone completely undetected by him and he wondered how had he missed it with him watching her so closely. It never occurred to him that she would go back to Dr. House. It was one thing to remove her controlling boyfriend from the scenario, that would be easy since he had practically done that himself with his extra curricular activities but Dr. House was a different story. He was, by far, a stronger force in Allison's life.

He looked across the parking lot full of cars, watching the people come and go and lit another cigarette. He thought back to the first time he laid eyes on the stunning Dr. Cameron, three years ago. Her beautiful face and sweet voice had taken his breath away the minute he saw her. She was not like all the other doctors who would walk pass him like he didn't exist. Allison talked to him. She didn't seem to mind that he was nothing more than a security guard with measly pay. She saw him as a real person. Of course, three years ago he was still married and it was important for him to be faithful to his wife and son. He wasn't free and able to show her how much he wanted to be with her. That didn't mean he didn't think about her every day. Even when she resigned and left the hospital for that short time, he knew their paths would cross again and when she returned, he knew he had been given a gift and accepted it with open arms. By that time, his wife had divorced him and taken their son and left, leaving him free to give his love to the one woman he knew he was meant to be with and it was up to him to make Allison understand that. This is why he started leaving her notes, hoping they would open a door for him but it didn't seem to be working the way he had planned. He would have to try another approach.

He took the last puff of his cigarette and tossed it into the bushes, where he always did and looked at his watch. He slowly started walking back towards the hospital. He was definitely not happy with the news. Dr. House would no doubt present a problem and he wasn't sure how he was going to deal with it. However, his mood was slightly better than when he first stepped outside. He had been so furious earlier, he would have killed someone had the opportunity presented itself… but he hadn't done that in a very long time and was trying to keep that demon asleep for as long as he could. Perhaps his sister and niece staying with him for a while wasn't such a bad idea. This would give him time to think and re-assess the situation. With his sister here, he would be more apt to control his urges and remain calm.

As he walked through the front doors of the hospital, he ran right into Dr. Cuddy's young assistant causing her to spill her drink down the front of her cream colored jacket.

"Watch where you're going!" She rudely shouted causing other people passing by to stare. She started wiping off the front of her jacket. "Look what you did!"

"I'm sorry. Let me help." Steven said in a low, apologetic voice.

She shoved his hand away. "Don't touch me," Christy said with the flip of her hand dismissing him.

Steven stood back and stared at her, watching her frantically wipe away the liquid that was rolling down the front of her jacket.

She shot him another cold look and continued out the door.

Steven watched her sway her slender hips across the parking lot. She is one self righteous little bitch, he thought. Should I need to let off some steam, she's first on my list. He smiled a wicked smile and continued to the elevators.