Thank you so so so much for reviewing! And I know this is a short chapter, but I'm adding another one in a short while (I promise).
Both are breathing hard, but trying to quiet themselves.
The sound of the handle clicking as it turns.
The two women stop breathing.
The squeak of the door opening.
Grey/green meets blue eyes.
The heels are muffled now as Cuddy walks across the floor. The footsteps stop for a moment .
Thirteen's face transforms in a split second to one of absolute eureka.
Cuddy's weary voice is heard, "Oh God, House. What now? I swear if- Oh!"
Thirteen had scooted out from under the desk and agile as a panther, softly moved herself to be crouched by the sofa. Cuddy's scare had come from Thirteen straightening up suddenly, seemingly from no where.
"Thirteen! I- I mean.. Dr. Hadley. You scared me..." an awkward silence ensued. "If you don't mind me asking, why are you on the floor in my office?"
Cameron sneaked her eye around the corner of the desk, to see Thirteen's normal face on. Odd, how she seemed to almost switch faces entirely from the laughing coffee sipping Thirteen of 30 seconds ago, to the cool eyed and mono-toned Dr. Hadley of now. It's as if she keeps masks in a box somewhere inside of her and puts on the one that she calls on. Now, she was stoic, beautiful, calm, and not at all a guilty coffee pilfering thief.
"Dr. Cuddy. I realize this does look a bit odd to you, but I'm here because House sent me. He wanted me to get carpet samples."
"Carpet samples?"
"Yes. It's our patient-" Oh she is TOO good... thought Cameron, smiling a little. "He is suffering from Lycanthropy, and when he thought he was turning into an animal, he came to your office. House thought it would be a good idea to take samples and see if something was wrong with your carpet."
"Oh. Well in that case, go ahead with your samples and then get out of here as soon as you can. Until your tests are finished, I don't want anyone in here."
"I agree." Thirteen replied. And with that, Cuddy turned and left just as quickly as she had come. Thirteen looked around and waited for Cameron to surface. A few heartbeats... "Marco?" she called, amused.
"Polo." Cameron answered, standing up from behind the desk. "What?" she asked, on seeing Thirteen's expression. The way she was looking at her, for some reason made Cameron blush. "I just wanted to make sure she was gone."
Looking at each other for a moment, the full realization of how close they had become to getting caught finally settled in, and both doctors started to double over in laughter, hands over mouths, trying to muffle the outbursts.