Chapter Three

Too afraid to go inside

For the pain of one more loveless night

Cause the loneliness will stay with me

And hold me till I fall asleep

House finally chose two doctors to work with him; Doctor Lawrence Kutner, and Doctor Amber Volakis. Cuddy forced him to take Foreman back but he made life a living hell for Foreman. Foreman spent much of his time down in the ER with Cameron. She also became friends with the other two members of House's team. Cameron and Amber became especially close, despite House referring to her as "Cut Throat Bitch." When Cameron came up to the Diagnostics office to invite Amber to lunch, House would either mock her or ignore her. The fact she went to see Wilson still gnawed at him. Wilson wouldn't say why she was in his office no matter how often House badgered him. Seeing Cameron around all the time was starting to get to House. He often left work and went straight to a bar where he got completely wasted. He usually staggered onto a bus or into a cab but sometimes he would ride his bike home. When Wilson let it slip that he was dating Amber, it was the final straw for House.

One warm evening in July, Cameron and Amber sat on the couch in Amber's apartment unpacking boxes. Wilson was moving in but had to work so Cameron volunteered to help her friends. Some boxes were in the bedroom and Wilson would unpack those later but the two women were unpacking his books while listening to music and talking.

"So," Cameron said as she put some of Wilson's books on a bookshelf. "Are things any better with House?"

Amber groaned. "He still calls me Cutthroat Bitch or CB. He has me doing scut work since he found out about me and Wilson. How did you stand working for him? He's either mocking us or terrorizing us."

Cameron turned back to get more books.

"It wasn't that bad," she replied. "Yes, he can be a real pain in the ass but I learned so much working for him that it was worth it."

"Well, you're in love with him so of course you'd say that," Amber teased.

"I'm not-" Cameron began when someone banged on the door. She recognized that hollow thump of cane against wood.

Amber got up and opened the door. House swayed and held his cane up mid-thump.

"Where is he?" he slurred as he lurched into the living room. "Where is your little Wilsy-poo? WILSON!"

"House!" Cameron admonished as she moved forward and took his arm.

"I know he's here. WILSON!"

Amber shut the door. "I'll get some water." She went into the kitchen and returned with a bottle of water. House swatted her hand away when she tried to give it to him. Cameron took it and pushed House down onto the couch. He fell back and pulled her on top of him. Time seemed to stand still as they stared at each other. House lifted his hand and curled it around the back of her head pulling her close. When his lips touched hers, her eyes fluttered closed. His mouth pressed against hers, hard and insistent. His tongue slipped past her lips and she moaned softly. Desire burned through her as her nipples hardened and a molten heat settled between her legs. She touched her tongue to his and could taste the bourbon. He sucked on her bottom lip as she pushed away from him. His head fell back on the couch and his eyes slid closed. Within seconds he was snoring. Cameron shifted him so he was lying on the couch. Amber covered him with a blanket.

"He didn't mean it," Cameron told her refusing to meet her friend's eyes.

"I'm not saying a word," Amber responded. "I don't want to get fired."

"Can he stay here tonight?" Cameron asked as she looked down at him.

"Sure. But you have to stay and keep an eye on him."

Cameron nodded. "I'll go get a trash can. I don't want to spend the night cleaning up his puke."

House awoke the next morning with a blinding headache and a dry mouth. He also had to pee. Carefully, he sat up. Looking around, he saw Cameron curled in a chair asleep. Pushing the blanket aside, he found his cane and poked her with the tip of it. She grimaced as she woke. Groaning softly, she stood and stretched. Her black t-shirt pulled across her breasts and rode up to show an expanse of toned, tanned skin. House felt a slight stirring of desire. Her hair was tousled and her eyes drowsy.

"Gotta pee," he rasped as he carefully stood up. "Where's the john?"

"Down the hall on the right," she told him in a sleep roughened voice. "I'll drive you home."

When he returned from the bathroom, Cameron had her purse and was waiting for him.

"Where's Wilson and CB?" he asked. "Making spawns in the bedroom?"

"They left for work already," she told him. "Where did you leave your car?"

He leaned heavily on his cane as he followed her out and waited for her to lock up.

"My bike," he said. "Somewhere downtown."

"You can send Kutner to look for it later."

They stepped out onto the sidewalk and House closed his eyes against the bright glare of the afternoon sun. He felt Cameron's hand on his arm and let her guide him to her car. Once in, he fell asleep again.

Cameron's face filled his field of vision when he opened his eyes again. He saw a light sprinkling of freckles across her nose and cheeks. Looking into her eyes, he noticed they were blue and green with flecks of gold around the iris. Her lashes were dark and looked silky. Her soft, pink lips stirred a desire to kiss her. Instead, he pushed past her and got out of her car. He swayed and she steadied him.

"Where's my cane?" he asked.

She bent down and he turned his eyes away from the firm curve of her ass defined by her snug jeans. Straightening, she handed it to him. Without another word, he took it and limped into his apartment.

"You're welcome," she sighed and got into her car.

House watched her leave from his living room window.

Wilson walked into House's office the next day.

"I heard you were looking for me," he said as he sat down in front of the desk. "What was so important?"

"Just when were you planning to tell me you've crossed over to the dark side?" House asked as he looked up from the journal he was reading. "I can almost understand dating CB but moving in with her? If I'd known you like being tortured-"

"Why were you looking for me?" Wilson interrupted.

House looked back down at his desk and the journal. "Don't remember," he muttered.

"Amber said you were drunk."

House flipped a page.

"You've been getting drunk a lot lately. Why?" Wilson asked concern evident in his voice.

"Last time I checked you were not my mother."

Wilson stood up. "I know this has something to do with either Cameron or Cuddy or both. You know where to find me when you're ready to talk about it."

"Yeah," House called to his back as he walked out. "Tied up in CB's Torture Chamber O'Love!"

He rubbed his right thigh and grabbed his bottle of Vicodin. He swallowed two and got up to take out his anger on his team.

That evening, House made his way out to his bike. Kutner found it and had it towed to the hospital for him earlier that day.

"House!" Cuddy called out.

He ignored her and stowed his backpack. He was placing his cane in its holder when she stopped next to him.

"You're over a year behind on your paperwork, charts and billing notices." she told him.

Carefully, he swung his leg over the bike. "That's what I have lackeys for. Go talk to one of them."

She grabbed his arm. "It's not their job. It's yours. I'm placing you on professional leave until you finish it all."

"So. I'll be on professional leave for eternity?"

Cuddy tightened her grip and leaned in close to him. He could detect the light scent of her perfume and something else; something muskier and earthy. Her scent was much different from Cameron who smelled clean and fresh.

"You will get that paperwork done or I'll suspend you," she said between clenched teeth. "I need you to do your job and that includes completing all the paperwork."

"So you've said," he remarked as he started his bike. He picked up his helmet. "I guess I'm suspended." After pulling his helmet on, he revved the engine. Cuddy released him and stood back. Once he was certain she was out of his path, he raced out of the parking lot.

Lyrics at the beginning of the chapter :The Lonely - Christina Perri