Allison Cameron had been through a lot in the last three days. She was attacked by a patient, got yelled at by House, and now, she was laying in a hospital bed. The IV in her arm was bothering her. It was ironic, but she never liked needles. She could take blood from patients all day, there was no problem there, but something about seeing the needle in her own arm made her cringe. It wasn't a pain issue either. Just something that always bothered her.

House had been by Cameron's room several times. This did not go unnoticed.

"You never visit patients." Wilson walked up behind House.

House turned around quickly. "She's different."

Wilson looked shocked. "So, it's 'different' now?" He was laughing.

"What are you implying, Jimmy?"

"Oh, nothing. Just be careful. She's vulnerable. You're a hard-ass."

"Alright, Jimmy." House padded him on the back.

"You're here." Cameron said with more enthusiasm than intended as House entered her room.

"In the flesh." House limped to her bedside. "How are you feeling?"

"Better. My headache is almost gone. I haven't been dizzy all day."

House nodded. "Good."

"I still think it's unnecessary that I be here. I want to go back to work." Cameron didn't like being stuck in the hospital bed; she felt no control.

House admired her stubbornness, but sometimes it was self-sabotaging. "I want to monitor you a little more. You know better than to leave now."

Of course she knew this. She was a doctor. Something could go wrong at any time. She more than others should know that just because you feel better momentarily doesn't mean you're cured. If she had a dollar for every patient that wanted to leave as soon as they had one moment of relief...

"Hang in there, pal." House said before leaving.

This was the nicest House had been... ever. He would make jokes to cancer patients, never sparing anyone's feelings. It worried Cameron. "Wait,"

"Hmm?"

"Do you know something I don't?"

House scratched his head. "Cameron..." he started, but it caused the young brunette to worry.

"I'm dying, aren't I?" She was shaking. "House! Tell me! I'm dying!" Her voice was quivering and her lips began to tremble. She felt her heart began to beat rapidly, faster and faster. "Who- who's gonna feed my cat? House, who? You have to do it. Feed her. Promise me."

"Relax, Allison," he chose to use her first name. "You are not dying. I was trying to say that I honestly think it's just stress." He knew that Cameron was having a panic attack. It explained the irrationality and nonsensical comments about her cat. He mentally added panic attacks to his list of symptoms. He wanted to calm her down without excess medication.

"What's going on? Why do I feel like this? Is all this from the patient attacking me and the head trauma?" Cameron's panic attack was already declining.

"You've been under way too much stress. I want you to take some time off, okay. The CT scan was clear, and so were the TEE and MRI."

Cameron took some deep breathes. "It's just... stress? What about cancer? Cancer would explain-"

"Stop," House cut her off. "Stop being so stupid. Do you want cancer? This is just your convoluted way of controlling things. We both know that you're lucky it's just stress."

"I don't want cancer, House. I'm just worried."

After a couple of days, House insisted that Cameron go home and rest. If she wasn't careful, her stress could turn into a disorder. Of course Allison fought against it, ensuring House that she was okay. But, she reluctantly agreed and went home.

"How is she?" Foreman asked when they all met up the following day.

"Why do you care?" House asked. "Oh, right. You like her. But, like only. You're not her friend. I remember you saying that."

"Come on, House. I was just asking. No need to interrogate me."

"Sure." His tone was condescending.

"Our patient," Chase switched subjects. "You know, the guy we're trying to save? Are we ever getting back to that?"

"Yes," House answered, happy to switch subjects. "Liver failure, aorta dissection, what is it, people?"

"When I was studying in Alberta-" Foreman started.

"Can you skip the whole 'experience' part and just get to the point?" House interrupted.

Foreman narrowed his eyes before starting where he left off, "There was a patient at the hospital that I was interning at ... he had a heart blockage and it lead to liver failure. It could be that." He expected House to criticize him.

"Interesting point," House speculated. "You're on to something there."

"It follows everything- it's logical. An otherwise healthy patient experiences a blockage and it leads to the liver deteriorating rapidly."

"Let me see the Echo."

Chase got handed it to House. "You can see the pericardial effusion and the flattening of the interventricular septum."

"No shit, Sherlock. I can read an Echo. He has two days if he can't get a new liver." House looked down. "I know Cuddy won't like this. Giving a liver to a patient who lashed out at one of our doctors."

"He was mentally ill." Cameron said as she walked in.

House was surprised to see her. "You should be home."

"I wanted to come back. What are you gonna do, fire me?" Cameron grabbed the report. "Tell Cuddy that he should be put on the list. He's young, has two kids."

"How would you know that?" House asked, dumbfounded. "He told me he didn't have kids."

"People lie." Cameron said, entirely pleased with herself.

"Touché."

"I'll go talk to Cuddy."

House stopped her before she could take a single step. "Oh, no you won't." He blocked her with his cane. "You're not gonna go in there with those big puppy dog eyes and that pitiful, quivering lip. She'd do anything for you. I'm talking to her."

Cameron crossed her arms. "Don't you want this patient to get a transplant?"

"Not particularly, no."

"Your morals are off."

House agreed. "Since when have they ever been on?"

Crossing her legs to get a more steady stance, then stated, "Fine. You talk to her. Don't mess it up."

"You even sound like her!"

"Oh, shut up!" Cameron said, playfully.

"What the hell was that?" Chase stared at House.

"What was what?" House responded.

"That... little... kerfuffle."

"Who uses the word, 'kerfuffle?'"

"I do." Chase responded, his Aussie accent really coming out.

House seemed in a better mood all day. For some reason, he felt less angry at the world.