Walk and talk
A.N. There's a clip on the House YouTube channel entitled 'Walk and Talk'. I've borrowed the idea.
Cameron got in early Monday morning to go over the final draft of her paper before starting work. Although she'd originally intended to finish it over the weekend, it hadn't been particularly productive, for obvious reasons. She and House had hung out until after lunch on Saturday, at which point she had made her excuses. Though she would have happily spent all weekend with him, it was safer at this early stage to afford him his space. Plus, it had the added bonus of keeping him hungry, keeping him wanting more. Still, though they had parted company a day and a half ago, she just couldn't get the man out of her head.
The fact was that she was bursting with happiness but had no one to tell. Chase and Foreman still didn't know, and she obviously wouldn't have confided in the former even if he was aware. She reached the elevator and pressed the button, lost in thought. Being a doctor was enormously rewarding, but it did very little for her personal life. Having come to PPTH straight from the Mayo clinic in Minnesota, and being from Chicago originally, most of her friends from high- and medical- school were far from New Jersey. This meant that she'd been free to throw herself into work, of course, but when it came to sharing good news it meant that there were few people on hand.
Her dad had left a message on Friday night asking for a life update—maybe she'd call him back this morning and invite her parents over for a weekend sometime. If that went well, perhaps she could think about revealing her relationship to them. Her pulse quickened at that as she stepped into the elevator, arguing internally with herself. Steady, Allison. Don't get ahead of yourself. One night (and one morning) of fantastic sex did not a relationship make. But they were in a relationship—they'd established this on the second date. No. She couldn't think of telling them about House just yet; it was too soon. God, what has this man done to you? He's not even here and you're giddy like a high schooler. Get a grip, woman.
Cameron pressed the button for Diagnostics and walked to the back of the elevator. A couple of doctors whom she vaguely recognised ambled in, one of them making no secret of the fact that he was checking her out. She glared at him and he looked away hurriedly.
Before the door slid shut, she heard a snatched "hold it, please!", and the tapping of a pair of heels. The ogling doctor put out his arm and Cuddy jogged in. "Thanks, Peter", she offered, before adding in an innocent tone, as if somehow aware of his wandering eye: "how're Diane and the kids?".
"Uh, fine, thanks, Dr. Cuddy. Alan started at a new school last week".
"Ah, excellent. Give my best to your family". The doors slid shut. Peter went back to talking in hushed tones to his colleague while the Dean stood next to Cameron, whom she regarded curiously. "You're in early. I didn't think you started until half past eight".
Cameron shrugged, though she replied with amusement in her voice. "Medicine isn't a job; it's a calling".
The other snorted. "Then why is it that I'm paying you diagnosticians as much as I'm paying my heads of department, eh?". Peter glanced back at this and Cuddy noticed. "Sorry, Pete".
"Because we rock?", grinned Cameron.
Cuddy nodded sagely. "No denying that".
The elevator reached radiology and the two men disembarked, leaving the pair alone.
"Where are you headed?", asked Cameron.
"Same place you are. Well, same floor. I've got a meeting with Stevens in neurology".
"This early?".
Cuddy raised an eyebrow as she replied. "Administration isn't a job; it's a calling".
The immunologist held her hands up and grinned again.
"You're in a disgustingly good mood for a Monday morning, Dr. Cameron. I don't like it". The elevator reached their destination with a ding and the two walked out. Suddenly Cuddy stopped. "Ohh…I completely forgot! Your date with House was on Friday, wasn't it?".
"How did you know about that?".
"Please. I know everything. Plus, I made House tell me at lunch last week".
"Well, yep, it was Friday", she answered. Cuddy may not welcome discussing an ex-boyfriend, so she didn't add anything further.
"Spill. I can sense you're dying to tell someone". They had stopped walking.
"You sure? I didn't know if it was appropriate". Cameron couldn't wipe the smile off her face.
"I told you before. House and I are ancient history". Cuddy stroked her chin thoughtfully. "Actually, I've got a better idea. How'd you fancy meeting up for a drink later, just us girls? Then you can tell me all about it".
"That could be fun. Shall I drop by your office when we wrap up for the day and we can find a place?".
"Sounds good. See you later, then". Cuddy moved off, leaving Cameron to smile faintly before heading into a deserted Diagnostics department.
Nearly an hour later Chase and Foreman walked through the hospital doors clutching takeout coffees. "So you think that's it between you and Mathilde, then?", asked the latter as they crossed towards the bank of elevators.
Chase took a sip before he replied. "Yeah. We had a big blowout over the weekend. It was fun while it lasted but I'm just not that into her. To be honest, I think Wilson is much more her type. Maybe I can try set them up or something? Y'know, after some time has passed".
Foreman scoffed. "Sure. How would that go, exactly? 'Sorry, babe, I have the hots for another woman, but don't worry: I've found you a replacement'".
Chase tilted his head. "You're probably right. Anyway, it's not because of Cameron".
"How'd you figure that?".
"Look, I told you. If House and Cameron are together—and we still don't know if they are—I'm fine with it".
The two doctors stepped into the empty elevator and pressed the button. "So you're telling me that if House and Cameron broke up tomorrow, and she fell into your arms, you'd refuse her?".
Now it was Chase's turn to scoff. "I said I was fine with it; I didn't say I was gay. You think they're together, then?".
Foreman shrugged. "I wouldn't be surprised. They've been pretty close recently, and both of them seem happier". He didn't reveal that he'd suspected their covert hand-holding at the German restaurant. For one thing, he didn't want to dampen Chase's seemingly phlegmatic approach to the whole thing; for another, he couldn't be certain of what he saw—the place was incredibly dark, after all.
The elevator opened on their floor and they walked out. "See, that's just it. If they were together, I'd wager Cameron at least would be a bit glummer. Can you imagine having to deal with House at home as well as work?", Chase wondered. The truth was that he was still prepared to play it cool. Wilson had suggested that he take time to consider his feelings and that's what he'd done.
The feelings for Cameron were real, but he remained convinced that the relationship between her and their boss, if there was one, would soon fizzle out. House was simply too impossible and Cameron too genuine for it to work for any length of time. He gave it a month. After that, with the fantasy punctured, Chase would stand a chance of being the man she deserved, and things could go back to the way they were.
Foreman stayed quiet as the pair walked to their office in silence. For his part, he thought Chase in dreamland if he believed things would magically work out between himself and Cameron. Even if she and House broke up, she had been pretty clear at Café Spoleto regarding her own feelings for Chase. Love couldn't be forced. Love was also blind, however, and right now his friend was blind. Foreman shuddered to think what would happen if a situation arose in which House and Cameron broke up, Chase attempted to make a move too soon, and everyone in the office hated each other. This was why he personally avoided getting involved with anyone at the hospital. It just wasn't worth the aggravation.
The two doctors entered Diagnostics to the sight of Cameron working at her laptop. "Morning, men. What's with the co-ordinated entrance? You two spend the night with each other?".
"Hey, Foreman would be so lucky".
"Yeah, yeah", she replied with a little smirk. Chase's words had caused her mind to flit back to House and her smirk turned into a smile.
Foreman moved over to the sink and poured himself a glass of water. "How's the article coming?".
"Yeah, pretty good, thanks. Just working on the final draft before sending it off, hopefully to American Journal of Medicine".
"Great. Have you had House's input this time?".
"Yep. I'm very happy with it". Cameron sat back and stretched her arms out.
"Cool. Can we read it, then?", asked Chase from his chair.
"Sure. I'll send you a copy when I'm done".
"So…", sighed Foreman, sinking into his own chair and picking up a journal himself, "…are we taking bets on when House gets in?".
An hour and a half to two hours later, House wandered across the lobby, backpack slung over one shoulder. Rather than head directly to the elevators, he veered off towards the pharmacy. It had become something of a ritual for him to observe discreetly the rows of assorted medication at the start of each week, to remind himself how much had changed, and how far he had come.
If pressed, he would admit that he was indulging in a bit of psychological mindplay. But things had been going so well recently that he felt it necessary to remember when times were bad, as if the act of remembrance would somehow avert the disaster which he knew would come sooner or later. House had been deadly serious when he'd told Cameron that women and he had a fraught history—somehow, he'd find a way to screw things up. The idea of 'happily ever after' sounded alien. Still, until he reached the point of inevitable heartbreak, there was no reason why he couldn't enjoy the present. With a gentle exhalation, he tapped the counter.
"What are you doing?", asked Wilson loudly.
"Didn't your mommy warn you about sneaking up on girls from behind?", retorted House.
"I'm not convinced anyone's mommy warns them about that, to be honest".
"Really? It sounds like the kind of thing one should be warned about", shrugged House as he brushed past his friend.
"Also, I didn't know you were a girl", stated the other as he caught up.
"Since Saturday. I'm told the Adam's Apple and stubble will disappear gradually, but it remains to be seen".
"That's a lot of sarcasm for a Monday morning. You must be in a good mood". Wilson pressed the button for the elevator.
"You don't know that. I could just be using sarcasm to avoid your question regarding what I was doing at the pharmacy". House glanced sidelong at the oncologist.
"Nah, I think I'd see through such an obvious diversionary tactic. You may be a genius, but I'm pretty smart myself".
"Really? What's the capital of Azerbaijan?".
"Baku".
"Sorry, I meant Mongolia".
"Ulan Bator".
"Australia?".
"Hmm". Wilson thought about it as they walked into the elevator. "Syd-, no…Canberra!".
House grinned. "You're good. With my help, you could be the best". The pair stood in silence for a few moments as the door slid shut. "What are you doing in the lobby mid-morning, anyway? Don't you have cancers to diagnose, maybe some hot soon-to-be-widows to comfort?".
"Hey", replied Wilson, "I resent the implication that I only comfort attractive women".
"Oh, it wasn't an implication; it was, an, er…explication? Is that right? It doesn't sound right…".
"I take it back. You aren't a genius".
"Seriously, what's the opposite of 'implication'?". House stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"I don't think it has an opposite". The two doctors exited and wandered down the corridor, in no particular rush.
"That's deep, man. What were you doing down there, anyway?".
"I had to see Cuddy about something. I was leaving her office, then I saw you looking all weird and pensive and I just had to find out what it was". They'd reached the glass doors of House's department. "Are you gonna tell me?", Wilson asked.
His friend's eyes flashed, and he put his hand on the door. "Nope".
"Oh, come on. I had a boring weekend and I could use the entertainment. Besides, I wanna hear how it went with Cameron".
House narrowed his gaze. "I told Cuddy not to ask again for another two weeks".
"Do I look like Cuddy to you? I know my hair is a lovely brown colour, but I'm not sure it's a close likeness".
"Regardless, a gentleman does not kiss and tell".
"A gentleman doesn't", agreed Wilson. "But you do".
"I could be a gentleman", House observed in a dignified tone.
"Is that how it went down on Friday? You were a gentleman and she was a lady?". These words emerged in a fairly loose representation of an English accent.
"God, you're terrible at accents". House was halfway through the door before he turned back: "look, if I tell, will it get you off my case for more than five minutes? Your neediness is a massive turn off".
"Well, I can't make any promises", Wilson grinned, "but it would definitely keep me at bay for a bit".
"Fine. What're we thinking?".
"Flannery's at seven?".
"Fine. Now get lost before Cameron sees you. I don't want her getting the wrong idea about us".
Wilson saluted and sauntered off to his own office. House, meanwhile, rolled his eyes before heading to his desk and switching on the computer; preparing, at 11.45 on the dot, to start his day.
