I Can Never Say No to You - Chapter 3
Title: I Can Never Say No to You
Chapter: 3 of 8
Author: daisyb10
Genre: Romance/Angst
Rating: Teen. 13 years +
Warning: Spoilers for 5:13 “Big Baby”
Pairings: House/Cameron
Summary: When Valentine’s Day plans go terribly wrong …
Disclaimer: I do not own House M.D. or its characters, nor do I profit from this story.
Chapter 3
Foreman threw down his pen, frustrated with his inability to compose even one simple sentence in the past half hour.
He relentlessly dissected his one-sided fight with Thirteen. How could Remy turn on me like that? I thought I was helping.
A conversation in the hallway piqued his interest. Company would be a welcome diversion.
Kutner backed the door open, his arms full of files, and held it for Taub, who was similarly encumbered.
“I don’t know how that kid convinced her Mom she got pregnant from a toilet seat!”
”You think that’s nutty? I treated a woman with a cucumber stuck in her …”
“Bad day in the clinic, gentlemen?” A hint of a smile broke the severity of Foreman’s expression.
“The worst!” Kutner slumped lethargically into a chair.
“What’s with the files?” Foreman eyed the precarious stacks on the conference table.
“We heard about Thirteen’s meeting with Dr. Cameron,” Taub explained, “so we thought we’d make a preemptive strike. Where’s House?”
“Your guess is as good as mine,” Foreman groused. “He got in late, hung out with Wilson, and then sat in his office, staring at a tiny slip of paper for most of the afternoon. I have no idea where he is now.”
“Where who is?” A familiar thump on the floor announced House’s arrival.
“Where you is.” Taub and Kutner smirked at Foreman. “Where you are, pardon me.”
“What’s in the bag?” Kutner tipped his jaw at the small paper bag clutched in House’s hand.
“None of your beeswax!” House scowled. “Where’s Twelve?”
Kutner’s curiosity got the better of him, despite House’s rebuke. “Why are you calling her Twelve?”
House smirked at Kutner. “I knew you’d bite, but thanks for asking. Does anyone know what day this is?” House looked at the threesome expectantly.
Kutner raised his hand slowly. “Um … Friday?”
“The …” House prompted.
“Thirteenth?”
House clapped three times.
“Give that man a cigar. Yes, my unimportant followers of a powerful person, it’s Friday the 13th!”
“I know, I know,” Kutner volunteered eagerly. “You re-named her Twelve, in case she’s a tristaidekaphobe!”
“Wrong!” House buzzed. “A tristaidekaphobe named Thirteen would never have survived here this long. By the way, my young grasshopper, do you know what a paraskevidekatriaphobe is? Don't you just love how that word rolls off my tongue?”
Foreman and Taub rolled their eyes, but Kutner was fascinated. “No. What’s that?”
“A paraskevidekatriaphobe is a person who fears Friday the 13th.”
“Cool!”
“That’s what I said.” House waggled his eyebrows.
“So, how does this explain why you called Thirteen, Twelve?”
“It doesn’t. I just wanted to say paraskevidekatriaphobe.”
Kutner furrowed his brow in utter confusion. ”I demoted her!” House grumped. “She screwed up big time!”
“I take it you talked to Cameron?” Foreman asked warily.
“I did, indeed. Now, where is she?” House demanded.
“I honestly don’t know. She took off …” Foreman muttered.
“Took off?” House screwed up his face in disbelief. “Do I detect trouble in paradise?”
“She’s working in the clinic until five. She arrived just as we left.” Kutner’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
“What happened, Foreman? Did you two have a fight?”
“Not a fight, exactly. It was more like a difference of opinion,“ Foreman rationalized.
House poked Kutner with his cane and whispered sotto voce,
“That’s what all Mommies and Daddies say when they have a fight.”
“House, we didn’t have a …” A knock on the door interrupted Foreman’s protest.
“Dr. House?” A slight delivery man asked anxiously.
“Are you from Dean’s?”
”Yes, sir. My name’s Ralph. I have your flowers. Would you like to inspect your order, sir?”
House grimaced. So much for keeping this quiet. “Sure, I’ll have a look.”
Ralph set the box down and carefully removed the outer wrapping of insulating paper.
“Wow,” House muttered. “I don’t know much about flowers but they look good to me.”
“May I look?” Taub enquired. He examined the flowers from every angle.
“Spectacular!” he whispered breathlessly. “A hand-tied bouquet in a crystal vase … looks like one … no, there’s two dozen red roses, dendrobium orchids, peonies, delphiniums, freesia, seeded eucalyptus and magnolia leaves.”
Three sets of disbelieving eyes were glued to Taub. “What? So I like flowers. Sue me.”
Ralph took no notice, intent on his job. “I understand I’m supposed to pick up a card, Dr. House?”
“Yep, just one sec.” House disappeared into his office and returned, momentarily, with a red envelope in his hand.
“Now you know what was in the bag,“ Taub whispered.
“They’ve got to be for Cuddy,” Kutner whispered back.
“I heard that!” House snarked.
“Here you go, Ralph. You know what to do?” House quietly asked.
“Yes, sir.”
“For your trouble.” House slipped a fifty in the delivery man’s hand. “Thank you.”
“Thank you, sir.”
House anxiously watched Ralph until he disappeared from view.
Foreman, Kutner and Taub scrutinized him, their collective eyebrows raised.
“Give it a rest, you morons!” House slammed the door behind him.
The three men grinned at each other.
Taub began to sing softly. “Some-one’s got a girl-friend …”
“I DO NOT!”
~~~~~
Friday the 13th was always the same.
Fractures and breakdowns spiked through the roof and the clinic was filled with phobics.
House might be on to something. Damn Foreman and damn this headache!
Thirteen reluctantly swung her legs over the side of the examination table and sat for a moment massaging her temples. The nap had eased her headache enough, she felt able to get back to work.
“I’m feeling better now, Brenda, do you have another patient for me? Whoa …” Thirteen did a double take at the cello-wrapped bouquet on the counter.
“Spectacular, aren’t they? They were just delivered for Dr. Cameron.”
“Do you know who they’re from?” Thirteen whispered in a conspiratorial tone.
“I didn’t see a card. But whoever he is, he’s sure serious about her. Just one sec, Dr. Hadley, I’ve got a call waiting …”
“No rush.”
Thirteen leaned on her folded arms. “Oops,” she mumbled, as her left elbow nudged the arrangement.
Sure, knock Dr. Cameron’s flowers on the floor, why don’t you?
A sliver of red caught her eye.
There it is! Under the bouquet!
She glanced to her left.
Then glanced to her right.
I have to know who they’re from …
She tugged at the crimson corner of the card, shielding it from view with her left hand.
“Here’s your next patient, Dr. Hadley,” Brenda said, none the wiser.
“Thanks, Brenda.” Thirteen set the file on top of the card and with one final tug it was hers!
She turned her back to the nursing station. One glimpse at the envelope answered her question.
Oh my god, they’re from House!
Cameron’s words rang in her ears. ‘These notes are shoddy, your handwriting is illegible and this charting’s sub-standard, sub-standard, sub-standard …’
Thirteen addressed the waiting patients. “Mrs. Stewart?” An elderly woman hobbled to meet her.
“I can see you now in Exam Room 1.”
“Thank you, dear.”
She closed the door behind them, grinning like a Cheshire cat.
~~~~~
“Thanks for letting me know you’ll be out of town this weekend,” Cameron chatted on her phone as she wove her way through the crowded lobby. “I’d better go, Lisa. The clinic’s swamped. Have a great time!” Cameron pocketed her mobile. “Can I help out, Brenda?”
The nurse smiled as if the weight of the world had been lifted off her exhausted shoulders. “Let me bring you up to speed.” They conferred at the counter.
“Now remember, Mrs. Stewart, you should be feeling better in a couple of days.“ Thirteen ushered her patient out. “But be sure to take your antibiotics until they’re all gone.”
“I will, Dr. Hadley. Thank you.”
“Dr. Hadley? You dropped something.”
Thirteen jumped at the sound of Cameron’s voice.
She was holding the card.
What am I going to do? It must have fallen out of the file.
Thirteen’s heart raced with panic.
“Dr. Cameron. I-I-I didn’t see you.”
“I didn’t mean to startle you,” Cameron said pleasantly. “What a lovely card! You don’t mind if I look at it, do you?”
“Actually … “ Thirteen could scarcely breathe. I might as well resign this instant!
“Don’t worry, I won’t peek inside. I’m sure Dr. Foreman’s message is for your eyes only,” Cameron teased.
Thirteen forced a smile. She slipped a hand in her pocket. At least the envelope’s there.
“It’s beautiful.” Cameron ran her fingertips over the white embossed heart. “Be My Valentine,” she whispered.
A rosy-cheeked Cupid, poised with a gold bow and arrow, nested on a pillow of pale pink satin. “It’s exquisite.“
“I’m so sentimental,” she confessed, handing the card back to Thirteen. “You’re a very lucky girl, Dr. Hadley.”
Foreman’s lecture taunted her. ‘You know, instead of resenting Cameron, you should consider yourself lucky she cared enough to point out your mistakes.’
“So I’ve been told, Dr. Cameron. Thank you.” Thirteen slipped the card into her pocket.
“Dr. Hadley’s not the only lucky one,“ Brenda chirped. “These flowers were delivered for you, Dr. Cameron.”
Cameron’s heart soared when she saw the breathtaking bouquet. “Is there a card?”
“Not that I noticed,” Brenda replied. “Maybe you have a secret admirer.”
“Maybe,” Cameron beamed. “But I think I know who sent them.”
“No hints?” Brenda pouted.
“No hints,” Cameron laughed. The rumour mill at PPTH didn’t need more fuel for its fire.
“I’ll put them in my office and get to work. Are you off, Dr. Hadley?” Cameron paused with her flowers.
“At five, Dr. Cameron.”
“If I don’t see you, have a Happy Valentine’s Day!”
Have a happy Valentine’s Day? And just how do you expect me to do that?
“You, too!”
Thirteen coldly laughed as she signed out for the day.
You ruined my Valentine’s Day, so I’m ruining yours …
Payback’s a bitch, Dr. Cameron. Just like you!
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