I Can Never Say No to You - Chapter 8, Part 1
Title: I Can Never Say No to You
Chapter: 8 of 8, Part 1
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 8: Thirteen’s Comeuppance, Part 1
“Damn, I forgot to date this,” Cameron muttered. “Monday, February 16th, 2009. There, that’s done. Now what’s next …”
A sharp rap on her door interrupted her thoughts. “Come in, it’s open.”
Cameron looked up from her desk, curious to see who, or what, so desperately needed her attention at 7 am.
She’d awoken at five, in the inky dark night, blissfully wrapped in House’s arms. Exhilarated and sated from a night full of love, she quietly slipped out of bed, showered and dressed.
But her joy was short-lived. As she pulled into the parking lot at PPTH, even the memory of House as she left him that morning, sprawled on the bed, naked, his long lanky limbs, some uncovered, some not, could not shake the anxiety she felt today.
“Dr. Cameron?”
“Dr. Hadley. You’re in early.”
It took all Cameron’s will to maintain her composure. Despite the hour, Thirteen was impeccably made up and dressed to the nines in a fashionable grey pantsuit. The confidence she exuded belied her treachery.
Thirteen’s smile was cold. “I just wanted to be sure these files were on your desk before you arrived for work today.
But I see, you beat me.”
Cameron couldn’t help but think … In more ways than one …
“You can leave them right here. I’ll review them this morning.”
There was an awkward silence as both women waited for the other to speak.
“Um … well, I guess I’ll be going, now.” Thirteen started to leave, then turned on her stilettos to look back at Cameron.
“I forgot to ask. How was your Valentine’s Day? It must have been terribly romantic after receiving those beautiful flowers,” she fished.
“They were lovely, weren’t they?” Cameron smiled pleasantly, giving nothing away. “And how was your weekend?”
“Very quiet. I was busy working,” she replied sullenly, as she reached for the doorknob. “I’d better get upstairs. I’m sure Dr. Foreman’s waiting for me.”
“I’m sure he is. I’ll be in touch, Dr Hadley.”
As the door closed, Cameron picked up her phone and keyed in the Diagnostic’s extension.
“Foreman? It’s Cameron. I got your message from my service. Is 9 am good for you? Excellent. I’ll see you then.”
~~~~~
“Morning!”
“House!” Wilson did a double-take when he checked his watch. “What are you doing here?”
”Why are you so surprised to see me? I work here, remember?” he snarked.
“Perhaps the fact that it’s 8 am, might explain my surprise,” Wilson said with a dimpled smile.
“You seldom darken my door before ten.”
“That’s true.” House stretched out on the couch, resting his aching leg. His pain was a bittersweet reminder of the passionate love he’d made with Cameron.
“So spill!”
“Spill what?”
Wilson sighed with frustration.
”Your call … on Saturday night … what was it all about? Did you end up asking Cuddy out for Valentine’s Day?”
“Nope. I told you, I’m not dating Cuddy,” House said resolutely.
“I don’t understand.”
“It’s confusing as hell.”
“It can’t be that bad.”
”You haven’t a clue.”
Wilson hated these maddening conversations with House; his tap-dancing around the truth, his lies, his deceptions.
His temples throbbed. He could hear his blood surge through his veins.
“HOUSE! Cut the crap! Just tell me what happened! You call me at home, only to have me call you back, then you pretend you’re talking to Cuddy and hang up on me. And to make matters worse, you disappear for a day!”
And no bragging to Wilson until we decide …
As much as House longed to confide in his friend, he kept his word to Cameron.
“It may surprise you,” he began.
“Nothing you do could surprise me, House. Please, just tell me,” Wilson pleaded.
House sat up brightly, eager to share even a morsel of his adventure.
“I rented a cool set of wheels for the weekend. That’s where I was on Sunday. Driving around.”
At least it’s the truth …
Wilson eyed him suspiciously. “A cool set of wheels?”
“Yeah, a Mercedes CLK,” House boasted.
Wilson whistled. “Very cool. I bet that set you back a pretty penny. You should have called me. I would have come along for the ride.”
House fidgeted. “I-I couldn’t. I wasn’t alone.”
“Don’t tell me you hired a hooker and dropped all that money …” Wilson scolded before he was cut off.
“Okay, I won’t.” House was determined to change the subject.
“Guess what? Foreman wants a transfer.”
“What? When did that happen?” Wilson asked incredulously.
”He called Cameron and requested a meeting with her today.”
“So what are you going to do?”
“Nothing.” House said flatly. “I’ll let Cameron look after it. It’s no skin off my nose.”
“It’s no skin off your nose?” Wilson’s voice rose to a girly pitch. “Your best employee wants to leave your department and you don’t care?”
“Meh …” House shrugged his shoulders, as the telephone rang.
“Hello?” Wilson answered. “Oh, good morning. Yes, he’s right here.”
Wilson covered the receiver. “It’s Cameron. For you …” he whispered, handing House the phone.
“Hello?” House twirled his cane lazily as he spoke with Cameron.
“How’d you know where to find me?”
“No I didn’t. You told me not to, remember?”
“Why does Foreman need me there?”
“Okay, I’ll be right down.”
House handed the phone back to Wilson.
“Problems?”
“Nah.”
”So what exactly did you do to piss Foreman off this time?”
“Nothing, actually.“ House noticed the suspicion on Wilson’s face. “Seriously. It’s not my fault. It’s Thirteen.
Apparently, Foreman wants nothing to do with her.”
“Trouble in paradise?”
“I guess,” House puzzled over his thoughts. “The strange thing is, he wants me at the meeting.”
“That’s not surprising, is it? After all, you’re his boss.” Wilson countered logically.
“I suppose …” House winced as he stood. “Gotta go. Cameron’s waiting.”
~~~~~
“Mmm … Mmmmm … Oh, yeah … That’s so good! … I need more!
“You sound positively orgasmic,” Cameron laughed.
“You should know,” House smiled, while waggling his eyebrows. “What can I say? I miss your coffee. Do you think you could do this every day?”
Cameron re-filled both their mugs.
“As much as I’d love to, I do have more important duties to fulfill here at the hospital.”
Her eyes twinkled playfully as she looked at him over the rim of her mug.
“More important than taking care of me?” he pouted. “When’s the meeting with Foreman?”
“At nine. We’ve got a bit of time, yet. I didn’t expect to see you so early today.”
“It was lonely in bed after you left for work. Come here …” House patted his lap.
“Do you think that’s wise? Remember, we decided to keep things quiet,” she said seriously.
House patted his lap again. “I’ll seduce you quietly, I promise,” he smirked.
“Well, in that case …”
Cameron lips curled into a smile as she locked her door and adjusted the blinds.
She carefully sat in his lap, letting her legs dangle over one armrest of his chair to relieve the weight on his thigh.
“Good morning,” Cameron murmurred as they kissed hello.
House brushed aside a lock of hair that fell across her forehead.
“Good morning. Did I tell you how beautiful you look today?”
“Not yet,” she purred, “but don’t let that stop you.”
His fingers drifted downwards, following the vee of her blouse, past the two open buttons and unfastening two more.
“Very, very nice,” House uttered appreciatively, catching a glimpse of her nipples through her sheer pink bra.
He felt her stiffen in his arms. “You’re nervous we’ll get caught.”
”I’m sorry,” she whispered.
House buttoned her blouse. “Don’t be sorry. It’s almost 9, the day shift’s arriving and there’s a clinic full of patients just outside your door. It’s probably not the best time for me to make love to you,” he said, helping Cameron to her feet.
“But you’re going to have to help do something about this,” he said, glancing down at the bulge in his denims.
“Such a waste.” Cameron smiled wistfully. “Did I tell you Dr. Hadley brought me her files this morning?”
House could feel himself deflate at the mention of her name. “That worked,” he grumbled, adjusting himself.
“I thought it would,” Cameron smirked, as she returned to her desk.
“Are you ready for your big day?” House asked, nursing his coffee.
“I don’t know how big it will be, but I’m ready, I think. You almost sound like you’re looking forward to it,” she said with concern.
“No one hurts you and gets away with it.”
The intensity of his gaze made Cameron very uncomfortable. “You were hurt, too.”
“I’m okay.”
“And so am I.”
She leaned forward on her elbows.
“House, remember, we have no proof Dr. Hadley stole my card.”
“There’s not a shred of doubt in my mind, from what you’ve told me.” His agitation was apparent.
“I’d like to fire her bony ass!”
“I know you would, but you have no grounds. A wrongful dismissal suit could cost this hospital thousands of dollars.
You do understand that?” Cameron asked firmly.
House just stared at the floor.
“House? Do I have your word you won’t fire her?” Cameron pushed.
He looked up at her. “I promise, at least for today, but the first time she slips up, she’s gone!” he scowled.
“I have no problem with that, as long as you have a legitimate reason.”
Cameron opened her desk drawer. “Here,” she said, handing House a document.
“What’s this?”
“It’s the PIP you asked me to write. I finished it this morning.” Cameron could see he was puzzled.
“The Performance Improvement Program you wanted for Dr. Hadley, remember?”
House skimmed through the papers. “It’s not much of a punishment.”
“Actually, it’s a little over the top,” Cameron said thoughtfully, “but it’s all you can do. I know you’re disappointed.
“At least it’s something.” House was not satisfied. “So, what’s your plan?”
Cameron checked the clock. ”I’m going to meet with Foreman and see what he wants. He should be here any minute.”
“And that’s when you’re going to drop the bait?”
“Yes. And if he reacts the way I think he will, worst-case scenario, she’ll know we’re on to her.”
”And the best-case?” House asked optimistically.
“All hell will break loose. Oh, no …” she hesitated, her brow suddenly furrowed.
“What's wrong?”
“What if Foreman doesn't care anymore, now that he's left Thirteen?”
~~~~~
“Foreman, good morning. Please, come in,” Cameron said graciously.
House slowly spun in his arm chair and stared at Foreman.
“House,” he acknowledged, somewhat intimidated by his presence.
“I’m glad you could come. I’m not interrupting anything, am I, Cameron?”
“Not at all. We were expecting you. Please, have a seat,”
“I’d prefer to stand, if you don’t mind.”
House and Cameron exchanged glances. They sensed the seriousness of his demeanor.
“How can I help you?” she asked. “If this is about your request for a transfer, I’m afraid it could take quite a few weeks to find a new position for you. Are you sure you aren’t acting in haste? Perhaps there’s a chance you could reconcile with Dr. Hadley.”
“No. It’s over.” Foreman reached into his pocket. “Perhaps this will explain my decision.’
He looked at Cameron and then at House.
“Cameron, I believe this belongs to you.”
Cameron’s hands shook.
“Dr. Alison Cameron,” she quietly read. “House, this is your handwriting …”
She turned to him, her eyes brimming with tears.
“It’s my Valentine …”
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