Fic: Change is in the air.
House caught a whiff of change in the hospital. He heard through the grapevine (Wilson to be exact) that Cuddy had given Cameron the job of looking after his department. The details he did not know, but he wondered what she was going to do, how she was going to approach him. Even though he wouldn’t admit it, he had already prepared a few clever retorts for her. This was going to be fun!
He waited for her patiently, but she did not come at first. He thought she’d jump at the opportunity. On the third day she approached him in the cafeteria.
“Finally!”
“Afternoon, House.”
“How are you Dr. Cameron?”
“Five year old male with unexplained muscle weakness, son of a very prominent New Jersey businessman. You were specifically requested by the family,” Cameron nonchalantly held out the file. “Can’t imagine why.”
“Well well well. You need something from me. Again,” House said while putting food on his plate. “Pay for my lunch first?”
When Cameron didn’t respond he gave a twenty to the cashier and continued.
“No cash? Fine. How about you use the same trick as last time?” House winked at the blonde. “I am prepared though, downloaded romantic songs to my iPod, candles in my office and everything.”
“Uhm…”
Cameron didn’t have time to answer, before House interrupted her.
“Good! Fun! Lets do that then,” he cheerfully headed towards the table.
“Actually I am not going to offer you anything,” Cameron sat across from him, placing the file right in the middle of the table. “What you need to know is this. I agreed to help Cuddy only because she needed to spend time with her baby. She could hire a babysitter right away, but she asked me very nicely to let her spend at least the first month with the newborn. I am getting nothing for this, so you won’t get anything either.”
House pretended to be interested in his steak, while Cameron continued.
“You know very well what happens if this doesn’t work out. Cuddy comes back from her maternity leave early and I am spared the duty.”
House looked up at his torturer, this was not going as planned. He observed Cameron’s authoritative, yet very pleasant expression and decided that he was about ninety percent convinced. He was also distracted by the way her soft sunny hair framed her face and came down right to the curve of her br…Wait, he needed to pay attention.
“Keep in mind that I am still the active Chief of the ER, which will always be my priority. I could care less for this hospital’s reputation or sponsors, I am sure the patient can find another doctor. So take it or leave it, you can keep being bored or you can take this case.”
With that Cameron reached over and took a bite of House’s salad, staring at him with a small smile in her eyes. For a few seconds the man was fixated on her perfect mouth.
“I am sure you are getting paid for this glorified babysitting.”
“What’s a few grand compared to a peaceful House-less existence?”
Cameron smirked and waited for his response.
“Fine!” House grabbed the file “Don’t tell anyone I gave up this easy.”
He looked up at her with a pleading expression, which was at least semi-genuine.
Cameron stood up. She brought her hand up to her mouth and slowly moved two fingers across her lips, making House’s own mouth water.
“My lips are sealed.”
“Too bad,” a smiling House of course referred to a different application.