FIC- The Discovery Part Two
Title: The Discovery
Rating: M
Pairing: Cameron/Cuddy
Disclaimer: Disappointed to say that I don’t own House MD or any of the characters.
Spoilers: Minor from Season 3.
Summary: Set towards the end of Season 3, before House gets his new team. Cameron has a crush, but it’s no longer House that is the object of her affections. How does she deal with these new feelings, and how is she going to stop House from discovering them?
Reviews are very much appreciated, as is constructive criticism.
***
On it went, endless as time. Each day Cameron awoke, she told herself that she would forget about Cuddy, would focus on her work, and each day, she failed abysmally. House had picked up on the fact that she was grumpier than usual, and had fun suggesting various reasons as to why this was. It was almost amusing when he suggested she may be pregnant, but when he eventually got around to guessing that she’d fallen in love with yet another dying man, her tolerance for his behaviour was severely waning. This was why, at precisely quarter past ten in the morning, Cameron could be found yelling at House in his office.
“For once would you just leave it alone?!” She knew her face was turning red as she felt the blood rush to it from elsewhere in her body. This was a clear indicator of how little more she was prepared to take from him, and she decided that should he make yet another smarmy comment, she wouldn’t be held liable for her actions. There wasn’t a court in the country that would convict her for smacking him over the head with his own cane, of that she was sure.
“That’s just the thing Cameron; leave what alone?” He grinned, knowing he was pushing her to the brink.
“I… it… ARGH!” Cameron growled, frustrated further, if that were possible.
Just when Cameron had started to think things couldn’t get any worse, she heard Cuddy behind her say, “House… what the hell is going on in here?”
Shutting her eyes and slowly counting to ten, Cameron tried to stay calm. Eventually she worked up the guts to turn around, and as House hadn’t yet answered Cuddy’s question, she took it upon herself to. “I’m going to leave now. You deal with him.” The venom in her voice was evident, but for once, Cuddy didn’t call her on it. It seemed that even she was unwilling to provoke Cameron when she was in this mood, the rareness of its’ occurrence serving to strengthen its’ effect.
Cameron left the room as she’d stated she would, but she stopped when slightly down the corridor as she heard House say, “So, what are your theories on why our resident immunologist has become Satan’s twin? What with you being Satan herself and everything?”
“How am I supposed to know?” Cuddy snapped. Cameron heard a thud, the sound of paperwork being thrown onto House’s desk. “You need to finish these forms by the end of the week.”
“I’ll get Chase to sort it,” House quipped lightly. “Something tells me it might not be the best idea to hand it to Cameron right now.”
“Is she really that bad?” Cuddy asked, seemingly intrigued.
“Put it this way,” House replied. “Her mood is worse than yours when it’s your time of the month, I’m avoiding clinic duty, and the canteen has run out of frozen yoghurt.”
When Cuddy’s reply was muffled, Cameron took a step back, careful to remain out of House’s sight. As nosey as it was to eavesdrop, the very fact that the conversation was about her meant she felt more than justified in doing so.
“So like, you’ll totally have kinky sex with her and put a smile back on her face?” Cameron heard House say next, and immediately she panicked. Did Cuddy know how she felt, or was House just making one of his usual jokes? It took all the self-control she possessed not to go storming in there and asking what was going on. If only she’d heard what Cuddy’s reply had been beforehand then she wouldn’t have to reduce herself to guessing.
Cameron leant further backwards, not wanting to miss what Cuddy said next. “I’ll get right onto that,” she said sarcastically. “Just lay off her House and I’ll see what I can do.”
Realising that it was too risky to hang around any longer in case Cuddy exited, Cameron quickly scuttled away. That had been sarcasm in Cuddy’s voice, hadn’t it? Cameron shook her head, trying to clear her mind. If she didn’t have such an interfering and annoying boss in the form of House, then her crush on Cuddy wouldn’t be half as bad. As it was everything was made ten times worse by her intense fear that House would discover her feelings, and proceed to make her life twice as hard as it already was.
If that were possible.
***
“Cameron!”
It was past the end of her shift and once again, Cameron heard Cuddy shout her name from behind her. Reluctantly she stopped, suspecting that Cuddy had come to question her and discover what the problem was. In as casual a voice as she could muster she replied, “Yes?
Cuddy had an unreadable expression on her face. “Could I have a word with you in my office? It won’t take long.”
Knowing there was no way that she could refuse, Cameron nodded. She followed Cuddy, allowing her to lead the way. It took all the self-control she possessed not to stare at the sway of Cuddy’s hips as she walked confidently ahead. All it would take was one look from House and he would realise exactly why Cameron had been acting so strangely as of late, and so on the off chance he was around, Cameron tore her eyes away.
Upon entering the office, Cuddy lingered next to the door until Cameron had passed through, enabling her to shut the door behind them. “Please, take a seat.” She gestured towards the chair opposite her side of the desk, then she herself chose to sit in her usual chair.
Cameron obeyed the orders, anxiously clasping her hands together as she did so. All wide blue eyes and trembling bottom lip, she played the perfect part of a scared little girl; without even wanting or trying to. Noticing this, Cuddy smiled warmly, instructing her, “Don’t look so nervous.”
Cameron attempted to smile, trying to formulate some sort of a plan in her head. What on earth was she going to say to Cuddy if she asked her what was going on and making her act so differently to usual? Cameron barely had time to process this thought when Cuddy spoke again. “Look, I’ll get straight to the point. You’re not yourself lately, and it’s concerning to some. Is there anything you’d like to get off your chest, tell me about?” Cuddy’s tone was kind, gentle, almost like that of a caring friend.
Except she wasn’t Cameron’s friend; she was her boss, her crush. Delete as applicable.
“Everything is fine, great,” Cameron insisted. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, I’m good. Excellent, even.” She knew she was rambling, but was powerless to stop the words from forming and being spoken aloud. She was anything but in control at this moment in time.
Cuddy frowned. “I take it you’ve heard of the phrase, “Thou doth protest too much”? Come on; tell me what’s going on with you?” In an unexpected move, she leant across the desk, taking Cameron’s hands in her own.
“Really, there’s nothing,” Cameron lied, struggling to keep a blank face even more now Cuddy was physically touching her.
“I’m not stupid, Cameron. Neither is House. Whatever it is you’re hiding; he’ll find out eventually,” she said sombrely. “And to be frank, I myself am worried about you.”
Touched at Cuddy’s words, though she knew she shouldn’t be, Cameron said softly, “You don’t need to be.”
Cuddy sighed, pulling back her hands. Cameron immediately missed the warmth. Defeated, Cuddy said, “Well, I can see this conversation is going nowhere. But remember, if there’s anything you want to talk about, I’m here.”
Forcing another smile, Cameron said as happily as possible, “Thanks.” Standing up, she added, “I’m going to be off now… my shift finished hours ago.”
Nodding, Cuddy watched her go. There was something amiss; of that she was sure. Knowing she was powerless to do anything else, she shook all thoughts of the young immunologist from her mind, and instead, attempted to concentrate on her paperwork.
***