House: House/Cameron, Emotions: Surprise
Title: Found Discarded
Author: rosehiptea
Theme: Regret
Rating: PG-13 for innuendo/talk
Word Count: 505
Cross-posted to rosehiptea and house_cameron.
House probably wouldn't want to her to go through his desk to look for a pen. But considering that House invades people's lockers for fun, Cameron really doesn't care. Digging through the messy drawer, she tosses aside used tissues, comic books, and a condom which she tries not to think about.
She doesn't find a pen, but she does find a photograph. It's a child with short dark hair and a lopsided smile, sitting on a swing. Six years old, possibly; Cameron doesn't have much experience with kids. Finding a picture like this in House's drawer surprises her.
House sneaks up behind her while she is still blinking at the photograph.
"I never told you about him, did I. William."
"William?" Cameron squints at the picture.
"My son."
"I never knew you had a son," she says, giving him a puzzled look.
"It's a long and sad story..."
"Did he die a tragic death soon after this picture was taken?" asks Cameron.
House looks surprised for once.
"Come on, this picture is older than that. It's obviously you."
House smiles sarcastically and sits down in the nearest chair.
"Yeah. That's me. Widdle baby House."
"Why do you keep it?" She shouldn't ask. But after all this time there's not much point in worrying about offending him.
"Memories of my warm and happy childhood?"
Cameron shakes her head; everyone's heard enough about his parents by now.
"A reminder that at least I'm not that kid anymore."
She looks at him sideways, but he seems dead serious, though it's hard to tell with House. He probably thought she might fall for the illegitimate child story too.
"Who took the picture?"
"My dad. "
"You're smiling, but you look sad."
"You noticed? That wasn't unusual, with him. Things were never what he wanted."
By "things," she is certain House means himself, but even Cameron is afraid going to follow that up.
"Are you really glad to not be him anymore?"
House nods, still serious. "I had two legs then, but other than that, pretty much."
So there are things in his life he's thankful for, possibly.
As if he's reading her mind, he says, "Don't go telling everyone I have feelings. I'll deny it all in the morning."
Cameron holds up the condom. "I'll just tell them all you're having sex in the office."
"And I'll tell them it was with you. And a chicken."
She tells herself she isn't blushing, that she's too mature for that.
"Let's get busy, then," she says, but she throws the condom back in the drawer. "I'm not going to ask... but I'm glad you're not that kid anymore either."
"But I had a warm and fuzzy soul!"
Cameron reaches out and holds his hand for a moment. "You still feel warm."
As she leaves, he touches her face and looks directly at her, as if her is really thinking about her and not the next smart remark. Though she knows nothing else will happen right now, it's better than a kiss.
Author: rosehiptea
Theme: Regret
Rating: PG-13 for innuendo/talk
Word Count: 505
Cross-posted to rosehiptea and house_cameron.
House probably wouldn't want to her to go through his desk to look for a pen. But considering that House invades people's lockers for fun, Cameron really doesn't care. Digging through the messy drawer, she tosses aside used tissues, comic books, and a condom which she tries not to think about.
She doesn't find a pen, but she does find a photograph. It's a child with short dark hair and a lopsided smile, sitting on a swing. Six years old, possibly; Cameron doesn't have much experience with kids. Finding a picture like this in House's drawer surprises her.
House sneaks up behind her while she is still blinking at the photograph.
"I never told you about him, did I. William."
"William?" Cameron squints at the picture.
"My son."
"I never knew you had a son," she says, giving him a puzzled look.
"It's a long and sad story..."
"Did he die a tragic death soon after this picture was taken?" asks Cameron.
House looks surprised for once.
"Come on, this picture is older than that. It's obviously you."
House smiles sarcastically and sits down in the nearest chair.
"Yeah. That's me. Widdle baby House."
"Why do you keep it?" She shouldn't ask. But after all this time there's not much point in worrying about offending him.
"Memories of my warm and happy childhood?"
Cameron shakes her head; everyone's heard enough about his parents by now.
"A reminder that at least I'm not that kid anymore."
She looks at him sideways, but he seems dead serious, though it's hard to tell with House. He probably thought she might fall for the illegitimate child story too.
"Who took the picture?"
"My dad. "
"You're smiling, but you look sad."
"You noticed? That wasn't unusual, with him. Things were never what he wanted."
By "things," she is certain House means himself, but even Cameron is afraid going to follow that up.
"Are you really glad to not be him anymore?"
House nods, still serious. "I had two legs then, but other than that, pretty much."
So there are things in his life he's thankful for, possibly.
As if he's reading her mind, he says, "Don't go telling everyone I have feelings. I'll deny it all in the morning."
Cameron holds up the condom. "I'll just tell them all you're having sex in the office."
"And I'll tell them it was with you. And a chicken."
She tells herself she isn't blushing, that she's too mature for that.
"Let's get busy, then," she says, but she throws the condom back in the drawer. "I'm not going to ask... but I'm glad you're not that kid anymore either."
"But I had a warm and fuzzy soul!"
Cameron reaches out and holds his hand for a moment. "You still feel warm."
As she leaves, he touches her face and looks directly at her, as if her is really thinking about her and not the next smart remark. Though she knows nothing else will happen right now, it's better than a kiss.