Waiting game; 1/1
Title: Waiting game
Pairing: House, implied House/Cameron, Cameron/Chase
Rating: PG
Summary: Cameron and Chase give House a ride home, and his relationship assessment begins. Short post-The Right Stuff fic.
from the beginning i could see exactly how it would end
-she wants revenge
The engine spluttered, coughed, and died. House ground his teeth in irritation, twisting the handlebars again. The empty parking lot loomed around him, illuminated in sporadic pools of light, echoing with the futile sounds of his dying motorcycle.
Finally he gave up, bowing his head in frustration. His day hadn’t exactly been ideal - as fun as it was haranguing his new gaggle of doctors, the process of elimination was starting to wear him out, and their latest case had not had the most satisfying conclusion. The weather had been particularly warm that morning and he’d wanted to take out the bike, let the wind and the comforting hum of the engine clear his head before coming into work, and now he had to deal with this. Of course.
He scowled, and then bent forward, stubbornly trying the engine one more time. He didn’t become aware of anyone watching him until it died again, and he heard the low murmur of a nearby engine. He turned his head, noticing the car crawling to a stop behind him just as the passenger side window rolled down.
Cameron ticked an eyebrow at him. “Need a ride?”
He lifted the visor on his helmet, eyes drifting over her slowly. Her features were smooth and casual, kindly like always, and he turned his gaze over to the driver’s side, where Chase’s shadowy figure was looking out at him.
He thought he would probably prefer to walk home than get in that car.
“I’m good, thanks.”
“What are you gonna do, call Wilson to give you a ride when we’re right here?”
He sighed, considering her a moment. Chase didn’t say anything and it was obvious he was just being polite. Cameron gave him a wry smile, watching him with those pointed, intent green eyes, obviously unwilling to take no for an answer.
The thought of arguing with her was just too exhausting.
“Fine,” he grunted, kicking out his stand. He pulled off his helmet, hugging it under one arm, eyeing the bike another long, wary moment, because he was going to have to call AAA as soon as he got home. He climbed in the backseat, tossing the helmet down beside him, taking in the smell of carpet and air freshener and Cameron’s faint perfume with barely hidden annoyance. It didn’t help that he felt like a little kid, relegated to the backseat.
“How was your day?” Cameron asked as Chase steered out of the lot, and for a moment he had an absurd image of her as some 1950’s housewife, asking that same question.
“Great,” he said, shortly. “The young unlearned folk still fear me.”
He’d only spoken to her in the ER the other night, and she was obviously attempting to return to some tentative version of their prior relationship, but Chase remained silent. The tension in the air was obvious. House turned his gaze out the window, watching the passing lights impassively, realising it was the first time he’d been alone with the two of them, not only since they’d left his team, but since they’d officially become a couple. Or whatever it was they were. He didn’t particularly care, but the change in status was discomforting.
“How’s tending to the uninteresting and self-mutilated?” he asked.
“Not as boring as you’d think,” Cameron replied easily. “I found your case, didn’t I?”
He studied the back of her head, the unfamiliar blonde. Once he’d gotten over the initial shock of her presence, he’d been a little amused by her familiar tendency to alter her hair with her moods.
“What about you?” he asked Chase, flicking his eyes over to the slightly darker, blonder head. “Any cool Alien-like occurrences in the OR?”
“Can’t say so,” Chase murmured, barely moving his head.
House pursed his lips. He could see Cameron's reflection glancing at him in the side mirror, but when he looked at her she shifted her eyes carefully away .
They were silent for a while, the muted sound of the road slipping by underneath them and cars rushing by in the opposite direction. Chase didn’t need to be directed to his apartment, and House remembered that he’d been there once before. They all had.
He could see Chase’s hands flexing around the steering wheel, a nervous twitch to be sure, and Cameron staring directly out the front window, no doubt uncomfortably aware of her odd position as mediator.
He found it impossible to let the tension fester unacknowledged, especially when silence was so intolerable to him. He tapped his thumb against his cane, delving smoothly into his interrogation. “So. What’s the story, anyway?” he drawled, falsely cheerful. “Who decided who couldn’t live without the other?”
“Cuddy offered me a job back here and I accepted,” Cameron replied evenly.
“And you followed her?” he asked Chase. “How sweet.”
“It was a joint decision,” Cameron answered, in a tone that cautiously warned him to drop the topic.
It was like she didn’t know him at all.
“Funny, I’ve never actually heard of simultaneous thought before. You could be a circus act. Unless you guys are just that in sync. Maybe under that matching hair you have matching brains as well.”
“Cuddy--”
“Cuddy offered us both positions,” Chase said, succinctly. “She went over your head.”
This time, he saw Cameron glance uneasily at Chase.
House lifted an eyebrow. He‘d already gotten his answer back in the operating room - Chase didn’t want to come back to work for him, and he was content to have that settled between them. Considering how accepting he had been of the situation last time they met, he seemed uncharacteristically sombre now, unwilling to mend things between them or return to his former butt kissing ways. House suspected there was more to it than that.
“So let me guess,” he said dryly. “Cameron dragged you back. Or you followed her. That doesn‘t exactly scream joint decision.”
“Does it matter?” Cameron interjected tiredly.
“It matters because you seem so sensitive about it. Which I’m guessing means relationship troubles. Or somebody got cold feet. Either way I’m sensing a weather change in the Bahamas.”
Chase didn’t say anything, turning off onto a suburban street, and Cameron turned her attention out the side window again, keeping her shoulders carefully slack and relaxed. It took her more strain to do so than it would have to showcase her annoyance, and he observed it nonchalantly. He could see the angle of her chin in the side mirror and the way she carefully avoided glancing into it, or risk catching his gaze.
House could tell what the crux of the matter was, and it actually made him a little amused. Chase obviously didn’t enjoy having his relationship questioned by someone who had a history with his girlfriend. It reminded him that he had very… banal and human attachments to these people, and that he played his part in encouraging them.
He got the feeling Chase probably interpreted it as some sort of betrayal, that Cameron had wanted to return to the hospital that fired him, whether or not he actually felt any residual feelings of bitterness towards House. But he enjoyed messing with them and stirring this up because he enjoyed messing with everybody. That was all.
They pulled up in front of his building, and he retrieved his helmet, thankful the drive from hell was over. “Thanks for the ride,” he said, and Chase nodded shortly, swivelling his head and giving House a brief moment of eye-contact.
He had changed. Certainly more so than Cameron, who was still just as caring, idealistic and assured as she had been when she left. Interesting.
House let the door fall shut, starting up the walk to his door. As he paused to retrieve his keys, he gave a sidelong glance back in their general direction, and saw Cameron brush her hand briefly over Chase’s arm, an intimate, comforting gesture that clearly came from months of closeness. Even as she did so her gaze slid away, over House, connecting directly with his through the windshield. There was an intensity and subtle, reluctant unhappiness in her expression that made him stare right back.
He didn’t wonder why.
+
Pairing: House, implied House/Cameron, Cameron/Chase
Rating: PG
Summary: Cameron and Chase give House a ride home, and his relationship assessment begins. Short post-The Right Stuff fic.
from the beginning i could see exactly how it would end
-she wants revenge
The engine spluttered, coughed, and died. House ground his teeth in irritation, twisting the handlebars again. The empty parking lot loomed around him, illuminated in sporadic pools of light, echoing with the futile sounds of his dying motorcycle.
Finally he gave up, bowing his head in frustration. His day hadn’t exactly been ideal - as fun as it was haranguing his new gaggle of doctors, the process of elimination was starting to wear him out, and their latest case had not had the most satisfying conclusion. The weather had been particularly warm that morning and he’d wanted to take out the bike, let the wind and the comforting hum of the engine clear his head before coming into work, and now he had to deal with this. Of course.
He scowled, and then bent forward, stubbornly trying the engine one more time. He didn’t become aware of anyone watching him until it died again, and he heard the low murmur of a nearby engine. He turned his head, noticing the car crawling to a stop behind him just as the passenger side window rolled down.
Cameron ticked an eyebrow at him. “Need a ride?”
He lifted the visor on his helmet, eyes drifting over her slowly. Her features were smooth and casual, kindly like always, and he turned his gaze over to the driver’s side, where Chase’s shadowy figure was looking out at him.
He thought he would probably prefer to walk home than get in that car.
“I’m good, thanks.”
“What are you gonna do, call Wilson to give you a ride when we’re right here?”
He sighed, considering her a moment. Chase didn’t say anything and it was obvious he was just being polite. Cameron gave him a wry smile, watching him with those pointed, intent green eyes, obviously unwilling to take no for an answer.
The thought of arguing with her was just too exhausting.
“Fine,” he grunted, kicking out his stand. He pulled off his helmet, hugging it under one arm, eyeing the bike another long, wary moment, because he was going to have to call AAA as soon as he got home. He climbed in the backseat, tossing the helmet down beside him, taking in the smell of carpet and air freshener and Cameron’s faint perfume with barely hidden annoyance. It didn’t help that he felt like a little kid, relegated to the backseat.
“How was your day?” Cameron asked as Chase steered out of the lot, and for a moment he had an absurd image of her as some 1950’s housewife, asking that same question.
“Great,” he said, shortly. “The young unlearned folk still fear me.”
He’d only spoken to her in the ER the other night, and she was obviously attempting to return to some tentative version of their prior relationship, but Chase remained silent. The tension in the air was obvious. House turned his gaze out the window, watching the passing lights impassively, realising it was the first time he’d been alone with the two of them, not only since they’d left his team, but since they’d officially become a couple. Or whatever it was they were. He didn’t particularly care, but the change in status was discomforting.
“How’s tending to the uninteresting and self-mutilated?” he asked.
“Not as boring as you’d think,” Cameron replied easily. “I found your case, didn’t I?”
He studied the back of her head, the unfamiliar blonde. Once he’d gotten over the initial shock of her presence, he’d been a little amused by her familiar tendency to alter her hair with her moods.
“What about you?” he asked Chase, flicking his eyes over to the slightly darker, blonder head. “Any cool Alien-like occurrences in the OR?”
“Can’t say so,” Chase murmured, barely moving his head.
House pursed his lips. He could see Cameron's reflection glancing at him in the side mirror, but when he looked at her she shifted her eyes carefully away .
They were silent for a while, the muted sound of the road slipping by underneath them and cars rushing by in the opposite direction. Chase didn’t need to be directed to his apartment, and House remembered that he’d been there once before. They all had.
He could see Chase’s hands flexing around the steering wheel, a nervous twitch to be sure, and Cameron staring directly out the front window, no doubt uncomfortably aware of her odd position as mediator.
He found it impossible to let the tension fester unacknowledged, especially when silence was so intolerable to him. He tapped his thumb against his cane, delving smoothly into his interrogation. “So. What’s the story, anyway?” he drawled, falsely cheerful. “Who decided who couldn’t live without the other?”
“Cuddy offered me a job back here and I accepted,” Cameron replied evenly.
“And you followed her?” he asked Chase. “How sweet.”
“It was a joint decision,” Cameron answered, in a tone that cautiously warned him to drop the topic.
It was like she didn’t know him at all.
“Funny, I’ve never actually heard of simultaneous thought before. You could be a circus act. Unless you guys are just that in sync. Maybe under that matching hair you have matching brains as well.”
“Cuddy--”
“Cuddy offered us both positions,” Chase said, succinctly. “She went over your head.”
This time, he saw Cameron glance uneasily at Chase.
House lifted an eyebrow. He‘d already gotten his answer back in the operating room - Chase didn’t want to come back to work for him, and he was content to have that settled between them. Considering how accepting he had been of the situation last time they met, he seemed uncharacteristically sombre now, unwilling to mend things between them or return to his former butt kissing ways. House suspected there was more to it than that.
“So let me guess,” he said dryly. “Cameron dragged you back. Or you followed her. That doesn‘t exactly scream joint decision.”
“Does it matter?” Cameron interjected tiredly.
“It matters because you seem so sensitive about it. Which I’m guessing means relationship troubles. Or somebody got cold feet. Either way I’m sensing a weather change in the Bahamas.”
Chase didn’t say anything, turning off onto a suburban street, and Cameron turned her attention out the side window again, keeping her shoulders carefully slack and relaxed. It took her more strain to do so than it would have to showcase her annoyance, and he observed it nonchalantly. He could see the angle of her chin in the side mirror and the way she carefully avoided glancing into it, or risk catching his gaze.
House could tell what the crux of the matter was, and it actually made him a little amused. Chase obviously didn’t enjoy having his relationship questioned by someone who had a history with his girlfriend. It reminded him that he had very… banal and human attachments to these people, and that he played his part in encouraging them.
He got the feeling Chase probably interpreted it as some sort of betrayal, that Cameron had wanted to return to the hospital that fired him, whether or not he actually felt any residual feelings of bitterness towards House. But he enjoyed messing with them and stirring this up because he enjoyed messing with everybody. That was all.
They pulled up in front of his building, and he retrieved his helmet, thankful the drive from hell was over. “Thanks for the ride,” he said, and Chase nodded shortly, swivelling his head and giving House a brief moment of eye-contact.
He had changed. Certainly more so than Cameron, who was still just as caring, idealistic and assured as she had been when she left. Interesting.
House let the door fall shut, starting up the walk to his door. As he paused to retrieve his keys, he gave a sidelong glance back in their general direction, and saw Cameron brush her hand briefly over Chase’s arm, an intimate, comforting gesture that clearly came from months of closeness. Even as she did so her gaze slid away, over House, connecting directly with his through the windshield. There was an intensity and subtle, reluctant unhappiness in her expression that made him stare right back.
He didn’t wonder why.
+