FIC- The Discovery Part Ten
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.
***
Once she had finished her shift, Cameron changed from her smart pants into a pair of jeans, wanting to look less formal. She wasn’t sure what was happening with Cuddy, and was just about to go and find her, when Chase sidled up to her.
“So you ready for that drink then?” He said hopefully.
Cameron’s heart sank as she remembered the plans she had made with him. She was going to back out, but one look at Chase’s face told her that he was looking forward to it, and that letting him down would just be plain cruel; exactly what Cameron wasn’t. So, plastering a smile on her face she said, “Sure.”
“Great!” Chase exclaimed. “Shall we take your car or mine?”
“Uhh, yours,” Cameron said distractedly. “I just need to stop by Cuddy’s office first to drop off some paperwork, so I’ll meet you out front?”
“Ok,” Chase nodded. “See you in a sec.” He left the diagnostics room, still smiling. Cameron sighed as she realised she was going to have to make it clear to him that there was no way they’d get back together. It was not going to be pleasant. What she was looking forward to even less was telling Cuddy that she was going for a drink with Chase instead of talking to her about what was happening between them.
Deciding it would be better to get it over and done with quickly, rather like pulling off a band aid; Cameron made her way to Cuddy’s office. She was nervous about how she would word her plans, but knew that it was her only option. Lying to Cuddy was pointless; not only could she not think of a good enough excuse, but it wasn’t exactly a good idea to start lying to someone before you were even officially together. That was anything but a good basis for a relationship.
This was why Cameron fully intended on telling the truth. She went straight through to Cuddy’s office, her secretary having obviously finished for the day. Cameron found herself glad of this; she didn’t particularly want to be overheard, no matter how slim the chance of this. Forcing herself to smile, Cameron entered the office after knocking.
Upon seeing that it was Cameron, Cuddy smiled and said teasingly, “You know, you’re supposed to wait for me to say “Come in” before you do so.”
Taking her seriously, Cameron started to apologise. “I didn’t mean to…”
“Relax, it was a joke!” Cuddy exclaimed.
“Oh,” Cameron suddenly felt foolish. “Well, I just came here to say… I’m not going to be able to see you until later.”
Cuddy’s face fell. “Why?”
Taking a deep breath, Cameron prepared herself. “I sort of… promised Chase I’d go for a drink with him earlier.”
“I remember,” Cuddy said coldly, her mood rapidly changing. “Can’t you do it another night?”
“No,” Cameron shook her head. “I said I would, and I’m going to. I’ll see you later though; I’ll only be an hour or so.”
Cuddy continued to look annoyed, and when Cameron moved to take her hand, she pulled away. “Please don’t be like this,” Cameron pleaded. “It’s a drink.”
“He’s your ex, Cameron,” Cuddy said harshly.
“Exactly!” Cameron exclaimed. “My ex. And in case you’ve forgotten, I’ve had a crush on you for the past few months. If I wanted Chase, I could have had him anytime.”
“Doesn’t mean I don’t get to be jealous,” Cuddy muttered.
Cameron grinned. “And whilst I admit that jealousy can be sexy, it really isn’t needed in this case.” She moved towards Cuddy, glad when she didn’t pull away this time. “So I’ll see you later?”
Cuddy sighed, nodding her head. “Come to mine?”
“Sure,” Cameron smiled. She wanted nothing more than to kiss Cuddy, but knew it would be a stupid thing to do when the walls were made of glass and the blinds weren’t shut. “I’ll need your address.”
Cuddy broke contact with Cameron, moving towards her desk and scribbling her address on a piece of paper. She handed it to Cameron saying, “Here. And don’t be too late.”
“I won’t,” Cameron promised. “See you soon.”
***
Surprisingly, drinking with Chase wasn’t as painful as Cameron thought it might be. She was worried that he would be hitting on her every two minutes, but in fact, he seemed to have understood that they were drinking as friends, and friends only.
At least, until he broached the subject of their relationship. “So, can I ask you something? About us?”
Cameron sighed. “Go on.”
“Did you… did you ever think we might work? Or did you know all along that I wasn’t the one, for want of a better phrase?” He asked, curiously.
Cameron pondered her answer, wanting to be truthful. “I knew we wouldn’t last,” she eventually answered. “But I wanted us to. And if… if it was just us then things might not have ended as soon as they did, but a lot has changed since then.”
“House,” Chase couldn’t help the trace of bitterness in his voice. “You’re sleeping with him.”
“What?” Cameron tried not to laugh. “No! Why would you think that?”
Chase shrugged. “He’s been… different with you lately. Like you share a special secret and no one else is privy to it.”
Cameron knew she had to choose her words carefully, not wanting Chase to know about what had happened between herself and Cuddy. It was bad enough that House, and therefore Wilson by proxy, knew. She didn’t need anyone else finding out, before herself and Cuddy had even begun their possible relationship. “House has just been pestering me lately, saying that I’m behaving differently,” Cameron answered. “It’s just because I’m over him, Chase. Yeah, I used to have a crush on him, and no, I don’t anymore. He doesn’t like that and so he follows me around and tries to find out things about my personal life.”
Chase nodded. “So you really aren’t seeing him?”
“No,” Cameron said adamantly.
“Are you seeing anyone else?” Chase asked awkwardly.
“I…” Cameron’s voice faltered. “No.” She felt slightly guilty for saying so, but it wasn’t as if she was seeing Cuddy. Not yet, anyway.
Chase smiled. “I’m glad. I mean, I know there’s no chance of you and I, but I’m glad you’re not wasting yourself on some guy who doesn’t deserve you. You should wait for the right one.”
Cameron giggled. Though she wasn’t drunk the alcohol was starting to take effect, and so, without being able to help it, she blurted out, “Or girl.”
Chase frowned. “Huh?”
“Wait for the right girl,” Cameron clarified.
“Ohhh!” Chase exclaimed, his eyes widening in realization. “You mean… you like women?”
Cameron blushed at Chase’s choice of phrasing. “I guess.”
“But… is that why you split up with me? For some mystery woman?” Chase couldn’t stop himself from asking.
Shaking her head vehemently, Cameron insisted, “No. Look Chase, let me just explain something. There was no one else I ended things with you for, and this is just a drink between friends. We’ll never be anything more, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to spend time with you, I just don’t want to spend time with you as a lover, ok?”
Surprisingly, Chase said, “Sure,” in understanding. “I’m just glad you didn’t dump me for House.”
“No,” Cameron sighed, wondering when that whole ‘episode’ would be forgotten. Wrapping things up, she stated, “Anyway, I’d better be off. I’m going to see if there’s a taxi outside.”
“It’s fine, I’ll give you a lift,” Chase offered. He’d been drinking non-alcoholic drinks the entire evening, preferring to be a hundred percent sober whilst driving.
“No, honestly, don’t worry.” Cameron told him. “You stay here… pull some girl if you must.” She grinned at him.
“Yeah, right,” Chase rolled his eyes. “Because after being seen here with you I’m really going to get approached.”
Cameron thought for a moment. “Tell them I’m your sister?”
Chase made a face. “Gross. Thinking of you as my sister… that’s wrong!”
“Well I’m sure you’ll think of something,” Cameron stood, slightly unsteady on her feet. “Good night Chase.”
“Night,” Chase replied. “I’ll stay here for a bit but I’ll probably head off soon. I’m sure I’ll sleep peacefully tonight knowing that you won’t be having wild sex with our boss.”
Cameron laughed. “You’re right there.” Walking away, she continued to smile to herself. She knew she wasn’t being entirely truthful with Chase, but it wasn’t too much of a lie, was it?
They weren’t thinking of the same boss.
***