Disclaimer: I don't own. Not mine. sigh
A/N: So.. somehow this got all screwed up and my chapter one is gone! I'm so confused. I'm doing it again. Bear with me if you got stuck with either chapter two or seven shrugs
The sun shone brightly, casting a warm glow across the soft features of Dr. Allison Cameron. Summer, it seemed, had finally arrived. Her spinach salad sat largely untouched as Cameron sat alone at a stone table in the hospital's cafeteria courtyard, reveling in the fresh, warm afternoon.
She closed her eyes against the glare and exhaled slowly, smiling ever so slightly-- it was a beautiful day.
Greg House emerged from the cafeteria doors, tray in hand, and halted upon seeing her. Her back was turned to him-- her face lifted to take in the soothing rays. He frowned slightly and turned to find seating inside.
"What are you doing?" came a voice from behind him-- Wilson. "You're blocking traffic-- hurry up and sit".
"I think... I'd rather go inside" House said, "looks like rain".
Wilson frowned at him: "Are you crazy? It's a beautiful day. Even you could use a little sunshine now and again" he retorted.
House grimaced, "sometimes, just because something's beautiful..."
"Come on" Wilson interrupted, turning to find an empty table.
House sighed and followed. Well, at least he was on the other side of the courtyard from her-- lessened the chance for any unnecessary interaction with the sensitive, yet oddly forward, Cameron.
House sat, facing Cameron's back, and bit into his Reuben sandwich with a vague look of pleasure on his gruff face-- no cafeteria gruel for him, oh no, he had stopped at 'Beny's' on the way in this morning and it made his day.
"Got any plans tonight?" Wilson was asking, absent-mindedly.
House glanced up at him, eyebrows raised; mouth full.
Wilson shook his head and raised his palms to face House.
"Wait" he scoffed, "who am I asking? Sorry..."
House chewed his lunch thoughtfully before swallowing.
"What are you babbling about?"
Wilson shrugged and bit a carrot stick.
"Nothing, I was just thinking, why don't we get out tonight-- hit 'Mary's' down the street?"
House laughed, almost choking.
"Have you been sniffing formaldehyde? Isn't that that dive the hospital staff floods into every night?"
Wilson shrugged again, chewing.
"I dunno--I've heard good things" he said lamely.
House arched a brow and surveyed his companion.
"Who is she?" he finally asked.
Wilson looked shocked-- or was it 'guilty'?
"Why must you always assume the worst?" he questioned defensively.
House drank in a deep swallow of his cola before answering.
"It's what I do. I bet it's that tight little blonde in accounting; oh, or the red head at the nurses' station? I saw you chatting her up the other day" he said, not missing a beat.
Wilson shook his head, chuckling softly.
"'Chatting her up'" he scoffed.
Despite himself, Houses' gaze wandered to rest on Cameron. He couldn't help it-- she was directly in his line of sight.
"What could she possibly be doing" he thought, "sitting there in the sun like that?"
"Probably fantasizing about my sculpted ass" he scoffed.
The words passed his lips quickly, and without his express permission.
Wilson stopped cold and gazed at his friend across the table.
"I'm... sorry?" he stifled a laugh, unsure of whether to laugh or retreat.
House sat, frozen a moment.
"Damn tourettes" he said brightly, stuffing his mouth full with his remaining sandwich.
Wilson frowned vaguely.
"So... that's a 'no' on 'Mary's' then?" he questioned, taking a sip of his iced tea.
House glanced up at his friend and knit his brow before barking loudly, twitching tourett-like.
"Uh... yeah" he grumbled.
Over Wilson's shoulder, House observed Cameron, who picked silently at her salad with disinterest.
"Who's that?" he wondered, careful to contain the words within his internal dialogue this time.
A tall man, perhaps late twenties, in a worn black leather jacket, approached her from behind and gripped her rib cage suddenly. Cameron let out a strangled shriek and leapt, several feet she was sure, out of her seat.
"What the he..." she fumed, turning to face her attacker.
The sun blinded her, casting a shadow of a man's face.
"Heya, gidget".
Cameron's eyes widened, a smile slowly breaking across her lovely face.
"Mark?" she questioned, voice heightened with shock.
The man leaned forward, his straight nose almost brushing hers, his face no longer shrouded in shadow. It was him.
"What" he whispered, "somebody else calls you 'gidget'?" he laughed.
Cameron stifled a laugh and stood to face him.
"No" she answered, "and don't spread that around, either" she scolded.
Throwing his arms around her waist, 'Mark' lifted Cameron easily off her feat and spun her around. Cameron released a brief laugh and slapped him gently on the shoulder, forcing herself to be serious.
"Stop it!" she hissed, feeling that all eyes must certainly be on her.
"I have to work here, you know" she admonished, "put me down!".
Frowning playfully, he returned her to the ground. Cameron adjusted her lab coat self consciously. Gripping his sleeve tightly, Cameron lead him away from the tables to a more secluded area of the courtyard.
Safely removed from the cluster of staff and patients, Cameron linked her arm comfortably though his as shook her head, laughing softly.
"What are you doing here?" she smiled.
He shrugged.
"I was in the neighborhood, and the last time I was home, your mother said you worked here. I took a chance-- actually, I asked for you at the desk, was directed to an office, and some Australian guy told me I might find you here" he explained.
Cameron blinked, still surprised to see him after so long.
"I thought you were in Vegas?" she questioned, stopping at a wooden bench and sitting down.
He joined her and shook his head.
"Nope-- not for a few months" he corrected.
"I'm passing through; well, I'm drifting. But I was drifting through Jersey so I thought, 'what the hell?', I haven't seen you since..." he trailed off.
Carmon nodded.
"I know" she said softly.
Forcing herself to brighten, Cameron smiled , turning to face him.
"It's good to see you" she said softly.
Mark smiled, noting the brief flash of sadness in her mossy eyes.
"Yeah, you too".
Cameron smiled, genuinely happy to see this man. Suddenly, her pager vibrated, startling her. She looked at the view screen and knit her brow slightly.
"I... gotta go" she said hesitantly.
"But, hang out for a second. I'll be back-- this shouldn't take long".
She stood, and with a brief look over her shoulder at him, she left the courtyard.
House watched the encounter, uncertain as to what was transpiring. Who was this man? Why was he here? Surely they must know each other, intimately, for him to pick her up like that.
Houses' keen eyes followed as they left the tables together, stopping at a bench behind a cluster of bushes. Vaguely, House recognized Wilson's voice droning on in the background.