Disclaimer: I do not own House MD; it is created by David Shore, and affiliated to FOX Broadcasting Network.
Parings: House/Cameron
Rating: K+
A/N: Arg! I'm so sorry, I gave up on my 'fan fiction writing life' (as you've probably noticed) but I came back and read some reviews, and I really truly feel bad :( for those of you still willing to read, I have chapter 5. I wrote this awhile ago, I just never typed everything up.
My apologies, please criticize!
Not Without Flaws
Chapter 5
House had nothing to say in response as he finished his waffle. It's been a while since he's had a decent breakfast.
"Got milk?" He said suddenly, breaching the silence in the atmosphere.
Cameron chuckled softly. "Yeah. It's in the refrigerator. Help yourself."
"And the cups?" He leaned himself out of the chair.
"Mmn . . ." Cameron looked around the room, searching with her eyes. "I really need to buy some more cups, the only spare was that mug I gave you. Did you leave it in my bedroom?" Her heart skipped a beat. In my bedroom? That doesn't sound right . . .
"Yep. I'm not going back there to get it. Too far." What House failed to mention was the effect of the scent in the room. He heard Cameron mumble something along the lines of "Lazy butt . . ." and continued. "What was that? Lend me yours? Why thank you! How very generous." House reached in and grabbed the white mug that sat on the table in front of Cameron.
She cocked her head to one side and allowed a small pout to form on her lips. "When did I say that?" But House had already dumped its previous contents in the sink. "What I said, what that you're a lazy butt." She grinned.
"Am I?" House pulled open the refrigerator door and rummaged through.
"Yes. And it's right there, on the side."
House looked to the right. "Oh." He took out the milk carton and poured until the mug was full to the brim.
". . . You know I drank out of that already right. . ?" Cameron asked as House made his way back to the table.
He gave her a nonchalant look. "Yeah. HIV is transmitted through body fluids. You know, through sex, drugs etc. Not saliva. Don't fret." He gave a few pats on her shoulder.
Cameron rolled her eyes. "I know that."
"Oh. So . . . you were worried about koodies."
"No! I was just informing you the fact that I had already drank out of the mug, incase you fume afterwards and blame me for not telling you."
"Why would I 'fume'? Don't you think I'd be itching for an indirect kiss? Joining of the lips, transference of one another's saliva?" House squinted.
Cameron exhaled in defeat and got up to retriever her coat. "You know it's amazing. Somehow, you always manage to make everything so negative." She paused and added, "Not to mention disgusting."
"I hate it when people say 'not to mention'. They end up mentioning anyway." Seeing his own coat was on the clothes hangar, he started in its direction.
"Come on." Cameron handed him his coat jacket. "Get out. Work should be starting soon, Wilson's no doubt worried about you."
"Oh . . . crap." House stepped outside and breathed in the fresh scent of a Friday morning. He's going to need a clear mind to deal with Wilson's teasing.
> > >
The elevator doors opened.
House was just about to step out when the sight of Wilson's smug face came into view. Damn it. "Ah Dr. Wilson, how pleasant to see you!" he jabbed the 'close door' button with his cane. "Sorry, no time to dawdle."
Wilson slipped inside just as the doors clasped shut. "You never use the word 'dawdle'."
"Funny. I recall using it just seconds ago." He squinted, focusing absent mindedly on the solid steel doors in front of them.
"Slept well last night?" Wilson had a smirk on his face.
"Yes in fact I did." But he sounded unsure.
"I would have too. Curled up in bed with—"
House cut him off as he cleared his throat.
Wilson chuckled. "—with a warm cup of coffee. Or was it a mug?"
House coughed out several times. How could he have—?
"I guess the phenol gas is still having a toll on you huh?"
"Looks like it." He paused. "But this isn't getting us anywhere."
"Exactly. So why don't you just tell me about it?"
"No. I was talking about the elevator."
Wilson looked up to see the display panel still read '2', they had forgotten to choose a destination. He laughed and shook his head. "Where to?"
"Away from you." House tapped 'open door' with his cane and limped out. It hadn't gone as bad as he thought it would.
> > >
"Mrs. Wei, I'm just going to get a blood sample from your daughter." There was a bit of frustration in Chase's tone as he reasoned with their patient's mother.
"But Lin's only 7! Are you sure it won't hurt her?" the woman was near tears.
"It'll only sting a bit. We need to test for any viral infections present."
Seeing she wasn't the least convinced, Foreman stepped in. "Please, this is important. The sooner we confirm a diagnosis, the better her chances of—"
"Surviving?" Mrs. Wei cupped her face in her hands and shook her head. "No, she can't die . . . she can't . . ." she trailed off in tears.
Foreman gave Cameron a strained look, pleading silently for her help. Cameron nodded and moved beside the woman. She put a hand on her shoulder. "Mr. Wei, what Dr. Foreman meant was that it's better to start the treatment as early as possible, so Lin could get better sooner. Trust me, your daughter's conditions are fairly stable, the antibiotics should be suppressing her fever right now." She paused. "We really do need a blood sample."
Slowly, the woman nodded her consent, she looked frail. Cameron smiled knowingly. "You're doing the right thing."
"Here, let's go grab you a cup of coffee in the cafeteria." Foreman offered. It would be wise to extract the sample without the presence of a paranoid mother, who knows what she'd do. "Or . . . tea, if you prefer."
Again, she just nodded and started walking alongside Foreman. To call it a walk was already pushing it; a shuffle might be more accurate.
They rounded a corner and collided with House. "Damn!" House grunted and clutched his leg, fumbling out his Vicodin bottle.
"Dr. House, are you alright?" Foreman advanced to help, but House waved him back. He dry swallowed a few pills and gritted his teeth. "Fine."
Noticing the woman, he muttered to Foreman. "Isn't that the patient's mom? I didn't know you took a liking to married Asian women with kids." He flicked his eyebrows up just once.
Foreman glared at House only to see the grin on his face. "Good for you." House added and hobbled off.
"Who was that?" the mother asked.
Foreman frowned. "No one important, ignore him. Let's go."
Back in the patient's room, Chase had already acquired Lin's blood sample. She sure took it a lot better than her mother. "Rest well." He headed off and motioned for Cameron to do the same.
"I'll be just a minute." Cameron pulled a chair next to the hospital bed and sat down. She placed the back of her fingers on the young girl's forehead. "Looks like your fever's gone down a bit." She smiled.
Lin nodded cheerfully. "Do you think I can see all my friends soon?" she rubbed her eyes.
"Yes I'm sure. Now you just relax alright?"
"Okay, Dr. Cameron." She grinned.
Cameron turned as the steady 'tap tap' of a cane neared. "Dr House." She greeted him.
House hobbled over to where she was. "Are the antibiotics doing their job?" he bent over and pressed his palm on the patient's forehead, it made her shiver. "Good." House was just about to retreat his hand when the girl took a hold of it.
"Hey doctor, your hands are really cold. Don't you think so, Dr. Cameron?" Lin brought his hand up and laid the back of it against Cameron's cheek.
The warmth of the rosy shade of flesh made his fingers tingle. Uncomfortable, House started to pull away when Cameron turned her head abruptly. For a flicker of a second, his fingers brushed against her supple lips. She grabbed his hand in her own and locked gazes with him. House felt his heart rate increase and his throat stifled. What is she thinking, this is a patient's room for crying out loud! She can't— But when he saw the sternness in her spheres, House realized that they were not filled with love, or desire, but urgency.
"House." Her voice was firm. "Your hands are not cold, they're warm."
House's eyes shot wide open. She could not have been any clearer. Turning his attention quickly to the patient, he saw that she was now writhing around in her bed; sweat pouring down her pale face, now clouded with an agonizing frown. "Shit. Cut the drip, her body's reacting negatively to it. Her fever's rising back up." House held her squirming arms down securely. "Somebody! Get in here!"
A/N: Yep, I thought I'd turn back to our medical side of the story, I'm hoping to complete this soon. Want to get on with my other story, which is barely started. >>;
I really think I can commit to this, your support really is very important to me. Thank you so much in advance.
ACMD