Reluctance
Chapter 10 – The Master Plan

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You with the dark burly hair and the breathtaking eyes,
Your inquiring glance that leaves me undone.

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"Now boarding flight number three eighty-two, to Seattle," a woman's voice spoke over the microphone.

House stood from the uncomfortable airport chair and dry swallowed a Vicodin, his boarding pass clutched in his left hand.

"We ask those passengers holding first class tickets, those traveling with small children, and those requiring special assistance to please board at this time," the same woman's voice instructed.

House, with a furtive glance over his shoulder, discarded his coffee cup in the trashcan on the way to the gate. He glared at the woman attendant who offered him help, flashing his first class ticket in her face.

"Right this way, sir," the woman gestured.

He hobbled down the ramp leading towards the plane. As usual, the crew was waiting by the door to greet the oncoming travelers. One flight attendant, rather blonde and bubbly, gave House a beaming smile.

"Welcome! Thank you for choosing our airline! We hope you enjoy the flight!" she recited.

House, amused, winked at her and gestured to the back of the plane while making a rather inappropriate comment.

"I'd enjoy it a lot more if you were waiting for me in the bathroom," he paused, "topless."

The stewardess was quite appalled. She raised an eyebrow, trying to gauge his seriousness. House didn't let his gaze waver; his blue eyes pierced into her muddy brown ones. A flush rose into her cheeks as he stared at her. House chuckled and winked again before making his way slowly down the aisle.

Ah, got to love first class! The leather seat was big enough for two of him, plus his cane, with room to spare. There was a TV screen imbedded into the seat in front of him, ready and waiting, complete with DVD player and a jack for headphones. House fiddled with it for a moment before stretching out on the seat sideways, his back by the window. Luckily, his seat was on the left side of the plane (if you were facing forwards). It allowed him to prop his bad leg up on the seat beside him, unoccupied for now, while his good leg rested, slightly bent at the knee, toe tapping on the floor. His cane lay abandoned on the ground by his feet.

Just as he was settled, a rather buff-looking man in a business suit stopped next to him. The man consulted his ticket, looked at the numbers over his head, then back at the ticket again. Laptop in hand, the man finally said something to House, who for the past minute had been staring at him like he grew another head.

"I think that's my seat," he gestured to where House's leg was draped over the leather.

"Oh, that's nice," House replied with a shrug.

The man, expecting House to move, was rather disgruntled when House looked back down at the Gameboy in his hands.

"Would you mind moving?" the man asked carefully.

"Yes," House said simply.

Mr. Businessman narrowed his eyes and stood tall to his full height. He now towered over House, who remained lounging across both seats.

"Let me rephrase that. Move now," the man demanded.

House pressed 'pause' on his Gameboy. Fumbling on the floor, he found his cane. He laid it across his lap, quirking an eyebrow at the man. By now, the traffic was backing up in the aisle. A bubbly voice foreshadowed a solution to House's problem.

"Excuse me, excuse me," the blonde stewardess pushed her way to their aisle. "What seems to be the problem here, gentlemen?"

House immediately portrayed the bullied cripple.

"This nice man here won't give up his seat to an old cripple," House pouted. "I need the extra leg room."

The businessman, who by now had realized it would be to his benefit to be agreeable, shrugged his shoulders.

"Sorry," he said.

"Sir, you can sit over here," the stewardess directed him across the aisle, flashing a look at House.

With a smug look on his face, House settled back to his previous position and picked up his Gameboy once again.

By now the coach passengers had started to board. It was inevitable that he would have to face Cameron soon. That was one thing he hadn't considered; what in the hell was he going to say to her? Of course she would want to know why he was on her plane. He'd think about that later.

As it turned out, later was soon enough. He happened to look up just as she was getting on the plane. She was beautiful, and House immediately locked his eyes back on his Gameboy. Maybe she wouldn't notice him.

"House?" Cameron asked cautiously. "What are you doing here?"

No such luck. Sighing, he flicked off his Gameboy and met her gaze.

"I'm going to Seattle. Wonderful city, rains a lot," he replied calmly.

She stared at him, dumbfounded. He watched the mix of emotions pass across her face, and suddenly her features clicked into place; resentment.

"House!" she warned, her voice getting shrill.

House sighed again and reached into his jacket pocket. As Cameron stood there, blocking traffic, he unfolded her note and read it again.

"I needed to get away from everything, the hospital, my life, you-" he mused.

Cameron grabbed the note from his hand, furious and flushed. Crumpling it into a ball, she tossed it back to him. Eyes blazing, she spoke with a controlled voice.

"We'll talk about this later," she said, stomping off to her seat in the back of the plane.

House watched her go, something dancing across his face. Amusement, perhaps? He didn't really know how she would react exactly, but he guessed right when he thought anger. House 1, Cameron 0.

An hour later, just as House was drifting off into a Vicodin-induced sleep, Cameron was ready to talk. He felt a warm hand on his arm, urging him to wake up. Shifting, he opened his eyes a crack and saw her standing there. House sat up and moved his leg, allowing her to sit in the seat next to him. She was quiet, a gentle warmth seeping from her body into his.

"I assume this is later, which means you need to talk?" House broke the silence.

Cameron sighed and leaned her head forward, the curtain of her hair hiding her face from his gaze.

"I'm sorry for getting upset," she began.

"Justifiable," House replied.

"I just didn't know how to react," she paused. "It was a shock."

He didn't say anything so she continued.

"A part of me was angry at you because you treated me like crap the last time I saw you," she stopped.

He cringed with the truth of her words.

"But the bigger part of me was ecstatic that you actually want me enough to follow-" here he cut her off.

"You think I want you? You think that's why I'm here? I'm not your knight in shining armor. I'm not your prince, Cameron," he spat.

He knew he was lying to himself.

Her expression changed from calm to confused.

"What about the kiss?" she asked.

"The kiss was a mistake. I don't know why I let it happen," he sighed.

He was lying through his teeth. The moment the words were out his mouth, House very nearly regretted them. Very nearly.

"Then why are you here, House? What do you want?" she persisted.

"I'm here because I want you to come back to work. Cuddy hired a dumb-ass as your replacement," he effectively changed the topic from feelings to business.

"I thought we already discussed this, House. I can't come back to work," she inhaled. "Nothing you can do will change that."

"Not even chasing you to Seattle?" House pondered.

She shook her head, eyes downcast.

"No."

He never thought about what he'd do if his master plan didn't work.

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There is no book anywhere on the matter,
Only as soon as I see you do I understand.

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A/N: Okay I lied. New chapter for you all! I hate it though… I guess it feels too repeated, except this time they're on a plane. Oh well. I started the first half a long time ago and just finished the second. Seems kind of choppy. This is definitely not where I thought this story was going to go. At this rate, I'll never be done with it! Gap! Review please, tell me what you think. Also, check out my new story, Always Me!

Belligerent-road-pylon, guess what you get? The subject of my next musing will be greatly influenced by your ideas! (hint, hint) Toss 'em this way!

I was reading over some House stories and found that somebody did, in fact, send Cameron to Seattle. I apologize for using the same place! I could swear that it was in an actual episode, that's why it seemed so familiar. If it needs to be changed, I'll take care of it.