So, this is the end. I have the sequel started, but nothing really concrete yet except for the idea. I'd like to thank everyone whose read this and reviewed. The support I get is one of the things that keeps me writing. Also thank you to the people who just read it. Feel free to PM me if you want to talk. I'm off to a party and won't be home until tomorrow, but I'll respond. Some other fics will be up soon. Hugs and cookies,
Jess
Chapter: The Final Chapter
The plane ride back to New Jersey was pretty quiet.
Ellie, Shi and Allie spent almost the entire time playing cards. They taught the three doctors how to play dice – a game based entirely on luck and watched Chase cream everyone, much to House's dismay.
When the pilot instructed everyone to fasten their seatbelts, the six Cameron/Dyers did so in silence.
As soon as the plane landed House told Foreman and Chase (in very few words) to scram after they said good-bye so Cameron could have a minute alone.
Both stared at him, waiting for him to leave also, but House stared them down. He knew that although they were doctors who put pieces of puzzles together everyday it didn't mean that they would solve the one Allison Cameron and Gregory House so easily.
"We'll see you soon Lee, Christmas is coming up really soon."
"I know." Cameron wiped at her eyes. "But I'll miss you guys."
"It'll be Christmas before you know it and you'll be cursing all of us because you have to go shopping."
"Shut up Matt." She glowered at him, but there was a hint of a smile on her lips.
"It's not like it's not true."
"And it's not like you don't do the exact same thing too."
The five Cameron's exchanged jokes for a few more minutes before they all hugged Allie tightly.
The guys shook hands with Greg while Ellie and Shi both hugged him tightly.
"We'll be back soon Al, no tears, m'kay?" Ellie hugged Allie one more time, and she nodded, albeit sadly.
"I love you."
"Love you too."
The siblings disappeared one by one until the only one that remained was PJ.
"Call me no matter what kiddo. Day or night."
Allie nodded and sighed. "You'll look after Shi for me, right?"
"For everyone." PJ corrected. House wasn't surprised by his answer. The youngest Cameron – blood, step or nothing – was just as important to PJ as his four oldest step-kids. It didn't matter that she wasn't his. That he could walk away at any moment and ask 'why the hell am I looking after this kid?'
"And call me."
"You can bet on it." PJ leaned towards Allie and picked her up in a sweeping hug. There was a sleight of hand and House watched as something was slipped into Allie's purse.
PJ winked at him and then pulled away from Allison to look her in the eye.
"I'll call you when I get to California. I have a few things to do, and we're doing more talks on the movie that we're filming after New Years, but I hope to be in Chicago for a few more weeks with Shi."
He turned to Greg and held out his hand.
"I'm expecting to see you at Christmas too Greg."
It was an invitation, and House changed a glance at Cameron. She nodded, grinning at him.
"I'll be there."
"We'll be there." She corrected him. "With bells on."
"I don't like bells."
Cameron laughed and shook her head. PJ kissed her cheek.
"Call me when you get back to your apartment Lee."
"Will do. Love you PJ."
"Love you too baby girl."
A half hour later they arrived at PPTH and immediately set to work. The donor's kid had the flu with a mix of other things that children got in the winter time.
Cuddy didn't realize that they were back until the child's mother stopped in to thank her for the wonderful service that they had received from Dr. House and his team.
She had been in meetings with the board all day and had just assumed that House had gotten on a different flight. She was going to kill him for it later, but the board called.
Now it was five fifteen, almost quitting time and Cuddy was back in her office, about ready to head up to House's office.
"We completely over reacted but the whole team was very calm about it, very kind. They're lovely people Dr. Cuddy. Especially Dr. Cameron. Henry was so scared of the shots they had to give him, but she was very soothing and got him to calm down right away so Dr. Foreman could administer the shots."
As the woman handed Cuddy another check she reminded herself after killing House to thank Cameron.
"They're always glad to help Mrs. Kelley."
"I know dear. That's why we keep coming back here. All the doctors here want to help."
"I'm going to kill him." Cameron was muttering under her breath when Cuddy stepped into the office.
Foreman, Chase and House were watching her in amusement. They didn't see Cuddy and she stood next to the door, listening to the conversation.
If House wasn't pretending to run scared she wasn't exactly sure who the immunologist wanted to murder.
"You do realize that it's not that big of a deal, right?"
Lying on the glass table was what appeared to be a piece of paper – probably a check Cuddy deterred. She wondered why a check could make Cameron's blood boil.
She had seen Cameron upset with House, but never with the irritated, angry look that she had on her face now.
"But he didn't just do that, he did this too." Cameron pulled a small blue box out her bag. The ribbon was a silky white and the three men's eyes grew wide.
"Something from Tiffany's?"
"It's a tradition. Something that Ellie, Shi and I have been trying to break him of for years. He gets Matt and Nicky other things – tickets to games, really cool guy stuff that they would like – but us always Tiffany's. Always really expensive. And we always get really pissed off and try and tell him to save his money."
"The guys rich Cam, face it. You're always going to get presents." Foreman threw out.
"Well, do youwant it?"
Chase snorted and Foreman glared at him. "No. At least open it though."
"I know what it is."
"How?" House propped his feet up on the table. "Don't tell me that he gets you the same thing every time. I actually almost like the guy, but that's just lame."
Cameron went over to a pile of suitcases that was sitting in the corner. "You do realize that once you open that you'll never close it."
"And how would you know House?" Foreman asked a light in his eyes.
"Because I sat there and made fun of her while she threw everything into her suitcase and pouted like a four year old when she couldn't get it zipped."
"I didn't pack when I was four. Now seven, that's about when I started packing for myself. And everything won't explode, because what I'm looking for is right -" Cameron unzipped a front pocket and pulled out another blue Tiffany's box. She opened it and lifted out a silver charm bracelet. "Here."
House limped over and took the bracelet from her before she could protest.
"He gets some of them custom made for us."
House examined the charms before passing it back to her. "Explain." He fixed her with a stare which she met steadily.
"The first charm is a snowflake. It's for my January birthday and the fact that I love snow. A cupcake because until I was about nine he used to call me cupcake. Then one day I told him I was too old for that nickname. A Tiffany's charm because those come with whatever charm you buy. A glass slipper for my Prince Charming-" Allison paused and House caught the flash of hurt that dashed across her face. He remembered her at one point comparing her life at her fathers to that of Cinderella's. "And the last one is an envelope because mail is the best way to get news. We don't use e-mails for letters, we hand write them sometimes too."
"So what did he send you this time?"
Her thin hands pulled the bow off the box and opened it gently before finally pulling out a charm. It was quite intricate and House wondered how much it cost for PJ to have it made.
A small house with a chimney sat next to a key. The key had a loop hole with a bunch of spirals and a heart nestled in the center.
"I don't get it." Chase was eyeing the charm in confusion.
"It's for home." Cameron's voice was soft. "No matter where we are, home is where the heart is."
Cuddy strode in at that moment.
"Good to see that you're back."
"I told you we would be back Cuddles. Did you miss me?"
"Not in the slightest House."
"I missed you." He leered at her and the ducklings rolled their eyes.
Wilson stepped into the room and looked at the team.
"When did you get back?"
"A few hours ago." Chase replied.
Cameron had asked that they not spread her family history around the hospital, and everyone – even House had agreed.
The hint that he had dropped to Wilson about Kramer had never gotten a reaction, so that meant that he either forgot about it – which was probably what had happened, he hadn't been able to figure it out, or he was waiting to confront House face to face.
"C'mon." House stood cane in hand. "Jimmy is so happy to have me back that he's buying dinner and drinks for all of us."
"I am?" It was rhetorical, and you could tell by the grin on Wilson's face that he really didn't mind.
"Yes. Or maybe Cuddles should. As a reward. I didn't commit any illegal acts while I was in Chicago."
The ducklings stood and Cuddy let out a gasp. The female duckling had her back turned to Cuddy, and then her arm was hidden by her body later on. Only now could she see the simple blue cast that ended just before her elbow.
"Cameron, what happened to your arm?"
"It's a long story, it was an accident, just a mild break. I'll be good as new soon."
Chase and Foreman both grinned, remembering the story she had told them. House didn't let a smile escape. They thought that the broken arm was from being a goof. He knew different. He saw the badge of courage and pain it was. Not that he would ever tell Foreman or Chase that. Some things were meant to be kept quiet.
The cast was completely decorated with signatures from her family, pictures of stick figures and a few games of tic-tac-toe that had been played when they got bored.
"You should sell that on E-Bay."
Cameron knew what Chase was referring to, but held up her cast and cocked her head. "It's a work of art, isn't it?"
"Dinner?" House called out impatiently. "Here I am, trying to be a great boss by spending Jimmy's money on you -"
The ducklings laughed and followed House out after gathering the multiple bags they had. Chase took Cameron's even as she protested about her one good arm. Wilson took House's, knowing that otherwise it would get thrown at him with a sarcastic comment about cripples.
Wilson watched as House walked a little slower then usual and Cameron caught up to walk beside him.
There was nothing obvious, like House wrapping his arm around her, or a protect hand on her back, but there was something there. A glimmer when Cameron met his eyes, and the smallest smirk tat danced across House's lips for a half a second when he saw her. So quick that Wilson was half sure he imagined it.
There was definitely something going on between the two of them. Now he just had to figure it out.
THE END