When Valentine's Day plans go terribly wrong …
I do not own House M.D. or its characters, nor do I profit from this story.

I Can Never Say No to You

Chapter 1

It was a winter day that gave one hope.
Hope for spring, hope for happiness, hope for love.

Cameron lingered on the steps of PPTH, captivated by the beauty of the azure sky.
What an incredible shade of blue. It looks just like …

Embarrassed and worried she had spoken aloud, she spun on her heel and rushed up the steps, joining the crowd pouring into the lobby.
Why does everything I see remind me of House?

Quickly, she dismissed the troubling thought. It's no surprise House is on my mind.

From the moment she became Acting Dean of Medicine, he'd insinuated himself into her daily routine. Three weeks had passed and nothing had changed. He still barged into her office on the slightest whim. They debated, they fought, they flirted, they talked.

And Cameron had never been happier.

oOoOo

"That bitch!"

Thirteen burst into Diagnostics muttering every obscenity she knew under her breath.
She glanced to her right. Good, he's not here. The last thing she needed was an inquisition from House.

She twisted her slender body as if throwing a discus and flung her armload of files at the conference table.
Some made their target. Most did not. Papers fluttered to the floor as she strode across the room.
She spun the tap open on the small kitchen sink and furiously splashed her face with icy cold water.

"Damn!" she sputtered. Running mascara stung her eyes. Her arms flailed blindly, in search of a towel.
"Is this what you want?" A wad of paper cloths were pressed into her hand. She patted her face dry and turned to her benefactor.

"Foreman? I didn't see you …"
"I gathered as much." He squelched a smile at her trail of debris.

"Where's House?"
"He's off pestering Wilson. Remy, look at me," Foreman gently tilted her chin upwards. "That's better. Now, tell me what happened."

"You don't want to know," she whispered.
"Yes, I do," he said firmly.

"It's our boss. Our new boss." Thirteen corrected herself.
Foreman puzzled. "You mean Cameron? Did she upset you?"

Thirteen knelt on the carpet. Lab reports, charts, folders and notes from dozens of cases sulked in an indistinguishable heap on the floor.
"Did she upset me?" she echoed, coldly eyeing Foreman. "You might say that."

"Dr. Cameron called me into her office at the end of my shift. She'd been reviewing my patient files."
"Why would she do that?" Foreman asked, sitting down. "That's House's job. You work for him."

She stood with her papers clutched to her chest, then turned a chair sideways and sat facing Foreman. "I asked her about that and she said, yes, it was House's responsibility to monitor my progress, but since my review was two months overdue, she decided to do it herself."

"Makes sense," Foreman conceded. "Cameron's a stickler for paperwork."

"Eric, she ripped me to shreds! She said, and I quote, 'These notes are shoddy, your handwriting is illegible and this charting's sub-standard. Here's what I expect of you,' and spent the next hour dissecting my work. I have to re-do all these files by Monday. So much for my weekend off." Thirteen checked over her shoulder for eavesdroppers. "You know, Cameron's been gunning for me from the moment I was hired."

Foreman leaned back in his chair and laughed at the absurdity of her statement.
"Cameron's not like that, Remy. She's the kindest person I know. Don't take this so personally." He squeezed her hand reassuringly.
"Why would she have it in for you? She barely knows you."

"Don't you see? It's so obvious! She resents me for replacing her." Thirteen simmered. "And why are you defending her? You're supposed to be on my side!"
"First of all, I am on your side. I'm just trying to be fair. Cameron has no reason to resent you. She resigned by choice. She wasn't fired," Foreman reasoned.

"And that's exactly the problem. She regrets leaving House and she's jealous of me. I'm House's girl now and it's driving her crazy."
Foreman's eyes searched hers. "I thought you were my girl."

"You know what I mean!" Thirteen sighed in exasperation. "It explains everything."

Noting the deserted hallway outside of their office, Foreman slipped a comforting arm around her shoulder. "Would a second opinion help?"
Thirteen nodded glumly.

They sat in silence as Foreman read. Her impatience grew stronger with each passing minute. "Why are you taking so long? I'm waiting …"

"Remy, I've got to be honest with you." Foreman placed the last file on the stack. "Cameron's right. This work's unacceptable. I just wish I'd spotted it first."

"What?" Thirteen jumped to her feet. "You've got to be kidding!"

"Better get started before House finds out. He doesn't give a damn about his own paperwork, but he won't be as forgiving of you."
Foreman considered his next words carefully. "You know, instead of resenting Cameron, you should consider yourself lucky she cared enough to point out your mistakes. She could have been a lot tougher on you."

"I'm lucky?" Thirteen sneered. "Too bad I can't say the same for you."
"I don't understand …" Foreman began.

"Valentine's Day? The Poconos? Just you and me, a cabin in the woods with a heart-shaped tub?" Thirteen glared at her lover. "You've obviously forgotten our plans for weekend!"

"Remy, I …"
"Don't Remy me, Eric. Your luck just ran out!"

tbc ...