Birthday fic for amypinkpoison :D
Well hi :) Here it is. The House/Cameron fic I've been working on for AGES, and definitely influenced by my own nightmares. Sort of.
HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY to amypinkpoison. I hope you had an awesome day, and that you like this... It's very much a WIP, and just something random that I've been typing XD
Enjoy :)
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Something was wrong with her. He couldn’t explain what it was, but she looked different. Tired. Exhausted even. She had dark circles under her eyes and her skin was paler than usual. Did she have a fever too?
“How long since you last slept properly?” he stood in front of her, taking a sip from his iced coffee. He was teasing her. She needed the caffeine more than he did from the looks of it…
“I’m busy, House.”
“I’m guessing by your slightly delayed reactions and those bags, about a week. Week and a half maybe?” Placing a hand softly on his chest, she made him stop.
“What do you want, besides following me around the ER asking me about my sleeping habits?” she ignored him, standing her ground.
“You look exhausted. Go home to the Wombat, get him to make you some food, then get a decent night sleep.”
Cameron watched him walk away. She didn’t correct him when he mentioned living with Chase. It was nice to know that he’d believed the rumours floating around the hospital. He was right about one thing though. She wasn’t sleeping. And shaking her head at his stubbornness, she knew he was not about to let it go.
_____________________________________________________________________
“Is there a sign on my door saying come in and eat my food?” Wilson asked, watching House from behind his desk.
“There is now. I used a permanent marker.” he mumbled, through a mouthful of sandwich. “Amber’s good.” he raised it slightly, as if it emphasise his point.
“I’ll be sure to tell her.” Wilson replied, carrying on with the paperwork in front of him.
“Cameron’s tired.” House stated.
“She works around 12 hours a day in the ER, what do you-”
“I mean, exhausted. She looks like she hasn’t slept properly in about a week.”
“Maybe it’s Chase’s fault?” Wilson smiled as House glared at him. “What were you doing down in the ER, anyway?”
“Avoiding Cuddy and her progress reports.”
“And where are your team?”
“Writing their progress reports.” he shrugged his shoulders.
“And why are you so worried about Cameron sleeping all of a sudden?”
Standing up, House stopped at the door. “What happens if she makes a mistake because she’s so tired? How would that make the hospital look?” Wilson raised his eyebrows with disbelief written across his face.
House looked at his feet, knowing he couldn’t lie to his friend. Tapping his cane a few times in frustration, he looked up. “It’s not like her. Something’s wrong.”
And with that, he left Wilson in a mix between curiosity and pure amazement.
_____________________________________________________________________
Taking her keys from her bag, Cameron felt her stomach knead in anticipation. She was home but she knew she wouldn’t be sleeping. Not properly, and not for another few days…
Resting her head against the door as she unlocked it, she closed her eyes. A bubble bath, hot chocolate and maybe a bit of jazz would soothe her. She couldn’t take any sleeping tablets just in case she got called back in to work. Usually she wouldn’t have been on call, which was why when this had happened before, she could dose up and sleep through the night. With the recent cut-backs and nurse strikes, she needed to be alert and available 24 hours a day.
Opening the door, she let herself into her apartment. The familiar feeling of being home made her smile as she tried to push her anxieties to the back of her mind.
Shrugging off her coat, she noticed she wasn’t alone. He’d laid across her couch, a hat covering his face. His legs crossed as they hung over the edge and his cane rested down the length of his chest.
“House…” she whispered.
He didn’t move. “No male clothes or shoes scattered around, no deodorant or razors in the bathroom, just one jumper on the back of the couch. That’s all I found of Chase’s in the whole apartment.”
“Nice. You searched my place?”
“I needed the bathroom.” he shrugged, swinging his leg so he could sit up to look at her.
“What are you doing here, House?”
“Other than to use your bathroom?” he smiled, lying his cane next to his hat on the seat beside him. “You’re not sleeping. If it’s a symptom-”
“It’s not.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“Look, just leave. I’m fine. I-”
He stood up, limping a step closer with ever word. “What. Makes. You. So. Sure?”
Looking down at her, he could see how the rest of the day had affected her. If it was even possible, her skin was paler than it had been that morning and her whole face showed just how drained she was. She looked troubled, as if she had more on her mind than she was letting on. She tried walking away, but he reached out to hold onto her wrist.
“I thought we shouldn’t touch. Just in case things got too sexually charged?” she mocked him, forcing a smile.
“Either you don’t know, which makes it a symptom, or you do know, and it means that there’s something you’re not telling me.”
Cameron looked down at her feet, biting back the tears. She couldn’t do this. Not now. And not with House.
“Just leave. Please.” her voice shook, and suddenly it hit him like a tonne of bricks.
“You’re scared.” he whispered, letting go of her wrist. She went to walk away, but changed her mind, turning on him.
“It’s not a symptom. I’m not sleeping, big deal. It happens once in a while. I usually take something for it, but-”
“You’re on call this week.” he finished for her. “So you can’t take anything…”
“Exactly. So now you know… You can leave.” Walking round him, she opened the front door.
“You still haven’t told me why you’re not sleeping.”
“Why are you so interested?”
“I’m intrigued.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Ok.” he grabbed his cane and hat, and slowly walked past her. “Take something tonight, and take a day off tomorrow before you kill someone.”
“Thanks.” she mumbled sarcastically, closing the door behind him.
Steam filled the room as Cameron drew a bath. Sitting on the edge, she rubbed her forehead with her palm. It was just one of those things that she’d had since she was a teenager. Her husband had always been there to protect her, and even when she’d spent the few nights with Chase, he’d done exactly the same. He hadn’t asked questions, just let her sleep. But now, she was all alone. Waiting for it to pass. Hoping it would.
In a way, she wished House had persisted as an excuse for him to stay longer. She took a deep breath, telling herself she was being stupid. It wasn’t House’s nature to do what Chase had. He didn’t care how she felt, she was just another puzzle to him.
Slipping into the bath a while later, she hoped it would be enough to finally keep the nightmares away tonight.
_____________________________________________________________________
“Miss Owens, I have to say that I think this operation is the best option for you. If we don’t do this-”
“What’s going on with your girlfriend-” House let himself into the room, stopping short when he saw Chase was with a patient.
“I’m in the middle of an appointment.” Chase gritted through his teeth, annoyed at the usual ignorance he should have gotten used to by now. Carly was due for surgery the day after, although she was having doubts. He didn’t need House making it worse.
House took his Vicodin bottle from his blazer pocket while he looked the woman up and down. Young, blonde, with a chest that-
“Cheating on Cameron, Chase? I didn’t have you down as the type.”
“Outside.” Chase told him, briefly surprised when his former boss obliged. “I’ll be back in a minute. I’m sorry about this.”
Closing the door behind him, Chase had to keep his temper down. Yes, Carly was attractive, but he was a professional. House, on the other hand…
“What’s up with Barbie?”
“You storm in while I’m talking to a patient, accuse me of being a cheat, what-”
“Relax Casanova. I’m here to talk about your girlfriend.”
“Cameron’s not my girlfriend anymore.” Chase crossed his arms across his chest as House tilted his head in confusion. “Why are you so worried all of a sudden? Is she ok?”
“She’s not sleeping properly. I thought out of everyone, you’ve have realised that by now.”
“Rumours are funny like that.” Chase shrugged. “Why are you asking me about Cameron not sleeping? Talk to her.”
“I tried.”
Chase smiled. “I’ll call her once I’ve finished talking to Miss Owens.”
House smiled too, nodding towards the exam room. “Be careful.”
_____________________________________________________________________
She’d lit a few candles and turned the lights down. Curled up on the couch in her bathrobe with jazz filling the apartment, Cameron sipped a mug of hot chocolate. Her night had gone just as she’d planned. Possibly without House’s break-in earlier.
Smiling, she leant her head against the cushions. She was tired. She considered agreeing with House and calling in sick.
But her cell phone ringing from the coffee table made her groan. Not now…
“Cameron.”
“Hey, it’s me.”
“Chase.” she smiled. “How are you?”
“Better than you, so I’ve heard.”
“House?”
“Who else?” Chase laughed. “So what’s going on, Cam? Still having nightmares?”
“Yeah.” she sighed, closing her eyes.
“Want me to come over after I’m done here?”
“I’m fine. I’m really tired so I think I’ll be ok.”
“Ok.” he answered, and she could hear the uncertainty in his voice. “Call me if you need me, alright?”
“I will.”
Hanging up, Cameron immediately regretted turning him down. She knew she needed someone tonight. Even if she couldn’t admit it.
_____________________________________________________________________
You can’t breathe. Looking down, there’s blood everywhere. He’s standing in front of you, smiling. He’s scaring you. You’re panicking and all he can do is laugh at you. It’s not him. It can’t be.
“I never liked you.” he sneers. “I don’t care about you, I wish you’d just leave.” he spits.
Again, you look down. A knife. He did it. He stabbed you…
The pain’s unbearable. You’re screaming. All he can do is reach out and stroke your cheek. You can’t breathe. You’re choking. And he’s not doing anything.
He’s watching you die…
Jerking awake, Cameron took deep gulps of air. Forcing herself to calm down, she let her head fall back onto the pillow. Her heart was racing and tears streamed down her face. A soft knocking from the hall made her sit up. Who the hell…
Stepping out of bed, she grabbed her dressing gown. Quickly wiping her cheeks, she took one more deep breath before opening the door. Standing in front of her in his usual t-shirt, jeans and blazer, was the last person she’d have expected to see coming round in the middle of the night.
“What are you-” She saw him reach out, and froze.
Noticing her flinch, he paused. “Are you ok?” he whispered. “Ready to tell me what’s going on?” He let his hand fall to his side and softly tapped his cane on the floor. “If not, I’ve got Cuddy waiting for me for a hot night of steamy and dirty-”
“Shut up.” Cameron laughed, and he couldn’t help but smile as she opened the door wide enough for him to follow her inside.
Ever since she’d left to work in the ER, he realised that for the first time in a while, he missed someone. He missed her.
The day he’d seen her walking through reception, it had scared him. Once Wilson had told him she was in Arizona with Chase, he thought it was over. He felt like he’d lost his mind, just like he’d lost her.
But then there she was. In the ER at Princeton. She looked so different with her blonde hair. And when she’d smiled at him, he saw just how much she’d changed. She really had achieved all she could from working with him.
The confidence she now had made him smile. Her determination, and the flare for something new made him admire her even more. She now had a new challenge for her with every patient that came through the doors. But she deserved so much better than the Emergency Room, fixing idiots that couldn’t control a nail gun or were stupid enough not to wear a seatbelt. Maybe she was even better than working for him.
She definitely deserved a better man than him.
The day she’d kissed him he thought that maybe she’d decided to take the chance they needed. The chance he needed to realised that it could be that easy. It had definitely given him something to think about. As she left, he’d trailed a finger across his lips to remind himself he couldn’t do this. She’d kissed with a hunger that scared him. She wanted it. And so did he.
After Stacy, he couldn’t set himself up for heartbreak again. He knew that just before their date he‘d promised her, Wilson had gone to see her. Warned her about breaking his heart. House had finally got it out of him after a night of too many beers and several games of poker.
But it was true. House was so scared of committing to her, that he made sure he kept her at a safe distance, no matter what he felt about her. And now, it hurt him to see her like this.
So he’d taken a chance to find out why. To see if he could do some good for once, and help her instead of hurt her like he’d done in the past.
“Were you asleep?” he stood uncomfortably next to the couch, watching her pull her gown closer together around her body. No matter how confident she could be in the hospital, he knew this was the one place she would be vulnerable. Half-dressed in her apartment, in the middle of the night. He felt bad for persisting but he needed her to know he wanted to help. He wanted her to talk to him.
“Sort of.” she mumbled, nervously running her fingers under her eyes. “Coffee?”
“I’m fine.”
“What are you doing here so late?”
“I told you, I was on my way to spend the night with Cuddy and-”
“House…” she raised her eyebrows, leaning against the back of the couch.
“I’m worried about you.” he mumbled.
Cameron smiled. “Or I’m just interesting.”
“Why aren’t you sleeping?” he took a step forward.
“You’ll either laugh, or won’t believe me.”
“You’re having nightmares.” he guessed. Cameron’s smile dropped. “I’m right, aren’t I?”
She moved round to sit down but he stayed where he was. She needed her space otherwise she‘d feel uncomfortable. Leaning her chin on her palm, she started talking.
“I’ve always had them. Ever since I was a teenager. And I just learnt to deal with it. They got worse while my husband was ill… And again when I started working at Princeton. Every night for a week or so, I could guarantee that I’d have a nightmare that would leave me crying or dreading going to sleep at night. I’d still have it on my mind while I went to work the next day. It only happens once every 6 months, so I don’t think anything serious of it. It was great working with you because I could take something to help me sleep once I got home, go all the way through until the next morning without anything and it would be ok. Now I’m in the ER… I can’t.”
Taking a deep breath, Cameron saw House move out of the corner of her eye. He limped to sit next to her, leaving enough space between them to keep it relaxed.
“Chase… Chase didn’t know what to say. The few nights he did stay… I felt safe. I could sleep properly knowing that there was someone there if I woke up crying. And he helped. But now…”
House shook his head. He could see the tears in her eyes. Now was not the time to make a joke. She needed reassurance, not his usual sarcasm.
“It’s been about a week, hasn’t it? I was right earlier.”
Sniffing, Cameron nodded. “Yeah. I was asleep just before you turned up, but I’d had another one. I feel so stupid. Nightmares are something little kids suffer from, not adults.”
“Nightmares are just a type of sleep disruption that occurs during REM. You‘re either anxious, stressed or-”
“I don’t need a lecture House. I know what they are. I just can’t shift them. I’ll just take a few days off to catch up.”
“Good.” he nodded, glad she’d finally listened to him. Then, without completely knowing why, he said the words that had been on his lips since he’d left her the first time that evening. “Do you want me to stay the night?”
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HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY to amypinkpoison. I hope you had an awesome day, and that you like this... It's very much a WIP, and just something random that I've been typing XD
Enjoy :)
_____________________________________________________________________
Something was wrong with her. He couldn’t explain what it was, but she looked different. Tired. Exhausted even. She had dark circles under her eyes and her skin was paler than usual. Did she have a fever too?
“How long since you last slept properly?” he stood in front of her, taking a sip from his iced coffee. He was teasing her. She needed the caffeine more than he did from the looks of it…
“I’m busy, House.”
“I’m guessing by your slightly delayed reactions and those bags, about a week. Week and a half maybe?” Placing a hand softly on his chest, she made him stop.
“What do you want, besides following me around the ER asking me about my sleeping habits?” she ignored him, standing her ground.
“You look exhausted. Go home to the Wombat, get him to make you some food, then get a decent night sleep.”
Cameron watched him walk away. She didn’t correct him when he mentioned living with Chase. It was nice to know that he’d believed the rumours floating around the hospital. He was right about one thing though. She wasn’t sleeping. And shaking her head at his stubbornness, she knew he was not about to let it go.
_____________________________________________________________________
“Is there a sign on my door saying come in and eat my food?” Wilson asked, watching House from behind his desk.
“There is now. I used a permanent marker.” he mumbled, through a mouthful of sandwich. “Amber’s good.” he raised it slightly, as if it emphasise his point.
“I’ll be sure to tell her.” Wilson replied, carrying on with the paperwork in front of him.
“Cameron’s tired.” House stated.
“She works around 12 hours a day in the ER, what do you-”
“I mean, exhausted. She looks like she hasn’t slept properly in about a week.”
“Maybe it’s Chase’s fault?” Wilson smiled as House glared at him. “What were you doing down in the ER, anyway?”
“Avoiding Cuddy and her progress reports.”
“And where are your team?”
“Writing their progress reports.” he shrugged his shoulders.
“And why are you so worried about Cameron sleeping all of a sudden?”
Standing up, House stopped at the door. “What happens if she makes a mistake because she’s so tired? How would that make the hospital look?” Wilson raised his eyebrows with disbelief written across his face.
House looked at his feet, knowing he couldn’t lie to his friend. Tapping his cane a few times in frustration, he looked up. “It’s not like her. Something’s wrong.”
And with that, he left Wilson in a mix between curiosity and pure amazement.
_____________________________________________________________________
Taking her keys from her bag, Cameron felt her stomach knead in anticipation. She was home but she knew she wouldn’t be sleeping. Not properly, and not for another few days…
Resting her head against the door as she unlocked it, she closed her eyes. A bubble bath, hot chocolate and maybe a bit of jazz would soothe her. She couldn’t take any sleeping tablets just in case she got called back in to work. Usually she wouldn’t have been on call, which was why when this had happened before, she could dose up and sleep through the night. With the recent cut-backs and nurse strikes, she needed to be alert and available 24 hours a day.
Opening the door, she let herself into her apartment. The familiar feeling of being home made her smile as she tried to push her anxieties to the back of her mind.
Shrugging off her coat, she noticed she wasn’t alone. He’d laid across her couch, a hat covering his face. His legs crossed as they hung over the edge and his cane rested down the length of his chest.
“House…” she whispered.
He didn’t move. “No male clothes or shoes scattered around, no deodorant or razors in the bathroom, just one jumper on the back of the couch. That’s all I found of Chase’s in the whole apartment.”
“Nice. You searched my place?”
“I needed the bathroom.” he shrugged, swinging his leg so he could sit up to look at her.
“What are you doing here, House?”
“Other than to use your bathroom?” he smiled, lying his cane next to his hat on the seat beside him. “You’re not sleeping. If it’s a symptom-”
“It’s not.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“Look, just leave. I’m fine. I-”
He stood up, limping a step closer with ever word. “What. Makes. You. So. Sure?”
Looking down at her, he could see how the rest of the day had affected her. If it was even possible, her skin was paler than it had been that morning and her whole face showed just how drained she was. She looked troubled, as if she had more on her mind than she was letting on. She tried walking away, but he reached out to hold onto her wrist.
“I thought we shouldn’t touch. Just in case things got too sexually charged?” she mocked him, forcing a smile.
“Either you don’t know, which makes it a symptom, or you do know, and it means that there’s something you’re not telling me.”
Cameron looked down at her feet, biting back the tears. She couldn’t do this. Not now. And not with House.
“Just leave. Please.” her voice shook, and suddenly it hit him like a tonne of bricks.
“You’re scared.” he whispered, letting go of her wrist. She went to walk away, but changed her mind, turning on him.
“It’s not a symptom. I’m not sleeping, big deal. It happens once in a while. I usually take something for it, but-”
“You’re on call this week.” he finished for her. “So you can’t take anything…”
“Exactly. So now you know… You can leave.” Walking round him, she opened the front door.
“You still haven’t told me why you’re not sleeping.”
“Why are you so interested?”
“I’m intrigued.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Ok.” he grabbed his cane and hat, and slowly walked past her. “Take something tonight, and take a day off tomorrow before you kill someone.”
“Thanks.” she mumbled sarcastically, closing the door behind him.
Steam filled the room as Cameron drew a bath. Sitting on the edge, she rubbed her forehead with her palm. It was just one of those things that she’d had since she was a teenager. Her husband had always been there to protect her, and even when she’d spent the few nights with Chase, he’d done exactly the same. He hadn’t asked questions, just let her sleep. But now, she was all alone. Waiting for it to pass. Hoping it would.
In a way, she wished House had persisted as an excuse for him to stay longer. She took a deep breath, telling herself she was being stupid. It wasn’t House’s nature to do what Chase had. He didn’t care how she felt, she was just another puzzle to him.
Slipping into the bath a while later, she hoped it would be enough to finally keep the nightmares away tonight.
_____________________________________________________________________
“Miss Owens, I have to say that I think this operation is the best option for you. If we don’t do this-”
“What’s going on with your girlfriend-” House let himself into the room, stopping short when he saw Chase was with a patient.
“I’m in the middle of an appointment.” Chase gritted through his teeth, annoyed at the usual ignorance he should have gotten used to by now. Carly was due for surgery the day after, although she was having doubts. He didn’t need House making it worse.
House took his Vicodin bottle from his blazer pocket while he looked the woman up and down. Young, blonde, with a chest that-
“Cheating on Cameron, Chase? I didn’t have you down as the type.”
“Outside.” Chase told him, briefly surprised when his former boss obliged. “I’ll be back in a minute. I’m sorry about this.”
Closing the door behind him, Chase had to keep his temper down. Yes, Carly was attractive, but he was a professional. House, on the other hand…
“What’s up with Barbie?”
“You storm in while I’m talking to a patient, accuse me of being a cheat, what-”
“Relax Casanova. I’m here to talk about your girlfriend.”
“Cameron’s not my girlfriend anymore.” Chase crossed his arms across his chest as House tilted his head in confusion. “Why are you so worried all of a sudden? Is she ok?”
“She’s not sleeping properly. I thought out of everyone, you’ve have realised that by now.”
“Rumours are funny like that.” Chase shrugged. “Why are you asking me about Cameron not sleeping? Talk to her.”
“I tried.”
Chase smiled. “I’ll call her once I’ve finished talking to Miss Owens.”
House smiled too, nodding towards the exam room. “Be careful.”
_____________________________________________________________________
She’d lit a few candles and turned the lights down. Curled up on the couch in her bathrobe with jazz filling the apartment, Cameron sipped a mug of hot chocolate. Her night had gone just as she’d planned. Possibly without House’s break-in earlier.
Smiling, she leant her head against the cushions. She was tired. She considered agreeing with House and calling in sick.
But her cell phone ringing from the coffee table made her groan. Not now…
“Cameron.”
“Hey, it’s me.”
“Chase.” she smiled. “How are you?”
“Better than you, so I’ve heard.”
“House?”
“Who else?” Chase laughed. “So what’s going on, Cam? Still having nightmares?”
“Yeah.” she sighed, closing her eyes.
“Want me to come over after I’m done here?”
“I’m fine. I’m really tired so I think I’ll be ok.”
“Ok.” he answered, and she could hear the uncertainty in his voice. “Call me if you need me, alright?”
“I will.”
Hanging up, Cameron immediately regretted turning him down. She knew she needed someone tonight. Even if she couldn’t admit it.
_____________________________________________________________________
You can’t breathe. Looking down, there’s blood everywhere. He’s standing in front of you, smiling. He’s scaring you. You’re panicking and all he can do is laugh at you. It’s not him. It can’t be.
“I never liked you.” he sneers. “I don’t care about you, I wish you’d just leave.” he spits.
Again, you look down. A knife. He did it. He stabbed you…
The pain’s unbearable. You’re screaming. All he can do is reach out and stroke your cheek. You can’t breathe. You’re choking. And he’s not doing anything.
He’s watching you die…
Jerking awake, Cameron took deep gulps of air. Forcing herself to calm down, she let her head fall back onto the pillow. Her heart was racing and tears streamed down her face. A soft knocking from the hall made her sit up. Who the hell…
Stepping out of bed, she grabbed her dressing gown. Quickly wiping her cheeks, she took one more deep breath before opening the door. Standing in front of her in his usual t-shirt, jeans and blazer, was the last person she’d have expected to see coming round in the middle of the night.
“What are you-” She saw him reach out, and froze.
Noticing her flinch, he paused. “Are you ok?” he whispered. “Ready to tell me what’s going on?” He let his hand fall to his side and softly tapped his cane on the floor. “If not, I’ve got Cuddy waiting for me for a hot night of steamy and dirty-”
“Shut up.” Cameron laughed, and he couldn’t help but smile as she opened the door wide enough for him to follow her inside.
Ever since she’d left to work in the ER, he realised that for the first time in a while, he missed someone. He missed her.
The day he’d seen her walking through reception, it had scared him. Once Wilson had told him she was in Arizona with Chase, he thought it was over. He felt like he’d lost his mind, just like he’d lost her.
But then there she was. In the ER at Princeton. She looked so different with her blonde hair. And when she’d smiled at him, he saw just how much she’d changed. She really had achieved all she could from working with him.
The confidence she now had made him smile. Her determination, and the flare for something new made him admire her even more. She now had a new challenge for her with every patient that came through the doors. But she deserved so much better than the Emergency Room, fixing idiots that couldn’t control a nail gun or were stupid enough not to wear a seatbelt. Maybe she was even better than working for him.
She definitely deserved a better man than him.
The day she’d kissed him he thought that maybe she’d decided to take the chance they needed. The chance he needed to realised that it could be that easy. It had definitely given him something to think about. As she left, he’d trailed a finger across his lips to remind himself he couldn’t do this. She’d kissed with a hunger that scared him. She wanted it. And so did he.
After Stacy, he couldn’t set himself up for heartbreak again. He knew that just before their date he‘d promised her, Wilson had gone to see her. Warned her about breaking his heart. House had finally got it out of him after a night of too many beers and several games of poker.
But it was true. House was so scared of committing to her, that he made sure he kept her at a safe distance, no matter what he felt about her. And now, it hurt him to see her like this.
So he’d taken a chance to find out why. To see if he could do some good for once, and help her instead of hurt her like he’d done in the past.
“Were you asleep?” he stood uncomfortably next to the couch, watching her pull her gown closer together around her body. No matter how confident she could be in the hospital, he knew this was the one place she would be vulnerable. Half-dressed in her apartment, in the middle of the night. He felt bad for persisting but he needed her to know he wanted to help. He wanted her to talk to him.
“Sort of.” she mumbled, nervously running her fingers under her eyes. “Coffee?”
“I’m fine.”
“What are you doing here so late?”
“I told you, I was on my way to spend the night with Cuddy and-”
“House…” she raised her eyebrows, leaning against the back of the couch.
“I’m worried about you.” he mumbled.
Cameron smiled. “Or I’m just interesting.”
“Why aren’t you sleeping?” he took a step forward.
“You’ll either laugh, or won’t believe me.”
“You’re having nightmares.” he guessed. Cameron’s smile dropped. “I’m right, aren’t I?”
She moved round to sit down but he stayed where he was. She needed her space otherwise she‘d feel uncomfortable. Leaning her chin on her palm, she started talking.
“I’ve always had them. Ever since I was a teenager. And I just learnt to deal with it. They got worse while my husband was ill… And again when I started working at Princeton. Every night for a week or so, I could guarantee that I’d have a nightmare that would leave me crying or dreading going to sleep at night. I’d still have it on my mind while I went to work the next day. It only happens once every 6 months, so I don’t think anything serious of it. It was great working with you because I could take something to help me sleep once I got home, go all the way through until the next morning without anything and it would be ok. Now I’m in the ER… I can’t.”
Taking a deep breath, Cameron saw House move out of the corner of her eye. He limped to sit next to her, leaving enough space between them to keep it relaxed.
“Chase… Chase didn’t know what to say. The few nights he did stay… I felt safe. I could sleep properly knowing that there was someone there if I woke up crying. And he helped. But now…”
House shook his head. He could see the tears in her eyes. Now was not the time to make a joke. She needed reassurance, not his usual sarcasm.
“It’s been about a week, hasn’t it? I was right earlier.”
Sniffing, Cameron nodded. “Yeah. I was asleep just before you turned up, but I’d had another one. I feel so stupid. Nightmares are something little kids suffer from, not adults.”
“Nightmares are just a type of sleep disruption that occurs during REM. You‘re either anxious, stressed or-”
“I don’t need a lecture House. I know what they are. I just can’t shift them. I’ll just take a few days off to catch up.”
“Good.” he nodded, glad she’d finally listened to him. Then, without completely knowing why, he said the words that had been on his lips since he’d left her the first time that evening. “Do you want me to stay the night?”
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