Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.

Just Coffee 15/?

Mon, 11 May 2009 02:05:43 GMT

Title: Just Coffee
Author: seriouslyjess
Summary: He needed someone, she needed someone. They were friends, and they needed each other to heal. And it was, after all, just coffee. Right?
“Do no harm.”
"Do no harm to yourself or harm to others?"
Spoilers: Anything up to Wilson's Heart, and now spoilers from Birthmarks as well.
Pairings: House/Cameron, Wilson/OFC

Chapter 15: Funeral

House shifted uncomfortable before he stood to speak.

“There's a lot of people here today. Including some from the Corps.” That was where the lies he had planned to spout out for his mother disappeared.

“And I noticed that every one of them, is either my father's rank, or higher. And that doesn't surprise me. Because if the test of a man is how he treats those he has power over... it was a test my father failed.” He thought of Allison Cameron and her scars. Her face when she showed them to him. Power. The people who gave her those scars – both physical and mental – had broken her. Just like his father had done to him. And she deserved someone better then him. Someone to put her back together. But he had given up on trying to send her away. He was selfish sometimes.

“This man you're eager to pay homage to, he was incapable of admitting any point of view but his own. He punished failure, he did not accept anything less than...” House thought of his thigh. How embarrassed his father had been about his leg. That it wasn’t a war wound. Just gotten from living. He knew that his father didn’t know that he had heard him talking to his mother. Better off dead with a leg like that.

“He loved doing what he did, he saw his work as some kind of sacred calling, more important than any personal relationship. Maybe if he'd been a better father, I'd be a better son.” One who could take care of Allison Cameron instead of watching her break because of some asshole named Ron. “But I am what I am because of him, for better or for worse.” And his mother, who was staring and him up from the crowd. Disappointment, but unconditional love. Which was good because he didn’t give a damn what anybody else thought. His mother would be the one who always loved him unconditionally. Not like his father. Never like his father. And Cameron seemed to love him unconditionally as well.

They just said it was going to be worth it, echoed in his head as he stepped down. He needed to call her.

****

Cameron sat still. Very still. She had seen a group of interns walk by and do a double take as if to make sure she was real.

“Blondie?” Tina paused on the inside of the door. “I got a frantic call from Wilson who was reacting to a frantic House who had not heard from you, even though you promised that you would call.”

Cameron didn’t move a muscle. “Al?” No response. “Now you’re starting to scare me.”

“I thought that I would do Houses’ mail today. His new team doesn’t know how to do it.”

“I’m sorry that that decision caused you to ignore -” Tina pulled Cameron’s cell phone out of her own pocket. She had snatched it earlier from her locker. “Twenty seven calls and nine texts.”

“Read it.” Cameron demanded softly, handing her a letter. “Read it.”

“Dear Dr. Cameron, -” Tina broke off. “This is addressed to you.”

“No shit Sherlock. Keep going.”

“My name is Cynthia Jones. You don’t know me, but you’re my dau-” Tina put her hand over her mouth. “Al.” Cameron grabbed the letter back.

“Her son. He’s sick. Dying. She found out about House. When I was still on his team. At the same time she had a private investigator trying to track me. Her son – he has cancer. Needs a bone marrow transplant. I could be a match. But there’s something else wrong with him besides the cancer and no one knows what. Two birds with one stone.” Cameron’s tone turned mocking and she started to quote the letter. “I know that you may want nothing to do with my family – but you are a doctor. And you took a Hippocratic oath to ‘first do no harm’. I hope that you don’t take in to consideration my actions while thinking of my son.” Her voice shook, reaching a high pitch as she stabbed the letter. “My sons name is Jacob.” A tear made its way down her cheek. “He’s his age Tina. His age, his name. There’s no pictures, but they might look alike. What then?” Tears were streaming down her face now. “It’s like God is playing a joke on me. How far can I be pushed until I snap?”

Cameron finally collapsed into Tina’s arm sobbing and Tina rocked her as if she were a child, no words of comfort crossing her lips. She didn’t know what to say.

****

“Tina!” Wilson’s voice was full of relief. “Have you found her?”

“Yeah.”

“Is she okay?”

Tina snorted. “That’s debatable.”

“Physically?”

“Well, besides wanting to tear out her DNA and change it, I would say yes.”

“What happened?”

“Hang on.” A door opened in the background. He could hear muffled voices. “Allison Cameron – family emerg- don’t know – long- thank ---.”

“Tina?”

“I’m here. Had to go tell your boss Al needed time off.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Don’t worry. We’re coming to you. I think Allie needs House. Or Ian. But Ian is on vacation with the kids and Ellen. So we’re coming to you because there is no way that Al is staying in Princeton for now.”

****

Wilson entered the living room to find House and Blythe staring at each other. “Tina?” House asked.

“They’ll be down here in a few hours.”

House turned to look at Wilson. “She refused when I asked.”

“Yeah, well something happened. Tina was distracted. Didn’t say what. Talked to Cuddy and got Al some emergency leave – something about family. She said they’d be down here in a couple of hours. That was all.”

House nodded.

“Who are Tina and Al?” Blythe asked curiously.

“Friends.”

“Which one of them sent the flowers and signed your name?”

House raised his head and Blythe pointed to the flowers on the windowsill. “Al,” Wilson replied.

House nodded. “It’s her nature.”

Blythe’s eyes sparkled. “So it’s two girls.”

Wilson chuckled. “Two women,” he corrected gently.

Blythe nodded. “Which one of you wants to tell me about them?”

“Mo-om” House groaned out.

“Oh hush. I’m an old woman. And if they’re driving out here to see the two of you, something must be going on.”

“Al is having a mental break down, from what I could gather,” House replied with a sigh. “Why didn’t they go to Alice?”

“Tina wanted to get her out of there. Said that there was no way that she was staying in Princeton as of right now.”

****

Tina spent the first forty five minutes on the phone. She called Alice, called Heather and Ross, called Ian and left him a message. Allison sat in the car and stared out the window. Tina had packed for her – her cousin seemed to be in a shocked, comatose state.

Most of the drive was spent in silence or singing along to the radio.

Tina just prayed to a God that Allie didn’t believe in that House could talk to her. Because she wasn’t responding to Tina.

****

It was dark by the time that they finally found Blythe House’s house. Tina had called Wilson and given him a ten minute warning, so all three were standing outside when Tina pulled into the driveway. House was opening Cameron’s door before the car was fully in park.

She looked at him blankly and sighed.

“Hi.”

“What happened?”

“I’m moving to Africa.”

“No you’re not babe,” Tina responded, walking over to Al’s side of the car.

It had been Allison typical response when something bad happened when they were younger. Nothing happened I’m fine. When I grow up I’m moving to Africa and saving lives so I don’t have to be here anymore.

“Tell her I’m dead. But maybe we can dig me up and try and figure out a way to get some marrow.”

“Take it back Allison Jane.”

“What’cha gonna do?”

The defensiveness in Allison’s tone didn’t go unnoticed by Tina. She just sighed and shook her head before turning to House and Wilson. “We saw a hotel a few miles back, so we should probably go check in. I just thought that you’d like to see that she’s not dead.” There was no mocking in Tina’s tone, only fact.

“You can stay here,” Blythe cut in warmly.

All four looked extremely uncomfortable at the suggestion.

“We really shouldn’t impo-”

“They would be more comfo-”

“No tha-”

“We don’t have enou-”

“I insist.” The look on her face showed that they weren’t going to get of it.

****

Blythe House watched as her son talked to the blonde girl. Her face was devoid of emotion and she looked young and vulnerable. She wondered what had frightened this girl so badly.

Wilson and the gir – woman that they had referred to earlier as Tina appeared with luggage. “Where do you want us to put this Mrs. House?”

“Do you and Allison mind sharing a room?” If they did she could always make James and Greg she supposed.

“No, not at all. In fact, it would probably be better if we did.” Tina made a face. Allison had been prone to nightmares sometimes and she could see them reoccurring tonight.

“Is Al okay?” Wilson asked as they followed Blythe.

“No.” Tina replied honestly. “And I don’t know how to help her.”

“I thought you were Wonder Woman,” Wilson teased.

“Not this time. I need Ian. But Ian’s out of town and this is beyond Alice’s area of expertise. House is good at taking care of Al. Even when she’s being a pain in the ass. This time though, she’s just in pain.”

Blythe opened the spare bedroom that she had just recently redone and smiled at the two of them.

“I’m going to make some tea, can I get you anything?”

“No thanks Mrs. House.” Tina smiled at her warmly. “Thank you for letting us stay here.”

“No problem dear.”

“And I heard about your husband. I’m so sorry.”

Blythe House grinned at Tina and accepted the hand she offered. James Wilson had been her sons best friend for years. And it looked like he may have finally found the right one.

****

Tina had packed for her and her cousin in a hurry. She had grabbed some of Allison’s clothes for herself – they were the same size. But, that was how Al ended up with her only pajama shirt being the damaged at best one that Tina loathed.

Blythe had seen it when they had trekked back downstairs and had merely started to make tea.

Cameron settled onto the couch next to House with a steaming cup of green tea in her hands.

“So what’s the big occasion? You drove all the way out here just to see me?” She merely handed him the letter and burrowed into the couch.

House read, and as he read his fists slowly clenched.

“What do you want me to do?” He asked finally.

“Whud me?”

“Cam, unclench so I can hear you please.”

“What do you mean?” If Tina was in the room she would be curled into her cousin. But, she wasn’t.

What the hell? She though. They were trying this, whatever they wanted to call it. She curled up against House and rested her head on his shoulder.

“I mean, she clearly wants your bone marrow to be tested, and I can’t make that decision, but if you want me to ignore her request for her son’s treatment, I will. If you want me to take it, I will.”

“I don’t know what you should do.”

“Well, what are you going to do?”

“Do no harm.”

“Do no harm to yourself or harm to others?”

“I’m fine.”

“Sure,” was his mild reply. “I can see that you’re fine. Your cousin drove you all the way out here because you’re so fine. You’re in shock. Or something. Your birth mother wants you to save her son. Instead of being raised by said birth mother you went through hell and then finally ended up with your crazy family.”

Cameron giggled.

“If you’re going through hell,
keep on going, don’t slow down
if you’re scared don’t show it,
you -”

“Not the time to be singing Al.” The words slipped out without thought. He was used to hearing her being called Al. She didn’t seem to notice, only shook her head.

“Yes it is.”

“We’re going to talk about this. You drove all the way out here to talk. And then you can sing.”

Allison tilted her head to look at House, face set.

“When I was six, I was moved from the only family that I had ever known. At seven I met Jake and we were inseparable. He was my best friend. My brother. I got beaten and abused. I have so many scars House. So many. At ten, I watched as Jake bled to death. I watched and I sang to him because there was nothing else that I could do. And I wished for my mother. Oh boy, did I wish for my mother. I wanted someone to love me and protect me. Keep all the demons away. There weren’t any monsters under the bed for me. There were monsters on top of me. And now she’s here. But she’s not here because she wants me. She’s here because she wants my body. And I want to know why she gave me up. Why she gave me up but not her son who is only a few years younger then me. If she had kept me I would have grown up with a brother named Jake. But I wouldn’t have ended up where I am. It doesn’t matter. She’s still a part of me. I want to know if we have the same colored eyes and what my father’s name was. I want to know if she’s hyperopic like me. If her son is allergic to berries and breaks out in hives like I do. If we have matching birthmarks under our right arms. And at the same time I want to not be a match for her son. I want her to go through all the pain that I went through. I want -”

She swallowed hard. “I want her to love me. But because I’m hers. Not because I’m the woman who could save her sons life. So I don’t know what to do. I can’t make a decision because I’m the Allison Cameron with the bleeding heart that you know, but I’m also the AJ that went through hell and back again because this woman wasn’t ready to take care of me.”

*************

Quotes from Birthmarks

If You’re Going Through Hell - Rodney Atkins

Hyperopic – it means being unable to focus on close-range objects....just a fancy term for long-sightedness (It’s mentioned in one of the episodes, but I can’t recall which one.)

Cameron's Letters To House Bios part 2/30something?

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 02:02:31 GMT

Barbara May Sheldon Cameron – 64

April 12 1944 - ?

1. What is your full name? Did you have a nickname?

My full name is Barbara May Sheldon Cameron, but everyone calls me Barb.

2. When and where were you born?

I was born on April 12 1944 in London, England.

3. Were there any special items in the house that you remember?

A tea set of my mothers. It was made of china and had tiny red roses hand painted on it. I loved that tea set. She used to call me ‘Her little garden Rose’ because of it.

4. What was your religion growing up?

I am Jewish. My fathers’ family England after the first Great War. They were German Jews who owned a factory. My maternal grandfather got my paternal grandfather a job at his factory. That is how my parents met. It was very important to both of my parents that I was raised Jewish.

5. Describe a typical family dinner.

Present day? It’s just Charles and myself. I haven’t met the family yet.

6. What was your profession and how did you choose it?

I was a teacher for many, many years. I taught elementary school education. I moved out here because I wanted a better, higher paying job. My parents fully supported my move.

http://www.virginmedia.com/images/gal-julieandrews-adoption.jpg

http://www.fogcityjournal.com/images/photos/julie_andrews_std.JPG

http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/images/2002/05/10/image508626x.jpg

Cameron's Letters To House Bios part 1/30something?

Sun, 05 Apr 2009 18:56:01 GMT

These bios are going to be eventually used for a story I'm writing. Feel free to read and comment, but the story will take some time to get out. Hopefully now that I've started posting somethings I'll be motivated.

Charles Edward Cameron (Eddie) – 70
June 7^th 1938 - ?

Married – Judith

Eight kids

Remarried – Barbara – 64

No kids

1. What is your full name? Why did your parents select this name for you? Did you have a nickname?
Full name: Charles Edward Cameron. I was named after my grandfathers, son. Everyone just called me Eddie though. Good thing too because I have a granddaughter now that they call Charlie for short. I never understood that trend. Naming little girls like they were boys….

2. When and where were you born?
I was born on June 7^th 1938 in the middle of a dust storm somewhere in Texas. The dust storm was bad and my mother gave birth to me with only my older sisters’ help.

3. Did you have any pets? If so, what kind and what were their names?
Angel, Brook and Charlie bought me a golden retriever that I named Maxwell, after a loyal friend of mine who was shot down right next to me in ‘Nam.

4. What was your religion growing up? What church, if any, did you attend?
We were raised Catholic and all of my children went to Catholic school until they started high school – although Calliope and Lyra dropped out after third to go to public school in Cassiopeia’s town. I’m afraid at that point I was far into the bottle.

5. How were holidays (birthdays, Christmas, etc.) celebrated in your family? Did your family have special traditions?
Midnight mass is a big Christmas deal at home. The sidewalks are lined with lit candles and the farthest house from the church starts. (It’s a very small town). They begin walking with candles, singing Christmas Carols. As they pass houses they pick up other church goers and light their candles. This continues until we get to the church where midnight mass is done. After midnight mass, a child from each family donates something (or multiple things) for the church to give away in honor of Christ and the inn-keeper who gave them the barn to sleep in.

6. Is there a naming tradition in your family, such as always giving the firstborn son the name of his paternal grandfather?
My wife named all of the children. Just Cassiopeia and Leo were going to be named after
the stars, but then their names just seemed to make sense. I chose the middle names. All of their middle names have a special meaning to me.

7. Have any recipes been passed down to you from family members?
Lyra has all of the family recipes. She can cook anything and make it wonderful.

8. When and how did you meet your spouse? What did you do on dates?
I was eighteen. She was at a movie with her friends, and I with mine. At the end of the movie she was speaking of how she could have done a better job then the lead in the movie – and right there, on the street she began to recite from the movie. Her friends just laughed and dragged her along with them, but I remembered her. We became friends. I had already enlisted in the marines, and I was leaving a few days. She promised to wait for me though. To this day I have no idea why. But she did. When I was injured I came right home. Never went back. At my bedside we got married. A few months later Cassiopeia and Leo were born.

9. What memory stands out the most from your wedding day?
How happy we were – and how beautiful she looked. I wished she could have stayed that happy forever.

10. What was your proudest moment as a parent?
I don’t think that there is just one. I love all of my children and can’t imagine life without them.

11. What was your profession and how did you choose it?
I worked beat on homicide, became a detective. I was a cop for thirty two years. Was in the marines for five before I was injured. When I was younger I wanted to save the world. Now I just want to save my daughter.

Charles Cameron: http://dartreview.com/250px-Donald-Sutherland.jpg

http://pridenprejudice.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=ppactors&action=display&thread=105

http://images.eonline.com/eol_images/Profiles/20061011/244.sutherland.donald.101006.jpg

Just Coffee 14/?

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 22:20:01 GMT

Title: Just Coffee
Author: seriouslyjess
Summary: He needed someone, she needed someone. They were friends, and they needed each other to heal. And it was, after all, just coffee. Right?
She had a song - a Beatles song, just like Jake.
Spoilers: Anything up to Wilson's Heart, and now spoilers from Birthmarks as well.
Pairings: House/Cameron, Wilson/OFC

Chapter 14: Shootings and Nightmares

Cameron injured herself. A lot.

It wasn’t on purpose, and it wasn’t for attention. It was just the fact that years ago when she was a child, there were houses where no one took care of her. So she took care of herself. And while she was proud of herself for doing a damn good job, there were times when she slipped. There were times when she was a child and then there were the ones from when she was an adult.

Letting the patient cough blood on her.

Letting House get to her.

Sleeping with Chase.

The meth.

Foreman stealing her article.

Being stabbed with a tainted needle.

And more recently,

Letting the patient get close enough to attack her.

Going out with House. Been there, done that, she should’ve known that she would get hurt.

Letting Tina take pictures of the all of them.

Falling down (and getting back up.)

And now, because of her slip-ups, she was sitting in the clinic with House and her burned arm.

“These are definitely second degree,” House muttered under his breath. He patted her hand with a washcloth of cool water. Their anger – their pointless anger, seemed to be forgotten now.

“House, its fine,” she protested. “It’s not even bad. I can take care of these. I’m sure you have work to do.”

“Damn it Cameron! Let me do this.” He scolded. “Besides, it counts as clinic time.”

That got a snort from her. “Glad that I can be of assistance.”

“Aren’t you though?”

“Sure.”

“Want to help me with something else?”

“Not particularly.”

House ignored her. “Want to go to the funeral with me?”

“No. I can’t help you with your problems House. I’m not going to be there as a buffer.” House froze in dressing the wound. He hadn’t expected that.

“Why not?”

“This is something you have to do on your own. You don’t want me there anyway. I don’t do funerals well. And I’m not going with you to play nice with some strangers for you.”

“Why not? You love me.” At this Cameron pulled her arm from his grasp.

“Let’s get this clear House. I don’t love you. I don’t even like you some days. I hate funerals. They make me think of my dead brother. My dead foster mother. And yes, they make me think of Ron. And I know for a fact that your father was in the military. Which means that they’re going to fire guns. I hate guns.”

“You were fine the day I got sh…”

“Stop.” Her voice was deadly.

“You were shot and bleeding on the floor. Ask Foreman. The moment they took you into surgery I had a breakdown. Managed to convince them that it was because I was worried for you, but called my brother a half hour later mid panic attack in a bathroom stall hyperventilating. I could still see Ron with the gun. Could feel the bullet going through my leg. Alice had to come to the hospital to make sure that I was semi-okay. I did a vigil by your bedside, because I wasn’t going to lose another person I cared about to gun violence.”

Her voice cracked and she sniffled, tears starting out of her eyes.

“Something I never got to do with Jake, because he was already dead. He was dead, and I was still alive. My dad stopped hunting because of me. He went once and a while, but every time he did I would freak out because I thought it was going to be the last time I saw him. So don’t pull that House. I hate guns. I cannot stand them. And I didn’t know your father. Half the time you spend pushing me and driving me crazy. I’m not going to a funeral of a man that I don’t know for someone who doesn’t know when to stop pushing, unless you have a very good reason.” Wound half dressed she stormed out of the clinic blinded by tears.

House sat down with a sigh. There was a real reason.

He had been having nightmares.

Nightmares where a young Cameron, adorably dressed up (because that was the only young picture he had ever seen of her) held an equally adorable child on her hip and the got shot to death, the song Hey Jude on repeat in the background.

After she died she would morph into grown-up-Cameron where she would proceed to taunt him, that she was dead, and he never really loved her or he would have saved her.

Every night since she had told him in Alice’s restaurant a week ago he had woken up in a cold sweat. It wasn’t until the next day when he was able to see her in the ER that he would feel better. A few days with no Cameron would be hell on his mind.

Not that he could admit that to her. For all of his bravado, what she had told him had scared and startled him. That night, as he had started calling it in his mind, he had acted like her story hadn’t affected him.

But he couldn’t get the image of her out of his mind.

House stood up and left the clinic with determination. She would go to the funeral with him.

************************

Cameron stopped running when from House when she reached Wilson’s’ office. She barged in without knocking and Wilson looked up from Houses’ PSP, expression startled when he saw her.

“Al!” The nickname made her smile, albeit slightly. In the hospital they usually addressed each other as ‘Dr. Cameron’ and ‘Dr. Wilson’.

“What happened?” He was already out of his seat and over to her.

“House wants me to go to the funeral with him.”

“Okayyyy,” Wilson drawled out. He sat her down and was rummaging through some drawers for his First Aid Kit.

“I may have flipped out on him and stormed out.”

“You’ve been doing that a lot lately, haven’t you?”

“He just frustrates me so much!” She sounded like she was a fifteen year old girl complaining about her first crush, and Wilson couldn’t help but smile. Having found his kit, he walked over to her and began to finish what House had started.

“I bet he could say the same thing about you.”

“I don’t do it intentionally.”

“Does he?”

“Yes.”

Wilson paused and raised an eyebrow.

“I know he used to, but do you think that he intentionally drives you crazy now?”

“I don’t know.” She paused. “Yes. No.”

“He asked you to go to the funeral with him.”

“I don’t do funerals.”

“Do you think that he does?”

“Wilson, the last funeral that I went to was my husbands, and I collapsed and had to be taken to the hospital. Before that it was Jakes funeral. I don’t do funerals.”

“He’s been worried about you.” Cameron cocked her head at the subject change.

“What?”

“Ever since you told him about your life growing up. He’s been worried. House doesn’t talk about things like that, but I can see it in his eyes. The first thing that he does every day is go down to the ER and watch you for a few minutes. You’re usually very busy, so you don’t notice, but after I saw it on Wednesday, I watched him, and he did it for the next six days. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s why he wants you to come with him. He’s scared for you.”

“I don’t like being treated differently because of my past Wilson. I told him that.”

“He’s liked, maybe even loved you for years, kid. You sprung something on him completely out of left field.”

“I hate sports metaphors,” Cam grumbled.

“Doesn’t make it any less true.”

“Make what any less true?”

“He likes you. You scared him. He wants to keep you close.”

“Or he’s pushing me.”

“Pushing you?”

“If you harass someone enough they leave.”

A lesson well learned from her childhood. If you acted like a terror no one wanted you.

“He’s still the five year old boy at heart who pulls your hair on the playground and runs away, but that doesn’t mean that he likes you any less. It just means he’s scared. Something I’m sure you can relate to. And his dad just died.”

“I don’t do funerals.”

“Did I ask you to go?” Wilson asked with patience.

“No.” She was sulking now, and Wilson hugged her.

“Can I show you something?”

“Depends.”

“I’ll take that as a ‘yes’.”

He went to his desk and found the pictures he had yet to give House and handed her the one that Tina had told him to harass House about.

“Did you see these yet?”

“No.” She flipped the photo over and smiled. “Tina at it again.”

“He likes you.”

“Are we in middle school?”

“Elementary school,” Wilson corrected. “We’re still at the pulling hair and then running away to laugh about it stage, remember?”

Cameron chuckled and glanced back down at the picture. If she didn’t know any better she would have assumed that they were together. Maybe not in love, but something.

And with that realization, Cameron knew that she had to go talk to him.

*****************

She had a song - a Beatles song, just like Jake. She used to sing Hey Jake to him, because a long time ago, before that, she had a foster father who loved The Beatles. Ever night a different song before she went to bed. And, sometimes, he would sing Dear Allie to her. It never failed to make her smile.

But now, sitting in Houses’ apartment, the Beatles playing softly and hearing her song – she flinched. Tina would have known to change the song, but Tina wasn’t there. She had no buffer.

House watched her with a raised brow.

“Are you going to sit there all night and examine my wall or tell me why you came?”

“Neither.” Cameron hesitated. “I was shot House. There is a scar on my leg from a bullet. And it hurts. And I know you were shot, but you don’t understand.” She paused again.

“The first day at Linda and Ron’s, they took us shopping and Linda bought us stuffed animals. That night we had dinner, and I helped Linda cook it. Ron – Ron didn’t like the potatoes she made. He threw the plate at her, and it shattered. I learned that night how to stitch someone’s arm up. The day after that Ron came home from work with flowers for me and Linda and a baseball and bat so he could teach Jake how to play baseball. The next day when Jake didn’t catch all of the balls that Ron threw at him, he was hit for every one he missed. We were used to it, of course,” she continued on, oblivious to the horror on his face. Her hands were interesting and if she stared at them, she didn’t have to look at him.

“So, it was no big shock to get the crap beat out of you one day and hugs and kisses and jokes the next. It’s the way I grew up, and when I was re-placed after everything that happened I was so confused as to why no one was hitting me that I actually asked my foster mother why my foster dad hadn’t beat me yet.”

Cameron drifted off to another place, one House couldn’t see. The shock on her foster moms face, the way she had immediately called Social Services to ask what the hell had happened to the girl while she was in the system.

“You see House, I don’t do this stuff. I can act out the touchy-feely, the emotions, connect with the patients even, but there comes a level where I can’t anymore. And one of those levels would be going with you somewhere that I may never be ready to go.” She stood up. “The truth is that I’m damaged. Yes. And I’m broken. More then you, and more than you could ever imagine. I didn’t let it get me down, but its there. It’s there right on the inside. Just below the surface there is a ten-year-old girl who screams run as fast and as far as you can because you’re going to get hurt. And it’s going to be badly. Very badly. And that is the real reason why I can’t go to the funeral with you.”

She stood to leave but House caught her wrist.

“When they took out my thigh I lost a part of myself. You lost part of yourself too. And you still haven’t found it.” House hadn’t either, but he covered it up with snark.

“Why did you want me to go to your dad’s funeral, House?” It was an off topic question and House froze. “And the truth please. Not the BS about me being a buffer. You don’t care about what others think of you.”

“I go to sleep,” House explained softly, “and you’re dead.”

Cameron froze. She knew those dreams. Had lived them more then once. Knew that the argument but I’m not dead wouldn’t help.

So, instead she tried a variation. Something that the therapist she had once went to had taught her mother.

Cameron took a step towards him and placed a gentle hand on his cheek.

“I’m right here.” She searched his face, looking for something, anything to show that he knew she meant it. “And I can’t go to that funeral, House. But you can call me. And I will answer my phone. I’m not dead, just damaged.”

She had shown him most of her visible scars – except for one of the most important ones.

The wound in her thigh from when she was shot. It held more emotional baggage then any of her other scars combined.

But, trust had to start somewhere. And what better place then at the crux of so many of her problems?

Cameron took a deep breath and shoved down her jeans. “Ron shot me.” Tears glistened in her eyes as House took in the old bullet wound on her leg. “Ron shot me and it broke me. It shattered whatever I had left of little girl dreams and fairy tales and happy endings. And he killed Jake. My little brother. My only friend.”

He hobbled to a stand and carefully removed his jeans to his knees. “My thigh.”

Cameron stared at his face, until he met her eyes with the slightest nod. She looked down, but didn’t gasp. She moved forward slowly and touched his leg with gentle fingers. He let out a quiet hiss, but Cameron didn’t remove her hand until she had finished tracing the scar. She looked up at him, and there was no pity.

It was always one of his bigger fears. Women didn’t want a broken man unless they wanted to fix him. But Cameron was just as broken as he was, if not more so.

She let out a deep sigh and slid her pants back up. There were more scars on her person. There was one particularly intimate one on her inner hips, on her pelvis that she had gotten from a baseball bat and a swift kick. To this day she couldn’t recall exactly what had happened, but there had been a knife as well, a concussion and a matching scar for Jake.

House shifted, painfully drawing his pants back up and then popping a vicodin.

“So…” He started before letting his voice trail off.

Cameron echoed him.

“This isn’t going to be easy,” House warned her. Even as he was speaking he had no idea what ‘this’ was.

Cameron gazed at him for a moment. “No one ever said it was going to be easy House. They just said it was going to be worth it.”

Pictures...

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 22:57:18 GMT

The third picture had House and Cameron. They were walking down the street, the lights hitting them just right. Houses’ cane was in mid swing, and the lens was slightly blurry from the snow. So, while it appeared that Cameron was reaching for House’s hand, you couldn’t be sure.

The first picture was of Cameron. She was staring at the camera, the softest hint of a smile on her face, a bit flushed from the weather.

Just Coffee 13/?

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 22:29:10 GMT

Title: Just Coffee
Author: seriouslyjess
Summary: He needed someone, she needed someone. They were friends, and they needed each other to heal. And it was, after all, just coffee. Right?
“I didn’t know House and Cameron were seeing each other.”
Spoilers: Anything up to Wilson's Heart, and now spoilers from Birthmarks as well.
Pairings: House/Cameron, Wilson/OFC

So I should be studying for my chem final. But I decided to post this instead. Send good luck/go study! comments if you would like. They might help. Also (and you'll understand this after you read the chapter) I posted two of the 'pictures' I'm going to try to put them on LJ if you want to look.

Jess

Chapter 13: An Update On The Other Characters and Hospital Gossip

Cuddy watched carefully on Monday as Cameron entered the ER. One of the ER nurses – one known for not gossiping – had let her in on Cameron’s injuries from a few nights ago with a casual ‘just thought you should know’.

And now Cuddy knew, and was watching for any signs of injury. But, besides looking tired and thin there was nothing for Cuddy to note.

A nurse went up to her and the two began talking, Cameron throwing her head back in laughter, but that was all.

Her pager went off and Cuddy glanced at the words House 911 from Wilson before sighing. She would catch Cameron later and discuss the fact that she had never felt the need to report the assault to anyone.

**********

Cuddy stepped into Wilson’s office and was surprised to see him sitting there with a woman. He had paged her a 911 while with a patient?

Wilson let out a smile when he saw her. Things were still tense between them, but she was glad that his relationship with House had been repaired.

“House is going to need some time off.” There was no time for niceties, Wilson had decided. Also, if he cut to the chase, their relationship was less strained seeming.

“Why?”

“Blythe called me. John died.” Cuddy glanced at the patient, uncomfortable with talking about House in front of her.

The woman sensed this for she turned to Wilson with a grin.

“I’m going to go hijack Blondie’s car so I’m on time. Tell House that if he damages my baby, I’ll break his face. And he already has that coming anyone. So, actually, tell him he breaks my car, I break his leg. I’m already breaking his face.”

Wilson let out the lightest bit of a snort. “He’d rather that then go to the funeral, T.”

“Send him to Blondie then, or Alice. They’re the good talkers. I’m the one with the one-liners and the magic tricks.”

“And the really bad plans.”

‘T’ laughed, a full, throw your head back, body convulsing laugh.

“That was all your idea Jimmy.” Cuddy was watching them impatiently, and Tina caught it, for she smiled slightly before giving Wilson a quick hug around the waist.

“I’ll talk to you later.”

“Later,” Wilson echoed, as he watched her leave. His attention returned to Cuddy when he could no longer see the woman. “John died, Blythe called.” He repeated.

But Cuddy couldn’t let go of what she just saw. “Patient?”

“Very good friend.” Wilson replied. “We’re friends right now. And she makes me laugh and smile. And no, she’s not a patient; she’s a cousin of a doctor.”

“The one whose car she’s going to steal?”

Wilson just smiled at her tone. “Something like that.” Before any more questions could come, Tina skidded back into the room, breathless.

“I forgot.” She was holding two envelopes in her hand. “One for you, and one for House. From that night with the storm.” She tossed them to him and Wilson just barely caught them. He took the one that had his name on it and put it in his pocket. Houses’ he left on the desk to presumably give to him later. “There’s a really good one of the two of them in there, so please, feel free to corner him with it. That’s what I’ll be doing to AJ.” And then without another word she was gone.

“Whose cousin?”

But Wilson evaded the question. He knew that the moment he breathed the name Cameron she’d make assumptions. And while Cuddy had at one point been a dear friend, besides the whole House thing, he didn’t want her to make the assumptions. Because then she’d feel the need to say something. And, at the moment, there was nothing to say. Except that they had gotten involved where they maybe shouldn’t have, and were playing with fire.

“I think I’m going to the funeral as well, so I’m going to need some time off.”

Cuddy nodded. “Blythe called you, not him?”

Wilson shrugged. “If she had called him he would’ve been out of the state and in hiding faster then you could blink. He has no desire to go to a funeral of a man he hates. We’re going to need time off.” Wilson smirked, he couldn’t help it. “And some security guards to block the escape route.”

Cuddy nodded, even though Wilson was joking. “Do you want me to wait in here, just in case? If he’s in his office and you are too, this is the fastest escape for him.”

Wilson wanted to point out that he could just lock the door from the balcony, but Cuddy was trying to be helpful, so he nodded.

He stood up from behind his desk “I’ll go get him. We could always do something, where you try and get him to leave the hospital and I pick him up in a car and just start driving.”

“He would recognize your car.”

“I took Tina’s in today, my car is dead. That’s why she went to take her cousins.” Wilson moved towards the door. “I might see you in a few. If not, I successfully corralled House and we are on our way to the funeral. Blythe called me before I made it to work, so I swung by and grabbed both of us appropriate clothes.”

“How many days are you going to need off?”

“Two?” Wilson shrugged “Four at the most I think. I’ll keep you updated. The funeral is tomorrow, so we have to get there first.”

“Okay.” Cuddy nodded. “Call me from the car then.”

She waited until Wilson disappeared from sight until she grabbed the envelope that was for House and opened it.

**********

Cameron sighed and rested her head against the wall for a minute. Her break had been nice, her few days of extra sleep had been even nicer, but her date with House, while not having ended as disastrously as she had thought it would, was bad.

“Blondie!”

Use to hearing her cousins trill at the hospital now, Cameron looked up.

“What’s up Tina? And in an extremely nice way, why are you here?”

Tina laughed. “Jimmy’s car broke down, and I had to drive him here. And he needs my car, so I need yours.”

“And what were you doing at Jimmy’s place?”

Tina didn’t even flinch. “I wasn’t at his place. But I live closest out of me and you, so when he called and asked to borrow my car, I said yes.”

Tina pulled Allison as far away as she could from the nurses and explained the situation in a hushed tone.

“So,” she concluded brightly “can I have your keys?”

“They’re in my locker, here.” Cameron scrawled her combination and directions to the locker. “You’re picking me up after work?”

“Yeah. How late is your shift?”

“Only until ten tonight.”

“Sweet, let me know if anything changes.”

“Okay. Have fun at school,” Cameron teased, sounding just like a mother.

“Don’t tease, I love my job. I’ll catch you later.”

***********

“House.”

Wilson was standing in the door of his office, a frown on his face.

“Wilson,” he deadpanned back. “What’s up? The threesome isn’t for a few more days. Unless you want some pointers.” House wagged his eyebrows suggestively. Wilson let the chuckle bubble out of him before turning serious.

“Can I talk to you privately?” House followed obediently, but scowled.

“This better not be about the other night. Because the second part of that night was so he-”

“Greg.”

He paused. “Now I’m concerned.”

“You’re mother called me this morning.”

“Well, you’re momma was at my apartment this morning, and she -”

“House!”

“Present.” House raised his hand and settled into his office chair, picking up the red gray ball he kept there.

Wilson sighed. “As I was saying, Blythe called me this morning, you’re father – House, I’m sorry. He’s gone.”

House stared blankly for a moment.

“He’s dead?”

“Are you okay House? I know it’s a lot to take in.”

House shook his head and stood up. “I just never expected to outlive the bastard. I always thought of him as a cat with nine lives. When’s the funeral? I’m assuming my mother called you first so I wouldn’t cut and run?”

“Tomorrow. I’m going with you. We’re driving.”

“Can I have some time?”

“You’re not allowed to cut and run.”

“You can follow me if you want, you stalker.” House hauled himself to his feet and took out his PSP. “Proof that I’ll be back here soon.”

Wilson knew he was serious, so he watched House leave the room before turning on the game. Super Mario Brothers. Perfect.

*******

Cuddy flipped through the pictures for a third time, and still couldn’t contain her astonishment.

The pictures looked pretty professional from her point of view.

And some of them were just – wow.

There were about twenty five pictures in all most of House and Cameron. Cameron was ‘Blondie’ and that alone was shocking.

There were four pictures that Cuddy really liked. She knew that she shouldn’t be snooping, but it was interesting, and she couldn’t help it.

The first picture was of Cameron. She was staring at the camera, the softest hint of a smile on her face, a bit flushed from the weather.

The second was of the four of them. Cameron and House were sitting on a pair of lone swings, both seeming caught in mid-laugh. Wilson was laughing as well, one arm out, holding Tina’s shoulder. The woman was slipping it seemed, but she was still turned towards the camera, a bright smile on her face. Cuddy guessed that she had been trying to get into the picture, but that the ice and snow had made it difficult. All four were soaked with snow and little white patches decorated them and the picture.

And the fourth. Well, it clearly displayed what House and Cameron had together. She was sitting in the snow and House was sitting on a swing. He was using his cane to hold the swing steady and Cameron was looking up at him. He was amused; you could see it in the way his eyes crinkled. Cameron’s hand was full of snow, and she had a bit of a gleam in her eyes. House was playfully pushing some hair out of her face.

Footsteps from the balcony startled her and she looked up to see Wilson standing there. “I knew I forgot those.”

Cuddy was speechless, so she jumped on the defensive. “I didn’t know House and Cameron were seeing each other.”

Wilson merely plucked the photos from her hands and raised an eyebrow.

“They’re not. House and I will be leaving shortly.” And before Cuddy could get another word in edge wise, before she could wave the pictures at him and ask well, then what do you call this? He was gone.

*****

“When Ron died, how did you feel?”

Cameron looked up to see House and sighed inwardly. She was suturing a little boy who had slipped and cut his chin open.

“Give me a minute.” She smiled at him – another little boy who could’ve been Jake’s twin. She still saw him everywhere she looked. After three more stitches, a lollipop, a hug from the little boy and a half filled chart, she turned to look up at House.

“Coffee?”

“I gave Wilson my PSP; I’m not leaving the hospital. And the cafeteria sucks.”

“I’ll make it. Your office?”

House nodded and Cameron called out to one of the nurses that she was taking fifteen minutes as she quickly finished the chart and signed her name with a flourish.

“Let’s go.”

**********

Foreman set down his coffee and turned to Chase.

The two of them were extremely bored, both for some reason, having light case loads.

Chase was doing a crossword, feet propped on the table in the lounge and Foreman picked up the next copy of JAMA.

“If Cameron was here sorting House’s mail it would be just like old times,” Chase commented, not looking up from his crossword.

“You two are okay then?”

“We broke up almost ten months ago.”

“I thought it was nine.”

“Things were going downhill since the bus crash, really. It just took another month for us to call it quits.”

Foreman nodded. “We should page her from the ER then, if you don’t care.”

Chase shook his head. “I don’t, but I overhead the nurses talking. She was last seen going on break about two minutes ago with the one and only House.”

“House?” Foreman was speechless. “House?”

Chase shrugged. “She loves him. No matter how much of an ass he is.”

“And you’re okay with that?”

“First of all Foreman, she’s my ex-girlfriend. But before that, we were friends. So, if he makes her happy, then yes. I’m happy for her. Second off, I have a girlfriend. I love her. I don’t have anything to be jealous of.”

Foreman nodded in understanding and picked up the magazine again. He thought of all that had happened in the past months.

If Cameron was down there if would be like old times. Some of it. They were all still playing their parts, but Foreman had a feeling that life would be different. Somewhere along the line they had all grown up.

Chase wasn’t just a daddy’s boy. He was a caring man, a doctor who was good at what he did. Going strong in a relationship and confident in the OR, there was a sense of determination around him.

Foreman wasn’t House. He had found out how not to be. In his second month of dating a woman that he had met while helping out at a homeless shelter (part of his plan to not be House) he was, while maybe not ecstatic, content with life.

And Cameron – well, she was less naïve. She still loved and lost and got hurt, but she had grown up in Foreman’s eyes. She was older, more mature. And she was damn good at what she did.

Yes, Foreman mused, if she showed up right then, it would have been just like old times. The two of them teasing her and laughing about House, but there would be an undertone to it. The undertone of sibling fights and laughter, of trust that had been built and grown over years.

*******

Wilson could see how Cuddy mistook the pictures as a fact that Greg and Allison were in a relationship.

He hadn’t looked through his pictures, but looking at the ones that were Houses, he had to say he was really impressed.

Tina was a great photographer. But, the picture that Cuddy had held up, the one that was proof the two were in a relationship, wasn’t the one that Tina had been referring to.

Anyone could smile and brush hair out of someone else face. The one Tina was talking about was one of the last pictures. Cameron had slipped on some ice, landing nicely on her butt in the cold weather.

House had hobbled over almost immediately, even as Cameron had stood up.

“I’m fine House.”

“Are you sure? You’re holding your wrist funny.”

Cameron looked at her arm, and realized that she was cradling it.

“It doesn’t feel like anything but a sprain at the biggest. I caught myself on it.”

“Still.”

House gestured towards a ledge that was around some trees. Using his cane he brushed some snow off.

“Let me see.”

Cameron sighed, but obliged and climbed onto the ledge.

House leaned over and picked up her wrist, pushing up layers of fabric. Cameron had bent her head slightly down, to tell House that she was fine, and House had looked back up at her.

That was when the picture was taken. Tina had snapped a shot of the two of them and later made it black and white. It was the two of them, just looking at each other. She had cropped out the way that House was holding Cameron’s arm. If Wilson hadn’t known them the way that House was looking at Cameron with such affection would have made him sure that they were a couple in love.

Now, he wasn’t so sure what they were.

******

The Ducklings 2.0 all gave her question looks when she walked in. Although they were ‘friends’ – ‘frienimies’ if she was in high school, that didn’t mean that they hung out at work. He would maybe sit with her if she was having lunch with Wilson, but that was all.

“When Cam is here, you don’t touch the pot.” House pointed at the coffee pot. “Maybe eventually one of you will learn how to make this stuff.”

“I’m not coming in to make you coffee.”

“Pity coffee?” House offered. “For a while, until I get over my mourning stages?”

“What are you mourning?” Taub asked, with a raised brow. Cameron already knew, due to Tina, and House had blurted out my dad is dead on the elevator ride up.

“I have a heart, contrary to popular belief.” House jabbed Cameron with his cane. “Tell them I have a heart.”

“House, if you had a heart, a lot of the doctors in this hospital wouldn’t be in counseling and the number of nurses would be higher. Everyone would be happier. So, no. No heart for you. And what you really want to do is throw a party.”

“A party? Like a birthday party?” House paused, contemplating. “Do they have death-day parties?”

“I don’t think so.” Cameron shrugged. “But I never had a chance to celebrate.”

Ducklings 2.0 were watching with interest. Cameron handed House his red mug and took a mug of her own before walking towards his office.

“Why didn’t you celebrate?”

She waited until they were in his office with the door closed to reply. “I may have gotten rid of my abuser the day he killed himself, but Jake was gone and so was Linda. What did I have to celebrate?”

“You were alive.”

“I didn’t want to be.” The confession was matter of fact, no flinch involved.

“But,” House persisted, going back to his original question, “when Ron died how did you feel?”

Cameron sighed and then held back a snort. He wanted to talk about feelings? “I felt relief; there was a rock at the bottom of my stomach that lifted. But I can’t tell you how to feel House, for multiple reasons. Our situations in some parts were similar, but you’re a grown man and I was an abused ten year-old about to go back into the system. At least at Ron and Linda’s I knew what to expect. The system was uncharted territory. ”

It didn’t matter how many scars they shared or how many bruises matched on the inside and the outside, their situations would never be the same.

“Is it wrong to be happy he’s gone?”

“As wrong as it is to be sad. They’re your own emotions House. I can’t tell you how to feel.”

“You’ve tried before.” Cameron didn’t react, but House pushed. “Do you like me? Do you? How do you feel about me?” He fluttered his eye lashes for effect, adopting a high, girly falsetto.

“Stop it House.” Cameron’s voice wavered. “Stop.” He’s reacting because his dad died. Pretend it doesn’t matter, chin up.

“What do you suggest then Doctor, if you won’t talk to me?”

“To go lie on someone else’s couch and ask them questions about how you should feel.” Cameron replied, an edge to her voice. She wasn’t going to let herself get mocked by him when she was trying to help.

Cameron set her coffee cup down on his table, sending coffee sloshing violently over the edge. It spilled down her arm, turning the white skin an increasingly bright red, but Cameron didn’t notice. “I’m not your mother House, or your father for that matter. Go find Wilson and complain. But leave me the hell- what are you doing? Don’t touch me.” For House had strode over to her and was holding her arm.

“Jesus Christ Cameron, you spilled down your arm. You burned yourself.”

“Oh,” she replied. “Ouch.”

“You didn’t feel that?”

Cameron shrugged. “Pain doesn’t hurt. Not when it’s all you’ve ever felt. Tina mentioned I don’t get cold to you once. I don’t really feel heat either. I trained my body when I was little. It still damages me, but I don’t feel the effects of hypothermia as much because my body was used to being kept outside for long periods of time. If it’s hot enough or cold enough, then, yes, I’ll feel it, and it will hurt. But that felt like I dipped my hand in hot water.”

House shook his head, his early anger forgotten outweighed by concern. “You do realize this means I have to take you to clinic, right?”

“I can take myself.”

“I’m the only competent doctor out here. I’ll fix you up.”

“What’s the point of fixing me up? You already broke me. As long as I’m pretty enough to be art work I’m fine.”

Her response was startling, but House didn’t let go of her arm.

“Clinic. Now.” He repeated, sounding so much like Cuddy that she didn’t protest.

La vita ed il diario di Isabella e Daniela Cameron 13/25

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:39:42 GMT

Title: La vita ed il diario Isabella e Daniela Cameron (The Life and Diary of Isabella and Daniela Cameron)
Author: seriouslyjess
Summary: Eight years later. Cameron is back with surprises and secrets. No one is prepared for what she has kept hidden from them. Can the group at PPTH deal with her return and secrets or will they be in the same place they were when she left?
Spoilers: I can't recall any right now. Maybe some in seasons 1-3, but nothing that big.
Pairings: House/Cameron, Wilson/Cuddy

Chapter 12: She'll Be Okay

August 22 2011 –

I woke up today and felt a lot better. Mama and House are both here. Bella told me what happened. She looked a little scared. She made me promise not to get sick anymore. I told her that I couldn’t promise and she told me that I should tell when I start to hurt, not pretend I’m fine.

I told her that’s what she does and Bella couldn’t argue with me. I won one. Mama and Dr. House just walked in. They want me to rest more. Mama looks really tired. So does Dr. House. I have to ask them what happened. Everything is hazy. Bye for now.

***************

August 20 2011

“She’s going to be okay right?” House didn’t answer her. His daughters were sitting in the back seat of his car, Bella holding Dani firmly to herself.

“House?”

“She’ll be fine Bella. I promise.” It was the first time he had ever used her nickname, but she didn’t correct him.

House pulled up to the hospital and parked in his spot. He limped to the back seat and picked up Dani. She buried her head in his shoulder. Tears were streaming down her face and when she coughed her whole body shook.

“You’ll be okay baby.” He stroked her back reassuringly and then limped into the ER, Bella next to him.

*********

House walked into the hospital and set down his daughter in a chair.

“Stay with your sister Bella.” He limped to the desk and glowered at the nurse. She was on the phone talking animatedly. He grabbed the phone from her and said ‘she’s going to have to call you back’ before slamming the phone back in its cradle. The woman looked up and opened her mouth to yell until she realized who was standing in front of her.

“Dr. House…”

“Damn right. Page Dr. Wilson to the ER and call Dr. Hamilton.” Hamilton knew what he was doing, one of the few competent people in the hospital.

“But -”

“Do it.” House limped away and grabbed a wheelchair. He brought it over to his daughter and lifted her gently into it. She was still whimpering in pain.

“Bella?”

“Yeah.” His other little girl was clutching her sister’s hand, trying to be brave.

“Uncle Jimmy is going to be down here in a minute. When he gets down, tell him to call Lisa. Tell him to tell them that there’s an emergency at the hospital. Don’t tell them who it is. I don’t want a car accident tonight, okay? You can come back with him and find me after that.”

Bella nodded and House bent down and swooped her into a tight, quick, hug before he could change his mind.

“She’ll be okay, I promise.”

*************

House gently lifted Dani onto the table. She cried out again and curled herself into a fetal position.

“I’m going to do an ultrasound on your stomach, okay?” Dani whimpered. Keep her distracted from the pain, come on, you can do this.

“Have you ever seen an ultrasound before Dani?” She nodded and let a small smile escape.

“You’ll have to tell me about that later.” He grabbed the gel and thought about warming it up. But, if it was what he though it was, then he should just let her deal with the coldness.

“This is going to be a little cold baby.” He spread the gel on her stomach, and quickly turned the ultrasound on. Yep. Just what he expected.

At that moment Wilson, Bella and a disgruntled Dr. Hamilton with two interns burst into the room.

“Dr. House?”

“My daughter has appendicitis, she needs immediate surgery.”

The man nodded. He didn’t question House, knowing that it would result in a whack with the cane and shouting. The fact that it was his daughter was a conflict of interest, but that could be dealt with by Cuddy. He began directing his interns and moved swiftly.

House grasped Bella’s shoulders. “Let’s go in the waiting room until Lisa and Allison get here.”

“You promise right?” her sharp eyes – his eyes- looked at him. “She’ll be fine.”

“I promise.”

“Okay.” Bell walked over to her sister and hugged her tightly once. “I’ll see you soon Ella. Dr. House said you’ll be fine.”

“Soon Izza.” The girl echoed softly. Only Dani could call Bella Izza and vice-versa. They were their special nicknames for each other.

House looked at his younger daughter and bent down so they were eye level.

“You’ll be fine Dani.” She nodded and grasped his hand for a minute before Dr. Hamilton wheeled her away. Wilson looked at House.

“Do you want me to go fill out the paper work and anything else that’s need?” He nodded and Wilson went to go take care of the stuff House hated.

****************

Cuddy and Cameron rushed into the hospital, taking in everything in a glance. Wilson was sitting next to House, and House was sitting in a chair with Bella’s balanced on his good leg.

“Greg? Bella? Where’s Dani?” Allison rushed over to him.

“She’ll be fine Mom.” Bella piped up. Her voice was sleepy, and Cameron realized that she had woken her up. “House promised she would be.”

“Emergency appendectomy” House replied. “She was complaining of stomach pain. I didn’t want to tell you and have you get in an accident on the way here.”

He stood, Bella now in his arms. Even at eleven she was still easy to carry, light and small like her mother.

His hand reached out reassuringly and rested on her shoulder. “She’ll be fine Allie. Hamilton is doing the surgery. He’s one of the best, and coming from me that means a lot.”

She nodded and reached forward to hug her daughter. Bella stayed attached to House with one arm and reached for her mother with the other. It turned into a group hug between the three of them.

“She’ll be okay, I promise.”

******************

Usual appendectomy surgeries took about 15-20 minutes. That wasn’t including putting the patient under anesthesia, prepping them, and the recovery time. All in all it took about 45 minutes to an hour.

When Dr. Hamilton appeared the five people swiveled and looked at him expectantly.

“She’s fine.” House let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding.

“Her appendix did rupture, which means a hospital stay of at least four days, depending on how she responds when she wakes up. Other then that we’ll play it by ear once she wakes up.”

“Can we see her?” Bella asked. Wilson and Cuddy said their good-byes to House, Cameron and Bella, and then left to get some sleep.

“Yes you can see her.” Hamilton directed them to her room, and then left to tend to other patients. Isabella skipped ahead of her parents, and House walked at Cameron’s slow pace.

“Allie what’s wrong?” She didn’t answer him right away, and he was about to repeat the question when she turned to him with tear filled eyes.

“She could’ve died Greg.”

“But she didn’t.” House placed a hand on her shoulder.

“But she could’ve.”

“Dani’s a fighter. Just like you. A burst appendix wouldn’t have killed her.”

“I asked her if she wanted me to stay home tonight, if she wasn’t feeling that well. She told me to go to the benefit. I wasn’t there Greg. I’m always there, I’m there mother.”

“Before it was just you. That’s my fault, but now it’s the two of us.” Allison buried her head in his shoulder. “We’ll get through this Allie.” She nodded and took a minute to compose herself.

House took her hand again. “Let’s go see our girls.”

La vita ed il diario di Isabella e Daniela Cameron 12/25

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:34:23 GMT

August 21st 2011 (11:30 a.m.)

Thought that I should write in here, not a lot to say. Dani’s going to be okay. House isn’t that bad. I was really scared that she wouldn’t be okay. Mom thought it was her fault. House thought it was his. Neither of them have left her side. That’s okay though. She made House promise he wouldn’t leave.

Uncle Jimmy wants me to eat something. Cafeteria food sucks. It’s really, really gross. I just told him that. He said he’d take me out to lunch. I’m off to get some real food. Baby-sitting us was fine other then the whole Dani thing. House and I have reached an understanding. That’s good. All for now, bye!

****************

August 20th (5:00)

Cameron moved around the room easily, getting ready and talking to her daughters.

“Bella, don’t kill him. I don’t want to have to clean blood off of the floor. You can yell all you want, you might get some answer’s, but no blood. Also, no violence. I do not want the two of you ganging up on him in anyway other then yelling or some sort of game.”

She turned to her two daughters. One was lying on her bed, the other sitting in a chair glaring at her.

“Got it.” Bella replied frowning.

“Dani?” She walked over to her other daughter and felt her forehead. “You’re warm.”

“No I’m not.” She smiled at her mother. “I’m hot.”

All three laughed and Alison swatted at her daughter playfully. “You might be getting a cold baby.”

“I usually get them after flying, remember?”

“I know, but usually I’m here.”

“It’s okay Mama. You can go.”

“Are you sure baby?”

“Yeah. Bella will be here, and Dr. House, is a doctor.”

“You got me there baby.”

“I know I do.” The doorbell rang and Allison slid her shoes on.

“Let’s go downstairs.”

“Okay.” The girls followed their mother out of the room. Allison opened the door and revealed House standing there nervously.

“Hey.” House looked at her and chocked on his words for a minute. She was wearing red. He had told her, once, a long time ago that he loved seeing her in red. It was her color. She smiled at him.

“Do I look okay?”

“You look beautiful.” House handed her the flowers he had bought. Allison smiled. He had given her flowers to say what he couldn’t. As a child she had learned what each flower meant, and had told him one night. He had started giving her flowers for different occasions.

The tea roses meant ‘I still love you’, while the fact that there were fifteen meant ‘I’m sorry’. She took them, and a glance passed between the two, understanding in their eyes.

“Thank you Greg.”

“You’re welcome.” She held the door open for him and he walked in.

“Hi Isabella, Daniela.”

“Hi Dr. House.” Dani hid shyly behind her mother, but Bella glared at him with distaste.

“Will you girl give him the grand tour?”

“Yeah.” Bella answered. Allison bent down and hugged Bella and then Dani.

“Be good girls. Remember, no bloodshed, okay?”

“Yeah Mom.”

“Yes Mama.” She turned and touched Dani’s forehead.

“Take some Tylenol before you go to bed, okay?” She nodded and Cameron turned to House. “They haven’t eaten yet, so they need to be fed. Bedtime for Bella is nine, Dani is eight-thirty. Don’t be surprised if Bella goes into Dani’s room and reads to her before bed. If you guys are in the middle of something, absolute latest bedtime is 9:45.”

“We’ll be fine.” House said reassuringly. “Go have fun at the fundraiser.”

“You’re just glad you don’t have to go.”

“Of course.” She hugged her daughters again, gave the flowers to Dani and asked her to put them in a vase and left them alone with their father.

****************

Bella and Dani gave him a quick tour of the place. It took all of fifteen minutes. At the moment they were sitting in the kitchen.

“So… what do you girls want for dinner?” That was probably the simplest place to start.

“I’m not hungry.” Dani answered. She was moving around the kitchen slowly as she put the flowers in a vase and moved them into the middle of the island.

“Italian” Bella didn’t even look up.

“Okay. Do you have a menu, or do we need to call my Italian place?”

“Yours.” Bella replied. She was glowering at him.

House wasn’t going to fight her. “Do you know what you want?”

“Lasagna. Dani wants spaghetti and meatballs. Pizza too, a small one, half cheese and mushroom, half pepperoni.”

“Okay.” House pulled open his phone and hit speed dial number 6. He placed their order, changing the pizza to a medium. He hung up and Bella glared.

“I said small pizza.”

“But I’m hungry too.” Bella stared at him, and he stared right back. Dani let out a cough and sighed.

“Bella, Mama said no blood. I’m going to read in the library until the food comes.” The little girl dragged her small body out of the room.

House watched her go and then turned to Bella. “Are So what do you want to do now?”

She glowered at him and walked out of the room. House followed his daughter.

“So, Allison said no bloodshed huh?”

“Yes.” Bella practically growled.

“You know, you could just tell me what’s wrong and then we wouldn’t have to do this while ‘I hate you’ thing.”

“But I do hate you.” She spun to face him. “You left. You left, but then we left. We left because you made us leave. And I hate that you broke my mother’s heart and that Dani thought it was her fault and that anyone could leave at any moment. Even me. I hate you for ruining my life for no reason. I want to know why.”

“Why?” House repeated dumbly.

“Yes. I want a good, solid reason why you are the way you are.”

“My father.”

“That’s not a good reason. I could use you as a reason for why I act the way I act for the next twenty years if I wanted to.”

“He put some doubts in my head about your mother and me which eventually caused me to force her to leave.” House gave her the shortened version, not wanting to launch into the big problems.

“Why’d we stay at all. It’s not like you cared, or knew anything about me.” House wouldn’t let her go that far. He met her eyes steadily.

“You’re first word? Was duckling. Your first steps were running, not walking. Allison and I were leavening to go to some immunology benefit. You ran to give us hugs good-bye. You preferred Queen to Disney Music. I taught you how to play Fur Elise when you were two and a half. Piano music could get you to fall asleep instantly. The only book you would listen to before bed was Good-Night Moon. If you didn’t hear it you wouldn’t go to bed.” Bella stared at him for a minute in shock.

“I don’t need a father.” House nodded.

“I can just be a good male role model right now.”

“Good?” Bella snorted but smiled. “Deal.” She stuck her hand out and House followed suit. They were shaking on it when House heard a noise. Daniela was standing by the kitchen doorway. She was stooped over and clutching her stomach.

“Bella? I don’t feel good.” That was all she got out before she began coughing frantically. House walked over and felt her forehead. She was burning.

“Dani, can you show me where it hurts on your stomach?” She pointed weekly and House stood, sweeping her up in his arm with some trouble.

She helped by wrapping her legs around him to stay balanced.

“Isabella go get your shoes.” She looked at him with frightened eyes. “We’re going to the hospital.”

La vita ed il diario di Isabella e Daniela Cameron 11/25

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:33:01 GMT

August 15 2011

I think Bella is going to kill Mom. She was talking to House and somehow it ended up that he is going to be babysitting us. That will not go well. As in violence. And blood. And murder. Which means jail. Also, there is always the possibility of tears.

Bella wants to plot with me to drive him crazy. I think that I might be getting sick. Probably just a cold. Whatever. I have to go figure out ways to torture House with Bella. Bye.

**************

House shifted nervously outside of the Cameron house after knocking. Allison opened the door and looked at him. Her face was tired, and her posture was one of someone who felt defeated.

“Yes House?”

His heart froze mid-beat. She hadn’t called him House in years. Since the first real date the two had had where he told her to call him Greg. Then, coming to his senses he began to speak.

“We didn’t finish our talk last night.”

“Yes. We did. I have nothing to say to you right now.” Cameron’s eyes had become an angry blazing blue, and she let lose her anger. Even though she said that they had finished their talk, she had a few things to say.

“You left! Not me. I dealt with everything. I don’t care what you have to say to me. When we needed you, you weren’t there. If you have something to say, you missed your chance. Do you know how hard it was on the girls? Especially on Bella. She was three years old House. She asked me why we left. She asked me why you didn’t want us anymore.” Tears have welled up in Cameron’s eyes and she brushed them away angrily.

“I didn’t know what to tell her. She was three years old. Barely out of diapers, and there I was with another on the way. All she wanted was her daddy. The one who had ignored her for years. She loved you no matter what House. I didn’t tell her that you made us leave; she figured it out on her own. She told me that she didn’t want you anymore.”

Cameron had aimed her words to sting, and when he was standing there she tried to close the door. He stopped her with his cane face pale, but eyes flashing with too many emotions to count.

“You were better off without me Allie.”

Suddenly Cameron was tired. Actually, she was beyond tired, beyond exhausted even. “Is that what you think Greg?” Inwardly he sighed with relief. First name basis was a very good thing.

“Yeah.”

“Well, you’re wrong. Why the hell would you think that at all?” House didn’t answer her. It wasn’t time to talk about his fears and his father.

His silence was enough to answer her question and she shook her head. “Go to hell House.” He winced as his surname came back in to play.

“I- my dad” he spit out before she closed the door once again.

“Your dad?” Allison repeated in confusion. She had it halfway closed, but opened it and gestured him into the house.

“That week – the one where we found out you were pregnant. I called my parents to ask them for the ring.” There was no question what kind of ring he was talking about.

“It’s been one of the long-time traditions in my family to give the girl that you ask my great-great-grandmother’s ring. I called, and my father answered the phone.”

Her eyes held no emotion and she nodded for him to continue.

“My mother wasn’t home, and I had to ask him for the ring. He asked who it was for, and he remembered you. He said that you were too young for me, and the only reason that you were marrying me was for money or publicity. That no one would want a useless crippled who was addicted to Vicodin. After a while I began to agree with him.”

“Why the hell would you think that Greg?” Her eyes were angry again.

“You know what my childhood was like Allie.” She nodded.

“Yeah, but you knew who I was. You should’ve trusted me enough to talk to me.” Her eyes narrowed slightly, thoughts going a mile a minute. “You tried to test me, didn’t you?”

Miserably he nodded his head, knowing where her thoughts would lead her. “What was the test?” He didn’t answer, and she repeated the question voice getting stronger and if possible, angrier.

“If you left and then fought for me, tried to come back, you really loved me, but if you left and then tried to get money from me you only were with me for the reasons my father said.”

“And doing neither threw you in a loop. Chase and Foreman told me you were bad off after we left.” House didn’t comment on the fact that she had asked them about him, not ready to open that can of worms.

“I didn’t know what to do.” He admitted. “You were supposed to stay.”

“But I didn’t, because I was pregnant. And tired. I figured that if you just kicked us out in a moment of anger, you would come after us. But, you didn’t. And we didn’t come back.” Cameron sighed. “How did we get here Greg?”

House grabbed her hand. “I don’t know Allie. And now I don’t know what to do. How can I make it up to you and the girls?”

The girls. Her daughters. Their daughters. The ones who should’ve grown up here in Princeton with normal lives, but instead had traveled all over the world (not that it was a bad thing) because of their parents.

Cameron thought, and then gave a tiny nod before looking at him. “What are you doing Saturday night?”

“At the moment? Nothing.”

“Can you baby-sit?”

“Excuse me?”

“Cuddy wants me to go to some fundraiser thing with her, Wilson has family coming in or something, so he can’t. I was just going to ask Foreman or Chase to do it, but if you’re not doing anything then maybe you could spend a little time with them.”

House nodded. “I could do that.”

She smiled at him. “Say fiveish? I don’t know how long the thing will go; it’s about a 45 minute drive away though.”

“I’ll be here.” House replied. Now he just had to figure out how to get to know two little girls who disliked him immensely. Whose lives he had changed forever. It would be a long night, that he knew for sure.

La vita ed il diario di Isabella e Daniela Cameron 10/25

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:22:47 GMT

August 13 2011 – (1:01 a.m.)

Mom just got back. I heard her apologize to Wilson she told him what happened. And then she cried. Mom doesn’t cry. I’ve seen her cry before of course, because we work as a group. She lets us see her cry, and we go and let her hold us while we cry. It’s the way life is. But this, this was hard core crying. Like when we found out about the cancer and Grandma died. I was scared.

House asked her about us and everything was going fine. Then he asked her why she stopped traveling. She told him about the cancer. I couldn’t hear the rest. House made her cry. I warned him. Now I have to go kick his ass. God damn it. Boys are stupid. Especially fathers. Especially House.

I’m tired. I should go to bed. Mom will be up to check on us soon. She’ll know if I’m faking it. She always knows. Not like House would no. Because House is a jerk. Tomorrow is Sunday. I’ll go after him on Monday. If mom lets me go to the hospital with her. Whatever. Night.

********************

Cameron stepped into her house exhausted. She had escaped from House and wandered around the city for a little while. She needed to clear her head.

Wilson opened the door and took in her disheveled appearance in one sweep.

“You okay Allie?”

“I’m assuming you talked to House?”

“He called looking for you.” Wilson admitted.

“I should’ve stayed and talked to him, but after I told him about the cancer I had to get out of there.” Her eyes welled up slightly. “I didn’t expect him to find out like that - actually, I didn’t expect him to find out at all.”

Wilson nodded. He looked at her again and then did a double take when he saw her hand. It was red and blistered. “Allie? What happened?”

“Oh.” She looked down. “Coffee spill. It doesn’t hurt anymore. It was just a tiny burn.”

“Let me look at it Allie.” She sighed, but allowed Wilson to lead her into the house and bandage her hand.

“How were the girls tonight?”

“They were great. They get along very well for sisters.”

“Cradle to grave” Allison explained. “The two of them always had each other no matter what, so they had to be friends. Fighting in strange countries with your best friend is not the best thing to do.” She kissed James on the cheek.

“Thanks for watching them Jimmy; I should go make sure that they’re actually asleep.” He hugged her.

“You do that. I’ll see you on Monday Allie, okay?”

“Bright and early, as always. Remind me and I’ll buy you coffee.” Wilson laughed and hugged her before he walked out.

**************

Two Days Later (Monday, August 15 2011)

Isabella told her mother and little sister that she was going to see Uncle Jimmy and then disappeared out of her mothers office.

Dani was too engrossed in her drawing to ask if she could go with her. Both girls vehemently refused to go to the daycare upstairs, and Cameron didn’t want to leave them alone.

Until school started they would spend most days at work with her hanging out. Cuddy didn’t mind as long as the two stayed out of trouble.

Isabella appeared and saw House standing in front of a white board, waving a marker and yelling at three people, two men and a woman.

“Come on people think!” She looked at the white board and read the symptoms.

Chronic fatigue
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Vomiting
Fainting
Diarrhea
Irritated
Low blood pressure

“Addison’s Disease” she blurted without thinking. All four people spun around to stare at her.

“Enlighten my ducklings Isabella, why would it be Addison’s disease?”

Isabella walked over and grabbed the marker from him. She circled diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and low blood pressure.

“Those four things occur in over 50 of cases of Addison’s disease.” She hesitated until House prompted her.

“How do diagnose and treat it?”

“You perform a simple blood test and look into their history and do a physical examination. Treatment includes glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. You could also prescribe Hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone.”

Bella pronounced the words slowly, not wanting to say them wrong. “With those things a patient could live normally. But, they should watch out for infections which need to be treated immediately.”

House banged his cane on the desk. “Should I be concerned that a ten year old just out diagnosed three adults with Medical Degree’s?” There was no answer. House had been in a bad mood all day.

“It was a lucky guess” one of the men huffed. “Besides, what is a child doing wandering around the hospital?” He raised an eyebrow and then said in a voice people used to speak to babies “are you lost sweetheart?”

He looked like Chase, but had no accent. Bella could tell that he was conceded and glared at him, muttering just above a whisper.

“Sie sind ein zugestandener Idiot, der nicht eine einfache Krankheit bestimmen kann. Stoppen Sie, mich wie ein Baby zu behandeln Sie arroganter Esel.”

“Actually, she’s my daughter. I think that she knows how to speak like a normal person.” House sent him a glare and the man shrank in his seat.

“Go confirm her diagnosis. I should just fire you all.” The looked at him. “GO!” At that the three ducks scattered. He waited until they were gone and then gestured to his office.

“I have a feeling you want to yell at me, let’s go in my office.” She waited until he closed the door before turning on him.

“You promised me. You promised that you would not make her cry. You lied.” Her eyes filled with tears, and House felt his heart break again.

“I hate you. I hate you, I hate you, I hate you. We don’t need you, and I don’t know why we had to come back in the first place.”

She hit him in the stomach, beating the part of his body that she could reach. It had been the three girls traveling for so long, and all of a sudden they were in one place with their father who had no idea what he was doing.

House let her, knowing that he deserved it and that she wouldn’t cause any harm being so tiny. He was surprised when he felt Isabella pulled away from him. Wilson was standing there holding the girl. Looking between them in concern and confusion.

“Let me go Uncle Jimmy!”

“Calm down Bella, calm down.”

She shuddered in his arms, and House remembered practically being in the same position with Dani, only she had not known that he was there as she cried into Wilson.

The feeling of disgust he had for himself grew. One daughter hated him, the other was terrified that her family would leave her because of what he had done, and Allison was never going to speak to him again.

Somehow, he had to make it up to them and win his family back.

***********

Translation: You're a conceded idiot who can't diagnose a simple disease. Stop treating me like a baby you arrogant ass.

La vita ed il diario di Isabella e Daniela Cameron 9/25

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 06:26:27 GMT

August 12 2011-

Uncle Jimmy walked in on us dancing. It was funny he looked startled. Mama just shook her head at him and told him to get used to it. We dance a lot. Next time, we should get Chase, Foreman, Uncle Jimmy and Cuddy to dance with us. It would be funny. I don’t think I could see any of them dancing. The funny thing though? I can maybe see House dancing after I talked to him in the elevator.

I think he’s maybe kinda okay. But, I can’t tell Bella, she still hates him. Bella told House that she would kick his ass if he hurt Mama. He told her he would kick his own ass which made me laugh. It’s a funny visual. Mama didn’t hear her, so she didn’t get in trouble. Or maybe she did hear. Mama’s tricky like that. She lets us do things like that and get away, but then she tells us to never do it again.

We tried to teach Uncle Jimmy some dances we learned, but he was very bad. I went to write this down and get LIFE because we gave up on him and need something else to do. Bella creamed him in scrabble. She used to play with a bunch of kids in China. I don’t really like Scrabble, so I just watched. Bella just yelled at me to hurry up. I’m going to go win LIFE. I always won when we played with Uncle Seb. Bella always won Monopoly. Gotta go.

***********

Cameron danced around the kitchen with her daughters singing innocently. It was a tradition of theirs that when dinner was made they had a mini party in the kitchen. So, that was what they were doing.

With Janis Joplin’s ‘Piece of My Heart’ blaring the Cameron group was rocking out. When the doorbell rang Dani danced over and opened the door, still singing.

“Take another little piece of my heart now, baby
Break another little piece of my heart now, darling, yeah.”

She paused and hugged him. “Uncle Jimmy!”

“Hey Dani.”

“C’mon” She practically dragged him into the house. “We’re singing. House should be here soon.”

“I can see your singing. Something you do a lot?”

“It’s tradition.” Bella explained from the kitchen. The song had changed and now Livin’ On A Prayer was playing. “We cook, we rock out.”

“It’s a part of life Jimmy.” Cameron explained with a small smile. “We didn’t do it when we were in San Diego because I was barely strong enough to stand for a while.”

“And it just wasn’t the same without Mama.” Dani finished with a sad smile. The doorbell rang again and Bella jumped.

“I got it!” She dashed to the front door and opened it a crack. House was standing there looking nervous.

“Hello Dr, House.” She watched him, eyes narrow. Her mother said to be civil. That was civil.

“Hello Isabella.” Bella continued to stare at him and then she sighed quietly.

“If you hurt her in any way shape or form I’ll find someone to kill you for me. My Uncles wouldn’t have a problem with it.”

House started right back. He had a feeling there was a test in there somewhere. Something like he would do. “If I hurt her I give you full permission to beat me up.”

She paused considering his words. “That’ll do for now, c’mon in.”

House stepped in and saw Cameron talking to Wilson. He was nodding and she gave him a small smile.

“Guys, be good for Uncle Jimmy.”

“Aren’t we always good?” Bella was smiling at her mother, eyes wide.

“No.” Dani giggled and looked at House tentatively.

“Hi Dr. House.” Her voice was quiet and shy.

“Hi Dani.” He smiled at her and she allowed a small smile to grace her features. Cameron gave both her daughters a hug and a kiss and told them she would be back soon before she turned to House.

“Let’s go.”

*****************

Cameron followed House out of the house and to his bike.

“You brought the motorcycle Greg?” She questioned with a small smile.

“Old habits die hard.” And it was true. He had brought the motorcycle on their first date, and it was something that she couldn’t help but love.

She hadn’t ridden on his – since before Bella was born. When she had found out she was pregnant, she had ditched the motorcycle, not wanting to get in an accident that could harm her baby.

“Where are we going?” House handed her a helmet and climbed on the bike.

“For coffee.” She cuffed him lightly on the arm. It was weird how quickly old habits were coming back to her.

“I figured we could get some coffee and go sit in the park like we used to. That okay?”

Cameron nodded. It had been years since they had done that. It used to be a Sunday tradition. Instead of going to church, they would go to the park; people watch and talk while drinking coffee from the venders.

“Yeah, that’s – that’s fine.” She slipped her arms around him and they drove off into the night.

***************

“So…” Cameron sat down and watched the people around her. “You wanted to talk. Speak.”

House was tempted to bark and mock her, but he refrained himself.

“I – I don’t know where to start. What do you want me to say?”

“How’s life been treating you?”

House stared at her and she shrugged. “You said start small. I’m starting small.” House laughed and they began to talk. Their voices were stiff, but soon it was becoming easier. But then, House had to do it. He had to ask.

“Why’d you tell them that they never had to see me again?” Cameron sighed.

“When Dani was – about four I think Bella told Dani everything she could remember about you. I worked an eighty hour shift and came back to our place in Greece to find my four year old daughter in hysterics. The neighbor who was watching them couldn’t tell me what was wrong. Bella was just as upset as her sister. Some kid at school had teased them about their not having a father. Bella told me she hated you at that moment. I told them it didn’t matter that they didn’t have a dad. Dani asked if you were ever going to come and take them away from me. I told them no, and that they never even had to talk to you if they didn’t want to.”

“Allie – oh God. I never meant to do that to them.”

“It doesn’t matter.” She shrugged her thin shoulders. “It happened anyway.” So far she hadn’t asked him why he had made them leave, had barely asked him any questions. He had been waiting all night but she hadn’t muttered a word of ‘what happened to us?’.

“Why’d you name them Isabella and Daniela?” It had been bothering him for a few days now. He couldn’t remember why she had chosen the name Isabella, and he had never known where Daniela’s name came from.

“Isabella means God is my oath. ‘To witness ones determination to speak the truth.’ I figured that if she was anything like you, she’d be doing a lot of that. Maybe just not God being her oath. But, it fit her. Blythe is for your mother.”

He looked startled, but Cameron continued. “Daniela means God is my judge. I was sitting there pregnant with a four year old, and the name just came to me. If there was anyone who could judge my little girl for me being a single mother it would be God. And, even if I don’t believe, who’s to say that he doesn’t exist? Joyce is for my mother.” She looked at him.

“What else do you want to know?”

“Tell me about them.”

“Let’s see.” Cameron looked thoughtful. There was so much she could say about her daughters. It would take years just to tell him all the stories.

“Umm… they want to be doctors. Bella wants to be a cardiovascular surgeon, but has recently become very interested in the brain. So, I don’t know if she’ll change her mind or not. Dani wants to go to John Hopkins and become an oncologist with a degree in immunology. She’s the planner. Bella takes life as if comes at her.” Cameron grinned.

“They’re both stubborn as hell. Both of them play the piano, and can sing. Bella is one step away from getting a black belt in karate, Dani has a blue. Bella is a math whiz, and Dani is my little book worm. They both love to travel and help people…” She paused thinking of what else to say. And suddenly, House had another burning question that needed answers.

“Why’d you stop traveling?”

“It was time.”

“Daniela was only six that means Isabella was only nine.”

“Yeah well-” Cameron shrugged.

“Allie.”

“Greg.” She was mocking him, but not meeting his eyes.

“Tell me why. And why New Jersey. There are millions of hospitals. Not that I’m not happy you decided to come to PPTH.”

And it was true. He was glad that she was here. That his daughters were at their house with Wilson safe and sound. He stared at her and Cameron couldn’t take it. He wasn’t supposed to ask her questions like that. He was supposed to be civil, maybe get to know his daughters and that was it.

“I had cancer alright?” She spat out angrily. “Wilson was my doctor. Ovarian cancer. They removed one of my ovaries. I decided to stop traveling and spend more time with my children.” She had stood up and spilled coffee on her hand, but adrenaline is coursing through her body and she doesn’t even feel the burning pain yet.

“Allie -” House stood up and took a step forward a look of deep regret and horror on his face.

“Don’t.” She whispered. And then, like a frightened colt she fled leaving House standing there pale and deep in thought.

La vita ed il diario di Isabella e Daniela Cameron 8/25

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 05:48:54 GMT

August 11th 2011- (6:45 p.m.)

I can’t believe it! Dani was in her room writing and I was downstairs practicing the piano. The doorbell rang and mom went to get it she was making dinner. She agreed to go out for coffee with the Sperm Donor.

God I hate him! I wish he would go away forever! I never want to see him again. I’m so mad right now I don’t have anything to say. Why! We don’t need him in our life. I have to go tell Dani. Nothing more to say. Mom wants to talk to me. She’ll tell me why, but right now I’m furious! She better not date him or get together with him at all.

**************

House knocked on the door to The Cameron house, shifting from one foot to the other with help from his cane. He wasn’t sure how this was going to play out at all.

Cameron opened the door and raised an eyebrow at House. “Yeah?”

“Aren’t you supposed to answer the door politely?”

“Not when it’s you.”

“Allie-” House paused. He wasn’t sure what to say, let alone if he was still allowed to call her ‘Allie’.

“Yes?” Cameron watched him, eyes wary.

Wilson had pretty much told her to give House a chance, so that was what she was doing. She wouldn’t slam the door in his face immediately.

“I – I-” House rubbed a hand over his face.

“Just spit it out.” Cameron offered, eyes softening slightly at his inability to tell her whatever he was trying to.

He only did that when it was important and he cared. He wouldn’t be trying to kick her out of Princeton if he was nervous.

“I want to get to know my children. I want to re-get to know you. I-” Wilson’s words rang through his head. Start small, coffee Greg. “Would you like to go out for a cup of coffee or something? We could just – talk.”

Cameron paused and thought about it before nodding. It wouldn’t be bad for Dani and Bella to talk to him. I won’t make them, but he is a part of them.

“Tomorrow?” Cameron asked. “If I can get a babysitter that fast-” She paused trying to think of who would baby-sit.

She knew that the girls would protest their age, but she didn’t want them home alone in a strange neighborhood. She could probably ask Wilson, Chase, Foreman or Cuddy. One of them had to be free to watch the girls.

“Wilson could do it.” House had already asked his friend. That was what he was going to do when Dani had started crying in his office and all he could do was watch.

“Tomorrow it is then. Say 6:30ish?” Cameron smiled slightly, but then sighed when she heard a bang on the piano and a voice yelling for her sister to get down stairs right away, she didn’t care what she was doing, it was important. Then there was the sound of feet and murmured angry words that neither could make our. House heard it too and looked at her.

“Is this going to make them-?” He trailed off unsure what he was trying to say.

“Furious?” Cameron shrugged and sighed. “I told them that they never had to talk to you if they didn’t want to.”

“You wh-” Cameron shot him a look and House immediately shut up.

“Bella will have a problem with it, and Dani will react to her sister reacting, and me reacting to Bella. Nothing that I can’t handle and haven’t dealt with before.”

The guilt set in the moment the words escaped her mouth. She had eight years of raising two girls – his girls – without any help and was acting like it was normal.

“Allie-”

“Don’t.” She looked at him. “We can talk tomorrow. But right now, I have to finish dinner and talk to Bella before she does something stupid.” Cameron smiled at him and with a soft ‘see you tomorrow’ closed the door.

House walked down to his car whistling softly. Thanking some higher power that his night had ended differently from the last.

*************

“Bella…”

“NO! You agreed!” The girls face was turning red and she was waving her hands. “You said we never had to see him again!”

“Bella!”

“You promised!”

“Isabella Blythe Cameron sit down and shut your mouth right now.” Bella sat and Dani stared at her mother in surprise. “You sit down too Dani.”

Her daughters watched her. One with a frown, attitude set in her eyes, one with calm blue eyes filled with questions.

“House invited me to have coffee with him tomorrow night. Uncle Jimmy will be watching you two.” Bella opened her mouth. “Let me finish, and then you can rant. Let’s go in the kitchen, I think the pizza is almost done and we can eat and talk at the same time.”

Both girls nodded, and followed their mother into the kitchen.

“I told both of you that you never had to talk to him again if you don’t want to. I didn’t include myself in that list. There are things that we need to talk about.” Cameron sighed. “And no matter how much you deny it, he is your father. You will be civil.”

Isabella opened her mouth and then closed it. What her mother said was true. She couldn't really argue with her. Sometimes she wondered if her mom should have been a lawyer instead of a doctor. “I don’t like this.” She grumbled.

“I know baby. But, I’m the mother and what I say goes.” She turned to her other daughter who had watched the exchange silently. “Anything to add?”

“Yes actually.” Cameron was slightly surprised, Dani was like her, and usually just went with the flow.

“Well what is it?”

“I’m hungry.” Dani smiled and the tension was broken as they all laughed.

“Only you sweetie.”

“I know.”

“Actually, I am too.” Both daughters were now grinning at their mother, faces bright. Cameron pulled the pizza out of the oven and shook her head.

“Go get your drinks, and plates. We’ll eat on the island tonight.”

“Sweet.” The two girls walked away and Cameron smiled, glad that tomorrow she would only have to face House and a little bit of anger from her daughters.

La vita ed il diario di Isabella e Daniela Cameron 7/25

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 05:45:24 GMT

August 11th 2011 (Dani’s journal) –

I went and talked to Uncle Jimmy today. House was listening. I heard him walk in after I left and say “God damn it Jimmy, what did I do?” I don’t know what he was talking about. I wonder if he was upset that he had kids at all or if he made us leave. I told Uncle Jimmy about the elevator ride and how nice he seemed, just like Bella. She was nasty to people at first sometimes, when she’s being sarcastic, but other times she’s not.

Uncle Seb told me once that I was just like Mama, and Bella was like our Sperm Donor. I told him he was crazy, but he told me that it was one hundred percent true. I asked Mama, and she got a sad, kind of distant look on her face before she said maybe. She told me that I was like her in some ways, and Bella was like House in some ways, but we were our own people and could be whoever we wanted to be. Then, Chiku came over and tagged me and I ran away to play with them.

Today I asked Uncle Jimmy if what Uncle Seb said was true and he never really answered me. This hospital is so weird. I miss Italy. Isabella’s calling, she seems really, really mad. I’ll write later. But first, I have to find out why she’s mad. Arrivederci per adesso. (Good-bye for now)

**************

“Jimmy.” House limped into Wilson’s office ridiculously early and stared at his friend.

“I have a daughter.”

“Yes House, we went over this yesterday. Her name is Isabella.” Wilson didn’t even look up from what he was doing.

House tapped his cane on the floor. “I have two daughters. Isabella and Daniela.” That caused Wilson to look up.

“What?” House looked at him, narrowing his eyes. Wilson’s face wasn’t surprised enough. And there was something… guilt? on his face.

“You knew. You knew.” When Wilson was unable to meet his gaze, House knew it was true. “You didn’t tell me.”

“Would it have made any difference Greg?”

“What?” House sat down and watched him, frowning. “She was pregnant when she left.”

“And she had a daughter already, so waht. What would you have done? Considered it a ploy to get you back? Tell her to leave again? Tell her to have an abortion? Refuse to support her? Love the kids? Tell her to come back? How was she supposed to know what was going to happen Greg? What would you have done?”

“I – I don’t know. I need to talk to her Jimmy. She slammed the door in my face last night.”

“The only suggestion that I can give you is to start small.” House looked at him blankly and Wilson sighed. “I doubt she trusts you.”

“Oh. How small are we talking, like a non-date and then a date and then sex, sex and more sex, more babies and maybe a ring somewhere along the way with a wedding to seal the deal?”

Wilson didn’t tell House that Cameron couldn’t have children anymore. The chances were nearly impossible. He wouldn't be the one to tell his friend about the cancer. “I was thinking more along the lines of coffee.”

“My daughters drink coffee? It’ll stunt their growth. I’ll have a bunch of midgets for daughters.” He scowled.

“How about you start with just Cameron? Take her out for coffee, ask her questions about your daughters, build trust, something like that.” House nodded and stood.

“Thanks Jimmy.”

He heard him muttering under his breath as he left. “They’re not drinking coffee until they’re thirty. Hell, if they’re drinking coffee are they mature enough to date? They’re not leaving their house with a boy until I’m dead.” Wilson could barely contain a chuckle.

“House?” The man turned and looked at him. “You sound like a father already.” That comment was met with a hesitant smile.

“They won’t even talk to me yet Jimmy. Let’s take it one day at a time.” But, House left the office with a spring in his step.

*****************

Wilson sat in his office, going over some patient files. Cameron walked into his office and sank into the chair in front of him. It was the ‘bad news chair.’

“Hey Allie.”

“Hey Jimmy.” She smiled at him tiredly. “House came to visit last night.”

“He what?”

“That was pretty much my reaction.” She snorted. “Dani got stuck in an elevator with him, and he saw her eyes.” She frowned. “Or at least I think that he did. I heard her tell Bella that she got stuck in an elevator with him, but I didn’t hear the rest.”

“And you didn’t ask?”

“No. If she had wanted to tell me she would’ve. She was so freaked out about getting stuck in the elevator I didn’t even think to ask her if there was anyone in there with her. Cuddy brought her in. She said that she was going to see you; I figured you had taken her to see some kids in the oncology wing. That’s where she used to hang out. She was shaking for a good half-hour after she got out. I’m guessing that House kept her clam in there, but she was still freaked out.”

“Claustrophobic?”

“Yeah. Only in elevators though. She usually takes the stairs.” Cameron sighed. “I don’t know what to do.”

“What happened?”

“He showed up.” Cameron shrugged. “Just out of the blue. Asked me how we got two daughters. Bella interrupted, I threw him out. And now I’m here wondering how this all happened the way it did.”

Wilson looked at her. Cameron had gone through a lot in her life. She had been faced with ovarian cancer, and raised two children by herself while traveling the world and helping others. She had to be strong and take care of herself and Dani and Bella. But, House still managed to reduce her to a confused tangled mess.

“I don’t know what to tell you Allie. You could ask him what he wants, that might be a good place to start.” Allison smiled at him and walked out of the office, a thoughtful look on her face. Wilson whistled quietly under his breath. He should’ve been a psychiatrist. Or a matchmaker. All he had done all day was try and get those two together.

******************

“Uncle Jimmy!” House was just about to cross from his office to Wilson’s when he heard Daniela’s voice.

“Hey kiddo, what can I do for you?” House watched, hidden carefully as Daniela sat in a chair facing Wilson and sighed.

“Bella told me that House stopped by last night after I went to bed to talk to Mama. He knows about me.” She propped her elbows on his desk and her chin balanced on her hands.

Wilson stared at the girl. “And why are you telling me this?”

“Because I think you know what they said, and I want to know.” Wilson opened his mouth, but Dani cut him off, lost in thought. “Uncle Seb said that Isabella is like House.”

“And…?”

“Is it true?”

“Why are you wondering now Dani?” Wilson looked at his niece. She was watching him eyes wide, a stubborn expression on her face.

“He was in the elevator when it got stuck. I met him. He was kind of like Bella.” Her voice was a mere whisper. “So, he made us leave because he didn’t want us. If the two of them are alike does that mean that she won’t want me anymore either?”

Wilson felt his heart break into a million pieces. House almost limped into the room and grabbed the little girl in his arms. His daughter who he had abandoned was looking at Wilson with wide blue eyes, tears threatening to fall. Wilson was out of his seat in a minute, grabbing the little girl in a tight hug and rocking her when she began to cry.

“Dani, shh… Dani its okay, calm down.” The girl calmed almost instantly, wiping her eyes and straightening up. Her little face changed and she was suddenly showing no emotion at all.

“Sorry.”

“You don’t have anything to be sorry for Dani.”

She shrugged. “I have to be strong.”

“And why is that exactly?”

“Because. Crying only gives you a headache. There are worse things to cry over." She didn't add 'like cancer' but Wilson could tell she was thinking of her mother. "Bella would never do that, right? She would never leave?"

“Your sister would never leave you, unless she was forced to. You know she adores you Dani.”

“But what if she’s like House. Why did he make them leave?”

“Dani…” Wilson sighed. “I don’t even know why. He’s never told me.”

Dani frowned. Before she could say anything else the phone rang. “Dr. Wilson…”

“Yeah, she’s here.” Pause “I’ll send her right back. Bye.” Wilson hung up the phone. “Your mom wants you back at her office. Apparently you guys have some more things to do.”

She nodded and hugged Wilson. “Yeah. I’ll see you later Uncle Jimmy.”

“I’ll see you later too Dani. And don’t forget, Bella loves you, so do I, and about a million other people from all over the world. You’ll never be alone.”

“You gonna break into song now about not walking alone now?” Wilson laughed and kissed her on the cheek.

“No. You’re the one who sings.” Dani giggled and walked out. The moment she was out the door House entered. His face was pale and his grip on the cane had turned his knuckles white.

“God damn it Jimmy. What the hell did I do?” Wilson looked at his long time friend. He hadn’t seen him looking at bad as he did right now since Cameron left.

“I have no idea Greg. I have no idea.”

La vita ed il diario di Isabella e Daniela Cameron 6/25

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 05:41:50 GMT

August 10th 2011- (2:00 a.m.)

Dani told me she got stuck in an elevator and told me about what happened. I’m not going to stop her from talking to our Sperm Donor. I just don’t want her heart to break. She didn’t tell mom what happened, and neither did I. she knows though. I’m writing now because House woke me up. He came to see mom. My room is closer then Dani’s to downstairs. Once she is asleep, she sleeps heavy.

He came because he figured out that Dani is his and that he has two daughters. I don’t know how that changes anything other then he is a bigger ass for leaving mom with two kids, not one. They started yelling about it and all that great stuff. I’m not worried though. Mom just came into my room. She said I need to go to bed. She looked tired. I’m going to bed now. Hopefully tomorrow will be uneventful.

***************

“House there is nothing to talk about.”

“We have children together.”

“Yeah.”

“Okay, let me rephrase that. We have two children together.”

“Are you looking for me to confirm that fact?”

“You didn’t tell me that we had two children.”

“You didn’t ask.”

“I didn’t know that I had to ask. How in the hell did we get two children?”

“If you don’t know that, you shouldn’t be a doctor.” House frowned.

This was Cameron. Over the time that they had been together (before he had freaked out) he had found the ‘true’ Cameron. She was funny and sarcastic and had an attitude. She still loved hard and got hurt easily, but Allison Cameron was not the one-sided, naïve innocent person that he had once thought. The attitude was usually only used in teasing and laughter, but her tone was harsh now.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Cameron laughed a harsh dry sounding laugh. “I didn’t tell you because -” She paused and sighed. “Isabella Blythe go to bed now.”

There was silence from where Cameron was facing and then a sigh as a small head peered around the corner. Cameron had ‘mom sense’ and could hear the slightest peep her children made, especially when they were hiding from her and trying to listen to conversations.

“But this is more interesting then bed. You’re going to wake Dani soon.”

“Bed Bella. March.”

“Hut two three four. Left right left.” The girl called back, but she apparently went back to bed, because Cameron turned back to House satisfied.

“You were saying?”

“No, you were saying.”

“I don’t have anything to say to you House.” The door closed in his face, and House stood there, mouth opened in a perfectly round ‘o’.

***********

House sat in his apartment staring out the window. It was a little past six in the morning and he was exhausted. His bloodshot eyes and spiked hair made him look like a mad scientist.

He had gone directly home after Cameron had slammed the door in his face and started drinking steadily. He had thought at the time that Cameron leaving was better for all involved. Now he wasn’t sure. It wasn’t that he liked Daniela better then Isabella or suddenly had the need to be a father. It was just… he didn’t known how to describe the feeling he had suddenly felt in the elevator.

He couldn’t put it into emotions either.

It was the way Daniela had looked at him when he had asked her if she needed him to distract her. Complete and utter trust. The way that Isabella had peaked her head around the corner and smiled at her mother. Even though Cameron was scolding her Isabella had a smile and Cameron was teasing but gentle.

The way that Chase and Foreman had said (after he had grilled them both at three in the morning) that Cameron had picked up Daniela in a protective hug and sung her other daughter to sleep after a nightmare. It was love, maybe, but it was something more too. It was – maybe it was knowing that they were his. That he had helped create two beautiful girls who if he had kept them would have loved them and kept them safe from the evils of the world.

House wondered if they knew who he was. If they knew that he was their father. That he had made them leave because he didn’t know how to raise a child. He knew that they would be better off without him.

But that wasn’t true. He didn’t even know why he had given it away. Wilson didn’t even know. But maybe, House really did. it had all started with a phone call.

12 years ago

House picked up the phone with trembling hands. He couldn’t believe he was doing this. Couldn’t believe that he was one, going to be a father and two was calling his mother to ask for IT. He was giving his girl a ring. And not just any ring, but an engagement ring.

It was tradition to give the fiancé to be the ring his great-great-grandmother had been given at her wedding, plus another expensive one so that the old ring could be passed down through the family. The phone rang and House finally heard a gruff voice answer. That he was not prepared for.

“Hello?”

“Dad?”

“Gregory.” His father never addressed him as ‘Greg’, but always by his full name. And, it was never filled with love and affection. “Why are you calling? Did you get in trouble again?”

“Actually, I need to talk to mom, is she there?”

“No, she’s out right now. Why did you want to talk to her?” It was now or never.

“I want to ask her for the ring.”

There was no question about what ring he was talking about.

“For who?”

“My girlfriend.”

“Don’t be a smartass Gregory.”

“Do you remember when I was in the hospital and you met Dr. Cameron? That’s the girl. We’ve been dating for a while now and I think it’s time.”

He didn’t mention the pregnancy or that they had been dating for a little over a year and were living together. That would have been too much too soon.

“Isn’t she your employee?”

“Yes.”

“And half your age?”

“She’s not half my age. We’re 12 years apart.”

“That’s a lot of years.”

“Can you tell mom I called?” John House ignored his son.

“I don’t think you should see her anymore son.” The word son was only used as a threat. It was implied that something would happen if he didn’t listen to his father, and it would usually be painful.

“She probably just wants you for your money or publicity. Dating Dr. House will make her famous and rich. She’s too young for you I don’t even know why she would want you.A useless cripple who’s addicted to drugs.” And with that the phone slammed down. House could almost feel it shaking in his fathers’ anger, his cruel words echoing in his ears.

That had been the beginning of the end, so to speak.

House had started believing his father as he sometimes did. It was true that she had slept with Chase, why wouldn’t she have slept with him too? But, she was having his child, she wasn’t bugging him about getting married and she seemed happy. Plus, she had loved him for years. But, that all could’ve been part of her ploy. If she loved him forever it wouldn’t seem like she was after him for his money.

The inner war had lasted three years. He barely talked to his mother, and never his father in those three years as he battled his inner demons. Finally, the father in his head had won. He had made Allie and Isabella leave.

If she just wanted him for the money, she would fight him in court. If she loved him she wouldn’t leave. That was his little test. When neither happened, House didn’t know what to do.

For a few months House walked around in a Vicodin and alcohol induced haze. She was supposed to come back and stop him from making a stupid decision. She was supposed to love him.

He had never even gotten the ring from his father, but his mother had given it to him years ago, afraid that she would never get the chance to see him give it to someone.

The box with the ring was looking at him now from his coffee table. He had no answers. He had never expected Cameron to appear with two children and then slam the door in his face. He had made them leave for their own good, but maybe now maybe it was in his own good to get them back. Maybe he was wrong in the first place to let them go at all. House reached a decision and stood up and grabbed his coat.

La vita ed il diario di Isabella e Daniela Cameron 5/25

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 05:39:15 GMT

August 9th 2011 (Dani's journal)

I’m writing in the journal like Bella told me I should and maybe she was right. It is nice to write all of this down. I told her what happened, but I know that she does not like our Sperm Donor at all. I met my father today. I know he doesn’t know that I exist. If he does, he’s a very good liar. He is a liar; I know that for a fact. Even Uncle Jimmy admitted that to me. He said that he lies to patients all the time.

I didn’t tell mom about meeting my Sperm Donor, but I know that she knows that I’m not telling her something. (Phoebe: They don’t know we know they know we know they know. And Joey, you can’t say anything. Joey: Couldn’t if I wanted to.) I think that we could be an episode of Friends. Mom would be Rachel and House would be Ross. I don’t know if that would work though. Ross was married the most, so shouldn’t Uncle Jimmy be him? Logic was never a strong point. Maybe we could be Grey’s Anatomy. I don’t have logic at midnight. Mom says the fact that sometimes I just say or do something without thinking it through is a House thing. I ignored her.

I’m debating whether or not to keep up the charade of not telling him who I am. Maybe I can learn a little about him. I’ll think about it later, right now I'm really tired.

*************

Daniela took a tentative step into the elevator. Even since she had gotten stuck by herself for two hours in one when she was six, she had not cared for them.

Daniela was stubborn and not afraid of heights or bugs, or anything other people found scary, but stick her in an elevator for too long and it might get violent.

They had gone shopping earlier for clothes and then had stopped at the office. Isabella was still writing and her mother was still unpacking, and Dani had been bored so her mother had given her permission to go see what Wilson was doing.

Her headphones played Beautiful Day and Daniela played the piano part on her leg. It was one of her favorite songs to play, and she had played it for her mother many times when she was at home resting.

In the elevator was a man with a cane. Daniela immediately realized who it was. If he wanted to talk to her he could, but she wouldn’t start anything. She leaned against the back wall of the elevator and said nothing.

The floor she needed to go to was already lit up, and Daniela prepared herself for a long silent ride with her Sperm Donor. At least, that’s what she was doing when the elevator jerked to a stop.

Before she could help herself, the eight year old let out a screech and tumbled to the ground. House steadied himself and didn’t fall. Before she could even think, he was helping her up off the ground. From what she had heard, that was very un-House like behavior.

“Thank you.” House said nothing but stared at her.

“You wander around hospitals by yourself a lot kid?”

“It’s Daniela, and no. It’s not wandering if you know where you’re going.”

“Smart kid.”

“Thanks. How long are we going to be stuck in here?” Daniela had leaned against the wall, looking at the tight space with a frown.

“Could be a while, but at least it will get me out of clinic duty, and you get to sit with me so I can use you as my excuse. Doesn’t that sound great?” Daniela slid to the floor and wrapped her arms around her knees.

“Hello? Anyone home?”

“What?” Daniela shook her head. “Sorry, I don’t like elevators. When I was six I got stuck in one by myself for two hours. I’ve been claustrophobic ever since.”

House watched the little girl. He knew the feeling. Days with his father discipline had resulted in some small places, but he was mostly over his fears. And now, she had something to distract herself with. She looked familiar, but he couldn’t place her. Honey colored hair was loose and covered her eyes. Her face was tiny, her chin jutted out slightly.

“I’m gonna have to distract you, aren’t I?”

“That would be helpful.” Daniela looked grateful and House felt a pull on his heart as he slid to the floor next to her.

“Okay. I’ll ask you a question and you answer. Got it?”

“Got it.”

“When and where were you born?” Maybe this game could help him figure out who she was.

“At the Careggi Hospital in Florence, Italy, November 1st 2003.” House did the math in his head quickly.

“Pretty small for an eight year old.”

“My mother’s a small person, I get it from her.”

“Full name?”

“Daniela Joyce.”

“No last name?”

“Well, for all I know you could be a serial killer. Once we get out of this elevator you could go after my family and me.”

House laughed. “Okay next question, where’d you live?”

“Italy until I was about a year old. Then we left Italy. We moved to San Diego when I was six and a half, then moved back here two days ago.”

“And from the time you were one until you were six and a half?” House was curious. He had never heard of a child who disappeared for six years.

“Everywhere. My mother is a doctor, and we traveled a lot. Over six and a half years, I went to 75 countries. We lived in Africa for about a year, when you add up all the months and Italy for almost three years, once again, adding up months, not counting the year that we lived there after I was born. Any time that wasn’t traveling was in Italy. We had a little villa there. My Uncle lives in Africa, so we were there a lot too.”

“Just you and your mom?”

“And my sister. She’s eleven.”

“What about your dad?” Daniela looked at him and frowned.

“Really, that’s none of your business but I don’t have a dad.”

“Everyone has a dad at some point.”

“I like to think of him as a Sperm Donor. I consider my Uncle Seb a dad though.”

“Well, what happened to your dad?”

“He made my sister and my mom leave.” Dani’s voice was flat.

“And they just listened to him and left?”

“What were they supposed to do? Three years of him practically ignoring them at every turn, he was always working, always had something else to do.” Dani stopped and sighed. “My sister was a baby, and all she wanted was a dad. They left before they even knew about me, not like it would have changed anything. If he didn’t want me, I didn’t want him.”

“That’s pretty harsh.”

“Life is harsh. You learn to get over it and move on.” House could tell he was upsetting this girl. He didn’t want that.

“So, what were some of the countries you lived in?”

“Umm… Well, India was my favorite besides Italy. Italy was the best. I want to move back there someday. My mom let my sister and I get henna tattoos and Bella almost got away with a belly button ring.”

“Impressive.”

“I thought so.”

“What about languages?”

“How many I speak?”

“Yeah.”

“I speak three fluently. English, Spanish, and Italian. I’m almost completely fluent in Swahili and about halfway fluent in Mandarin Chinese, and my sister is teaching me Hindi. I can say thank you, hello, good-bye, I love you and shut up in 34 different languages.”

“I’m impressed, especially with the shut up part.”

Dani laughed. “Yeah, I like it too.”

“Do you play any instruments?”

“Piano, guitar and harp. Harp is my favorite. My Uncle Alex said that he would get me one for my tenth birthday.”

“Where’d you learn to play harp?”

“Italy. Rosamaria Mancini, our neighbor taught me how to play the harp and draw.”

“Sounds smart.”

“Oh she was. Her husband Bernardo was in World War II. He died but she used to talk about him a lot. She never had any kids of her own, and said that our mom was like her daughter, and we were like her granddaughters. My grandparents live in Wisconsin, and my grandma who isn’t really my grandma lives in Wisconsin too, so it was nice to have a grandma in Italy.”

“Your grandma who isn’t really your grandma?”

“It’s a really long story.”

“We’ve got time.” House spread his arms to indicate the small elevator space. “Unless you have a secret escape rout that you’re not telling me about.”

“I wish.”

“It would be nice to get out of here.” For the first time House noticed her Ipod.

“What music do you have on there?”

“Everything. Anything.” She looked up for the first time and smiled. He almost gasped when he saw her eyes. It was like looking in a mirror. It was all fitting into place. An eleven year old sister – Isabella the daughter he knew about. Her Uncle Alex, Allison’s twin brother who lived in San Diego. Not wanting to tell him her last name. And lastly, her eyes. His eyes. Unless he had a long lost siblings who had a kid, Daniela Joyce was his. His and Cameron’s.

She was looking at him and House forced himself not to say anything. He didn’t want to freak her out any more then she already was.

“What’s your favorite song?”

“Ummm… I don’t know. I listen to everything. One of my favorite ones right now is My Wish. I love Rascal Flatts.” House looked at her blankly and she sighed. “You don't know Rascal Flatts?” At the still blank look Daniela handed him a head phone. “Just listen.”

House listened as the music seemed to sooth Daniela.

“I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
and each road leads you where you wanna go,
and if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,
if it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile.
But more than anything, more than anything...

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
your dreams stay big, your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
and while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but you never forget,
all the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
and you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
and always give more than you take.
But More than anything, yeah, more than anything...

Daniela was looking at him expectantly. “What do you think?”

House felt his throat close up. This was why he had made them leave. He didn’t want them to have to deal with him. They needed someone to love and care for them. Not some useless old man with a cane. He wanted them to have the best life he could give them. If he wasn't part of that life, so be it. He wanted them to have all that they wanted and more. This was his daughter, he was supposed to love her and take care of her always, but instead he had made them leave. It was what was best at the time, but maybe not now.

“It’s a good song.” Daniela smiled, her eyes lighting up like her mother’s used to when she was pleased.

“You can pick the next song if you want.” House took her Ipod and began to go through the songs, humming absentmindedly. He stopped on Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here. They went back and forth between songs, and were in the middle of The Who’s Doctor, Doctor when the elevator jerked to a start.

Daniela let out a little screech and fell sideways against House. He caught her before she hit his bad leg and held her for a moment. This was his daughter. His daughter. Suddenly, he felt anger growing. Cameron should have stayed and fought for him. She should have made him stay. As soon as he got off the elevator and got Daniela safely where she needed to go, he was going to visit her mother.

It didn’t happen that way. Daniela had instead opted to go back to her mother. She had decided to take the stairs, as not to tempt fate and had disappeared, Cuddy guiding her away from House.

That was why he was at Cameron’s house right now. When the door opened she stared at him but said nothing. He did.

“We need to talk.”

La vita ed il diario di Isabella e Daniela Cameron 4/25

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 05:35:44 GMT

August 8th 2011- (10:00 a.m.)

I didn’t have the chance to write last night. We did a lot of unpacking and laughing. I guess Foreman and Chase are okay. I’m still angry at how they deserted mom, but they let me mock them. They were nice to us too; I can tell that Foreman feels guilty. Chase is a little weird but I have fun imitating his accent. I heard Uncle Jimmy say to Lisa (I don't feel right calling her 'Aunt' yet) that I was just like House in the way that I mocked Chase. I can't stop though, it's so fun. Mom told me that I had a nightmare last night. I told her that I didn’t remember, but I did. So, here it is:

I was in the viewing room. I was watching the surgery, and I wasn’t supposed to be there but Uncle Jimmy had pulled some strings because he knew how scared I was. She’s the only parent I have. Dani had gone to see Uncle Jimmy. He wasn’t operating and she was being stubborn. She wanted reassurance that mom would make it for sure. Anyway, I went to get a drink of water. I came back and was watching the surgery again; everything seemed to be going fine. Then, all of a sudden she started seizing. I was screaming and then she just stopped. The machine started beeping like it does on all those t.v. shows because her heart stopped. None of them remembered I was in there and I watched them try to bring her back. Only, this time it didn’t work. She died right in front of me.

I woke up screaming, and mom rushed in. Dani could tell that I was having a nightmare and she went to get her. She sang me back to sleep like she usually does, but I scared the shit out of everyone else. I slept till ten today, and decided to write about my dream. On a happier note, we managed to confuse Chase and Foreman I hope they tell House what I said. I want him to get angry. That’s all for now. We’re going shopping. Dani and I need more summer clothes and I need to mail my letters.

*************

Isabella walked into the house; her mother and Dani trailing close behind. They had given everyone directions and had a quick half an hour to themselves.

“This will be interesting.”

“Yep.” Cameron looked at her two daughters and they smiled.

“Can we mess with them a little? Please? That way if they talk to S.D. we can maybe piss him off a little.” Dani was jumping up and down excitedly.

Cameron laughed. “I shouldn’t even let you two be calling him Sperm Donor.” She paused. “I guess we can mess, but only a little. What did you have in mind?”

Isabella’s grin was devious and she said one word. “Daddy.”

***********

Chase and Foreman arrived and Isabella and Dani greeted them with polite smiles.

“Ready to start moving things? Mom and I are really picky; Dani’s more go with the flow. The movers just kinda brought everything in the house and left it in the middle of the room so that we could paint. That’s what we’re starting with, painting.”

“And you guys would’ve done all of this by yourself?” Foreman asked skeptically. He stepped into the house followed by Chase and handed her a bag filled with Chinese take-out, Chase giving the other to Dani.

“We can do anything we want. We managed on our own for years, never had a problem before. I don’t get why you all think that we have problems.”

It wasn’t a lie. Isabella reassured herself silently. They would have been fine if they hadn’t found out about the cancer. And even with the cancer, they had taken care of themselves.

“Come on in guys.” Cameron greeted them standing slightly behind Isabella and Dani. She looked at the girls and a soft smile danced across her lips. She was holding a phone in her hand.

“Someone wants to talk to you guys. But before that, some quick introductions. Dani, this is Foreman and Chase. Chase, Foreman this is my youngest daughter Daniela.”

Isabella accepted the phone and balanced it with her shoulder, stepping aside so that the two men could walk in.

“Hello?” A brilliant smile lit up her face at whatever the other person was saying.

“Hi Da- Uncle Seb.” The fact that the word Dad had almost come from her mouth startled both Foreman and Chase. Neither Cameron seemed to notice their reactions though. Isabella continued her conversation, moving and unpacking the Chinese.

After a few minutes she paused again. “Okay, I promise. I love you too Da- Uncle Seb. Yeah, talk to you later. Bye.” She handed the phone to Dani who dissolved into excited chatter in Italian.

“Ti amo Dadd - Zio Seb.” Dani hung up the phone and blew her mother a kiss.

“He sends his love.”

“Doesn’t he always?” The three girls laughed and Foreman and Chase both filed away what had happened to tell House later on. They had decided as soon as they had heard that Cameron was coming back to get the two of them together. House hadn't been the same when she had left.

Even though House was a bastard, he needed Cameron, and they had thought that Cameron needed him. Now though, they weren’t so sure. She seemed to be doing fine and the girls seemed to think of their 'Uncle' Seb in father like terms.

The doorbell rang and Isabella jumped up. “I got it.” She opened the door and Foreman and Chase just barely saw her lunge into someone’s arms.

When the person that Isabella had hugged stepped into the house Chase’s jaw dropped. Wilson stood there with Cuddy.

“You didn’t know?” Dani asked calmly from behind them. “We’ve been in contact with Uncle Jimmy for a while now.”

“And not us?” Foreman was slightly hurt.

“Wilson found us, I didn’t find him.” Wilson cleared his throat behind them. Isabella was on his back. Even at eleven she was tiny. She could have easily passed for nine or even younger. Dani was the same at eight she had the height and weight of a six year old. Her mother could still carry the girl like it was nothing. Their height must have come from Cameron, because House was a tall man.

“I would appreciate it if you didn’t tell House though. I need to be the one to tell him. He might kill you otherwise.”

Cuddy shot them a look as he said that. Both nodded, knowing that their jobs would probably be on the line if they told House. Wilson embraced Cameron and whispered in her ear. She shook her head and he nodded.

None of them except for Isabella and Daniela knew about the cancer. Even Cuddy hadn’t been informed. She had found out though, after looking at Cameron’s medical files. She had been concerned, but had gotten over Wilson keeping it from her.

“Ready to start?” Isabella asked with a smile.

The two daughters had made a pact before the group had showed up. If they were going to stay here, they were going to face it head on. Stubbornness was something that everyone thought they got from her father, but was something that their mother had as well.

The group watched as Isabella and Dani disappeared and then reappeared with two buckets of paint each and some painting materials.

“Do we have some sort of game plan here?” Foreman asked.

“Yep.” Cameron nodded. “We have a lot to get done, so we figured that two people get a room and paint it. That way we can get six rooms done.”

“Logical.” Chase mused.

“Thanks mate.” Isabella grinned at him, her fake Australian accent matching his real one.

“Let’s get started.” Wilson sighed. He was use to Isabella’s attitude, but the moments where she turned into a mini-House still took him by some surprise.

***************

By ten, jet lag had set in and Isabella and Daniela had gone upstairs and collapsed in their room. The adults sat around, drinking and reminiscing. Cameron was awake to the surprise of her guests. When they had questioned her on her non-jet lag, she had told them it took her longer to become exhausted and she would be passing out tomorrow.

“So, tell me about your daughters.” Foreman stretched the last word.

“What about them?”

“How did you get two?”

“Umm…I had sex?” When Foreman just stared at her she sighed. “How exactly do you want me to answer that? I didn’t know I was pregnant when I left. By the time I finally found out I was gone and wasn’t going back.”

“Why not?” Chase demanded.

“If House wanted us gone when I only had Bella what makes you think that he would have wanted two daughters and a girlfriend.” She stopped suddenly. “Dani, sweetie, go to bed.”

The child in question appeared at the stairs and she looked at her mother. The adults were surprised that she had heard the tiny child at all.

“I went to Bella’s room Mama and she was making funny noises. I think she’s having a nightmare, but I didn’t want to wake her up.” At the end of Dani’s sentence an ear piercing shriek was heard.

Cameron was out of her seat and up the stairs before anyone could even blink. The four remaining people looked at Dani in surprise. She looked back shyly at the three strangers and then shrugged and walked over to Wilson. He lifted her onto his lap and she sighed.

“Bella always comes in or I always go to Bella’s room after Mama tucks us in and says good night again. She tells me a story then. She used to do it when Mama-” Dani stopped and shut her lips, looking so much like her mother it was scary. Now, curled up against Wilson Foreman and Chase could clearly see her baby blue House eyes.

****************

“Bella, Bell, Sweetie, wake up.” Isabella’s eyes shot open and she fell into her mothers arms.

“Shh, baby its okay, I got you.” Cameron ran a hand through the girl’s hair and she curled into her mother.

“I had a nightmare.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“No.” There was a second of silence, and neither noticed that the four adults and Dani had come upstairs and were crowded silently around the doorway. “You died. But, this time you stayed dead.”

Cameron was silent and held Isabella closer to her. “I’m very much alive right now baby, promise.”

“I know. Will you sing to me mom?”

“What song?”

“Stand Back Up.” As she named the song, Isabella snuggled down further into her bed, one of the few things set up and Cameron slipped down so her daughter could lean on her. Dani walked over and climbed onto the bed, hugging her sister and mother.

Cameron took a deep breath and began to sing, slowly and softly. The song always reminded her of her relationship with House.

“Go ahead and take your best shot,
Let 'er rip, give it all you've got,
I'm laid out on the floor, but I've been here before,
I may stumble, yeah I might fall,
Only human aren't we all?
I might lose my way, but hear me when I say,

I will stand back up,
You’ll know just the moment when I’ve have enough,
Sometimes I’m afraid, and I don’t feel that tough,
But I'll stand back up,

I've been beaten up and bruised,
I've been kicked right off my shoes,
Been down on my knees more times than you'd believe,
When the darkness tries to get me,
There’s a light that just wont let me,
It might take my pride, and my tears may fill my eyes,
But I'll stand back up,

I've weathered all these storms,
But I just turn them into wind, so I can fly,
What don’t kill you makes you stronger,
When I take my last breath,
That’s when I'll just give up,

So, go ahead to take your best shot,
Let 'er rip, give it all you've got,
You might win this round but you can't keep me down,

'Cause I'll stand back up,
And you'll know just the moment when I’ve had enough,
Sometimes I’m afraid and I don’t feel that tough,
But I'll stand back up,

You’ll know just the moment when I’ve had enough,
Sometimes I'm afraid and I don’t feel that tough,
But I'll stand back up.”

By the time that she finished singing, Isabella was fast asleep, and Dani was sleepy. Cameron slipped out from underneath her daughter and ushered the four shocked people down the stairs to the kitchen, sending her youngest child to bed with a good night hug and kiss.

“What was that about?” Chase finally asked once they were downstairs.

“She had a nightmare.”

“Well, I knew that, but she said- she said- that-”

“You died.” Foreman cut in bluntly.

“Yeah.” Cameron nodded at Foreman’s statement and then said nothing else.

“You want to fill us in on that?”

“I almost died.”

“How?”

“My heart stopped.” Cameron was being sarcastic because she wasn’t sure she was ready to tell them. Wilson could tell that Cameron didn’t trust Foreman and Chase enough yet to tell them about the cancer.

“We should get going, it’s been a long day and we have to work tomorrow, and I’m sure that the jet lag will be catching up with Cameron soon.”

Cameron shot a grateful glance at Wilson and hugged everyone good-bye. She’d deal with everyone later on. Tomorrow Cameron would be seeing where her office was and getting settled. She didn’t start work officially until next week.

*********

The three Cameron’s stepped out of the final store that they had gone to and collapsed in the food court. Isabella went and got them milkshakes and fries from McDonald’s.

The three of them rarely ate fast food other then Subway, but all had an addiction to French Fries that they couldn’t break.

“Where to next?” Isabella questioned. Her mother scrunched up her nose and shrugged. Dani sat quietly swinging her legs. Although she was smart and loud when she wanted to be, she was like her mother and also very tired.

“Let me talk to myself for a minute. We have our bedrooms painted, we did that this morning, we have the living room, dining room, kitchen, den, guest room and library painted courtesy of the company last night. The three bathrooms aren’t changing. The kitchen and study are furnished; the den and dining room are too, except for some little things. We need to get the piano out of storage, and then the living room is finished too and we need to buy a futon for the guest room. Other then that we just have our rooms left to decorate; and we have to unpack the books for the library. I think we’re done.” The selection of books they had was too big to fit in just living space, which was why they had a library. Some books weren’t even in English, but all were loved.

Dani smiled. “Is it weird that we have such a big house? I mean, we use to live in huts.”

Cameron shrugged. “I know it feels weird, but we have so much stuff. Plus, that way when Seb comes to visit or Lizzie and Alex they can just crash with us. And I really like the house, don’t you?”

“I love it!” Isaeblla exclaimed enthusiastically. “But at the same time I feel bad. We could’ve spent that money on something else.”

“Grandma Joan would’ve killed us if we gave all the money away, you know that.”

Joan was Ethan’s mother. The two had been close even after his death years ago and she thought of Isabella and Daniela as her granddaughters. Because Ethan was an only child, when Joan had died two years ago (right around Cameron’s cancer problems) all the money had gone to the Cameron women.

Joan had dictated in her will what she had wanted done with it. She had told them that the money they got from selling her house would be used to buy them a house. Her lawyer would make sure that they used it the way she wanted them too. Not one to argue with the wishes of a dying woman, Cameron had agreed.

Now, she was very happy that she had followed the woman’s wishes. With some of the money left over from the sale of the house, they would be able to buy more furniture for the house and anything they felt that they needed for their house to become a home.

Joan Cambius had left them all of her money. Enough was to go to Isabella and Daniela to help them through college and whatever degrees they wanted to get to. Some was to go to charities of their choice.

“Well then, let’s go home, drop this stuff off, do a little unpacking, and then head over to your work for a little while where we can do more unpacking, I can write to family and Dani can draw.”

“So really you mean, I can unpack and you guys can write and draw.”

“Sure. Let’s go.” The three finished their snack and headed towards the outside of the mall.

La vita ed il diario di Isabella e Daniela Cameron 3/25

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 05:32:22 GMT

August 7th 2011 (Dan's journal) -

Bella said that I should start a journal. I don’t know why, but she’s my sister and it sounded like a good idea. Today we met Mama’s old co-workers Foreman and Chase. Bella told me about them. I don’t like them very much.

Foreman yelled at Bella, but then Mama stopped him. I like San Diego better. I miss Uncle Alex and Aunt Lizzie. I wish we were back in Africa. Mama said I can write to my friends, but it’s not the same.

I also miss Uncle Seb. He was like my dad. I never had a dad. My Sperm Donor (that’s what Bella calls him) made us leave before he even knew about me. He still doesn’t know about me. Uncle Jimmy does though I think House will be mad when he finds out. If he didn’t want Bella, why would he want me?

On that happy note I’m going to bed. Mama said the jet lag will go away soon. Foreman and Chase were asking looking at me today when they went to talk to Bella. I hope they didn't see my eyes. Thy might tell House that he has another daughter. I don’t know if they're going to tell The Sperm Donor or not. When I asked her she told me not to worry about it and to go to bed. We'll see what happens.

****************

Isabella breezed through the line in the cafeteria, Dani behind her, grabbing two bags of pretzels a Root Beer and a Dr. Pepper before finding a table. Reaching into her backpack she pulled out her Ipod and some paper.

She had to write to her friends in Africa, as well as her Uncle Seb, while she would e-mail others, mostly old friends from Italy and India and a few from other countries later.

Putting on You’re So Vain she handed a headphone to her sister and Dani pulled out her sketch pad to draw. Once sure that her sister was fine she began to write.

Dear Aliya,
We just got to New Jersey, and already I’m ready to leave. My dad is here somewhere and I’m going to eventually have to see him. On a happier note, I saw Uncle Alex and Aunt Liz before we came here they send their love. Do you remember them? It’s nice and warm in San Diego. Princeton is pretty boring. Dani sends her love. How are Baakir and Chiku? I miss them -

Before Isabella could finish her sentence someone tapped her on the shoulder. She turned off her Ipod and turned to look at the two men standing behind her.

Dani pulled her legs closer to her, and leaned against her sister. Dani warmed up to new people after a while, but hated strangers, in America especially. She thought they were mean, which was sometimes true. Isabella barely noticed Dan's freak-out. She was her sisters' protector and had been for years. Although Isabella recognized them instantly she kept her face blank.

“How can I help you?”

“Isabella House?”

“Nope. You must have the wrong person, sorry.”

“I don’t think so.” Foreman frowned. “You have your father’s eyes.”

The girl that they were talking to had to be House and Cameron’s child.

Her long hair, honey colored like Cameron’s, was pulled back into two braids and mostly hidden under a hat with the words “I’m not racist, I hate everyone equally.” She wore jeans and a loose fitting t-shirt. Nike sneakers were on her feet. Her eyes were House’s, and Foreman remembered vaguely that she had dimples when she smiled. Neither noticed the tiny child next to her.

“Sperm Donor.” Isabella corrected automatically. “My name is Isabella Cameron, and that man you call my father is a sperm donor.”

“So you are Isabella House.”

“No mate, I ain’t.” Isabella perfectly imitated Chase’s Australian accent and stood up, putting her paper and pen away. She grabbed her sisters’ hand and the two began to walk away.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got better things to do then sit here and talk to a bunch of mindless idiots.”

Foreman glowered and grabbed her wrist. Here they were trying to be nice, and the girl brushed them off like it was nothing.

“Let me go.”

“Why can’t we have a nice civil conversation? We’d like to get to know you.”

Foreman had never admitted it, but he felt guilty for what they had done to Cameron, he wanted to fix it, starting with the little girl who at one point had called him Uncle Eric. The little girl who had looked at them in adoration with shinning eyes now had a barely veiled look of disgust. When Cameron had left, Chase and Foreman had both expected her to be back. They assumed it was just a fight between the two (neither was brave enough to ask) and when she hadn't come back, they had never been able to find her and eventually they had just given up.

“If you don’t let me go right now, your arm is going to be broken.”

“Let her go Dr. Foreman.”

Foreman looked over his shoulder to see Cameron standing there a glare on her face. The girl that was standing next to Isabella ran over to her mother and lunged towards her. Cameron picked up the girl who promptly buried her head in her shoulder and clung onto her tightly.

“It’s okay Dani, calm down.” Cameron took a moment to sooth the frightened child as Foreman dropped Isabella’s arm like it was on fire.

“We were just trying -”

“I know.” Cameron’s voice was still harsh but it had softened a little. “But I would appreciate it if you left my daughter alone until she decided to talk to you. C’mon Bella. We’ve got to get going.” The girls nodded and Bella followed her mother while Dani stayed in her arms.

Neither man was bold enough to question who the second girl was.

Her hair was down and wavy around her shoulders, it was Cameron’s color when she had first arrived at PPTH. Jeans and a t-shirt that was from an Alan Jackson concert covered her thin frame. Her hair covered her eyes, and they could not see the color.

“Wait.” Chase’s voice held a note of despair in it. “Just tell us something, anything. We’re sorry and we never meant for everything to get out of hand like -”

“Well it did.” Cameron sounded furious.

“Mama, can we go?” Dani sounded sad and angry.

“I want to get out of here. We still have to call Uncle Seb and Uncle Alex and get settled in too.” Isabella agreed, wrapping her arm around her sister.

“Let us help you.”

“What?” Dani and Isabella exclaimed at the same time.

“Let us help you unpack. Just the three of you can’t do it. Let us get to know you again.” Mother and daughters exchanged glances and had a conversation with their eyes.

“Do I still get to mock them?” Isabella finally asked with a sigh.

She knew that Cuddy and Wilson were coming over to help unpack as well, but it would be interesting to get a different take on her Sperm Donor.

“I won’t yell at you. They may get angry and leave though.”

She shrugged. “You can come, but you’re paying for dinner.”

Chase and Foreman looked at her startled at how like House she had sounded in that single sentence.

“I’m sure that can be arranged.”

“Good.” Dani nodded in satisfaction. “How about some Chinese?”

La vita ed il diario di Isabella e Daniela Cameron 2/25

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 05:29:02 GMT

Chapter 1: Back in the Garden State

August 7th 2011-(7:00 A.M.)

Mom’s worried, I can tell. She’s biting her lip and frowning. I didn’t really want to leave Italy or San Diego. Italy’s my favorite country out of all of the ones we’ve been too, and that’s a lot. It might be because Dani was born there and we stayed there the longest. Mom traveled a lot for work. That was before everything happened anyway. We stopped a year and a half ago when I was nine and a half and moved to San Diego. Between the time I was four and the time I was ten I had been to over 75 countries, even if some were only for a day. I have them all written down, and mapped out. We lived in different parts of Africa, England, France, Australia, Egypt, China and other parts of the world. India was my second favorite, mom let me get a henna tattoo and I almost got away with a belly button piercing. Mom says that I can get one when I’m eighteen.

Uncle Alex gave me this journal before we left his house. He lives in San Diego; we stopped to see him before going to our new home. When he handed it to me I gave him a weird look, but he just shrugged. “New Jersey is an interesting place too Cara (his nickname for me). I’m sure you will have lots to say, and when we see you, you won’t forget any stories you want to tell us.” Every time we travel he gives me a journal, and Daniela a book to read. But this is different, because this stay is forever. By us he means my Aunt Elizabeth and himself. They don’t have any children and they consider us the closest thing they have to having children. Especially after last year and a half.

My father lives in New Jersey, and that is where we are going. I know three things about this man. 1.) His name is Gregory Alexander House. 2.) He is an amazing doctor. 3.) He slept with my mother and I was born, but then kicked us out when he decided that he wasn’t ready to be a father. I was three. He doesn’t know about my sister. I actually know a few more things, but those are the three important things. I put the time down, because I will probably write later. The flight is about six hours. We should get in at oneish. We’re being called to board the plane and I’m scared. That’s all for now.

**************

Allison Cameron looked at her eleven year old daughter as she closed her journal. Seven year- old Daniela was already reading the new James Patterson book she had been given. Her sketch pad was in her carry-on when she finished it.

The three boarded the plane and Cameron turned to Isabella. “Ready Bella?”

“No.” She stared back at her mother. “This is going to be so weird. I like San Diego. I like traveling.”

“Why couldn’t we keep traveling Mama? It was fun. I liked helping people.”

“I like it too baby, but we need to settle down, you’re sister’s going into 7th grade at the end of the summer, and you’re going into second grade. Soon you’ll be too old to be traveling and you’ll want stability. You also won’t want to be home schooled, you’ll want normal trust me.”

“I’m way ahead of everyone though; so is Dani I’m learning some high school stuff and know a bunch of medical things too. She’s reading high level books and is doing better in math, she’s past multiplying and dividing. We were even doing some easy pre-algebra last night. Why do we have to go to New Jersey anyway?”

“I was offered a lot of money to work at PPTH again, and we can’t be living off of Lizzie and Alex’s dime forever.”

“Could too.”

“Plus, Wilson is there. He’s one of the best oncologists there is baby.”

“But the cancer is gone now Mom.” Bella looked at her mother concern in her eyes. Dani let out a little yelp at the thought that it wasn’t and climbed onto her mother’s lap.

“Right? There isn’t some secret you’re keeping from us?”

“No. as far as I know its all gone girls, they did take out an ovary, so I hope it’s gone. I wouldn’t keep that from you. Just try New Jersey out Bella. If it’s really that bad we can leave.”

“I’m good at adapting. It’s just that he’s there and I don’t want him. He doesn’t want us either.”

“He doesn’t even know who I am.” Dani pointed out. “I don’t want him to know who I am.”

“Just give it a try, that’s all I’m asking.” Her eyes begged and Bella sighed.

“I’ll try.” Cameron turned to look at Dani, who also nodded.

“I’ll try, but that doesn’t mean I have to be nice and stuff, right?”

Cameron let a thin smile cross her face and hugged both girls. The plane ride was taken mostly in a calm familiar silence.

***********

House sat in his office The Who blaring heavily from his speakers. His cane was balanced in his hand and to anyone else it looked like he was staring intently at his white board. That of course, was not the case. He had figured out what the man had had hours ago and sent his newest set of idiot duckling’s home after they had cured him.

“She’s coming back House deal with it.”

“Why?” House growled. “It’s been over eight years. Why now?”

Wilson didn’t say anything. Technically he could say something as her friend, not her doctor, but he didn’t want to. He just shrugged. “Maybe she needed a change.”

“How old is the kid now?”

“Isabella.” Wilson’s voice was short. “She’s eleven.” And Dani’s eight. There are two of them. Wilson added in his head.

“Do you think she’ll come looking for me?” House’s voice had a slightly wistful note in it.

“Do you want her too?”

“I can’t be a father Jimmy; I can barely take care of myself. What would I do with a kid? No wonder Cameron left.”

“And just who made her leave?” Wilson turned The Who down, and sat next to House, ready to play therapist.

“I never made her do anything.”

“Well you didn’t make it easy for her to stay, and you left before she could, and then you told her that they better be out of your house by the time you got back.”

“Whatever.” House looked out his window, eyes drawn together in a frown. “Do you think she looks like me?”

Once again Wilson was at loss for words. How do you tell your best friend that you had been communicating with his ex-girlfriend and two daughters for years now? How did you tell him about the daughter he didn’t know about?

“I don’t know House.”

That wasn’t true. Isabella and Daniela looked exactly like. Both had Cameron’s looks, even her porcelain skin, except for her eyes. They had House’s sharp eyes and the same shade of blue.

When Wilson had gone to see Cameron it was as if she had never left. Wilson had tried to get in contact with her after she left, but she had been too hurt and had asked him to let her calm down a little before she spoke to him. They had e-mailed here and there. Mostly just friendly short e-mails to stay in contact.

“Do you think she hates me, or does she think that she’s better off without me? I wonder if she’s smart. Maybe she wants to be a doctor. ” House was mumbling to himself. “What if she hates me?”

She would tell him a little about where they were traveling and when, but mostly had talked about her daughters. They were so close that they could finish each other’s sentences. Both loved to travel and help people. Bella had her father’s blunt sarcastic attitude, while Dani was a mini-Cameron in her actions. She was shy, but if you provoked her enough she would go after you, which was a Cameron trait that not many people knew about. Both were stubborn to the core. Their Aunts and Uncles (blood and not) had taught them hand-to-hand combat and karate. Dani had a blue belt and Bella was one step away from going to black.

The girls sucked up knowledge in a way that was insanely House-like. Isabella was a math whiz, while Daniela loved to read. Both were good in science and speaking foreign languages. Bella wanted be a cardiovascular surgeon and Daniela wanted to be an Oncologist, with a degree in immunology like her mother and her Uncle Jimmy.

Neither talked about House in any sense, even the doctor one. Apparently, Isabella had been feeding her sister knowledge about her father since the girls were little and neither cared for him very much.

Isabella fluently spoke English, Italian, Spanish, and Hindi, as well as a smatter of other languages that she knew most of. She could play the piano, flute and violin all relatively well and was learning how to play the African drums. She was a great writer, even though she wasn’t a big reader and wrote in a journal almost everyday, something she tried to get her sister to do. She was a regular story teller and teacher to Dani as well.

Dani spoke Spanish, English and Italian. Italian was the language she used when she was frustrated or upset though. She was learning Hindi from her sister and spoke Swahili better then Bella. She played the harp, the guitar and the piano. The harp was her favorite though. Dani was an artist and loved to draw. When they had lived in Italy, their next-door neighbor had taught her how to draw people, and her drawings were very realistic for a 8 year-old.

All three had clear sweet soprano voices and all three could harmonize beautifully, something Wilson heard them do a lot.

Wilson had seen pictures of them, even gotten a video or two of the girls when they were in places that had enough money to take pictures and use electricity. Isabella, Daniela and Wilson had e-mailed, and but he hadn’t met Isabella until she was nine and Daniela was five.

He had told her about his fourth marriage to Cuddy (still going strong, she would send her hello’s to them from time to time but not often) and she had told him about seeing Sebastian Charles again, and how he was like an Uncle to her little girls.

Wilson in turn had given her the lowdown on the people at PPTH. Chase and Foreman had finished up their fellowships and stayed at PPTH working in different departments. Foreman was married with a daughter on the way, and had a three year old son. Chase was still single. Cameron wasn’t at all surprised that they had kept up a steady relationship with House when she left. They were too invested in their careers to let something like friendship or personal life to get in the way.

“Wilson?” Wilson looked at House.

“What do you know that I don’t?” Wilson was unable to answer him, and instead answered his earlier one. “What if she doesn’t hate you House, what if she wants her father?”

The two doctors sat in silence both thinking about the Cameron’s, Wilson thinking of one more then House.

****************

“Dr. Cuddy?” Cameron entered the office feeling very young. The last time that she had been there she had been resigning, that had been almost eight year ago.

“Hello Allison, it’s good to see you again.”

She turned to Isabella. Dani was hiding behind her mother. “And you must be Isabella, wow; I haven’t seen you in years. You’re prettier then the pictures James showed me. And where’s Daniela?” Daniela peaked her head around her mothers’ leg, and then hid again.

“She’s a little shy.” Cameron explained.

Isabella didn’t say anything. She had learned early on not to say something if she didn’t have anything nice to say, so she just nodded. It was too much of an effort to smile and be polite today; jet lag was sinking in quickly.

“It’s nice to meet you.” Isabella gave her a stiff handshake before turning to her mother. “Can I go down to the cafeteria and get something to eat?”

“You’ll be good?”

“Yeah. I promised I’d write Uncle Seb and company when we got here.”

“Nothing stupid?”

Isabella rolled her eyes at her mother. “Chi è causa del suo male piange se stesso.”

Cameron smiled and pulled out a ten. “I’ll be down in a minute, do you know where it is?”

“I’ll find it, bottom floor, right? Dani you want to come with me, or stay here?” Dani looked at her mother and then when she nodded scampered out the door with Isabella.

“What’d she say?” Cuddy was looking at her in confusion.

“Chi è causa del suo male piange se stesso. It translates loosely to ‘he who has created his own evil cries over the same.’”

Cameron shrugged. “It means ‘he who has made his bed must lie in it.’ Bella was saying that she wasn’t going to look for her father because even if he wanted to see her now he had to deal with the consequences his actions made when he kicked us out.”

“That’s deep for a kid.”

“Eh. Not really. She’s good at things like that. Foreign languages are one of her favorite things. Dani likes reading the best. Between the two of them they have a lot of ideas.”

Cuddy nodded. “I know that you probably want to get to your house soon, so let’s make this as quick as possible. You can fill me in about your travels later.” Neither mentioned anything more about Isabella or Dani and House until Cameron got up to leave.

“He missed you.” Cameron turned back, eyes wide.

“I don’t want to know about it.”

“I know that you and James won’t talk about him but you need to know. The two of you have two daughters together; one he doesn’t know about. He wasn’t the same after you left.”

“If either of my daughters wants to talk to him, to meet him, I will let them gladly. But, he is only the man that helped create two children; I want nothing to do with him. I would appreciate it if you didn’t talk to him about me either.”

Cameron slipped out of the room before Cuddy could get in another word.

La vita ed il diario di Isabella e Daniela Cameron 1/25

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 05:22:52 GMT

Prologue

Cameron stood staring out the window at her brothers’ house. Rain pelted down outside, and she could not help thinking how appropriate it was.

Her parents used to tell her that the rain was angels crying for the lost people. People, who had been hurt, people who had lost their trust in God, or people who were unable to cry those tears for themselves. Cameron was one of all of the above. She had been hurt, no longer had faith in God, and refused to cry for herself.

When she had lost her husband she had learned that crying a lot just gave you a headache. Sometimes it helped, but others you just had to get on with life. Tears were good but only for so long. She had learned that a thick skin was needed in life.

Her arms cradled her sleepy daughter and as she rocked the almost four year old into a steady slumber, Cameron hummed.

She had no idea what had possessed her to pick the song she was humming, but now it was stuck in her head and hitting a little close to home.

The two of them had left about six weeks ago, and Cameron was still working on getting back on her feet. The fact that there was another tiny life growing inside of her was a slight problem at the moment.

She was excited about the baby, but she was alone and raising a daughter by herself already. Two would be a lot to handle. At three months pregnant, life would be getting harder soon.

When she had woken up craving pretzels, cherry Gatorade and greasy food she had known. Even before the test was taken, she had known. But, the morning sickness would soon be gone which was a relief.

Especially because soon she would be a working mom. At least she knew what would happen after she had the baby. Sebastian Charles was a gem. She had taken him up on his offer and had joined Doctors Without Borders.

She could take care of her children while traveling and doing her job. Seeing the world was something that she had always wanted to do. Sebastian had assured her that the two girls would get the best education each area had to offer. She could also teach them what she wanted to.

She had known that it wouldn’t last, she had known the moment she had found out she was pregnant the first time. The second baby was a secret. Still, there was a part of her that wished it wouldn’t have happened.

“Mama?” Her daughter lifted her tiny head from her mother’s shoulder.

“Why doesn’t daddy love us anymore? Why’d he make us go away? Is it because of the new baby?”

“No, it’s not. He doesn’t know about the new baby. Remember, I found out after we left. I don’t know why he wanted us to leave sweetie. I just don’t think that he was ready to be a daddy.” But, her baby, smart already, frowned.

“He didn’t want us. If he doesn’t want us, then I don’t want him.” Cameron opened her mouth.

“I do too mean it Mama.”

As her daughter collapsed in tears on her shirt, Cameron could do nothing. It was true. Her father hadn’t wanted them. Instead of lying to her daughter, she gently swayed, singing now, her clear soprano voice quiet in the still night.

I will remember you
Will you remember me?
Don’t let your life pass you by
Weep not for the memories

Remember the good times that we had?
I let them slip away from us when things got bad
How clearly I first saw you smilin’ in the sun
Wanna feel your warmth upon me, I wanna be the one

I will remember you
Will you remember me?
Don’t let your life pass you by
Weep not for the memories

I’m so tired but I can’t sleep
Standin’ on the edge of something much too deep
It’s funny how we feel so much but we cannot say a word
We are screaming inside, but we can’t be heard

But I will remember you
Will you remember me?
Don’t let your life pass you by
Weep not for the memories

I’m so afraid to love you, but more afraid to loose
Clinging to a past that doesn’t let me choose
Once there was a darkness, deep and endless night
You gave me everything you had, oh you gave me light

And I will remember you
Will you remember me?
Don’t let your life pass you by
Weep not for the memories

And I will remember you
Will you remember me?
Don’t let your life pass you by
Weep not for the memories
Weep not for the memories

How Far

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 23:39:57 GMT

Title: How Far
Author: seriouslyjess
Summary: Set to Martina McBride's How Far (which I don't own) after resigning, Cameron goes to think. Surprise, surprise, someone finds her.
Spoilers: Up to Human Error
Pairings: House/Cameron

How Far

Cameron stood at the edge of the ocean, toes in the sand, her ipod in her hands. It was a not so sunny day in May, and no one seemed to want to be at the beach. Instead of putting her headphones in her eats, she turned up the volume on her ipod and let the music drift around her.

She had been working at PPTH for three years, and yet she barely ever visited the ocean. As a child it had enchanted her, the hypnotising waves, the power it had to destroy so many things. She had grown up fasinated by them. Even now they were a source of calm for her.

There's a boat, I could sail away,
There's the sky, I could catch a plane,
There's a train, there's the tracks,
I could leave and I could choose to not come back,
Oh never come back.

She remembered hours previous with House in his office. 'You'll be fine', she had told him. 'I'll miss you.' She knew this time he wouldn't be baning on her door begging her back. That was then, and this was now. That one time when he had let down his defenses had been rare, and now they were back.

There you are, giving up the fight,
Here I am begging you to try,
Talk to me, let me in,
But you just put your wall back up again,
Oh when's it gonna end

Cameron didn't know what else to do. She was sick of trying. Sick of attempting to make her boos understand that she like, and why she was capable of that. Cameron could tell House that it wasn't because of his leg until she was blue in the face, and he would still just look at her and make some smart ass comments.

How far do I have to go to make you understand,
I wanna make this work so much it hurts, but I just can't.
Keep on giving, go on living with the way things are,
So, I'm gonna walk away
And it's up to you to say how far.

House thought that they would all come crawling back. Her at least, probably followed by Foreman. Chase was fired, so he wouldn't, but House would probably re-hire him so he didn't have to find three new fellows.

She wouldn't be going back though. Cameorn couldn't deal with it anymore. No more sitting around wondering if House cared. She heard footsteps but continued to stare out into the ocean. It was hypnotizing.

There's a chance, I could change my mind,
But I won't, not 'til you decide,
What you want, what you need,
Do you even care if I stay or leave,
Oh what's it gonna be.

"Lovely weather we're having here." Cameron looked at him tiredly. Did he expect a response? Because she was all out of them. She was sick of it. And of whom she had become. It wasn't the Allison Cameron that she had been known as.

How far do I have to go to make you understand,
I wanna make this work so much it hurts, but I just can't,
Kepp on giving, go on living with the way things are,
So I'm gonna walk away,
And it's up to you to say how far

"I'm not going to sign your resignation. I'm refusing to let you leave. I should've put that in your contract after you quit the first time."

Out of this chair, or just across the room
Halfway down the block or halfway to the moon

"I can't do this anymore House." He stepped closer to her and Cameron didn't move.

"Yes you can."

"Why? are we going to go on another date and talk about feelings?" She shook her head determinedly. "I'm sick of this."

How far do I have to go to make you understand,
I wanna make this works so much it hurts, but I just can't,
Keep on giving, go on living with the way things are,

"Maybe we can do it differently this time." He drew nearer still and Cameron stood there, frozen, as she watched his lips get closer and closer to her.

They were centimeters away when House froze. "Maybe you don't have to come back to work. Maybe I just need to see you every day." HIs lips descended upon hers and Cameron realized what would happen.

She wouldn't go back to work for him, but you would still be there. They would date, and maybe eventually she would move in or something. They probably wouldn't get married. She wasn't sure if she wanted to get married again and House didn't seem like the type.

Life would certainly be interesting though.

So I'm gonna walk away,
And it's up to you to say,
Yeah I'm gonna walk away,
And it's up to you to say, how far.

Fin

The Notebook

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 22:48:43 GMT

So for all of you that receive e-mails when I post something, I apologize in advance. Finals are this week, and I'm procrastinating, so I decided to post some of my older, completed fics here. A few of them are a bit.... corny? might be a good word. :D And if you have time, or feel like procrastinating as well, happy reading!
Jess

Title: The Notebook
Author: seriouslyjess
Summary: She was due to be married. But her friends aren't so sure about him. What does a girls night in and a notebook have to do with anything?
Spoilers: None really?
Pairings: House/Cameron, and a little bit of Chase/Cameron
PS - Anything on this list isn't meant to offend anyone. (I don't think that there is anything but, hey you never know.) It was written by a bunch of twelve or thirteen year olds, I think.

The Notebook

“You’ll never guess what I found the other day!” Allison Cameron looked at her best friend Jenna and shook her head.

“Do I even want to know?”

“Oh God. Here we go again…”

Cameron took a moment to glance around her room. Lying on the floor was Jenna and herself, the two sprawled on throw pillows. Abby and Julia had claimed the couch as their own, while Alicia and Jackie had each grabbed a chair.

“Not again.” Jenna protested. “I usually only find the interesting stuff. My mother finally made us all pack our crap up, so I found it like two days ago.”

She was Allison’s closest friend and was known to lose things. Her room had always been messy when she was a child, and her habit of losing things had only toned down slightly as she had grown up.

“You guys! You’ll like this I promise.” Jenna got up and went to her bag. She pulled out a tattered notebook titled The Notebook of Randomness.

“You found that?”

“Yeah. I figured tonight would be a perfect night.” Allison groaned. She couldn’t believe that they were doing this to her.

“So…” Jenna opened to the first page.

The two of them were the closest out of the six best friends, and Cameron knew why she had found the notebook. It was to prove a point that Cameron didn’t want proved. Jenna was like her second personality. The moment she had told her of the engagement, Jenna had gone quiet. They were sitting in some random restaurant, and she had shaken her head at her.

“You won’t be happy Al.”

“Yes, I will.”

“You don’t love him.” It had gotten really silent then and she had sighed.

“He loves me though.”

“I don’t care. I think that you’re making a mistake.” Neither ever brought it up again, until tonight.

“I don’t think that this is a good idea.”

“Sucks for you” Abby replied, trying to read over Jenna’s shoulder.

“Yeah.” Jackie grinned. “You signed the pact, remember?”

“As head of the Sisters Forever Club, I Jenna Hamilton hereby declare that The Notebook of Randomness can be pulled out when someone is being an idiot, found a guy that they are about to marry/slept with/are engaged to or when we feel like it. Four people need to agree, and override the other two.
Signed Allison Cameron, Abigail Wright, Jacqueline Young, Julia Martinez, Alicia Moore and Jenna Hamilton.” Julia read over her shoulder.

“You lose, see?”

“Okay. Things That A Guy Must/Must Not Have.” Jenna read. “If I remember there were 101 for each list, right?”

“I think so.” Alicia replied.

The six had grown up together, but now all lived on opposite sides of the country. Jenna was the closest in New York. Abby was in L.A., Jackie Texas, Julia Philadelphia, and Alicia Phoenix. That being said, Jenna had met her fiancé more then the one night that they had spent with him last night.

Jenna handed the notebook over to Alicia for her to read out loud. “Number one. No baldness.”

“Nope.” They chorused. “He loves his hair, if it fell out I think that he would cry. I wonder what would happen if we shaved it all off.” Jenna added thoughtfully.

“Two, no piercings or major tattoos.”

“No piercings, no tattoos.”

“Three, taller then Allie.”

“Check.”

“Four, not allergic to animals.”

“Check.”

“Always been a man and a few that could fit with that: not girly (fashion wise), not afraid of girl talk, but won’t participate in it and not gay or bi.”

“As far as I know.” Jenna snickered.

“He makes me feel like a natural woman, or a lesbian if I was dating him.” Allie shot her a look.

“Jen-”

“I don’t like him okay?” She shot back. “He reminds me of that annoying pompous ass you dated in college. He was no good, remember?”

“Children! Can I continue?”

Arguments between Jenna and Allison were frequent. As children, Allison had been unable to say no to people, while Jenna had no problem. Because of that, Jenna was always sticking up for Allie, but it had carried over into adulthood.

The two sat back and glared at each other.

“Next, we have nice.”

“Yes.”

“I have a bunch of short ones I’m going to read. Stop me if it’s a no. Will sing, plays a musical instrument or used to, no ghost skin, no fake tan, knows another language, doesn’t like Star Wars, can deal with the six of us, no spider bands, no scary eyebrows, doesn’t do illegal things, muscular.”

“Good so far?”

“I don’t think that he’s very muscular.” Abby piped up.

“He has muscle though.”

“But not a lot.” Julia pointed out.

“Here’s another long group: Silly, protective, gets together with other couples, can work electronics, will try new things, likes to dance, lovable, will take road trips, shares secrets, has real friends -” Alicia paused and groaned. “Nice package? Answer that one Allie.”

“It’s- decent size.” She blushed. “But, not bigger then normal.”

“33 years we’ve been friends and you still blush at things like that?” Jenna shook her head. “You need to stop getting embarrassed so easily.”

“Yeah right.”

“Back to the list.” The bantering went on for a while as well as the list. Some of the questions had eye rolls, while other such as ‘isn’t Michael Jackson’ ‘able to understand relationships with hot actors’ and ‘can spell’ had them laughing and going “what?”

“Okay. The last two.” There was a pause. “He loves you.”

“Yeah, he loves me.”

Jenna grabbed the notebook from Alicia and met her best friend’s eyes, “You love him.” There was dead silence and Cameron slowly shook her head before dissolving into tears.

“No, I don’t love him.”

*******

“Robert!”

“Don’t talk to me Allison.” Chase tried to storm off angrily, but she grabbed his arm to stop him.

Without thinking about it, he swung his arm to get away from her. She let go in surprise, but didn’t step back. He was unable to stop the momentum and it slammed her in the face, hitting her and causing her to fly onto the sidewalk.

“Allison.” Immediately he knelt down next to her, but she brushed him off.

“It’s okay Robert. I probably deserved it anyway.”

“No. You didn’t. Jeeze Allie.” He touched her cheek gently. “I should’ve see this coming. We both knew it was going to happen. I just figured a ring would delay it.” Cameron pulled the ring off gently and handed it to him.

“Find someone who loves you just as much as you love them.” She kissed his cheek as he helped her off the ground.

“You invite me to your wedding, you hear?”

“Yes. And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry.” She paused unsure what to do, but Chase gave her a gently shove towards her car.

“Go see him Allie. He’s been moping. Even if you can’t see it, we can.”

******

“House…” Cameron stepped into his dark office and met his gaze.

He noticed the bruise on her face that was already forming when she was about two feet away from him and jumped up and walked over to her. “What the hell happened to you?”

“Nothing. Robert got upset, and I grabbed his arm. He pulled it away and the momentum caused it to ht my face. He didn’t mean it, really.” But, Hose had already started towards the door when he heard the word ‘Robert’.

“House! Stop it. He was just upset. I –I -” House had paused and was looking at her expectantly. “I broke off the engagement.”

“What? Why would you do that?”

“My friends and I made a list when we were kids. It had 101 thinks that we wanted in a guy. My best friend Jenna found it the other day when they were all out here - and we went through it and - and then there was a question -”

“Cameron. You’re rambling.” She smiled apologetically.

“The point is, I don’t love him.”

“So you come to me instead?” Cameron knew that she should talk or say something, but instead she took a step closer to him and kissed him.

“I couldn’t love him because I’m in love with you House.”

******

One Year Three Months and Two Days Later

They had taken things slow. Or at least, they had intended to take things slow. It maybe hadn’t happened that way.

Jenna looked at her best friend a smile on her face.

“Long time no see Al. Love the ring.”

She laughed at her friend. “Don’t be cruel.”

“I’m always cruel. I brought the list.” She saw House and waved at him. With the same sharp attitude and sense of humor, the two had become fast friends.

“You better leave, girl talk time.” House shuddered and pulled Allison into a tight embrace and kissed her deeply. He stopped when the sound of a whistle was heard. He turned to see the other four girls standing there grinning at him.

“Your friends are so weird.”

“I know. And there’s nothing I can do about it.”

“I’ll see you later Allie. Love you.”

“Love you too Greg.” He walked out and her friends laughed. “He’s so whipped Al.”

“Yeah, I know.” Two hours later after much laughter and teasing they were on the last question.

“Do you love him Allie?” Jenna looked at her eyes serious and probing. Allison stared back at her.

“Yes” she said, and she knew it was true.

Just Coffee 12/?

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 18:51:44 GMT

Title: Just Coffee
Author: seriouslyjess
Summary: He needed someone, she needed someone. They were friends, and they needed each other to heal. And it was, after all, just coffee. Right?
"I'm not going to kiss you House. But I will tell you something." He paused in his advance and cocked his head to the side, waiting.
Spoilers: Anything up to Wilson's Heart
Pairings: House/Cameron, Wilson/OFC

Chapter 12: The Past, The Present, The Future

Alice was used to people barging in on her restaurant right before closing. So when she began to wipe down tables and the door jingled open, she just shook her head and turned to greet her late night customer.

House stared at her, eyes wide and almost confused.

“You look like you need a drink.” Alice disappeared into the back and returned with the freshly made batch of coffee that she had started a little while ago. A shot of brandy and she handed it to House.

He took it gratefully and hobbled over to a chair, sitting down and letting his shoulders slump.

“Do I want to know?”

“Cameron – she showed me some of her scars.” He used some because there were more – that at least he was sure of.

“Oh.” Alice offered him the bottle of brandy. “I assume you weren’t expecting that?”

“I knew she was broken. I just didn’t think she was as broken as me.”

“An oddly sentimental statement from the misanthropic doctor.”

“We’d been drinking already.” Alice nodded in understanding.

“Am I to guess that you got scared and ran?”

“I kissed her for god sake. In the middle of the restaurant. What else was I supposed to do?”

Alice sighed.

“Why is it that men are so stupid?”

“That’s rhetorical, right?” House questioned back. “Men are pigs. And they will never grow up. Or something to that extent.”

“Allie was opening up to you. Maybe not at the best time or place, but she was testing you.”

“And let me guess. I failed.”

“Maybe. Maybe not. Raymond didn’t act to well either.”

“Raymond?”

“Allie’s husband.”

House nodded. “The dead one.”

Alice frowned at him. “Yes.”

“What did he do?”

“Proposed.”

“Was that what I was supposed to do? Pop the question?”

“If you had she would’ve smacked you. As it was Ray received a death glare until it turned out that he was serious. She said no. But he just kept pushing and pushing. Finally Allie said yes. She wasn’t ready to get married, but it was a dying mans last request. And she loved him to much to turn that down.”

She hadn’t wanted to get married? House didn’t know what to say to that. Wasn’t marriage every little girl’s dream? Although, he was finding out that Allison Jane hadn’t been like most other girls. That was probably because she hadn’t grown up in an environment that fostered those kinds of thoughts. From the scars he had seen, the houses that she had been in hadn’t been happy ones.

“Well, what was I supposed to do then apologize? Start having sex on top of the table?”

“Or sit down and finish eating?” Wilson’s voice was dry. “The apology would’ve come across wrong and I think that you would’ve been arrested for public indecency. I could use some of that brandy you’re holding, if you’re offering, Alice.”

“And sitting down and finishing eating is better then apologizing, how?” House questioned.

“Well, at least that way you weren’t running scared.”

“Thanks Wilson. I can see that your three marriages have really been helpful in understanding what women want.” Alice ignored both of them.

“Tina went to go get AJ, and sent you to do damage control?” Alice went to go get another cup of coffee and Wilson followed. “You think that after all these years the girl would learn not to meddle.”

“It’s what she does Alice.” Cameron’s voice sounded as the door opened.

James appeared back at the table a moment later, holding two cups of coffee while Alice carried a third. He met Allison’s eyes hesitantly. She shrugged one shoulder and scrunched up her nose.

Tina meddled, Jimmy meddled. It was what they did and she had long ago accepted it as a fact. It didn’t mean she liked it, it just meant that it was a fact.

“I love you,” Wilson teased sweetly, trying to draw out a smile.

“No you don’t, I hate you.” House was watching her as she pouted childishly and Wilson laughed.

“Okay Allie, if you say so.”

“I do. And I know all.”

“Psychic again?” Tina mused.

“Yep.”

“What am I thinking?” Tina had grabbed a piece of paper and scribbled down five questions. Allison smirked.

“Comb, moon, orange, no way and go to hell.” Wilson leaned over and scanned the list of questions that Tina wrote. He smiled, amused when all of the answers made sense.

“And how long have you been pulling that trick?” House finally found his voice.

It was Tina who replied, as Allison was studiously not looking at him. “Years. Party tricks for the younger cousins.” She leaned over and pulled a quarter out of Houses’ ear with a smirk.

“Must be weird at family reunions.”

“It’s always weird at family reunions. But that’s just because we’re weird.”

“Thanks Tina.” Cameron was holding her coffee in her hands, but didn’t take a sip. She set it down instead and disappeared into the back. Tina stared pointedly at Greg until he sighed, stood up and shuffled back into the kitchen.

These conversations usually involved him putting his foot in his mouth and someone who wasn’t him in tears. Always. No matter the person the situation never changed.

*****

“I’m not good at this,” he stated, watching her. When she turned around, House was surprised. Cameron’s face was completely dry.

“I didn’t come back here to talk House. You suck at talking. But I wanted hot chocolate instead of coffee.”

House raised an eyebrow. Coffee was good, alcohol was better and even tea would have been acceptable. But, hot chocolate?

“It’s something that I used to do for Jake. Something my first foster parents did for me. And later on something my mom did. It’s a comfort drink.”

“When did your mom die?”

Cameron blinked at him. “My mother is very much alive right now, and I beg you not to jinx that, thank you very much.” To make her point clear she leaned over and knocked on the wooden counter top.

“On our – date – you said that the earrings you were wearing were your mothers – I just assumed -”

“The earrings I was wearing were a gift from my birth mother before I was taken away and put up for adoption. I was – I am told – with her for a grand total of fifteen minutes. My first social worker put them in a lock box to be given to me when I turned eighteen. It’s all I have left of her. And even though I never want anything to do with the woman who gave birth to me, they do have a sentimental value. They’re the one thing that I have from my childhood.”

“So when I asked you about your earrings….”

“What was I supposed to say? Thank you, I’m glad that you like them, they’re the only thing I have of my birth mothers and in turn the only thing I have from my childhood. It was not a conversation I wanted to have with you. It’s not a conversation I want to have with you now.”

“Then why’d you even bring it up?”

“I didn’t. You asked when my mother died. And my mother, one of the few people in my life who loves and cares about me, and loved and cared about me before I even acknowledged that people could love has the right to be known as alive. Also, I don’t want the misconception that the woman who gave me up was also the one who raised me.”

“Have you ever had any contact with your birth mother?” House couldn’t help but by surprised by the raw anger in her tone. Allison Cameron loved everyone.

“Never. All I know is that her name is Cynthia. Her initials are CAJ, which is why my name is Allison Jane.”

“Funny that yours ended up being AJC.”

Cameron’s mouth twisted up awkwardly. “If that’s the way you want to phrase it, go right ahead. But, I don’t really think that there’s anything funny about it.”

The tea kettle whistled and Cameron turned to tend to it, studiously ignoring House once again.

She pulled out hot chocolate mix, marshmallows, whipped cream, milk and a blue and white snowman mug from a cabinet and set it on the table.

“Is that all you have to say?”

Cameron mixed her concoction together and stared at him. “What else is there?”

“I kissed you.”

“Today is a day that ends in the letter ‘y’.”

“Actually, I kissed you twice.”

“The United States has 50 states.”

“Why aren’t you reacting?”

“Why are you asking me stupid questions?” Cameron replied without skipping a beat. She took a dainty sip of her hot chocolate. “I thought we were just having a state the obvious contest. I know you kissed me. Twice. You know I know. I know you know I know you know. Or something like that. What I want to know is why we’re still talking about it?”

“What if I wanted to do it again?”

“And why would you want that House? The first time you wanted me to come back without the needle. The second time you left.”

“Maybe third time is the charm.”

“I don’t think so. Not tonight anyway.”

“Isn’t tonight a perfect time?” He was advancing on her again and Cameron turned to stare at him, the word ‘don’t’ on her lips.

“I’m not going to kiss you House. But I will tell you something.” He paused in his advance and cocked his head to the side, waiting.

Cameron grabbed another cup and made hot chocolate for House as well as he impatiently tapped his cane.

“I met Jacob when I was six. He was two. We were being fostered by the Stevenson’s. I walked into the house with my social worker and Jacob streaked by butt naked and screaming at the top of his lungs. He crashed right into me. I picked him up – and he just stopped and looked at me. They joked it was love at first sight. After that we were inseparable. Every foster home we went into, we went into together. And if we didn’t there was hell. I was the only one who could Jake to fall asleep. I used to sing ‘Hey Jude’ to him, using his name every night. I was the only way he would go to bed.” Her face the night of the white tie auction suddenly flashed through his mind, and the reaming that she had gotten from Cuddy was no longer as funny as it had been. “When I was eight and Jake was four we were placed with Ron and Linda. The abuse was extreme, but we were the type of kids who fell through the cracks. It went on for two years.” Her hands were shaking and tears were falling. There was a catch in her throat. House didn’t know what to do. “Ron called us down one night – wasted. I thought that we might be able to wait until he passed out, but he was insistent that we come downstairs.”

He knew that he didn’t want to hear the ending to this story. Because there was no happy ending. That at least he was sure of. Cameron handed him the hot chocolate and took a sip of hers, not flinching when it burned her throat on the way down.

“Ron had pulled out his gun. But I thought that he was just threatening us, like he always did.” Years of therapy had convinced her that not getting Jake out of the way in time wasn’t her fault, but when she re-told the story (which was very seldom) there was always a trace of disgust. She couldn’t help it. “He shot me once in the leg, and he shot Jake four times. It was the second bullet that killed him. Linda was killed as well before Ron killed himself.” A sob made its way out from deep in her throat. “I survived for some reason. I don’t know why….” She trailed off and shook her head.

“I went from home to home after that for three years, and went back almost immediately after each one. No one could control me. Then, they placed me in a home, and the mom – well, she tried to touch me. One of the younger kids called DCFS because I was screaming bloody murder. They removed all of the kids immediately, because it wasn’t the first complaint. I wasn’t doing well in group homes at all – the older kids were torturing me because I was so small for my age but had such an attitude. They did an emergency placement of me with a new couple who had only fostered a few times. It wasn’t supposed to stick, I was supposed to leave as soon as they found a different home. I walked into the Cameron’s house and Heather was waiting for me with Teddy balanced on her hip. He stared at me – he was only three – and asked why I had bwue hail.”

Cameron paused to take a deep breath and then stopped. She had just spilled a very small but very important portion of her life story to House. And for some reason he was still standing in the kitchen with her.

“What’d you say?”

“What?”

“When your brother asked why you had bwue hail – which I’m assuming is blue hair?”

Cameron couldn’t help the small noise that escaped her throat. It was somewhere between a sob, a snort, and a laugh. “I burst into tears and Ross walked into the foyer in his pajamas, having just been woken up to come and greet me into his home, and just held out his arms. I don’t know why I did, to this day, but I ran into them and hugged him. I hadn’t voluntarily let anyone hug me since Jake died in my arms. My social worker about kneeled over and had a heart attack. Whenever anyone touched me I screamed bloody murder whether it was gentle or not. I still jump when someone grabs me unexpectedly.”

House nodded. He had seen the look on her face when he held her arm in his hands. “And your back?”

“My back?”

“The first time Wilson and I stayed at your apartment. You had old scars on your back. Most from a thin belt or a horse whip.” Cameron’s’ face still showed mistrust, so House set down his hot chocolate. He shrugged off three layers of shirts and turned his back to her. The lines that she had been so used to seeing on her back were mirrored on his. There was no gasp from her, just a muffled sigh of someone who had felt the same pain, and a gentle, but icy cold hand, on his back.

“My father’s second favorite form of discipline was a good whipping.”

“And the first?”

“Outside in the winter, no food, little clothes.”

Cameron mimicked House, and stripped off her shirt, sweatshirt and coat as well, until she was standing in just her bra. House got a better look at her back before she held up her hands and House looked closely, noting all the scars on her hands that he had never gotten close enough to see.

“Ron was fond of the hands over the stove method. As well as the feet. And any other body parts. He burned almost all of my hair off once.”

House used a gentle finger to trace the scar that was on her heart line – the one that Tina matched.

A slight turn and House was pointing at a scar on the back of his neck, right to the left of the top of his spine. It was a thin white line that traced up to his ear.

“Beer bottle at the head when I was eight.”

Cameron smiled and turned, lifting her hair to show a scar lower then his, almost on her shoulder. “Wine bottle at the back when I was nine. I’m pretty sure he was aiming for my head, but when you’re drunk – well, it doesn’t always work out that way.”

House sat down and lifted his leg onto a chair with a grimace. He rolled up his pant leg until his shin was visible. “Dogs at the base camps weren’t to be played with. Or so my dad told me, but he watched as one of them lost it on me. Waited until I got bit before he stepped in to stop them.”

“You saw my dog scars already,” Cameron replied. She bent to grab her shirt, but House gently stopped her. His hand spun her gently around and took note of the mess that was her back.

“That night at the benefit-” he trailed off and shook his head.

Cameron craned her neck to look at him. “What?”

“Your back didn’t look like it does now.”

“The lights were dimmer most of the night. I had Tina come over and work some make-up magic. Not a lot, because these kind of scars are almost impossible to hide. But, with a few tricks, some glitter to make me sparkle a tad and the lights, anyone who saw it thought it was a trick of light or they had had too much to drink.”

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why’d you cover up your scars?”

“Why won’t you let anyone see your leg?” It seemed rhetorical, because Cameron answered herself. “Pity. I’m broken House, I’m broken and damaged and scared. And no matter how many times my mother told me that I wasn’t any of those things, I am. And I don’t want people to feel bad for poor Dr. Cameron who went through the system and out a bloody mess. I’m not so good at deflecting with jokes, so I deflect by not telling people about my past.”

‘”And lying.”

“When did I lie?” Cameron demanded.

“I asked you who abused you. You said that it wasn’t fami-”

“Who said that I considered the people who beat me time and time again family?” Her voice was getting heated now.

House was about to ask her what she considered them, but Tina walked into the kitchen with Wilson and Alice.

“Children, please, keep your voices down if you’re trying to have a private conversation. And put shirts on.”

Cameron flushed slightly and pulled her shirt hastily over her head, while House took his time. Wilson had seen his back before, and he had no doubts that Tina and Alice had seen Cameron’s. There was nothing for them to be surprised about. Everyone had scars.

“Can you two talk like civilized adults, or do you need a referee?” Alice asked in a patronizing tone.

“We’re done talking Alice, it doesn’t matter.”

And this time it was Cameron who left House standing in the middle of a restaurant.

Just Coffee 11/?

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:20:58 GMT

Title: Just Coffee
Author: seriouslyjess
Summary: He needed someone, she needed someone. They were friends, and they needed each other to heal. And it was, after all, just coffee. Right?
There would be bruises later. Bruises on top of bruises on top of scars that were inside and outside.
Spoilers: Anything up to Wilson's Heart
Pairings: House/Cameron, Wilson/OFC

Next chapter for a little while. Happy Holidays!

Jess

***********

Chapter 11: Another Non-Date and Scars

Wilson had been named designated driver that evening, but because he had cancelled, House stopped at Cameron’s first. He had no idea where Tina lived. She appeared a few moments later and smiled before climbing into the car.

“Hello House.”

“Cameron.” She climbed into the front seat and raised an eyebrow.

“Where’s Jimmy?”

“He had to cancel. Patient. How do I get to your cousin’s house?”

Cameron sighed. “Tina’s stuck in Philly with a flat tire and a nasty snow storm.” Then she paused before sighing again and adding in an exasperated eye roll. “I take that back. We were set up.”

House merely raised an eyebrow as he headed towards the bar and restaurant they had picked last week.

“And how do you know that?”

“Because she told me that she was going to visit her friends Leo and Karen in Philly. They moved a month ago to Arizona when Leo’s company transferred him. And I’m guessing Wilson doesn’t have a patient.”

“We have very obnoxious friends,” House snorted.

“Well, there is good news.”

“Which is?”

“Tina left one of her credit cards at my apartment after the pictures – she has one that she likes to use when going out for drinks and I’m more likely to remember it then she is, so she gave it to me.” Cameron reached into her purse, pulled out her wallet and showed him the card. “Whatever we want tonight – it’s on Tina.”

House chuckled.

“Sneaky.”

Cameron shrugged. “Nope. She gave me the card because we were going out for drinks and she didn’t want to forget it. It’s not my fault that she got a ‘flat tire’ and missed out on drinks and dinner.”

************

“Do you think that it will work?” Wilson asked. Tina took a sip of the beer in her hand and shrugged. “Who knows what’s in store for those crazy kids?”

“You make it sound like the opening of a book or movie,” Wilson accused, eyes dancing with laughter.

“I think that they could be some form of dramatic movie. Or maybe a comedy instead.” Tina’s phone beeped and she picked it up.

Nice Xtina. I hope you and Jimmy are having fun right now you liar.

“Well, Dr. Wilson, it seems we’ve been found out.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.” Tina texted back should I be worried babe?

“What are we going to do?”

“Nothing, she knows. She probably told House. I’m not going to deny it. If setting them up is all that it takes to knock some sense into them, I’ll do it.”

Don’t worry. House will behave. And by the way, you’re paying.

Thanks for the heads up Blondie. And will you be behaving?

“I’m a bit worried about Allie,” Wilson confessed. “House can be a bit of an asshole.”

Tina snapped her phone shut. “Well, Blondie can too. She’s almost always been able to hold her own in the verbal sparing, and I should hope that House would never hit her.” Tina’s eyes darkened at the thought. “If he hits her, he won’t live to see his next birthday.”

“Houses’ dad wasn’t exactly the… nicest man.” Wilson rested his chin in his hands. “A few years ago – before Cameron started working with him, they had a case where the husband was abusive. House told me that one thing that his father ever got right was that a man who raised a hand to a woman wasn’t a man at all. I don’t think you have to worry. And Allison can hold her own.”

Probably not Xtina, love you

Tina chuckled as she put her phone away. So Blondie wanted to play dirty? The chances of that actually happening were slim, but the thought was funny.

“You’re right about that, James. She certainly can hold her own.”

**************

“So, is this another non-date? We seem to do better with those.” Cameron’s voice was dry as House finally parked his car.

“Let’s just call it dinner and drinks. Non-date that is dinner and drinks is just more of a mouthful. Besides, I trust that this time you’re not going to go around telling everyone.”

Cameron didn’t respond, just stepped out of the car before replying quietly, “I learned my lesson, House.”

He felt a bit of shame at the sadness in her voice. The dinner had turned into a confrontation – something he had not wanted nor expected. He could blame her for the question, but the response was all his fault.

She seemed as uncomfortable as he did as they walked into the restaurant. At least he wasn’t the only one that was struggling with this.

*************

Dinner had arrived quickly as both had ordered burgers, fries and beers. As much as Cameron had joked about using Tina’s credit card, she wasn’t feeling very hungry. If this ended badly maybe she would take the card and go shopping.

They had spent the beginning of dinner awkwardly stealing glances at each other before ordering. The waitress had put them in a back secluded corner, thinking that they were on a date and would want privacy. Without Tina or Jimmy there to act as buffers, they were lost.

Cameron had finally stared at House and started giggling.

“What?” He could feel a smile tugging at the corner of his lips, even though he had no idea what was so funny.

Cameron continued to giggle. “We -” She finally gasped out. “– we worked together for four years -” House still didn’t get it as she dissolved once again into laughter, her face turning a reddish color. “It shouldn’t be this awkward,” Cameron finally managed and House couldn’t help but smile.

That was true. Even if their relationship had always been definable by the word ‘weird’, it didn’t mean that they would always have to have meals full of holes and tense silences.

Cameron’s laughter seemed to break the ice and dinner began to go smoother.

*************

Cameron was leaning forward, the light casting a rosy glow to her face as she waved her arms for emphasis.

Liquid courage had been with them, so it was safe to say that both were at least a little tipsy. Cameron was in the middle of telling House about her youngest brother Teddy Cameron – the wild child of the bunch – when he spotted them.

Although it was December, almost January, the bar was toasty warm and Cameron had removed her jacket and rolled up her sleeves. At first he thought it was a trick of light, but upon a bit of closer examination realized that the marks on her arms were bruises. And not only bruises – handprints no less.

Without thinking he grabbed her arm to get a closer look at the marks.

Cameron flinched visibly and tugged her arm back to her side. House froze for a minute before gently reaching back across the table, in a slower more determined move and grabbed her arm again so he examine it.

“You’re afraid of me?” Someone had grabbed her, House realized, grabbed her hard. And, House realized in something akin to shock; he was pissed.

“No. Not of you.” He was still looking at her though, questioningly, with that look on his face. The you’re a puzzle and I’m going to solve you face. She sighed. God, why did this have to be so hard? “I’m sorry House.”

“Because you’re afraid of me?” there seemed to be a bit of a smirk in his voice, which was good.

“I got in a bit of a tussle with one of the patients, that’s where the bruises came from.” Cameron offered, instead of replying to his question.

“How did we not know?” The ‘we’ pleased Cameron, secretly. House was part of their little group, even if he had joined later.

“Made Tina promise not to tell. And the night nurses like me to much to go around clucking to the others about ‘poor Dr. Cameron’s concussion and bruises after the patient lost it’.”

The moment the words escaped her lips she knew she was screwed. House let go of her arm and stood up he walked so he was standing in front of her. Cameron hastily stood up as well. She didn’t like feeling towered over.

“You had a concussion?” Shit. Scratch screwed. She was dead, if the look on his face was any indication.

“A mild one. Nothing to worry about.”

“So,” House picked up her arm. He knew he was overreacting, but he couldn’t help it. “You have bruises up and down your arms, and a mild concussion. But you’re fine. Anything else that I should know about?”

It was so easy. And the words just slipped out.

“I have a bullet wound in my thigh from when my foster dad shot me. I have scars on my back from when I got beaten.” She held up her right arm and showed him a thin white scar that went from wrist to elbow that was barely visible. “I stayed with a crazy lady who thought that she could ‘bleed’ the bad out of me.”

She put a leg on the chair as she pulled up her pant leg to show him a set of scars around her ankle. “A couple had a dog who didn’t like me. We got in a fight. The dog won. I have more.” The inside of her knee. “A hot poker from the fire, but I don’t remember why.” She was lifting her shirt ever so slightly to show the one on her inner hip, below her underwear line that few people had ever seen, when House grabbed her arm. It was only then that she realized he looked paler then she had ever seen him.

And then: a hand crashing down onto the table, a plate flipping over and onto the floor with a sickening crash and other people looking over at the sound of breaking glass. A harsh, yet low, ‘damn it Cameron’ and three strides to where she stood, because she had slowly backed away, eyes wide, ever so slightly scared. A hand tightly gripping her wrist, the other reaching for the back of her neck even as the cane hit the ground. And then there was a kiss, not short and sweet, but harsh and needy with lots of tongue and whisker burn across her cheeks. The sound of applause from the people at the bar who could see them and Cameron hadn’t felt so alive in so long.

There would be bruises later. Bruises on top of bruises on top of scars that were inside and outside.

“Damn it Cameron,” he repeated against her lips, before pulling away, bending down painfully to pick up his cane and leaving her standing alone in shock with half the restaurant staring at her.

***********

She had to call Tina for a ride, because she didn’t know what else to do. A cab would’ve worked too, but Tina was free – except for the grilling that she would get from her cousin. But, that, would’ve happened no matter what day or time Allison called.

So when Tina pulled up, sans Wilson, Cameron had to admit that she wasn’t surprised.

“Did you send him to go do damage control on the other side?” Cameron cracked with a knowing smirk. Tina didn’t say anything for a minute.

“What happened?”

“He saw the bruises on my arm and then I mentioned my concussion. He asked if there was anything else he should know about. So, I told him.” Tina groaned. She knew her cousin had said that she probably wouldn't behave, but she hadn't expected that.

She knew the rest of the story. Allison had done the same thing to three other people. Ian, herself and Raymond. Ian hadn’t flinched, instead pulling up his shirt and showing her various scars of his own. Tina had been too shocked to say anything, instead pulling her thirteen year old new cousin into her arms and hugging her tightly, even as Allison flinched at the physical contact. And Raymond – well, Raymond had been wallowing because he was dying. Not that he didn’t have the right to wallow, but he lost that right when he started taking all of his anger out on Allison. So she had lost it and shown him her scars. He had proposed. And the rest, as they said, was history.

“Start at the top,” Tina commanded as she pulled out and heading towards Alice’s. She was going to need some help with this.

***********

Wilson was at a bit of a loss and he was the first to admit it. House usually fled scenes and then the next day told Wilson about them at the hospital or Wilson grilled House at the hospital. It was the way things worked.

So, Wilson headed towards the first place he could think of. There was one person in town that knew all four of them and could maybe give him some insight onto the mind of House.

************

He had to get out of there. Allison Cameron, innocent, naive, over-caring, teddy bear heart, had just taken all of his ideas and shredded them into little pieces.

His father had helped turn him into the man that he was today. His leg had only added fuel to the fire and an excuse.

And then there she was. Little Miss Allison Cameron. Showing him her scars and smiling at him.

I got this one here, and that one there, but I’m okay.

There was a story behind each and every mark on Allison Jane Cameron’s body. And it seemed that she had more then he did.

There was one person beside Tina that was close by, one who knew Cameron and had known her for years.

House sighed and shifted gears as he sped towards some answers and some coffee.

Just Coffee 10/?

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:46:02 GMT

Title: Just Coffee
Author: seriouslyjess
Summary: He needed someone, she needed someone. They were friends, and they needed each other to heal. And it was, after all, just coffee. Right?
One out of seven children are abused. Seven out of seven never deserved it.
Spoilers: Anything up to Wilson's Heart
Pairings: House/Cameron, Wilson/OFC

So my beta and I were very busy. The good news is I have another chapter ready and it will be up either tomorrow or Tuesday. I promise.

Jess

*************

Chapter 10: Pictures to the Soul

Snow began to fall had begun on the way back to Allison’s apartment (Tina was just going to sleep there so Wilson didn’t have to make a trip to four different places that night), and Tina bounced excitedly.

“Do you have the day off Blondie?”

“If I say yes is it going to end badly?”

“Never.”

“So yes?”

“I have my camera.”

And just like that, the world made sense.

Tina had always been a photographer at heart and years ago Allison had become her favorite subject.

“No.”

“You don’t have the day off? Well, we’ll make it a short photo shoot.”

“I do have the day off. But I’m tired.”

“James, want to drop us off at the park by Blondie’s house?”

“Jimmy, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll take us back to my apartment. And then leave so that I can kill Tina with no witnesses.”

James laughed. “What if I take you to the park and stay there?”

Tina wrapped an arm around her cousin. “Pllleaasee?” She cajoled. “I’ll love you forever.”

“You already love me forever.”

“I’ll buy you breakfast at Alice’s.”

“We get fed for free.” House watched the friendly banter with amusement.

“I’ll buy drinks the next time we go out.”

“Next two times.”

“God you’re a pain in the ass.”

“Keep it up and it’ll be three times.” Allison warned her.

“Two times.” They shook on it. And Wilson turned left instead of right at the next light to bring them to the abandoned park. The sun was just peeking over the horizon, and the snow was sticking to the ground giving the whole place a magical, mystical feeling.

“Okay, everyone out.” Tina was rummaging through her bag for her camera.

“Everyone?” House repeated.

“Hell yeah. I have three subjects now, instead of one. Get out.”

House rolled his eyes. “No.”

“Yes.”

“Are you going to buy me drinks too?”

“You can come with us,” she replied dryly, “now get out before I drag you out.”

Wilson walked over to the side of the car, and pulled House out.

“Cameron said that she’ll make us coffee if we go take some pictures.”

House pumped a fist in the air. ‘Just don’t expect me to smile.”

Tina ignored him.

“Allie, you know what to do.”

Cameron sighed, and hiked over to the swings. “Can’t we just do action shoots? I don’t want to pose.”

“We won’t be here for very long.” It was four and the sun was just beginning to rise. The light drifting snow at a deserted playground, the world still untouched at that hour created a beautiful picture.

Allison made it to the swings, but continued until she reached a slide, where she proceeded to climb a ladder and slide down it, ending up sitting on the ground with a smile.

Tina rolled her eyes and snapped a picture.

“Tell me when you get cold.” She directed over to House and Wilson.

“What about Allison?” Wilson asked, completely missing Houses’ glare at the use of her first name. Tina didn’t and she smirked.

“Blondie doesn’t get cold.”

House was cut off from commenting by Cameron’s impatient voice. “Guys! We don’t have all night!”

“It’s day now.” Tina pointed out, raising her camera and getting a shot of Wilson and House.

“Tina if you want me to be here,” Allison warned.

“Yeah, yeah.”

“I’m totally not against walking home.”

“But you love me to much!”

“No, not really.” The two teased each other mercilessly as Tina arranged them in various poses and allowed Cameron a few ‘fun poses.’ Jumping off the swing and spinning around in circles.

House was amused by the childishness of it all, but Tina seemed to have seen it all before. She posed them easily and even got a few small smiles from House. By the time that the pictures were finally done with snow was falling in thick drifts and it had been over an hour of pictures.

**************

They had protested, but Allison was insistent,

“Tina and I can share a room, one of you can take the couch – it’s a pull out and one of you can take the spare bedroom/office futon. It’s ridiculous weather to drive in though.”

She had disappeared into her bedroom to change, and had come out to make all of them hot chocolate/coffee/tea.

Allison stepped out of the room, and trekked to the kitchen where everyone else was sitting. Tina had also changed into comfier clothes, and Cameron had found some older men’s clothes that she would give House and Wilson to change into – her brothers were always forgetting clothes when they crashed with her. She usually just kept them for either when they stayed again or as comfortable sleep clothes.

House was watching her, contemplating her. It was only after Tina made a face that Allison realized what shirt she was wearing. Ian had made one for her, as well as himself years ago, a personal gag gift that no one else found funny.

It was a white jersey, with black three quarter length sleeves. On the front, dripping in maroon red were the words damaged at best, like you already figured out. The back read AJ Foster (the last name the kids in her first group home had given her, seeing as she didn’t have one) and the number 24. The number of foster homes and group homes she stayed at before the Cameron’s had adopted her. In the bottom, spiraling around in a circle were the words: One out of seven children are abused. Seven out of seven never deserved it.

Ian’s t-shirt was the same, except on the back it read Ian Smith, 12.

House, she could tell, was unable to form words. Who, in their right mind, wore a shirt with the words damaged at best, like you already figured out on it? He hadn’t yet seen the back, but probably wouldn’t make a connection to her. AJ was her name after all, but Foster wasn’t. And House, in all reality, never met the girl she used to be. The hard-ass AJ Foster with black eyes and broken bones – the one who barely felt pain – she was no longer there.

Maybe somewhere, hidden, but not on the surface. Not anywhere that House could see.

The damage was already done, so to speak, and Cameron moved on with her routine of drink making. If she went and changed her t-shirt, it would have just raised more questions. Ones that she wasn’t willing to answer.

****************

Cameron woke up later that day, unable to sleep. It was Sunday, and the other three people occupying her apartment were sleeping. At least Tina was – she was spread across the bed, a foot here, an arm there and all the blankets on her side of the bed.

This, Cameron remembered, was why when there was family reunions and not enough room for people to get their own beds, she refused to share with her cousin. Give her Nikki who snored and talked in her sleep any day.

If it was a normal night of sleeplessness she would go for a jog – which was out because one, she was tired, two, Tina would give her hell, and three, the recent snow made it a bit dangerous.

Any other time she would curl up with a good movie, or go through photo albums of hers. And usually the I survived that would help her drift into a more peaceful sleep.

Her albums were in the office though, where House was slee-

Cameron sat up in bed. If she hadn’t been awake then, she was certainly awake now. House was in the same room as her memories. Some of her oldest secrets. Ones she wasn’t ready to share.

She grew up in a world where no one remembered her name.

Sunshine and butterflies did not exist. It hurt, and it was hard. She could have never been a stuffed animal made by grandma, because she did not, in fact, have a grandma.

House never seemed to realize that fact. That her life was not perfect. That she had not grown up a golden child, because she had not had someone to be golden for. With a sigh Cameron flopped back down on her bed and closed her eyes.

Sleep was never going to come, but she didn’t really have anywhere to hide out.

Just wait for it to pass…. She coached herself silently.

Cameron stayed wide eyed and awake for the rest of the night.

************

House limped into Alice’s two days later and walked back into the kitchen to find her, ignoring the sign that blatantly read please seat yourself, someone will be along shortly. A sign under that stated unless you work here please do not enter the kitchen area.

He now knew that it had been added specifically for Tina and Allison, who , apparently had no self control when it came down to serving themselves when it was busy.

“Alice!” She lifted her head and smirked at House.

“Can I help you?”

“We had a sleepover the other night,” House fluttered his eyelashes for effect “and I was searching the house and came across some pictures.”

“Of course you did,” Alice muttered. “Allie would’ve been too nice to make you sleep on the couch.” She straightened completely and put the spatula she was holding down. “Well, that’s to bad Dr. House. I don’t have anything to say about any pictures.”

“There were legal documents,” House persisted. “Evidence of abuse. No charges were filed, but there were pictures. And a crime scene.” He hadn’t been able to look at the pictures, because the sight of a little dead boy lying on the floor - eyes glazed open had been harsh, even for him.

“Is nothing sacred?” Alice picked up the spatula and was now advancing towards him mouth; set in a thin line.

“I couldn’t look at them,” House admitted. “I don’t like seeing dead children, no matter how much of a heartless bastard people say I am.”

“That was Jacob, Dr. House. And no charges were filed because there was no one still alive to file charges against, except for maybe the state or social workers. Now, please remove yourself from my kitchen, or can’t you read that signs?”

House retreated immediately.

************

Cameron rubbed an eye and called out the next name. The ER was slower than usual today, and she was still not caught up on sleep. The man that stumbled his way over to her with his friend supporting him was obviously drunk. The friend held a cloth to his arm.

Cameron sat him down and gently removed the dish towel from a deep wound in his arm that immediately reopened and started bleeding.

“What happened?” She asked, picking up the file to take notes.

“Bar fight.” The friend replied shortly. “Peter’s a bit of a friendly drunk. He grabbed some chicks ass, and her boyfriend lost it.” The two couldn’t have been more then twenty five and Cameron held in her sigh.

“It’s going to need stitches.”

“Dude it’s like gushing blood! He’s going to have an awesome scar!”

“What exactly did he cut his arm on?”

“Some shit in the bar.” Cameron checked the file again. Lovely. He was going to need a tetanus shot.

“I’ll be right back.” She disappeared to get the appropriate supplies, and when she returned was surprised to find Peter and his friend – whose name she learned was Jared, facing off.

“Dude, you need to get this stitched up.” What happened next would always remain a bit of a haze to Cameron. From other people she would later hear that Peter lashed out grabbed her by the arms and slammed her head into the wall before security could apprehend him.

Tina had picked her up later that night, cursing darkly. Besides a concussion and some bruises that were already appearing on her upper arms she was fine. Tina didn’t see it that way, but she reluctantly allowed her cousin to swear her to secrecy as well as the nurses.

The night shift was skeleton for the most part, and the nurses that were there were some of the older ones who had grown to really like and appreciate Cameron. And that was how House and Wilson never learned of her escapades in the ER.

************

The phone rang and Cameron cursed as she almost stabbed herself in the eye with mascara.

“Hello?”

“Blondie?” There was relief in her voice. “It’s Tina.”

“I figured.”

“I ran into a bit of a problem.” Tonight Tina was fulfilling her promise of drinks for the pictures.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing really.” Tina sighed. “Remember how I was in Philly today?”

“Yeah…”

“Well, I got a flat, and there’s a snow storm coming in. I’m just crashing at a hotel.”

“Okay.” Allison sighed. “Just try and stay safe. Is there anything you need me to do?”

“Go out with House and Jimmy and have a good time. We’ll get together next week.”

“Fine. I’ll talk to you later, Tina. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

************

House was sitting on the couch playing his Wii Sport when his phone rang.

Jimmy Boy Wonder, House mused, before he picked it up.

“Yeah?”

“I’m going to have to take a rain check on tonight.” Wilson’s voice was completely apologetic. “One of my patients was just readmitted, and I have to run some tests and talk to them.”

“Have a lackey do it.”

“I’d rather not. Just go out with Tina and Allison. And be nice.”

“I’m always nice Jimmy-Boy.”

“Don’t hurt her.” His voice was serious. “She’s breakable, and I don’t want to have to glue the pieces of her back together after you’re done House.”

“So, first you’re afraid that she’ll break me, and now you’re afraid I’ll break her?” House’s lips twitched in amusement. “We’re not even going on a date, mom. Tina will be there to make sure that we don’t engage in any inappropriateness. I promise to keep everything above the waist line for tonight.”

Wilson sighed and chose to ignore his second comment. “I was afraid of her hurting you, that night, even if I think that you’re a big boy. Allison is more vulnerable. She’s to trusting sometimes. I don’t want to see her getting hurt again.”

“Again?”

“You don’t know half of it.”

“That’s right.” Houses’ voice was low. “Because no one will tell me a GOD DAMN THING and I’m sick of it.”

“She doesn’t think that you’ve earned the right to learn those things about her House. I’ll see you later. Give the girls my regrets. Good-bye.”