Ruined Part 10

"Something must've gone right. House is more bearable now." Chase said, leaning back in a chair at their conference table, working on a crossword puzzle.

Cameron just smiled, swinging side to side in her chair behind her desk.

Foreman was down in the clinic and their patient had been cured and released in record time.

House had come into the room for some coffee then, and Cameron could tell by the look on his face that he was holding back a comment about the wonders of make-up sex.

The downtime between patients was the worst for Cameron - at least when she didn't have any personal drama to deal with, which was usually the case. Since she had first starting dating House, she'd had more times that she didn't want to be at work than ever before.

Today, she was finally happy. Happy, but bored.

She continued to swing side to side in her chair.

House smirked at her, leaning back against the counter with his coffee mug in his hand. "Bored, are we?"

She didn't want to say yes because it would almost make her feel like a complete slacker. She shrugged. "Mail's done." That reminded her of something. "Oh, there's a black tie benefit dinner next Friday night and Cuddy told me to tell you that it's mandatory that all department heads be there." She picked up the invitation card that had been sitting with House's mail.

"What's the whole thing for?" Chase asked.

"Oh, who cares what it's for? It's bad enough that I actually have to go." House limped toward his office, stopping by Cameron's desk.

"So, you're gonna go then?" She asked, looking up at him.

"Do you know what mandatory means in Cuddy language? It means 'you better be there or else.' In my case, it would probably be more clinic hours." He took a sip of his coffee. "So, yes, unfortunately I will have to go."

He turned and went into his office, the doors closing behind him.

"Sucks to be him." Chase said.

"I'm sure he'll be fine at the dinner." Cameron stood up and got ready to go downstairs.

"Just as long as he doesn't have to make a speech, then yeah, he'll be fine." Chase chuckled.

"I'll be back." Cameron left the room and went right to the elevator. Since she didn't have anything to do, she'd decided to let Cuddy know, in person, that House was going to the benefit dinner.

The elevator ride was quick and Cameron went straight to Cuddy's office.

Cuddy smiled when Cameron stepped into her office.

"I just wanted to let you know that Dr. House said he's going to go to that benefit dinner."

"Oh good." Cuddy laughed. "I thought I was going to have to threaten him."

Cameron smiled. "So did I." She turned to leave.

"Cameron," Cuddy called.

She turned to see Cuddy smiling, knowingly.

"Maybe I'll see you there."

That confused Cameron, so she just smiled and left.

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House had wheeled his television over towards the door so he could lounge in his easy chair. His soap opera was on and he wasn't going to miss any of it, having missed most of the episode the day before when Cameron had come into his office.

The door to his office jolted and he looked up to see Wilson standing on the other side, looking confused.

Wilson looked at House and jiggled the door. "House, open the door."

House put a hand to his ear. "What's that? Can't hear you."

Wilson gave House a look of death - as good as Wilson could, which wasn't very scary at all.

House sighed and got up to open the door.

"Who are you trying to keep out?" Wilson asked as he stepped into the office.

"Everyone! What is it with you people? I can't watch my show in peace any more without someone coming in here." House dropped back down in his chair, propping his right leg up on his foot rest.

"Remember that light you have that goes off when I have food?" Wilson joked. "Same thing, except mine goes off when it's a key time to annoy you."

"Just as long as you're not here to discuss your feelings."

Wilson opened his mouth to reply, but House shushed him and waved his hand. Wilson pulled over a chair and sat, watching the tv with no interest. "You know this is sad, right? You, watching a soap opera?"

House pointed the remote at his friend and hit the mute button a few times.

Wilson rolled his eyes and waited patiently for a commercial break. When it finally came, he wasted no time. "I heard you're going to the benefit dinner."

"I have no choice." House said miserably.

"Your team does though." Wilson raised an eyebrow. "And you're allowed to bring a date."

"I don't think Cameron would like if I brought a date."

"You're an ass. I meant -"

"I know what you meant." House rolled his eyes. "I don't even want to go, what makes you think she wants to go?"

"Because she's into charities and benefits-"

"And all that crap." House finished for him.

"Plus, women always like a reason to dress up and go out." Wilson shrugged.

"What a sensitive observation." House turned back to the tv to make sure he wasn't missed anything.

"I'll be there. Cuddy, obviously. I think Chase and Foreman." Wilson listed, and saw House wasn't paying much attention. "Stacy's going too."

House glanced at him and then to the tv as his soap came back on. "I guess I better tell Cameron to get something nice to wear."

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
Cameron got up from House's couch to stoke the fire in his fireplace. They'd rented The Island and were about halfway through it already. When she sat down, House's arm was already around the back of the couch, waiting to wrap around her.

He had a thoughtful, yet playful, smiled on his lips. "Let's clone you." He looked down at her.

She laughed and looked at him, confused. "What?"

"Double the pleasure, double the fun." He wiggled his eyebrows.

She rolled her eyes. "While we're cloning, let me get a clone of Ewan McGregor."

His smile disappeared quickly. "What? You think he's hot?" he pointed at the tv.

She laughed. "Jealous?"

He looked at her, mock-suspiciously. "Should I be worried?"

"Oh yeah. Because I'm going to Hollywood tomorrow to hunt him down." She said sarcastically.

"Pick up Angelina Jolie for me while you're there."

Cameron frowned.

He watched her for a moment, and then squeezed her shoulder.

She smiled and settled against him, knowing their banter was now - thankfully - over.

After a few minutes of silence, he sighed dramatically. "So... are you free next Friday night?"

"Aren't you going to that benefit dinner for the hospital?" She asked.

"I am. But I need a date." He watched her out of the corner of his eye.

"Oh!" she sat, stunned that he would want to take their relationship public (officially). "Ok."

"Ok." He nodded and they went back to watching the movie.



Ruined