A/N: Hey, guys, flames hurt, ok? I don’t mind telling me you don’t like it, but you really have to tell me why. To Liz, you said my writing’s bad. Why’s it bad? What’s wrong with it? How can I improve it? The whole deal with fanfic is that most of us aren’t published authors. Keep that in mind when you review. We’re all aiming to get better. We all want to get better. If you can see how you can help, please do!

Ok/rant, sorry.

Oh, and by the way, I’ve just realised something: pretend that Rowan doesn’t have a wife, ok?

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Foreman seemed to take delight in watching Cameron and Chase trying to avoid talking to each other. He never sat back and looked on in amusement, per se, but there was a smug air about him, and he couldn’t resist a ‘told you’ smile when Chase refused to acknowledge a mug of coffee she’d poured out for him.

“Don’t you think you’re being a bit childish? Chase?”

Chase didn’t respond. Cameron sighed and put the coffee down beside him.

“I’m sorry,” she said quietly, and left the room.

As she walked away, Cameron decided that she didn’t have anything to be sorry for. She could expect an 8 year old to be possessive of his father, and not give a woman a chance. Hell, she could even forgive a 16 year old for acting this way. But a 20-something year old man?

The more Cameron thought about it, the more annoyed she got. Chase was being completely unfair. It was his problem, not hers.

It was cooler than she’d expected outside. A hint of a morning chill was still hanging in the air, though it would no doubt give way to the afternoon sun before long. Cameron noticed a tree that hadn’t been there before, barely more than a seedling. It couldn’t have been long since it was planted; there were still mounds of freshly overturned earth surrounding it. Cameron breathed in the cold air and felt her anger seep out. It was a too beautiful day to be mad, even if Cameron had to draw her coat tighter.

Cameron crossed the road, running between breaks of cars. Looking at her watch, she decided she was probably due back at the office. She turned around, caught sight of Rowan Chase, and promptly walked off the path, into the parking lot of a large building.

She hadn’t really spoken to Rowan since she’d asked him out, not about anything but their patient, and not without someone else in the room. She didn’t want to admit it, but she really wasn’t looking forward to Saturday evening. She was already uncomfortable being anywhere near Rowan.

Damn Chase, she thought, kicking a stone and watching it bounce along the cemented ground. He’s already ruined my date.

She looked up and was confronted by a smartly dressed young man.

“Whoops, sorry,” he said, stopping short. “Are you looking for something?”

Cameron smiled nervously back at him, hoping he wouldn’t ask what she was doing here.

“No, thanks, I’m fine.”

He nodded briefly and side-stepped her, but not without a backwards glance, Cameron noticed. Not wanting to bump into anyone with a more security conscious mind, she left the parking lot, checking carefully around for a sign of Rowan.

The walk back to the hospital was quicker than the walk away, maybe because she had somewhere to go.

A wave of warmth swept her up as she entered the hospital. Something clattered noisily to her right, but she didn’t bother sparing a glance. Riding up in the lift, she decided she’d talk to Chase. Again. So she hadn’t been very successful in the past couple of days, but she guessed persistence was the key.

“Chase, what’s--”

She looked around the room. There was no sign of any of the boys. She walked towards the whiteboard, noticing a thin line through sarcoidosis. On the table sat a mug, filled with untouched coffee.

Cameron felt like crying.

---

Chase’s heart felt like it was going to explode. He hadn’t really used the hospital gym before, but he’d remembered how one of his college friends always used to workout when he was angry. It wasn’t really working for Chase, unless it was meant to make him feel too tired to be able to feel his legs, let alone his emotions.

Chase wasn’t sure why the hospital kept a gym in it with a sign on the door reading ‘Staff Only’. He’d had to search for the light switch when he’d come in. Obviously his department was the only one where they waited for their patient to get sicker.

“Chase?”

Chase looked up, surprised, but not annoyed, to see Cameron.

“How’d you know I was here?” he puffed.

“Saw the light on.” Her voice was very tentative, as if she were scared she would snap at her. Not an unfair assumption, Chase thought guiltily. “There’s not normally anyone in here.”

“Yeah, I just…um…” he faltered, not really wanting to say any more. “What do you want?”

Cameron tested her weight on a piece of equipment Chase didn’t know the name of, and sat down on it.

“Are you going to listen to me?” she asked him calmly, trying to read the tiny instructions titled ‘To use’ printed on a sign beside her, as if she didn’t really care what the answer was.

Chase breathed out slowly, still trying to get his lungs working properly.

“Yes.” He hoped he didn't sound like he was sulking.

Cameron’s gaze met his, and Chase was surprised to see a look of nonchalance in her eyes.

“Are you going to yell at me?” she asked him.

“No,” he replied, a little indignantly, even though he realised he wasn’t really allowed to be cross.

“Ok,” she said simply. Chase expected her to continue, but she stayed silent. He wasn’t sure whether it was his turn to speak, so decided to wait for her. Cameron was still gazing at him pensively. Cameron seemed a bit dejected, Chase thought. It was her posture that told him, more than anything else. As if she’d really like to go home and sleep away her troubles.

Chase pulled himself out of his thoughts, quietly disturbed he was analysing her so far.

“Why are you mad at me?” she said finally. She still wouldn’t look away, and Chase found himself become unnerved by her stare.

“I’m not mad at you,” he said unconvincingly, trying to decide whether it was true or not.

“Yeah you are. I’m not asking if, I’m asking why.” She wasn’t asking anything in that statement, but Chase didn’t know what to say. He shuffled uncomfortably.

“Look, Chase,” Cameron sighed. “I’ve been thinking about you.”

Chase felt his heart skip a beat – something he tried to ignore – and he swallowed nervously. Oblivious to his unease, Cameron carried on.

“And I just can’t figure out what’s wrong.” Cameron’s brow creased in concern. “Why are you so protective of your dad? Is that the only reason you’re not talking to me?”

“Hey, I’m talking to you now, aren’t I?”

Cameron frowned impatiently. Chase lowered his gaze.

“There’s nothing more to it,” he muttered defensively.

“Yes there is,” Cameron persisted impatiently. “You can’t say--”

“Drop it, Cameron,” he said sharply, looking up and glaring at her. She opened her mouth to protest, but Chase managed to silence her – how, he wasn’t sure. He wondered if his eyes were flaming red or something – and instead, she went back to staring at him intently. It was clear she wasn’t going to leave without an answer. Chase, on the other hand, didn’t want to give her one. Hell, he didn’t know what the answer was.

Chase stood up abruptly, heading for the door.

“Where are you going?” Alarmed, Cameron got up too.

“Just forget about it,” he said fiercely, looking back briefly over his shoulder.

“What do you mean, forget?” Cameron cried in frustration, but Chase let the door swing shut.