Dark Blue

9/11/07 AN: I’m about going crazy with this story just sitting there, on my desktop, in its own folder, and looking at me. I was going to wait, but I want to get this first part up. Next chapter should (granted I don’t get grounded) be up on 9/27/07, the Thursday after House starts. Which, by the way, is the 25, at eight, right after newcomer to the spot, Bones. And there's a special preview for the person who gets the quote right (the italic words right before the chapter starts)! I will not abandon this story (hehe), partially because I have a good chunk of it written already.

Allison Cameron -now Chase- was just finishing putting away her dinner dishes. Her husband, Robert, hadn’t made it home. It was the tenth night he had missed supper. He is the head of intensive care… She thought to herself, putting the last plate into the dishwasher. She turned off the light in the kitchen before going to the living room. She sat down on the couch, wrapping the blanket that was always kept on it around her. Snow was falling lightly, gently brushing the street-lamp lit town. She clicked on the TV and saw the monster truck rally was on. That brought back a flood of memories.

-

It was her second-to-last day working under Gregory House. Her fellowship had finally run out. She was just finishing sorting House’s mail. She threw the last “Thank you!” letter in the garbage before standing up to get another cup of coffee. She heard the soft thumping of House’s cane in the hallway. He stepped into the room and she turned around.

“Do you want me to stay?” She looked him straight in the eye.

“What?” He hadn’t been really paying attention; he was too annoyed about having to find a new fellow.

“Do you want me to stay?”

“No.” It killed him to say it, but she couldn’t work under him forever. He would miss her, hell, he’d miss her a lot, but she needed to advance in her career.

“Okay.” She turned back to the coffee machine, wiping away the solitary tear running down her face.

-

She changed the channel, trying to forget those memories. The next show was CSI, and that too brought back a lot of memories.

-

He was supposed to get the week off. It was their wedding week. Next month they would take the full honeymoon. Today was the day after the wedding, and he was working. “It’s important, Allie. I’m sorry.” She had woken up to an empty bed and a note on his pillow. Sighing, she had gone into the living room, and watched a marathon of CSI, as that was the only remotely interesting show on. He had come back late that night, too tired to do anything more than take off his shoes and collapse on the bed. They never went on their honeymoon.

-

Allison sighed, hugging the blanket closer. There was nothing on TV. There hadn’t been anything big as her job as the head of immunology at Trinity Medical lately. She had spent most nights just sitting at home and watching TV. She often wondered why she married Robert. She didn’t love him, not like he deserved. She still loved House, but denied it every chance she got. In her head she knew it, she had learned to live with it. She did love Robert, though. That’s what she always told herself. I love him, he loves me, and House didn’t give a crap about either of us. We’re a perfect couple, when we’re able to even talk to each other. She looked at the rather large diamond ring on her finger. Why did I ever do this?

House was sitting in his office, throwing his giant red and gray tennis ball against the wall. There hadn’t been any cases that were interesting lately. He had succeeded in hiring his new fellows, though he didn’t like most of them. There was Leslie, Kevin, and Liz. They were home by now. It was seven at night, after all, and there weren’t any cases. He was staying after, for there was more going on here than back at his quiet apartment. He kept wondering what had ever possessed him to tell her no. Sure, she couldn’t work for him forever, but he had no idea that saying no would result in her marrying Chase. If he’d known that, hell, he would have forced her to stay. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. House caught his ball.

“House, why are you still here?” Wilson was at the door.

“Well, hello to you too, Jimmy boy. And how are you feeling on this delightfully dark night?” Wilson sighed at his friend’s usual retort.

“House…”

“I missed the party. Big deal. She’s your girlfriend.” There had been a birthday party for Cuddy a few hours ago, and House had decided to skip it, preferring to sit in his office and sulk.

“That’s not it.” House knew it wasn’t it; he just didn’t want to face the facts. “You miss her.”

“Cuddy? Like that would ever happen.”

“House! Would you just act mature for once?” Wilson took a deep breath. “Cameron. You miss her. But sitting here and moping isn’t going to make it any better. She’s not coming back.”

“You think I don’t know that? That she’s married now? Really has moved on? Has no plans of coming back?” House had turned his chair around, now facing Wilson. “I know it. I know it all. I know there’s nothing I can do about it. What’s new?”

“House, you need to get out of here! You have hardly left this room in seven months!” House winced at the fact that she had been gone for seven months, with no contact. Sure, there had been a wedding invite arrive at his door, but that was it.

“Haven’t had a reason.”

“Well now you do.” Wilson threw a piece of paper on House’s desk before leaving the room, slamming the door behind him. House took two pills before looking down at the paper.

Gregory House,

You are cordially invited to a private banquet at the Radisson home. I, Dr. Peter Radisson, and my wife, Melanie Radisson will be hosting. It will be a night filled with dancing, delicious food, a live performance, and of course, medical talk.

You are the best of the best, and that is why you have been invited. Please join us on Thursday, December 16, at our home on Twenty-Ninth and Fortieth, at seven p.m.

Sincerely,

Peter Radisson

House blinked a couple of times. He knew he was the best, but he never expected this. Peter Radisson was possibly the richest doctor on the East Coast. He rarely had parties, but when he did, everyone who was anyone was there. House didn’t know if he should go or not. If Cuddy got word of this, he’d have to go. Suddenly he wondered why Wilson had received the letter first. Maybe Wilson was invited, too, and they decided to save a stamp. For some strange reason, he wanted to go. But he didn’t know that that Thursday would change his life.