Quickie Story (Untitled)
by Julie Barrett

“Everyone likes you.”

"Do you?" Allison Cameron looked intently at her boss with a visage of expectation mixed with desperation. She hated to admit it, but far too much of her self-esteem was tied up in the need to feel liked. Warm, fuzzy feelings have no place in the professional side of medicine. As much as they were an asset in patient care, emotions got in the way of the pursuit of a cure. Dr. House was right as usual. Did it matter if she was liked by her colleagues as long as she did her job well? It sure worked for the man standing a few feet away, staring at her with disinterest.

Oh, screw it. The ferocity of the thought surprised her. "I have to know." Allison took two steps forward, her eyes widening, and his remaining cold.

Greg House swallowed almost imperceptibly. Damn it, what was it going to take? Ask a girl out to a monster truck rally, and she thinks you’re in a relationship. This was precisely why he avoided relationships like the plague. Hell, the plague could be cured with antibiotics these days; ending a relationship often meant burning down an entire village – and the scorch marks were darn near impossible to remove. No, it was better this way. This will hurt me . . . Damn the clichés, full speed ahead.

"No."

There. He said it.

Cameron looked at the floor, her lips tightening as she did so. So this is it, she asked herself as she wrestled to contain her emotions. If Dr. House insisted on playing this game, then she would have to show him that she could do it as well as him. No, twice as well. She was a woman, after all, and if that's what it took to get respect, then she would have to do it.

"Okay."

House stood in silence, watching the emotions play across her face. To her credit, she didn’t say another word. But those damn eyes. . . He watched as she turned away, walking slowly down the hall, her head lowered ever so slightly. She’d taken it better than he expected. And down the road, when she was able to assert herself better . . . Oh, screw it.

"Cameron." She turned to look at him. The waterworks were just seconds away. He hated that.
"Supply room. Now."

Vogler was gonna be so pissed off.

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