Occam's Razor - House M.D.

Part 31- Charades at the Palace pt 3.

Quickly trying to blend in with the crowds at the conference, Madelyn forced herself through the tight packs of people all over the palace. They were on the stairs, in the corridors, gathered in the ballrooms, in elevators, escalators, and everywhere else for that matter. 

Suddenly, she felt her body crash into someone: 

"Shit, I'm so sorry" Madelyn huffed. Bending down to pick the person's clipboard up. When she stood back up she saw Cameron. 

"Hi Dr. Cameron, I'm so sorry." 

"Call me, Allison." she smiled warmly. Madelyn nodded with a smile that conveyed her embarrassment. With one look at her, Cameron noticed something was wrong. 

"Are you okay?" 

Madelyn sniffled a little, "Honestly, no. I, um, dealing with something-something with my boss." 

"Dr. House?" Cameron questioned, earning Madelyn's utmost attention. 

"Yeah? How'd you know?" Madelyn stuttered. Cameron giggled, 

"He's standing right behind you." 

Madelyn looked behind her and noticed House who was out of breath. He looked upset, but not angry like he had moments before. 

"Cameron..." House spoke, acknowledging his former colleague, but still a bit aloof. 

She flashed a smile and added, "I thought I'd be seeing you around here." 

Madelyn look at both of them, starring at Cameron, then back at a distressed House, 

"You two know each other?" Madelyn gained courage to ask. They both nodded. 

"I used to be one of his team members." Cameron revealed to her. Madelyn looked surprised, a half smile appearing on her face. 

"Wow," Madelyn expressed, "why didn't you tell me back there?" 

Cameron sort of tilted her head a bit in ponderation, "Hmm, well, I figured we'd officially meet at some point this weekend. I planned on coming around and saying hi to you all at Princeton-Plainsboro." Cameron also noticed that House looked distressed. She knew something was going on between them. "But, it seems like I caught you both at a bad time." 

"No, that's okay," Madelyn assured her, "I was just on my way to a presentation. I'll catch up with you guys later." With that, Madelyn excused herself, leaving just House and Cameron together. 

"She seems really intelligent and hardworking," Cameron commented, "she's beautiful."

While she was being honest, Cameron couldn't help but look at a bright-eyed, youthful Madelyn and remember when she herself was first starting with House's practice. Cameron remembered how in love she used to be with him. 

House nodded, pressing his lips together firmly, "Yes, she is." 

"I ran into her... she was crying. Know anything about that?" 

"We got into an argument." House sighed, tapping his cane against the tiled atrium. Cameron felt something inside that told her Madelyn meant a lot to House, and his feelings were requited. 

"She means a lot to you?" Cameron assumed. 

"Yes, she does." House admitted, "I think I just fucked it all up, though." 

Cameron smiled, remembering how sensitive House was underneath the surface. He felt deeply, and he felt smartly-- he knew just how he felt about everything in his life even if he didn't always express it. 

"I think I know something that'll take your mind off of it..." Cameron hinted. House took her up on it, and the two of them met up with the rest of the gang.