jadesfire: Bright yellow flower (Thinky - House leaning forward text 'thi)
jadesfire ([personal profile] jadesfire) wrote2007-10-01 08:02 pm
Entry tags:

Expectations (House ficlet)

This story is part of my multi-fandom Halloween costume for [livejournal.com profile] karaokegirl's Come as you aren't party, being held all this week. The index of stories can be found here

Title: Expectations
Fandom: House
Characters or Pairing: Cameron
Rating/warnings/spoilers: G/none/episode tag for 'Love Hurts'
Word Count: ~230

Summary: She should have expected this.



Expectations

No you won't make a mess of me mess of me mess of me
For you're as blind as a man can be man can be man can be


Cameron isn't going to cry, not over this. Because it's not like it was unexpected and it's not like she wasn't ready for him. She's seen the way he looks at her, knows how she feels and how he has to feel as well. You'd have to be a blind idiot not to see it, and he's neither. So she just has to wait, be patient and wait for him to catch up. Despite what he said, she's sure he will.

But that doesn't explain why her head aches from more than just the wine and why her stomach aches and her eyes sting. It's stupid and pointless to feel like this, to give into the hurt when she knows it's going to be alright in the end. She presses her face into the pillow, telling herself that this doesn't help, that it's completely pointless to fell like this. So maybe she overplayed the hand a little, but House has never been one for the subtle approach. Laying it all out was supposed to help, supposed to make it clear for him, to at least make him think.

She hadn't expected the calm, analytical list and the cold rejection. She hadn't expected the cool intensity or steady gaze that saw everything exactly the way he wanted it. And she hadn't expected it to hurt so much.

[identity profile] donutsweeper.livejournal.com 2007-11-01 09:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Oooh, those last few lines are just so strong!

[identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com 2007-11-01 09:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks! It's been so long since I wrote Housefic, I was worried that I'd forgotten how...

[identity profile] eumenidis.livejournal.com 2007-11-02 12:05 am (UTC)(link)
Perfect.

[identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com 2007-11-02 08:13 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks!

[identity profile] rustydog.livejournal.com 2007-11-02 05:26 pm (UTC)(link)
I've only seen House here and there, but actually have seen the episode referred to here.

She hadn't expected the cool intensity or steady gaze that saw everything exactly the way he wanted it.

Wow. Yes. Exactly the way he wanted to see it, that sounds like that man.

[identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com 2007-11-03 01:34 pm (UTC)(link)
I miss writing House - he's so fun to write. Glad this worked for you, thanks :)

[identity profile] pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com 2007-11-03 05:35 pm (UTC)(link)
at least make him think

Ah, Cameron hasn't figured out that the last thing you want is for House to turn his powers of analysis on you.

You have two tiny typos: "alright" should be "all right," and "fell like this" should be "feel like this".

[identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com 2007-11-06 10:08 am (UTC)(link)
It's almost painful to go back and watch her in S1, before she really gets what's going on.

And thanks - will correct :)

[identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com 2007-11-06 10:08 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks!

[identity profile] joe-pike-junior.livejournal.com 2007-11-04 09:53 am (UTC)(link)
This is lovely, short and sweet. You've captured Cameron's S1 naiveté (that must be the ultimate Cameron descriptor out there, methinks) very well, and the crushing blow that that rejection must have been, when she was so sure House would do something else and that she was playing her cards right.

Well done!

Cheers,
Armchair Elvis.

[identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com 2007-11-06 10:11 am (UTC)(link)
Cameron in S1 is so naive and hopeful that it's almost painful to watch. I'm really glad this worked as a snippet of that.

Thank you!

[identity profile] karaokegal.livejournal.com 2007-11-07 07:47 pm (UTC)(link)
You are KILLIN' me here, sweetie. (But in a good way.)
The date scene is still almost impossible for me to sit through and I usually hate Cameron for putting me (and House) in that position, but you do a really good job of getting in her somewhat delusional head and making me feel bad for her.

[identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com 2007-11-09 07:54 am (UTC)(link)
It's a really hard scene, but compelling in a 'car crash TV' kind of way. I find it hard to get my head around what the hell would make her think House would respond to what she says, so I'm glad this worked! Thanks :)