Cameron's Hidden Secrets

Chapter 1

June 1992

Allison Cameron had been looking forward to attending this conference all semester. The prospect of listening to the up and coming star diagnostician, Dr. Gregory House, was a chance she couldn't let pass by. It was her final year in high school and when news spread of the opportunity to enter an essay in a contest where the grand prize would include a $25,000 scholarship in pre-med, Allison jumped at the chance. The fact that Dr. House would be one of the key speakers meant little to her initially, but after some investigation it soon became clear that this man could lead her in the direction she had decided her life should go and his presence there was icing on the cake.

So, here she was, getting out of a cab this sunny Friday afternoon with luggage in hand, in Ocean City, Maryland. As she approached the hotel's desk, she already knew she was one of the five finalists in the competition. At this point, she would be receiving anywhere from $5,000 to $25,000 to help further her education. The fact that she also received an all-expense-paid vacation to the beach for three days didn't hurt either.

Allison reached for her room key and noticed how the clerk's eyes traveled over her, appraising her youthful eighteen-year-old charms in a manor that made her grit her teeth.

"Miss Cameron, as you know, this is our busy season and we are quite booked." The clerk still held tightly to her key.

"Is there a problem?" Allison asked timidly. That would be all she needed, to find they had over-booked the hotel and she would be stranded in an unfamiliar city with no place to stay.

"Well, not really a problem," he answered hesitantly. "But, depending on your preference, it may be an inconvenience. You see, when we received your registration, it was under the name Al Cameron, so we assumed you were a male."

"You didn't room me with a man, did you?" Panic was written across her face.

"No, no, not "with" you," he said slowly. "But it is the only room left and it's an adjoining room. Really, all you need to do is keep the door locked and it will be fine. But I am required to let you know this, considering the occupant of the next room is male."

Relief spread through Allison. "Oh, I see. No, that'll be no problem. I don't mind, as long as the door can remain locked."

"Very good." The man smiled at her and released the key, motioning for the boy across the room to come and carry her bag.

Allison followed the boy to the elevator and got off on the seventh floor, moving to the end of the hall as she waited for him to open the door then carry her bag inside. Once alone, Allison sat on the end of the bed. She had never been on her own like this before. She had nothing scheduled until the following day, so the rest of her day and evening were free. As she moved to her window, she gazed out at the beach and took in the inviting scene before her. Well, it certainly wouldn't hurt to get some sun and sea breeze. So, with a tan in mind, she dressed in her orange and brown-striped bikini with an oversized t-shirt over top of it, threw on a pair of beaded sandals then grabbed her sunglasses on her way out the door.

Dr. Gregory House was nursing a hangover most of his first morning in Maryland. He had arrived Thursday evening, flying down from Boston where he was on the staff of Boston General as a rising diagnostician. He wasn't really too keen on giving lectures to a bunch of teenagers, but the extra cash didn't hurt. He knew he wouldn't be required to do anything too strenuous throughout Friday, and Saturday all he needed to do was give a short speech at a luncheon and then later that evening he only had to show his face at a formal dinner. After that he was hopping a the next flight out of Maryland and back to Boston. Not that he had anyone actually waiting for him back there. At thirty-three years of age, he wasn't in the market for anyone special. He preferred being alone. this way he could go where he wanted, do what he wanted and see whom he wanted. So, last night he went to the Blue Sails Boardwalk Tavern and drank himself to the point of nearly seeing mermaids swimming out along the beachfront.

As Friday morning stretched into afternoon, House threw on a pair of cut-off jeans and a blue tropical shirt that he left open, then headed down to the beach to bask in the sun and try to soothe his still aching head. He rented a beach chair and toted it a few dozen yards closer to the surf, plopping down in it and letting the wind ruffle his already messed hair as he hid behind dark glasses and slumped down in his seat, quite prepared to let the sound of the surf lull him to sleep.

House smelled her first; the coconut aroma wasn't unusual as he sat in the middle of dozens of sunbathers, but the light floral scent opened his eyes to see the orange and brown striped bikini-clad form spreading a beach towel out only ten feet in front of him. 'Not bad,' he thought as he watched her bending to open the towel completely, his view of a nicely rounded but taut bottom perking his interest. As she distributed her lotion, t-shirt and bottle of water, House continued to watch her, seeing her kick off her sandals, then move onto the towel, lying back and giving him a clear view of her cleavage as she wriggled herself into a comfortable position and went about basking in the sun. If his head hadn't been throbbing so much, he might have approached her, but as it was, he merely stayed sitting, enjoying the view she provided.

Allison could feel someone watching her. She had only been lying on the beach for about a half hour when the feeling was undeniable. She turned over onto her stomach and looked in both directions, then looked straight ahead of herself, spotting first the deck shoes and strong, hairy calves, then noticing the cut-off jeans and blue shirt with palm trees spread across it. She could feel her face getting warmer as she let her eyes move up to see the beard-stubbled face that was watching her. Even through the dark glasses, she knew he was watching as his lips turned up in a small smile.

"Hey," House acknowledged her, taking in the loveliness of the girl's face. "Come here often?"

"What?" Allison squinted at him and cocked her head slightly.

"Are you here for the summer? Or is this only a short trip?" House continued.

"I'm here to continue my education," she answered, not sure why she was actually having a conversation with him, other than he was just about the handsomest man she had ever seen. Oh, not in the model-movie star way that so many girls her age swooned over--but in a rugged, very masculine way.

"Uh-huh." House lifted his bottle to his mouth, the foam-gripper-cover hiding the fact that it was indeed a beer bottle. He knew this area was an easy spot for "ladies to continue their education." He looked at her more closely, judging her to be rather new at her profession, and deciding that she could provide him with adequate company at some point before he left town. "Are you going to be staying in this spot?" He asked but when she looked at him in confusion, he went on. "This block--is it your area?"

Allison nodded her head yes and pointed toward the hotel up on the boardwalk. "I'm staying up there. At least until I get the money I came here for." She moved to sit up and look at him, noticing for the first time who he was. Recognition spread an authentic smile across her features.

The smile she flashed at him nearly blinded him with its beauty. At that point he knew he wasn't going to let this opportunity pass. "Maybe I can help you get to your goal."

"Oh, thank you! I'd love as much help as I can get!" She scooted up onto her knees as she sat on her feet in her eagerness. The thought of Dr. Gregory House helping her to win her scholarship made her very enthusiastic.

"Are you working on your "educational fund" today?" House took another sip of his beer as he watched her. Her enthusiasm for his contribution to her "fund" didn't bother him in the least. This wasn't the first time he had paid for a hooker; it wasn't going to be the last.

"No, actually, you could say today is my day off." She smiled again. "Tomorrow is when all the work starts."

"Then I guess I'll see you then."

"It's a date." Allison giggled, then felt the beginnings of a sunburn and started gathering her things. "But for now, I better head inside. Can't concentrate on my job tomorrow with a sunburned back."

"No, I don't suppose that would be very comfortable. Might take your mind off of your work." With that, he watched as she made her way back toward the boardwalk, knowing that come the next evening--he would be making some very fine memories of Ocean City.