The first time she saw him, she was sitting at a bar after work.

"You a doc?" he asked, noting her white lab coat.

"Yes," she answered, not expecting a conversation to follow.

"Me too," he replied.

"Where?" The stranger was young, about her age. He was tall, had dark brown hair, and was wearing a blue dress shirt with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows and a black tie.

"Princeton Plainsboro," he looked like he was in good shape, and she was surprised to see him alone. Many women would find him to be a 'catch'.

"What department? I work in Emergency Medicine," she didn't want to sound strange, so she'd told him where she was.

"I'm an attending in the Psych Ward," It seemed funny to her. She'd been in the ER for over a year now, but she'd never met this psych attending. He continued, "I'm new," The psychiatrist drank another mouthful of beer, almost reading her mind at the same time, "Just transferred here from a county hospital."

"Why?" The word slipped out of her mouth before Cameron could stop it. "I'm sorry. It's not my business."

"My wife died there," he answered, topping off the drink and ordering another.

"I'm sorry," Cameron looked down and doing as the stranger did, finishing her beer.

"It's fine," he waved the bartender over, "Another drink for the lady, on me."

"You didn't have to do that," Cameron's objections were ignored as another bottle was slid her way.

"It was my pleasure," he replied, looking at her, "So why are you drowning your sorrows?"

"Long day," she turned, "You don't look like you're drowning anything."

"Long year," he threw some cash on the counter, "I guess I'll see you around then."

Allison Cameron watched him go, almost wishing he'd asked her out or told her his name.

---

"You called for a psych consult?" He was leaning against the doorframe in the ER the next time she saw him. He looked pretty much the same, except his shirt and tie colors had changed to black and white respectively.

"Why do I have a feeling that you've been standing there for a while?" she smiled back, reassuring the patient before walking over to him.

"What can I say?" he straightened to his full height, "I like people-watching," he walked over and leaned closer to her to glance at the chart, "What's up?

"Thirty-five year old female. Recently gave birth, but she refuses to go anywhere near the baby, saying that it's demonic," Cameron rolled her eyes, "She's delusional." Cameron handed him her chart.

"I'll admit her on one condition," He looked it over before signing it. "Dinner."

"You have to tell me your name."

"Noah Field," He reached out a hand, and she took it, "Nice to meet you, Dr. Allison Cameron."

"How do you-"

"The beautiful ER doc who dealt with House for three years, who hasn't heard of you?" He kept grinning as they walked to the admit desk, "What time are you off?"

"Seven," She pulled several charts off the rack before staring at the board, "Not that busy tonight, so I might get off early."

"I'm off at six-thirty," Noah backed away, aiming towards his newest patient's room, "Pick you up down here at six-forty."

"Okay," she called after him, smiling. Then, she realized she had a date and needed to clean up some. 'Good thing no one's thrown up or bled on me today.'

--

Noah showed up in the ER at 6:40, as promised, along with a bouquet of flowers.

"Hey," he greeted as she walked out of her office with her coat. "Ready?"

"Depends," she smiled, "Those for me?"

"Maybe," he smirked back before handing them to her.

"They're beautiful," she whispered, smelling them. Then, she looked up at him, "Thank you."

"My pleasure," he reached out an arm, which she took, and they left.

Noah had decided on a casual restaurant for their date. In Allison's opinion, he did everything in a gentlemen's fashion. He held the door. He took her coat. He pulled out her chair. However, at the same time, Noah maintained his roguish, yet charming, grin.

Ten minutes later, the couple ordered. Silence overtook them soon after.

Noah decided to break the ice with a question, "Why does everyone call you 'Cameron' instead of Allison?"

"When I worked for House, he called all three of his fellows by their last names," she shrugged, "Guess it stuck."

"Yeah," he didn't want another silence, so he tried to think of something to say, "What made you decide to work in the ER? Aren't you an immunologist?"

"Yes, but there weren't any positions available in Immunology after I stopped working for House, so I took my current position in the ER," she replied, "What about you?"

"It's kind of funny actually," he laughed, "I started out in emergency medicine. I even made it to my first year of residency before I decided that I was more interested in the mind. So I started over in Psych."

"So you know how to run a trauma in the ER?" This little bit of information interested her. He nodded, and she said, "Had you stayed in the ER, you'd probably have my job."

"Maybe," he answered, "How is it that you aren't married? You're beautiful and smart and funny."

Cameron blushed, "You're not so bad yourself," he grinned as she continued in a lower, more somber, tone, "I had a husband. He died of cancer."

"I'm so sorry," his voice dropped to match hers, "My wife died last year after a psychotic patient took her hostage."

"How did you get back on your feet so fast?" she questioned.

"Natalie would've wanted me to move on," he smiled wistfully, "I think of her everyday, and I know that she'd already be complaining that I haven't gone out with someone already."

"It took me awhile before I went out with somebody after my husband died," said Allison.

"Allison, is it true you went on a date with House?"

"Did you really have to bring that up?" she laughed.

"Just want to know if he's the competition," he shot back, seeing she wasn't serious.

"It was a long time ago, and it went horribly," she answered the question, "but I don't regret it. However, that time in my life is over. I've moved on." And she had. House was a good man, but he'd never admit it. They could never be more than what they were, and both parties were okay with it.

Dinner came, and they ate, laughing and enjoying the other's company. Noah drove Allison home when she realized she'd left her car at the hospital.

"No problem," said Noah immediately, "I'm on at six, and I believe that you are as well."

"Are you stalking me, Noah?" she asked, smirking.

"Well, you're just so pretty..." He laughed, "I'll pick you up here at quarter to six?"

"Thanks," she kissed his cheek, "I'd like to do this again."

"Forget about your car?" he quipped.

"No," she laughed again, and Noah smiled. "Go on another date."

"Me too," he replied. "See you tomorrow."

She watched with a smile as he drove off.