Knowing.

Cameron had been standing in front of House's door for way too long now. She knew if she didn't bring up the courage to ring the doorbell within the next few moments, she would leave again - just like the last time. And the time before that. And the time before that...

And she also knew that if she left now, she might never try again. Hell! After what had happened tonight, she might not even have the chance to try again!

Allison inhaled deeply, almost collapsing from pain when she did. It hurt. It hurt so much!

She knew that at least two of her ribs were cracked, if not broken.

She knew that she looked like crap, with mascara running down her tear-stained cheeks, slowly starting to mix with the blood from her busted upper lip. She didn't even want to know how black her eye had become by now...

And she knew that tonight had to be the night she finally rang that doorbell!

Although she didn't exactly know how House was going to react, Allison was a hundred percent sure he would not let her get back to him. And that was exactly what she needed.

Before she could change her mind again, Cameron rang the doorbell. A few seconds later, she heard steps approaching the door from inside, but something was strange. When she finally understood that these were not House's steps, the door had already been opened.

"Dr Cameron?"

Allison tried to run away, but Cuddy grabbed her wrist to stop her. When she saw the other woman flinch away from her touch, she didn't even have to look down to know her wrists were bruised. She let go of Cameron's wrist, not wanting to hurt her.

The younger woman started at her in confusion.

Cuddy sighed. The situation - her being at her colleague's house at 10:40pm, only dressed in sweatpants and something which was obviously a man's sweater - didn't exactly leave room for interpretation...

"House is not here, and he won't be home for the next couple of hours - he's on a monster truck show with Wilson..."

Allison didn't ask why her boss had opened his door then. It was not of her business - just like the fact that they were obviously sleeping together (or whatever), but in return, she didn't want Cuddy to know about this, either!

Coming here had been a mistake. She wouldn't even have been prepared for half of the questions House would have asked, but now being confronted with Cuddy was just too much! She knew she would have hardly come to terms with him looking at her, or with all the questions he would ask as soon as he saw her like that! Him not being here tonight must be some kind of sign! She just couldn't do this!

Allison wanted to run away again, but her legs didn't obey - she couldn't move! Instead, she started shaking uncontrollably.

"Cameron?" Worry was dominating confusion now. What on earth had happened to her?

"Shush! It's okay. You're safe here!"

Allison couldn't stop the tears streaming down her face. She barely realized being cautiously guided inside or being told to sit down on the sofa.

"Please talk to me!" Cuddy started. "What happened?" Cameron didn't answer.

"Were you ... mugged or something?" Head-shaking.

Cuddy sighed. "Did your... boyfriend do this to you?"

Allison covered her face with her hands, trying to hide the tears, the shame, the pain.