So this used to be "I try as Hard as I can" ... but the farther I got with the story, the more I realized I wanted to change a few things. So I decided to just start from scratch. A new title and some slightly different content in the chapters ...

Please enjoy and Don't forget to leave one of those lovely little review things ...

Catch ya Later ... Darklady26


(Alison's POV)

"Breathe." I whispered to myself. "Just breathe." I couldn't believe that I was actually doing this. It had taken Ann and Janice a grand total of two days to get me to cave. All the 'your voice is amazing' and 'come on it'll be fun', had taken its toll and I'd finally agreed. So here I stood behind stage watching as my sister stood in front of the small café signing and playing her guitar.

It was something that Ann was used to, performing in front of large groups of people. She was a professional dancer, but like most of my family she could also sing. It was a song that had been just recently heard on American Idol, Terrified. I smiled as I realized how fitting a song it was for her and Janice.

The crowd erupted in applause as the last notes vibrations ceased to carry throughout the room. My own eyes tearing up as I looked at Janice's face, filled with love and devotion for my sister. I hugged Ann as she came off the stage, slipping her guitar off her shoulder as the Master of Ceremonies announced me. "Knock'em dead Ally and I'll see ya when you're done." She said with a kiss on the cheek and a pat on the back.

On shaking knees I went to the mike, glad that I was covered by the thick curtains for a just a few seconds longer. "Come on Allison … you survived Gregory House … this is nothing." I said with a smile as the band started to play and the curtains were pulled back, revealing me to the crowd that had gathered.

As I walk this land of broken dreams

I have visions of many things

Happiness is just an illusion

Filled with sadness and confusion

What becomes of the broken hearted

Who had love that's now departed?

I know I've got to find

Some kind of peace of mind

Maybe

The song had been a favorite of mine since I'd first heard it after Danny had died. I stood in front of the mike stand, unmoving. It wasn't a song that was to be over done with a dramatic performance. It was about feeling, about truly asking and praying for something that you'd lost.

I didn't have the rasp that Joan Osborne's voice did, I realized as I started to belt out the notes. I had a broken heart though, my pain evident in the undertones of my voice. I had lost my husband and naturally I knew that was what my sisters would think this song was for.

The fruits of love grow all around

But for me they come a tumblin' down

Everyday heartaches grow a little stronger

I can't stand this pain much longer

I walk in shadows

Searching for light

Cold and alone

No comfort in sight

Hoping and praying for someone to care

Always moving and going no where

What becomes of the broken hearted

Who had love that's now departed?

I know I've got to find

Some kind of peace of mind

Maybe

I could picture him, sitting across from me his words cold and cruel, cutting into me like no knife ever would. "You don't love … you need." Those words haunted my dreams and were the cause of many tear filled nights.

I'm search though I don't succeed,

But someone look, there's a growing need.

Oh, he is lost, there's no place for beginning,

All that's left is an unhappy ending.

Now what's become of the broken hearted

Who had love that's now departed?

I know I've got to find

Some kind of peace of mind

I'll be searching everywhere

Just to find someone to care.

I shook as I stood behind the mike, silent tears slowly trailing down my cheeks. I fought for a moment pushing my voice past my tears, my pain. I closed my eyes and pretended that those words were never uttered.

I'll be looking every day

I know I'm gonna find a way

Nothing's gonna stop me now

I'll find a way somehow

I'll be searching everywhere

As the last note faded, I felt the fear of rejection again as the crowd retained their silence. A breath, then another and finally the first clap's vibrations made its way to the stage. More followed and I found myself giving them all a sad smile as I walked off stage, ignoring the hoots and whistles that were begging me for more.

I stepped off stage and Janice wrapped her around me. Her own tears had ruined her perfectly done makeup but there was little more comforting then her black streaked face. "He'll see baby girl." She whispered as Ann stared on confused. "He'll see. Don't you worry baby girl. You won't be searching long."

(Greg's POV)

I could still feel the sting from my furious clapping. I'd been ready to snark and laugh as she stepped out on stage, only to have words escape me. The tears that trailed down her cheeks were mine. The pain that was heard in that song, that turned it into a haunting melody that was so beautiful even the most unbelieving in love ache with her wanting, was caused by my stupidity.

I watched her as she sat with her sisters. A frown pulling at my lips as Wilson nudged me. "Aren't you glad that you came tonight?" He asked, clapping as the next singer started. I ignored him, the singer, the applause, everything but the pain that I saw still clinging to her eyes.

God help me I was an idiot. "You don't love … you need." My last desperate attempt to dissuade her from pursuing the possibility of us. It had done more than dissuade her. I looked away, feeling ashamed. I had meant to save her that pain, to avoid the guilt.

"You can fix it." Wilson said to me, bringing me momentarily away from my currently dark thoughts. I turned to him, my face no doubt contorted in confusion.

"What the hell are you talking about?" I asked, slightly annoyed that he couldn't just leave me to my misery.

"Don't pretend to play stupid, you're in no way good at it. You can still fix things with Allison." He said, his head nodding in the direction of the three women a few tables ahead of us.

"What do you know about it?" I growled, taking a gracious swallow of my scotch.

"I know a lot more about it then you think. She still loves you House. You could fix this." He said causing me to frown. Just how much did he know? I certainly hadn't told him much about the date. My eyes traveled up to her now laughing face. Had she?

"Well taking advice from a man who's been divorced 4 times can't be the stupidest thing I've done." I said annoyed that I sounded almost desperate. "Alright Jimmy … tell me what I've done and just how I can fix it. So Allison and I can live happily ever after in the gumdrop cottage that the ginger bread man is holding for me."

"Well for one you could stop being such an asshole. I get that you don't want to get hurt again, but you have to realize that she isn't anything like Stacy." He said with a nod towards the stage. "Stacy would never have admitted that you hurt her so deeply, she'd simply find a way to get back at you."

I frowned as I realized that he was right. "I thought that you were too messed up to love anyone. I was wrong. You just couldn't love me. I'm happy for you." The words hadn't really meant anything to me at the time. I had been so lost in my attempts to get Stacy back … that I hadn't realized what I was really doing.

Wilson nodded his head and clapped a hand on my back. "I know what you said to her." He said almost sheepishly. I looked up and frowned.

"What time?" I asked, feeling every bit the dickhead I had been.

"She may need you, but she needs you because she loves you." He said causing the bile to rise and tease the back of my throat. Of course, that had been my true moment of glory. The moment where I realized that I wasn't falling for her, I'd fallen. That somehow, even with my shoving her and beating her verbally and emotionally, she had managed to get in.

She'd gotten past all of my walls. Somehow finding the cracks and kinks in my shields, and slipping inside. I couldn't help but admit that it felt right, she felt right. I didn't believe in things like soul mates and true love. Happy endings were just stories that hadn't finished yet, but … Allison.

I looked up to the table that she was sitting at and felt my gut clench. She was heading towards the stage again. Beside me Wilson sat unsurprised with a slight frown on his face. "You didn't tell me was going to be doing more than one song." I said somewhat accusingly. He shrugged.

"I didn't know, but I'm not surprised. Did you hear the applause? The crowd loved her." He clapped as she took the stage a second time. "She's the real deal House." He said seriously. "She's intelligent, gorgeous, caring, and in love with you. Stop trying to keep from hurting her and getting hurt and realize that you guys are both already hurting." He said sternly, all applause and yelling stopping as she was announced again.

(Allison's POV)

If I hold out my hand

Would it change where you're standing now?

Just come back to me

Leave all you've found

That's keep your heart on the ground

Just come back to me

So afraid for love to come around your heart again

When it's the only thing you need

Just come back to me

I sang the song quietly, sitting with my sister's guitar playing for myself. I looked out into the quiet crowd and pictured him there. I didn't notice what he was wearing, quickly finding myself drowning in those perfect blue eyes.

I ignored everything else. The bright lights that almost blinded and cooked me, the beads of sweat that gathered at the base of my skull, and the hundreds of eyes that were staring up at me all faded away as I sang my heart again.

Calling out your name

Wishing you could do the same

Just come back to me

Whatever it takes

I will wait until my dying day

Just come back to me

So afraid for love to come around your heart again

When it's the only thing you need

Just come back to me

I closed my eyes, remembering the kiss. I forgot about the cancer, about the lies, and just remembered the feeling of him against my lips. He was warm and hard, his scent clean and fresh as it washed over me.

This is my only hope

That the love, that will not let me go

Will find its way back into your life

I opened my eyes and stood, walking towards those blue eyes that held the love I was singing for. I smiled as my voice grew stronger and my heart a bit lighter. It didn't matter that I had imagined him there, that I was forcing his eyes to soften as I sang about something that he had denied ever feeling for me.

So I will not close my eyes

Until I see you by my side

Loving me tonight

If I hold out my hand

Would it change where you're standing now?

Just come back to me

HOUSE MD HOUSE MD HOUSE MD HOUSE MD

I growled as I walked into the hospital the next morning. Ann and Janice had taken me off the stage after my last song and dragged me to every bar within walking distance of my apartment until 2 hours before I was supposed to be at work. I'd stopped drinking sometime around 1 in the morning, but I'd had my fair share of alcohol before that.

I was a bit hung over. My head was aching, my stomach was turning, and all I wanted was a cup of hot coffee and some Advil. As I stepped off the elevator I was greeted with a paper Starbucks cup. I frowned as I recognized the hand that was holding it out to me. "Chase?"

I'd woken up six months before the wedding day and realized that I couldn't marry him. As the wedding had grown closer and decisions about the food, the music, or the cake needed to be made it became clearer and clearer. He'd been becoming violent and unpredictable.

At first it had been an argument over when to start the coffee maker. The argument had ended and been the end of the coffee maker. It had escalated to a smack across the face when I'd come home an hour after my shift was supposed to be over. I'd woken up the next morning and informed him that it was over. That had been 3 months ago.

"I figured that you'd have been out all night. You know … since your sister is in town." He rolled his eyes at the mention of my sister. Not surprising since she'd always told me that he was an asshole and it would only be a matter of time before he showed his true colors. She still didn't know why I'd broken off the engagement with him.

I frowned as I looked at the coffee. It called to me, my aching head begging me to take what was offered. Then I remembered the look in his eyes as he'd slapped me, the terrifying glint of satisfaction at the blood that appeared on the corner of my mouth and I shook my head. "No thanks." I said, pushing past him and moving towards the locker room.

I couldn't help but jump as I turned the corner. He was spread out on the bench in front of my locker, his cane leaning up against his side and his ear buds in place. I poked his stomach, jumping again as his eyes shoot open and his hand wrap securely around my wrist. "Jesus House, what the hell do you think you're doing?" I growled as I pulled my hand out of his grasp.

He smirked up at me and I felt my heart begin to race. He took his time taking out his music and sitting up, in true House fashion. I stood over him, trying to ignore my feelings and the way my headache had escalated. To forget that I had any kinds of feelings for the man that was now standing in front of me. I crossed my arms and braced myself for what was to come.

(Greg's POV)

"What the hell am I doing?" I answered. Enjoying the way she growled. "You're the one about to make a poke and run." I said wagging my brows.

She rolled her eyes at me, though I could see the smile working its way to her lips. I smiled myself, enjoying the way her eyes lit up. I shrugged. I hadn't really thought this completely through, which was in and of itself amazing. She smiled and shook her head. "Hiding from Cuddy, your hooker, or both?" I smirked.

"I don't know what Cuddy's wearing today or I might answer one in the same." She blushed and shook her head, but there wasn't any denying that Cuddy's work attire was far from professional.

My eyes roamed over the woman before me. She always looked like a woman, whether in a skirt of a pair of pants. Her blouses were professional as well, showing just enough skin to entice. She drew the eye of every male that was around her, there was no way she would ever be able to stop that. But she managed to keep her wardrobe feminine and sophisticated.

Today she was wearing a black pants suit, with matching vest and a white dress shirt open just enough to show a decent amount of flesh. Her makeup was simple, her hair pulled back from her face but left down. I stood and flicked her hair with my fingers. "Blonde. Why the change?" I asked, finding that my curiosity had finally gotten the better of me.

She turned and shrugged. Taking a thick strand into her hand she looked at the soft curls as if she was studying them. "I got sick of dying it." She answered meeting my eyes. "Believe it or not … I'm a natural blonde." She said with a smirk as she crossed her arms. "That why you're down here? To find out why I suddenly went blonde?"

I shook my head and grabbed the cup of coffee and Advil that I had a feeling she'd need. "A little birdie told me that your sisters were in town. I thought you might need these." I said, watching with pleasure and pride as she gratefully took the coffee and pain killers. She downed the contents of the cup in record time, as I opened my mouth to comment I was shocked to find that an accented voice filled the air instead.

"What the bloody hell are you doing with him?" I rolled my eyes as I recognized Chase's livid tone. "I come in here thinking that you just needed a little time to calm down and here you are again … with him!"

I watched as Allison walked right past him. She hadn't said a word to him, hadn't spared him a glance, or even sighed in his direction. She had simply closed her locker and walked past him, throwing a "thanks for the coffee" over her shoulder to me, as she left. I had moved to do the same thing, only to find myself following him.

(Allison's POV)

I knew that I shouldn't have ignored him. I should have said something to him, looked at him, anything to show him that I'd heard him. But no, I had to be stubborn and to top it off I had to thank House in front of him. Oh yeah … no one had ever accused me of being intelligent. I felt the bruising grip of his hand around my upper arm before I heard his growling whisper in my ear. "What the hell was that?"

"Let go of me Chase." I growled right back, knowing that it was already too late.

"Not until you tell me what the hell you were doing with him!" he said a bit louder, this time drawing House's attention.

"I'm pretty sure I heard her say let go Dr. Chase." House growled as he gripped Chase's wrist tighter and tighter until he let go of my arm.

"God damn it!" He cursed as he held his injured hand. "This has nothing to do with you, House. So mind your fucking business." Chase spat up at the man that had offended him.

"I don't give a shit who's business you think this is or isn't. I'm not going to watch you hurt her because you didn't get your way. My God what are you man … two?"

"Will you two please stop, you're causing a scene in the middle of the hall." I whispered as I looked around. Every nurse, candy striper, patient, and fellow doctor within hearing distance of the pair of them was turned and listening intently to the … conversation.

Chase looked around and smiled. "Why you don't want them all to know that you're whoring yourself out to House?" he crossed his arms. "Or is it that you don't want them to know that even when you're throwing yourself at him … he'd still rather pay for it?"

I felt the breath whoosh out of me. That was nothing like the smack across the face that had woke me up and made me realize that I just couldn't marry him. It was worse. Tears sprung to my eyes, making him a blurry blob of pink flesh and red blood in my vision. As the tears slipped down my face and my vision cleared, so did the haze in my mind.

Pain in my right hand told me that I'd punched him. The screaming and obscene amount of blood running down his face, told me that I'd hit my mark and more than likely broken his nose. I felt arms wrap around me and pulled me away from him, directing me towards the elevators. Heat on both sides of my body, told me that whoever was escorting me wasn't alone.

"Did you see that?" House asked excitedly. "She broke his nose."

"Yeah House, I saw. I came running as soon as I got the text from Marie, saying that you and Chase were screaming at each other on the second floor." Wilson said sounding far less thrilled then House at my boxing impression.

"We weren't screaming at each other … we were yelling and there is a serious difference." House replied in his best valley girl impression.

"Yeah whatever, what I want to know is what the hell happened that she ended up breaking his nose?" Wilson asked as we stopped in front of the elevators to wait for one.

I didn't need to look up to know that House and Wilson were staring at each other over my head. House told him what happened. Wilson in response turned me to face him, forcing my head to up so that I would meet his eyes.

He'd tell me later that I'd looked up at him with such pleading sorrow filled eyes that for a moment he thought to break House's nose. Instead he'd placed a gentle kiss on my forehead and sent me into the elevator on my own. "We'll meet you in my office in a minute." I nodded and pressed the button for his floor. Not bothering to look up at either of them as the doors closed.

(Greg's POV)

It didn't take a brilliant mind to realize that Wilson was about ready to kill me. I'd done it again, somehow. I thought back to what had happened. I hadn't done anything.

"Look before you start yelling at me, I think you should know that I didn't do anything."

"Uh huh, you really expect me to believe that you weren't somehow involved in what happened back there?" Wilson asked as he crossed his arms. I frowned.

"Well of course I was involved. That fucking marsupial had his hand on her … do you think I'm so much of an ass that I would stand by and watch as a guy beat up on a woman. Let alone …" I frowned and looked away. That fucking bastard was too good at getting out conclusions that I hadn't fully comprehended or even accepted yet.

"Let alone … what House? Let alone the woman that you're in love with? Let alone the woman that he never should have had the ability to put a hand on in the first place?" He said slightly growling. "Do you realize what your dumbass has put that girl through? Do you even care?"

"Of course I care. You know damn well that I care about her." Wilson shook his head at me.

"You're right I know that you care. Hell Steve Wonder can see that you two are meant for each other, and so could she at one time. But you know it's kind of hard to believe that someone cares when, after giving them every opportunity to tell you or show you, they've spat in your face." Wilson shook his head and sighed. "Caring about someone isn't just about realizing you care about them, but letting them know that you do."

"I let her know!" I growled back, remembering when she'd had to play death's angel.

"Really … a squeeze on the shoulder implies that you're proud of someone, not that you'll be there if they need someone to talk to." Wilson said crossing his arms and looking at me as though I were a child that had gotten caught with my hand on the cookie jar that I'd been forbidden to touch.

"I'm not the warm gooey feelings kind of person." I said looking away, unable to meet his eyes. "You know that. I can't do it, I couldn't even do it with Stacy … and she was someone that I was living with."

Wilson sighed and pressed the button for the elevator pulling me into the box as he pressed two buttons. The one for his floor and the one for Cuddy's. "Yeah I know … and there's even more against you this time since I honestly believe that Allison is the one that you're meant to be with." I opened my mouth to respond, to have the Wonder Boy silence me with a look that could have roasted me alive. "Even if you don't believe in Soul Mates and I realize that you don't … you have to admit that there is something special … different between the two of you."

The doors opened for his floor and I stepped off, only half surprised when he didn't get off along with me. "So what am I supposed to do?" I asked feelings as though my heart were about to pound out of my chest.

"Why don't you start by asking her if she's hungry and taking her to lunch, and maybe take a look at the hand." He held the doors open for a minute. "It's not gonna be easy House, but you and I both know that there isn't anyone else that is going to get under your skin the way she has."

HOUSE MD HOUSE MD HOUSE MD HOUSE MD HOUSE MD HOUSE MD

I don't think that my tongue has ever felt so thick and so dry in my life as it did while I made my way down to Wilson's office. The door was open and the sounds a deep calming breathes could be heard from within. Suddenly it stopped, as if the person who had been breathing a moment before was holding their breath.

I turned the corner into his office and wasn't surprised to see her staring at the door. "Where's Wilson?" I pouted and she blushed. "Not that … oh forget it … just where's Wilson?" She asked again crossing her arms, even as the red started to crawl up her neck and flood her cheeks.

"Is there something else I can get for you? The Boy Wonder is a bit preoccupied at the moment with Medusa's older sister." She smirked and moved a bit closer to me.

"Are you offering?" Her eyes moved over my body, causing parts of me to twitch and harden at the possibilities she was laying out before me.

"Would it matter if I was?" I asked, my voice husky and deep. I kicked myself mentally as I saw the smile spread across her face, she had me and she knew it. "I'm offering lunch and possibly dinner, both out of the Hospital of course. Wilson has gotten us both free passes for the rest of the day." I said with a wiggle of my eyebrows. "We could continue this is a place far less open."

She shook her head laughing, her hand going to her head. I glared at the bruising knuckles of that hand. "It's not as bad as it looks." She said apparently hearing the slight growl that escaped my throat. "It doesn't hurt that much."

I shook my head and took her hand, glaring at the pooling blood beneath her skin with a doctor's eye. "Can you move your fingers alright?" She wiggled her fingers for me and I couldn't help but feel some relief at the sight. "We should probably get some ice on these …" I said, surprised to see her nod.

"Alright."