So, I suppose this is what happens when I procrastinate my exam on Paradise Lost by watching Carrie. So, those were my weird inspirations. Be warned this will contain some mentions of child abuse, religion, and just dark elements. It may turn to fluff but I'm aiming at a hurt/comfort kind of thing. Anyhow, not my usual stuff, be warned.
Oh, and I'm taking a lot of liberties with my timeline and back-story. Imagine the world of House pre season 4 Cameron works for him with Chase and Foreman, she also runs the community outreach clinic. Now take Remy's timeline and just push it forward like ten or so years and severely darken it. That being said…
Cameron had run the community outreach program for going on three years. In general, she loved it. It made her feel better about herself, and gave her a chance to practice medicine away from House. But still, there were those patients that made her feel sick to her stomach. With House, she saw the patient for maybe a week and then they would leave (usually) much better than how they had come in, and they could live on in her head in that state. With the community outreach, she got to know her patients. Stewart the recluse had even begun to trust her. She knew he'd probably never go outside, but he would talk to her. He was one of the patients that helped her remember why she loved doing the job so much.
Anne Hadley wasn't. Anne wasn't always a recluse, the first time Cameron met her she was a normal, albeit a very religious, women. Cameron didn't know much about her, but she knew the women smiled on occasion and had a husband. In the past three years, though, Anne had pretty much turned into a nut bag. The women had Huntington's and probably only had a few months left, if that.
"Really, if you'd come into the hospital we could make you a lot more comfortable,"
"I have responsibilities here," Anne spoke brokenly. Cameron looked around the house. Gone were the photos of Anne and her husband John, and the walls were covered in cross' and religious pictures. She'd made the mistake of asking about the photos once last year, and been kicked out of the house while Anne yelled religious quotes. She'd assumed from there that John had walked out.
"It's time to start taking care of your affairs," Cameron said delicately. She was basically telling this woman that she was going to die, and wasn't quite sure of the reaction she'd get.
"The CAG results?" The woman asked.
"Not good," Cameron said. Anne simply nodded.
"Thank you, Dr. Cameron." Anne said struggling to get up. Cameron leaned in to help her, but Anne shrugged her off. And, was that bourbon she smelled on the woman's breath? Not that she didn't have every right to drink, but it certainly wasn't helping her condition.
"You could try some of the experimental treatments or even core strengthening exercises." Cameron said, as she did every week.
"God has intended this for me, Dr. Cameron." Anne said walking towards the door. Cameron knew this was her queue to leave. She gave the woman a smile before showing herself out.
Sighing, Cameron headed back towards her car. She didn't know why she kept coming to the Hadley house. The woman never took any of her medical advice. Cameron wondered if she could force the woman into the hospital. She needed to be taken care of. The woman wouldn't be able to walk or talk in a matter of weeks.
"What did the doctor say mom?" Remy asked.
"I'm still dying," Anne muttered.
"I've been praying. I promise," Remy said backing away. She knew her mother blamed her for this, and she was starting to believe that this might actually be her fault.
"I knew I should have pulled you out of school." Anne paced as her arms flailed wildly, "Those boys are a bad influence on you."
"I don't even talk to them, mom." Remy said, beginning to tear. She knew this conversation wouldn't end well for her.
"He knows your thoughts, Remy," Anne yelled pointing to her favorite cross on the wall. She moved towards it and took it down. Remy knew she was in trouble at this point.
"I don't have impure thoughts." Remy tried, knowing that it wasn't fully true. She couldn't help what she thought sometimes. She knew deep down she hated her mother, and was mad at her dad for leaving her, and even jealous sometimes of other girls in her class, but she tried not to be. She really did try.
"Don't lie to me!" Anne screamed. She came closer to the girl and slammed the cross into the side of Remy's head, "I've been a bad mother,"
"No, you haven't," Remy said clutching the side of her head. She looked down at her hands. They were covered in blood, and she was beginning to feel dizzy. Maybe she deserved all of this.
"I'm being punished for your sins." Anne said growing calm. She took something out of her pocket. Remy caught the gleam in her palm and shuddered.
"Please, don't lock me in there. I prayed today already. And, I have homework." Remy cried.
"Get in there," Anne said pointing towards the small room at the end of the hall. Inside were bibles, candled, and a bench for praying. Remy cried silently as she walked to the end of the hallway. She entered the room and heard the click of the lock behind her. Remy sunk against the wall clutching her head. It really hurt. She didn't know if she'd be able to concentrate on her prayers.
"Please don't keep me in here too long," Remy mumbled at the door. Anne ignored the comment as she went into the garage to get the gas canisters. She knew this day would come. She was going to hell for the sins of her past and of her daughter. So, she'd bring her daughter with her.
Anne splashed the gasoline around the house, and dropped a match on the floor by the curtains. Then she sat on the couch and waited.
It was time for her judgment.
"Are you a friend of the family?"
Cameron turned around startled. It was getting late and Anne didn't live in the best neighborhood. She was also carrying about three hundred grand in medical supplies that did not belong to her.
"I run the community outreach program from the hospital," Cameron said calmly after noticing it was just a neighbor. The women even looked kind.
"What's wrong with her?" The woman shuttered. Cameron hesitated for a minute. This wasn't really her information to tell, but then again she wasn't in the hospital.
"Huntington's Chorea. She probably only has a few more good weeks" Cameron said, hoping maybe the neighbor would watch out for her. Cameron could increase her visits, but she didn't think it would do much good.
"What about Remy?" The neighbor asked.
"Who?' Cameron asked wondering if the neighbor was referring to a pet or something.
"Her daughter. Does she have it to? The poor girl looks deathly. She's my Laura's age and when I see them standing next to each other in school it's scary." The neighbor rambled.
"She has a daughter?" Cameron asked. Anne was in no way eligible to be taking care of anyone.
"Little Remy, strange girl. Pretty sickly." The neighbor described, "Shame too, she used to be so happy. Sarah and her would have play dates. My husband and John were good friends and they'd go out and bring the girls.
"What do you mean by sickly?" Cameron asked.
"God, she's tiny and skinny too. Looks like she doesn't eat or sleep. Always a mess, and she doesn't really talk. Sarah says wont speak in class anymore." The neighbor described.
"And she didn't leave with John?" Cameron asked.
"No, saw her walking home from school today. I always offer her a ride, the schools about a mile away, but she always refuses. She's polite, though." The neighbor nodded.
"And no one called Child protective services?" Cameron asked wondering how she never even knew Anne had a daughter.
"I've never seen her hit the kid?' the neighbor threw her hands up protectively, "Anne seemed like a fine parent, we were just never friends. Hey is that smoke"
Cameron's head snapped towards the house. There was definitely smoke coming from the windows.
"Call 911, request ambulances from Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital." Cameron said rushing away from the neighbor and towards the house. She fished Anne's key from her pocket and ran inside.
The smell of gasoline was everywhere.
"Mom!"
Cameron heard a scream. She didn't see Anne anywhere though. The curtains were on fire as were some of the carpet and walls. They needed to get out of the house. Cameron tried to follow the screaming, but she couldn't really see through the smoke.
"Anne?' Cameron asked seeing a figure lying down on the couch. She slapped the woman's face lightly, but Anne only opened an eye lazily.
"It's my time, Dr. Cameron," Anne mumbled.
"No, wake up Anne. This isn't the way to die." Cameron said, trying to get Anne up, "You still have a good time left."
Anne felt like dead weight and she no longer seemed to be paying attention to Cameron. Coughing, Cameron checked the woman's pulse. She was alive. Then she noticed a key on the floor by where her hand was. Cameron picked it up and followed where she thought the screams were coming from.
"Remy?" Cameron yelled. There was no response. Cameron tried a few doors before coming to one that was locked. She quickly unlocked the door and saw a small girl passed out in front of an alter. Cameron scooped the girl into her arms and ran back towards the living room. There was no way she could get Anne out of the house.
Cameron ran outside. Noticing the firefighters arriving she breathlessly told them that Anne was on the couch.
She brought the girl towards one of the ambulances and watched as the firemen went to work on the house.
The neighbor was next door on her cell phone looking horrified.
"You all right?" the medical worker asked Cameron.
"Just some smoke inhalation. She was locked in a room, I don't think much smoke got to her, but she's unconscious" Cameron said pointing towards the passed out girl.
"Let's get these two to the hospital. The other ambulance can get the mother." The medical worker called to the driver. Cameron nodded in approval and backed up as the worker shut the doors in the back of the truck.
As they sped towards the hospital, Cameron took the girl's vitals as the worker gave her oxygen.
"She's got a head laceration." Cameron called noticing blood on the stretcher by the girl's head.
"Here," the worker handed Cameron a kit for stitches. Cameron located the cut and cleaned it off before starting to stitch.
"She'll need a head MRI." Cameron mumbled.
"Were two minutes out," The driver called. Cameron nodded as she finished stitching. The ambulance stopped just as she was done.
"Smoke inhalation and head laceration. Another ambulance will be here in two." Cameron yelled as a doctor came towards the ambulance bay. The doctor nodded and took the stretcher. Cameron went to follow but a hand stopped her.
"Oh god, Cameron. Did you run into a burning house?" an Australian accent asked.
"Don't tell House," Cameron nodded letting Chase give her a hug.
"Let's get you and your bleeding heart checked out before you try to save another patient." Chase tried to joke.
Cameron nodded looking down at her sooty hands and realizing the burn in the back of her throat probably wasn't a good sign.