Disclaimer: *checks* Still not mine!

A/N: I am so, so sorry that it has taken me so long to post another chapter. I hope that you haven't all given up on this story, because I really do want to get back to writing it. I started college in the middle of August, so that has taken up all of my time thus far. I will make an effort to write more though! (I am already contemplating writing chapter 5 tonight!)

A/N: Eternal thanks to my beta, whom I have now met in real life and shared a real life experience with - we met a hot jerk and his not-hot friend. It's sort of like House and Wilson, except that Wilson is not not-hot. Thank you for making this chapter not suck. And you know the suckage that existed before you magically transformed the suckage into not-suckage.

Despite the man's obvious anger, Cameron didn't lower her gaze from his narrowed eyes. She placed her hand on Elena's shoulder and tentatively squeezed it. Elena looked up at her, fear evident in every line on her face, but Cameron only offered her a small, reassuring smile. Tucking her loose bangs behind her ear, she picked up Elena's chart from the bed and took a step toward Vince.

"Mr. Carpenter, your wife's injuries are potentially very serious. We need to take an x-ray of her back to assess the extent of internal damage."

"Oh, I'm sure that's not necessary," he said in a surprisingly even tone. He seemed to have calmed down considerably. "She doesn't need an x-ray; she'll be fine. She's had worse falls before."

"I don't think she fell this time," Cameron answered coolly. She finished scribbling an order for the x-ray and folded her arms across her chest, the paper clutched in her hand. She would give it to the orderly as soon as she got the chance; even though it seemed that Vince had gotten a grip on himself, she didn't want to leave Elena alone with him.

"Elena, honey, tell Allison you're fine so we can get you home. I've got a lunch meeting today, you know that. You know how I can't be late for my meetings." His tone had grown lighter still, but Cameron had a feeling it was rather forced.

She saw Elena swallow hard. Elena looked back and forth from her husband to Cameron, before finally settling on Cameron. "Allison, are you sure the x-ray is absolutely necessary? I mean, the bruises really aren't that bad, are they? I'm sure they'll heal with time…"

"Exactly!" Vince interjected. "Let's just put some ice on them and be done with it. Come on, honey. Let's get you home so you can rest." He wrapped his arm protectively around her shoulders.

Cameron shook her head. "I refuse to release her without an x-ray. If she leaves now, she'll have to sign a form stating that she left against medical advice."

"Yes, yes, that's fine," Vince told her. "She'll sign any form that will get her out of here, won't you, Elena?"

"I…" Vince's grip tightened slightly on Elena's shoulder. "I – I – of course, I'll sign it, dear…if you're sure that's the best thing to do."

"I'm sure it is," Cameron heard Vince tell his wife as her eye caught the orderly walking past the exam room. She signaled for the young nurse to come inside. When she did, Cameron stepped forward and handed her the sheet. The nurse read it and then nodded.

"I'll tell radiology to send someone down."

She felt Vince's eyes snap toward her. "What are you talking about? Elena, didn't we just agree that you weren't having x-rays?"

The nurse looked at Cameron uncertainly. "I'm ordering the x-ray," Cameron told her. "Please ask radiology to send someone down as quickly as possible. Mr. Carpenter has a lunch meeting."

"I said no x-rays!" Vince protested. "Allison, please, this can't be necessary. We don't have time for this. Elena, get your coat now. We're leaving."

"Elena, you don't have to do that," Cameron said loudly. "If you want the x-ray, I can arrange for someone else to take you home so Vince can leave. You need to think about your own health now, okay? Not his happiness." She tried to impress as much urgency and confidence in her tone as possible. Elena's face was growing paler with nerves.

"Elena, don't listen to her--"

"Vince!" Cameron snapped at him. "Let her make the decision herself."

Elena's eyes widened, her gaze darting back and forth between Cameron and Vince. She opened her mouth several times, but then closed it again, seemingly unable to make a decision for herself. Cameron waited calmly for her to reply; Vince looked ready to grab her and drag her out the door himself if she said she wanted to go through with the x-ray.

Elena opened her mouth again, and this time, she spoke. "Vince," she began softly. "I think we should listen to Allison. I – I think the x-ray would be a good idea, just to – just to be safe." She looked down at her hands. "I don't expect you to stay--"

"Honey," he began, and Cameron could definitely hear that his tone was forced, "if you stay, you will make me very unhappy." He dropped his tone and Cameron could barely make out his next words. "And you know how much I hate to be unhappy."

"Vince, you can leave," Cameron told him. "The nurse will be here any minute to take Elena to radiology and I don't want you to miss your meeting."

"I refuse to leave without my wife." He walked over to the chair and picked up her coat. "Come on, dear. Let's tell Allison we'll see her later."

Cameron bit her lip as she watched Elena struggle again with indecision. Internally, she was struggling with a decision of her own. While there was no law that she had to report the domestic violence, she knew that she would, absent a compelling reason not to. What she was unsure about was whether or not she should let Vince know her plan. On the one hand, she could use it as a threat to ensure Elena got her x-ray. On the other, she didn't want to anger him further. She hoped it wouldn't come to that, but her patient's care always came first.

When Elena glanced over at her coat and stood up from the bed, Cameron had made her decision. Just as Vince was helping his wife into her coat, Cameron spoke up. "Vince, if you make her leave before she gets this x-ray, I will report you for domestic violence."

Vince froze. He looked at her, and for the first time since he'd come into the exam room, she saw him make no attempt to hide his anger. He rounded on her and shoved her up against the wall. "You will do no such thing!" he spat in her face.

Cameron stared back at him, despite the fear she felt rising in her chest as he shoved her against the wall again. "Vince, let me go," she said as evenly as possible.

"You will not report me!"

"Vince!" Elena shrieked.

The door swung open and Vince released Cameron immediately. Another nurse had entered. Cameron was relieved to see he was from radiology.

"Everything okay, Dr. Cameron?" he asked, glancing at her uncertainly.

Cameron exhaled slowly. "Just take her up to radiology," she told him.

Vince growled impatiently. "I said no!" he shouted angrily, starting toward her again. "Elena, let's--"

The nurse caught him across the chest and pushed him back. "I think it would be best if you waited outside," he said sternly. "Your wife's exam will not take long." Vince glared at him for a long time, but after taking in the considerable size of the nurse's biceps, he decided against further attempts to force his wife to leave. With a long look of contempt at Cameron, he exited the exam room.

As soon as the door swung shut, Elena turned to Cameron. "Allison, I'm so sorry! He didn't – he didn't hurt you, did he?"

"No," she reassured her, "but Elena, you can't go back to him. He could--"

"You can't report him," Elena told her earnestly. "Please, Allison, please promise me that you won't. He's a great guy, I promise that he is. He is just going through a hard time. He isn't normally like this, and he is probably still feeling the effects from last night."

"Elena…"

"No, Allison, please listen to me! You can't report him – you just can't. Look, if it happens again, I will report him myself. I promise you. Please, just – just trust me on this. You will only make it worse if you report him for such a silly mistake."

Cameron sighed and looked out the exam window where Vince was standing outside, waiting impatiently. She knew a domestic violence case would be difficult to stop if the victim was unwilling to stop it herself. Reporting Vince would do nothing if Elena refused to press charges, or if she denied the abuse. And she certainly didn't want to make matters worse. She noticed Wilson outside the window a few feet from Vince and wondered briefly what the oncologist would do. He would probably agree with Elena; he always seemed to be on the patient's side. Then again, when the foe was cancer, he couldn't exactly be on anything but the patient's side.

She sighed again and tore her thoughts and view from what was outside the window. "Okay," she said quietly. "I won't say anything this time."

"Thank you, Allison!" Elena said, clearly relieved. "I knew that I could count on you!"

Cameron only managed a weak smile at her as she watched the radiology nurse sit her patient into a wheelchair and wheel her out of the room. Cameron grabbed the chart before exiting the room herself. She hadn't taken more than three steps out the door before she felt a rough hand around her wrist.

She whipped around to find herself once more facing a furious Vince. Fear filled her again as he pulled her closer to him and hissed, "If you know what's good for you, you won't tell a soul." He released her roughly, pushing her away from him. He turned on his heel and walked away without another word.

Cameron stayed rooted to the spot, breathing heavily, and rubbing her wrist. She waited until Vince was almost out of view before turning abruptly and taking off as quickly as she could in the opposite direction.

A/N: Please review and I will post the fifth chapter as soon as possible! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and I would love to know what you thought!