DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything related to Fox or the TV show House. I'm only borrowing some characters. The characters belong to David Shore and company.

A/N: Please don't kill me with this chapter.
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ANOTHER SHOT AT HAPPINESS

CHAPTER 7: BITTERSWEET MEMORIES I

Princeton Mall

Cuddy couldn't believe that she's dating House. At first she thought it'd be a complete disaster but as of the moment, she only had one word for it. Perfect. Even if it only started last Friday. House has been an infuriating ass, but at the same time, he's been too sweet and charming. His gimmicks in calling her attention was beyond normal but it worked for him and she would give anything not to change it. Not change him.

She knew that this relationship- if you can call it that already- will never be boring. Ever. At all.

After dinner, House and Cuddy finally decided to go back to the hospital so Cuddy could drop off House since his bike was still there.

They loaded what they bought in the trunk of the Lexus and Cuddy made her way back to the driver's side when somebody blocked her way.

Earlier That Day, Princeton Mall Parking Area

A huge man with brown curly hair, white complexion, and hazelnut eyes was waiting for his steal of the month. Ewen Eusep was waiting for the right car when he saw a Matador Red GS Hybrid 09 Lexus looking for a spot. 'Come to papa.' He thought when he saw the seemingly brand new car.

He was even more pleased when he saw a gimp and a foxy lady stepped out from the vehicle. 'Damn. I'd kill the gimp and have that sexy toy to play with, the car is just the added bonus if I fucked her senseless then just dispose of her when I damn well pleased.' he was smiling at the plot his mind was concocting. 'I'll just let them have a few more hours with each other before I give them hell.'

He then started to plan about how to make his appearance.

Currently...

Cuddy jumped and shrieked when the man took hold of her shoulders.

"What's wrong sweetheart?" The man said sweetly which made Cuddy shiver in fear.

"Get your hands of me!" She yelled.

House was quick on his feet even if his leg screamed at him in pain.

Even though House's left leg was a bit useless, his upper body strength is very strong. He shoved the man which caused him to tumble down.

"Don't you dare touch her!" House stood in front of Cuddy and she held on to the back of his shirt.

"House, let's just go. He isn't worth it." She whispered.

"You fucking cripple!" The man stood up and lunged at him. Hitting him in the jaw. It only caused House to be moved by the force but not tumble down. House then shoved Cuddy behind the car.

Cuddy just stood in shock. She was too nervous and too scared to do anything.

The man started hitting House again and again until House tumbled down.

"Not so tough now, are you?" Eusep mocked him.

He turned to face Cuddy.

"Hey there sweetheart, how may I service you today?" He started to come towards her.

"Would it be me inside you? Or will it be my lips nestled in that cleavage?" He was describing acts of lasciviousness to her which rooted her to the ground.

"Please..... Don't....." Cuddy whispered, tears starting to form in her eyes.

"It won't hurt at all," Eusep said sarcastically.

He then started touching her shoulders. But before he can put his lips in any part of her House grabbed his arm and threw a punch at him. It struck his nose which then started to bleed at the force.

"Get off her!" House growled like a lion protecting his pride.

"Fuck!" Eusep cursed. He then kicked House in his right leg which caused House to scream in pain. But House was still able to shove his cane into the man's abdomen to buy time.

He then painfully turned to a horror stricken Cuddy, shook her from her trance and said, "I want you to run right now. Find a security guard or whatever and tell them what happened. Go!"

"I won't leave you!" Cuddy said, letting the tears fall.

"Do it now or we'll never get out of here." He said firmly. "GO!"

Cuddy conceded and complied. She nodded her head but gave House a quick kiss.

"Don't get hurt." She said and started running off.

"Damn you, you fucking bastard! You're going to pay for that dearly! So will your girlfriend!" Eusep growled at him then lunged after him.

House fell to the ground with a loud thud and Eusep started beating him to a pulp.

When he stood up, he gave House a hard kick in the ribs that made House howl in pain.

"I told you not to mess with me," he started then pulled out a gun and aimed it at House, "Now, I'll tell you what I'll do next. I'll shoot you, get the car, and go after your woman, rape her, then kill her." He said menacingly.

"I'll die before you get to touch her again. I'll make sure of that." House managed to croak out. He would at least buy time for Cuddy to be safe with someone. He would never let his best friend, boss, and that thing he can't bring himself to admit fall in the hands of this idiot. No he wasn't an idiot, he's a maniac in need of psychiatric care.

"I told you I'd kill you first."

"Then do it!" With that House managed to stand with all the strength that's left of him and lunged at Eusep.

Cuddy was running frantically towards the entrance to the mall, her heart burning to be with House again. "God! House, please don't be a bastard! You ask me out two times then you'll leave me! Don't be a jerk, God, not this time, not when it matters so much," she whispered like a prayer.

She was able to reach the security guards in the area.

"Please, I need help, we've been assaulted in the parking area, the dark part. My friend is still there, God, I don't know what's happening right now. But please, hurry." She said, trying to sound not broken like she was inside. Lucky for her years of training being a dean made her professional and focus on the matter at hand instead of going into shock.

"Then let's go. Please stay behind us." The security guard said while holding on to the gun on his side.

"Romo, call the police. Call an ambulance too," Cuddy cringed at the statement the guard said, "We wouldn't want to take any chances."

Cuddy remembered something, "Call the ambulance from Princeton Plainsboro, tell them Dr. Cuddy asked." She knew that call would send rumors flyin around the moment it was done. But she didn't care. After all, rumors about her and House never disappeared. She was used to them.

"Yes sir." Romo answered then called the police.

Cuddy was assisted by two security guards, excluding Romo who was left at the desk to contact the cops and an ambulance. Her heart was pounding that she thought the two guards with her can hear it.

When they were halfway to where House and the man, they all heard two gunshots.

"HOUSE!" Cuddy cried and her tears started falling again. They all started to run instead of walk fast to the particular place where the men were.

Cuddy didn't believe it! There was a possibility that House was shot. That he was hurt. Possibly that he was dead.

"God! No, no, no!" Cuddy chanted more hot tears covering her face.

'You're supposed to be with me you bastard! God, please don't let it be him. Not now, God, NOT NOW!' she cried and prayed silently to herself. She was practically dying inside at the moment.

When she thought things couldn't get any worse, another gunshot echoed in the wind.

Cuddy froze when they reached the spot.

A/N: My first cliffy! I know, I'm such a tease. But I'm so happy I can write one at all...

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