A/N Hmm, I went back on my word! *laughs* I did say I'd post this tomorrow, but it's only a small chapter so I thought I'd give it to you guys now before I go and curl up in my warm quilt with my hot water bottle of a cat! Enjoy! I don't really know if this one should have a warning on it, but it upset me writing it (but yes, it is personal to me), so maybe I should warn you it is a little upsetting, it doesn't include any references to what happened, apart from the rape exam which doesn't feature in this chapter – but .. yeah, Sammie, stop rambling! This chapter is for Jay, who is no longer alive, but he was my House through this x

Chapter 7

"How is she? Really?" Foreman asked in a very quiet voice.

"A fuckin mess! She told me everything, about the strangling from patients, knife holding thing, what Adam's father said to her, then what he DID to her. It was in this hospital Cuddy, pathology!"

"Dear god .." Wilson exclaimed as tears seeped through Cuddy's eyes silently.

A loud scream could be heard echoing through the walls and House turned on his heel and back into his dark office to see Cameron burying her face in her arms sobbing.

"It's ok, I'm here" he whispered into her ear as she clung onto him. Foreman, Wilson and Cuddy watched from the joining door into his office, she sobbed into his chest as Foreman spoke only loud enough for Cuddy and Wilson to hear.

"Someone should have noticed, with all this CCTV, how could anyone miss it?"

"I wish I knew" Cuddy sighed before walking into the room, she sat on the edge of her chair and put her hand gently on Cameron's shaking shoulder, letting her know she is there. "I'm so sorry" she whispered before kissing her lightly on her head. She felt Cameron's hand move across her lap and towards Cuddy, Cuddy took it in her hand unsure of whether Cameron wanted her to or not, she squeezed it slightly, Cuddy gave a sad smile towards her before stroking her hair.

Foreman and Wilson walked slowly into the room, not wishing to invade her personal space, but feeling they would be able to now Cuddy had made the first move. Foreman simply squeezed her shoulder. Wilson slowly leaned down infront of her, putting his hands gently on his knees to steady himself; she gradually turned her head towards him, his heart broke looking at the pain she is in, it was all too visible in her eyes except for anything else "I think .. maybe it's time you went home; we can do the exam tomorrow"

She violently shook her head, so much so Cuddy had to stop her for fear that she would do damage to her neck in some way. "No, no, I can't go back there, I can't, it's not safe there, or here" tears glistened in her eyes once again.

"It's ok, you can come home with me" everyone looked taken aback at the response she received from House, he rubbed her arm gently before getting up. "I'll go and get my stuff and sort out a taxi"

"No, it's ok, I'll drive you both home" Wilson said.

______

Foreman was stood with Chase at the nurses' station, making sure they all knew to leave Cameron alone when she came out of the office. They heard a click of a door as the office door opened and Cameron slowly walked out covered in her coat, supported by Cuddy who held her hand tightly while resting her other arm across her back for extra support, hoping also that it would make her feel slightly more secure.

They walk down the corridor together, and down the stairs, knowing that the lift would be too confining for her and would cause her more stress than she was already under. The corridors were silent, and the clinic was closed so no one was in the entrance for the hospital, Cuddy was grateful for this as it meant getting Cameron to the car was going to be easy, she helped get her into the car before bending down to Cameron's level, "Call me, if you need a chat, we're all here for you, I'm just so sorry it happened" a tear escaped Cameron's eye and silently drifted down her cheek as she reached forward pulling Cuddy into a hug.

"Thank you" was all she could muster as House strolled towards the car and got in next to Cameron as Wilson started the engine. The car pulled away and Cuddy still stood there with Foreman by her side.

"How .." but Cuddy couldn't carry on, she sat staring down into the dark road where Wilson's car had just turned right. Foreman rubbed Cuddy's shoulder before squeezing it.

"I don't know" and with that they both lingered for a while before turning back into the hospital, all they wanted to do now was go home, but neither knew they would get much rest, tomorrow was going to be agonizing, for everyone, especially Cameron.

Wilson parked the car up against the curb directly outside of House's front door. House got out and walked round the car as quick as he could to open the door for Cameron, as she shakily got out, he watched her tense up. "It's alright, you're safe" he looked deep into her eyes, trying to reassure her that it was ok, she nodded before standing up. House handed his keys clumsily to Wilson before guiding her into the front room; he sat her gently on the sofa as she looked round the room.

"I'll be back in a minute, I'm going to go outside and help Wilson bring everything in" her eyes widened with fear as she grabbed his arm, she didn't need to say anything, she knew exactly what she was thinking "scream if you need me, no one can come in, I assure you"

He walked outside to the car where Wilson sat against the bonnet, "Are you sure about this House?" he looked at his friend has he opened the boot to reveal all her bags as well as their own.

"Yes" he nodded "its fine, she's too scared to go home, and who can blame her"

Wilson nodded in agreement but said no more, House picked up his own bag and slung it over his shoulder, he walked towards the door as Wilson collected the other bags from the mucky boot, and he smiled back at his friend as he pulled the boot down and slammed it shut, before following house back into his House. Wilson thought it was strange to see House standing by the door, he looked over his friends shoulder to see Cameron laid down on the sofa curled up in a ball, small sobs escaped her, but he was pretty sure she was asleep. Both men took the bags into the bedroom and placed them in the corner on the floor, Wilson walked back into the room followed by House and stood infront of the sofa where Cameron lay sleeping, they watched her while she slept, wondering how she would ever recover from something so traumatic, her eyes red from crying and skin so pale anyone would have thought she was dead, House reached for the maroon coloured blanket elegantly placed over the chair in the corner of the room, he spread it over Cameron careful not to wake her from her sleep, tenderly he stroked her cold cheek while his friend watched on wondering how much this had actually affected House and what it would mean if anything. House sighed loudly motioning towards the door; they both stepped over the books and magazines that lay sprawled on the floor.

"Tomorrow is going to be .." Wilson seemed lost for words as he stared up into the star-filled sky, it was chilly but he hadn't really noticed until now. He hadn't expected to hear what Cameron was said today, yes, he expected physical assault, but not .. rape.

"Tricky" was all House could muster, Wilson gazed back at his friend, he could see he was struggling, but he didn't think now was the right time to approach him on his feelings for House's youngest duckling.

"Yes. We have to do the examination tomorrow, I .. don't think it's a good idea that erm .. you do it" Wilson said, though he struggled to find the right words.

"I want you to do it Wilson, with Cuddy. There's no one I trust more to look-" he stopped and looked back towards the door, Wilson sensed House had let out a little more than he wanted to. Wilson just nodded.

"I better go, I'll be back to pick you up in the morning, 9.30 sharp" Wilson said before getting into his car and driving away leaving House stood there for a while.

Slowly, he limped back into the house, it was quiet, her sobs had finally subsided as she fell into a sleep, he sat on the edge of the sofa looking at her, a thin strand of hair lay loosely over her eyes so she wiped it away slowly from her delicate face. "I .. love you Cameron" he finally admitted to her before kissing her forehead before standing up and moving to the door frame that split his room from the living room, "I won't ever let anyone hurt you again" and with that he collapsed onto his bed and fell asleep.