A/N: Hold onto your hats! This sh*t is about to get real, yo!

Chapter Ten

House's head throbbed when he finally came to. At first everything was still spinning and blurred. He couldn't make sense of what happened or where he was so he closed his eyes again until the spinning ceased.

Some minutes later, he opened one weary eye and looked around. He was in the lounge part of the wine cellar and it was dark, save for a dim lamp in the corner. The two glasses he and Greyson used sat on the small table.

Greyson...he thought to himself. Smarmy little prick. He dosed me! House glanced around the small room and grabbed his cane that still leaned against the wall. He tried the door but it was locked.

Of course it is, he thought and fished in his pockets. On his keyring he kept his lock picking tools and went to work. Within seconds he unlocked the door and made his way through the wine cellar. That door was locked so he picked that lock and crossed the hall to the elevator. The doors opened and he got in. He went to straight to Greyson's room and found him combing his hair as he admired his image in the mirror.

House advanced on him and Greyson dropped his brush. He turned to face House.

"How did you get out?" he asked as House loomed over him. Fear traced an icy finger down his spine. Despite his disability, House was very muscular. Greyson saw the fury burning in House's clear blue eyes and swallowed hard.

"You just couldn't leave things alone, could you?" House asked in a quiet, dangerous voice. He crowded Greyson against the long dresser. He could see the fear in Greyson's eyes and he smiled slowly. "You're a cowardly little shit. No wonder Allison can't stand to be around you."

Greyson tried to push against House but it was like trying to push a brick wall.

"I know you got rid of my stuff," House continued. "Did they find the note yet?"

"How did you-"

"Because I'm not an idiot. You think if I'm gone Allison will come cry in your arms. You really don't know her. Where is my stuff?"

"I'll call security," Greyson squeaked.

"Try," House said. He bent Greyson back until he lay on the top of the dresser then pressed his cane against his throat. "My stuff."

"Tack room." Greyson gasped.

House straightened and Greyson lunged for him. House turned and hit him square on the jaw. Greyson crumbled to the floor.

"Ah, there you are, Doctor," Bennings said from the doorway. "The party is starting. I found your belongings in the tack room of the stables. Miss Allison is very worried about you." He ignored Greyson lying in a heap on the floor. "Your tuxedo is pressed and ready. I shall draw a bath for you."

"Thanks, Jeeves," House smiled as he followed him out.

"Where's Doctor House, dear?" GG inquired of Cameron once the party was well under way.

She managed a slight smile. "I don't know. I think he left."

GG frowned. "Well that doesn't seem right."

"No, it doesn't."

"Is he in the habit of disappearing like this?"

"No." Unless he was hiding from Cuddy to avoid clinic duty, of course, she thought. "Greyson said he might've taken a taxi late last night but Bennings checked the security tapes and said nobody came or went. I'm worried. Where would he be?"

"Go look for him, dear," GG told her. "There are only so many places he could be."

"I wouldn't begin to know where to start."

"If you're as in tune with each other as I think you are, you'll find him."

GG was right, as always. Cameron checked the lower floor first, and then decided to give his room another try. She was shocked when she found him standing in front of the mirror, tying his black bowtie.

"House! Where the hell were you?"

She rushed over to him and wrapped her arms around him in a death grip.

"I'm fine," he assured her as he stepped back and looked at her. She wore the same red dress from the fundraiser a year ago and he still never tired of seeing her in it. "Even moreso now. I'll explain everything, but we have to get to the party. I don't want to piss off GG by being a no show."

"She's not pissed off, she's worried, just like I was."

House put his tuxedo jacket on and straightened up. "How do I look?"

Cameron placed her hands on his chest and smiled up at him. "Amazing. Come on, let's go."

They returned to the ballroom and GG's eyes lit up when she saw Cameron with House. "Sorry I'm late, GG," he said as he took a seat next to her. "It couldn't be helped."

"It's quite alright, Greg. I'm glad you're here. Are you alright?"

House looked at Cameron, who squeezed his hand. "I am now."

"Allison says you play the piano. Would you play for me? Just a few songs. Please?"

House smiled at her. "Well, I never was one to say no to a beautiful woman."

He started with the birthday song, of course, and then moved to some lighter, happy songs while a slide show played on a projector screen.

Greyson eventually showed up, a large bruise on his chin and when the show was over, House returned to Cameron's side.

"I have something I'd like to add to the lovely slideshow," Greyson called out. He swaggered over to the laptop connected to the video projector. He pulled a disc out and waggled it for effect before inserting it into the DVD drive. Taking the remote from Hilary, he turned to face everyone.

"GG," he began, "your beloved Allison lied to you. In fact she lied to all of us. When she mentioned she works with the illustrious Gregory House at Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, I decided to do a little detective work. Here's what I found out."

Turning, he clicked the remote and Cameron's wedding certificate flashed up on the screen.

"She married Andrew Cameron and didn't bother to tell any of us," he sneered.

Bitty gasped in horror as all the guests turned to stare at Cameron. House started to stand, but she pulled him back down.

"Don't," she whispered sadly her head bowed. House sat back down and put his arm around her, pulling her close.

"But that isn't all!" Greyson crowed. "Oh, no! She's a widow."

Andrew's death certificate appeared next and Cameron buried her face in House's chest. He gripped his cane and fought the urge to beat Greyson senseless with it as he felt Cameron's tears dampen his shirt.

"As for her boyfriend, Gregory House, he's been arrested and he's a drug addict. He's also not her boyfriend. I talked to Lisa Cuddy, Eric Foreman, Robert Chase and James Wilson. They all told me that Cameron, as she's known, has a crush on House but he isn't interested in her. They all said he's more interested in Lisa Cuddy."

"Enough!"

Everyone turned to see GG standing, her face set in anger. "You have ruined my party. I never liked you, you preening peacock. Get out and don't ever come back here or I'll call the police. As for now, you are ruined, Greyson. After this little stunt of yours no respectable family will have anything to do with you. Now get out or I'll have you thrown out."

"She lied!" Greyson shrieked. "Don't you care?!"

GG shook her head and smiled. "No, it just proves to me that Allison is more like me than she realizes."

Two burly men walked up to Greyson and took him by the arms. He struggled in their grasp.

"Get him out of my sight," GG commanded with a wave of her hand.

Greyson sagged in their grasp and allowed them to lead him away.

"I'll be pressing charges," House called after him.

GG looked at all the guests and sighed. "I think it's time for some more lies to be laid out." She walked to the front of the room.

"When I was eighteen, I married the dearest boy. His name was Sam. It was 1935, the height of The Depression. We both came from poor families and I loved him. He was always what we called "sickly" but that didn't stop him from living his life. He died two days after our first anniversary. He just dropped dead in the field while plowing. I couldn't go back home so I moved here and managed to get a job as a secretary for Harrison Langston. His father just made him a Vice President in the family business. I had no training but he told me he hired me because I was like a painting, something beautiful to look at. He was a bit gruff and abrasive but I fell in love with him and he eventually fell in love with me. In those days, a woman was expected to make a home for her husband and have children. Harry told me he didn't want a housekeeper, he wanted a partner; someone who could help him. So, I did. We worked together and expanded the business. We did have a child. Our wonderful son, Mundell. So, my dear, sweet Allison, you are more like me than you knew. I didn't tell anyone about my first husband because I felt no one would understand. Harry knew but he was more fascinated by the fact I married a man I knew was sick and would die. He once told me no one can be that good-hearted and right-minded. I suppose he was right." She sighed and rubbed her hand across her forehead. "I'm very tired. Thank you for a lovely party but I think it's time to end the evening."