So, who attacked Mrs. Bradford? Sorry, but we're not going to find that out so fast.

Thanks for reading. I appreciate all the wonderful comments and seeing new readers every week.

Chapter 10. Aftereffects

The emergency vehicle sped ahead of them, but before House and Cameron could follow, the police chief arrived. House groaned and turned off the motor.

Chief Anderson got out of his car and walked toward them. "I got a call that Pamela Bradford was found in the woods out here."

They both nodded. "She'd been left, face down, under a pile of leaves." Cameron pointed to where they found the woman.

Anderson turned on his phone and started typing. "You found her?"

"Yes. About half an hour ago."

"You're building a house here, right? Came out to inspect?" Anderson's tone was non-threatening.

"We'd been fishing with Pete Carver, stopped on our way back to town," House replied. "Took a short walk into the woods and found her." He sighed. "I called 911 and did a surface exam, tried to make her comfortable without moving her much."

"Was there a sign of a struggle?"

House shook his head. "The blood on her head was dry and the position she was in indicated she hadn't been hit here."

"The paramedics are taking her to Snow Hill, but it looks like the head injury is the only damage."

Anderson grimaced. "That's good. Hopefully she'll be able to tell us what happened and who did it."

He looked toward the trees. "If the two of you can show me where you found her..." He started walking without waiting for an answer. "I doubt we'll find any evidence, but you never know."

They led him to the spot.

"Thanks. I guess you can go."

"Bye, Chief." Cameron started back to the car, while House remained to watch the police chief for a minute or two before joining her.

They reached Snow Hill Mercy just after the paramedics arrived with Mrs. Bradford. As they got out of the car to enter the ER, Cameron said, "Maybe I should call Sharon Davis."

"That's not your job. Besides, I bet the paramedics called her."

They heard the victim before they saw her. "How dare you bring me to this rinky-dink hospital. I need to be air-lifted to Salisbury or, better yet, Baltimore." She attempted to rise, but Al pushed her back down.

"Mrs. Bradford, the less you're moved the better until the doctors determine the extent of your injuries." Ellen made an attempt to calm her. "If they determine you need treatment that you can't get here, of course you'll be taken to a bigger hospital."

"Yeah, and be ignored by the overworked staff," House murmured.

Cameron smirked, but walked over to the patient. "Mrs. Bradford, I'm so glad you're awake."

Bradford frowned at her. "Dr. Cameron, what are you doing here? And how did you know about my accident?"

"It wasn't an accident. You were hit on the head and then deposited in the woods near our site. House and I found you."

"Maybe we should have left her there." House stood at her shoulder and glared at Bradford.

She stared at him, then turned to Al. "Has anyone called my daughter?"

"I did, before we even arrived at the scene," Ellen replied. "She said she'd meet us here."

An ER nurse approached and the paramedics gave her their findings, as an orderly wheeled Bradford away. Sharon and Will Davis came rushing in with Rachel trailing behind.

"Where are they taking my mother?" The anguish on Sharon's pale face created lines that were never there before.

"They have to examine her, to see whether there are any injuries." Cameron placed a hand on Sharon's arm. "I'm sure they'll let you see her as soon as they do."

"Who could have done this to her?"

"Oh, I can think of a long list of suspects."

Sharon turned to House with a frown. "I know my mother is a difficult person and many people didn't like her. Even I have had my differences with her. But to hit her over the head and then leave her where she might not be found for days..." Her eyes filled with tears.

"Mom, Dr. Cameron and Dr. House did find her and she's getting treatment. She'll be alright." Rachel tried to smile.

"She was conscious when we arrived." Cameron compressed her lips. "Why don't we go get some coffee while we wait."

"There's a canteen around the corner, although the coffee's not so good." House started in that direction. "I could use some lunch. Maybe the cafeteria will be better."

Sharon held back, but finally sighed and went with them. The cafeteria was crowded with hospital staff and visitors, but they found a table and were able to pull five chairs around it.

"Dr. Cameron, is my grandmother going to be alright?" Rachel forehead puckered and her eyes were darker than usual.

"I think so. The fact that she woke complaining is a good sign."

The teen mustered a slight smile. "When can we see her?"

"That'll be up to the ER doctors and how many tests they want to do before they allow any visitors. I'll get some coffees." Cameron stood. "Rachel, would you like a Coke or iced tea?"

"A Coke, please. Maybe I'll go with you."

"Bring some food, too." House patted his stomach.

The two of them got in the long line.

Will's dark eyes shifted from his daughter to House."I wonder why they picked that site."

House shrugged. "Possibly to implicate you. Or me. They had to have known that you'd started work on our house. Maybe they figured you'd find her next time you were there."

"But that wouldn't be until Monday." Will scowled. "It's a good thing you stopped. Do you think they'll suspect me? Everyone knows I've never liked the woman, but she is Sharon's mother, and Rachel's grandmother."

His wife put a hand on his. "There are plenty of other people who don't like my mother. It's hard to believe that any of them would go to this extreme because of it."

"You're right." House nodded. "I bet we'll find that there's more behind this than dislike. If that's all it is, she would have been conked on the head hundreds of times in the past. Still, don't be surprised if Chief Anderson comes knocking on your door to ask where you were last night and this morning."

"I hope my mother saw who it was and that'll be the end of it." Sharon sighed. "And I hope there's no permanent damage."

"You think maybe it'll make her nicer?" House guffawed. "More likely the experience will make her even more angry than she already is."

"Angry?" The woman who looked like a younger version of her mother, but had a completely different personality seemed surprised by his choice of adjective.

"Would you prefer ornery? Mean?"

"Why do you think she's angry, doctor?" Will stared at him.

Cameron and Rachel returned with two trays filled with food and drinks.

House grinned as he appropriated a plate of French fries. "Pamela Bradford comes across as very aggressive. There tends to be lots of anger behind that kind of behavior, not that I'm an authority on the behavior of others."

Cameron smirked at him. "You're one of the most observant people I've ever known. And you're a keen student of peoples' actions and the reasons for them. It's part of what makes you such a good diagnostician."

A smile played across his mouth, but he didn't comment on the compliment. Instead he switched back to what they'd talked about earlier. "So, Will, where were you last night and this morning?"

Will frowned. "You don't suspect me, do you?"

"No. But, as I said, Chief Anderson might tag you as a prime suspect."

"He was home." Sharon put her hand on his arm. "We had dinner a little late last night, and then watched some TV and went to bed. We got up about nine this morning, had breakfast, then took Rachel to a practice."

"You made the team?" Cameron grinned at the teen.

She nodded. "Mom and Dad both came to my practice this morning. We were on our way home when we got the phone call about Grandmother."

"Guess that means you all have an alibi no matter when she was attacked."

"Won't she know what time that was? And who hurt her?" Rachel looked from one adult to another for an answer. She peeled the paper off a straw and put it into her drink.

"Maybe. But if she was hit from behind, she may not have seen him or her. The wound was here." Cameron pointed to the part of her own head corresponding to where Mrs. Bradford's injury was.

"At least she'll be able to tell us when and where she was attacked." Sharon sipped her coffee, then added a packet of sugar.

Will moved his sandwich around on his plate. "There were no other injuries?" He finally lifted a half and took a bite.

"I didn't see any. That doesn't mean that the blow to the head didn't cause internal damage." House looked up as a doctor approached them. "We'll know soon enough."

The young doctor looked from one of them to the other. "Mrs. Davis?"

"I'm Sharon Davis." She stood. "Is my mother ready for visitors?"

"Only two at a time, but before you go to her, I'll have to warn you. She doesn't remember what happened to her, and she's demanding to be sent home. We can't do that. With a wound like hers, we have to keep her overnight. Perhaps one of you can convince her."

"Is the amnesia temporary?"

"There's no way to tell. She knows who she is. The only thing she can't remember is the actually attack and anything that's happened since."

"Sharon, maybe you should see her alone." Will gripped his wife's shoulder.

She nodded. "Where is she?"

The doctor led her out, and Will sighed. "I knew it wouldn't be simple, that she'd identify the person who hit her."