House sat there for a long time occasionally glancing over at Cameron entirely worried about her silence but not wanting to push her he sat on silence too and waited for something to change.

Keys rattled in the door and Cameron yelped and tensed.

House moved over to her and pulled her over him to straddle his lap and hug her to his chest. "Allie I've got you, its only Wilson okay? Only he'll be able to come in okay?"

Cameron shook against him silently and held him tightly as if he were the only thing keeping her sane.

Wilson emerged from the door in the corner of the large room.

House stroked her back slowly and carefully ever mindful of the bruises he'd just washed and dried. "Lock the door behind you." He ordered still holding Cameron close to him, though not as tight as she held him.

He watched Wilson shake out of his shock and turn to lock the door. He hung up his jacket and drew closer, Cameron shivered in his arms a little more.

"House, what's going on?"

He sighed softly and kissed Cameron's hair softly. "Do you want me to tell him?"

She nodded against his neck.

"I don't want you to have to hear this again so we're going to go into the kitchen okay?"

She nodded again this time somewhat reluctantly and slid to his side ready to occupy the warmth he left behind the moment he stood. He kissed her softly on the forehead and grabbed Wilson and dragged him into the kitchen deciding the sooner people she could trust knew about it the sooner she could get better.

"Greg," Wilson said in a very serious and worried tone. "What the hell is going on?"

"We've been going out for drinks, last night and the night before. Her boyfriend saw us last night and got drunk and jealous. And when... when she got home he beat her and tried to rape her."

"Oh my god!" Wilson exclaimed.

"Shut up!" House hissed. "She doesn't need to hear about it again... she's lived it once and re-lived it twice already she doesn't need it again."

"Okay, okay... House this is huge. How...?" Wilson was at a loss for words so House continued to speak softly not wanting silence, not wanting to think again.

"She called me as soon as she got away. I called a cab and picked her up, brought her here and treated her wounds. We went to the police after you left and told them everything. They sent guys round to her place and they picked the guy up still unconscious in the hall with his pants around his ankles. They gave us a ride home but we stopped by her place to pick up her stuff. Both of us will be staying for a while." He said softly finishing what had transpired in their world.

He was not going to leave her. Not like this. He wasn't even sure he wanted to leave her at all.

"You're staying for her." He said not as a question but a statement as if discovering a new side to his friend.

"Yes." House said looking through the doorway at the woman wrapped in the bundle of his clothes.

"Are you doing this because of guilt?"

"What no... What do I have to feel guilty about?"

"If he hadn't seen..."

"If he wasn't a fucking bastard then she'd be married to him and have five kids by now. I gave her a choice, whether to stay or go." he said remembering sitting at a piano with her hand in his 48 hours ago. "She stayed, so I'm staying."

"Do you...?"

House turned and stared at him. "I liked her as soon as I saw her James. She's beautiful and fascinating and we were getting somewhere before... I hope we can get back there."

Wilson nodded.

"Listen I'm going make dinner and it'll be ready in about an hour... she looks tired." He said slightly vaguely.

"Thanks." House nodded at him and headed back into the lounge and walked around to stand in front of her and stretched out his hand. "Nap time."

"I'm not tired." She protested.

"I am." He replied honestly. "Keep me company."

She stood and took his hand and followed him towards the bedroom. They slid between the sheets and she found her way onto his chest once more.

Neither were tired enough to sleep but both glad of the quiet moment and the warmth of the other.

She kissed his neck gently.

He smiled and stroked her back carefully.

She sucked his earlobe into her mouth and nibbled it in a way that made him groan softly.

He frowned.

"Allie what are you...?"

She sat up with her hips seated directly over hers and began rocking gently as she whisked her shirt over her head. "I want you to make love to me." She said in a soft timid tone conflicting with her outwardly confidant behaviour.

"What?" he asked shocked and confused but even so his hands came to rest instinctively on her hips, neither hindering nor encouraging her continuingly soft movements.

"It's been maybe 8 years since some one made love to me. Since I felt wanted, respected, loved... I need to feel that now. I need to know..." She said quietly with tears welling up in her eyes.

He sat up and wrapped his arms around her, letting his hands smooth across her back as he kissed her neck softly.

"I respect you and as you can obviously feel," he said referring to his growing length, "I want you just as much as I did the first time I saw you but..." he said with a soft sigh pulling back to look in her eyes, "I can't make love to you... not yet. You've been through something very traumatic and you have to deal with that. I can't just swoop in and try to replace that memory with a new more appealing one... it won't help you."

Tears poured freely down her cheeks now but she nodded in agreement and rested her head on his shoulder.

"I can still show you that I respect and want you... but pants stay on okay?" He said with a soft grin as he brushed his lips against her shoulder.

She practically giggled against him and it was music to his ears more precious than the first time he heard Beethoven. She pulled back with a soft smile around her eyes and pressed her lips delicately to his.

He kissed her back as softly as he knew how and cupped the back of her head gently moving his hand slightly through the wavy curls her hair seemed to have formed as it dried naturally. Her hands smoothed down his chest and reached for the hem of his shirt lifting it slowly up his torso as her hands explored his body. He smiled against her lips and pulled back lifting his arms above his head. She smiled softly back and lifted his shirt over his head tossing it in the general direction that hers went.

House slid back until his back hit the headboard and beckoned her closer.

They both moaned softly as their bare torsos pressed together for the first time.

He traced the soft features of her face with his fingertips as she settled around him carefully mindful of both of their pains and suffering.

"Beautiful." He murmured reverently and staring deep in to her cool green eyes.

"Thank you." she answered softly, not being able to remember one word ever spoken with so much affection.

He smiled slightly and cupped her cheek spending the next half hour showering her in gentle kisses and soft caresses, before kissing her soundly his tongue tasting her thoroughly and sucking her gently as she explored him. They pulled back breathless and rested their foreheads against the others.

"Thank you." She whispered once more.

"I had a good time too." he said with a soft grin.

"You know what I mean." She was thanking him for doing what was right, telling her no and leading her down the right path that she couldn't see.

"You're welcome." He said in a soft serious tone. "I think we better get up... Wilson said dinner would be ready in an hour and I don't think any of us would be particularly pleased if he came in and saw us in this situation."

She smiled and shook her head softly as she slid from his lap and moved to retrieve their shirts, tossing him his and pulling hers on swiftly.

They walked down the hall hand in hand towards Wilson setting the table.

He glanced up at them glad that they looked a little happier than before and thinking to himself that a nap can do a world of good.

"Sleep well?"

"Not at all." House replied with a soft smile.