A/N: I just want to thank everyone for reading and sticking with this. Please continue to bear with me through my writing experiments and all that good stuff. You're all wonderful and I'm lucky to have you as readers. I'm all done gushing now, on with the show! (No ownership).

Chapter 11: not a fan of dark meat

House was rudely awakened out of a nice non-Cameron related dream by someone shaking him.

He lifted the sleep mask from his eyes and found Wilson leaning over him, looking frantic.

"I didn't touch that damned book, I swear it," he murmured groggily.

"It's not the book. It's Cameron. She's gone."

He sat upright, any thought of going back to sleep and kicking Wilson out of the tent shoved aside.

"What do you mean, gone?"

"I mean gone, as in not here! And there's hoofprints leading away from her tent!"

"Hoofprints?! Are we looking for Seabiscuit or Black Beauty?"

"House, think about it, it's the Jersey Devil!"

House scoffed. "Do I have to reiterate that there's no such thing?" But he sounded unsure, even to himself. He recalled that first night when he had seen the tail disappearing in the bushes.

He got up as quickly as he could and stomped out of the tent, where Chase and Foreman were already waiting, looking worried.

He went to her tent and looked inside. It smelled of earth. The hoofprints were there too all right, leading away from the campsite into the underbrush.

"Quit standing around like morons, and let's go already! Come on, we're wasting time."

Foreman and Chase focused on him. "Aren't we going to call the police?" Chase asked uncertainly.

"Of course not, you idiot. What would we say? That the Jersey Devil kidnapped Cameron? Do you know how stupid that sounds?"

"You believe it now?" Wilson asked quietly.

"I think I have to. It makes sense. She was hurt. Predators prey on the weak ones first. It probably followed the scent of her blood here." He didn't add that he'd seen it lurking around the campsite.

"Well, we can't go after it ourselves." Foreman broke in suddenly.

"Why not? We have a gun so we can blast its brains out when we find it. What the hell's wrong with all of you? We don't know what it's going to do to her, or how much time she's got left. We need to go NOW!"

That seemed to spur them into action. They grabbed their packs and the gear and met back at the firepit.

"Anyone know how to track?" House asked.

"I do…sort of. I used to be a Boy Scout," Wilson put in.

House rolled his eyes and said sarcastically, "Really? I'm shocked."

Wilson gave him a look. "It was a while ago, but I'll give it a shot."

"I'll help you. I was a Boy Scout too," Foreman said.

House raised an eyebrow. "Really? I'm shocked." This time he was serious.

"I wasn't always a car thief," Foreman shot back.

"Looks like it took her that way, from the direction of these prints."

"Then let's go," House said and they started off, House in the lead, Chase behind him, then Foreman, and Wilson bringing up the rear.

"You know, no one's ever found the Devil's cave," Wilson said as they followed the print trail.

"Well, we'll be the first," House said confidently. "And do you mean, no one's found it or no one's made it back once they found it?"

"I'm not really sure, but I'm hoping for the former."

They trekked for awhile and then the trail went cold.

"Well that was good while it lasted. Come on Boy Scouts, next step!" House ordered.

"Well, no more prints, but the brush is broken going that way and everything's flattened. Looks like it was dragging her," Foreman said.

"I can't believe you were a Boy Scout." House shook his head.

"Just shut up. And you're lucky I was."

They continued on and Chase piped up, "Are we going to rest or stop for…well I guess it's brunch?"

"No."

"No?"

"No, Chase, clear the wombats out of your head and think. We're on a bit of a time constraint here! And besides, we can eat cereal while we walk."

That said, Chase pulled out bags of cereal and passed them down the line.

"Please tell me you're dropping M&Ms again Chase," Wilson said.

"I am."

"Good."

They munched their cereal while they walked, House dropping cereal pieces as they did.

"You don't need to do that House. Chase is dropping M&Ms."

"I don't want the cereal. Just the marshmallows."

"I'll eat it," Chase offered.

"You have enough."

Chase glared.

"Must I remind you what happens if you keep that up?"

The glare lessened in intensity, but didn't vanish.

"Why do you suddenly care so much anyway?" Chase asked a moment later.

House stopped so suddenly that Chase bumped into him and so on down the line.

He turned slowly and looked Chase square in the face.

"Let's get one thing straight. She is my responsibility, whether I like it or not. All of you are. I'm the reason Cuddy made us do this. So, we are getting her back, no matter what it takes. I'd be doing the same thing if it was any of the rest of you, got it?"

Chase looked taken aback, he swallowed and nodded. "That doesn't sound like House," he thought. "Maybe he does give a damn about us, after all. Cameron, at any rate."

"Good." House turned around and continued walking. "Besides, there's no way in hell I'm going to hire a new immunologist."

"That sounds like House," Chase thought.

"Wilson," House called over his shoulder. "You're the Pine Barrens expert here, how big is this place?"

"I'm not really sure, but it's big."

"Great. And I suppose there isn't one particular area where this thing would hide out?"

"We just have to follow the trail. That's really about all we can do, since local authorities are out of the question. Should I call Cuddy?"

"Hell no. What could she do anyway?"

"She'd probably like to know."

"Too bad. I'll tell her after this is all over. Remind her that she's the one who made us all do this."

"Because of you," Foreman reminded him.

House didn't reply. His shoulders stiffened, but other than that, he gave no sign he'd even heard.

They walked along until it got too dark to see the trail, and House crashed where he stood.

"Guess we're stopping here for the night," Wilson said, putting his pack down.

"Did any of you pack night-vision goggles by any chance?" House asked.

They shook their heads.

"Then we're done for the night." He sighed. He would have gone all night, despite the angry protests his leg was making. Every wasted hour, every minute, could mean the difference between life and death for Cameron.

It hit him then. He did care. A lot. Not just because of what he'd told Chase, but more than that. He wanted her back. To convince her he was for real, that he did want something with her. And even the thought of never getting the chance was a feeling akin to death.

That, and there was no way in hell he was going to hire a new immunologist. He hated hiring, and he didn't want another one. He wanted her.

He snapped out of his reverie and barked at Chase. "Make with the cereal already. My sugar rush is wearing off!"

Chase passed out more bags of Lucky Charms, and they began eating in the twilight.

"Did you pack the flashlight Wilson?"

"Yes, and no you can't have it."

"Well, break it out. It's gonna get darker here real soon. I don't want to accidentally eat a piece of actual cereal."

"Yea, that would be a tragedy," Wilson said dryly, and pulled out the flashlight, turned it on, and shone it around their makeshift camp.

"We should probably sleep in shifts," Foreman said practically.

"Chase first shift, Foreman, second, I'll take third, Wilson, you can have fourth."

They finished their cereal and Chase took the bags and stuffed them back in his pack.

Wilson said, "We should get some sleep, get our strength back so we can make an early start in the morning."

"Good idea," Foreman agreed, stretching out on the ground.

House just sat, dreading the cold hard ground. "Anyone bring a blanket or anything?"

"I have one," Chase said. "Why?"

"I need it."

"Again, why?"

"None of your business."

"Then, no. I think I'll use it."

Wilson leaned over and whispered something to Chase. His eyes grew wide and without another word, he pulled the folded up blanket out and handed it over to his boss.

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it," Chase said, surprised to hear that word coming from House.

They were just settling down, Chase in charge of the flashlight, when a piercing scream cut through the air. They all sat up.

"What was that?" Foreman asked.

"The Devil," Wilson said, his voice shaking.

They huddled closer together instinctively, no one making a sound.

The ear splitting noise called again, closer this time, and all shivered.

"Chase, shine the flashlight," House ordered, angry at how frightened he sounded.

Chase shone it around and came upon a pair of red eyes, shining in the beam of the light, looking out from the bushes.

"I-it's over t-t-there."

"Don't make eye c-contact," Foreman said.

None of them could take their eyes off it, however. It just watched them not moving.

"Shouldn't we go after it?" Wilson whispered.

No one moved.

"If you guys won't, I will." And Wilson took off towards it. It ran off, Wilson in hot pursuit.

"Idiot. We can't split up. Foreman, go with him, and keep talking so we can keep track of you," House ordered, grabbing the flashlight from Chase and tossing it to Foreman.

"Shouldn't I take the gun?"

"No, we need it alive so we can track it to its lair."

Foreman ran after Wilson without another word.

"Foreman!" House called after a moment.

"We're gaining on it!"

"Can you see Wilson?"

"Yea, and he sees it," Foreman yelled back.

There was a yell of surprise.

"Foreman?"

"I'm down. I tripped on something. Wilson's still after it though. I can see him with the light."

"Dammit. It's splitting them up on purpose. Wilson!?"

Wilson's voice came somewhere far to their left.

"I can't run anymore. I've lost it. I'm not sure.." He sounded out of breath.

There was another yell, this one of pain, followed by another.

"It scratched me!" Wilson sounded terrified. There was the sound of a struggle and another scream from the Devil, which was followed by a cry from Wilson, which was cut off.

"Chase, stay close, and grab the extra packs. Foreman! Shine the light up so we can find you!"

The light shot up like a beacon, and the two headed towards it.

When they found him, Foreman was sitting on the ground.

"Are you hurt?" Chase asked.

"I'm bleeding. I don't know if it scratched me or what, but never mind that, it got Wilson. It took him."

"Divide and conquer. It's picking us off one by one. We must be on the right track to its cave," House said, eyes on the spot ahead of Foreman where the struggle had taken place.

"He put up a fight, but it hit him in the head, hard, and it dragged him off," Foreman explained.

"You were hurt though, Foreman. Why didn't it take you instead of Wilson?" Chase asked.

"Because Wilson posed the more immediate threat. It took precedence over weakness. Or maybe it just isn't a fan of dark meat," House thought out loud.

"Can you just shut up for 5 minutes?!" Foreman asked.

"Don't feel left out. Now that you're hurt, you'll be next. It'll smell the blood."

Foreman sighed in defeat. "I know."

"Can you walk?"

"I think so. It's not serious or anything. I wish we had a first aid kit though. I'm bleeding more than I'd like."

House reached over and ripped Chase's sleeve for another bandage, eliciting a sigh from Chase.

"Will you not be satisfied until you've ruined all my shirts?"

"Not until I've wrecked every single one."

The three dropped where they sat. House pulled the blanket out and laid it on the ground. Then he fished around for the sleep mask, but kept the ear plugs put away.

"Chase, you're still on first shift. Wake Foreman at midnight."

"Got it. Is that mask pink?"

"It's Wilson's, technically. He'd want me to use it in his absence. We leave at first light."

And with that, they all tried to relax, Chase shining the light around every so often, just in case.

A/N: So, there it is, 2 down, 3 to go. PLEASE R&R!! It keeps me going! I have no idea when next chapter will be up, because I'm doing terrible in chemistry and need to focus on it for a bit. Lemme know how y'all feel about a sequel to this, cause I've got an idea if the demand is there. Thank you much!