Disclaimer: As always, I do not own House MD, any of the characters or any of the other things in here whose ownership you might question. Though, I really would like to own Hugh Laurie …
A/N: Hey, I'm back. Again, I'm sorry for the wait but I'm currently taking driving lessons so am spending most of my time doing that and organizing a surprise party for a friend who is leaving.
I hope you enjoy it, even if it is a little late, and I hope to post the next chapter relatively soon. As always, reviews help get me writing more :)
Oh, and, once again, thank you all so much for your reviews, I'm glad to know you're still there despite the long waits. Thank you!
Sorry again, and enjoy!
"how are things"? Wilson asked House over the phone a few minutes later while Cuddy got Becca changed and Danny took a shower
"Not good" House replied looking over his shoulder to check that Cuddy was still in the bedroom
"I heard about the trial being moved forwards, it's Friday, right? I'm going to be back there on Thursday, so if you need any help …"
"I'm not the one who needs help" said House looking down at his still tear-stained shirt
On the other end, Wilson sighed "She's never going to admit that she needs help"
"I've noticed"
"How are Danny and Becca?"
"Better than she is" he replied
"Have you tried talking to her?" Wilson asked
"No, I've been sitting on my ass for three days in total silence watching her crumble …" House replied sarcastically "Of course I have, she won't talk …"
"Maybe we should get some outside help, maybe Dr. Kitts could help her …"
"Kitts the psychologist, that Kitts?" House asked
Sighing, Wilson shook his head, he knew House despised the profession, but Cuddy needed to talk to someone, and if she wasn't ready to talk to them, then they'd have to find someone else "Yes, that Kitts"
House knew Wilson was right, Cuddy did need some help, maybe more help than they could provide, but, still he didn't like the idea of Cuddy seeing a psychologist.
"Anyway, I have to go, but just, keep trying to talk to her …" said Wilson
"Who was that?" came Cuddy's voice from the doorway as she returned with Becca at her side
Turning around in surprise, House looked at her "Wilson" he managed to get out as he remembered how close they'd been before "how you doing?" he asked her
Smiling, Cuddy nodded "better, thanks"
"Why are we up so early, mommy?" yawned Becca that Friday morning as they sat around House's kitchen table waiting for its owner to finish getting dressed.
"We have a meeting, baby" Cuddy replied looking over at her son knowing that, because he understood what was going on, he was much more nervous than his sister.
Nodding, Becca looked down at her cereal bowl and then back up at her mother "what meeting?"
Looking again to her son, Cuddy just brushed her daughter's hair back, but before she could reply, House materialized in the doorway
"Everyone fed?" he asked limping to one of the cabinets and taking out his cereal.
Looking at her watch, Cuddy shook her head slightly "we're going to be late"
Checking his watch with a confused look, House replied "it's 8:15, they told us to be there at 9:15 …"
"I just don't want to be late" Cuddy replied in a small voice.
As the days left for the trial decreased, House had noticed a steady decline in Cuddy. She'd stopped eating as much as she should, he caught her crying more often than not, and, on top of it all, she was looking pale and beaten up, the shinny bruise on her face still visible whenever she didn't wear make up.
"We won't be" House said taking a seat next to her and beside Daniel
Happy to have House, who he'd learnt to trust over the past week, beside him, Daniel took another spoonful of Cheerios to his mouth and ate the rest of his breakfast in silence. His eyes, every now and then, shooting up to his mother who, he could tell, was in serious need of some help.
"Lisa" greeted her lawyer, Kevin Thompson, "you're early"
Grinning at Cuddy victoriously, getting only a week smile back, House moved away from the group and towards Wilson who was sitting on a bench by the doors to the court room.
"What are you doing here already?" House asked taking a seat next to the oncologist and stretching his right leg out in front of him, his two crutches – which Cuddy had been making him use – propped up against the wall beside them.
"Isabella called me" he replied
"Cuddy's sister? Why's she calling you?" House asked
Hanging his head, Wilson sighed "you know Cuddy's dad doesn't like you, he never has. Isabella called to make sure I'd be here, they don't really trust you to take care of her …" he finished in another sigh.
"Wow, great to know I'm loved" House replied sarcastically looking up to where Cuddy was standing, her kids at her side.
"You know he just thinks you're the same asshole he met in college, that's all"
House nodded and shrugged, not only did he not care what Samuel Cuddy thought of him, but he wasn't even sure the man's assumptions were wrong. If anything, most people would claim he was an even bigger ass than he'd been all those years ago.
"Lisa!" came a female voice from the door which had just opened and, before House could even look up properly, Isabella Cuddy, Lisa's sister was hugging her. "Are you alright?" he heard her ask.
'Yea' he thought 'that's the right question to ask someone who is about to attend her own husband's trial. Is she alright! Like there's even a chance that she is!'
"I'm doing fine" Cuddy replied moving away from her sister's embrace knowing that, at this point, any sort of comforting behaviour would only make her crying more likely.
"Dr. Wilson" a deep male voice interrupted House's thoughts as Sam shook Wilson's hand, his eyes scanning House's scruffy appearance – and by 'scruffy' he meant House's 'going to court' appearance.
"Sam" House greeted with an overly large grin sticking his hand out to the other man
"Greg" Sam greeted him coldly, never quite having gotten over the fact that his daughter had fallen for such a man, even if all those years ago, and that, knowing that she had, said man had hurt her.
Before the two guys beside him could get into any kind of argument, Wilson cut in "they're opening the doors, we should get in"
Nodding, Sam moved back to where his daughters and grandkids were standing and House, standing slowly, limped towards the open doors.
The truth was he wanted to be there for Cuddy, but he knew a fight between him and her father would not help her right now.
Thirty minutes later, Cuddy sat next to her lawyer at a table, House, Wilson, Daniel, Becca and Cuddy's family behind them.
The silence enveloping the room was evidence of the apprehension every one was feeling, knowing at any moment John would be brought in through the side door with his snake of an attorney.
"Why can't I sit with mommy?" Becca asked looking up at House who was seated beside her
"Mommy has to be over there in the grown ups table, Becks" Wilson cut in, knowing House wasn't in the frame of mind to answer the kid nicely.
"Why aren't you there, then?" the five year old asked again
"I …" but his response was cut off by the opening of the side doors and the turning of all heads.
"House …" Wilson whispered in warning as he saw the diagnostician clench his jaw
And just as House's eyes moved slightly to where Cuddy was sitting, John Chambers walked into the room, a uniformed cop at his side, his attorney behind them.
"The prosecution calls Lisa Chambers to the stand" said Thompson, Cuddy's lawyer as he stood from his seat 15 minutes into the trial.
Slowly, feeling all eyes on her, Cuddy stood from her seat and climbed the few steps to the stand.
"State your name for the record, please" said the Judge looking down at her
Her eyes desperately trying to avoid her kid's scared faces and her soon to be ex-husband's eyes, Cuddy replied "Lisa Cuddy Ch … Chambers"
"Dr. Chambers, could you tell me what happened the afternoon your daughter was brought into your own ER?" he asked her
Nodding and taking a breath, Cuddy explained how she'd walked in to find cops standing around and a child crying, how she'd been forbidden to see her daughter and had talked to one of the police men in her office.
"And what happened after you and your family left the ER, Dr. Chambers?"
"We … we went home and …"
"yes?"
"I …"
"Was Mr. Chambers angry?"
"Yes" she replied noticing out of the corner of her eye that he shifted in his seat, his eyes fixed on hers
"Was he violent?"
"N … Not at first" Cuddy started, suddenly finding a courage she didn't know she had in her "at first he just yelled, he, he accused me of telling Dr, Dr. House, of telling him what was going on. I hadn't and that's what I told him. Then he did get violent"
"Was that when you got that bruise, Doctor?" Thompson asked motioning to Cuddy's bruised cheek
Nodding, Cuddy touched the spot lightly, her eyes falling to the stand before her
"Had what happened that night happened before?" Thompson asked
Cuddy nodded "yes"
"Frequently?"
Again, Cuddy nodded "whenever he had too much to drink"
"Dr. Chambers, I'm sure everyone is wondering why you didn't speak out before"
"I …" Cuddy looked at her kids "I was scared. I, I was scared of what he would do …"
"To you?" the lawyer asked
"To Danny and Becca"
"Your children?"
Cuddy nodded.
"I have one more question, Dr. Chambers, are you scared that what happened all those times will happen again?"
"Yes" Cuddy replied.
"Thank you, I have no further questions" Thompson addressed the judge.
"Vey well, Defence?"
Standing from his seat and buttoning his jacket, John's lawyer, Larry Klein, approached Cuddy.
"Dr. Chambers, are you and Dr. House romantically involved?"
"What?! No" Cuddy replied, genuinely shocked, her eyes involuntarily finding House's
"Really? But you are living with him" Klein pressed on
"Only because …"
"So you are"
"I, yes b …"
"And you have been together is the past" he continued "maybe not in a relationship, but you have been together" he emphasised the word to get his point across
"We, yes, a long time ago"
"Oh, it wasn't that long ago, Dr. Chambers, not really … I mean, 12 years ago isn't really that long ago"
Cuddy couldn't reply to that, how did he know? Did John know? Judging by his sudden change in posture, she thought not.
"Is this not true, Dr. Chambers?"
"It is, I …" but she couldn't continue as Klein pressed on.
"So you admit that you and Dr. House have been romantically involved, more than once?"
Cuddy saw her father shift in his seat, his eyes falling on House. She merely nodded.
"Well, considering it was Dr. House who, in a truly courageous fashion 'saved' you, I don't think it would be too far to assume you two were working together …"
Looking at her lawyer, Cuddy saw everything he had told her come true. The Defence really was going to use anything they could.
"I'm sorry, I don't …"
"You don't understand? Well, the way I see it, is that 12 years ago, you and Dr. House made a plan. Mr. Chambers is a rich man, golddiggers aren't …"
"I object!" Cuddy's lawyer shouted from his seat
"Sustained"
"Withdrawn. All I'm saying, Dr. Chambers" Klein changed his tactic "is that it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to say you and Dr. House were working together to get your husband's money. Considering your relations with Dr. House 12 years ago, three months before your wedding, it doesn't seem likely that your marriage to my client was out of love … and if we take that into account, then it isn't much of a stretch to say you and Dr. House would try to set my client up … or is it a coincidence that this all happened just days after he signed a millionaire contract?"
"I object!" Thompson cried again, this time rising to his feet
"Sustained!"
"Tell us, Dr. Cuddy, did he really hit you, or did you ask Dr. House to …"
"Councelor!" the Judge interrupted
"No further questions, your honour" Klein finished looking one last time at Cuddy who was in tears and moving back to his seat.
"Would the prosecution like to cross examine?" the Judge asked
"Yes, your honour" replied Thompson standing up again and mouthing "I'm sorry" to Cuddy.
Her heart rising to her throat, Cuddy realised what was to come. He'd promised not to mention it, not to bring it up. But he had to. He had to make it clear that she really was the victim.
"Dr. Cuddy, I know this is a sensitive issue. But was Mr. Chambers ever violent in other situations?" he asked placing a hand on the stand
Cuddy nodded, unable to look at any one person in the room.
Sitting in his seat, House stiffened slightly. True, he was a pessimist and his mind automatically ran to the worst case scenario, but it wasn't too far to think that … was it?
"Did he ever sexually assault you, Lisa?" Thompson asked and House, Wilson and Sam all turned their heads to where John was sitting.
Cuddy's nod was barely noticeable
"Your honour, I have here a medical report, from the day Dr. Chambers arrived at Princeton Plainsboro Hospital, her Sexual Assault kit and examinations were both positive"
"Why is this only being brought up now?" the Judge questioned
"We hoped it wouldn't need to be brought up" Thompson replied honestly giving Cuddy a sympathetic look
Nodding, the Judge allowed him to proceed
"How frequent were these assaults?" he asked
"Every" Cuddy paused, her eyes finding House in the crowd, the only one whose eyes were focused on the back of John's skull and not on her "Every week, sometimes more …"
"More than once a week?"
Cuddy nodded
"Did you ever fight him?" Thompson asked
"Yes" she replied
"Did he get violent then, too, when you fought him, I mean"
Cuddy nodded, tears falling down her cheeks as she spotted Danny, his fists clenched in his lap, his eyes on the floor in front of him.
"I …" seeing that Cuddy was in no state for more questioning, Thompson said "I have no further questions, your honour"
"Very well, you may step down, Dr. Chambers"
Not meeting anyone's eye, Cuddy moved slowly back to her seat beside her lawyer and accepted the handkerchief he passed her. She knew he really wouldn't have brought it up if he didn't have to.
"The defence calls Dr. Gregory House to the stand" Thompson then spoke standing again.
Tearing his eyes away from John's emerging bald spot, House grabbed his crutches and stood. This was going to be interesting.
TBC
I hope you enjoyed that and are looking forwards to House's testimony as much as I am :)
Thank you for reading!
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