Cameron was giving Bella a bath in the kitchen sink when her doorbell rang. She frowned. "Who's here, little Bella Cat?" She wrapped the baby in a terry cloth towel and walked to the door, learning from her past mistake to check the peep hole. It was an understatement to say she was surprised. She opened the door. "Marian! Come on."
Marian Dariandrotos walked into the apartment. "I'm sorry I'm barging in on you but I didn't have your phone number and I have no one else to go to."
Cameron frowned at the wan woman. "Why? What happened?"
"Is this the baby?" Dariandrotos asked, in an almost nervous fashion.
"Yes. Let me get her dressed and we'll talk." Cameron rushed to the baby's nursery and quickly diapered and dressed her, for once not taking the time to inhale her baby scent before lying her in her crib. When she went back into the living room, she found Marian looking at her graduation picture.
"Is this your brother?" she asked.
Cameron looked at the picture in question. "No, it was my husband."
Dariandrotos blinked at her. "I never knew you'd been married."
She shrugged. "It's not something I announce. He died a while ago."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
There was an awkward pause. "Can I offer you something to drink?"
"No, thank you."
Another pause. "Marian, why are you here?"
"You're the only one I could come to."
"So you said," Cameron remarked not unkindly. "Why is that?"
Dariandrotos hesitated before blurting out, "You were right about Brandon."
Cameron froze. "How so?"
"You were right and I didn't listen and I'm so sorry."
She led the pale woman to her couch and sat down. "What happened, Marian?"
Tears came to her eyes. "I thought you were being petty so I disregarded everything you said about him and he was how you said he was," she said in a rush.
Cameron gasped. "Did he force you...?"
Her hold on her emotions collapsed and she began sobbing, not even noticing Cameron's arms coming around her shaking shoulders.
When she finally grabbed hold of her control Cameron gripped an arm. "Marian, you have to report this. He has to be stopped."
Marian gasped. "You know because it happened to you!"
Cameron grimly nodded. "Yes. I never reported him because I was scared but I was a fool."
Marian wiped her face with her palms. "I'm not scared," she said as she squared her shoulders. "Let's nail this bastard to the wall."
"Gladly."
Later that week House commented to Cameron about his Greek girl. "She took off this afternoon and had the nerve to tell me it was none of my business why. I'm Greg House. Of course it's my business."
Cameron handed him the bread basket for a hot crescent roll. "Actually she was with me."
He looked at her suspiciously. "Since when are you two best friends?"
"Since Brandon Ashcroft showed his true colors to her."
"He didn't!"
"He did and we were talking to a lawyer today. That's where she was." She gave him a piercing look. "Don't you dare say a word to her."
He snorted. "I'm just glad someone has the balls to put that jackass away."
She shifted uncomfortably. "I know I should have but I couldn't."
"Why aren't you scared now?" he shot at her.
"I don't have to worry about my job."
House rolled his eyes although he made a conscious effort to not talk with his mouth full. "That's the crappiest excuse I've ever heard."
"But it's true," she insisted.
"You mean you honestly didn't think about your place back here?"
"Well, no. I honestly thought you were done with me since you gave a review to the new hospital. And I admit he shamed me and I felt like I had not asked for it per se but didn't do anything to prevent it."
House slammed his fist on the table, causing her to jump. "Damnit, Allison, you didn't deserve what happened to you anymore than Isabella asked to be born."
"I didn't want to admit it happened, House. It wasn't until I was sure I was pregnant that I had to tell someone."
"And I was the lucky recipient."
"Yes. I know now Brandon is just a bastard. That's why Marian and I are connected."
"Well, that in itself is a freak show."
"Thanks a lot."
He played with his fork for a moment. "You pushing her to do what you didn't do?"
She understood what he was thinking. "She wanted to go to the police. She just came to me for moral support."
"Just checking."
The baby cry interrupted what was left of their dinner.
