ok everyone, here it is. I'm not thrilled with it, but it's been the best thing I could come up with in a long time. Hope you like it. Please don't be too harsh in your reviews. I've had a really bad week.

Chapter 4: Broken

'Cause I'm broken
I know I need you now
'Cause deep inside I'm broken
You see the way I live
I know your heart is broken
When I turn away
I need to be broken
Take the pain away

I look at my brothers in wonder and confusion. Traitor? Cameron has gone completely stiff. Everyone is against us and we aren't sure why. I don't want to deal with this now; way too many emotions and memories have washed over me and I feel sick. I look down at my feet which are being protected by shoes from Hugo Boss. Yeah, I paid $500 for shoes. I better not let anyone around know that. My eyes dart back up to those of William. I see hurt and rage; why? Dare I ask? Could it be jealousy? I don't want to start anything so I turn back towards the door. I breathe in the cold air and calm my racing heart before it explodes in my chest. It's so much easier to pick a lock when you're calm.

Ah, finally. Cameron ducks into the house nanoseconds after the door is cracked open. I can't help but stifle a small laugh. As I stand up to walk in, a voice from the crowd sounds out. "You do know you just broke into one of our friend's home with all of us watching right? Or do you think you're so much better than us that it's ok? Why would someone of your stature even be breaking into a house in the ghetto?" I turn around and try to smile. "I'm a doctor and this man is my patient. I'm looking for some clues into what could be making him sick. Asking him for his house key wouldn't be as much fun. As you can tell, my partner in there was just thrilled to do this my way." Was that my best attempt at sarcasm? Good God. And they say I'm like House. Give me a few days when this is all over and something much better will pop into my head.

I turn my back on the crowd and join my companion in the house. What a mess. Cameron has already begun her search. She obviously wants to get out of here as quickly as possible. I can hear her in the kitchen, rummaging through the drawers. After about 10 seconds there is a silence. I hear a gasp of breath and I swear I can hear her heart beating loud from her chest. At this point, not a whole lot is going to shock me, so I walk slowly into the kitchen. She stands there looking at the contents of a drawer. Her mouth is agape and her eyes are unflinching.

I walk up from behind her and I gaze over her shoulder. The sight doesn't surprise me, but it's quite sad. Within this big drawer is a crack pipe, crack, lighters, a gun and a bloody knife. I'm going to assume this man killed for his drugs. Couldn't he have at least cleaned the knife? That's perfect evidence. This guy may be mean, but he isn't the smartest crack addict I've met. I can feel Cameron trembling with fear. I can tell her eyes have closed as she speaks. "Eric, get me out of here please. I don't care what House says. He can fire me if he wants to, but I want out..now." I understand her fear, but I can't help but feel bitter towards her. I roll my eyes and reply, "You think just visiting is scary? Try growing up with this all around you. Every day of my life I saw blood." She turns around and stares into my eyes. I really wish she wouldn't do that. "How could you do this Eric? How can anybody…" She goes silent. I know what she was trying to say. She is playing her pity role nicely. Sometimes she is too sincere. I wish she could accept that the world is not a nice place and there are dangers everywhere.

We stand silently for awhile before I finally wake from this nightmare-ish daze. This was a mistake. We should not be here. I never wanted to come back here again. I grab her arm gently and pull her away from the drawer. She softly shuts it as she follows me out. I look out the window before we leave. I want to see if the crowd has dissipated. Of course not; it's bigger. Just great. There is a crowd of teenagers surrounding my car. Don't touch it! I see a few boys looking through the tinted windows, hoping to get a good look at the leather interior and the nice stereo system. I'm gonna get ripped off in my own neighborhood.

I direct Cameron back outside into the blistering cold. It's time to get the hell out of here. The crowd redirects its attention back at us. More blank stares and angered faces. I wonder why they hate me so much. When and how did I become a notorious legend? I calmly walk out to my car as the crowd parts to let us through. Hey, they're being quite nice about this. They're probably too scared of what would happen if they attacked two doctors- one being an innocent white girl.

I open Cameron's door for her and I make sure she gets in safely. I can almost sense her breathing a deep sigh of relief the second I shut the door. As I walk around the front of the car, a voice from the past rings through the crisp air to my ears. "Eric? Is it really you?" I turn around and I see a woman making her way through the crowd. I didn't think it was possible for my heart to actually stop beating for that long and still live. She hasn't changed a bit in 10 years. Granted, she looks tired and overworked, but she is still beautiful. I tried to forget about her over the years, but somehow her memory had often shone vividly in my dreams.

I try to speak, but my words are stuttered and clumsy. I have so much to say to her, but I can't say anything. I stand and stare in remembrance. Eventually the only word that escapes my mouth is her name. "Nikki?" She slightly smiles and nods her head. The crowd is getting rowdy again. "Leave traitor!"

I do the only thing I can do; the only thing I know how to do.

I run away.

As we speed far away from my childhood, Cameron breaks the silence. "Who was that girl?" I can't talk about this now. I pretend I don't hear her and she takes the hint. I drive along with memories flooding my vision. My past is coming back to haunt me.

I try to find a better life
Somewhere far away from here
But I need you to believe in me

But I won't be afraid
Just because you don't need me
I will not be ashamed
Just because you don't believe in anything that I say
Now I turn and I walk away from you

I won't fade away
I won't fade away again