Ok everyone. I finally have CH. 5 up! Sorry about taking so long. I've had 2 deaths in the family and my stepfather was just diagnosed with terminal cancer. Its been a bad summer and I cant wait for it to be over. Thank God for work to keep me busy and college starting next week...so let me know what you think. Again, don't be too harsh, even with writing as once of my majors, it has been very difficult the past few weeks. Thanks again :)

Chapter 5: "Gone"

Sometimes shattered
Never open
Nothing matters
When you're broken
That was me whenever I was with you
Always ending
Always over
Back and forth, up and down like a rollercoaster
I am breaking

A week has passed since that day. The wounds are still fresh. I think House knew the whole time that neighborhood was mine. He has tried to bring it up many times now, with that damned arrogant smirk on his face. I hate it when he butts in our lives. So here I am again, another day of the hell I call work. How can I respect a man so much and yet glare daggers at him whenever I see him? Then there's Cameron, his favorite target. She flutters her eyelashes at him and giggles like a schoolgirl. She really has issues. Does she enjoy being brought down? Probably some white girl fetish I don't know about.

As I sit here drinking my coffee, my mind wonders back to that face. It's been 10 years since I looked into those eyes. I saw it all- excitement, fear, love, pain. She always did wear her heart on her sleeve when she was with me. She was tough as nails with strangers and neighbors. But I always saw something more than a tough ghetto girl. She had let me in, and I left her. I had asked her to come with me, but she wouldn't leave her home. I'll never understand her pride for that place. I could have given her everything she ever wanted: A nice home, beautiful children, a steady income, a nice car. I could have given her the American Dream. Is the dream different for black people? What did I miss?

I look up at the red digital clock as 8:00 flashes up. Just like clockwork, everyone piles into the room for the morning meeting. Second best part of the day right behind differential diagnosis time. 10 minutes pass by as Cameron and Chase discuss some TV show I've never heard of. House should be here soon. After another 5 minutes the 2 girls run out of things to talk about and we all sit in silence as we sip our coffee. Finally, the familiar clicking of wood on tile can be heard down the hall. Here he comes, God's big joke to the world. Dr. House enters almost with a skip in his step. Something good is on his mind. I hope it isn't about me today.

"Good morning all you happy people! Cuddy was nice enough to give us all a full 8 hours of clinic duty! I begged her for some overtime, but she just wasn't having it. I think her monthly friend is visiting. So Chase, you get all the old, whiny men complaining of rectal problems; Cameron, I will humor you and give you the children." Chase and Cameron eye each other before looking at me. What pleasures do I get today? Cameron is the first to speak up. "Um Dr. House, what about Eric?" House almost rolls his eyes at the girl. "Oh dear! I missed a member of the family! I'm sorry Foreman, I just don't love the middle child as much. You know how it goes." I give a sarcastic smirk; I so didn't see one of those comments coming. House dismisses the rest of the team as I remain in my seat. I've long since been intimidated by this man.

He paces around the room if it's possible, I guess more like staggers. I have a feeling he is ready to confront me about last week. I'm like a brick wall, he can't get to me. Suddenly, he stops right in front of me and grabs my arm. "What the hell!" Then it hits me; I had been nervously picking at that damned scar! I wonder if I have been doing that for awhile without knowing it. He looks me straight in the eyes. That's one thing about him that I respect; he has balls. "So did a break in go bad?" He is trying to get to me. I pull my arm out of his grasp and he straightens up his posture. He won, he got my attention. "It's none of your business House." He sighs, "You think that is gonna stop me? I'm nosey, it's part of my charm. So was it a white guy's house?" Ok, he got to me. "What makes you think it has anything to do with my past?"

Great. He looks guilty now. "I read into your file. I knew you grew up in that neighborhood you and Cameron got to visit last week. I know you have a rocky past. Besides, you made it soo obvious and tempting for me since you have been scratching and picking at that thing ever since. Can't say that I've ever seen you play around with it before. Face it; something happened in that ghetto- Something that has made you great. Something that has damaged you. You shouldn't run away from it or let it haunt you. You should be able to drive through that neighborhood and fling your feces in their faces. So now…how did you get the scar?" Now I'm just pissed off. This man had no right to look into my history. He has no right to sit here and tell me what I should and should not feel. He doesn't know me! If I could wring his neck I would. Instead, I stand up to face him directly. "My past is none of your concern. Stay out of my life House." I see a smile spread across his gruff features. "So, it WAS a robbery then? Did someone die?" How can he read into thing like that? I glare at him with the worst thug face I can conjure up. What is his issue? "Why are you doing this? What does it matter?" Suddenly the smirk is wiped away from his lips. He looks down at the floor for a second before looking back into my eyes. Damn his assertive nature. He speaks in his serious, low monotone voice.

"Gun shot victim, 35 year old black male. Name, William Foreman."

The only thing I can think of to say blurts out. "You Bastard." I don't remember how I got there, but within seconds I found myself in the Emergency Room. I don't care what happened right now, I just want to make sure he is stable. I can't lose my brother without saying goodbye first. For a brief moment, a question pops into mind. Why did they bring him here? The house is an hour away and there is another hospital closer to the neighborhood. I quickly push it from my mind. It doesn't matter unless he dies from blood loss. Then I will raise some hell.

As I open the door into the waiting room, I catch a glimpse of someone that makes me stop right in my tracks. I see my brother cradling a small figured woman who is crying into his shoulder. My brother makes eye contact with me and I don't know what I read from his gaze. I can tell he has tightened up as the woman suddenly looks my way. There she is. Her mascara is running down her beautiful cheeks and her long black hair is a mess. Even upset, she is the most beautiful woman I've ever laid eyes on. Without hesitation, she ripped out of Rodney's grasp and ran towards me. She buries her head deep into my chest and lets out a heart breaking cry. I'm in shock. I don't know what to think or do. At this point it doesn't matter. She is in my arms again and our painful story comes back into mind full blast.

I wrap my arms around her shoulders and try to provide some comfort. She must have seen it happen. I push back some hair and whisper into her ear, "It's going to be ok Nikki. I'll make sure he lives. I promise." At the sound of my voice, I feel her tremble in my grasp as she cries even deeper. There's more to this story.