Lilac Elf again! Since this chapter is distinctly darker that previous ones, my challenges were along those lines

Further stalking of Cameron

A stand off between Stabler and House

One of the 'House-boys' getting jumped by someone from the SVU team

Wilson comforts Cassie about her pain

Well, that was certainly interesting to write, and I hope this chapter works out.

For a woman with a crippled leg, Cassie moved quite quickly when she wanted to. She was followed by a very nervous looking Wilson and the rest of the SVU team. Foreman, Chase, and House were already in Cameron's room when Cassie entered and picked up the card and studied the handwriting. "It's him," she confirmed, looking up.

House looked near livid. "Of COURSE it's him! If you had been out there looking for Peters instead of harassing me-"

"You want to protect Cameron, Dr.? Go right ahead," Cassie said, cutting off House's tirade. "You and your team need to stay with Dr. Cameron at all times. Schedule it out." She turned to Tutuola. "Finn, find out where that flower bouquet came from and see if Peters was stupid enough to use a credit card." She looked at Benson and Stabler. "Olivia, Elliot, talk to Dr. Cuddy. I don't want anyone in this room unless she clears them first." Cassie turned to look at Cameron. "I know you've already been through a lot, but I need you to really think. Did Peters say anything to you when he attacked you?"

Cameron closed her eyes and tried to remember the attack. It was all so unclear. He'd grabbed her, thrown her to the ground and slashed her. Then he'd dragged the knife along her nose and said… Cameron's eyes flew shut. "He said something about being a student before. Now he was a master… Master artist."

"First victim was a med student," Stabler said, thinking. "So he was after students before. Now he's after the real thing. Cassie? Hey, you alright?"

Cassie was leaning heavily against the wall. "I'm fine. Just… give me a- a second."

"Cassie, when did you last take a painkiller?" Munch said, looking at her warily.

Cassie looked at him, annoyance in her eyes. "I said I'm okay."

Stabler tried to be casual as he said, "Maybe you should sit-"

But he didn't finish before Tutuola hurried forward to catch Cassie as her leg started to give out. He got her seated and Cassie sighed with relief as the weight was off her leg. "Med student, culinary student, law student, fashion student. He's already gone after a doctor. If the patterns hold true, he's after a chef next. Not a diner, either. A high end place. John, check it out."

Munch looked dubious as Cassie closed her eyes tight against the throbbing pain in her leg. "Cassie, maybe you should take a vicodin."

"He's right, Cassie," Benson said, softly. "You're no good to anyone like this."

Cassie's sigh was one of resentment and surrender. She dug her pills out and dry-swallowed one. "Happy?"

Stabler looked at her, concerned. "Yeah." Looking at the others, he said, "Come on. Let's go."

The rest of the SVU team filed out, followed by Chase, Wilson, and Foreman. House looked at Cassie and something very vaguely resembling—pity, respect?—went over him. "You don't like taking painkillers?" he asked simply.

Cassie opened her eyes. "I like pain. Pain drives you. Makes you work through it. If I didn't like pain, I wouldn't be a cop. I would have become an accountant or something. I've been shot 4 times, including the time 5 years ago."

Cameron couldn't believe what she was hearing. Neither could House. For a few minutes, they just stared in silence at Captain Ross.

"I'm worried about Ross," Munch said to Finn as the two went to check out the florist shop where Cameron's flowers had come from.

"Yeah," Finn replied, his voice heavy with concern. "She needs to take her pills more often. Might help her work better."

"Come on, Finn, you know Ross won't do that. She likes the pain. If she has pain, then she has a reason to be unhappy."

"You were with her in the hospital when her leg went bad, right?"

Munch nodded. He was years older than Cassie, but he liked her and felt a sort of brotherly affection towards her. After the shooting, Munch had taken up an almost permanent post at her bedside. "Yeah, it was about a week into her hospital stay. Doctors kept thinking it was just pain from the gunshot—maybe mild nerve damage. Finally, Cassie had enough." Munch smirked as he remembered Cassie's 'last straw' moment.

"What happened?" Finn asked, curious.

Munch continued. "One of the doctors came in to re-adjust Cassie's morphine drip. Before he could touch the dial, she grabbed him by the front of his jacket, yanked him down and said 'Do an MRI, x-ray, or something to find out why my leg hurts so bad or I'll shove your stethoscope up your nose'."

"Damn! Ouch," Finn said as he and Munch reached the florist shop. "Remind me never to get on Cassie's bad side."

"Feeling better?" Wilson asked as he poked his head into the clinic room where Cassie was lying down. After the 'situation' in Cameron's room, she'd needed to just rest for a while as the vicodin did its thing. Normally she would have drugged up before her leg gave out, but when she was in detective mode sometimes she just let the pain go. Not a good thing when the doctor she was trying to protect was being targeted again.

Realizing that Wilson was waiting for her reply, Cassie said sarcastically, "I was feeling better. Then you showed up."

"Cheerful as always, I see."

Cassie sat up. "It's okay. I'm just feeling cranky right now." And despite the vicodin, I'm still in pain.

Wilson came into the room and closed the door. "Want some company?"

"I'm not lonely; my leg hurts. But stay if you like."

Wilson sat down and looked at Cassie. "So… how bad does it hurt right now?"

Cassie liked Wilson's concern. It was oddly sweet. But she decided to play down the pain for the moment. "It aches. Not as bad as earlier."

"Do you always wait until your leg's about to give out before taking painkillers?"

Cassie looked at him. No sense in lying, she thought. "Yeah. Just about. I usually take a pill before it gets that bad, but sometimes…"

Wilson watched Cassie. The age to her, he realized, wasn't exactly how old she was, but the amount of pain she put herself through, both physical and emotional. "Why don't you like taking the vicodin? Is it the dependency, or…?"

"Part of it's the dependency. The other part is that… I like the pain. If I hurt, I have something to… push against. I've always been that way. I played soccer and softball on sprained ankles."

Wilson found himself looking at Cassie very differently now. He thought she was just like House, but House hated the pain. He tried to avoid it. Cassie seemed to use it to keep herself going. Also, her bad mood seemed to be more resentment than anything else. But what exactly did Captain Cassandra Ross resent?

Wilson waited a minute before asking, "Can I get you anything?"

"A new leg and lunch would be nice."

Wilson smiled. "Well, I can take care of the second one. The first might be harder."

"Just lunch, then."

Wilson stood up and left. Cassie lay back down. Nice guy, she thought, smirking. Even if he is getting a divorce and friends with House.

Chase was sitting with Cameron who was looking only slightly less scared than she had earlier. Chase patted her hand, being careful of the IV hooked up. "Don't worry," Chase said, giving Cameron a smile. "I'm sure Captain Ross will-"

"She's a female cop version of House. I know she'll get him."

"Then what are you-?"

"I'm worried… that Peters will find me before Captain Ross finds him. That I'll end up like his other victims."

"Cameron, you'll be okay. If Peters comes after you, he'll have to get through me, Foreman, and House to get you. And House has a cane."

Picturing House beating Peters with his cane, Cameron gave a weak smile which Chase returned, along with a gentle hand squeeze.

"Wilson," House said as he saw his friend walking towards the clinic with a plastic bag containing two Styrofoam containers.

Wilson turned to face him. "Yes?"

"I want you to stay away from Captain Ross."

"Why?" Wilson asked, looking confused.

"Because she's trouble. She's more damaged than me. You don't want someone like that."

House looked serious enough, but Wilson suspected there was more to House's argument. "You just don't like her because-"

"I don't like her," House said, irritably. "-because she's letting her own problems interfere with saving Cameron's life."

"So why do you want me to stay away from her?"

Cassie was waiting for Wilson when her cell phone chirped. "Captain Ross."

"Cassie, it's Munch. Got a hit from the florist. Looks like he was wearing a cap and glasses, but the clerk swears it's him."

"And she didn't call the police?"

"Didn't recognize him until Finn and I showed her the composite sketch. She actually tried to fix up Peters with her sister. Guess where she works?"

Cassie got off the clinic exam bed and grabbed her cane. "Don't tell me. A restaurant."

"Yep. Place called Venus."

"I'm on my way," Cassie said, hanging up. She was just about to leave the hospital when a voice made her stop.

"Where are you going?" House asked, coming up behind Cassie.

She turned to face him. This guy was really pissing her off. "Munch and Tutuola may have a lead on Peters. Want to come? You can drive."

House suspected a trap. Still, he wanted to help Cameron. "Sure." Cassie stepped aside. "Lead the way." House nodded once and led Cassie to his corvette.

At the sight of the car, Cassie stopped, looked at it, then at House. "Okay, just tell me you got this through legal means."

"Oh, absolutely, Captain."

Cassie nodded once- "Okay, then." Then she got in, House following suit.

The Venus restaurant was in a slight lull when House and Cassie met Munch and Tutuola. "What's he doing here?" Munch asked, looking at House.

"Okay, enough, you two. John, Dr. House is here strictly as cover. Besides, makes it easier for me to keep an eye on him." Motioning with her cane at the front door, Cassie said, "Shall we, gentlemen?"

Munch followed Cassie, and Tutuola went behind House. The Maitre'D met them with a very set smile. "Good afternoon. Table for 4? Smoking or non smoking?"

Cassie pulled out her ID. "Captain Cassandra Ross of the Brooklyn, New York Police Department: Special Victims Unit," she said, her back straightening. Munch watched her, a feeling of admiration. That presence was why her old captain had promoted her. Cassie quickly stuck the badge in her pocket and continued. "We believe that a very dangerous rapist murderer may be in this area, possibly to visit one of your female-"

Cassie was cut off by a loud, fierce scream followed by the sounds of cookware crashing. Munch and Tutuola ran to the back, closely followed by House and Cassie. One of the chefs was on the floor, panting. The top of her jacket was torn open, and the chef's hat she wore was on the ground. Her short hair was rumpled, but she looked unhurt. Cassie went up to her. "What happened?"

The woman got to her feet and grabbed her hat. "Damn bastard tried to do me. He ran out the back." Munch and Tutuola ran in the direction she pointed. Cassie looked at House. "Go talk to the Maitre'D. See if he saw Peters come in."

House left, and Cassie looked at the latest near-victim. "You okay?"

"He tore my favorite jacket."

"Miss-"

"Dana. Dana Morris."

"Miss Morris, I know this must be upsetting, but-"

Dana shrugged. "I work in a hot and heavy culinary environment. Guys get angry, they get horny… It happens. Look, I know the guy who tried to attack me is Adam Peters. I have an uncle who lives in New York, and I've been following the case since that doctor here got slashed. That's why I cut my hair and dyed it blonde. You just can't tell under the hat." Dana sighed. "Look, I know you need a statement or something from me, and I'll gladly come in after dinner rush. I promise."

"Okay," Cassie said, giving Dana a half-smile. "Later." Cassie headed out and was met by House. "Was on his break when Peters snuck in. Saw nothing, heard nothing."

"Yeah, that's the story of this case." Cassie looked at her watch. "I'm going to give the guys 15 minutes before I call to see if they found anything. Meantime, I want a drink. You?"

House thought this was another example of her bad timing, but a drink sounded like a necessity. "Sure."

It was just after 5 when House dropped Cassie off at her hotel. Heading back to the hospital to check on Cameron and get his stuff, the last thing House expected was to see Cuddy waiting in the clinic lobby for him, arms crossed and looking mad. "House. My office, NOW."

House didn't say anything, but followed Cuddy to her office where Detective Stabler was waiting, also looking angry. Cuddy closed her office door and sat behind her desk. "Sit down, Dr. House."

"No, thanks, I prefer standing."

"Yeah, well, you might not be standing when I get finished with you," Stabler said, his eyes cold. "You can't verbally abuse Cassie anymore, so you try to get her killed?"

"What?" House was stunned. "Cassie asked me to come with her."

"Oh, yeah?" Stabler said, still unsure.

"Yeah," House said, glaring at the detective. "I'm not trying to get anyone killed."

"Glad to hear it. Now get going."

"Yes, sir," House replied, sarcasm dripping from his voice. He left the office and hurried down to Cameron's room but was stopped by one of the nurses.

"Dr. House? Someone called and left a message for you regarding Dr. Cameron."

House took the note and opened it.

'You can't save that pretty doctor of yours. And that limping cop can't save you. Turn around.'

House turned and saw someone at the edge of the hospital parking lot. Peters. Looking at the nurses' station, House said, "Call the police. Adam Peters is in the lot." Then he hurried as best he could towards Cameron's room.

Cameron was surprised when House burst in. "House? What is it?" She's fine. Thank God. House looked so relieved that it just made Cameron and Chase more worried.

"House, what is it?" asked Chase.

"Nothing," House said, lying horribly. He knew that Chase and Cameron could tell, but he couldn't tell them that Peters had been so close to Cameron.

"You took Dr. House with you to check out the restaurant," Stabler said when he entered the hotel room Cassie and Olivia Benson were sharing. Cassie was lying on the bed, her vicodin on the nightstand. She'd taken one earlier and felt better for it. For as much as she liked pain, not having any was a pretty nice experience.

"Yes, I did. He wants to help Dr. Cameron, so he might as well do some detective work. Plus, it keeps him out of trouble. Take a pill. I did."

Stabler looked at Cassie then at the bottle of pills. "Cassie, you…?"

"Yes, I took another vicodin. I needed to think, which I am discovering is kind of hard to do when your leg's throbbing like hell."

Stabler sat on the other bed and looked at the files. "Get anything?"

"Yeah. He likes long, brown hair, brown or hazel eyes—we already knew that—but now he's apparently not afraid to make a scene with his victims."

"So why'd you take a pill?"

Cassie sat up. "What? I-I-I thought you wanted me to be more regular with the meds."

Stabler looked at her with that concerned-parent look she knew so well. "Cassie… what's going on?"

Cassie got up, reaching for her cane. She started pacing, slowly. "It's stupid," she muttered.

"Cassie, just tell me."

Cassie stopped pacing. "When I heard that Peters had struck again… I thought it was my chance to… to get even." She pulled on a chain around her neck. Stabler had seen it before, but had never seen the pendant. Looking now, he saw it was a spent bullet. "The same one," she said, playing with it. "-that they pulled out of my leg. For 5 years, I have dreamed about getting it fixed. Putting it in his leg. I so wanted to see him have an infarction. Be miserable for the rest of his life. But I didn't get it."

"Get what?"

"I thought my life was over when my leg went." She shrugged. "It's not. I was a good cop. I still am. Dr. House has apparently let his leg problems warp and wreck his life. I don't want that to happen to me. I've let my leg run my life. I'm not letting that happen anymore."

Stabler smiled at her. "I think that's a great outlook, Cassie."

"Thanks. I…" She trailed off when her phone chirped. "Captain Ross." Cassie's face tightened. For a moment, Stabler thought that something bad had happened, until he saw Cassie's shoulders shaking in silent laughter. "Ye-Yeah. Uh, yeah, that-that's terrible. B-but you're okay, right? Great. Elliot and I will be there in-" She checked her watch. "15 minutes. Bye." She hung up and started laughing.

"Cassie? What is it?"

"I'll tell you in the car."

Finn Tutuola was a tough cop and usually didn't cause a lot of laughs. But when Stabler and Cassie saw their colleague with a bruise developing under his left eye and his lip split, Cassie started chuckling. "So, detective…" she started, trying not to laugh too hard. "Can you tell me what happened?"

"Yeah, I got jumped by those two doctors—Chase and Foreman. Are you done with my humiliation?"

"Yeah, Finn. So nothing else to report?"

"Nope."

Cassie looked at Stabler and Tutuola. "In that case, gentlemen, I'm leaving. Good night."