A/N: I understand that this story has caused plenty of fire from my reviewers, and after having my editor read the previous chapters, I realize that they may be somewhat confusing. So, I will provide a small overview of events past so that the story is clear. Also, keep in mind that I am taking somewhat of a license with the following overview, so please bear with me when I add information or characters (i.e., Allison's parents knowing Dinah's relatives, ect.).

Allison's parents knew relatives of Dinah's. They gave Dinah a place to stay while she was waiting for her wedding. Allison instantly became friends with Dinah, so she was more than happy to oblige. Meanwhile, friends of Allison's cousins knew Nicolette (they used to live on the compound). When Bill-Nicolette's husband-became ill and passed away, Nicolette could no longer live with the other sister wives (he's a polygamist), so she left her two sons in the care of the compound and roomed with Allison. The compound I am referring to is that of Juniper Creek, a fictional FLDS compound that Nicolette grew up on in the hit HBO series Big Love. That explains the rooming situation. Yes, I know that Nicolette is a repressed, hypocritical, sexually frustrated cult survivor. Please know that I do not condone any of the things that Nicolette has said-except for the kind things :)

The "friend" I referenced Nicolette having over was a man-Owen Asburry, the owner of the local Christian bookstore. No, they did not do anything; but they were, ahem, kissing, which I tend to think is rude if the home you're doing it in is not yours.

I hate to ruin Pocketful of Pearls, but what Phinehas "did" to Dinah, in the most delicate of terms, is that he inappropriately assaulted her, using the phrases "service of love" and "holy vessel" to disguise what he was really doing. Dinah was raised in the Elect of God, a fictional "toxic church" in Hamilton Falls, Washington.
The service is based on works, fear, and retribution, and is not of God. This church is fictional, but is based on the very real "Two-by-Two's", a toxic church that, I believe, is still practicing in some areas. Perhaps some of you have had experience in Pentecostal churches. The "tongues" that are used there are most likely unbiblical, because when speaking in tongues is referenced in the New Testament, "tongues" means actual, real languages. They were given to the Church to spread the gospel throughout the entire world. Sadly, the tongues that are used in most Pentecostal churches are simply babbling, which is not as the Bible portrays this very real-and much mocked-practice. I know that it is hard to picture Dr. Chase fainting and suddenly speaking Swiss, but that is what happened at Azusa Street, the famous revival that resulted in global Pentecostalism. And I understand that, yes, poor, godless Dr. Cameron is out of character. But don't you think that if she did have a personal relationship with the Lord, she would be changed? When a person becomes a Christian, they are changed. Fully. Completely. That does not mean that she would change her speech, and in that sense, the reviewers are correct. But I just think that if she gets saved, she would change. I would like to thank the wonderful reviewers who gave me constructive criticism. The reason I chose to use House as a platform is because I had an idea, I liked it, and I used it, hopefully, to entertain others and bring them to the Lord.

No, I do not own House, Big Love, Pocketful of Pearls, or their characters, except for the ones that I obviously made up.

To God be the glory!

Allison sat at her kitchen table. She was tired. Worn.

And needing a nice shot of vodka, she thought.

"Hello, Allison", Dinah said. She was carrying a mug of coffee and was fully dressed in a pretty violet sweater set and dark skirt.

Allison frowned. "Why are you so cheerful?"

Dinah laughed. "You remind me of Nicolette when-well, ever. Why? And why are you so…well, sounding like it's time for your womanly flux?"

"Robert called. Said he can speak in tongues."

Dinah emitted a knowing "oh", and walked to the little table and sat down near Allison.

Allison started to cry.

"He's so…religious. And it feels like he's flaunting it in front of me when we're on a case. He's started reading the Bible, and he's been telling me tings that I never knew were in there. Like how you can be saved by faith. I always thought that you had to be good enough for Heaven…well, when I used to believe in God. But that was a long time ago. I've learned and seen too much to think that there's a God Who actually cares about me."

"But Allison…there is a God. And He loves you very much."

"Don't"-

"Let me finish. What was so bad that there can't be a God?"

"Tell me, Dinah. Tell me how there's a God when you see a fifteen year old pregnant by her stepfather because it's God's will. Tell me how there's a God who let Phinehas do what he did to you. Help me understand how your God could let my sister Christy…"

She sobbed.

"Tell me what happened," Dinah said.

"She was a year younger than me. We were so close. And she was really devout, like you. She was helping out the women at her mission when one woman"- her voice broke-"tried to take another woman's medication. Christy stopped her, saying that the second woman needed the medication because she was pregnant. The first woman pulled a knife, and…Christy died on the floor. She…she had her arms open. She said that she saw Jesus welcoming her home."

Allison cried harder than she had before and slid down the wall.

Dinah moved over to her and rocked her gently.

"There can't be a God. How could there be a God if He let my sister die?"

Robert sat in his room Bible open on his lap. He read from First Peter 3:15-"…be ready always to give an answer…of the hope that is in you…"

He smiled. God wanted him to keep witnessing to Allison.

"Lord…help me to be Your witness to Allison. I want her to know Your love."

He tucked his Bible under his arm and went to work.

Dinah sat with Allison, who called in sick, and listened to her story.

"I had a happy life as a child. Mom and Dad raised me with love and I always had Christy to talk to. We didn't really go to church, but Christy had a friend from school who invited her to a Bible study, and she got saved. And then she got Mom going, too. It was…strange. Unfamiliar, if you will. Dad was kind, but he never really believed. And I did at first. I even went to church with Mom and Christy. But after she died, well…I couldn't believe in a God who did that."

"But He did nothing, Allison. He let Christy die, and we can't understand why He did. But even though she died, it served God's purposes. Look at all the martyrs. When they died, it was for good, because their deaths brought many to Christ-as did Christy's. Remember all the people you told me about who went up at the altar call at Christy's memorial service?"

Allison looked into her dark chocolate coffee and said nothing.

"Allison. Look at me."

She did.

"Christy is Home now. Free from pain, worry, and care. And her life can still be an example to those of us left here."

A small tear rolled down Allison's cheek.

"Come to church with me. You'll see that you can meet the Lord in a most wonderful way." Dinah said.

Silence.

"Please. I know you'll enjoy it."

"Maybe."

Dinah got up and put her mug in the sink. She walked to the door.

"Robert'll be there."

Allison perked up at the mention of her handsome co-worker's name.

She turned tentatively to Dinah. "He will?"

Dinah smiled. "I knew you liked him. Let's go pick out your outfit."

Dinah drove smoothly into the parking lot of Bethesda Bible Church, parking in the much-coveted "Parishioner of the Month" spot, which Dinah won five months running. Dinah, always early, gathered her Bible and Allison, who had a sulkish look on her thin face, and, forcefully pulling Allison along, she entered the large front lobby. Stopping, Dinah looked Allison up and down. "Have you been taking lessons from Damien Thorn?"

Allison said nothing, just held her corrupted NIV against her chest and stared ahead.

A young man moved forward, shaking hands with the deacons. He held a leather jacket over one arm and a Bible in the same hand. Allison stood up straighter and patted her hair.

Dinah moved forward and shook Robert's hand. She, unlike Allison, felt no attraction to Robert, so she was able to look him in the eyes without giggling profusely.

"How are you, Rob?" Dinah asked.

"I'm well, Dinah. And Allison"-

Allison looked at her low heeled shoes and blushed.

"-seems to have lost her tongue. Well, Dinah, I'll see you inside. And Allison"-

She looked up.

"-I'll see you too."

At this point Dinah moved away to rearrange the pro-life and ex-homosexual tracts on the wooden rack by the door, so her attention was diverted.

Robert looked at Allison and mouthed Sit with me.

Allison smiled and nodded.

Dinah moved back and saw the look that Robert and Allison had shared. She smiled and sailed off into the sanctuary-away from her usual seat.

Robert let Allison sit in his pew first, and then slid next to her.

A little too close. Allison happily inhaled the scent of his cologne, and would have laid her head on his shoulder had she not been in public. Robert's hand tentatively reached over to Allison's and held her hand. He enlaced his fingers with hers and squeezed. She looked up at him and smiled.

Allison sat a little closer to Robert and settled into the pew. If such a changed man like Robert was here, maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing for her to try as well.

After the final benediction, the congregation rose and departed to the soft tones of the choir.

Robert, still holding Allison's hand, asked, "What did you think? Did you like Pastor Noah's preaching?"

"I did. He made God feel so alive, so real, so…close."

"He is. And He loves you."

"He really does. Otherwise, He wouldn't have sent me you."

Robert smiled and pulled her into a light hug. Allison at first was embarrassed, but then she responded by putting her small arms around him and leaning her head on his chest.

Allison heard a voice behind her:

"I present you with the Gospel and you scoff. But when Mr. 'My-hair-reaches-my-collar-so-now-I'm-so-adorable' sits with you and hugs you in public, suddenly you're ready to get saved."

Allison turned and saw Dinah standing behind her. Dinah held Bible and hymnal in her hands atop her black skirt. The skirt gently fell around her calves, which today were unencumbered by the heavy opaque stockings that most Elect women wore. Today Dinah had her hair down, letting it curl about her shoulders and lay heavily on her cranberry sweater set. Allison thought that Dinah was mad, but then she saw a smile slowly curve about her pretty face. "I'm glad to see you here, Allison. And Robert…take good care of her. I'm glad to see her so happy."

Catching up with two women from her prayer circle-Annie Clarke and Claire Murphy-Dinah walked out of the sanctuary and left Robert and Allison together in joy.

Allison was quiet the rest of the drive home, Dinah noticed. Dinah could tell that Allison was quietly happy, knowing that Robert loved her the way she loved him.

"So…did Robert behave? I couldn't see you, even though I nearly broke my spine twisting around."

Allison smiled. "He was absolutely perfect. And he was wearing the cologne that I bought him for his birthday."

"How nice."

The ladies drove home in silence, Allison dreaming about her man, and Dinah thanking her Lord.

Dinah opened the door to their apartment, to find Nicolette sitting in the recliner with a Bible open on her lap.

"Dinah…I got saved!"

'How wonderful! But…how?"

"Well, I remembered what you told me about God, and I felt trapped in my old church. I knew that it was legalistic and I felt so empty. So I prayed and I asked Jesus into my life."

That's wonderful, Nicolette. Allison!"

Allison put her purse on the table near the door and rejoiced at Nicolette's news.

Dinah knelt by her bed, praying.

"Lord…I don't know what to do about Allison. She has a tender heart for You, and she's so happy about Robert. But I don't want to push her away. Give me Your words!"

"Dinah?"

Dinah turned to find Allison at the door.

"Come in, Allison. Did you need something?"

"Yes, actually…I see what you and Nicolette and Robert have, and I want that. I want to go to Heaven. Dinah, I'm tired of running!"

"Would you like me to pray with you?"

"Please."

The women knelt and Allison prayed as she invited the One who could heal her into her life.