Title: Damaged

Summery: Just read…
Spoilers: Up until midway through "Heavy" and takes a twist.
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: You know I don't own it! I play.

Author's Note: You all spoil me with your wonderful reviews! It's just amazing to see all of your support. Thanks so much! Sorry about the lateness of the chapter. I wasn't sure how I wanted this part to play out.

2:30 am, Tuesday Morning

Cameron rolled over and looked at the clock. 2:30am. She sighed and crawled out of bed. She heard House go to sleep over two hours ago, so she was sure he was out cold by now. Sleep would not come easy to her the past few days. She wasn't scared, per say, but she needed the extra comfort to put her mind at ease. Silently, she crept out of the room and towards his.

"House?" Cameron pushed the door open a crack and stuck her head in. "Are you awake," she whispered.

No answer. She opened the door a little more and tip toed in.

"Hey, you arrogant, belligerent, nasty, sorry excuse for a doctor, are you still conscious?" Cameron grinned to herself as silence greeted her. She figured if he were faking, that would make him show it. This was a game she played every night since she came here.

Very gently, she crawled into bed with House, snuggling up next to him. She let out a contented sigh and closed her eyes to let sleep overtake her.

"Now I'm hurt. I am so not a sorry excuse for a doctor!"

Her eyes flew open and, in the moonlight, she could see House's blue ones staring right at her.

"Gaahh!" Cameron promptly jolted up and in the process fell off of the bed. "Oooff."

He flicked on the lamp and then leaned over her side of the bed. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, no thanks to you," she said rubbing her hip. "What are you trying to do, give me a heart attack?"

"I could ask the same thing of you."

"What do you mean?"

"What are you doing crawling into my bed at 3 in the morning--"

"It's 2:30," she grumbled.

"Every night for the past 4 nights," he continued. She just sat on the floor looking sullen. "Well?"

"What do you want me to say?"

"Anything! Give me something to work with here! There has to be some reason why you can't sleep in your own bed. Tell me what's going on."

Cameron got up and tried to walk out of the room. Moving as quickly as he could, he followed her, grabbing her arm to stop her escape.

"Allison, you have to talk to me. I can't help you if you don't."

"What do you want to hear, huh? That I can't sleep at night? That I replay what happened over and over again every time I close my eyes? That I don't want to be alone because I think he's going to come get me?" She wretched her arm out of his grasp. "Is that what you wanted to hear? That I'm weak? You thought I was damaged before. Well, now I really am."

Cameron walked to the living room and slumped on the couch drained.

House step-thumped over to her and grabbed her chin in his hand, forcing her to look up at him. She was surprised to see a bit of anger shining in his eyes. "Now you listen to me, young lady. Being afraid doesn't make you weak. It's a natural reaction to a horrible situation. But you can't let it rule your life." He released her face and took a seat on the couch. "Allison, you are not weak. What you went through… You're stronger than you realize. But you're keeping it all inside and now you're cracking under the strain. You need help carrying that load."

She had tears trickling down her cheeks at this point. "How? Who's going to want to carry that weight?"

"Me."

Cameron looked up at him. There was no sarcasm or humor on his face. "Thank you."

"You have to promise me one thing."

"What's that?"

"The hospital has group therapy twice a week for victims of rape and sexual assault. They can help you more than I can. Will you start going?"

"I don't need—" She paused. "I guess denial is also a sign that I need help, huh?"

"Ya think?"

She took a deep breath. "Yes, I will start going."

He tilted his head and looked at her long and hard. "You know, you don't have to be afraid of him anymore. He's gone."

"I know. But I'm probably going to have to pick him out of a line up and go to court and see him over and over again." She put her head in her hands. "I can't do that."

House put his arm around her shoulders. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to. There are 5 other women they can use. Maybe they'll get all they need out of them."

"God, I hope so."

"And if not, I'll be there with you, okay? You won't have to go through anything alone."

Cameron looked at him. And looked some more.

"What," he asked, squirming under her scrutiny.

"Who are you and what did you do with the real Gregory House?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you're being… nice and comforting. Not sarcastic. Serious. It's kind of strange."

"Fine. Next time you spill your guts about how you feel, I'll make fun of you. Will that make you feel better?"

She thought for a second. "Actually, it might."

"Hmm. Maybe I have to work on this 'niceness' thing."

"Well, if I told people you were nice, they would never believe me."

House thought for a second. "Wait, I changed my mind! Then people would expect me to be nice all the time. Don't you dare ruin my reputation at the hospital! My character would be destroyed."

She laughed. When she sobered, they both sat in silence for the next few minutes, contemplating the situation. All of a sudden, Cameron leaned over and gave him a hug. After the initial shock, he slowly wrapped his arms around her.

"Thank you for everything. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been around."

"You would have found some way to hang in there. I know you." He released her. "Now, let's get some sleep."

They got up and headed towards the bedrooms. When House got to his doorway, he noticed that Cameron was no longer behind him. He turned around and saw her going back into the guest bedroom.

"What are you doing?"

"Going to bed. What are you doing?"

"Why are you going in there," he asked, ignoring her question.

"Because it's my room. What's wrong with you?"

"You haven't used it before. You're going to start now?"

Cameron blushed furiously. "And Nice!House is gone."

He just stuck out his hand and waited. She stared at it wondering what was going on.

"Come on, come on," he said snapping his fingers. "Some of us want to get some kind of sleep tonight."

She walked over to him and slipped her hand in his. They walked into his bedroom hand in hand. He lay down first, and after getting comfortable, patted the area next to him. She crawled in, a little shyly, not having done this while he was awake before. He shut the lamp and gathered her close to him.

"Good night, House."

"Good night Allison. And don't worry. Everything is going to be okay." He dropped a quick kiss on her forehead, so light that she wasn't sure that he kissed her. But he did. And she swore she heard him let out a contented sigh. Cameron smiled to herself. Everything was going to be just fine.

The end (possibly…. There may be another chapter or two left… we'll see)