Cuddy had informed the team of the precious night's events. Foreman and Chase needed to be aware, but it was up to Cameron to explain the details if she felt inclined to do so.

The entire day, Cameron stuck to House like glue. She didn't leave his side. In all honesty, Cameron's closeness impaired House's ability to do his job. He didn't really know how to break the news to her.

"Dr. Cameron." House turned to her.

She looked up at him and smiled, green eyes glistening. "Yes?"

"Err-" He couldn't tell her. "Do you want to get some lunch?"

"Sure."

House walked to the cafeteria, his littlest duckling in tow. When they got there, Wilson met them. "Good afternoon, House. How are you doing, Cameron?"

"A lot better, thank you."

"I'm glad to hear it."

She got got up and excused herself to the bathroom. "See you boys in a bit." She pranced off, brown hair bouncing with each step.

As soon as he was certain Cameron was out of earshot, House let out a deep breath. "She's wearing me out."

Wilson grimaced. "She just needs you right now, House."

"I know, I know. But, I can't even walk across my office without her following me." House grabbed a bag chips out of Wilson's hand. "Like earlier this morning," he said between bites. "I was trying to work on a case with Foreman and Chase. She kept staring at me. I mean, I'm used to it. Cameron always looks at me dreamily." He was half-joking. "But, at least she used to leave sometimes." House felt guilty over this admission of frustration.

"She'll let up eventually," Wilson responded. "Just be there for her now, okay? It's a critical period for her. If Allison feels safe and comforted, she'll come out of this with resilience." He sipped his water.

Cameron came back from the bathroom and sat right next to House, as predicted. "Ready to get back to work?"

"Aren't you gonna get something to eat?"

"Not hungry. Maybe later." She stood up. "Let's go."

House gave a look to Wilson, who just waved him on.

"It could be Ricin poisoning." Dr. Chase suggested as he, Foreman, and House were trying to diagnose a new patient who had been admitted that morning.

"Or just simple food poisoning." Foreman added.

House was going to reply but Cameron spoke up first. "It can't be Ricin, he'd be dead by now."

House turned to her. "It's okay, we can handle this. I don't want you bothering yourself with this right now."

"I can still help." She offered. "I'm feeling fine today."

House looked to the two male team members and then back to Cameron. "I know you are. But, it's understandable to not want to work the day after an attack."

"I'm fine, really."

At that moment, Dr. Reyes knocked of the office door. "Dr. Cameron? Can you come with me for a moment?"

The brunette nodded, leaving the room. "I'll be right back, House."

He understood it. He really did. Cameron was just trying to control as much as she could- or at least what she could perceive it as control.

"She seems to be handling it pretty well." Chase said.

Foreman nodded.

"I think she's hiding more than she's letting on." House responded. "They haven't even found the man yet. He left yesterday, could be halfway to Mexico."

After some time, Cameron stepped back in. The spring in her step was gone.

"You okay?" Foreman asked.

"Mhmm." Allison grabbed her water bottle from the desk. "I'm gonna take that break now, okay." She directed this to House.

"Of course. Take your time. No one is expecting you to work today."

She attempted a half-smile and walked out.

House wondered what news Dr. Reyes had told her.

Cameron walked towards Cuddy's office. She wanted to talk to someone- and House was busy. She stood outside and knocked lightly.

"Allison?" Cuddy stood up from her desk and let the slim brunette in.

"Here," she handed Cuddy the the clothes she had borrowed yesterday now carefully folded. "Thanks."

Cuddy took them off her hands. "Anytime, Allie." She noticed Cameron's change in composure. She had seemed to be happier earlier. "Everything alright?"

Cameron sighed in relief. She was so thankful that Cuddy had asked. "No." Her honesty and emotions all came out at once.

The older woman wrapped her arms around the younger. "Oh, Allison. I'm so sorry, honey." Cuddy had never really been one to comfort other people. In fact, she thought she was bad at it, bad at being anything resembling a mother. House had told her in the past that it was a 'good thing she couldn't get pregnant' because she would 'suck at it.' She hadn't forgotten those words. But now, as she held a sobbing Dr. Cameron in her arms, it felt natural. "If you want- and only if you want. You can talk to me about it."

Cameron nodded. "Some of the results came back from my rape kit."

Cuddy moved from the tight embrace to rubbing her biceps.

"There was penetration. He raped me." She felt the tears come back. "I know that I don't remember it, but the only that kept me going was-" it took her a second to continue. "the hope that he didn't actually do it."

The older doctor's heart was breaking for her young employee. "Allison," she moved the hair away from her face. "You are so brave. Don't let that creep change who you are. You are strong. And I am going to help you through this."

Cameron felt relief at the comfort of Cuddy's strong embrace. For a majority of her time working at PPTH, she was actually jealous of her. She was gorgeous- she had beautiful eyes, a curvy figure, and plump lips. And she took a lot of House's attention. It wasn't that the jealousy ate at her, Cameron didn't feel any resentment. But she did wish that House looked at her the way he looked at Cuddy.

"You call me if you need anything, okay?" Cuddy released the hug. "I can lend an ear if you just wanna talk and need someone to listen."

Cameron thanked her and headed to Exam Room One where she decided to rest for a bit.

House, Foreman, and Chase worked on their current patient. They also helped Eric and his mom. Addy Dorane was released from the hospital but subject to social services' evaluations. Eric remained in the hospital while House and his team worked to get him better.

Cameron knew the fate of little Eric. He'd be discharged from the hospital soon, healthy as ever, but he'd likely be placed in foster care. Her heart was breaking for him. She wanted to visit him as she couldn't shake him from her thoughts. She stared through the window of Eric's room- he was sound asleep. He looked so innocent. That poor little boy in there, not knowing what would happen to him. Cameron couldn't help but blame herself. She drove the father away. Both of these boy's parents were going to end up in jail and his life would be troubling. Allison wanted to fix it. When Eric woke up, he looked over to the window. He waved a small hand. The immunologist waved back.

"Hello, Eric." She greeted when walking into the hospital room.

"Hey Dr. Cameron," he examined the bruises on her face and wraps around he wrists. "What happened to your face and hands?" The little boy's honesty and lack of an appropriate filter was apparent.

Cameron bit her lip. "I got hurt." She wasn't lying.

"How?"

Cameron tried to think of an excuse that wouldn't scare the child. "I fell down." That too, was technically not a lie.

"Oh," Eric frowned. "My mommy sometimes fell."

She felt her heart skip a beat.

"She'd wrap her arms just like you did." Eric said this nonchalantly.

Cameron didn't know how to respond to him. She quickly wiped away a tear that escaped her eye. Despite the attempts to hide it, Eric saw.

"Are you crying, Dr. Cameron?"

"No- I- no," she started. "I'm not crying, my contacts are just bugging me."

"Is my mommy coming back soon?" His question hit hard. Cameron had to make a major choice- she could lie and provide temporary relief or tell the truth and the kid would be heartbroken.

"Um," she started. "She's gonna- your mom is-" Cameron jumped when she heard the jiggling of a door handle.

A nurse came in, holding a needle and alcohol wipes.

Cameron stepped out of the way.

"I'm just gonna give you a shot for the infection, okay?"

Eric nodded. "Dr. Cameron? Can you stay with me?"

The brunette turned around, eyes glistening. "Of course I can." She held his hand while the nurse gave him the shot. He winced slightly.

"You did really good!" Cameron congratulated.

"That didn't even hurt!" He smiled.

The nurse left and Cameron realized that she was still holding Eric's hand. It felt so natural, comforting the little boy. She watched how comfortable he was with her there and how he sought emotional support from her.

Moments passed before Eric said anything. "My mommy isn't coming back, is she?"

Cameron tried to explain. "We're not really- um- we're not sure- she-"

"It's okay." He responded. "I heard your friends talking. They said my mom was gonna go to jail because she hurt me a lot. I think they thought I was asleep. I just kept my eyes closed. I really fooled them!"

Cameron was surprised at how well the six-year-old was taking it all. "Eric, why don't you get some rest?"

"Mmmkay." He nodded.

Cameron walked out of the room, feeling full of dread. All she wanted to do now was make sure that little boy was going to a good home and not foster care. Scanning the hallway, she successfully spotted the social worker who sat on the couches at the far end of the hall. She headed her way, unable to stop herself. The social worker looked up from her clipboard when Cameron approached.

"Dr. Cameron? What's going on?"

"I'd like to discuss one of my patients with you, Eric Dorane?"

"I can't really tell you anything, Doctor. I'm sorry, but that information is strictly confidential."

"I understand," Cameron sat down beside her. "But I want to adopt him."

"He'll hate you." She replied.

"What?"

"Eric will hate you, Dr. Cameron. You sent his father to jail! The man he loved the most! Do you really think he'd want to live with someone who broke up his family?"

Cameron felt her hands trembling. "It wasn't my fault! I- I was mad. He was abusing his wife. He was the one who attacked me."

The social worker began yelling, her voice now deep. "You killed Eric! You killed Eric!"

Cameron felt the world spinning around her. There was another voice yelling now.

"CAMERON!" House was yelling, trying to shake the brunette awake.

She was moaning in her sleep; her eye lashes were wet with tears. "Eric... Eric.. no... sorry."

House kept trying to wake her up.

She woke with a jerk, looking from side to side swiftly. She was no longer in the hospital hallway, but in Exam Room One. "Eric? Where is he?"

"Cameron, you were having another nightmare."

"Is Eric okay?"

House's eyebrow furrowed. "He's fine, Allison. He's going to live with his aunt and uncle in Newark."

Cameron's breath was staggered and fast paced. "She said I killed him. It's all my fault that he doesn't have a family."

"Cameron, whatever you were dreaming is untrue. None of this is your fault." He rubbed her back, soothingly. "You need to get home." He helped her down off the examination bed and lead her to the car. When they got down to the lobby, an ER team rushed past with a gurney. A child was being rushed in.

"Eric?!" Cameron called. She chased the ER team. "Eric!"

"No, Cameron! That's not Eric!" House yelled after them, but she was already halfway down the hall. He chased them down.

"Get her out of here!" The trauma surgeon demanded.

"No! Stop! I need to see him!" Despite the extent of her injuries, Allison pushed back against the doctors trying to get her out of the way.

"Now!" The surgeon insisted.

House pulled her away, and she did everything she could to try and stop him.

"No, stop it, House! He's hurt!" She pushed him away.

Luckily, House was strong enough to bring the flailing woman out of the room and set her down on the bench. "It's not Eric. Eric is safe."

Cameron was hysterical. Her entire body was wracking with sobs. She was fighting it, kicking around her. She accidentally hit House in his bad thigh, causing him to curse out loud.

"god damn it, Cameron! You need to calm down or they're gonna re-admit you." House felt all the stress of the situation getting to him. He found it hard to be patient with her. And, he was out of Vicodin.

She felt the entire weight of her body collapse against him.

House held her there, trying his best to console her and not let his frustration show. He looked at her wrists: she'd reopened her wounds. The scratches on her stomach and arms had been ruptured in the hassle of getting her away from the ER room. "Come on," he picked up Cameron's lifeless body. "You're gonna need stitches and Ativan."

Cameron was laying in the fetal position, breathing slow.

House watched as the previously hysterical woman was now barely moving. She was in so much pain- physically and emotionally. Whatever Dr. Reyes had said to her had caused the sudden change that day. It must've been really bad news, he thought. The grey t-shirt Cameron had on was streaked with blood. House wanted to take a look at the cuts. If they weren't closed soon there would be risk of infection. Quietly, House lifted the back of Cameron's shirt up, making sure not to expose any sensitive area. Good god. The cuts were so deep.

Cameron shuffled, moaning slightly. "Everything hurts."

"I know."

She tried turning over without hurting herself any more.

"You need stitches."

She noticed House pop a couple Vicodin and rub his sore leg. "I'm sorry I kicked you."

House just lowered his head. "It was an accident, it's fine." He got up and limped to the cabinet on the side of the room. He picked out tools to suture Cameron's injuries. He inserted the local anesthetic into Cameron's arm. She winced when he stuck the needle in. She instinctively grabbed his hand. If there was any anger towards her before, it disappeared when her small, delicate hand grabbed his. House realized that the single most painful thing in his life was watching Allison Cameron suffer.