Thanks for the reviews. :o)

CHAPTER TWENTY – EIGHT

On the drive to House's apartment, Debra explained to Foreman about Jerry, her ex, and that he was crazy and wanted to kill her and House because he thought they were dating. She kept her arm over her stomach wound; it hurt but was manageable.

"That's why I came here, to warn Greg; well, to hide from Jerry, really. I didn't think he'd come so soon, though," Debra got quiet for a moment.

"What was all that back in the hospital – you not being able to breath?" Foreman asked curiously.

She told him Jerry was at the hospital but with everyone coming and going in my room, he didn't have a chance of getting in there. He paid the nurse, Brenda, $1,000 to give me anything that would kill me but warned he'd be watching.

"Brenda didn't know whether he was watching or not, but she angled her body a certain way to block the only view he would have had. She told me not to overreact, that she had $500 for me if I played along with her."

Foreman listened with intensity. She continued.

"She told me she'd pretend to give me the injection and to act like I couldn't breathe. She'd come back when she knew Jerry was not anywhere on the floor. You just happened to come in; that whole show was for Jerry, if he was watching. But she did say she'd call the cops when she got back to the nurse's station. But I knew he wasn't there; that's not Jerry's style. He doesn't stick around waiting to get caught. I just knew he was going to Greg's, if he's not there already."

"Wow, I have to give it to you, you're as conniving as House," Foreman said with a slight grin.

"It's a survival mechanism, I guess. Flight or fight. Us House's fight, Jerry runs."

"Do we know if Brenda actually did call the cops?" Foreman asked, turning the corner at the last intersection before House's place.

"Yeah. You weren't watching her but she nodded her head as we left, which meant she did call the police," she told him.

Foreman parked about two buildings away and turned the engine off.

"Anything happening up there?" Debra asked.

"Not that I can see, but I think I see Wilson's car, so House is definitely here."

"Then so is Jerry."

"What do we do now?"

Debra was silent and didn't answer, but her mind was racing to think of a plan to get in there without making Jerry more out of control than she knew he was already in. Something suddenly crossed her mind.

"This is what we're gonna do…"

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"Back off, man!" Jerry ordered, of which House had no intention of doing.

Cameron was back in his bedroom, passed out on the bed and pretty much out of it; House figured Jerry slammed her against the wall. He hoped there was no injury to her already injured and fragile brain. The only comfort for him over her was that at least she was out of the way and out of danger.

Just then the land line phone rang.

"Don't answer it," Jerry insisted.

"Look, everyone knows I'm always home cuz I don't have a social life and all, and if I don't answer they'll think I OD'd or something and rush right over here," House started. "If I answer, no one will come out of suspicion."

Jerry thought for a moment – it made sense to him. He nodded his head to the phone, indicating it would be okay if he did answer it.

"Hello?" House said. He listened for a moment.

"Yeah, I saw the patient this morning; she was fine and sleeping when I left her." He listened again then continued. "Look, now isn't a good time. I've got a hooker over here and if I'm interrupted I just can't finish the job, if you know what I mean."

Jerry looked at him perplexed and gave him a facial expression that said, 'get off the phone!'

"Hey, gonna have to go in a sec; Lula is getting lonely. When are those x-rays gonna come back?" He listened carefully. "Okay, later."

House hung up the phone hoping he was convincing enough to fool Jerry.

"I've got to get some medicine out of the bathroom," House said then started to walk away.

"Stay in here!" Jerry shouted.

House continued to walk toward the hall. All of a sudden a bullet flew by House's head, about two feet away, and exploded into the wall. House froze, but not of fear; of the fact that he knew he was in big trouble.

This guy is serious. Shlt.

He slowly turned around and told Jerry, "Look, as you can see I've got a little limping problem, thus the cane," House sniggered then put out the cane. "I need medication for the pain. And if I don't get it, I get very, very angry! You won't like me when I'm angry. I turn green and everything," House said seriously.

"Fine, but I can see you from here. When you get back I need you to make a phone call."

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BACK IN FOREMAN'S CAR – THE SAME TIME HOUSE GOT THE PHONE CALL. For the conversation, Debra is in bold – House is in CAPS

"HELLO?"

"Greg, it's Debra…just listen…I'm with Eric outside…Dr Wilson is fine…Eric wants to know if Cameron is okay."

"YEAH, I SAW THE PATIENT THIS MORNING; SHE WAS FINE AND SLEEPING WHEN I LEFT HER."

House could hear Debra telling Foreman Cameron was okay.

"Look, the cops are on the way now…"

"LOOK, NOW ISN'T A GOOD TIME. I'VE GOT A HOOKER OVER HERE AND IF I'M INTERRUPTED I JUST CAN'T FINISH THE JOB, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN."

"Eric's gonna knock on door and you have to let Jerry answer the door!"

"HEY, HAVE TO GO; LULU IS GETTING LONELY. WHEN ARE THOSE X-RAYS GONNA COME BACK?"

House heard Debra ask Foreman when he was ready to go to the apartment.

"Five minutes."

"OKAY, LATER."

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And the rescue plan was put into effect…..