Chapter Five

Testimony

Thanks to ladyemera1d, addicted2coffee, Kri the fanficaholic, BUBBLES, Amanda Strickland, DemonDaughter, mj0621, HouseAddiction, and Boys Don't Cry for their reviews. Thank you!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything when it comes to this show. Or any show for that matter.

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"In the case of the People vs. Gregory House, the honorable Judge Hayworth. All rise." The bailiff announced.

Cuddy rose to her feet. She was dressed neatly in a suit that had a black skirt and a white blazer with a black ribbon tied around her waist. Her hair was pinned back neatly in a half updo. House turned to see her sitting right behind her. She reached out and gently touched his shoulder, before moving away again.

He wasn't ready to forgive her. He still didn't know that she had been barred from visiting him, just thought she got tired of him and stopped. There was no way for them to communicate now in court, despite the fact that he wanted to rage at her for her abandonment.

The prosecution rose before House could think any more on Lisa Cuddy.

"I call Officer Tritter to the stand." Paul declared, his voice strong and confident.

Cuddy felt the urge to throw something at him, anything as long as it was hard and could so some massive brain damage. She was a doctor. She knew every weak spot in the human body and how to accumulate such spots to her advantage. She fought the urge, however. House's freedom was on trial, she would not ruin it for her petty feelings.

"Officer Tritter, did you ever witness Dr. House taking any pills?" Paul asked.

"Yes, while he was checking me out, he popped a few of them." Tritter replied, smug on the stand.

"And did he do anything that was not ethical after taking the pills?"

"Yes, he placed a thermometer up my butt."

Cuddy fought back a laugh as she envisioned it. She quickly covered her mouth with a hand.

House was not as careful.

"YOU MORON! THAT'S TOTALLY ETHICAL. I CAN STICK A THOUSAND THERMOMETERS UP YOUR ASS IF I WANTED TO BECAUSE THAT'S HOW YOU MEASURE SOMEONE'S TEMPERATURE." House yelled.

Madeline struggled to push House back into his seat as Cuddy rubbed her temples and shook her head. This was getting very messy.

"Dr. House, I need to ask you to refrain yourself from any further outbursts or else I will have you removed from this courtroom." The judge said.

"Like I want to sit in a courtroom where a bald pompous idiot tells me what I did and a stupid son of a bitch cop wants my hide on his mantel?" he said, rather loudly.

He didn't glance back to see the look of disappoint and anger he knew would be on Cuddy's face. He just didn't care at the moment. He felt hurt, alone, and right now at the moment, anything that flew out of his mouth just didn't matter to him. He was also in pain. The pain in his leg got steadily worse with each day in jail up until now, his mind would not stay clear.

The judge looked furious. "I will not tolerate such disrespect to the opposing side in my courtroom. Bailiff, remove him from the trial proceedings. Dr. House will return to this courtroom only when the jury has decided the verdict or he has been chosen to testify." He banged his gavel.

The bailiff led House away and on accident he caught a look from Cuddy. Her eyes were tired and she looked like she hadn't slept in months. She mouthed something at him, but he was too caught up in his own worries to even try to read her lips.

"Ms. Poe, did you plan to have Dr. House testify on his own behalf?" the judge asked peering at the blonde lawyer, who was trying to sum up how much House had just damanged their case.

"No, Your Honor." She replied stiffly, turning to send Cuddy and I'm-so-sorry look at her.

Cuddy had warned her not to put House on the stand. He would act like an ignorant son of a bitch and the jury would come to hate him. It was better to have Cuddy on the stand than the bitter cripple. She could paint a better picture of him without lying under oath.

"The prosecution may continue." The judge said.

Paul stepped up. "Officer Tritter, at any time did Dr. House act like he was high?"

"Objection!" Madeline said, leaping to her feet. "The witness cannot testify about Dr. House's medical conditions because the witness is not a doctor and does not know the properties of Dr. House's physical state."

"Sustained."

"Officer Tritter, if Dr. House was high do you predict that he could ultimately do damage onto a patient?"

Madeline was on her feet again. "Objection! Calls for speculation."

She knew she was too late. The question was already in the jury's mind. Madeline could not unring a bell and the bell has already been rung. She could only try to do some damage control.

"Withdrawn." Paul said slyly, flashing her a sinister smile. She glared at him as she slowly unclenched her fists.

"Officer Tritter, has Dr. House ever hurt a patient?"

"No, but he has punched a doctor in the face and nearly had a young girl's arm and leg amputated."

"No further questions." Paul said, satisfied as he sat down.

Madeline rose. "Officer, under what circumstances did Dr. House commit such acts?"

"He was probably detoxing on the pills."

She tilted her head to one side. "But officer, did he ever commit such acts while he was taking them for the pain in his leg?' she divulged further.

"Not that I know of," Tritter said slowly.

"So it's safe to assume that Dr. House has never done a patient harm while he was taking the pills for his physical condition?" she continued.

"Objection. Leading." Paul said, almost carelessly.

"Your Honor, this is a perfectly plausible question in cross examination. The defense would only like the jury to hear for themselves that Dr. House has not done a patient any lasting damage." Madeline argued, tone professional.

"Overruled, the witness will answer the question."

Tritter was glaring hard at Madeline as he answered, "No," thickly.

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After court was adjourned, Cuddy ran to meet with Madeline.

"Was it as bad as it looked from where I was sitting?" she asked worriedly.

"Well I don't know. Dr. House didn't make it any better with his outbursts and that Paul is up to his sleezy old tricks, I'm not a very pleased woman with this trial." She said matter-of-factly.

Cuddy rubbed her eyes. She was as worn out as ever and it seemed like her body was acting developing a resistance the coffee.

Madeline softened at the worn look on Cuddy's face. "I'm depending on your testimony." She said.

Cuddy gave a mirthless laugh. "Right, no pressure." She said sarcastically.

Madeline gave her a smile. "You care about him a lot don't you?"

Cuddy sighed. "You know, I should hate him. He keeps pushing me into these corners, endangering my job, my life, everything I've worked hard for. He comes into my office without knocking, says things about my body and me that could be ruled as harassment, drives me to the ends of my rope to the point where I think I need a shrink."

Madeline let her vent.

"He's a complete bastard and an ignorant son of a bitch that has issues with authority and people." She said, throwing her hands up and her eyes were focused on the ceiling, then she stopped with a sad smile. "Yet I find myself trying to defend him without thinking about myself for the first time in my life."

Madeline smiled. "This is the reason why you'll be a great witness on his behalf. You actually like him."

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Tritter made his way through the cells until he came to the interview room. House was already sitting in a seat waiting with his hands cuffed to the metal of the seat.

"Good to see you Dr. House." Tritter said, sitting down and opening a file before him.

"Cut the crap and get on with it, you moron. I have to go hang with all the homies in this big crib." House said sarcastically.

Tritter gave him a twisted smile. "Well since you're so eager to hang out with your new bunkmates I guess I should get to the point."

"Thank you Captain Obvious. You know if you're powers of deduction out there where you get criminals are as good as they are in here, I'm sure you have a million gold stars next to your name." House said.

Tritter held back his temper. "I'm here to inform you that Dr. Cuddy may be testifying on your behalf."

House stared. Cuddy, testifying, on his behalf? Had he imagined what Tritter had just said? Cuddy hated to be put in any place that could do any damage to her hospital's reputation. The hospital was her baby and she was that overprotective mother that ran around making sure her baby's bottom was wiped at all times. Now here she was, testifying for him even after he's yelled at her for something he knew was none of her fault.

Tritter saw House's weakness. "Of course, there will be strings attached. I've dug into her background, she was a pretty wild child. I mean the medical board has no idea." He said.

"I wonder how Dr. Cuddy will deal with the loss of her job. I mean she's so dedicated, a work-a-holic. I wonder how she'll deal with waking up in the morning and not knowing where to do or how to help people. Do you think she'll stay awake every night wondering if your job was worth hers?"

House saw where this conversation was going and in a flash he saw red. With more strength than anyone imagined, he twisted his hand to grab his chair, standing up. The chair flipped onto the table and he held it there, his face inches away from Tritter's.

"You can do anything you like to me, but don't you fucking dare touch her." he growled.

Tritter grinned at him. "Well you could make sure she doesn't make her decision to testify."

House lowered his head, his stubbornness subsiding. He had to plead guilty. He knew how hard Cuddy had worked for her career, how driven the woman was. He couldn't be the cause that would take it all away from her. He opened his mouth.

Madeline stormed in with not Cuddy, surprisingly, but Alex the ADA by her side.

"You don't have clearance to be here." Tritter said, standing up, furious.

"In case you haven't noticed or you're trying to ignore it. I'm Dr. House's attorney. I have clearance to be wherever he is. You shouldn't be questioning him without me." Madeline said just as angry. "Now as far as I'm concerned, this interview is over."

House opened his mouth.

Alex stepped in. "Don't stay word. I told Madeline what Tritter was up to the moment I saw him enter this place." She glanced at the chair, but to her credit didn't mention anything about it. "Either way, if you plead guilty, he's not gonna let Dr. Cuddy off the hook. This is about getting back at her as much as it is about getting back at you."

Madeline took House by the arm. "This interview is over." She said firmly. "Alex needs to talk to Tritter, and you and I need to talk."

House for once acted meek as he was uncuffed and led down the hall behind Madeline.

"What do you want Alex?" Tritter asked, cleaning up his files.

"Your head on a silver platter." She replied, not joking.

He glanced at her. The woman's sense of justice had always been driven, now Tritter would get a chance to see her at her most dangerous state.

"After the trial, expect another one with you on the defense stand." She said coldly, as she followed in Madeline's steps.

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"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you God?"

"I do." Cuddy said softly.

"You may be seated."

The defense had first crack at her. Madeline sent her an encouraging smile as she began to run down the questions they had rehearsed so many times.

"How do you know Dr. House?"

"I went to college with him and I'm also currently his boss at Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital."

"What do you know about his condition?" Madeline continued; very glad that Cuddy was her witness and not the prosecution's. The doctor had a voice that was quiet, yet its firmness and tone that left no room for argument called for the attention of the entire room and kept it.

"Yes I do. I was his doctor during that period. No one else will know his condition better than me."

"Can you tell us the terms of his condition?"

Cuddy sighed. She hated this part of the questioning, though it was necessary. She had almost lost House that time, but she couldn't have said a word. He was with Stacy then. Cuddy would never understand why she never made a move, now she may never have the chance.

"We had to retract the dead muscle from his leg. The other option was an amputation. However, we decided to find the middle ground between the two. The cost of the operation was that he would be in constant pain for the rest of his life."

Cuddy noticed some sympatric faces in the jury. She forced herself to remain cool and collected. She still had a long way to go before she or House was home free.

"Did you prescribe medicine for the pain?" she asked.

"Yes. I prescribed Vicadin. It was the only thing strong enough to keep his pain at a minimum, but it would always be there. He would never regain the use of his leg again. We tried a ketamine treatment. The stuff is very strong but even it wore off in time. The muscle relapsed and the pain returned."

Madeline pulled out a picture. "Defense exhibit 10." She stated. "What is this a picture of Dr. Cuddy?"

Cuddy pretended to study it for a moment, knowing full well what it was. "A snapshot of the scars left on Dr. House's leg after the surgery." She stated.

Members of the jury looked away at the long, painful looking scars. Madeline had been wise to show the picture, it was after all a huge sympathy card to play.

The questions went on, until Madeline was satisfied that she had gotten her point across. It was interesting to Cuddy how many different ways Madeline could prove the same point over and over again and make it seem like something completely different. The prosecution stood up.

Cuddy braced herself.

The judge, however, had heard enough for the day. "Court is adjourned. The prosecution will question the witness tomorrow morning at nine." He banged his gavel and strode out.

Cuddy's shoulders relaxed and she let out the breath she hadn't even been aware that she was holding. Madeline engaged her as she made her way out of the stand. After a few words of encouragement and praise, Cuddy was on her own heading out of the courthouse and back to the hospital.

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The ducklings were waiting in her office when she came in, hanging her coat up.

"No cases?" she asked.

"Well uh, you were right about the last one." Cameron said.

"Ok. Thanks for telling me. Now what do you need?" she asked. She really was not in the mood to deal with this. This was a team of the best, but Cuddy was worn and she was tired.

"Grouchy," muttered Chase.

She glared at him. She didn't deny it. She was grouchy, crabby, tired, and everything in between. The ducklings should have been smarter than to annoy her in that state.

"We just got another case. We're at a dead end…" Foreman started.

"And House isn't here with his brilliant yet insane theories." Cuddy finished for him. "So I'm your next best bet."

Cameron opened her mouth, but then shut it again.

"Get Wilson." Cuddy said tiredly to Chase. "And give me the file and Foreman, get an MRI."

Chase didn't move. Cuddy gave him a what-the-hell-are-you-waiting-for look.

"You hired Madeline Poe." Chase said slowly.

"Thank you Sherlock." Cuddy said in a tone that would have rivaled House's.

"She's the most expensive defense attorney in the state." Chase said slowly. "How are you affording the bill?"

Cuddy gave him a smile that didn't reach past her lips. "Well, Dr. Chase knowing you, you're worried if the money will come out of your paycheck, which I ensure it isn't, so to you I don't think it matters how I got the money, but I did. Now scurry and do your job or else you won't get a paycheck."

Chase left quickly with Foreman in tow. Cameron remained behind.

"Are you gonna take some initiative and ask the patient about his lifestyle and background, or are you gonna stand here and stare at me all day?" Cuddy asked sitting down and starting to flip through some paperwork.

"How did you get the money?" Cameron asked.

Cuddy sighed. Chase was easy to divert, as long as the money wasn't coming from his paycheck he didn't care where it came from. Cameron was a different story.

"I knew I hired an insane man when I hired him. So I set aside $50,000 each year for his legal fees. He's still underbudget." She said.

Cameron was gaping at her boss. "But why? I mean you don't even like him."

Cuddy didn't answer and Cameron's eyes grew wider. "You do like him. You slept with him. Was it in college?" she blurted out before she could stop herself.

Cuddy was now gaping at Cameron. "That is a highly inappropriate question that you have no business knowing." She said. "Now go question the patient before I take a leaf out of House's book and beat you with a cane. Scat."

Cameron hurried out of her office in fear of being fired, or worst, murdered. The look on Cuddy's face had been furious. Cameron didn't know she hit a nerve but she was determined to get down to the bottom of it. She had personal feelings for House and now after Cuddy's reaction, Cameron was sure that the Dean of Medicine was her only competition.

Allison Cameron had never been a competitive woman, yet when it came to this ignorant cripple, she was willing to take on Lisa Cuddy. Cameron was sweet, yet for once in her life, she felt the thrill of the challenge. She would win him. After all, Cuddy and House made snarky comments to each other all the time. Cameron was the one that remained sweet and caring. Cuddy would not be a good match for House. They would probably argue like insane. Cameron was the one that always wanted to help him. House would come her way.

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Author's Note:

Whew that was a long chapter and I didn't even want to stop there. This story is so much fun to write and I hope everyone is enjoying it as much as I am. Thanks so much for the reviews. Much love! I know this chapter didn't come to a great stopping point but if I kept going there might have been no stopping point. I'll update again very soon. Enjoy!