I am so sorry this chapter took so long. Thank you all for your lovely feedback. Unfortunately, I don't think the rest will be coming thick and fast either, too much real life stuff going on. But I do hope you enjoy it and will stick with it.

Cat

-xxx-

Chapter 4

The weekend had been different after that. There wouldn't have been anything noticeable to the outside observer, but there was a tension between them that hadn't been there before.

Cameron couldn't believe she'd just blurted it out like that, but she also had to admit she was upset that House hadn't said it back to her.

As she dumped her washing into her laundry hamper, she laughed out loud at herself. She hadn't even expected him to say it back, but she was still hurt because he hadn't. This relationship was driving her crazy!

She sat on the sofa and wondered if it was her who'd created the tension. She had to get used to the fact House was probably never going to say those words, even if he did feel them. He just wasn't a hearts and flowers kind of guy. She knew by his actions that he cared for her. She'd have to learn to live with that.

She noticed her answering machine flashing with 22 messages and frowned. If it was her family or friends and important, they'd have called her mobile, surely? She pressed play.

The first nine messages were silent, the caller hanging up after a few seconds, he next one was from a friend, just calling for a chat, the next few were hang ups again but then they changed to what seemed to be muffled crying. Not just normal crying, but tormented crying, reminding Cameron of a wounded animal. The last three were torrents of abuse, almost screamed down the phone line.

By the time the machine bleeped to signify the end of the last message, cutting it short as it ran out of memory, Cameron was pale. She deleted the messages immediately, wanting to forget them. Then she checked her front door was locked, pulled on a jumper as she suddenly felt cold, then picked up the phone and set about having her number changed.

III

Cameron tried to be nonchalant when she told House about her new phone number at work the next day. She wasn't sure why, she just didn't want him making a big deal over it.

When she'd arrived at work Chase asked her a lot of questions. Since the secrecy was over, Chase was always asking for details of her relationship with House. Cameron wasn't in the mood today and snapped at him. She apologised a few moments later saying she was tired. Chase made some remark that the sex must be good and Cameron ignored him.

Foreman just wished her good morning and went back to his coffee and paper.

House walked in, late as usual, assigned Chase his clinic duty for that morning and headed towards his own office.

Cameron handed him a slip of paper as he passed. He stopped and read it.

"What's this?"

Sensing something about to happen, Chase dawdled. Foreman didn't look up, but he did stop reading.

"My new phone number."

House gave her one of those awful evaluating looks. "What happened?"

"I just got some strange messages over the weekend, so I took your advice. I've already told Cuddy."

"What did they say?"

"She said, 'Thank you for keeping me informed, House would never have gotten around to giving it to me,' then she asked if I was okay, and we said goodbye."

"I meant the messages."

Cameron was feeling uncomfortable. "Most were just silent."

House focused on his other two underlings. "Don't you two have somewhere to be?"

Chase left but Foreman answered, "Not really."

House opened his office door and held it open. "Dr, Cameron, step into my office."

Reluctantly she did, House followed and closed the door after them.

"The glass isn't sound proof you know."

House looked shocked. "It isn't? You mean people could hear you screaming my name in ecstasy while we had sex? Cool!"

Cameron smiled.

Satisfied he'd pierced the barriers she'd erected, he sat down. "Talk to me."

Cameron sat opposite him. "I just had some nasty messages, that's all."

"They upset you," he stated.

Cameron shrugged. "They were nasty."

House didn't speak for a while; he seemed to be thinking.

"Can I go now?" Cameron asked eventually.

"Only if you bring me a coffee."

"That's sexual harassment."

House pouted. "Please?"

"Fine. Black, no sugar, right?" she teased.

"Only if you want me to spank you."

"White, two sugars coming up."

III

One week later.

"You'll stay with me for the time being."

Cameron was close to tears as House put his arms around her. "That's not the point," she told him. "This is my home!"

The tears flowed and House tried to comfort her as best he could. When she'd calmed down he put a finger under her chin and tilted her head up.

"I know this is your home. We'll get it fixed up again first thing in the morning. Repainted, new furniture, steel door, Dobermans, the whole works."

Cameron sniffed.

An officer came out from the bedroom. "I think I have everything I need."

"What happens now?" asked House.

"We'll question Mr Williams again, but it looks like he wore gloves so I doubt we'll find any physical evidence he was here. My partner is speaking to the neighbours; hopefully one of them saw him. But he was careful not to be seen when he slashed your tyres, so I doubt it."

"Isn't there anything else you can do?" Cameron asked. "What about the phone calls?"

"We traced them, they came from a disposable cell phone, untraceable." The officer looked uncomfortable. "I'm sorry Ma'am, but without evidence, my hands are tied."

Cameron buried her head in House's chest as her tears began flowing again.

"Thank you," House told the officer quietly as he left the apartment. He continued to hold Cameron as he looked around at the damage. The walls were spray painted with red paint, the furniture slashed, ornaments broken, clothes torn or slashed and books torn off the shelves.

House knew something had to be done. Soon. Before this freak took his anger out on Cameron herself.

III

House handed her a large scotch. "Drink this," he told her as she sat shivering on his sofa.

Cameron drank half the amber liquid, grimaced, then downed the rest.

"Good girl," he told her, taking the glass and refilling it. "Sip it this time."

He sat down next to her and she rested against him.

"Where's it going to stop?" she asked.

"I don't know."

"I don't know if I can take much more."

"You can. You're strong. But you shouldn't have to."

They didn't speak again. House looked down to see she had fallen asleep. Afraid to wake her he stayed where he was.

III

The next morning Cameron awoke from a bad dream with a start. It took her a few moments to realise she was safe, in House's apartment with him smiling at her.

"Have we slept here all night?"

House yawned. "Looks like it."

"Oh my god, your leg! Are you okay? You should have woken me."

"Didn't want to. It's fine, just a little stiff," he said, stretching the leg and trying to hide his grimace.

"I'll get your pills." Cameron headed off to the kitchen and returned with his pills and a glass of water.

"Thank you. Now go take a shower, you're late for work."

"I can't go in today, I've got things to organise."

"I told you I'll do that. You'll go into work or I'll fire you."

"House!"

"I mean it. Just borrow a clean shirt of mine from the closet."

"Do you have such a thing?" she sneered. She couldn't believe that he would make her work after what had happened last night. But she trundled off to his bathroom. She needed a shower anyway. And she supposed she could always buy some new clothes after work.

III

Cameron actually felt okay once she got into work. Not great, not even good, but keeping to her routine was helping her.

House had stayed home to make arrangements for her apartment to be fixed. She'd argued about having to wait for the insurance but he told her to get the work done now and quibble over it later. The important thing was to get her apartment back.

She supposed he was right, but she wasn't exactly rich. House had assured her she could borrow from Wilson if necessary.

That had raised a slight smile.

Chase noticed immediately that Cameron was wearing House's t-shirt. Probably because she'd worn one of his favourites but it was comforting and familiar. She needed that now.

She explained to them what had happened and then asked them to drop the subject. She didn't want to dwell on it more than she had to.

She also went to see Cuddy. The police officer had advised her to warn her employers of the situation so they could keep an eye out for trouble.

The rest of the day she tried to keep her mind on the article she was working on.