Chapter 23

A/N: Sooo… I think I win the top prize for slowest updater ever. Apologies all round… I go through spurts of inspiration, and then days and days go by without anything getting written. It's a bit of a drag.

Anyway, many thanks to Metaphoric.Love, scheggia, MiaFr, FoxyWombat, confused sarcasm, Velimira and BonesAddiction369, your reviews are very very much appreciated!! You keep me happy with your feedback, and if I could I would marry each and every one of you. Monogamy is over-rated. Keep them coming!

SO we're on a deadline now. After this there's two chapters and an epilogue to go, and I leave in nine days. I CAN DO IT! So please please please show your support in the form of a review, the more I get the happier I become, and the happier I am, the more fanfic gets written. Teamwork is the name of the game. WOO.

And plus, I totally have a great idea for a new fic that is just begging me to write it, so I have to get this finished quick smart so I can start on it.

Don't forget, more reviews equals more story, and faster.

Now… on with the story!!

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Anna opened her eyes groggily, the dimmed lights of a hospital room coming into view around her. There was darkness outside the window, and in a chair by the bed her mother lay asleep.

"You're an idiot," Emily whispered harshly, and Anna turned her head to see her twin sister on her other side. Anna just closed her eyes and made a small moaning sound.

Emily came in closer, leaning in so she could whisper. "They found a whole stash of ventolin in your car. What were you doing with that much?"

Anna shook her head.

"This is quite possibly the stupidest thing you've ever done," Emily continued, arms crossed.

"I don't need a serving from you," Anna finally croaked, her voice hoarse, "I'll get a big enough one from mom."

"You scared the shit out of us," Emily whispered a little more shakily than she would have liked. "Mom was beside herself. We all were."

Anna turned her head to look at her mother, who looked exhausted in her slumber, eyes puffy and cheeks blotchy.

"You could have died."

Anna swallowed with a little difficulty, and played with her IV, avoiding her sister's gaze.

"Maybe that was your plan," Emily said bitterly, her voice heavy with hurt.

It was at that moment Cuddy stirred, and noticing Anna was awake, immediately surged forward to hold her daughter's hand.

"You're awake," she sighed with relief, stroking Anna's hair with her free hand. "How are you feeling?"

"Like shit," Anna mumbled. Cuddy bit her lip and looked a little uncomfortable. She seemed to take a moment to think before answering, forming what she was going to say in her mind.

"Anna, honey, once you're discharged we're going to find someone for you to talk to, to give you the help you -"

"I wasn't trying to kill myself," Anna cut her off bluntly. Cuddy took a quick breath and a weight seemed to visibly lift from her shoulders. She squeezed Anna's hand even tighter.

"Then I don't understand, what were you doing with all that ventolin?" she asked.

Anna looked away from her mother, squirming as she tried to fight the tears that were brimming. "I don't know," she mumbled, a small sob escaping. "I don't know what I was doing, I just… I… I was upset and… stupid."

She scrunched up her face as her tears fell and sobs took over. Cuddy leaped from her chair and wrapped her arms around her daughter, pulling her up a little. She cradled her head in her neck and kissed the side of it over and over. "I'm so sorry," she whispered, rocking her softly, "I'm so sorry Anna. I never meant to do this to you. I'm sorry."

Anna shook her head, her arms wrapped tightly around Cuddy. "It's not your fault. I'm sorry," she cried, "I'm sorry I was so horrible to you. I was an idiot… I love you, mom."

Tears fell down Cuddy's cheek in waves. Anna hadn't said she loved her since she was a little girl. "I love you too, Anna," she replied, still kissing the side of Anna's head and stroking her hair lovingly.

"And I love you," she continued, reaching an arm out for Emily, who took it and sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing her sister's back comfortingly with her other hand.

Emily gave a somber smile, and the three Cuddy women sat in silence for a moment, just holding onto each other.

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Anna lay in her hospital bed, only half watching the TV her gaze was settled on. Cuddy had gone to do some paperwork, and Emily was probably off with Chase, so Anna was left alone. Wilson had come in for a visit earlier and their conversation had been awkward at best, Wilson insisting that she talk about everything, when all she really wanted was to forget it all and start with a clean slate.

The door slid open and a cane poked through, followed by two feet.

"And she lives to see another day," House mock-sighed, leaning on his cane heavily as he approached the foot of the bed.

"What do you want?" Anna asked bitterly, turning her eyes from the TV to glare at him.

"Umm a Porsche, a plasma TV, a new Wii, a pony, a puppy… even a thank you would suffice."

"For what?" she growled.

"For saving your life. You owe me, kid."

"I don't owe you anything."

"Of course. Because you wanted to die, right?" he questioned, eyes ablaze with a piercing stare.

She merely crossed her arms and didn't meet his eyes.

"Someone with that much ventolin stashed in their glove compartment – and a few cartons of cigarettes, I might add – either has a death wish, or an addiction problem."

He limped closer, studying her face.

"Your self-loathing mother, always blaming herself, thinks you tried to kill yourself because she did something wrong."

His eyes narrowed in fascination. "But you didn't, did you? You weren't trying to kill yourself."

Anna finally turned her gaze to his, and blue met blue in an intense stare.

"You just let your addiction get the better of you. Constant double dosing, triple dosing… it all adds up, and that final super dose set everything off. Though you'd rather have her believe you were suicidal than you couldn't control your own medication," he drilled.

"I told her it was an accident. She knows I wasn't trying anything."

"Yeah, and I'm sure she believes you," House drawled, rolling his eyes.

"She does," Anna retorted indignantly, pushing herself upright on the bed.

"She'll tell you she does, but at every turn she'll be watching you, waiting for it to happen again. Better stay away from knives, she might launch herself at you."

"That's ridic-"

"Cuddy is over-protective, insecure and guilt-ridden. She will always think it's her fault and you will never be able to convince her that your overdose was an accident."

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"Should we call Dr. Schwartz?" Wilson asked, sitting on the couch in Cuddy's office as she occupied the armchair.

Cuddy shook her head. "Anna won't see her. Not after we tried to force her into it last time."

"We have to do something. We can't just sit back and let her self destruct," Wilson urged.

"I dunno," Cuddy mused, "maybe things will work themselves out on their own."

"Lisa, don't be naïve. Things never work out on their own."

"I got her into this mess, it should be up to me to get her out of it," she replied.

"She needs to see someone that's… not invested. None of this is your fault. You can't blame yourself."

"James, I need to deal with this. She's not going to talk to anyone else. I need to be here for her now, not some psychiatrist. God knows I've been absent enough to last a lifetime."

Cuddy nodded resolutely. "I'm gonna act like a mother for once, dammit."

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Emily sat at the table with Chase in the diagnostics room, hands clasped on the glass.

"How is she?" he asked sincerely.

"She'll be okay. She's just an idiot."

"Are you okay?" he continued, reaching out a hand to rest on hers.

Emily tried her best to give a genuine smile. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Em… do you need a distraction?" he winked.

She broke out into a grin and chuckled softly. "As wonderful as your distractions are… I've got some head clearing to do."

Standing up, she kissed him on the cheek. "I'm no fun when I'm not playful."

He suddenly took her face in his hands, and kissed her strongly on the lips. Pulling back, he still held her head, looking her right in the eyes. "You're fun all the time."

"You say that now…" she smirked, standing up straight and walking out of the room, flashing Chase a quick smile.

"Em, wait," he called out as she walked out into the hallway. She turned around, and took a few steps back into the room.

"I've got something for you," he added, standing up and walking the few paces to meet Emily. He took a small folded piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to her. With a puzzled look on her face, she unfolded the paper, and as she looked at it, her eyes widened.

"That's Harvey O'Brien's current phone number and address," Chase informed her. She looked up at him, her face covered with shock and surprise.

"How did you get this?" she asked.

"Well, I know a lot of people, and I have a lot of money," he replied bashfully, his hands in his pockets. A broad smile broke out on Emily's face and she threw her arms around him in a tight hug.

"Thank you so much," she spoke into his shoulder, her eyes closed and arms holding onto him tightly. He simply kissed the side of her head tenderly in reply. She pulled out of his embrace and took another look at the paper.

"This address is in Hartford," she said, "that's only like a three hour drive away." Chase nodded and she grinned, placing a kiss square on his lips.

"Looks like someone's taking a road trip," she said, flashing a smile and backing out of the room. Chase went back to sit down at the table, and Emily headed to the door.

"Oh, and Rob?" she said, turning back around, and Chase lifted his head.

"Your hair looks extra hot today."

A smile broke out on Chase's lips and he laughed in reply, "Your hair looks extra hot too, Em."

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A/N: Well, hope you liked it!! Please remember to review on your way out. I'll give you a lolly.

Coming up next… Emily goes to find her father, and Cuddy makes a discovery…