CHAPTER 16

Eric yelled, "NO!" as Allison screamed. The sound of a knife ripping through skin was clearly identifiable. Winston was yelling, Allison was screaming and sobbing, and the group at PPTH heard the knife slicing again and again.

House was gripping the desk with both hands, his knuckles white and his cane laying on the floor. Eric had Donna in a death grip as she screamed and cried for Allison. Lisa had gone limp and Robert gently eased her to the floor. She was still conscious, but her face was so pale she looked like a ghost. Robert had tears down his face and he made no effort to hide them. Sera was shouting Winston's name into the phone while Mitch was on his cell phone, yelling at someone on the other end about tracing the cell phone signal. Dave was on the computer that he had connected to the desk phone, trying desperately to trace the call.

During that horrible minute, Carmela stared at the phone in horror. Suddenly, she leaned over the phone and yelled, "Winston Alexander Dumas, stop that this INSTANT!!" There was immediate silence in the room and on the other end of the phone, save for Allison's sobs.

Sera wiped the eyes that she didn't even know were streaming and whispered into the speaker, "Allison…Allison, can you hear me? Allie, please…please….ALLISON!"

There were sounds of movement and the phone bumping against something soft. Then, they heard Allison's voice.

"Sera?"

Sera breathed out a sigh of relief. "Allison, it's me. Are you…well, obviously you're not okay…how bad is it? Did he hit anything major? How badly are you bleeding?

There was a pause and Allison replied, "Most of the cuts are superficial, except the first one. That one went through my leg. It missed the femoral, but it's still bleeding heavily. If I can rip this material, I can use my lab coat to…aughh!"

Allison screamed again, causing everyone to tense as they heard the sound of the knife again. They heard Winston's voice, speaking calmly.

"Stop that screaming, you silly twit. Give me your lab coat." They heard the sound of material being ripped and cut. Allison gave Winston a soft "Thank you."

House let out a sound of frustration. "What an IDIOT! He stabs her and practically kills her and she thanks him!"

Donna had had it with Gregory House. She grabbed him by the arm and pulled him towards the door, not caring that he was limping and didn't have his cane.

"Out! GET OUT!! You obviously don't care about anything or anyone. That stabbing she just took? She got that because of YOU! Whatever you did to anger that sadistic son of a , ALLISON is the one that's paying for it. And you call her an idiot." Donna raked House up and down with a look of contempt and scorn and all but pushed him into the hall. "We don't need you in here. This room is reserved for people who give a dmn!" With that last scathing remark, Donna slammed the door in House's face.

Sera wanted to applaud, but didn't think it was appropriate. Winston had no such compunction. He clapped and cheered from his side of the phone. Despite the deadly seriousness of the situation, Sera felt herself fighting to keep her mouth from twitching in amusement. All amusement fled when Winston opened his mouth.

"Well said, whoever you are! I think I like you. Who is that?"

Donna glanced at Mitch, who nodded. "My name is Donna. I'm a friend of the woman you just viciously stabbed."

Winston coughed delicately and said, "Well, my dear, men can react rather unpredictably when their manhood receives the blow that I received. But Dr. Cameron has learned her lesson and I doubt she'll be trying that again. Now, it's getting late and we have a big day tomorrow, so I think Dr. Cameron and I need to get some rest. My dear girl, do you have anything you'd like to say before I hang up? Mind you, don't say anything that I'll have to punish you for. You're very special…and I'd hate to have to put a kibosh into my well-laid plans."

They heard some more shuffling noises, then Allison's voice. She was crying again. "House?...House?...I need to speak to House!"

Donna looked guiltily at the phone and was about to lean forward to tell Allison that she'd kicked House out when she heard a quiet voice say behind her, "I'm right here, Cameron."

Everyone turned in surprise as House limped over closer to the phone. He glared at Donna, who was pointedly ignoring him. House turned to the phone. "Are you okay? Has the bleeding stopped?"

Allison sounded impatient. "Yes, yes – I'll be fine. But I just…I wanted to tell you that I'm sorry I told you that I hated you and that I was over you. I wasn't. I'm not." They could all hear Allison crying in earnest now. Sera struggled not to roll her eyes. Instead of trying to give them some sort of hidden message, she was proclaiming her love for a man who obviously didn't want her. House was right. Cameron was an idiot.

Sera felt Donna glaring at her and tried to school her features back to sympathetic. Although she was fairly certain she could prevent Donna from kicking her out of the room, she'd rather not tempt fate.

Allison was still crying and House was trying not to make any remarks that would incite the wrath of Eric's woman. Allison sniffed and wailed, "Oh, Greg! I'm so sorry we never went on our third date!!" House frowned in confusion and said, "We di…" House stopped himself with a startled look. He smiled and continued his statement. "We definitely will get a chance to have that date when we get you outta there, Allison."

Winston took the phone from Allison. "Oh, that was so sweet! I think I'm going to need an insulin injection! Say goodbye to your little love muffin, Dr. House"

House slammed his hand against the desk. "Dmmit, Dumas! Don't take it out on her! Take me!"

There was silence on the other end. Sera held her breath, hoping Dumas hadn't hung up. The longer they kept him on the phone, the more opportunity they had to trace the call. She let out her breath when she heard Winston's voice.

"So, Dr. House – are you offering a trade? Yourself for the lovely Dr. Cameron? How noble! It seems that Donna's little speech got to you after all."

House snorted. "Donna's little speech did nothing but make a lot of noise. If you recall, earlier in this conversation, I told you we should settle this one on one. I believe it was when I mentioned what a coward you are."

Winston responded testily. "Ah, yes, I do remember. But as enjoyable as it would be to deal with you as you deserve, I don't think I'll give you the satisfaction. It would torment you more to know that someone died for your sins, I think. No, you won't do at all as a fair trade. In fact, I can only think of one person who would."

Sera felt a prickle of apprehension go down her spine. She felt Robert move up next to her and take her hand tightly. Winston continued.

"Dr. Blair, we have some unfinished business, don't we? I never got to introduce you to my very special blade. I even had it personalized just for you and you didn't get to experience it."

Sera shot back, "I experienced enough of it." In the background she heard a beep from Dave's computer. When she glanced at him, he gave her a sign to keep Winston talking.

Unfortunately, Winston heard the beep as well. "Hmmm, sounds like I need to get off of the phone. I'll make this really clear, Serenity. You have until 8 am tomorrow morning to decide if you want to finish this waltz that you and I have been dancing for the past six years. I'll call you. If you don't wish to come to me, I'll send Allison back to each of you, bit by little tiny bit. Goodnight!"

There was a click and then a dial tone. Sera had never heard a more ominous noise in her life.