A/N: Again, thanks for reviewing! I honestly don't think this chapter's up to par, so I need your feed back!

Confrontations

Thirteen woke from a peaceful slumber, trying to savor every memory from the night before. She realized that she didn't need to try and remember; it would happen again with her and Foreman. She couldn't help but think however, that somehow last night had been different. More intense? No. More enjoyable? No. Kinkier? No, it was always provocative. More emotional? Almost there. More passionate? Yes, that's it! It was passionate! Best ever! Satisfied with her conclusion, Thirteen watched the naked form of her lover as he slept, his chest gently rising and falling with every breath. She then spared a glance at her clock, and propped herself up on her elbows when she saw it was nearly nine. "Shit," she said, just loud enough for Foreman to hear as she got up from the bed.

"What?" he laughed. "I didn't think I was that bad last night."

Thirteen shot him a playful smile as his eyes explored the contours of her figure. "We slept through the alarm," she explained as she walked towards the bathroom. "We have twenty minutes." She stepped into the shower and turned the knob, causing warm water to batter her shoulders and back. She leaned her neck back to wet her hair, jumping a bit when Foreman's head appeared from behind the shower curtain.

"You said we only have twenty minutes," he stated.

"I meant before House starts to make stupid remarks about our sex life," she retorted. He proceeded to give Thirteen puppy-dog eyes until finally she sighed and said "Get in here."

"So," House said as Thirteen and Foreman entered the diagnostics office, "you did have sex."

"We're dating House," Thirteen said. "We can have sex if we want. We're both adults."

"Can you just drop it, House?" Foreman adds. "We've got enough going on without adding you to it."

"Alright," their boss replied. "Fill Homey and Rape Victim in on what they didn't miss."

"Wait," Kutner said, looking at Thirteen. "You were raped?"

"Does it matter?" she replied.

Kutner sighed. "We couldn't book the MRI yesterday, so the patient will be in in half an hour."

"Why did you two leave yesterday?" Taub asked, completely spontaneously.

"Because she was raped!" House exclaimed. "Didn't you pick up on that?"

Kutner and Taub both sent her puzzled expressions as she sunk into Foreman's arms. "The patient did," she finally admitted. "It was a long time ago. Almost ten years."

"You shouldn't make her work," Kutner said to House.

"If I didn't make her work, it wouldn't be called work," he replied. At that moment, Foreman reluctantly released his grip on Thirteen and stormed from the room.

"Where are you going?" she asked him as he reached the door, worried.

"Give me a bit. I'll be back. I promise," was all he said in response. Thirteen was almost scared. She knew what Foreman was about to do. He had made the bold, rash, and in her opinion stupid decision to confront the patient.

"God," she whispered.

"What?" Taub asked, more curious than caring.

"He went to see Fischer."

Foreman walked into Brock's room, where the patient slept as his girlfriend kept a vigilant watch. "Hi," the woman said when she saw him. "I don't think I've introduced myself. I'm Natalie."

"Dr. Foreman," he replied with a pang of guilt at what he was about to do. She seemed like a good person, and he knew what it was like to love someone despite their flaws. But he saw an immense difference between Thirteen's flaws and Brock's. Thirteen's were not her fault. "Listen, I know this is going to sound bad, but…"

"I know why you're here," Natalie cut off. "It's about your girlfriend right?" Her face was the picture of disgust. "I'll leave for a bit, but just know that he's not a bad guy. Not at all." And with that, she vacated the room, leaving Foreman with a sleeping Brock.

"Brock," he commanded. "Wake up."

"What is it?" he moaned.

"Foreman took a deep breath. "How could you do that to her?" he asked.

Brock laughed. "I take it Remy told you."

"She damn well told me!"

"And I assume you're going to inject me with a lethal dose of morphine for violating your beloved?" he mocked.

"No. I'm here to ask why. Why did you do it?" Foreman was losing the struggle against his emotions, trying so hard to keep them under control, to stay professional, but he found that it was getting harder the longer the conversation persisted.

"I thought she was hot."

"That's it!? You thought she was hot!? That's no excuse to force an innocent person into bed with you!"

"Why not? Any excuse is better than no excuse."

"Foreman!" Thirteen called as she jerked her head around the doorframe. "Don't. Just don't." She stepped into the room further, glaring at Brock, and put her hands on either side of Foreman's face. "Don't fight my battles for me. You need to heal my wounds when the battles are over," she whispered with the utmost tenderness about her voice. "Now let's go."

Before turning to leave, Foreman looked at Brock, his eyes growing dark. "If you ever touch her again…" He spoke intently, and then trailed off as he followed Thirteen into the hall.

"I know you're trying to make things right," she said once he joined her. "But I think that last part was a little too much."

"Making things right is only part of it," he replied, his expression remorseful. "I don't understand people like him. I need to understand, but I know I never will."

"Sorry I yelled at you when I came in. I don't know why I did it. I just don't know."

"Shhh," Foreman whispered gently and took her into his arms. "This situation is obviously taking a toll on both of us. We just need to figure out a way to get through this, just like your disease. We'll find a way to make this work."

"Hey," a voice said angrily from behind. Thirteen twisted her head from Foreman's chest to see Natalie staring at her contemptuously. "Why do you hate him so much? He made a drunken mistake. I'm sure you've done that before."

"He wasn't drunk," Thirteen retorted. "He wasn't drunk or high or anything. He's just an ass. He doesn't regret it."

"You lying little bitch!" Natalie sneered. "Brock said he was drunk, so he was drunk."

"Ever think that maybe he's the one who lied?! Either way, no matter what his motives were, he left me scarred!"

"And I'm sure you've always enjoyed playing the pity card. Seems like you've got everyone here wrapped around your finger. You know I can't look up without seeing a passing nurse or doctor looking at him because they know what he did."

"You sound like him," Thirteen mumbled and walked off, the pain behind her eyes more evident than ever.

"She's dying," Foreman said. "She never told any of us. She never mentioned Brock, either. She's never played the pity card." He then stalked off to find Thirteen, paying no attention to the astonished expression on Natalie's face.

"The MRI was clean," Taub said as Thirteen entered the differential room.

"And you're telling me this because…?" she replied.

"Because he's our patient."

"Not mine," she grumbled as Kutner handed her some images. She spared a glance at Brock's lungs, and as she did, the doctor in her completely took over. "What about that dark mass?"

"Probably nothing," Kutner explained. "Just over exposure."

Just then Foreman walked into the room. Thirteen noticed that he appeared satisfied to see her there before he began to speak. "Got the MRI results?" he questioned.

"No cancer," Taub stated.

"But there are dark spots," Thirteen retorted. "They could be clusters of cysts."

"Good!" House called from his office. She had been unaware that he was listening. "Do a lung biopsy." At that moment, a loud chorus of different beeping tones penetrated the room as each doctor retrieved a pager from their pockets.

"The patient's seizing," Taub said. She looked at him and rolled her eyes. Does he have to constantly state the obvious?

"Then do the biopsy when he's done!" House shouted.

A/N2: So... not sure what to do with the next chapter. All I can say is to expect Cameron being Cameron, and possibly an appearance from Thirteen's childhood friend Jeremy. I'll try to get the next one up soon, but don't hold your breath.