Sorry for the delay in this chapter! I really was burned out on "House" for a little while; I think I need the new season to start or something because I'm just not 'feeling' it, you know? So, I'm sorry about the long time I had to make everyone wait for the next chapter! I am glad that so many people are interested in the story, though! This story has had the most alerts on it that I've ever seen, so I'm thrilled so many people are interested! After the delay, I shouldn't tease the readers with the author's note here, so I'm going to jump back into the story. I just have to keep in mind that this is a sequel to a story and not the first story (although I hardly see why that matters...). The length is a little on the short side, but I have a few more chapters ahead that are really going to push forward at this point. I just need emotional stuff taken care of before I launch into the trial and House really loses it! (Hint, hint...)

Cuddy's First Visit

Cameron, I hope you know what you've done.

I know it wasn't your fault, getting shot in the first place, but why must you torture us with these damn letters? Why would you give me a letter that concerned Chase and not give it to him yourself? I know you wanted to apologize to me for lying about that bruise and for betraying our friendship, but if you wanted to tell Chase something, you should have let him know personally. Why drag me into this mess you've made?

I got a call from Wilson this morning at an ungodly hour, saying he couldn't get a hold of House. He even went to House's apartment and forced his way in, only to find broken glass, puddles of water, and a few roses laying on the floor. House's bike was gone and we called the rest of the team together to find him. Foreman found House at your grave, resting against your headstone, freezing. He had his letter in his hands, clinging to it like a blanket. Even when we got the ambulance here to take him to the hospital, he wouldn't let it go.

It's just like him to put himself through hell. He knows the dangers of hypothermia; he could have destroyed himself out here. Already, he's tearing himself apart inside. At least he had enough sense to throw on a jacket. I can't stand him. I find myself wishing now that I wouldn't have taken it all back at the director's meeting the other day, about firing him. He's brilliant, but he already killed two people.

I count you as one of the people he's killed.

The trial of Mr. Deleyney's son, Matt, is going to start in a few days. They bumped the trial date to an earlier time because Stacy advised the hospital board it would be better to find out our losses as soon as possible. She pulled a few strings downtown and I thank her for it. We are still going to be lucky if we don't lose the hospital.

Wilson is riding House's bike back and I'm riding with him. We're going to go through House's apartment and see if there are any drugs he's taking in place of his usual painkiller. It would be pathetic if the man went through detox and triumphed as a result of all of this. Just because he decided to go off his medication... How selfish of House, as usual. I'll check up on House later on today; it doesn't sound like he's in any danger, but he is going to be admitted for a few days, at least, for frostbite and the like.

You're killing him, Cameron. He killed you with his selfishness and insensitivity and you're killing him with your love. He can't live with it. He can't stand the fact that there is someone who really cares for him and he lost the chance to hold on. He's mad that he couldn't foresee this. He's furious with himself that he's human enough to love something he can't have.

If it were not for the fact you apologized to me, I wouldn't be here talking to you.

"So, you decided to say a few words to Cameron?" Wilson asked, leaning against House's bike, arms crossed, as Cuddy walked toward him. It was hard to read her face and Wilson couldn't begin to imagine what was wrong with her. Perhaps it was the fact that she was woken too early in the morning with so much excitement around her, or maybe the fact that her best diagnostician was found passed out in a cemetery. Whatever it was, it made Cuddy look tired and weak, not the normal look on the woman's face.

"It was the first time I've visited her," Cuddy said, climbing on the bike behind Wilson. "I didn't want to visit her under these circumstances. I didn't really want to visit her at all."

"I felt that way, too, the first time I came here," Wilson said, trying to find the key for the ignition in his jacket pocket. Before House was carted away, Wilson dug through his jacket for the keys, earning a cold look from one of the doctors on hand. How else were they supposed to get House's motorcycle home? Knowing House, he would moan and complain and be worse than usual if his bike was stolen. But what was usual for House nowadays?

"How did you deal with it?"

"I didn't. That's it."

Wilson started the engine and they made their way slowly out of the cemetery, driving under the large, barren trees, their branches drooping toward the earth as though they were burdened with sorrow instead of with snow.

There we are! I know Wilson and Cuddy riding House's bike back isn't really 'in character' but who knows? I liked the idea of them taking care of House's motorcycle, even though they are mad at him. They don't want it to get stolen. But, at the moment, they are both mad at Cameron, too. I don't want to beat the idea of them being mad at her to death with a stick (no pun intended) but, to show their change of heart by the end of the story (I'm just going to give it away at this point) I want it to be blatantly obvious.

Thanks for reading and tell me what you think, please! Thanks once more!