There was a pause, as if Nigel was trying to gauge her reaction. He looked disappointed after a moment. Had he expected her to say something or react in fear or even joy? Suddenly, Nurse Previn opened the door. Her face turned from urgent to fearful in a moment as she turned to find Cuddy pinned against the wall by a man with a gun.

In the half a second it took for Nigel to turn to her, Cuddy went to give a warning, "Brenda, get out." She said, urgently. Nigel's large hand returned to her mouth as Brenda turned to run. It was too late and Nigel pointed the gun at her head. Cuddy grabbed his arm to throw off his aim as he fired and Nurse Previn screeched loudly in fear as she rushed headlong out of the office. The bullet hit the wooden door trim and sawdust scattered.

House watched a nurse walking quickly into Cuddy's office, she had a file and a look of concern. House made a face and hung back, waiting for the nurse to exit after she was finished with whatever trifle had her going to Cuddy. What he didn't expect was a loud popping noise just after the door closed. It was clearly a gunshot. Wilson was just coming back inside after lunch when the gun went off. Instinctively, he covered his head and looked for the source of the noise. Nurse Previn slammed into him, "Call the police!" she yelled.

House limped to Cuddy's door quickly to see Nurse Previn rushing out of the office in a panic and exclaiming that they needed to call the police. She slipped past Wilson and grabbed up the phone. Wilson caught sight of House and looked back at Cuddy's door. House charged toward the door, intending to go inside.

"No!" Previn shouted, "There's a gunman." House halted, and turned back to Previn as she dialed the phone, "Yes, there is a gunman at Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital….my name? Brenda, Brenda Previn. I-I don't know who he is. He's in The Dean's Office. No, he's not, the Dean is in there too."

House leaned in to hear the operator, "Is the Dean also armed?"

"No, no, she isn't armed." Previn answered.

"Is the Dean being held against her will?" The Operator said with utter callousness.

"Yes." Priven answered.

"Now, she's going to give us away." Nigel growled, pressing Cuddy painfully against the wall, removing his hand from her face.

"The gunshot would have anyway," Cuddy struggled to say as the pressure against her lungs increased.

"We need to leave right now before the cops come." His eyes darted around the room nervously.

Suddenly the pressure came off and she found herself yanked to his side as he tried to pull her along with him out of the office. She pulled back, "Nigel, stop. I'm not going with you." She protested, firmly, trying desperately to regain any control over the situation.

He drew her to him slowly even as she resisted. Grabbing a handful of hair and making her face him, he snaked his arm around her waist. She felt the gun rest on her hip, his fingers still wrapped around it tightly. She pushed her hands up against his chest, trying to pull away.

"Lisa, you're coming with me. It won't be all bad," His voice softened, "You did love me once, we can be happy again. I've hit the bottom and only you can bring me back from the brink."

Cuddy realized that he was trying to be romantic and that he thought all of this would sweep her off her feet. Had he gone crazy in the past years? She saw tears in his eyes and she wondered if he had been drinking. She didn't have to wonder long because, unexpectedly, his lips were on hers and she tasted whiskey. She couldn't turn away, couldn't move as he forced the kiss on her. He seemed to grow agitated as his hand uncoiled its hard grip in her hair. She turned her face away from his now that she was able but he seized her bottom and started kissing her neck. Lamenting, she renewed her efforts to push away from him, only serving to tighten his hold on her.

In the lobby, they could hear distant sirens but no word had come from Cuddy's office. House stepped forward, Wilson stepped in front of him.

"House, there was only one shot at the nurse, Cuddy is not hurt. Let the police take care of this. There hasn't been a peep from in there since."

"That's what I'm worried about." House told him, pushing past but slowing as he approached the door. He opened the door to the vestibule and quietly snuck in. Keeping a distance, he worked the inner handle with his cane and pushed it open in one swift move. He saw Cuddy in Nigel's arms in the doorway, clearly resisting. He didn't see a gun.

The opening door had snapped Nigel out of the moment. In one motion, he grabbed Cuddy's wrist and uncurled his body from hers, effectively separating them, but still keeping her in his control. He pointed and shot the gun in House's direction.