A/N: thanks for all the reviews! You are all so kind!
In a sleek black car that was parked opposite Cameron's apartment block Joe watched through narrowed eyes as House limped inside. What the hell was he doing here? He had no right to be anywhere near his beautiful Cameron. Sighing in exasperation he decided to accelerate his plans. He was going to leave it a couple more days before he called her, but he decided he would call her tonight instead. He also came to the decision that if the crippled doctor kept on visiting his Cameron he may have to hire someone to dissuade him from doing so. Satisfied with his plans he gave one more longing look up at Cameron's apartment window before driving off, not noticing the police car that pulled up a few seconds later.
Inside the apartment there were still no words being spoken between the two doctors. Without saying a word House lifted his damaged leg onto Cameron's coffee table, turning his body slightly to look at Cameron. His perceptive gaze took in her pale skin, only slightly disguised by the make – up she was wearing and the tremble in her fragile body. He frowned, wondering what had caused it. Cameron felt his gaze on her. Without looking at him she says in a soft voice "thank you for the flowers House."
House grunts in response as he continues to look over the petite immunologist, his diagnostic brain trying to work out what was going on with her. When no obvious answers came to mind he decided to ask her straight out "what is going on with you? Why have you taken a leave of absence? Why was Wilson here yesterday?"
House gave her an imploring look but Cameron didn't see it as she was staring straight in front of her, her body rigid. She didn't know what to say. She couldn't lie to him because he would know immediately but at the same time she couldn't tell him the truth. She opened her mouth to speak but was rescued from saying anything by a knock at the door. She quickly stood to answer it, the movement jolting her sore ribs and making her whimper slightly. House heard it and watched as Cameron crossed the living room to open the front door. He was slightly taken aback, as was Cameron, at the sight of two policemen at her front door. Cameron recognised them as the two policemen who spoke to her at the hospital. Stepping forward, Detective Bayers gave her a gentle smile and said "hello Doctor Cameron, I'm glad to see you are looking better. We need you to come down to the station with us."
House was listening to this intently and when Cameron glanced over her shoulder to look at him she could see the curiosity written all over his face. Turning back to the two police officers she replied quietly "what's going on?"
Bayers gave her a sympathetic look before telling her "we need you to come in and identify," he paused, his gaze flicking to House before looking back to Cameron "them. We have someone in custody and we need you to pick them out of a line – up."
Cameron's knees seem to buckle underneath her at the thought of seeing him again. Fortunately Bayers managed to catch her in time and he gently helped her to sit on a nearby seat. He glanced around at House who was watching Cameron with a worried look on his face. Up until now the other policeman had been silent, but now he stepped forward, addressing House "I think you should leave sir."
House glared up at him and replied coldly "and why is that? She is my employee, I have a right to know what is going on."
"No, you don't, so I suggest you leave. Please."
House painfully pulled his leg off the table and stood up, gripping his thigh as he looked at Cameron; "Allison, what is going on?"
Without looking at him Cameron replied in a small voice "please House, just go. This doesn't concern you."
He took a step forward and ignoring the burning pain in his thigh, knelt down in front of her and in a tone Cameron had never heard him use before asked "please Allison. You know you can tell me anything."
Cameron raised her head and let out a little humourless laugh "that's rich, coming from you. Out of you and Wilson, who do you think I am more likely to trust? Now please go."
House hung his head in an uncharacteristic sign of defeat before pushing himself to his feet, groaning in agony. He gave one last longing look at her before hobbling painfully out the door, grabbing his cane as he did. He struggled slowly down the stairs and made his way to his car, waiting until he got inside before popping two Vicodin, his mind whirring as he desperately massaged his thigh.
Back in Cameron's apartment the atmosphere was tense. Cameron eventually raised her head to look at the two police officers, saying in a quiet voice "excuse me, I will just be a moment." She stood up and headed down the hall to her room to get changed. In the living room the two policemen looked at each other, grim looks on their faces. Cameron emerged ten minutes later wearing clean clothes. She smiled weakly at the officers and nodded, indicating that she was ready to go. They headed down to the police car before driving to the station, the entire trip making Cameron feel like she was going to her death.
They pulled up outside the police station and both officers lead a trembling Cameron inside. A female police officer was waiting and she smiled kindly at Cameron, before saying in a firm yet gentle voice "Doctor Cameron? Hello, I am Detective Sally Woods. I'm here to explain to you what to expect when you see the men in the line up, ok?"
Cameron nodded wordlessly and was gently taken to one side by Detective Woods who spoke quietly "in a few moments you will be taken into a room which has a two – way mirror. The men will then enter the room on the other side of the mirror. Although it will be scary to see him again, it is important that you remember that you can see them, they cannot see you, ok? Take your time when looking at them, there is no time limit. When you are certain you see the one who raped you, write the number in front of him on a card. Do you have any questions?"
Cameron looked at her, tears brimming in her eyes as she whispered "please...please come in with me..."
The Detective looked at the terrified woman in front of her and nodded "of course. I think they are ready for us. Are you ready to do this?"
"No," Cameron laughed weakly as she entered the room, hardly moving from the Detective's side.
Cameron was handed a small piece of paper and a pen whilst the men were lead into the other room. Glancing up, Cameron saw him right away. She gasped and staggered backwards, breathing hard.
"Allison? What's wrong?" Detective Woods asked, concerned.
"It's him...he's there...it's him..." Cameron gasps out.
"What number? Allison, you need to write down the number for me, can you do that?"
With a trembling hand Cameron wrote down the number and handed the paper to Sally before staggering out of the room, her head spinning, nausea building up in her throat. She collapsed next to it and emptied the contents of her stomach, what little of it there was. As she vomited all she could think about was House and how badly she wished he was with her. Tears ran down her face, partly due to having just thrown up, but mostly because she knew House would never want her if he was to ever find out what had happened to her.
After having left Cameron's and sitting in his car for a while, House drove back to the hospital, anger flowing through his veins. What the hell did Wilson know? House was determined to find out. He parked his car and made his way through the halls of the hospital, making everyone jump out of his way once they saw the look on his face. House burst through Wilson's door and only just managed to restrain himself from punching Wilson out. Wilson looked up and upon noticing the look on House's face, stopped what he was doing and waited for House to speak. He wasn't kept waiting long; "I went to see Cameron today," he began, a casual tone to his voice.
Keeping the expression on his face neutral Wilson replied "oh yea?"
House sat down on one of the seats in front of Wilson's desk and nodded "yea. Strangest thing though, she asked me to leave my cane outside before she would let me in."
Wilson nodded, not saying anything even though he knew exactly why she had asked House to do it. House continued speaking "we didn't really have a chance to talk before a couple of police officers turned up, telling her she had to go pick someone out of a line – up."
Wilson's mouth fell open in shock. He didn't think she would have to endure a line – up so quickly. House barely noticed him now though, as he continued to speak "they told me to go. I told them no. Then Cameron asked me to leave. I told her she could trust me. She said that was rich coming from me and that out of you and I, who is she more likely to trust..."
House trailed off, raising his head to look Wilson in the eye. "What is going on Wilson?"
Wilson hung his head, in a state of conflict. He knew House was having problems coming to terms with his feelings for the petite immunologist and he wasn't sure if he could deal with the news that Cameron had been raped. Coming to a decision, Wilson picked up his phone and dialled a number "Cuddy? Could you please come to my office? Yes, House is here. We need to tell him Cuddy. Yes, I know that. Ok, yes, ok."
He put the phone down, whilst House gave him a questioning look. Wilson merely raised his eyebrows and the two men sat in silence until Cuddy arrived, a sad look on her face. She entered the office and shut the door, turning to Wilson and saying "are you sure?"
Wilson nodded, replying "we can't keep this from him any longer."
House looked between the two of them, fear building up in his gut "can't keep what from me? What the hell is going on?"
Cuddy turned to look at House and in her gentlest voice said "House, we have something to tell you about Cameron. She was...the thing is..."
Cuddy couldn't continue, unable to find the words. She gave Wilson a helpless look who stood up from his desk and came around to sit in the chair next to House's, looking at him sadly "House, Cameron was raped."
A/N: what did you think?