Who Is She?

"I didn't know story telling was part of the Dean's duties," House said with smile.

"What do you want?" Cuddy asked in an annoyed voice.

"I wanted a story before my naptime. Brenda said I should come in here. I prefer dirty romance novels," House replied.

Cuddy rolled her eyes and looked back at the girl.

"Who is she?" House asked tilting his chin towards the little girl lying in the bed.

"I don't know," Cuddy sighed sadly.

"Who did she say she was?"

"She didn't say anything," Cuddy said. "She hasn't spoken a word. She came into the clinic alone with shoulder dislocated. She hasn't told me anything."

"Any other injures?" House asked as he stared at the little girl sleeping.

"She has a lot of old bruised," Cuddy replied with a sad sigh.

House nodded knowing what Cuddy meant. "Do you think she is mute?" He asked after a moment of silence.

"I think she is just scared," Cuddy replied. "I think she doesn't know who to trust."

House nodded again. "Have you called child services yet?"

Cuddy looked up at him with sorrow-filled blue eyes and then quickly looked away.

"You have to call Cuddy," House said. He had seen the answer in her eyes and knew that they had to be called.

Cuddy looked back up at him.

House looked at her and then looked at the girl.

Cuddy wanted to protect this little girl even though she didn't even know her.

"One of the hospital's child psychologists is coming by later. I was hoping that they could help her before we had to send her away," Cuddy said softly.

The little girl's blue eyes opened up. She sat up slowly and looked around the room.

She looked at Cuddy's familiar face and then looked at the unfamiliar face of House. She looked him over before turning back to Cuddy.

Cuddy saw the worry in her eyes.

"It's okay," Cuddy told her softly. "Dr. House won't hurt you."

The little girl looked back at House. The girl waved House over to her. House walked towards her, wondering what she could want.

The girl looked him over, taking in every detail. After a moment she reached for his hand. House just looked at her.

The little girl looked at him in the eyes and House saw the hurt look in her eyes. House sighed dramatically and held his hand out.

He was sure that this little girl had been through a lot and being mean to her was probably not a great idea.

The girl looked warily at his hand for a moment, as though afraid that he would pull it away or strike her with it. Slowly she lifted her uninjured arm and grasped his hand.

House rolled his eyes at Cuddy. Cuddy smiled knowing that House was hating this.

The little girl then let go of House's hand and reached out for Cuddy's hand, which Cuddy extended immediately. The girl grabbed Cuddy's hand and smiled.

Cuddy felt the girl slightly squeeze her hand.

"Everything's okay," Cuddy said softly. "You're safe here."

House watched the interaction. "Will you be spending the day with Jane Doe?" He asked after a moment.

Cuddy looked up at him surprised that he called her that. "That is not her name," she argued.

"It is until you find out her name," House said.

Cuddy looked at the girl. "What is your name?"

"Where are her clothes?" House asked when the girl did not answer. "Maybe her name is on the inside."

"There over there," Cuddy said pointing to a chair in the corner. House pulled out the girl's shirt and looked at the tag.

"Madison," House said reading the tag.

Cuddy motioned for House to bring the shirt to her.

"I'm not lying. If I were, her name would be Zeppelin," House said as he handed the shirt to her.

Cuddy looked at the little girl who still had a hold of her hand. "Madison?" She asked to try and confirm it.

The little girl nodded slowly.

"Madison's a pretty name," Cuddy said with a smile to the girl. Cuddy wished the last name had been in the shirt too so that she could find who was responsible for hurting her.

Madison crawled onto Cuddy's lap.

Cuddy looked surprised at what the girl was doing and House couldn't help but smile. He didn't smile at the awkward look on Cuddy's face, but the sweetness of it, even though he would never admit that to anyone. Cuddy smiled down at Madison as she settled into her lap. Madison looked up at Cuddy and smiled at her.

House smiled even bigger.

House then looked at Madison who was looking back up at him, which caused him to have more of a puzzled look on his face.

Madison gazed up at him with her bright blue eyes and he looked at her right in the eye. Something about this girl intrigued him. Madison cocked her head to one side and made the same puzzled look he was making.

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Please review. I am fairly new at writing fan fiction.