Frostspirit: Ew. My cat is scared of my sax because, when I first got it, I didn't exactly know how to play it. Basically, I didn't wet the reed, but the ligature on backwards, put the mouthpiece on upside down, and didn't put my lip over my teeth. So, I squeaked very loudly for the entire night. ):

I know I introduced the rapist guy as Logan Mitchel last chapter. Well, now I have to change his name due to something suggested to me by Mizuno-kun- his name will now be ERIC Mitchel. Eric, not Logan. Chase's stalker was going to be rather crack fic ish, but now that will be posted as an alternate scene. Please read it when it goes up, as that is really where this entire story came from in the first place. And Sara- this isn't the chapter you were originally going to be introduced in. That chapter will be when Chase goes home with Cameron- the next chapter.

Warning: from here on out, this story will contain themes of self-harming and alcoholism- specifically, the sections about Thirteen. May trigger. These scenes will be set off as '13 13 13' instead of 'HOUSE HOUSE HOUSE' as a warning.

Chapter 10

Cuddy took a deep breath, then, still staring at the floor rather than House, said softly, "Eric was my boyfriend 6 months ago. He, um... he had a tendency to be violent whenever things didn't go his way- but it wasn't abuse or anything, he had it under control. We, ah... well, I... we had sex, and the pregnancy test was positive. I told Eric, and he was the happiest I had ever seen him." She stopped and smiled slightly and the dreamy memories- at how sweet he had been, the expensive presents, the romantic dinners...

Drawing herself out of her reminiscing with a shudder, Cuddy continued. "Well, a week later, I found out I wasn't pregnant- that the test had been a false positive. So, yeah, I wasn't exactly thrilled about that... but once I told Eric... well, he broke up with me the next day. But... but I haven't heard anything from him until when he just showed up at my house, three days ago..."

Swallowing nervously, Cuddy drew in a deep, shuddering breath, then continued shakily, "He, uh... He ju- just showed up... he was f- furious about s- something... he s- said that I h- had an abortion, tha- that I had lied about the false p-positive. That it w- was m- my fault his m-mother killed herself," she stammered, finding it somehow impossible to articulate her words. Trying to swallow back her nerves and failing miserably, Cuddy forced herself to keep talking. "I swear to god, House, I didn't lie about that test... it really was a false positive... but Eric didn't believe me. He s- said... He said he w- would sh- show me... sh- show me control. Th- that I t- thought I had control over my o- own bo- body, but h- he would sh- show me..."

At this point, Cuddy looked up fiercely at him, fire in her eyes, as she exclaimed, "I swear I fought him, I swear I did! I didn't want him, House, but he was just too damn strong! But... But oh god it hurt so much- House, I couldn't even breathe, that's why I didn't scream, I would of if I'd been able to, I just... oh, god, House," she sobbed, putting her head down on her folded arms and wishing she could just disappears.

House hesitated, both unsure of how to comfort her and battling his desire to go find this Eric and kill him, then settled for just putting one hand on her arm and stroking her hair comfortingly with the other. "Shh," he murmured softly, trying to soothe her. "It's going to be okay, Cu... Lisa. It's going to be okay."

13 13 13

"What do you mean he's not here?" Thirteen asked Cameron over the phone in confusion.

The other doctor replied shortly, "Look, all I can say is that he and Cuddy are taking today off, if I have anything to say about it. Foreman's phone is off because he's down at the police sta... because he's taking care of something for me. Chase isn't answering his phone for obvious reasons, and my best guess is Wilson is still asleep. So what do you want, since I'm the closet you're going to get to House's team for a while."

Thirteen hesitated, then sighed and said, "Look, I... I really need to take today off. Some personal business. I was just calling in to tell House I wasn't going to be here today."

Cameron sighed. "Fine. Its not like you could really do anything here anyway, seeing as the rest of House's team isn't at work yet. Have a good day off, but come back as soon as possible, we could really use the help around here."

With a relieved smile, Thirteen nodded eagerly even though Cameron couldn't see her and exclaimed, "Thank you- god, thank you so much! And yes, I'll be back tomorrow."

"All right, then," Cameron said in a bored voice, clearly too wrapped up in something else to realize how strange Thirteen's request was. "Goodbye, Doctor."

"Goodbye." Once Cameron had hung up, Thirteen walked over to the wall to start charging her cell phone, then glanced down at her arm with a vindictive satisfaction. Her first attempt at cutting had not gone very well, though this didn't deter her from anything- if anything, it made her more eager to experiment. Especially because just the sight of the large blood stains on her tan skin made her feel better almost immediately.

The reason she wasn't going in today was because the first cut she had made was so bad, Thirteen had had to work for nearly ten minutes to stop the bleeding. And she was pretty sure that even a doctor with half the observation skills of House would notice a horrible gash on her arm, which looked self-inflicted. She couldn't just wear long sleeves- because, unfortunately, she had tried that. Every time the fabric brushed against the cut, it bled a little more. So, for today, at least... she was staying home.

But just because one arm was injured didn't mean she couldn't cut the other one.

With another cold-hearted smile, she headed into her apartment's tiny kitchen, the sight of her bloody steak knife in the sink causing another smile. She reached for it and held it gently against her left arm, the pain in her right arm as she moved making her even happier. With another soft sigh, Thirteen dragged the weapon across her skin, careful not to cut too deep. The red blood that blossomed out made her laugh- which probably sounded psychotic, hysterical, or both- as all her troubles seemed to just literally float away.

"How nice," she said idly. "I like it."

Her steady gaze was distracted by her still flat stomach, which had yet to show any signs at all of her pregnancy. How strange, she thought. She had only known about it for a whopping total of fourteen hours, and yet she already loved it.

Look at that, she thought with a chuckle. Who would of thought I would turn into some old softie the moment I'm mentioned in the same sentence with the word 'baby'? It was true, though. She loved that little person already growing inside of her stomach already- which, she couldn't help but realize, was really rather ironic... that she could love anything born from such a hateful act.

But no matter how much she loved her baby, that didn't mean she didn't, at least, on some level, hate herself. She noted distastefully that the cut on her left arm had stopped bleeding, so she raised the knife and took it to her tan flesh once more.

HOUSE HOUSE HOUSE

"So," Chase said in between kisses, "you know when I can go home yet? I really want to celebrate our one year anniversary..."

Cameron chuckled as she molded her form to Chase's body, nuzzling her head into his neck. "First of all, sweetie, our anniversary was last night- although I'll give you leeway since you were just shot. So I'm impressed that you remembered."

"Oh, really?" Chase asked with a small smile. "So, does that get me anywhere?"

With a groan, Cameron lightly smacked his shoulder and exclaimed, "No it does not! God, Chase, why are all men so crazy for sex? And I already told you, I am not having sex with you until you are fully recovered! So there," she finished with a self-satisfied smirk.

"First of all, I'm only crazy for sex because I'm with someone as gorgeous as you. Second of all- well, we'll see about that! Because I know that you can't resist me and my adorable accent!"

Cameron sighed unhappily, unable to deny it was true. "Okay, well, maybe you're right about that... but if you try and seduce me, Chase, I swear, I'll... well, I don't know what I'll do, but I'll get you for it somehow!"

Chase scoffed as he kissed her shoulder again. "Right."

With an angry groan, Cameron sat upright and got off the bed. "You... I am going to get you for this! You just wait and see!"

Chase smirked, propping himself up on his elbows. "Well, this should be interesting!" he said, watching smugly as she paced around the room incessantly.*

Finally, she stopped and turned to him, grinning, clearly proud of herself. "See, here's something I know you don't want to talk about- Eric Mithcel." Chase immediately gave an exaggerated groan as he rolled his eyes unhappily.

"Cameron!" he exclaimed. "Come on! Why do you always have to bring him up?"

Cameron sighed as she put her hands on her hips and turned to face Chase again. "Oh, I don't know, because he's a serial rapist and he's stalking you? That sounds pretty damn serious to me!"

"Okay, first of all, Cameron, we don't know he's stalking me- hell, we don't even know that I have a stalker at all! God, he skipped out on his bail three months ago, I think he would have acted by now if he was planning on doing anything at all!"

"Chase, will you stop pretending like this is nothing? Because it's not! It is a big deal, for god's sakes! God, why can't you just admit it?" Cameron was almost shouting by the end of her demand, and at Chase's furious glare, she sighed, then walked over and lay down next to him again. "I'm sorry, baby," she said, kissing his shoulder. "I just... I..."

"Its okay," he said quickly, wrapping an arm around her thin shoulders. "I'm sorry too. Its just so... I mean, he's a serial rapist, but he rapes women, not men! And who ever heard of a guy getting a stalker like that?"

"Yeah, I know," Cameron said as she snuggled closer to him. "Look, we'll get through this, okay? Foreman's at the police station reporting to them right now. No matter what happens, I'll still love you."

"I love you too,'" he murmured before kissing her gently again.

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