Thanks for all the reviews!

I'm working on the next chapter right now. :) I hope you'll like where this story is going. And I'm talking about the next chapter because some awaited confrontations willl take place. At least, I hope they're awaited, lol.

As usual, don't forget to keep reviewing!

Chapter 7: Investigation.

Around ten o’clock in the morning, House woke up from a dreamless sleep. His mind was on overload the minute he had opened his eyes. He was still in jail and the only two things he wanted to do were to be able to put the woman he had hurt in one final embrace before killing himself. Pathetic. He was pathetic but these were the motivation he needed to try and get out of the mess that was going on inside his brain. Ultimately, House felt he was doomed and that there would be no acceptable redemption, the outside world wouldn’t even consider them anyway. House called the guard and said, “Can I have my phone call now?”

The guard nodded and opened House’s cell. He handcuffed House and led him to the section phone booths.

“One call and no more than a few minutes so be quick and-“The guard did his job, by explaining the basics of this procedure.

“Yeah, okay… sure… whatever.” House shook his head and picked up the phone. And without any hesitation dialed the one number he knew would make sense.

“Wilson.” House heard Wilson say over the phone.

“Hey Jimmy, it’s me.” He said.

“House, I’ve been trying to reach you for over an hour!” Wilson expressed, “There are some guys going through your office right now. I’m pretty sure they’re cops.”

“And they’re probably still searching my house as well.” House let out.

“What is going on? Where are you?” Wilson asked, concerned.

“Is Cuddy in this morning…yet?” House asked, his voice fragile at the mention of her name.

“No, I tried calling her as well but she wouldn’t pick up her phone. I’ve tried Peter’s cell but I got nothing either. I mean she has to know if you’re in trouble.” Wilson replied.

House chuckled, “And me who thought you would always cover my ass.”

“I would still do if you hadn’t me worried these last couple of days!” Wilson expressed.

“Listen Jimmy-“House tried.

“Stop calling me Jimmy; it’s scaring the crap out of me so you better spill out what you have to say right now because I seriously fear the worse.” Wilson admitted.

“I’m in jail. The officer who’s seated next to me will give you all the information you need in a matter of seconds.” House paused, “However before he does and you decide to jump in your car and drive to see me, “He paused again, knowing perfectly the minute he would hear the news, Wilson wouldn’t go straight to him, “I have to tell you myself that this was in no case my intention, yes I did it, yes it was me doing it but you know me, I mean you’re my best friend…” House’s voice was breaking and Wilson clearly didn’t know what to say, the trembling voice coming from the big guy he considered one of the best jerks in the world making him flinch.

“What happened House?” Wilson asked, softly.

“I slept with Cuddy and then I… tried to kill Cuddy.” House let out, resting his head against glassy door. The man still didn’t believe what he had almost done.

“That’s a joke, right?” Wilson paused, “You wanted me to pee or shit in my pants, you bastard!” He rolled his eyes and chuckled, “You really almost got me here, House! Funny, really.” He paused again, “You better be at work within the next ten minutes or I’m going to tell these guys in your office where the hell your secret stashes with all sorts of drugs in them are!”

“Wilson…” House tried to shut his friend up.

“Buh-bye House, I’ll see you soon.” And Wilson hung up.

House hit the phone and the guard said, “Hey, you better calm down!”

“He hung up.” House exclaimed, his arms were raised behind his head as he got out of the booth. “My best friend didn’t fucking believe any words I’ve just said.”

“Sometimes you just don’t want to believe a human being could have done such a thing.” The guard said, putting the handcuffs around House’s wrists once more.

“If you’re that wise, why did you become a police officer?” House couldn’t contain himself.

“To avoid killing a piece of shit like you myself and risk just as much time in jail.” The guard claimed.

“Well that makes you a wise and good cop.” House sighed.

“My wife thinks so.” The guard said, shrugging.

“Do you love your wife, officer?” House asked as the guard was taking him back to his cell.

“’Been married for thirty years and not a day goes by without me loving her.” The guard had no trouble answering, “Why? You love the woman you’ve tried to kill?” The guard chuckled, “That really makes you one hell of a sick bastard, you know that?”

“I’ve known her for more than twenty years and not a day goes by without me loving her.” House expressed, trying to negate with words the fact that his heart was breaking inside, “And instead of telling her something in me almost killed her… I’ve never been able to say it to her because I didn’t believe it myself and because my goal in life has always been to be miserable…”

“What a great insight into the mind of psycho. Thanks, I’ll put it in my notes.” The guard said, putting House back in his cell, “I’ll make sure she tells you how much she loves you while you’re in jail, making it impossible for you to ever approach her again.”

“I’m not who you think I am.” House said, behind the bars, calling after the guard.

“And maybe I’m not a wise and good cop.” The guard said, leaving the section, “Maybe it could work in your favor, you never know.”

The guard came back to the Police Department offices and took the seat in front of Detective Norris, “You’re going to have to call that Jimmy guy. The address and phone are in the database.”

“You really think this is related to the Cole-Stevenson case?” Norris asked.

“Only sci-fi geeks like me think any murder attempt is related to the Cole-Stevenson case.” The guard smirked, “Thanks for making sure he didn’t get that precious phone call last night.”

“How I thought about calling you the minute I figured the Lucky Strike thing goes beyond me.” Norris shook his head in disbelief.

“Maybe it’s because you think an FBI agent under cover is better than-“The guard tried.

“… Than his best friend of a detective who hasn’t really given up on science-fiction.” Norris finished his friend’s sentence for him, “I get it.” He nodded, “But you’re going to investigate this your way anyway and I’m going to investigate my own way.”

“I assume he’s the bad guy and you assume he’s the good guy. Nothing ever changes.” The guard said.

“Things never change, Gale.” Norris sighed.

Gale nodded, “But something has definitely changed for that man.”

“What did you pick up on?” Norris asked.

“Some bits of the conversation seemed odd, I want to be there every time you interrogate him or the witnesses.”He paused, “And I’ll need to get a record of every conversation he’ll have with that Jimmy guy.”

“In the meantime you’re going to…” Norris tried.

“Do my usual undercover stuff.” Gale smiled.

“Maybe you’re losing your time, maybe he really is just a pathetic killer.” Norris shrugged.

“Maybe…but you know I can’t help it every time I hear the name of the brand Lucky Strike in a murder attempt.” Gale expressed.

“Exactly, how many times have you heard Lucky Strike?” Norris asked.

“Many times but it’s the first time that it looks like that case; you can imagine how eager I am to be working on this.” Gale smiled.

“You’re obsessed.” Norris said.

“I just want to be proven wrong before the guy’s proven guilty.” Gale said.

Wilson had received an alarming phone call from the Police Department a couple of minutes after he had hung up on an obviously stoned in his bastardogy House. Wilson had walked to men that had been looking through House’s stuff in his office and asked them, his voice trailing off, “Are you the police?”

“Lieutenant Johnson and this is Lieutenant Walker, you are?” Nick Johnson asked Wilson.

“I’m Dr. James Wilson; I’m Dr. House’s best friend.” He said.

“I assume you’ve heard the news. I’m sorry.” Jenny Walker said.

“Of course, we have to ask you for your cooperation in this.” Nick acknowledged.

“Yeah…sure, okay.” A completely stunned Wilson was trying to make sense out of all this.

“Have you noticed anything different about Dr. House recently?” Jenny asked Wilson.

“He’s not a murderer.” Wilson expressed.

“There are witnesses, Dr. Wilson and you know who the target was. Dr. Cuddy is also a witness and she’s alive, thanks to Peter Lowell. “Nick explained.

“I have to… I have to see them.”Wilson was forcing himself into thinking clearly.

“I understand this is difficult Dr. Wilson.” Jenny put a reassuring hand on his shoulder, which annoyed Nick slightly, “But if you remember anything, even the smallest detail of all, please contact us.” She looked back at Nick and he said, “Well, give him your number! I don’t have my cards on me.”

She rolled her eyes at him and gave Wilson her card, “Call us.”She said and Wilson nodded and walked out of House’s office.

“Seriously? ‘Call us’?” Nick shook his head in disbelief, “This was more like a ‘Call me Mr. Cute doctor!”

“So now you’re jealous?” Jenny remarked.

“I’ve never said I wanted to let you go.” He expressed, eyeing her carefully.

“But you did.” She said and got back to searching the office.

Wilson jumped in his car and headed straight to Cuddy’s place.

Once he had arrived he rushed to her door step and knocked a couple of times on the door. Nothing, no one would open it. He kept on knocking and eve started yelling, “Cuddy?”

Suddenly the door opened slowly, revealing Peter, “Hey Wilson.”

“Where is she?” Wilson asked, “I have to see her.”

“She’s exhausted; she’s not ready to see anyone.” He said, calmly.

“But you?” Wilson remarked, slightly angry.

“I’m taking care of her so stop being such an ass.” Peter expressed.

“You’re right, I’m sorry but I need to talk to her. You know House, he could have never done something like that-“Wilson tried.

“I was there! He did it, I saw him, the police know!” He claimed.

“How come you were there by the way? How did you know she’d be at House’s? What happened exactly for her to rush into House’s arms in the first place?”

“I’m not a good guy Wilson which is why she ran to that… beast-“He tried.

“Don’t call him that! He’s a bastard, he’s a jerk, he’s an obnoxious ass but in no way is he a beast, you got it?” Wilson got mad.

“You better calm down, Wilson.” Peter warned him, “I’m the one who is actually trying to repent himself here, I’m taking care of her, I’m going to help her through this because I love her and I’ll give her all the fucking time in the world if I have to get her back.”

“I want to see her.” Wilson said.

“When she’ll feel better, she’ll come to you.” Peter scratched his head, “I have to go back inside now.”

“If I don’t get to see her soon, I’ll call the police.” Wilson warned him, not trusting Peter’s sudden protectiveness of Cuddy.

“I know you’ve never really liked me, Wilson-”

“You’re right; I’m pretty good at faking, just like you.” He said, before leaving.

Wilson got back into his car and took the lieutenant’s card out of his pocket. He picked his cell and dialed Jenny Walker’s number, “Hello again, this is Dr. Wilson. I want to see my friend and I think we should talk.”

“Meet us at the PD in an hour.” Jenny said over the phone.

“Okay.” He said and drove off.

Peter came back inside and went to Cuddy’s bedroom. She was curled up in a ball under the sheets on her bed. He wasn’t lying; she was in a disastrous state, “Lisa?” He called after her softly.

“I’m okay just go.” She said in between sobs, not looking at him.

“You know I’m here for you.” He said.

“I know.” She murmured.

“Okay. I’m going out for a smoke.” He suddenly cursed himself for saying that.

“Since when you do smoke?” She asked, realizing she had never seen him smoke or smelled anything even remotely suspicious on him before.

“I used to but quit when I met you… you know dating a doctor an all.” He tried to smile, “Do you mind?”

She chuckled, “No. Apparently everybody smoke now.” She was thinking about House again.

“What do you mean?” He asked.

“Nothing.” She said. He nodded and left the room.

The taste of his mouth lingered. But so was the look in his eyes. Before and after. Her neck was bruised and she still couldn’t allow herself to touch it. She has always been in so deep for him, she didn’t understand. She wanted to confront him; she wanted to know why he would do such a thing. She had never been the greatest fighter in relationships but for him, she would be. She wanted an answer. Had she been blind all these years? That the man was in fact completely insane, mentally sick? Were all the drugs in his body the reason? What were the things happening to him every time he would disappear out of her life? She was crying and crying over and over again, cursing herself for falling for a man who had abused her verbally all those years. She had told him she loved him for Christ’s sake, he had wanted her to say it and then what? He asked her to leave and because she wouldn’t, he became violent and tried to… She can’t even think about it, the look in his eyes had changed; he was someone she had never seen before, saying the action he was performing, “I’m killing you.” She remembered him say. Was he in control of what he was doing? She didn’t know but his hands on her felt like he was and unless she had been dreaming, he wasn’t trying to hold himself back.

The taste from his mouth still lingered though and did she have to let it linger? She never wanted that feeling go away, the moment she told him she loved him so much. These exact same words that had triggered that change in him. She had never liked gentle, which was what she wanted but not what she needed. He had been rough but tender at the same time, making her feel whole and just the way she wanted to be. And she could have sworn he had felt the same way. Maybe that was it; maybe he just couldn’t handle it. Being with her went against everything his miserable self believed in. Maybe… if Peter hadn’t come to her rescue he would have stopped himself from strangling her all the way to her end. She would never know but she wanted to know, she had to ask him. As much as she hated him that moment, his taste, his smell, his entire being, the being she was in love with lingered and she couldn’t let go. She wouldn’t be able to let go of him. People are right when they say being addicted will certainly kill you if this addiction is dangerous. But that addiction had hurt her and she would need to detox. Facing your addiction and accepting the disaster it causes are the first steps to recovery.

Outside Cuddy’s house, Peter was smoking his cigarette when a car stopped by. Josh walked out of his car and met his friend at the doorstep, “Hey.” He greeted him, giving Josh a metal briefcase.

“So, how is she?” Josh asked, taking the briefcase.

“Why do you care?” Peter asked.

“You really have no heart?” Josh expressed.

“You didn’t seem to care before…” He paused, “And by the way, saying ‘hi’ when you called the cops last night? That wasn’t a good move; I had to tell them you were quite shocked by the sight before you.”

“I didn’t!” Josh claimed, “Except when I saw the scene, that was psychologically unsustainable… knowing that I’m part of the reason why that happened.”

“She wanted a man like him, she got what she deserved.” Peter shrugged.

“Just because your dad felt your mother-“Josh tried.

“And my dad was right. Mom was a whore and she got what she deserved.” Peter was final.

“Yeah, that explains why he went nuts and shot himself in the head.” Josh laughed, “Oh yeah the man was happy with what he had done!”

“You got your money and your Electronic Bypass Exhilarating Frequency now!” Peter threw his cigarette to the ground and smashed it, “It works and the job is done, you have your scientific discovery.”

“Except I wanted to exploit the EBXF for healthy scientific purpose.” Josh explained, “Not to kill people. There is no way I’m going to be able to use this technology righteously now. People will get suspicious. Only killers, mobs, terrorists or arms dealer will want the EBXF…”

“It’s a stupid way to call it anyway.”Peter said, ready to go back inside.

“Oh but the mystery that surrounds all this, it’s exciting isn’t it?” Josh asked him, “It’s really throwing me off that you want this to become the greatest psycho story in the history of psycho stories.”

“I’ll get back to you on that in thirty years, when Lisa Cuddy and I have our three beautiful children-“ He said.

“So she can be miserable all her life, hating you, hating having to sleep with you and even possibly hating your kids?” Josh shook his head, “The perfect American life, is that it?”

“Nah, she loves sex and she’ll love her kids.” Peter expressed, “And I’ll be the only man she trusts, except I’m the man who will have led her to her downfall.”

“You want her to be rendered completely insane.” Josh explained, shocked.

“I want to be able to witness what my dad never had the guts to. Watching his wife suffer and at his complete mercy. Even though all he had ever wanted was for her to love him back.” He claimed.

“He has never been the monster and you the bastard…”Josh paused, “It’s you. You’re the monster.”

“Don’t people say men look for their mother in their girlfriends?” Peter raised an eyebrow, smirking.

“You’re a miserable psychiatrist for fuck’s sake…” Josh tried.

“Even better, she’s going to get all my attention from now on.” He smiled before coming back into her house, slamming the door shut in Josh’s face.

Josh was stressed, he had his money but he couldn’t believe what that poor woman would go through. He walked back to his car, unaware of the fact that someone across the street had noticed the entire conversation that had took place.