Okay, this one is a little bit inspired by Blade Runner as you'll see and by the way in the Video Game adaptation of the movie, it was Lisa Edelstein who did the voice for the sexy character of Crystal Steel. xD (and yes i used to love that game when I was 13, God that was a long time ago, lol, I'm old!).

Anyway, I think this one is going to make you love me and hate me at once. I'm posting this one fast because I don't have time to go through my typos or unacceptable grammar again, so all my apologies in advance but at least you get that one fast before the next one that I will likely upload tomorrow!

AND NOW, I want you to read it and review some more! Woohoo! xD

Chapter 8: Confrontation.

“We’ve found nothing, except loads of bottles of Vicodin.” Jenny said, meeting her father halfway in the PD’s hall, “No cigarette packs, nothing except the painkiller he uses for his leg.”

“I’ve asked Brandon to search through his Credit card records and bank statements, thanks to the warrant you got us.” Josh paused, “The only time he bought cigarettes was 4 days ago. Before that –and he went back more than a year or so, he has never bought any cigarettes.”

“I told you something was very wrong with this case.” Norris said, “Good job.”

“Sorry but that doesn’t give us much, I only did all this because you’re my boss.” Nick said, “It’s unnecessary, the guy is a killer. I don’t need more proof than what happened.”

“Nick…” Jenny tried to stop him from acting like an idiot again.

“We have to make sure we don’t miss out on anything.” Norris said.

“No, Jenny. I have a right to explain myself. Your dad thinks this case is related to an old case of his.” Nick said, “Yes, I know about the case, I respect you immensely but Lucky Strike doesn’t stand for Crime of Passion.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about and for the record; it was never a case or my case for that matter until my conclusions were proven wrong by Gale!” Norris explained, “Now you are an excellent Lieutenant Nick, you’ll become a great detective someday if you follow that road but you don’t get to try and screw me as being an old senile ready for retirement, got it?”

“Dad, please. You know he just hates the FBI. That’s why he doesn’t like the fact that Gale is on this as well.” She tried to calm both her father and ex-boyfriend down, “And you Nick, you have got to be open to any possibilities… I mean, that House is probably going to end up in jail anyway.” She added, putting a hand on his shoulder, the look they exchanged reminding the lieutenant how much he wanted that woman back in his life.

A voice interrupted the moment, “Dr. Wilson is here, Sir.”

Norris woke up from the touching moment a woman had just brought to his eyes and said, “Well, let’s go get some coffee. I want him in the interrogation room now.” He told the officer.

Cuddy eventually got out of bed and headed for the bathroom, completely absent from her body after so much thinking that had led to some more crying, she delicately freed herself from her clothes. She hadn’t changed; these were her clothes from the previous night. She took them off one by one and threw them to the ground. The moment she had entered her bathroom she was naked and came closer to the mirror above the sink. She tried to pull herself together and eyed the bruises on her neck, trying not to break into tears at the sight that reminded her of the strength the man she loves had tried to kill her with. She shook her head, disbelieving his actions, her faith in him, everything their relationship was based on. At loss of tears, she figured she needed a clean state and got on her tub and started the shower. She finally put her hands on her sensible neck and started massaging it.

Peter heard the shower running and went straight to the bathroom, he slowly came in and hadn’t even bothered to take his clothes off that he had jumped in the shower. His fully dressed self startled her a little, she didn’t turn around. In a reassuring manner he put his hands on her hips, watching the beauty that she was from her feet to her bruised neck. She instinctively put her hands on his but couldn’t speak, his gesture inconveniencing her completely.

“I know you want me to get out and go away but I want you no harm.” He said, caressing her chest and put his chin slowly on her left shoulder. He could tell her heart was beating fast, she was vulnerable and it aroused him even more, “I just need you to understand that I’m here for you.”

She closed her eyes and eventually spoke, “I’m going to go to the Police Department again.” She paused, “I have to.”

She let go of her hold on his hands, a way to show him he could trust her. Gaining the trust of a shrink is never easy, especially when most of the time, the shrink is the one who knows what he’s doing. She was playing with fire, with a man she had always had real issues with –still, he had saved and helped her. His hands hadn’t been moving which obviously gave her apprehensions as to what his reaction would be. Eventually, though, he started roaming his hands on her body ans whispered to her ear, “Okay.” He stopped his hands just beneath her breasts and kissed her neck. She remained still until he was gone. She was the property of no man but with what had happened to her, she had come to realize she was starting to fear this man, maybe all men, however since he was the closest to her that very moment, she couldn’t just try and be the independent woman she had always been. She owed him for saving her life and that was the frightening part. She would be used and this was such a vulnerable moment for her.

“Thanks for getting in contact with us Dr. Wilson.” Norris said, entering the interrogation room with Jenny and Nick, “I know you’re not a witness in this investigation but I like this room.”

“I know there’s someone behind that glassy window, you know?” Wilson said, smiling.

“Well in fact, this time there isn’t. Besides, I’m better than another man could be behind a glassy window, trying to decipher your every move, even a slight twitch of the lips.” Norris assured him, “Who wants coffee?”

“No thanks.” Jenny refused politely.

“Yes please.” Wilson said, accepting a cup, “Thank you.”

“Nick?” Norris asked and Nick accepted one as well.

“So, let’s get this over with.”Norris said, sitting down, while Jenny and Nick would observe from behind him, “How long have you known Dr. House.”

“About fifteen years. We’ve met at a bar and he was the perfect jerk.” Wilson smiled at the thought, “We’ve been best friends ever since.”

“Have you ever thought Dr. House to be a dangerous man?” Norris asked.

“With patients? He has done some stupid things to get to the truth. He doesn’t have the Messiah complex most doctors have, he has the Rubik's complex -“

“He needs to solve puzzles.” Norris sighed.

“I can see you might have noticed that in him already.” Wilson said.

“Yes but I’d say he is a bit lost right now. Do you think his drug addiction would be reason enough for him to become violent like this?”

“No. When House was forced to stop taking his vicodin –Cuddy would only give him small dosage, he got violent but only verbally. And as far as I know, he hasn’t been on Vicodin withdrawal for the last few days. He was different, I’ll give you that, even I felt there was something very wrong with him but it wasn’t because of the Vicodin. He was still taking it and even if I hadn’t seen him take any, I would have known because a doctor really can’t miss House’s symptom of withdrawal, they are pretty charismatic.”

“I see. What is the exact extent of the relationship between Dr. House and Dr. Cuddy?”

“Honestly? They’re idiots. They’ve been in love with each other for years. They met in college, she became his attending doctor when he realized he had been misdiagnosed the first time and a couple of months after the infarction she had become Dean of Medicine and she hired him, creating a whole department for him.”

“Romantically, how has it been for them?”

“They’ve mostly had numerous one night stands. He was never ready for a relationship because House doesn’t do happy. He doesn’t trust himself to be the one for her and she… well, she understands that but that doesn’t mean she has given up on the thought.”

“Well after what happened last night, I’m pretty sure she has given up on it by now.” Nick cut in.

“Shut up…” Jenny warned him.

“Continue.” Norris said, knowing the man was on a roll.

“You see, I don’t think this is really relevant since it’s my opinion but right now, Cuddy’s probably in a state of complete shock because we both know House would have never done such a thing. I mean it’s impossible, the man –even though he hates to admit it, saves lives, he doesn’t take them away and especially not Lisa Cuddy’s. I went to her House earlier and Peter prevented me from getting in. He said he was taking care of her. He has no right to shut me out of her life like this, I’m her friend!”

“Do you think it’s strange that he’s doing this?” Norris asked.

“Even if it wasn’t, I just don’t like it.” Wilson admitted, “He is being extremely protective and I’m sorry but if Cuddy went to House’s place last night it must have been because she didn’t want to see his face.”

“What do you mean?” Jenny asked.

“The man is a cheater and she knows it.” Wilson paused, “His promise to her had been to tell her the truth if he had a relapse and cheated on her. If he has, you got your reason why she went straight to House. He’s the only man she trusts.”

“Regarding House’s change… what you’ve noticed in the last few days-“Norris tried.

“The people working under him told me this morning that he hadn’t showed up for his CT scan that was scheduled at 9. This means he was going to run some tests on himself.” Wilson explained, “Except now, he never has. Maybe, I don’t know, maybe he had figured something out.”

“I don’t think he has.” Norris said, “Anyway, I have one last question for you Dr. Wilson and then you can go see him.”

“Shoot.” Wilson said.

“Does Dr. House smoke Lucky Strikes?” Norris asked.

“House doesn’t smoke, I saw him smoke some two days ago and he said he had suddenly developed an addiction but never in the fifteen years I’ve known him have I ever seen him smoke cigarettes.”

“Suddenly?” Norris repeated after Wilson.

“Yep, you know the guy actually disappeared for three days! We had no idea where he was, Cuddy was freaking out and Peter was just…” Wilson paused.

“Peter what, Dr. Wilson?” Norris asked.

“He just… well, of course he didn’t care he hates House’s guts because he knows what a threat he will always been to him. He’s a psychiatrist and has offered to take care of House’s mental suffering many times, if you get my drift.” Wilson remarked.

“Are you implying there could be some sort of set up against House here?” Nick asked.

“I just… I don’t know, what he did to Cuddy he did… obviously, but what if there was something more to it than it is on the surface?” Wilson asked.

“Boss, this man is obviously trying to protect his friend by extrapolating on things that might have or might have not happened and I’m sorry but unless House is insane or has been paid to try and kill Dr. Cuddy, there is nothing that will make him escape jail. He will go to jail because he willingly assaulted her.” Nick explained.

“Nick.” Jenny turned to face him, “You’re right there’s probably not much that can be done for this man but don’t you think Dr. Cuddy deserves the reasons behind this? Even if he’s crazy. If a man had done this to me, wouldn’t you want to know? I know I would.” She smiled at him, “And I know I’m using your soft spot for me here.”

“You two are cute. You remind me of House and Cuddy in a way.” Wilson said, all nostalgic now.

“I’m not like that man!” Nick retorted, eyeing Wilson dangerously.

“On the contrary, Nick.” Norris came in, “He’s right, you’re probably the one who would answer the man’s behavior the most. You react on hunches, impulses and you want to prove yourself right, but you secretly want to prove yourself wrong.”Norris paused, “You’re just like him and it’s a good quality, just… never raise a hand at my daughter or I’ll kill you.”

“Dad, you really think that’s funny? Especially in front of Dr. Wilson?”Jenny cut in.

“You’re right, I’m sorry.” He apologized, “Dr. Wilson, Nick is going to take you to your friend’s cell.”

They all came out of the interrogation room and Jenny and her father went back to the hall, “Do you really believe I can find more to this, hon?” Norris asked her daughter.

“Dad, I know that you would never have contacted Gale to work on this case if you didn’t believe that there was something more to it. Besides, I can’t go against your decision. I know you want more excitement than just a simple murder attempt these days, I can’t blame you.”

“Is this because I’m retiring soon that you are being this nice to me?” Norris questioned her.

“No, it’s because you’ve always told me once that every case is a cold case, no matter what the verdict is and that it has to stay-“

“Warm as long as possible.” He smiled at his daughter, smiling.

“Exactly.” She said, giving him a quick peck on the cheek.

“You’ve got a visit.” Nick said, walking towards House’s cell. House tilted his head back and saw Wilson.

“Hey buddy.” Wilson said.

“Thank you moron, you can go away now.” House told Nick.

“Sorry House but I’ve got to make sure he doesn’t help you escape. I wouldn’t want you to kill someone this time.” Nick stayed in place on the wall opposite the bars and folded his arms.

House sighed and said, “Good! Great! Wilson you should call the hookers now, I’m sure he hasn’t got a good fuck in months, that’s why he’s so pissed at the fact that I fucked my girl last night...maybe he’d like to know how it feels like to try and kill his girl and then get screwed by guys like him in a fucking police department!”

“House…” Wilson tried.

“Yes, I’m insane! I’m so messed up right now that I think I could try to kill someone else! Come on lover-cop, bring me another girl to fuck so I can give you the proof that I’m a psycho serial killer-“

“Stop messing with me, House. I can contain myself.” Nick explained. The man had remained impassible.

Wilson turned to Nick and said, “It’s a game, my advice to you is, shut up or play.”

“I know he’s going to try and win, either way.” Nick said.

“I’m trying to explain this fucked up situation but you know better, don’t you? You know that I’m lying to myself-“House kept going.

“House, stop now!” Wilson cut in.

“ Oh but he wants me to act insane because he is a hundred percent sure that I’m just another sociopath who has finally found his calling last night, isn’t that right Johnson?”

“Everybody lies.” Nick simply said.

House stopped himself and started laughing and Wilson rolled his eyes.

“What?” Nick asked, incredulous.

“Finally, I’m going to be able to stop thinking of you as an idiot!” House eyed Lieutenant Nick Johnson carefully, “You’re good!”

“He likes you.” Wilson said to Nick.

“I suggest you invite him for our next Poker game.” House paused, “In jail that is!”

“I’m not going to ask you how you are because it’s obvious you can’t be feeling too well right now.” Wilson acknowledged.

“No kidding.” House said as he started pacing around his cell.

“I just want you to know that I’m going to help you through this and that I’m going to do anything in my power –and so will these guys, “Wilson turned to Nick when said it, “to make sure this case isn’t definite.”

“I’ve fucking hurt her, Wilson!” House yelled, “I don’t see how this can be explained. The act is there, facts and witnesses in the police’s pocket; a jury will never believe me when I tell them: “Oh, I’m sorry, I couldn’t control my action, and I was strangling the one woman I care about even though I didn’t want to.” He sighed, “Even those guys you trust don’t believe me.”

“You don’t know that.” Wilson explained.

“Look at him, Wilson.” House stopped pacing and raised his arm to point at Nick.

“He’s right, we don’t, only Norris sort of does.” Nick shrugged.

“Well, I do believe you.”Wilson assured.

“Have you… seen her?” House asked, calming himself down slightly.

“Not yet. Peter wouldn’t let me in.” Wilson admitted.

“That bastard, I swear to God if I ever get out of this, I’ll taser him myself.” House expressed.

“Saying things like that isn’t going to help you, House.” Wilson claimed, “Try and act like a human being for a change!”

“This Wilson is as close as being a human being I’ll ever get. I don’t want that asshole to be within a thousand miles away, but he’s in her house as we speak and I’m sorry for reacting like a protective human being at the fucking moment.”

“You know you’re in control of what comes in and out of your mouth, House.”

“So I’m wrong about this too?” House explained, “Fuck me for being so bad at reacting to basic human emotions!” House stopped himself, something coming back to him.

I’m not in control here, so why should I?

This is where you’re wrong. You’re in control of what comes in and out of your mouth.

A memory of a man with no face, and a cigarette…Dave, he had asked him to call him Dave.

“Why would you say ‘in’? Wilson asked, not really getting the ‘in’ part except for some really drastic sexual innuendos.

“It’s a devilish joke my ex-psychiatrist used to say; at least I think it’s a joke.” Nick explained, “It means your emotions come in as a breath and you have to inhale it, as if digesting it, just like you’d kiss a woman and then let only ,what’s thought through and useful, out.”

Wilson turned back to House who had remained silent, “House, are you okay?”

“I think I know what happened those three days I went missing.” House paused, “I think I’ve been kidnapped.”

Wilson turned back to Nick with a dumbfounded look, “Well, speaking of the devil.” Nick said, intrigued.

Josh had gone to a video store that afternoon; he was reading a comic book when a man of about 50 years old came inside. The man started pacing around the store. Josh eyed the man who was looking at the Sci-Fi DVDs shelf carefully, “May I help you, sir?” He asked.

“In fact, yes.” The man replied. Josh moved in the direction of the man. “I’d like to know if you have Blade Runner, the first Director’s Cut edition from 1997.”

“I’m sorry, we don’t. We only got the last edition.” Josh said.

“Argh. Too bad because you see, I collect all Blade Runner products and that one is the only one I don’t have.”

“Hehe, nice to see a connoisseur!” Josh smiled at the man, “You also know that the popularity of the movie made it one of the first movie to go straight to DVD back in the days.”

“When people talk about Science Fiction, if they have never seen that movie, they’ve seen nothing, right?” The man smiled back.

“Exactly! And that movie was one of the reasons why I did all my best to get into the MIT!” Josh exclaimed, happy to have found a smart geeky customer for once.

“You went to MIT? Impressive!” The man appreciated, “What are you thirty years old? Thirty five?”

“Yep, thirty five!” Josh admitted.

“Can you tell me what a smart man such as you is still doing, working at a video store?”

“I’ll be out of here soon. Tomorrow actually, I just gave my boss my letter of resignation.” Josh smiled proudly.

“Good for you.” The man said, “I assume you’ve played the Blade Runner game from 1996 as well.”

“Duh! That was like the best game ever at the time, after my lectures I would go back to my dorm and play on my computer instead of working on my papers, but surprisingly it never got me grades under Bs.” Josh told him.

“You probably wished you could have ended the game in Crystal Steel’s bed, right?” The man asked, raising the eyebrow. The answer was obvious anyway.

“Like most men on the planet, hehe.” Josh smiled, “How come you know about that game, I mean not to be offensive but you don’t seem like the kind of guy who plays video games.”

“I don’t but that one I did because the enigmas and getting those insights on the Replicants, I mean the universe was completely different, but God, the adrenaline, it was just too good.” He paused, “Can you imagine being a biorobotic person that develops itself to the point where artificial intelligence transforms into what could be considered a compromise between a human being and a machine? And I mean that on what was supposed to be a machine in the first place.”

“Wow, you know an awful lot and yes, I completely agree with you. This movie was such an inspiration for me and the graphics in it as well as the video games almost fifteen years later were-“Josh tried, overjoyed.

“Oh yeah the graphics, definitely and that Crystal character that was only in the game, I mean I was just like you even though I’ve been married for thirty years-“

“Hehe, funny you should say that! One of my best friends, at the time who chose to major in psychiatry –even though he had no desire to, has never smoked any other brands of cigarettes but Lucky strike since he virtually met Crystal, if you get my drift.” Josh waggled his eyebrows.

“What do you mean by ‘even though he had no desire to’?” The man asked.

“Well, it was sort of personal, a tragedy in his family. Apparently his dad had started an addiction to cigarettes and he would only buy Lucky Strike before he shot himself.”

“That’s tragic.” The man expressed.

“Yep.” Josh looked down.

“Now would you mind telling me what’s inside that metal briefcase your friend, Peter gave you?” The man asked, definitely not kidding.

“What the-“Josh tried, “Who are you?”

“Me? I’m just a Blade Runner fan who thinks Lucky Strike is a very important brand in this suspicious and almost Sci-Fi-ish case of murder attempt on the person of Lisa Cuddy.” The man said, “I’m going to have to ask you to come with me.”

“Shit.”Josh let out, without realizing that in this insane story, this was the last thing he should have said.

“That you have a right to say.” The man smiled as he handcuffed Josh, that simple word letting him know he was onto something.

Peter had drove Cuddy to the Police Department, she insisted that he stayed in the car while she would be inside. He didn’t like that but eventually and reluctantly told her he wouldn’t interfere with her ‘recovering process’ as he’d put it –as a joke, of course. A joke… that honestly, wasn’t one, definitely not to her liking.

Her footsteps were slow as she walked inside the hall and saw Wilson talking to police officers, the tension inside her soften the moment his warm eyes met hers, it was the first honest and living breath that had come out of her mouth in the past couple of hours.

“Cuddy…” Wilson let out as he left the lieutenants alone to go see her. He instinctively put his arms around her –only carefully not to startle her too much. She gave him back his embrace, enjoying every second of it. That was what she had needed, the warmth of a close friend. She had apprehended that moment when she would see the face of his best friend but surprisingly, the relationship between him and House couldn’t make hers with Wilson fall apart completely, “Lisa, are you okay?” He said caressing the back of her head, “I’m okay, James.” He let go of his hold on her and said, “You don’t have to lie to me but I appreciate the need for a casual social talk.” He tried to smile at her.

“Did you… hm… did you see him?” She asked, uncertain.

“Yes.” He nodded; “You’re here to…” he tried.

“Yes.” She admitted, “I have to know.”

“And by knowing you mean seeing, right?” Wilson asked, not sure this was a good idea for her, after all, House had admitted doing what he did and she was the first witness because the first witness is always the victim.

“Dr. Cuddy?” Detective Norris whom had been called by his two favorite lieutenants came closer to them, “What are you doing here? You should be at home resting.”

“Hello, Mr. Norris.” She said and nodded hi to Nick and Jenny.

“I’m Lieutenant Walker, I work on the case and this is Lieutenant Nick Johnson.” Jenny came forward and Nick nodded.

“I have to see him, detective.” She said.

“I really don’t think this is such a good idea, Dr. Cuddy.”

“He’s going to go to jail anyway and I don’t want to have to wait for his trial to see him because I might not be able to face him.” She said.

“You want to face him outside the context of a trial to not be reminded of what he did to you?” Norris expressed and Cuddy sort of nodded, “You’re wrong Dr. Cuddy, this won’t make it easier for you. If that’s the ultimate reason, it won’t-“He tried.

“You’re right, it’s not the main reason but I’ve been thinking about this all day and I’ve… made my decision, I have to see him, before my own eyes, I know his words will get to me but at least I’ll be untouchable to him.”

“Wow, you guys really are mental!” Jenny came in, they all looked at her, a little shocked, “Woopsie, sorry!”

“Jenny will take you to him.”

“I need to be alone with him.” She asked.

“He’s in a closed part of the facility, which means he’s alone in his cell and there aren’t any other prisoners around.” Norris paused, “Jenny will stay close by, just in case though.”

“I’ll be right outside.” Jenny nodded.

“Okay.” Cuddy said.

“Lisa, are you sure-“Wilson tried again.

“How was he when you saw him?” She asked, cutting him off.

Wilson sighed, knowing he wouldn’t be able to change her mind, “He’s bad.”

“Let’s go.” Jenny said, asking Cuddy to come with her.

Verdict? *evil laughter* LOL