Hold On

At the police station, they were directed to a waiting room. Allison sat down on the couch, staring at the floor. She twisted her fingers nervously, picking at her nails, her face expressionless, staring downward as if counting the specks in the floor linoleum was the most crucial mission ever.

House helped himself to a cup of horribly bitter coffee and, noticing the teabags, brought Allison a cup of tea. She accepted it gratefully, wrapping her cold hands around the warm cup, sniffing it delicately. “Chamomile?”

He nodded. “Natural sedative. Reduces anxiety.”

She eyed the tea dubiously. “I don’t think it’ll help much.”

House shrugged. At least holding the tea gave her something to do with her hands. She was going to claw her cuticles bloody without some kind of distraction.

He sat next to her, not quite sure what to do with himself. He tossed his cane back and forth from one hand to the other until Allison had apparently had it and snatched the cane away. He schooled his face into a hurt look, lip quivering. “You’d take a cane from a cripple?”

She rolled her eyes and handed it back. He was relieved to have gotten some kind of expression out of her beyond the blank stare she had been wearing. She finished her tea in one long gulp and set the cup down on the table.

“Miss Cameron?” The uniformed officer looked around the corner. “We’re ready for you.”

Allison stood slowly, and House rose along with her. The officer frowned. “Sir, you need to stay here.”

“Like hell I am.” House growled, doing his best to be as intimidating as humanly possible.

To his supreme aggravation, the officer was apparently immune to his best glower. “I’m sorry, sir. Only witnesses are allowed in the line-up room.”

He glanced quickly at her name badge. “Officer Milligan, is it?”

She nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“Allison’s been through hell. She is not doing this alone.”

Milligan stepped back. “You can walk with her, but you can’t go in. We can’t risk anything at all going wrong with this. We’re doing everything by the book. My supervisor isn’t going to let this guy walk on a technicality.”

He looked at Allison, seeking some kind of answer, a reassurance that she would be okay alone. He found it. That spark that he’d seen earlier, the little glimmer of fire in her eyes. His hand found her elbow. “To the door, then.”

They reached the door of the line-up room, and he turned to Officer Milligan. “A moment, please.” Even though Allison looked fine, that didn’t mean she was. He was going to make sure she was okay with this. She had had her control brutally ripped away from her. He was going to make sure she knew she had it back.

He leaned his cane against the wall, resting both hands on her shoulders intently. “Are you okay with this?”

She nodded. “I have to do this.”

“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. This is your decision. They can’t make you go in there if you don’t want to.” He held her gaze, trying without actually saying the words to let her know that he wouldn’t be disappointed in her if she chose to leave.

“I want to do this. I don’t think I remember, but when I see him, I might. I need to help. I need to make sure that this doesn’t happen to anyone else.”

“That’s not your job.” He looked at Officer Milligan. “That’s their job.”

“I know.” Allison replied. “I just want to make sure I do everything I can.”

“If you’re sure?” He asked again.

“I’m sure.”

“I’ll be right outside.”

She stepped forward and hugged him. “I know. Thank you for that.” She kissed him lightly on the cheek and turned away from him toward the officer. “I’m ready.” Officer Milligan opened the door and walked inside with Allison, closing the door behind them.