Gentle Knock - Chapter 44
Title: A Gentle Knock at the Door, Chapter 44
Author: zeppomarx
Characters: House, Wilson, Cuddy, Chase and Foreman, and new folks.
Warnings and So On: NC-17 for concepts. H/W friendship (perhaps slash if you wear those kind of goggles)
Summary: Short version: House is a physical and emotional mess, having been wrongly imprisoned and tortured and all sorts of nasty stuff. It's about what happens next, and how House deals with it. A sequel to Priority's Exigencies, which is a sequel to DIY Sheep's The Contract, which has spawned an incredible number of offshoots.
Timeline: Set nearly a year after the beginning of Exigencies.
Earlier chapters: Chapters 1-16 here. Chapters 18-43 here.
Comments: Be gentle. Flamers begone. Thanks AW, GM and medical guru TD, who says the medicine is okay, but the procedure is messed up. Drama trumps procedure.
Oh, Yeah, the Disclaimer: I certainly don't own House or any of the characters therein, although it would be nice if I did. They belong to David Shore & company. It's just that the characters waltzed into my head and wouldn't leave until I told their story.
SUMMARY: Tension in the courtroom...
TEASER: Under Attack...
___________________________________________
A Gentle Knock at the Door
Chapter 44
It started out the same way as the others: the ride in the van, the wait in the hall.
But this time, the dynamic was different. This time, it wasn’t a government case but rather a criminal case. This time, Rainie would have to venture into the courtroom alone, as would House, who would have to talk, not about medicine, but about his own experiences. This time, House had his own attorney, Jane Dabney, who came highly recommended by Joe Roberts. This time, they were in a different-and much larger-courtroom. And worst of all, the trial was open to the press.
Cuddy, Wilson, plus the security guards, the nurse and both television reporters (all of whom agreed to testify against Pevey as part of their plea bargain) would set the stage, detailing Pevey’s behavior at work and his attempts to discredit House and the hospital. Karen Langley, Anna Stein, Jacey Liu and others would testify about the injuries House received from Pevey’s assault.
When they were done, Rainie would talk about the night the security guards and the nurse took her to the second floor and Pevey filmed her. She would be followed by Linda McAllister and Joe Roberts describing what they saw after the attack.
Then, finally, House would testify about his long-standing difficulties with Pevey, several previous confrontations and concluding with the attack, which he barely remembered.
After one last look at House, still sitting in the hall, Rainie prepared herself for the reaction from the crowd. At least this case was the last one, and now she knew what to expect. But this time not only was House not with her, but Roberts would not be pushing her chair. Instead, one of the bailiffs took charge.
The doors opened and in they went.
Rainie kept her head down, but she could hear the usual rumble from the crowd and the occasional whispered “Oh, my god!” or “Look at her face!” Not for the first time, she appreciated how House had always, from the very first moment, treated her as if he saw nothing unusual in her appearance, and in fact found her attractive. It never dawned on her that she’d done the same for him.
She heard the click and whir of cameras and felt the flashes on her face.
As she got closer to the front of the courtroom, her heart started thumping in her chest and she was having trouble breathing. Come on, she said to herself, you’re a big girl. Get it together. You’ve done this before. You don’t need House to get through it. Jacey Liu would sit next to her until she was called, and would be there when she was done. It would be all right.
Once she was situated, Jacey Liu leaned over to check on her.
“You okay?” she asked.
“Mmm-hmm,” Rainie lied, trying to catch her breath.
She was sworn in a few minutes later, her chair turned toward the crowd, those nameless gawking faces. Taking a breath, she fought down her panic.
Jane Dabney began by asking Rainie for her full name and her connection to Dr. House.
“Maureen Eloise Adler. Dr. House is the lead physician on my medical case.”
The attorney then asked Rainie to tell the jury what had happened the night she was removed from her room.
“I woke up when the nurse came in and started detaching me from the monitoring equipment. When I asked her what was going on, she didn’t say anything. Behind her were three men and a gurney.”
“How did you react?”
Rainie closed her eyes, trying not to let the memories take over. “I… I was terrified. I knew something was very wrong. All I could think of was that they were taking me back to… that place… that they were going to… h-hurt me.”
The members of the jury saw the witness blink back tears.
“Take your time,” said Dabney. “What happened next?”
“They lifted me onto the gurney and started to wheel me out the door. I was so frightened-I just wanted to escape. I’m not sure when it happened, but at some point one of them grabbed at me and I pulled away. I think that’s when I fell.”
“You fell off the gurney?”
“Yes.”
“And were you injured?”
“Apparently so, although I didn’t realize it at the time. I was just scared.”
“Then what?”
“The next thing I remember was being on a bed in a very cold room… a man came into the room, got out a video camera and began filming me.”
“What did you do?”
Now she was crying, the words coming out in spurts around her sobs.
“I begged him… not to… I thought it was like before… that they’d film…”
She bowed her head and couldn’t continue her shoulder shaking with sobs.
“Are you all right?”
Rainie shook her head, then, under her breath, said, “N-no, but I will be… j-just give me a minute.”
The microphone was a good one; it picked up every word.
She took a couple of deep breaths and then looked up again.
“Okay.”
“What else happened?”
“Finally, he packed up the camera and left me alone in the room.”
“How long were you there?”
“I don’t know. A long time. Finally, Dr. House and some others found me.”
“Ms. Adler, do you think you’d recognize this man if you saw him?”
Rainie swallowed. If only her heart would stop beating so hard.
“Yes, I’m sure of it.”
“Do you see him here in the courtroom?”
Rainie looked around. She had a good idea where Pevey should be sitting, but she took her time and looked over the room.
When she finally saw him, she gasped involuntarily. It was definitely the man.
“That’s him,” she said, gesturing with her right arm.
“And you’re sure?”
“Oh, yes. Positive.”
“Thank you, Ms. Adler. No further questions.”
Pevey’s defense attorney moved quickly as he came right up next to her, looming over her wheelchair, clearly intending to intimidate her. As his shadow covered her face, she winced, her body twitching involuntarily in reaction to the sudden and threatening movement. Her hands fluttered toward her face for a moment until she forcibly brought them down and gripped the arms of her wheelchair.
“Ms. Adler, you say you remember much of what happened that night, is that correct?”
She tried take a breath but couldn’t get air. Her voice didn’t seem to want to come out. Did he have to stand so close?
“Y-yes.”
“And yet, according to your medical records, you were under heavy sedation and were on morphine at that time. How are we supposed to believe that you remember anything at all from that night?”
“Objection. Badgering the witness.”
“Sustained. Mr. Davis, please rephrase the question.”
“Sorry, your honor. Are you sure that you remember what happened that night? Is it possible that you heard about it later and thought you remembered it?”
Keep calm. Keep calm.
“I’m sure I remember it. Quite clearly, in fact. No one has talked to me about it, and this is the first time I’ve told anyone what I remember.”
“You are aware that you’re under oath, aren’t you, Ms. Adler? There is a penalty for perjury.”
Now she was annoyed. Don’t condescend to me, you insolent jerk, she thought. The fear had dissipated and been replaced by a cold anger. She could breathe again.
Smiling at him but with a covert warning in her eyes, she said, “I may look like crap, Mr. Davis, but I’m not stupid.”
She heard scattered laughter throughout the courtroom.
“Sorry, your honor. Allow me to rephrase that. Yes, I am aware that I’m under oath. Perjury pertains only when a lie has been told. Everything I’ve said is the truth. And yes, I know the difference between truth and lies. Here’s the truth, just so there’s no mistake. That man…”-she pointed at Pevey-“…shot video of me after I’d been taken from my room against my will and put in another. Now, before I leave, is there anything else you’d like to insinuate?”
More laughter and some applause.
If Mr. Davis was chagrined, it didn’t show.
“No further questions, your honor.”
She was done. The bailiff wheeled her back up the aisle, with Jacey once again in the lead. This time, when spectators reached toward her, she didn’t flinch. Funny how anger trumped fear.
NEXT: House testifies...
Author: zeppomarx
Characters: House, Wilson, Cuddy, Chase and Foreman, and new folks.
Warnings and So On: NC-17 for concepts. H/W friendship (perhaps slash if you wear those kind of goggles)
Summary: Short version: House is a physical and emotional mess, having been wrongly imprisoned and tortured and all sorts of nasty stuff. It's about what happens next, and how House deals with it. A sequel to Priority's Exigencies, which is a sequel to DIY Sheep's The Contract, which has spawned an incredible number of offshoots.
Timeline: Set nearly a year after the beginning of Exigencies.
Earlier chapters: Chapters 1-16 here. Chapters 18-43 here.
Comments: Be gentle. Flamers begone. Thanks AW, GM and medical guru TD, who says the medicine is okay, but the procedure is messed up. Drama trumps procedure.
Oh, Yeah, the Disclaimer: I certainly don't own House or any of the characters therein, although it would be nice if I did. They belong to David Shore & company. It's just that the characters waltzed into my head and wouldn't leave until I told their story.
SUMMARY: Tension in the courtroom...
TEASER: Under Attack...
___________________________________________
A Gentle Knock at the Door
Chapter 44
It started out the same way as the others: the ride in the van, the wait in the hall.
But this time, the dynamic was different. This time, it wasn’t a government case but rather a criminal case. This time, Rainie would have to venture into the courtroom alone, as would House, who would have to talk, not about medicine, but about his own experiences. This time, House had his own attorney, Jane Dabney, who came highly recommended by Joe Roberts. This time, they were in a different-and much larger-courtroom. And worst of all, the trial was open to the press.
Cuddy, Wilson, plus the security guards, the nurse and both television reporters (all of whom agreed to testify against Pevey as part of their plea bargain) would set the stage, detailing Pevey’s behavior at work and his attempts to discredit House and the hospital. Karen Langley, Anna Stein, Jacey Liu and others would testify about the injuries House received from Pevey’s assault.
When they were done, Rainie would talk about the night the security guards and the nurse took her to the second floor and Pevey filmed her. She would be followed by Linda McAllister and Joe Roberts describing what they saw after the attack.
Then, finally, House would testify about his long-standing difficulties with Pevey, several previous confrontations and concluding with the attack, which he barely remembered.
After one last look at House, still sitting in the hall, Rainie prepared herself for the reaction from the crowd. At least this case was the last one, and now she knew what to expect. But this time not only was House not with her, but Roberts would not be pushing her chair. Instead, one of the bailiffs took charge.
The doors opened and in they went.
Rainie kept her head down, but she could hear the usual rumble from the crowd and the occasional whispered “Oh, my god!” or “Look at her face!” Not for the first time, she appreciated how House had always, from the very first moment, treated her as if he saw nothing unusual in her appearance, and in fact found her attractive. It never dawned on her that she’d done the same for him.
She heard the click and whir of cameras and felt the flashes on her face.
As she got closer to the front of the courtroom, her heart started thumping in her chest and she was having trouble breathing. Come on, she said to herself, you’re a big girl. Get it together. You’ve done this before. You don’t need House to get through it. Jacey Liu would sit next to her until she was called, and would be there when she was done. It would be all right.
Once she was situated, Jacey Liu leaned over to check on her.
“You okay?” she asked.
“Mmm-hmm,” Rainie lied, trying to catch her breath.
She was sworn in a few minutes later, her chair turned toward the crowd, those nameless gawking faces. Taking a breath, she fought down her panic.
Jane Dabney began by asking Rainie for her full name and her connection to Dr. House.
“Maureen Eloise Adler. Dr. House is the lead physician on my medical case.”
The attorney then asked Rainie to tell the jury what had happened the night she was removed from her room.
“I woke up when the nurse came in and started detaching me from the monitoring equipment. When I asked her what was going on, she didn’t say anything. Behind her were three men and a gurney.”
“How did you react?”
Rainie closed her eyes, trying not to let the memories take over. “I… I was terrified. I knew something was very wrong. All I could think of was that they were taking me back to… that place… that they were going to… h-hurt me.”
The members of the jury saw the witness blink back tears.
“Take your time,” said Dabney. “What happened next?”
“They lifted me onto the gurney and started to wheel me out the door. I was so frightened-I just wanted to escape. I’m not sure when it happened, but at some point one of them grabbed at me and I pulled away. I think that’s when I fell.”
“You fell off the gurney?”
“Yes.”
“And were you injured?”
“Apparently so, although I didn’t realize it at the time. I was just scared.”
“Then what?”
“The next thing I remember was being on a bed in a very cold room… a man came into the room, got out a video camera and began filming me.”
“What did you do?”
Now she was crying, the words coming out in spurts around her sobs.
“I begged him… not to… I thought it was like before… that they’d film…”
She bowed her head and couldn’t continue her shoulder shaking with sobs.
“Are you all right?”
Rainie shook her head, then, under her breath, said, “N-no, but I will be… j-just give me a minute.”
The microphone was a good one; it picked up every word.
She took a couple of deep breaths and then looked up again.
“Okay.”
“What else happened?”
“Finally, he packed up the camera and left me alone in the room.”
“How long were you there?”
“I don’t know. A long time. Finally, Dr. House and some others found me.”
“Ms. Adler, do you think you’d recognize this man if you saw him?”
Rainie swallowed. If only her heart would stop beating so hard.
“Yes, I’m sure of it.”
“Do you see him here in the courtroom?”
Rainie looked around. She had a good idea where Pevey should be sitting, but she took her time and looked over the room.
When she finally saw him, she gasped involuntarily. It was definitely the man.
“That’s him,” she said, gesturing with her right arm.
“And you’re sure?”
“Oh, yes. Positive.”
“Thank you, Ms. Adler. No further questions.”
Pevey’s defense attorney moved quickly as he came right up next to her, looming over her wheelchair, clearly intending to intimidate her. As his shadow covered her face, she winced, her body twitching involuntarily in reaction to the sudden and threatening movement. Her hands fluttered toward her face for a moment until she forcibly brought them down and gripped the arms of her wheelchair.
“Ms. Adler, you say you remember much of what happened that night, is that correct?”
She tried take a breath but couldn’t get air. Her voice didn’t seem to want to come out. Did he have to stand so close?
“Y-yes.”
“And yet, according to your medical records, you were under heavy sedation and were on morphine at that time. How are we supposed to believe that you remember anything at all from that night?”
“Objection. Badgering the witness.”
“Sustained. Mr. Davis, please rephrase the question.”
“Sorry, your honor. Are you sure that you remember what happened that night? Is it possible that you heard about it later and thought you remembered it?”
Keep calm. Keep calm.
“I’m sure I remember it. Quite clearly, in fact. No one has talked to me about it, and this is the first time I’ve told anyone what I remember.”
“You are aware that you’re under oath, aren’t you, Ms. Adler? There is a penalty for perjury.”
Now she was annoyed. Don’t condescend to me, you insolent jerk, she thought. The fear had dissipated and been replaced by a cold anger. She could breathe again.
Smiling at him but with a covert warning in her eyes, she said, “I may look like crap, Mr. Davis, but I’m not stupid.”
She heard scattered laughter throughout the courtroom.
“Sorry, your honor. Allow me to rephrase that. Yes, I am aware that I’m under oath. Perjury pertains only when a lie has been told. Everything I’ve said is the truth. And yes, I know the difference between truth and lies. Here’s the truth, just so there’s no mistake. That man…”-she pointed at Pevey-“…shot video of me after I’d been taken from my room against my will and put in another. Now, before I leave, is there anything else you’d like to insinuate?”
More laughter and some applause.
If Mr. Davis was chagrined, it didn’t show.
“No further questions, your honor.”
She was done. The bailiff wheeled her back up the aisle, with Jacey once again in the lead. This time, when spectators reached toward her, she didn’t flinch. Funny how anger trumped fear.
NEXT: House testifies...