darkdreamer | Used, Chapter 48

Hi, all, here's my second post for the day :) Hope you enjoy it :) Please let me know if you like it :P

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DoS

Title: Used
Beta:

misanthropicobs
Rating: R
Pairing: House/Wilson/Cuddy friendship, slight Wilson/OFC
Warnings: implied and explicit non-con, violence and non-con of a flashback/memory sort, mild language, general angst and trauma and darkness
Summary: One night leaving the hospital, a violent attack leaves House devastated and broken. In the aftermath, Wilson and Cuddy struggle to find a way to help him heal -- while House fights just to find a way to survive.

Chapter 48
A Good Thing

The courtroom was filled with the muted hum of a dozen quiet conversations, as news reporters, legal officials, and curious observers discussed the incredibly scandalous and newsworthy case that was about to commence. In the midst of the hushed excitement and activity, a small group sat quietly, near the middle of the room – not too close to the group of nosy reporters and photographers in the back, or too close to the front of the room, where the defendant would be.

House sat in the middle of the aisle, Cuddy on one side, Wilson on the other. Jenna was there, too, seated at Wilson’s other side, her hand loosely held in his. Cuddy’s hand rested on House’s as well, but for a very different purpose. She was simply trying to help hold him together.

House was clearly terrified.

His entire body was taut with tension, his fists clenched tightly on his knees. His eyes were focused downward, studiously avoiding contact with those of anyone else in the room. Tritter was not there yet, but House knew that he was going to be, any moment, and the thought of facing the man again was on the edge of being entirely more than he could bear.

“You know,” Cuddy whispered, keeping her voice below the hearing of anyone besides House. “Brooke said you don’t have to be here for this…”

“Yes, I do,” House stated, quietly grinding out the words with emphatic determination. “If I can’t face him now… when all I have to do is sit here and not freak out and lose my mind… how am I going to face him from the witness stand?”

Cuddy was silent, aware that he had a valid point. As difficult as it was for House to face this, it would serve as a way to test the waters – to get used to the idea of the even more difficult confrontation that the trial would be.

“Just remember that he can’t touch you here,” she whispered. “You’re in a courtroom full of witnesses, surrounded by armed guards… completely safe.”

House nodded, a little impatient with the continued reassurances. Although he took a certain measure of comfort from them, it frustrated him that he needed to hear them. Still, he unclenched one fist with an effort, turning his hand under Cuddy’s to grasp it almost desperately, as he tentatively glanced up to meet her eyes with a weak but grateful smile.

When the doors at the side of the courtroom opened, and a couple of officers walked through, House’s gaze immediately dropped to his lap again. He swallowed hard, drawing in a sharp, shaky breath – sensing Tritter’s presence, though he couldn’t bring himself to watch him enter.

House’s friends immediately responded to his quiet but obvious reaction. Cuddy’s hand tightened on his, a silent reminder of her support. Wilson didn’t touch him, but he murmured words of quiet reassurance.

“Steady… he’s in cuffs… he can’t come near you…”

“All rise. The Honorable Judge Barbara Steinum presiding.”

The bailiff’s monotone resounded through the courtroom, putting an end to the embarrassing necessity of their reassurances, and House rose to his feet on trembling legs, still keeping his eyes downcast, not daring to look up at where his rapist stood, just a few short yards in front of him.

Sick little shivers of revulsion and terror crawled over House’s skin, and he crossed his arms over his chest, struggling to control his own physical reaction to Tritter’s nearness. He closed his eyes, but his mind filled with horrifying images of Tritter’s sneering face, inches from his own. He could almost feel the heavy, invasive hands of the larger man as they roamed over his body with soft brutality.

No, no, no… I can’t… can’t do this… no…

He opened his eyes wide, breathing as slowly and deeply as possible to keep from hyperventilating with panic.

“In the case of the state of New Jersey versus Michael Tritter,” Judge Steinum stated clearly, mercifully drawing House’s attention from the torment of his memories. “Mr. Tritter is charged with first degree rape, kidnapping, and aggravated sexual assault, with a stipulation of special circumstances added to each charge. In respect to these charges, Mr. Tritter, how do you plead?”

“Not guilty, Your Honor.”

A shudder passed through House’s shoulders at the sound of Tritter’s low, calm voice, tinged with a hint of mockery that House couldn’t help but believe was aimed at him. He heard quiet, smug certainty in Tritter’s voice, knew implicitly that Tritter believed without question that he would be acquitted – and have the chance to make House pay for the fact that he was on trial at all.

No… please, no…

“Not guilty,” Wilson echoed in an angry, muttering whisper. “Lying bastard.”

“It’s all right,” Cuddy whispered, sliding an arm down around House’s waist and shifting closer to him. “It’s all right…”

“On the subject of bail,” the judge continued, unaware of the silent exchange taking place near the back of the room. “I’ll hear the advice of counsel at this time. Ms. Landers?”

Brooke rose and faced the judge with confidence and surety. “Your Honor, the state requests that bail be denied, in consideration of the heinous nature of the crimes in question. If Mr. Tritter is indeed guilty, then there is every certainty that, if freed, he would present a serious danger to his alleged victim, and others. The state holds that he should remain in custody until such time as he is brought to trial.”

Judge Steinum considered for a moment, nodding thoughtfully before turning toward the defense.

“Mr. Green? Your advice?”

Tritter’s defense attorney rose to his feet.

“Your Honor, the position of the state is reprehensible, given my client’s solid reputation in the community, and his stellar history of public service. He has an established life and career in this city, and he is not a flight risk of any kind. He’s a reputable detective on the Princeton police force, with over fifteen years of devoted service. To make such a man spend any additional time incarcerated, when he has been found guilty of no crime, would be unconscionable. The defense requests that a reasonable bond be set, within the ability of my client to meet it.”

House shook his head, eyes closed, whispering an urgent, breathless chant, “… no, no, no…” – not really aware that he was doing either.

He held his breath when the judge began to speak, clinging to every word with quiet desperation.

“I understand the case made by the state, and their interest in ensuring the safety of the victim in this matter. If Mr. Tritter is indeed guilty of these crimes, then it is in the best interest of his victims to keep him incarcerated. However, if he is not guilty, it is not fair to him to keep him imprisoned, when I agree with the defense that he is by no means a flight risk. There are two sets of rights to be considered in this matter, and the American justice system is designed to protect the rights of the accused, in order to prevent the miscarriage of justice…”

House’s stomach sank with her words, his heart lurching within him, and he thought for a moment that he would be physically sick.

She’s going to let him go… she’s going to grant him bail, and there’ll never be a trial. He’ll kill us all first… God, no… please, no…

“However,” Judge Steinum continued, “it would be a greater miscarriage of justice if the victim in this case were to be further victimized because this court failed to protect him from his alleged attacker. Therefore I must choose what is hopefully the lesser of two potential evils. In the interest of the safety of the victim, and due to the heinous nature of the alleged crimes, bail is denied. The defendant will remain in custody until the conclusion of his trial.”

House let out the breath he was holding in a shuddering gasp, relief overwhelming him, as the judge continued speaking. She set the trial date for two weeks from that day, and continued giving technical details to the counsel for both sides – but House barely heard a word of it. His shoulders shook with the release of the tension of his uncertainty and anticipation, and Cuddy wrapped her arms around him, instinctively drawing him into a reassuring embrace.

House pulled away slightly, accepting her comfort, but not completely, as he finally ventured a glance up toward the front of the courtroom. The judge had just dismissed the proceedings, and Tritter was being led from the room by two armed guards, his hands shackled in front of him and his feet shackled together, leaving him barely enough room to walk.

Helpless.

Harmless.

And yet, when Tritter glanced in his direction and caught his eyes with a cold, knowing smile of menace – he was still the most terrifying thing in House’s universe. House froze completely, feeling as if all the oxygen had been sucked from his body. His heart raced with panic, his body breaking out in a cold sweat, as Tritter shook his head slightly in a barely perceptible expression of disgust and derision.

Remembered threats filled House’s mind.

You tell anyone… you open your mouth even once… you’re dead, House… you and everyone you care about. You’ll never live long enough to see me in prison, House... I’ll kill you before I’ll let that happen… and I’ll take my time about it…

He began to shake, lowering his head and fighting back the despairing sob that rose in his aching chest, as a cold, terrifying certainty filled him.

This isn’t over… this isn’t even close to over. We haven’t won, not yet… maybe not at all…

Wilson had not missed the brief, silent exchange between House and Tritter, and he rose to his feet in seething fury. “Monster,” he hissed through his teeth. “I just cannot express how very much I want to kill that guy!”

Not if he kills you first… Oh, God, what have I done?

“House, he’s just trying to keep playing his mind games with you, but he can’t touch you, you have to remember that. He’s locked up where he can’t do any damage anymore,” Cuddy reminded him.

“For now,” House pointed out. “What if he isn’t convicted? Even before that, he’s got friends… he’s got connections, and we have no idea what they’re capable of…”

“But we soon will.”

House and his friends all looked up, somewhat startled to hear Brooke’s voice as she stopped to stand beside them. House rose awkwardly to his feet, as Cuddy stood beside him and extended a hand to Brooke in greeting.

“Thanks to this case, Internal Affairs is opening a full force investigation of the Princeton police force,” Brook explained with an encouraging smile. “We know of at least three officers on the force who were involved in corrupt activities, and there are very likely more, so we’re looking into the histories of every single police employee to see what we can uncover.” She paused, giving House a chance to take that in, before continuing in a slow, earnest voice of gratitude.

“Because of you, Dr. House – the Princeton police force is going to be a much cleaner, more honest organization. Things are going to be set right, and they wouldn’t have been if you hadn’t had the courage to step forward.”

Uncomfortable with her praise, House just nodded gruffly, eyes averted.

“Judge Steinum is also assigned to the cases of the other two attackers,” Brooke tactfully changed the subject. “Their arraignments are today as well, and judging by this case, we can expect similar outcomes. I don’t believe they’ll receive bail, either – but if they do, I can call you and let you know. You don’t have to hang around here for the rest of the day if you don’t want to.”

House nodded, edging toward Wilson, silently urging him to step out into the aisle. Now that the arraignment was over, he was anxious to leave, to get as far from this place, and this new set of unsettling thoughts and memories, as he possibly could. Wilson took the hint, stepping away from his seat and reaching out to shake Brooke’s hand.

“Thank you so much.” He spoke with genuine gratitude. “For everything.”

“Again, I couldn’t have done anything about this without Dr. House,” she reiterated with a smile. The smile faded somewhat, however, when she looked more closely at House, taking in his visibly shaken demeanor. “Dr. House, if you’d like… I can still give you that protective police detail, after all. If it’d make you feel any safer…”

“It wouldn’t,” House cut her off abruptly. “Like I already told you, I don’t want any cops anywhere near me right now.”

Brooke nodded, an apologetic grimace on her face. “I understand. I’ll just let you get going. Let me know if you need anything. I just… wanted you to know… you’re doing a really good thing, for a lot of people.”

House nodded a bit awkwardly, heading toward the exit, his thoughts echoing in a grim circle.

A good thing… maybe so… but will it be worth the price...?

TBC...