A/N: Thanks for all the adds! Please read and review. As was true before, I really don't know much about poker. Hence the vague.
House: I was curious. Since I'm not a cat, that's not dangerous.
Wilson: I don't think that metaphor was designed to actually warn cats.
The thing about these Charity Poker Games, House decides, is the seemingly deliberate lack of interesting people. You'd think that, considering that the invites extend to all the hospitals in the area, that the sheer volume of people would ensure that one (other) interesting person would attend. That theory worked in New Orleans. But he hasn't seen or heard from Wilson since the interrupted lecture, so with an inward sigh, he lowers himself into a chair at one of the smaller tables in the front.
"House," greets Dr. Palmer, the player to his right. "Never knew you were such a philanthropist. You do realize that the proceeds fund HIV research? Someone else is going to benefit from your presence."
"Oh, come on," laughs a voice from behind. House whirls around to see Wilson standing over them with the tiniest of grins on his face. "That's probably stretching it a bit."
"Dr. Wilson, are you going to join us," asks Palmer. "I heard that you're quite the poker player."
Wilson smiles at the compliment. "Beating Dr. Jacobs does not a good poker player make."
"You could say that again," House chimes in from his chair.
"House, you don't even know Dr. Jacobs."
House smirks. "No, but anyone that you can beat at poker cannot be that impressive."
"Is that a challenge," Wilson questions.
"Nope, I'm just here for the free food."
"It's a la carte."
"Oh, then yes." He kicks a chair at his friend, who takes a seat. The dealer passes out the cards, states the rules of the hand, then calls for bets.
"So, I'll bite," Wilson says, sizing up his odds and staring at the Ace of Clubs with interest. "How did you end up here? I thought this was for Mercy and Department Heads only."
House rolls his eyes, bets forty. "Evidently being a world famous diagnostician comes in handy for other things besides a parking space with my name on it."
Wilson calls. The next set of cards is dealt. "I had no idea you had such a charitable heart. These doctors are wrong about you."
"I just like to see how many doctors I can dispense panic attacks to by merely being present."
"What's your highest ever?" Wilson asks as the hand ends and collects the chips. House frowns and instructs the dealer to go again.
"16."
Palmer glances up, unable to mask his annoyance. "House," he reprimands. "Remember that "Do no harm thing?"
"If you take the 'no' and change it to the 'k-n-o-w' version that saying takes on a whole new meaning."
Wilson grins, but is distracted from responding by the appearance of a very pretty brunette with almond shaped eyes and a generous smile. She approaches the table but turns her body so that she's only addressing the oncologist. "James," she says quietly. But not so quietly that House can't listen.
"Andrea," Wilson returns. The relaxed body language he'd been exhibiting has vanished and he looks like a caged animal. House calls Wilson's bet and waits for Palmer to go.
"You haven't called me," the woman named Andrea mutters. She attempts to be nonchalant, but the plea in her eyes belies her tone.
"We should probably talk about this later."
"I heard about Sam," she says, and it's clear from her expression that she's looking for shock value, and it's clear from Wilson's expression that she's succeeded.
"It's a hectic time," Wilson says, swallowing hard.
She shrugs and takes the fourth seat at the table. The hand ends again, the chips going to House. "Deal me in."
There's a long moment of moment of uncomfortable silence so thick that Palmer takes his leave. Andrea doesn't seem to notice or if she does, it's obvious she doesn't care.
"So, Andrea, what do you do," House inquires as the hand begins.
"I'm a pediatric nurse," she answers. Her eyes shift to Wilson, then back to her cards.
"And how do you know my buddy Jimmy here?"
At this her face turns a guilty pink and a tiny light bulb goes off in his head. His eyebrows shoot up and he stares at Wilson questioningly.
"She's my sister's friend," he watches Wilson lie, almost smoothly.
He goes out on a limb. "You don't have a sister," he accuses. His reward is the sudden loss of color on the oncologist's face.
"I fold," Wilson says, and jumps to his feet.
"Me too," House agrees. He nearly has to run to keep up with the other. He follows Wilson out of the room, down the hall, and out the front door to the hospital. Wilson collapses on a bench just outside, hyperventilating.
House waits for his breathing to improve before speaking. "It's appropriate that her name is Andrea. People might mistake the large A for a monogram. Although I guess technically you'd be the one brandishing the scarlet letter." He pauses for dramatic effect. "Adulterer!" He finishes by dramatically pointing at him.
Truthfully he doesn't care, but Wilson seems exactly like the kind of guy who would. An anomaly, and House found anomalies interesting.
"Yes," Wilson admits. "I cheated on my ex-wife."
"That why the 'ex'?"
"Among other things. I met Andrea in the cafeteria. She was sitting in the corner, crying. It turned out that her husband had just left."
"Oh, god. How did Sam find out? Earring in the bed? Smell of perfume on your coat?"
"I told her." Wilson looks up and his eyes meet House's. There's a rawness in him, a total vulnerability that makes his stomach flip over. Then Wilson gives a sideways grin. "I'm a little new at this. I may have overreacted a little. I probably shouldn't run out of the room every time she walks in."
"People might start suspecting," House agrees.
"I just didn't expect to see her so soon after… Everything."
House rolls his eyes. "Flawed thinking. She wasn't going to fall off the face of the planet just because you stopped getting naked with her."
"I don't want her to fall off the face of the planet," Wilson objects. "I guess I just thought it would be easier than this."
"Adultery's a bitch."
"You're really great at the supportive thing."
They both smile a little. Then Wilson gets to his feet and follows House back towards the poker game. "Remember Wilson," House says. "If you're going to run away from the pretty nurses, it's better to do it before the cheating. Less messy that way."
"Got it."