025. Strangers

Poker Night

"I can't believe you let complete strangers into your home," Wilson said, his voice somewhere between disbelief, worry and disgruntlement.

House didn't look up from his Gameboy. "It's poker," he said dismissively.

"What if one of them decides he doesn't like the fact that he's losing and decides he's taking his money back?" Wilson countered. "What if one of them gets violent?"

House spared Wilson a brief glance, amusement gleaming in his eyes. "You've been watching too much CSI."

"What?" Wilson said in surprise then he hurried on before House could sidetrack the conversation. "No, never mind. House, I'm serious."

House rolled his eyes. "You're just put out because I didn't invite you."

"No!" Wilson said a little too quickly.

House actually looked up from the game properly this time. He gave Wilson a long questioning look, ignoring the sounds of imminent death coming from the machine in his hands. Wilson held up under that look for an impressive amount of time but finally he broke.

"Yes," he said quietly.

House snorted and looked back down at the Gameboy. He grimaced and restarted the game before saying, "There's a reason I don't invite you."

"Why?" Wilson asked flatly, trying not to reveal how hurt he was by that and wanting to smack himself be being that hurt. House was allowed to have a life outside of the hospital and their friendship…even if he didn't like it.

A smirk flickered across House's face. "You're too good at poker. I like winning."

"You've beaten me plenty of times," Wilson said, his voice still flat.

"Not lately," House replied blandly.

"We haven't played much lately," Wilson replied.

House was silent for a long moment as his fingers kept moving on the buttons of the Gameboy. The single glance he shot at Wilson was full of speculation.

"Come to the next poker night."

Wilson's eyebrows went up. "Seriously?" he said, caught between surprise and delight.

"Not if you keep acting like that," House said sourly though there was an undertone of amusement in his voice.

Wilson sobered though the slight smile still lingered. "How many people will be there and what kind of poker?" he asked eagerly.

Cameron poked her head through the door at this point. "The test results are back."

"Oh goody," House said with a distinct lack of enthusiasm.

He tossed the Gameboy onto his desk and grabbed his cane, hauling himself to his feet and limping towards the door to the conference room. He waited until Cameron had retreated then just as he was walking through the door he turned and grinned at Wilson as he answered the question that had been posed.

"Just you and Strip."