Author's note: Thank you to everyone who has read or reviewed. I'm sorry that it has been a while since I updated. Life has been crazy. (More than usual)

Chapter 28: Distractions

After dinner that night, Wilson left to pick up House's parents from the airport. House stretched out on the couch, and within minutes, was fast asleep. He jerked awake when the front door slammed shut. He looked around in confusion, and then saw his parents. "Hey, Mom."

"Greg!" She leaned down to kiss him, and lingered to rub his belly. "I can't believe how big she's gotten."

He glared at his father, who was trying not to laugh at the sight of his wife rubbing her son's belly, while Greg was looking extremely uncomfortable. "Not big enough," he grumbled.

"How is she?" his mother asked.

"Active." He frowned. "Currently enjoying elbowing my bladder." He struggled to sit up, and then Wilson helped him off the couch. When had he become grateful for assistance? Months ago, even when his leg had him practically screaming in agony, he would never accept any help. He sighed. Probably when it became impossible to bend at the waist.

When House returned from the bathroom, Wilson was telling John about tomorrow's poker game. House knew it was a ploy to keep him from being bored, but he was looking forward to showing Wilson who was the true poker champion. The younger man had been horrible cocky since he had won the charity poker tournament at the hospital. He was wondering if he was going to be forced to relax the No Girls rule, but then he heard Wilson explain that Cameron was going to pick up Blythe for some shopping. Oh hell.

His parents stayed for only a few minutes more, and then they were off to spend the night at Wilson's old apartment. In the morning, they were back and Blythe cooked breakfast for everyone. House's team showed up promptly at 2 PM. Even though it was Tuesday, no one was scheduled to work, because they had all planned to be free on the day the baby was supposed to be delivered.

As the girls set out to do some shopping, the guys gathered around the coffee table, which was cleared of all files and medical equipment, and now held several decks of cards, stacks of poker chips, and bowls holding the customary chips and pretzels. There were also plates of sliced apples and veggies. There was no beer or cigars, but no one seemed to mind. For a long time, there was no clear winner, as the piles of chips seemed to oscillate back and forth between the players, but then the pile in front of Eric Foreman began to dwindle. In a last ditch effort to stay in the game, he went all in, but was beaten by House, who had three aces.

Wilson was the next to go, having misread House's bluff. By that time, the girls had returned from their shopping trip. Wilson watched the play for a while, before he headed out to the kitchen to help Blythe and Cameron prepare something to eat.

At 6 PM, they took a break for dinner, everyone finding a place to sit in the living room. After the dishes had been cleared, the game resumed. The bets went higher as the competition intensified and the trashtalk escalated. House stared at his cards: decent, but not great. He looked at his father and Chase. He threw in more chips and then watched as his father folded. Chase covered the bet, and then raised. Hmm… was he bluffing? House tossed in the last of his chips. Chase grinned and laid down his cards. Damn. House threw in his cards in defeat.

He settled back into the couch to watch the battle between his father and Chase. The play continued for almost an hour, as the two players tried to find the other's weaknesses. Finally, Chase moved in for the kill. He laid down his cards, and John admitted defeat. House looked up, and realized that it was past 9 PM. The day was almost gone. Wilson and Blythe went into the kitchen and returned with bowls of ice cream. As they ate, they were discussing plans for the next day. Chase and Foreman were both scheduled to work, but Cameron was off. House was again reconsidering the No Girls rule for poker night, when she suggested bridge. House knew his parents often played at the Officer's Club, and he used to play when he was in college. He quickly agreed when he saw that his parents were willing.

So most of Wednesday passed with the four of them playing cards. They teamed up with House and Cameron versus his parents. Surprisingly, Cameron was a skilled player, and after House got back into the swing of things, the game was surprisingly close. Much to House's chagrin, he and Cameron lost, even though it had been a close match all along, and if it hadn't been for one particularly bad hand, they probably would have won.

Thursday March 14th.

On Thursday, everyone was scheduled to work, so it was House and his parents hanging out in the living room watching two days of TIVO'ed soap operas. Surprisingly, John didn't comment on his son's choice of viewing material. After watching the evening news, they were watching Jeopardy, with the three of them shouting out answers to the questions. They were waiting for Wilson to come home before having dinner.

They had just all failed at deciphering the final Jeopardy clue, when House had to go to the bathroom for what felt like the millionth time that day. Like always, his dad was there to help him off of the couch. He was almost upright when the pain knifed through his left side. Instinctively, his body curled, trying to relieve the unrelenting pain.

"Greg? What's wrong?"

He found himself being held upright by his father, his face pressed into his father's chest. The cotton of John's tee shirt was soft, and oddly comforting, and House managed to sound reasonably calm when he stated, "we need to get to the hospital. Now."