I still don't have the amount of writing time I'd like, but here's the next chapter. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 172.

Tuesday morning dawned gray and threatening. That was all we needed, rain.

Jess woke with a ton of nervous energy. She practically bounced out of bed.

"Whoa, there. You use up all that energy now, you won't have any left for tonight."

"Greg, I don't think I've ever been so excited in my life."

"Then I guess I've lost my touch."

She slapped my hand. "Not that kind of excited. At the same time, I'm definitely scared, scared we won't meet Bev's expectations, and frightened about what my father and Bernini might be able to do."

I shrugged. "You've already shown that you could be successful at the party Saturday. No need to worry."

Before I could do or say any more, her phone rang. That old jingle, 'Sisters'. It had to be Nina and not a surprise. She was probably as excited and frightened as her sister.

"Hi, Nina," Jess chirped. "What?" Her eyes went wide. "But...but...how can I manage without you?"

I motioned for her to put it on speaker as I drew my brows together. Something was wrong and my curiosity couldn't wait.

"I can't hold my head up." Nina's voice reflected a stuffed nose and difficulty breathing. "I'm sorry, but you'll have to do this alone."

If I hadn't heard her, I would have suspected that Wilson put her up to it as a way to keep her away from the party so she'd be safe. "Tell her to have Wilson nurse her back to health."

"He left already," Nina lamented.

"Did he at least give you something?" Jess asked.

"Just a decongestant. But it isn't working."

That was clear.

"Remember the tea Mom used to give us when we were little?" Jess smiled at the memory as she spoke into the phone.

It reminded me, however, of my plan. I wondered whether Edgar had been able to execute. He should call soon to let me know. "Wilson usually has some vile concoctions that should do the trick. I think he got them from one of my former fellows. See whether he brought any to your place."

"I'll find something and brew it up. Jess, are you okay if I can't be there tonight?" She was sounding more nasal with each sentence.

"Sure. I'll have plenty of help. It'll be fine. You get some rest. I'll call you later to see how you're doing." Jess ended the call and turned to me. "I guess I'll have to call Bertoli and see whether he and any of his staff can help."

"You do that. I'm going to get some coffee started." I headed for the bathroom.

"Kitchen's that way." She chuckled. "I'll start breakfast. Mr. Bertoli can wait until later."

By the time I joined her, the eggs and toast were done and coffee filling the carafe. Bacon sizzled in the pan, almost crisp enough for me.

Over breakfast, Jess used me for a sounding board as she worked out how she would have to change her plans with Nina being in absentia. I let her words float over me, munching my food and occasionally nodding my head.

"Greg, you're not listening."

"Of course I am. You just said Ellie knew enough about the operation that she could easily take over most of what Nina would do." It was a logical guess.

"Oh. Well, that was at least part of it." She paused. "Can I ask you a favor?"

"Ask away." I didn't want to commit until I heard what she wanted.

"Stay close to Ricky and his uncle during the party. They'll have their bodyguards with them, so you should be safe."

I blinked. "What about Edgar?"

"Well, sure. But I'd like to ask him to focus on guarding Bev and Marisa."

I shrugged. "They'll probably be wherever the Locarnos are, anyway."

She stood and walked around the table to place her lips on my cheek. "You're the best." She took my empty plate to the counter. "Did you want any more?"

"No, I'm good." I sipped my remaining coffee as I considered what she'd requested. Yes, I'd already agreed, but there was more to it than simply saying I'd attach myself to the Locarnos and be careful. "Is there anything else you'll need? I'm not volunteering, mind you, but I wondered if I could volunteer my staff."

"They'll be there, of course, because they helped diagnose Marisa." She scratched behind her ear. "Chase will be watching over Ellie, too. But what else could they do?"

"I'll think of something." I wondered whether Wilson would attend without Nina. He was Marisa's doctor of record. But he might want to stay home with his sick girlfriend. Unless she made a miraculous recovery. "I'd better go." I drained my cup and stood.

She laughed. "You're not even dressed. And you usually don't go in this early."

I looked down past my robe to my slippered feet, and snorting. "I thought I'd start a new fashion trend. You like?"

She laughed harder. "Just don't wear that to the party tonight."

I wiggled my eyebrows. "I'll have you know the best people wear robes and slippers to the finest affairs."

"Only if they're kings or something."

I bowed, but finally headed to the bathroom to shower and dress. What I hadn't told Jess was that I intended to visit her sister on my way to the hospital. If I could make Nina well again, all of Jess' worries would dissolve. Well, maybe not all, but many.

Jess was on the phone with Bertoli as I walked by on my way out. She waved and smiled at me. I just nodded my head.

The doorman knew me from my many visits to Nina's with Jess and let me go up without calling her. I hoped she'd be awake to let me in. As luck would have it, she was. She answered the door in robe and slippers.

"I told Jess that was the latest fashion." I indicated her attire with my cane, and then grabbed the fabric of my jeans. "But she made me wear these old things."

Nina's smile was wan. Her blond hair was disheveled and her face pale. "To what do I owe this visit, doctor?"

"Heard you weren't up to snuff and thought you needed a visit from a quack besides the resident one."

"Wilson doesn't live here, you know." She was pretty good at interpreting House-speak.

I shrugged one shoulder as I stepped past the threshold. "Fever? Chills?"

She shook her head. "Only a stuffed up head. The tea helped a little, but periodically I start to sneeze and then can't stop."

I nodded. "That's good. It means it's breaking up. We probably have to boost that. Steam would help. I could give you a stronger decongestant, but the side effects..."

I took out my penlight and lifted her right eyelid, then the left. "Say 'ah',"

She laughed, but did as I suggested. Her throat showed signs of a post-nasal drip, but wasn't really irritated.

"Good. You wouldn't have a nettipot, would you?"

"A what?"

"Little plastic thing, looks like a teapot."

"House, since when do you use OTC treatments."

"Since they work." I turned back to the door, adding over my shoulder, "I'll be back." Didn't even try to imitate Arnold.

Nina called after me, "House, why are you doing this for me?"

"We'll talk when I get back."

The nearest corner drugstore (and aren't they all? Even when they aren't literally on a corner, the buildings looked as if they were.) was two blocks away. I found all I wanted and rushed back to Nina.

When she opened the door again, she'd changed into a pair of slacks and a red sweater. She'd even combed her hair.

"You're looking better already, although I did like the previous outfit." I unpacked the supplies and went to the kitchen to nuke some water in the microwave. When it was hot enough, I set up the device by adding the saline powder and filling the container. I brought it to Nina, who was stretched out on the couch. "Put the nozzle in your nose and push the button. Lean over this so the water can drain into it."

She looked at the blue container and white encased motor and pump. "What is this?"

"It irrigates your sinuses, forces some of the gunk out."

"Humpf." She pushed the nozzle against a nostril and pushed the button. The stream of water that came out contained some of the mucous that had been clogging her sinuses.

Once she'd done both nostrils, she sniffed a few times.

I handed her a tissue. "Blow your nose."

That cleared even more out. She sniffed. "I can breathe again!" Nina grinned.

"Good. Then you have no excuse to stay home tonight." And with that, I strolled to the door. "Use that again in a couple of hours. It should remove some more."

I didn't start grinning until I was in the elevator descending, and I stopped before I nodded to the doorman and headed for my car.

During the ride to the hospital, I whistled a bit of "Ain't She Sweet."

"Is Jess ready for tonight?" Chase saw me as I walked past the conference room and followed me into my office.

"As ready as she can be." I glanced at my phone but there was no indication that I had any messages.

"Heard anything from Edgar?" Chase might have been reading my mind.

"No. And I should have by now. If he doesn't call within the hour I'll call him."

"House, he agreed to take on the danger at the fruit company. Don't feel guilty if he..."

"When did you ever see me feel guilty about anything?"

Chase grinned. "You hide it well."

But the second my cellphone rang, I answered. My shoulders relaxed to Chase's delight. "How'd it go?" I asked Edgar.

"The drivers got sick alright. But you're not going to like the way Bernini dealt with it."

I frowned. "What did he do?"

"He had that guy Morgan hire some thugs for the job tonight. The only good thing is that he wants me to work with them." Edgar chuckled. "I think he's impressed by my size and strength."