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[personal profile] namaste
Title: Blythe's Story, Chapter Four
Author: Namaste
Summary: "She knew the safe thing was to keep Phil far away from them, no matter how much she might like his wife, to avoid every risk that something could slip. But John liked them. And so did Greg."
PG, about 1,000 words.
Author's Note: Part Four of a look at House's early life, based on the new background we received in the fifth season episode "Birthmarks," using chapters of about 1,000 words. To start at the beginning: Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Three



This wasn't supposed to happen.

Blythe was going to show Phil's new bride around the base, walk her through the red tape at the NEX, introduce her to a few people. And then Phil and his wife would go their way, and she, John and Greg could go theirs.

Sure, they'd meet sometimes, Blythe had thought. There would be parties for the Fourth of July fireworks and holiday gatherings. They'd be friendly -- they'd wave and exchange pleasantries -- but that would be it.

But she'd liked Jenny. Jenny told jokes that made Blythe laugh. She read the same books as Blythe, and introduced her to a few new writers: Heller and Kesey and Kerouac. They didn't always agree, but it was fun to talk to someone from time to time about something other than toys or military tactics.

Most afternoons, once Greg was down for his nap, Jenny would stop by for coffee, and they'd turn on "Guiding Light" and "As The World Turns," gossiping about the characters as if they were real people.

Sometimes Phil stopped by to pick her up, but only stayed when John was around. Those nights, Blythe could hear the two men in the living room, shouting at the TV during a game while she and Jenny sat in the kitchen, and Greg wandered between the two rooms, sitting between the two men on the couch for a while, then back into the kitchen to push his toy cars on the linoleum.

Blythe and Phil never spoke about what had happened in San Diego. The few times they were alone together, they'd both go silent. It was as if the past could disappear just by ignoring it. Or maybe that's just what she hoped would happen.

She knew the safe thing was to keep Phil far away from them, no matter how much she might like Jenny, to avoid every risk that something could slip. But John liked them too. And so did Greg.

Greg would bring Jenny a book, and climb into her lap while she read to him about the Three Bears or Pinocchio or Davy Crockett. Phil would toss him a football, never caring if he caught it or not.

Blythe kept telling herself that it wouldn't last for long. They were military families. They were Marines. No one ever stayed in one place for long. This wouldn't last. At the same time, she thought about how Greg never saw his grandparents or his aunts or uncles. And for now, at least, he had a taste of what a normal life was like. It was good for him, Blythe thought, so she told herself that it was worth a little risk.

At Christmas, Phil gave Greg a bag filled with toy soldiers.

"Not soldiers. Marines," Phil corrected her, and sat on the floor with Greg, lining them up into formation around the base of the Christmas tree.

John stood above them, sipping a beer. He shook his head. "He's only going to lose them," he said. "I'll be finding them all over the house."

"Then I'll help him pick them all up," Phil said.

Blythe turned away and went into the kitchen where Jenny was peeling potatoes. Blythe didn't like the way her thoughts wandered sometimes, the way she'd wonder what would have happened in some other world, in some place where Phil really would have been Greg's father.

It was ridiculous to even think about it. She didn't love Phil. She loved John. And John loved Greg, and Greg loved John. And John loved ... she broke off the thought. This was the part of the puzzle she could never complete. She knew that John loved her, but could she still say that if he knew what had happened? Would he still love Greg? She could never come up with an answer that she was sure was the right one, so instead, she did her best to ignore the question.

She reminded herself each time that this had been her choice. This was her secret to keep, and this was her family.

"The potatoes are ready," Jenny said, interrupting her thoughts. "Would you like me to set the table?"

Blythe glanced over, saw the pan on the stove, the flame turned up high beneath it. "You don't have to do that," she said.

"I know. I want to."

Blythe smiled. "All right, thank you. Could you get the tablecloth?" She pointed toward the hallway. "It's in the closet."

She opened the oven door. The small turkey inside had gone golden brown, and she could smell the sage and celery in the stuffing. She took it out, and had just placed it on the counter to cool down when she heard Jenny giggle.

She was standing at the doorway, the tablecloth in her hands, looking into the living room. She motioned Blythe over.

As she stepped beside Jenny, Blythe could see Phil and Greg, still sitting on the floor, their men spread out between wadded pieces of wrapping paper. John was lying on the floor in front of them, positioning his own men behind a box for cover.

"I'm going to have to put in a call for air support," John said.

"Too foggy," Phil said. "All the planes are grounded."

"Marines aren't afraid of a little fog, are they son?"

Greg scooted over to a spot between the two men, and moved a handful of his Marines across enemy lines to John's side of the floor.

Blythe watched the three of them maneuvering their tiny green soldiers. Phil was good for Greg, she told herself again, and maybe he was good for John as well.

Greg gripped of his men tight in his fist. "Boom!" he shouted, and knocked over some of Phil's Marines with a swipe of his hand. "Boom!" he yelled again, and took out a half-dozen of John's.

"Hey," John said, "whose side are you on anyway?"

Blythe laughed. "His own."

Chapter Five

(no subject)

Date: 2008-11-20 10:52 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] anniehow.livejournal.com
Wow, I just love you Blythe voice, and the way you've fleshed out Phil and Jenny.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-11-21 02:51 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] namasteyoga.livejournal.com
Thanks. I wanted to play with House's comment here referring to the "old family friend," and set up "Phil" as more than a passing acquaintance.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-11-21 01:18 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] joe-pike-junior.livejournal.com
"I'm going to have to put in a call for air support," John said.

"Too foggy," Phil said. "All the planes are grounded."

Awwwwwww. :)

(no subject)

Date: 2008-11-21 02:52 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] namasteyoga.livejournal.com
What can I say. I liked the idea that Phil could bring out a side of John that House doesn't remember.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-11-21 04:30 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] chippers87.livejournal.com
I'm going to have to ruin your story by adopting Greg. He's too precious for words. Is that some sort of reverse-Oedipal complex?

I love this story and these little snippets of the House home. So very true to life -- Blythe's inner tension leaps off the screen.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-11-21 03:54 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] namasteyoga.livejournal.com
Don't worry. Greg will get a little more ... Housian ... as we go along. But feel free to adopt anyway.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-11-21 12:58 pm (UTC)
ext_25649: House sucking a lollipop while staring at Wilson (Default)
From: [identity profile] daisylily.livejournal.com
*flail*

This is so gorgeous - this is my favourite part yet, what with John and Phil and Greg playing with the soldiers marines.

*mems*

(no subject)

Date: 2008-11-21 03:55 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] namasteyoga.livejournal.com
Thanks. I had to have some reason why Blythe would be open to having Phil around. Toy soldiers, er, Marines, seemed like a good excuse.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-11-21 01:42 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] chilibreath.livejournal.com
Tee hee hee! Greg is so adorable! :)

Re:

Date: 2008-11-21 03:55 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] namasteyoga.livejournal.com
Thanks. And yet, he still grows up to become the "noble ass" we all love.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-11-21 10:05 pm (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
Greg between the two men, with the power to blow up both their lives in a single swoop of truth-telling, is such a stunning image for the end of this story. You've skillfully evoked, with great anguish here, how the screw turns inside Blythe.
--blacktop

(no subject)

Date: 2008-11-22 12:16 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] namasteyoga.livejournal.com
Thanks. I also wanted to play with the image of Greg already establishing his own explosive personality, which doesn't necessarily play nice with anyone.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-11-22 06:15 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] feanix.livejournal.com
I'm loving the connection between Blythe and Jenny, and the warmth that Phil feels for little Greg.

And although I hate to admit it, because everyone loves John as the bad guy, it made me smile to see John playing with Greg.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-11-23 01:24 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] namasteyoga.livejournal.com
Thanks. While I see John as having his issues, I also think of him not completely a black and white character as some may see him.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-11-25 08:51 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] feanix.livejournal.com
I'm definately beginning to see some grey amid that black and white.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-11-23 01:37 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] angelfirenze.livejournal.com
All I can say is 'perfect'!

(no subject)

Date: 2008-11-23 09:31 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hibernia1.livejournal.com
Great chapter! I like the way Phil & Jenny become a part of the life of the House's, and the way Blythe's anxious about it, and the way she & Phil ignore what happened.

And I love her comment on Greg, that he's on his own side. That describes House so well!