Life's Greatest Irony
Disclaimer: I do not own Grey's Anatomy or any of the characters.
This story takes place after the season four finale.
Alex's POV
Alex Karev was generally very self-dependent. He didn't need other people, didn't need someone to talk to, and didn't need a "person." But that day he did. It was his first day back at work after Rebecca wound up in the psych ward. At Dr. Bailey's request, the Chief had given Alex two days off to recover from the shock and grief, and now he was back. As much as he wanted to work, to keep himself busy, he kept getting distracted by thoughts of what happened that day. Alex needed someone and for the first time in his life, he wasn't afraid to admit it. He needed Izzie, he thought as he headed home.
Izzie's POV
Izzie Stevens had been having a whole string of bad days. Bad days that had managed to divert her attention from what today was. The anniversary of Denny's death. She had thought that she was over losing him, but today brought him all back. And no one but she showed any sign of remembering. She had hoped that Dr. Bailey or Meredith would, but they didn't. At least she knew that Dr. Burke would remember, even though he was no longer at Seattle Grace. She needs Alex, but she can't find him. He must have gotten a really food surgery, she thinks. She goes to the on-call room, hoping to get an hour of rest before scrubbing in with Dr. Bailey on a patient with bleeding ulcers. She sits on the bed and immediately starts to cry. After a minute or so, she hears the door open.
Mark: "Damn. I was hoping for some me-time. But I'll settle for some you-and-me time if you know what I mean. Mark notices that Izzie's crying. What's wrong, Stevens?"
Izzie: "Nothing."
Mark: "No. That's not 'nothing'. That's something."
Izzie: "I'm sure that you've heard about how I cut a patient's L-VAD wire…"
Mark: "Your fiancé, right?"
Izzie: "Yeah. He proposed after I cut the wire. It's the anniversary of his death. And I really need Alex, but I can't find him…"
Mark: Sits down next to her and tilts her face so that she's facing him and he strokes her cheekbones. "I can give you what you need. I can be your release."
Mark and Izzie kiss and he lifts up her shirt when her pager goes off.
Izzie: "Shit. 911 for my patient with bleeding ulcers. But let's finish what we started tonight at my house after my shift. I'll meet you here at 8:00."
Mark: "Sounds good to me." Gives her the classic McSteamy "You're gonna have sex with me" look.