Disclaimer: The canon characters of Grey's Anatomy are not mine,although I'd steal a few given half the chance. The kids are my own invention however, because I really like the Alex/Addison pairing. I wanted to explore how they'd be in the future, if Addison got all that she told Callie she wanted. This fic may be angsty, but I hope you still enjoy it.

If you do read, I'd love a review.

Chapter 1

"Daddy?"

Alex was woken by a timid little voice and a few light taps on his shoulder. He opened his eyes, and rolled over. It took him a moment for his eyes to adjust to the darkness, but as soon as he saw hit little girl looking down at him timidly, confusion and worry spread across his face and he sat up in bed.

"What's wrong sweetheart?"

There was a long pause. "Don't be mad."

Usually that sentence was followed by 'It wasn't me, it was Michael' or 'I only made a bit of a mess' and a shake of the head from Alex, exasperated at how clumsy his daughter was. But not this time. The usually hyper seven year old was quiet and subdued, and it wasn't right. Before he'd even found out what was going on he was worried.

"What's the matter Emily?"

"I threw up on my bed" she said, clearly worried she would get yelled at. "And I got some on my PJs."

Alex was fully awake now, his earlier exhaustion forgotten. He'd arrived home early evening and was greeted with a peck on the cheek from Addison as she headed out the door for work. He'd been on autopilot as he gave the kids a bath, and just about managed a chapter of Dilly the Dinosaur, before stripping off to his boxers and collapsing on the bed. He was out within seconds.

Alex swung his legs over the side of the bed and rooted around on the floor for his discarded T-shirt. He pulled it on over his head and rubbed his eyes. He smiled at Emily and ruffled her hair. His eyes were used to the lack of light now, only the glow from the streetlamps outside illuminated the room. She had tears dried on her cheeks and Alex reached to wipe one away with his thumb.

"I'm not mad sweetheart."

She stepped closer to the bed and wrapped her arms around Alex's waist. "I feel poorly."

Alex hugged his daughter for a moment, before brushing her sweat-drenched dark hair off her forehead and checked her temperature. "You've got a fever" he said, concerned. "Are you hot?"

Emily nodded. "My head hurts too."

He gently unwound her arms from his waist "Let's get you cleaned up" he said, his voice still strained from lack of sleep. "I'll get you some water, and some clean PJs"

"Can I have the ones with the cats on?"

Alex smiled and kissed her hair, he then stood up taking Emily's hand. "Of course you can."

Alex had tried to get Emily to sit in the bathroom down the hall and wait for him to get her clean clothes and drink, but she stubbornly refused to leave his side. As independent and adventurous as his daughter could be, she was also a real Daddy's girl, and always got clingy when she was tired or ill.

Addison found it adorable, and encouraged their bond. It amused her no end to watch Alex having dinner parties with My Little Ponies and Lucy, Emily's favourite rag doll. Then there was the time she had decided to do his hair and make-up… Alex complained half-heartedly, but he loved it really.

He rummaged around in the laundry closet for a towel, the PJ's tucked under one arm. He couldn't see to find a towel at first, he didn't think he could handle the bright light just yet. Eventually he located it and closed the door, shutting it gently.

As they walked down the hall to the bathroom, Alex snuck a peak into the room next door. Michael was fast asleep, his Thomas the Tank Engine nightlight bathed the room in a blue glow and he slept soundly under the covers. He was glad he hadn't woken, although Alex wasn't surprised. His three year old son could sleep through anything.

He pulled the door too, and at the same moment Emily tugged urgently on his sleeve. "I'm going to be sick again."

"Okay." He clicked the bathroom light on and retrieved a bowl from under the sink, kept there for this very emergency. The last time it had been used it was him, and not one of the kids that needed it. Addy warned him not to eat that burger, he wished he'd listened.

Emily sat on the chair in the corned and Alex positioned the bowl in front of her just in time. She threw up again, then immediately shrank back inside herself. "Sorry."

Alex crouched down in front of her. "Don't apologise, it's not your fault." She nodded. "I think you're dehydrated, have a drink." Emily took the glass and sipped the water inside. Alex turned around to fill the bath. He turned the water on and plugged the hole.

"Can we turn the light off Daddy?" Emily asked.

"I won't be able to see what I'm doing sweetheart" he said, placing his hand under the stream of hot water, testing the temperature. "Let's get you cleaned up shall we?"

"It's hurting my eyes." Alex turned around. Emily was squinting against the light and had her hands over her eyes. "I have a headache." Her voice had gone from timid to strained. She was clearly distressed.

A wave of panic swept through Alex and he shut off the water. "Let Daddy see" he said, an edge to his voice. He tried to pulled Emily's hands away from her eyes but she shook her head furiously. He reached up and turned off the main light. Emily calmed down a little, but now started to cry. The sudden lack of light meant Alex couldn't see her very clearly, but he could hear her sobs.

"I feel really sick."

"I know." Alex looked around, his breathing becoming laboured. "Emily, I need you to do something for me. I need you to look at the mirror." With every word he spoke he grew more and more nervous, dreading the thoughts that were forming in his mind and terrified of their meaning.

Emily tried to turn her head to the side. "Oww." The apparent pain she was in caused her to cry out. She stuck her arms out towards Alex, and he pulled her into a hug. She leaned forward, her face buried in Alex's shoulder, her feet barely touching the floor. He rubbed her back gently, panic rising within him.

"Baby, I'm sorry, I need to turn the light on." Emily shook her head violently, not lifting her head away from Alex's body. "Shh, I know darling, but I've got to." He let go of her with one arm and quickly turned the light back on.

Scared of what he might find, but with an urgency that his coherent thoughts told him was necessary, he gently lifted up her pyjama top and stared down at her back. Dark red blotches appeared on her skin.

Something snapped in his brain, and without allowing his thoughts to fully form, to give him time to panic, he scooped Emily into his arms. He'd never run so quickly down the stairs in his life. Holding his daughter tightly with one arm, he clumsily grabbed the cordless phone from the table by the door.

He didn't switch the light on in the living room, such trivial things didn't cross his mind, but the light from the street was bright enough that he could see clearly. Emily had grown quiet again. He laid her down on the sofa, and watched her eyes drift shut.

"Emily" he shook her. "Stay away darling."

He stared at the phone, his mind momentarily unable to focus, but his senses soon returned. He dialled 911 on the keypad, his heart-rate quickening as the line connected. It can't have taken more than a few seconds but it seemed like forever. It was as if time stood still.

"I need an Ambulance" Alex said, when the operator began to speak. He didn't let her finish, he didn't need to. The adrenaline fuelled urgency in order he'd just given was replaced by a quieter, more subdued voice. He looked down at Emily on the couch in front of him, and the seriousness of the situation hit him. "I'm a doctor" he said, down the phone line. "You need to hurry. My daughter has meningitis."

Alex knew what to do, he'd read the textbooks, even treated a few cases at work, but somehow the instructions of the operator went someway to calming him. "The ambulance is no more than 5 minutes away" she said, when she'd finished telling him the correct action to take. "Try to stay calm."

He rested the phone on the floor, and stood up. He didn't really know why, but he his body was pumped with adrenaline. Pacing would do no good, he thought. He needed his energy to help his little girl. Even though the doctor part of him knew there was nothing more he could do until the paramedics arrived, the father part of him was screaming to try. He paced back and forth once, before stopping, shaking his head at the futility of it.

He knelt down by Emily's head, resolving to just watch her, check her vitals, make sure she didn't stop breathing. He stared hard at her face, as if just watching her would stop her slipping away. She was still breathing. The breaths were shallow and barely there, and by now she had lost consciousness, but they were still there. They were still there. He picked up the phone again, clutching it so hard his knuckles turned white.

The doorbell rang, which shook Alex out of his silent vigil. He had no concept of how much time had passed. He glanced at the clock on the mantel piece. It was just after 3am. "They're here" he said into the phone and hung up. He hurriedly got to his feet and unbolted the front door. Without even looking into eh paramedics' faces, he turned around and rushed straight back into the living room.

"How long has she been showing symptoms?" the voice of a middle-aged man said.

"I don't know" Alex said, "She woke up about half an hour ago, but I don't…" He trailed off, overwhelming dear rendered him unable to finish his sentence.

The man nodded, and said something to his partner. Alex didn't register what he said, he was too busy gazing with worry at his little girl. He noticed with horror that the rash had spread and was creeping up her next.

A woman's hand fixed an oxygen mask to Emily's face and Alex thought he heard the words "We should go now."

He blinked. "My son" he said, suddenly remembering Mikey. "He's asleep upstairs, I have to go get him." He heaved himself onto his feet and bounded up the stairs.

His actions and movements from then on were a blur. He remembered scooping Michael into his arms, blanket and all, and he remembered having the clarity of thought to run to Emily's room and pick her doll up off the floor. She needs it, he thought, she'll be scared.

Michael hadn't stirred. Alex envied him, blissfully unaware of the drama, without a single worry spoiling his dreams. Alex felt as though the all-encompassing dread that clouded his mind would eat him alive.

When he's ran back down the stairs after what couldn't have been longer than 2 minutes, they had already loaded Emily into the ambulance on a stretched. Alex climbed the steps, along with the female paramedic, and the doors were slammed behind them. He sat down, Michael cradled in his arms, and after a moment, the sirens began blaring.

One thought managed to push through the fear he felt as he watched the paramedic examine Emily's limp body. "My wife. I have to call my wife."