Underappreciated

Grey's Anatomy
George/Alex
PG-13

George was drunk.

George was drunk and upset.

George was drunk and upset and annoying Alex.

"It's just... I'm so underappreciated, ya know? Meredith doesn't see me, Callie doesn't want me, Izzie's got so many of her own problems now that I can't expect her to be there for me..." he slurred.

"Shut uuup, O'Malley," Alex said. Maybe it was a bad idea to invite George O'Malley to his apartment for a few beers. A few, which turned into eight or nine, which led to drunken self-criticizing.

"I'm underappreciatated... underappreciated," George repeated sadly.

"There's more to life than Grey, Stevens, and Torres. Get over yourself. You have other friends," he replied.

"Who? Cristina? I think I annoy her. She's pretty mean to me. Burke intimidates me. McDreamy is just a McNoNo."

"George–"

"Aaand Dr. Montgomery, she's like... you know? And Chief, no. And Bailey, no. And McSteamy? He's a dick."

"George–"

"And I mean, you're a doctor, you know how hard it is to keep friends outside of the hopspital... hospital. So, you know..."

"George!"

George finally seemed to hear him. "Huh?"

"What about me?"

"What about you?" George asked, obviously confused.

"What about me as a friend? Why am I a no?" Alex asked, slightly amused.

"Because... you're Alex," George responded.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Alex was slightly offended.

"You're just... you're just Alex. You're mean to me. You pick on me. You don't like me, I'm your laughingstock." George slumped in his seat, made a sad face, and drank more. "I really am pathetic."

"George," Alex said. George stared at the table. "George." He kept staring at the table. "Damnit, George." Alex grabbed George's chair and turned him so that they were facing each other. George looked at him with sad eyes. Alex shook his head. "Just because I pick on you doesn't mean I don't like you. It's what guys do. We pick on each other."

"Hmph," George breathed.

"And you're not pathetic... a little overdramatic sometimes, yeah, but not pathetic."

"I am pathetic."

"If you were pathetic, why would I have invited you over?"

"Charity case?" George supplied halfheartedly.

"Don't even pull the charity case card out," Alex said angrily. "I don't have charity cases, O'Malley. Either I like you, or I don't. I don't pretend to like people."

"I'm sorry... I have a self-confidence problem. It doesn't help with Meredith. Or Callie. Or Izzie. Or–"

"George, seriously."

"I just have problems."

"George, shut the fuck up."

"Sometimes it just feels like nobody cares about me."

"George," Alex said, grabbing both sides of George's head. "...I..." He pulled George closer... "...care..." ...and closer... "...about..." ...and closer... "...you." And with that, Alex kissed him. Kissed him softly, carefully. And George let him, his own arms falling limply at his sides.

And when Alex broke the kiss, George smiled. "That was nice. I've been waiting for that for a long time."

"You have?" Alex asked, surprised.

"I have."

And he really had.

end.