just what i need, another story to update. but i figure that since want to make god laugh's almost done, i could start a new one. anyways... basically this is in a slight au, meaning basically that i'm going to pretend that addison and alex never had a thing, really, just kind of looked at each other enough to make callie give the lines of deliciousness speech, but no kiss or sex, and that they're work friends. you know, the kind who don't even call each other by first names, but still tell each other things, just not the important things.

two second summary: addison is leaving to god knows where and alex decides that he's coming (yes, it's out of character. give it a chance)

-insert disclaimer of your choice here-

"Dr. Montgomery! Wait up!" Addison hears as she walks out of the hospital. She doesn't stop. "Addison! Wait! Please!" the voice insists. She sighs and turns around.

"Yes, Karev?"

"Alex. It's Alex."

She rolls her eyes. "Fine. Yes, Alex?"

"I was just… I was wondering if you wanted to grab a drink."

"No."

"Not like a date or anything. Just… you look, I don't know, you look sad."

"I'm perfectly fine."

"Just come get a drink with me. Please? I said please."

"And I said no. Look, it's really nice of you or whatever, but there's somewhere I need to be."

"Oh."

She turns and starts to walk away and he accompanies her. "What are you doing?" she asks.

"Walking you to your car. It's the polite thing to do."

"Oh, now you're a gentleman," she grumbles under her breath.

"What?"

"Nothing. You really don't have to. I'm perfectly capable of walking to my own car."

"It's fine."

"You really don't," she says, but stops when they reach her car.

"Your car's got a lot of luggage in the back," he comments.

"Yeah, I'm, um, I'm moving." She tugs at her sleeves, something she only does when she's lying.

"Liar."

"What?"

"That was a lie. You're not moving."

"How did you know that?"

"You're fiddling with your sleeves. Where are you really going?"

"I'm leaving."

He stares at her for a moment. "Where to?" he asks.

She contemplates lying, but then realizes that he can tell when she is, so she tells the truth. "I don't really know yet."

"But your car is packed." He looks utterly confused by the concept.

"Well, yeah. I'm leaving now. Today was my last day."

"So you're just… leaving?"

"That would be the general idea, yeah."

"Do you have any idea where you're going?"

"Maybe back to New York. Who knows?" He walks to the passenger door and opens it. "What are you doing?" she asks.

"You're crazy if you think that I'm going to let you drive across the country alone."

"I'm a big girl, Alex; I can take care of myself."

"I don't doubt that. I'm still coming."

"You do realize that I'm leaving for good, right?"

"Yeah, I got that."

"And that I'm not coming back?"

"Yeah, got that from the 'for good' part."

She looks like she's seriously considering it for one second. "Forget it," she says. "Go away."

"What? No. Why?"

"I'm not letting you give up your career for some whim. Which is what you'd be doing. I'm not letting you do it."

"I'm coming."

"No, you're not."

"Yeah, I am."

"No, you're not."

"Look, I'll start my residency over whenever we get to wherever we're going. I'll even start my internship over."

"But your friends will worry." Now she's just grasping for reasons.

"I'll call them tomorrow and let them know."

They stare at each other, each trying to make the other cave. Finally Addison sighs. "Fine. Can you grab some stuff really quickly?" Alex nods. "Where's your place?"

0ooo0

An hour later, they're on the road. "So," Alex says. "Where are we going first?"

"I'm not sure yet. I want to get as far away from Seattle as quickly as possible."

"Okay. Here's what we'll do, drive until you're tired, then I will. Then we'll stop for the night, day, whatever it is when we stop."

"Sounds like a plan, Karev," she agrees.

"It's still Alex."

"Sorry. Alex. Right. That's going to take some getting used to."

"Do I get permission to call you Addison?"

"Since we're driving to God knows where in a small car, I would say yes."

"Okay, Addison." She decides she likes the way her name sounds coming off his tongue.

"Okay, Alex." They smile at each other, then Addison returns her eyes to the road.

so if there's any particular place you want them to go, just tell me so in a review, or pm me. kay? good.

speaking of reviews... how would you feel about leaving one?

-Juli