A/N - I realize this is a very different take on the Grey's characters, but I hope you give it a try. It's going to be fun, and you never know who will pop up and what he/she might be :)

Chapter 1 - Lights, Camera, Action

Alex Karev's brows knit together as the taxi slowed down in front of a building twenty miles outside of LA. "This is it?" he asked, glancing to the driver before looking back to the building. "Are you sure?"

"This is it," the taxi driver nodded. "Business isn't what it used to be."

"No kidding," Alex scoffed before pulling a few bills from his wallet. "Thanks, man." He retrieved a single suitcase packed with everything he owned and left the car, closing the door unsurely.

Life sure as hell had a way of surprising you. But, if he really thought about it, life had been preparing him for this day since he was a kid.

Alex Karev hadn't had the best childhood; in fact, his memories usually brought most people to tears. His father was a drunk, and unfortunately he was an abusive drunk, so Alex had spent most of his years protecting his younger siblings from the blows of their father. Once his teenage years hit and the hormones took over, Alex lashed out and struck back at his father, nearly beating the man to a pulp. Luckily, Jimmy fled the Karev household without filing charges or having his son thrown into juvenile detention. The Karev son channeled his anger into wrestling and earned a scholarship to Iowa State.

Finally! Freedom!

During his first week on campus, Alex met a young woman who would later be his saving grace. April Kepner was lugging books from the bookstore and couldn't see, stumbling over her own feet. Alex stepped in and saved the damsel in distress, and an instance friendship was formed that day. The redhead was his first and only friend.

Life turned around for Alex during his first semester at Iowa State, but then tragedy hit on the home front. His mother had snapped and attempted to harm her children; at least, that's what the State was telling him. The eldest Karev failed out of college while having his mother committed and assuming responsibility for his siblings.

Alex spent nearly a decade stumbling through one minimum-wage after another as he worked to make ends meet for his siblings. Aaron was practically identical to their mother and required constant observation. The Karev family spent many years trying to adjust Aaron's medications, but after his third suicide attempt, Alex's younger brother was committed as well. With two of her family members in mental institutions, Amber decided to cut her ties with Iowa and run to New York with her boyfriend; he was going to be an actor while she was going to pursue ballet. They seemed to have it all planned out.

Alex was in a state of shock for several days as realization slowly sunk in-he didn't owe anyone anything. He no longer had to sleep with one eye open in case his drunken father tried to hit him. Alex didn't have to monitor his mother in case she tried to come after them with a butcher knife. The eldest Karev didn't have to count his brother's pills and make sure that he swallowed them rather than tucking them in his cheeks and later spitting them out.

He was free.

Freedom was empowering, but also very scary. Especially when you had no skills or education. How were you supposed to survive?

That's when friends are your saving grace.

Days earlier, a random call from April Kepner had literally saved Alex's life. The redhead was a publicist now, and needed help with a certain client. She hadn't given him many details, but had simply given him instructions and an address; she would explain everything when he arrived.

The 'instructions' his redhaired friend left nearly had the man running for the hills. Why was it necessary to get a physical, have blood drawn, and take a drug test? Who was April working for? The mob?

Alex's eyes roamed the building as his eyebrow shifted skyward. It was clear that someone had set him up. The two-story bed and breakfast looked like something out of a horror movie; a murderer had to be waiting for him inside. There was no way April would lead him to a dump like this in the middle of nowhere. "I'm out of here," he mumbled and backed away from the building.

"Alex, wait!"

The man jerked, seeing his college friend appear on the porch. "Are you okay?" he demanded, marching towards her. "Are you being held hostage or something?"

"No, not at all," April giggled and held out her arms. "The client I work for...well, let's just say she's very special and needs to be secluded. Gosh, I've missed you!"

Alex wrapped his friend in a hug before his eyes scanned her for signs of abuse. He still wasn't sure that something fishy wasn't going on here. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine," the redhead promised. "Did you stop at the clinic?"

"Yeah," Alex grumbled.

"Good, then we should have your results soon," she smiled and took his arm. "Come on, Mark is waiting."

Alex's eyes roamed the bed and breakfast as April dragged him to a sitting room in the back. The place definitely needed some work, but it was decent. Secluded, but decent. It was clear that at one time, it was the place to be.

"He's late," an older man stated as April motioned for her friend to sit down.

"We were talking," April snipped. "Lighten up."

A smirk crossed Alex's lips as he remained standing. It seemed the quiet girl had grown into a vocal young woman. Not to mention that April could possibly be considered hot now. Her hair was styled, she carried the perfect amount of make up, and the dress and heels gave her a sophisticated look. "I'm here now, that's all that matters."

The man raised an eyebrow before his gaze turned critical as it swept up and down the young man before him. "He appears to fit the job."

"I told you he would," April frowned.

"Alright, what's going on here?" Alex demanded, annoyed.

The man's eyes shifted to April. "You haven't told him?"

"No."

The man cleared his throat and extended. "Hello, I am Mark Sloan. Please, have a seat. We'll answer all of your questions."

"Alex Karev," Alex mumbled in return before sitting on the couch and watching as Mark and April sat in two chairs across from him. "Are you working for the mob? Just tell me if you are."

Mark chuckled and shook his head. "No, we do not work for the mob."

"Well, something shady is going on!"

April pursed her lips before speaking. "As you know, I am a publicist now. My job is to handle the public life of my clients. Mark is a manager; he handles the career of one of my clients."

"Okay?" Alex asked blankly as he looked between the two.

"One of our clients needs a new bodyguard," Mark spoke after clearing his throat. "That's where you come in."

Alex made a face. "A bodyguard? Seriously? You want me to be a bodyguard?" He nearly laughed, but April's frown stopped him in his tracks.

"I thought you'd be happy," his college friend said quietly. "It's a good position. The client is actually a nice one, and she makes sure that her people are taken care of. The salary is excellent, and the benefits are even better. If our client likes you...you'll be secure for the rest of your life."

Alex bit his lip as her words of temptation wrapped around him. Secure for the rest of his life... No more pulling double shifts to make the rent. No more extensions on the electric bill. No more Ramen noodles. "What would I have to do?" he finally asked as the publicist and manager stared at him. "I've, uh, never done this before."

April sagged in the chair in relief. A small part of her was afraid that her friend was going to explode and tell them both where they could go, and how quickly they could get there. She understood that this position could possibly be demeaning, but the redhead wasn't looking down her nose at Alex. The complete opposite. She wanted him to take this position so that his life could finally be easy. Alex could travel the world, make good money, and he would finally be taken care of. "Mark?" she asked as the fax machine rattled beside her.

Mark extended his hand as April retrieved the papers and passed them to him. His blue eyes skimmed over the results before he looked to the man sitting before him. "Your physical is good, your drug test is clean, and your blood work is perfect."

"Thanks," Alex replied dryly. "Should I bend over and cough now?"

A slow smirk curved Mark's lips. "No, that will be after your probation period."

"Probation?" the young man interrupted. "Seriously?"

"If Jo likes you, you will have a probation period," Mark explained. "Then if you can actually do the job, you'll become a permanent part of her staff."

"Jo?" Alex questioned. "Who's Jo?"

Mark raised an eyebrow. "Jo Wilson? Seriously?" he asked as the man's face remained blank. "You don't know who Jo Wilson is?"

"He's not from LA, Mark," April reminded him gently. "That's the main reason I suggested him. He's not some psycho fan that could harm her."

Alex's gaze dropped. He was touched that his friend thought enough of him to suggest him for...well, whatever this was. "Who is she?" he finally asked after looking back to the manager.

Mark retrieved a bag from the floor and opened it, pulling out a few pictures and magazine covers, handing them to the young man. "This is Jo Wilson," he explained as Alex's eyes widened slightly. "She is an actress, and currently the lead actress of the series Scalpel. It's a new medical drama that draws in about twenty million viewers a week."

"Nice," Alex praised as his eyes roamed the images of the stunningly gorgeous young woman.

"Jo is quickly becoming Hollywood's most sought after actress," April explained. "Her fanbase is growing by the hour, every magazine wants her on the cover, and she's even being considered for an Emmy."

"With this type of popularity comes the need for protection," Mark interjected. "Round the clock protection, Karev. Can you handle that?"

"Look after one spoiled princess?" Alex scoffed and returned the pictures to the man across from him. "Yeah, I think I can handle that."

"There's a lot to it, Alex," April stated. "You'll have to be with her at every event she attends. You'll need to be with her on the set of Scalpel. You will even have to be stationed outside of her hotel rooms."

Alex made a sound of disgust in the back of his throat. "Why can't I just get a room down the hall?"

"With a star like Jo, there tends to be much...excitement when she's around," Mark explained. "The fans make grabs at her, and the paparazzi are constantly chasing her. Jo needs constant protection."

Alex tuned the manager out as his mind roamed. He wasn't all that thrilled about tagging along behind some Hollywood starlet, but he supposed things could be worse. Most of his high school classmates would kill to hang around a hot chick all day. And Jo was definitely hot. "I need to know what I'll be making before I decide to do this," he interrupted bluntly.

Mark and April exchanged a look, leaned in and whispered among themselves before April scribbled down a few numbers and passed a sheet of paper to Alex. "The first figure is your salary. The second figure is your insurance, which will be covered, and the third figure is your personal petty cash. In case things come up."

Alex's eyes widened and his mouth dropped. He was probably making more than most lawyers! And his insurance was covered?! And he had his own petty cash? "What's the catch?" he asked as his eyes met Mark's. "There has to be a catch."

"Jo has to like you," Mark replied simply. "Considering the close relationship the two of you will be having...she has to like you. If she doesn't, you're out."

"No pressure there," Alex muttered and looked skyward. "Okay, so when do I meet the princess?"

Mark and April exchanged another look. "You can meet her now," the manager finally decided. He pushed himself to his feet and left the room.

"You didn't tell me you were such a hot shot," Alex teased his college friend. "How did you get involved in all of this, Apes?"

"I bumped into her at a StarBucks one day," April laughed. "We hit it off, and...she hired me."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that." The redhead smiled. "Mark likes you."

"Really? Doesn't seem like it."

"His bark is bigger than his bite," his friend assured him as Mark returned to the room with three women in tow.

"Alex Karev, this is Lexie Grey, Stephanie Edwards, and Jo Wilson," the manager introduced, motioning to the three women beside him.

"I thought I was only watching one," Alex stated, causing the three women to giggle.

"You are," a dark-haired girl smiled and extended her hand. "I'm Lexie Grey. I'm Jo's make-up artist."

"Hi, I'm Stephanie Edwards," the other woman introduced herself. "I'm Jo's stylist."

"So that must make you the infamous Jo Wilson," Alex remarked as his eyes moved to the brunette.

"Guilty as charged," Jo smirked as her head quirked and she examined him. "You look strong."

"I am," Alex gloated. "I wrestled in high school, and I can bench press three hundred pounds."

"Oh really?" Jo asked skeptically as her eyebrow raised. "Prove it. Pick up that chair." She nodded in appreciation as the man picked up the chair and lifted it over his head. "No one likes a show off," she rolled her eyes when he grinned at her.

"No one likes a snooty princess either."

"Alex!" April hissed as her eyes widened. Her friend had yet to realize that he wasn't speaking to a simple commoner. Jo was a star for crying out loud!

"That's how you see me?" the starlet asked as she stepped closer to him. "Some spoiled princess?"

"I call 'em like I see 'em," Alex replied with a shrug.

A sassy smile curved the brunette's lips. "I have so much to teach you."

Mark and April exchanged a look. She was going to do it; the starlet was going to break him in. "Does that mean you like him?" the manager spoke up.

Jo looked the man up and down. "Yep, I like him. You're hired." She turned on her heel and left the room, her stylist and make up artist running behind her.

"I got it!" Alex exclaimed and threw his arms out, wrapping his redhaired friend in a hug. "I'm hired!"

"I'm so happy for you!" April laughed as he spun her around. "But," she added and smacked his shoulder, "you can't talk to her like that. She's a star, and she deserves respect."

"Yeah, yeah," Alex rolled his eyes as he set his friend on the ground. "I'll practice my courtsey."

"Remember, this is probation," Mark spoke up as he retrieved a briefcase and pulled out a stack of papers. "The moment she decides she doesn't like you..."

"I'm out, I know." Alex, Mark, and April sat at a round table as Mark began to explain the bodyguard's duties. He was to protect Jo at all costs. Everywhere she went, he was expected to go as well. He was to make sure that a respectable distance was kept between Jo and the fans at all times. If a paparazzi made a move to touch Jo, Alex was to intercede and use any means necessary to keep Jo safe. Any means necessary. They would deal with the fall-out at a later time.

As Mark continued to explain his duties and responsibilities, Alex's attention was drawn outside as something fell to the ground. "What was that?" he interrupted the manager as a thump sounded outside of the window. His brows furrowed as he moved to his feet and went to the window. "Wait a minute..." The bodyguard's eyes narrowed as a figure dropped to the ground. "That's Jo!" he exclaimed.

"Yep," Mark nodded.

"She's right on schedule," April remarked as the starlet retrieved the bag she'd dropped and pulled it onto her shoulder.

"She's running away!" Alex yelled as Jo started running towards the road.

"Go get her," Mark replied simply.

"What?!" the bodyguard sputtered.

"She's your responsibility," the manager reminded him. "Anyone could get her. Fans, the media, the paparazzi..."

"She's doing it on purpose though!" Alex argued. "I'm not saving her when she puts herself in danger!"

"She's breaking you in," April explained. "She does it to everyone."

"If you don't catch her and bring her back, you're fired."

Alex's eyes moved to the manager. "What did you say?"

"If you don't bring her back, you're fired," Mark repeated.

The bodyguard looked to his friend, hoping that the older man was pulling his leg. April's wide eyes told him that this was for real. "Shit," Alex murmured before running from the room.

"Fifty bucks says she gets away," Mark smirked at the publicist.

"A hundred says he gets her," the redhead countered.

Alex ran as hard as he could, bursting from the bed and breakfast and racing towards the road. "Jo, come on!" he yelled after her as the young woman continued to run. "I need this job!"

"Not my problem!" Jo called back over her shoulder. "Let's see what you're made of, big boy!" The brunette laughed as she reached the fork in the road and ran towards the left, headed for a convenience store.

Alex paused briefly to catch his breath as he evaluated the scene before him. If the actress made it to the convenience store, she was a goner and he was fired. The little heifer probably had this jail break planned and had a car waiting for her or something. He couldn't lose this job! He located the one thing that could save him and began running again.

Jo laughed to herself as her legs pumped harder, carrying her towards the convenience store. This was the third bodyguard Mark had attempted to hire since last week, and she managed to get away from each and every one of them. She'd teach that meat head to call her a princess! The starlet glanced over her shoulder, not seeing the rookie. Her brows furrowed as she slowed to a jog, then stopped and looked around.

The area was empty.

"Hey!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms up. "You're not even going to try?!" she taunted into the quiet sky. The starlet lingered, looking for the man, but not seeing him. "You are so..." she muttered as she turned towards the convenience store.

"Fired?" Alex asked innocently as the actress bumped into him.

Jo stumbled back, clearly caught off guard. "How did you..." She made a face. "Stephanie's bike?" she asked and motioned to the purple bicycle the man tossed to the side. "Purple doesn't suit you."

"Yeah, well, I was told to protect you by any means necessary," Alex quipped. "So I improvised."

"You think you're cute, don't you?" Jo sassed. "You haven't caught me yet, stud."

"Tell it to Mark, Princess," Alex scoffed and grabbed the actress, tossing her over his shoulder cave-man style.

The starlet's entourage filed onto the porch of the bed and breakfast clapping, whistling, and laughing as the rookie brought the yelling woman back. April held out her hand and gave Mark a sweet smile as he slapped a hundred dollar bill into her palm. "Pleasure doing business with you," she smirked before looking to the actress. "What do you think, Jo? Did he pass?"

"Passed with flying colors," the brunette laughed as Alex set her on her feet. "You got a name?"

"Alex Karev."

Jo nodded in appreciation as her eyes swept up and down him. "Welcome to my services, Alex Karev."

Alex grinned and shook the woman's extended handed. "Thank you for the opportunity."

Jo smirked and quirked her head at him. "Not many people catch me...you know this means war, right?"

"Bring it on," Alex grinned. He had a feeling being a bodyguard wasn't going to be such a bad thing after all.