-1I don't own Grey's Anatomy or any of its characters. I do however like to take them, manipulate their stories and come up with what I would like to see happen. I love the relationship between George and Izzie. Don't get me wrong, I feel for Callie, but I'm still rooting for Iz and George. Hope that you guys like this one. Please review and tell me whether I should keep going…Thanks!
I'll Wait For You
He had said that he would talk to her at the church. In the locker room before everyone had scrambled to get out the door in those final crazy seconds he had looked her directly in the eye and told her that he would.
George always meant what he said. Out of all the people in Izzie Stevens life he was the most consistent. In the past few years he had never once missed an important moment in her life. He had been her confidant, her shoulder to lean on, to cry on. It was his bed she crawled into the night Alex disappointed her on their first date. He was the one she called when she cut Denny's L-VAD wire and he had been there to pick up the pieces of her broken heart after Denny died. He had forced Izzie to cash her inheritance check. And it had been George who held her hand as an incredibly huge needle drew marrow out of her bone to give to the most important person in her life, her child; the daughter that she had given up eleven years ago…
George…he had been there through it all…how had she not seen him before? When had the sisterly love she felt for him grow into this overpowering, all consuming love? When had he evolved into more than just good, old, dependable George. When had he become as necessary to her as her next breath? He was the love of her life. A small bitter smile played about her lips. She brushed a loose strand of blonde hair out of her eyes. It didn't matter that the wedding never happened, that the stunned guests had filed out and left the church empty and silent; George was coming. Yes, he had told her that he would be at the church, so eventually she would hear him come though those doors.
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George paced back and forth in the locker room. He glanced from the empty locker that had once been his to the bag stuffed with the remnants of the past two years of his life. What had happened? When had the foundations he had strived so hard to build fall out from under his feet? He had always prided himself on knowing what he wanted…unlike his brothers George had dreams bigger than just simply following in the family's footsteps. He wanted more and had almost had it until today. He had failed his intern exam.
He wasn't sure exactly how that had come about. He had studied…multiple times, he knew the material. Right now if someone came in and rattled off a question he was certain that he could come up with the answer. He had had two years of hands on practice with the material. It had been his life. Now it was in ruins. Time had not been on his side lately. Just as the most important test of his career was drawing near, he found himself desperately in love. Not with Callie; his wife, the woman he had promised to love and cherish forever. No George was hopelessly, completely in love with his best friend, Izzie Stevens.
She was his soul mate, his match in so many ways, and she had been there through it all. She knew more about him than any other person on earth. How had it been possible for them to be that close and not fall in love? For so long George had seen himself as out of her league. Come on she was a model for crying out loud. The thought that she loved him, really loved him, had never crossed his mind until the night that Callie threw it up in his face. It opened so many doors, made so many things clear. Now it was easy to see why she had been so upset when he had married Callie. It made sense to him why Callie was so jealous. There was love there. Callie had seen it and defined it for them.
Before he had found out that he failed his exam, George had decided what he was going to do. Yes he had married Callie and yes he owed it to her to try to make things work, but that's what he had been doing and they both had been suffering.
Izzie had been suffering as well. He had been holding her in limbo; not willing to draw her in, but neither willing to completely push her away. He owed both women answers and today had been the day that he was going to do it. He had planned to go to the church, to tell Izzie that he loved her just as much as she loved him. He had made his mind up that morning, right before she told him that she loved him.
Now it was all shot to hell. His medical career and his future with Izzie. There was no way he was going to repeat his internship here just as there was no way he was going to hang around and watch everyone move on without him. George knew how his friends would reacts, he could already see their faces, already hear their excuses and words of encouragement. No way, he was not going to let that happen. He considered himself, by all standards a failure, but he wasn't going to hang around and be a failure in Seattle. He had to get away. To tear himself from the place and the people he had so desperately come to love. It was the only way he was going to be able to deal with this mess that he now found himself in.
George picked up two blank sheets of paper and grabbed a pen. He was going to compose two letters: one to Callie, and one to Izzie.
Callie,
I'm so sorry for the past few months. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to be the man or the husband that you expected and deserved me to be and it kills me that I've hurt you. I have to leave Seattle for a while. I don't know when or if I'll be back. I've made such a mess out of everything. I'm not asking or expecting you to forgive me. Hate me if it'll make life easier, if it'll allow you to move on. I want you to be happy, I want you to be loved endlessly… you deserve it and I can't give it to you. You know deep down in your hear that I can't. I'll file for a divorce and send you the papers. Please sign then Callie; do yourself the favor. I'm not good for you.
George
He looked at the paper in his hand. Regret and sadness left a bitter taste in this throat. She was a good woman, she didn't deserve this. He folded the paper and tucked it into his breast pocket. Hopefully she would still be at the wedding when he slipped into the hotel and he could leave it on the bed. He sighed and began to write the other letter, the one that was going to leave his heart in shreds. This one he would take to the house he once considered his home and leave it in Izzie's room. He could for one more second be surrounded by her presence. She was so vibrant, so alive. Even her room held a little part of her essence, her energy. He felt the tears begin to build in the back of his eyes. Writing this letter was going to be one of the hardest things that he had ever done.
Izzie,
I love you. More than anything you need to know that. I've tried to hold it back, tried to deny it, but I can't. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. You are my soul mate, my confidant, and my best friend which is why I am not going to lie to you. I failed my intern exam. I know that you knew something was wrong today when we got our test results. I could tell by the look in your eyes. You knew.
I have spent the last two and half years of my life working to become a doctor. I've put sweat, blood, and tears into it. I don't know what happened…all I know is that I failed. I failed Bailey, you, Callie…my life is a mess and I can't deal with it here. I can't repeat my internship here and I can't just quit. I need to get away for a while to clear my head, to figure out what the hell I'm going to do now. I love you…I love you so much that I'm afraid it will cloud all the decisions that I make if I stay. So please just give me some time and have faith that I'll do the right thing. Remember that I love you…please remember that.
George
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The light playing across the church in its brilliant and colorful patterns began to fade with the setting of the sun. Izzie's back had become stiff. He legs and hips ached from the constant and unforgiving pressure of the hard wooden pew. Just a little while longer, she told herself. He'll be here; he has to be…he has to know. She rubbed a palm over her still flat mid section. It glided easily over the silky satin of her dress. A dreamy, far away look came into her eyes. There was life here. Obviously it hadn't been planned and goodness knows how things were going to play out, but this was her miracle; a testament to love. Whether that love was right or wrong, it was there; it was tangible.
Her hand continued to make lazy circles over her womb. There was no way that she was giving this baby up. She was no longer the hormonal, scared, and helpless teenager who found herself backed up against a wall. She had a job (a damn good one at that), a home, and most importantly a family; one that had been made from scratch. There was love and support there. She had Meredith, Cristina, Alex; even Derek, Burke, and Bailey when it came right down to it in addition to George. She felt sure, in her heart of hearts that George loved her and that once he found out about the baby, he would make an effort to do the right thing by everyone. Whether or not he left Callie, whether or not he chose to be an active part of the baby's life, Izzie knew without a doubt that she was not going to be alone.
She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. Callie. The name bounced around in her head like an unwanted song that she was doomed to sing over and over until she finally lost it. Callie was going to be a challenge. Life was so crazy; the very day that she planned to tell George about their baby, Callie announced that she was trying to have one. Everything from here on out was a matter of if. If Callie was pregnant, George would be obligated to stand by her…if…if. If and all the possibilities that went along with the word were too uncertain for her to worry about now. Her situation, unlike Callie's wasn't a matter of if. The deed had been done, the baby was here. All she needed to do was tell George and until she did, until he got a chance to hear from her own lips about the baby's existence, Izzie wasn't going to worry about the if's. Time would take care of everything eventually. All she had to do was have faith, and faith was one thing that Izzie Stevens prided herself on having above all else.
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George slipped silently through the front door of the darkened house. The only light came from the light over the stove. It was a soft light, one not made for illumination, but for comfort. Its soft glow cast deep shadows in the hall; a sort of sleepy, dreamy look. Ignoring the comfort and homey feel that the house offered, George climbed the stairs that he knew so well to leave the dreaded note. He wished with all his heart that he could go back in time, repeat the intern exam. That was all he wanted. He didn't wish that the mess he had made of his marriage to disappear, that was asking too much; he had gotten himself into that situation all on his own. He was more than willing to deal with the consequences there, but oh how his wished for another chance at that test…it would allow him to stay…to fight…to love.
He didn't need light. He knew this hall just as well or even better than the one downstairs. He knew that Meredith's room was the last door on the left, directly in front of the bathroom. He laughed to himself remembering the days when he used to pine after her; the days when he believed the world began and ended with Meredith Grey. It was so bittersweet to think about it now. The fact that he wasn't with Meredith didn't bother him, but the aftermath of the situation; meeting and needing Callie, pulling away from his friends, especially Izzie; that bothered him. If only he had looked at what was right in front of him, if only he had seen his best friend for what she was to him now. Would things have changed? Would he have been ready for them to? Would she? There was no way to know now.
He pulled his eyes away from Meredith's door and turned to the one directly to his right. He touched the knob and allowed his eyes to close for just a second. He allowed his heart to beat a little faster, he allowed his breath to catch in a quiet sob. This was it, after he left this note there was no turning back…he grabbed the knob and pushed open the door.
All her things, her bed, the scent of her perfume, her clothing, her very essence played havoc with his senses. He wanted to curl himself into a ball on her bed and wait for her. She would come, after the wedding reception she would come. There would be a sparkle in her eyes, she would be practically vibrating with the excitement of the day and the energy that she always carried around with her. Her cheeks would probably be rosy, her skin, as always would be soft, her lips would be warm and inviting…He had to leave…now because the temptation to stay, to wait for her, to grab her and kiss her until they were both breathless, to slowly undress her and make her completely his and him completely hers once more was overpowering. The sensations hit him like a tidal wave leaving him weak; breathless. He slowly crossed the room and gently laid the note on her pillow. His insides gave a sickening wrench as he turned to leave.
"I love you Iz," he whispered to the room. "I will always love you…I'll be back…I'll make things right, I promise…please wait for me…please give me time…please Izzie have faith in me."
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The light continued to fade and the room grew cool. Izzie rubbed her bare arms to ward off the chill and opened her eyes. He wasn't coming. Something had to have happened. Maybe he found out that the wedding had been canceled and was waiting for her at the house. Maybe he had gotten caught up at the hospital. Maybe. It was all up in the air, but she knew that it was pointless to keep sitting here unless she intended on spending the night. Even as the thought entered her brain, her stomach growled. She smiled and hoisted herself up. The baby was not going to be as patient with its daddy as she was. Food, a bathroom, and some warmer clothes…that's what she needed. Her body was insisting upon it.
"Okay, okay little one, we're going," she cooed, "We're going."
TO BE CONTINUED