Consequences by Heart : Part 1

Note: This story takes place post 13x23, also it will be a two shot.

Consequences. You'd think Alex would learn his lesson by now. After all the stupid mistakes he's made, but apparently the male hadn't learned his lesson yet.

Stepping off the plane at the airport he thought about his trip to LA. It ended up being a bust for him. Alex had gone out there to track down Paul Stadler; Jo's husband. For months, he had pretended that everything was in the past, that he didn't need to know who the guy was. But the truth was he very much was still in love with his ex, he didn't want her to be scared for the rest of her life. Even if things didn't work out between them in the end, he still would always do anything to protect her. Maybe that's why he made the stupid move on tracking the guy down instead of listening to Jo when she told him to stay away from her past.

But it ended up being a bust, all Alex did was sit on the couch in the lobby watching Paul like a hawk, he was trying to get a feel for the guy to understand how he could hurt Jo the way he did. Alex thought about it, getting up and saying something to the guy, but in both cases, it ended badly for he and Jo. In one case if he confronted Paul he'd end up behind bars for beating the guy, and in the other he'd somehow lead him right to Jo and he'd kill her.

In the end, the one thing the male learned on this trip was; there's nothing he could do to protect Jo, but keep Paul away from her. Therefore, he figured out that he shouldn't have wasted time on the guy to begin with. But the worst part now was Alex trying to figure out if he should tell Jo or not. On one hand if he told Jo, he was sure she'd kill him and possibly never talk to him again, but on the other he didn't want to keep secrets from her especially considering where the pair ended up with her secrets.

But nothing ever goes as planned.

When he was in the cab heading back to Meredith's he got a text from Arizona telling him about the fire. Something happened in that moment, fear had taken over. In weeks, Alex and Jo hadn't spoken not since she told him to back off from finding information about her marriage. But there was a fire at the hospital.

What if Jo was hurt?

He couldn't stop his mind from exploding with his thoughts. He couldn't lose Jo after everything they've been through. That's when he decided he was going to risk losing her forever by confiding in her what he'd done.

Couldn't this cab move any faster?

It had felt like forever before the cab had finally pulled up to the hospital. Alex nearly jumped out of the back seat dragging his bag over his shoulder heading to where the commotion was. He was on one mission to find Jo.

But there had to be hundreds of people out here, how was he supposed to find her? Luckily, he ran right into Meredith which he questioned " Have you seen Jo?" She gave him a shrug right before the male picked up his feet rushing off.

He felt like his heart was beating out of his chest as his mind started to wonder... Alex refused to believe she was inside. Jo was fine, stop thinking the worst, he repeated to himself in his mind.

As he was walking Alex ran right into someone. It was like at the same time he realized it was Jo standing in front of him, while Jo realized it was him.

" Jo. You're okay."

He expressed his concern for her by wrapping his arms around her in an embrace. It was as if all his mistakes completely disappeared because he was holding her in his arms. For a second he thought something had happened to her; but what he heard next forced his plans to change.

Today wasn't like she planned. Jo was trying to stay focused on work to avoid Alex and Deluca. It had only been a few days since Deluca had nearly confessed his feelings for her, until Jo had stopped him. She was in no state to be in a relationship, but even if she had she only saw the intern as a really good friend to her lately. As for Alex, he was another story. Ever since the case that dealt with the mother and her son being abused from the father; it had hit close to home Alex suddenly started asking questions about her husband in which Jo refused to give.

But the weird part was; Alex suddenly stopped asking. She supposed he finally got the hint that she wasn't going to talk. But she missed him, although she wouldn't admit that.

Today had started like any other.

But ended on a deeper note.

There had been a fire. But worst of all Stephanie was inside, with the patient that probably caused it. Jo had heard the rumors circling around the hospital all day. But despite the brunette being concerned for her friend, her heart ached worrying about her ex. She hadn't seen him in the PEDs wing today, but that didn't mean he wasn't in the hospital.

Webber had rushed most patients out with the help of Jo and some other residents. Her eyes were darting all over the hospital grounds. Emergency vehicles were seated everywhere with EMT's rushing around to help patients. Maybe this was stupid but this risk of life or death had Jo thinking, she was being stupid. Jo loved Alex despite his flews, and she was positive he still loved her. The pair were wasting so much time being apart when all they wanted was to be together. Jo was lost in thought when she ran right into the one that consumed her thoughts.

" Alex." The words slipped through her lips as soon as he said her name. It seemed as if the pair had been looking for each other. But now they've found each other. Jo nearly jumped right into his arms from the relief that he, her Alex was completely fine. That's when the words escaped her lips.

" I love you. I was worried you were inside. But you're okay and I love you." That's all she could say to her ex, she thought she had her thoughts gathered up, but apparently, she didn't considering she couldn't say half of what she wanted to. Jo felt like she was in some dream where she was finally at home.

Jo heard him mumble a " I love you too" into her hair as he held her for dear life. Taking a step back she untangled her arms from around him. Despite her loosen her arms she found herself still pressed up against him.

" I know I should've told you the truth, but I was scared you'd do something stupid. Me keeping my secret from you had nothing to do with not trusting you, or me not loving you. I've always loved you. I was trying to protect us both. If today had taught me anything, is that I don't want to waste any more time. Anything can happen, but I want to be with you. "

Alex didn't know what to say at first. Through the long months of being apart, he figured the two would end up back together somehow. The pair were meant to be in his mind. But this just came out of nowhere. But the male wasn't going to complain because despite everything the way the pair had hurt each other in this moment everything else disappeared.

All that mattered was them. Alex felt like he didn't need to say anything else before he lowered his head down to meet her awaited lips. Just like that their lips had touched for the first time in months. Sparks flying around them like no other kiss he had ever experienced. He decided to forget the secret he was keeping to himself, not wanting to ruin this one moment.

But all moments come to an end. Shortly after their moment together Jackson had spotted him calling him over to help with a few patients. Unfortunately, the male couldn't exactly say no. " I'll see you later" he whispered before he picked himself up rushing off taking the few strides to where his friend was.

What a turn of events today took? The start of today had started with so many unanswered questions about her and Alex, but now it was clear, at least in her mind that the pair weren't over. There was a future for them. Jo felt at ease knowing the pair would be okay, but she brought her attention to some of the patients walking to where April was. With her help the pair had managed to take care of nearly all the patients. It had to of been around 3am when the commotion of the fire getting her friend and the little girl occurred.

Now that everything had settled down, the resident was going to head home considering Alex was nowhere to be found. That's when she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. Slipping the phone out an instant smile overcame her lips when she saw it was from him. He wanted to meet her in one of the on-call rooms. Wondering why was pushed to the back of her mind as she made her way into the building.

After leaving Jo in the parking lot Alex had gone to help out Jackson, who seemed of been having trouble breathing from being inside. Alex was having an inner battle with himself. Jo just admitted she wanted to be with him, he should let go of what he did; going to see her husband right? But Meredith knew, what if his friend slipped up? Alex didn't want Jo to find out from someone else, so he kind of decided in that moment he needed to tell the truth if he wanted any future with Jo.

That's when he sent that message to the resident. While he waited in the on-call room, he felt his feet pacing back and forth. He just got her back, he feared telling her the stupid thing he did would ruin all of that.

Maybe he was just driving himself crazy.

That's when he heard the door quickly open and close. Turning around he came face to face with Jo, the way her face lit up upon seeing him made the guilt dig into him. She seemed happy, he didn't want to ruin that, but unfortunately, he had no other choice.

"Hey..." The male awkwardly spoke when the brunette had taken a step closer to him meeting him half way within the center of the room.

"Hey, are you okay?" One thing Jo knew was she could tell when something was up especially when there had been a fire earlier and Alex wanted to meet in here instead at the loft or even outside Meredith's house.

Jo being concerned for him only made him feel worse, he placed his hands on each side of her arms gently while he nodded his head to her question. "Yeah, but I have to tell you something." He saw the concern look on the female's face, but he had to face the music. If he were to hold off and let them be happy for a few months and Jo were to find out from someone else he was positive he'd end up dead.

" I went behind your back... I found your husband without you knowing. I went to LA, I found out he was speaking at some conference, and I went. It was more of a last-minute decision. Before you say anything I only did it because I thought I could get rid of him, but I realized there's nothing I can do. I didn't talk to him, he didn't know me or that I know you. I was careful."

Alex felt the need to defend himself even though Jo hadn't said anything yet. But he was bracing himself for it.

Processing. That's what she was doing. She felt like her world was crashing down. Of course, right when things seemed to be looking up something would occur to ruin this moment. Jo felt like her head was spinning. Alex had gone behind her back and did the one thing she asked him not to do. She felt anger rushing through her veins. She pushed his hands away taking a step back.

" Are you crazy? Or just insane? I told you not to do anything stupid. You do realize this was exactly why I kept my husband a secret" Honestly Jo felt like she had no other words for Alex's actions.

" Yes, I know. But believe it or not I wasn't going to sit back and let this guy shows up." He spoke anger now starting to rise within his voice.

" It wouldn't shock me if you just led him right to me. If he didn't already know where I was, he sure as hell does now. Thank you for doing the one thing that I asked you not to do. " She basically was hissing at him now.

"Jo... Come on... I didn't even talk to him. I just watched him, there's no way he even knows who I am." He was trying to reason with her, even so to step forward to place a hand on her arm. "I'm sorry. You know my intention wasn't to put you in danger." Of course, Jo only shrugged his touch off taking a step back from him.

" He's dangerous, you could've gotten yourself killed, but apparently you don't seem to understand that." After she took a step back, the brunette stepped forward standing directly in front of him when she spoke. " What you did was stupid. We all make mistakes, but this was the one thing I wanted you to stay away from, but you couldn't even do that." Her hands were balled into fist now when she strongly pushed against his chest mumbling the words " What were you thinking." With that Jo turned on her foot making her way out of the room.

Jo needed to escape, now she felt like Paul could show up at any moment. She needed air. Why couldn't Alex just leave anything alone, especially when she told him to back off the topic.

Left in the room alone, he felt like partly Jo was right, but on one hand he had only done it to protect her. But apparently that was the worse choice he made.

And just as soon as their relationship had been mended, it disappeared just like that within a matter of minutes.

She was gone. And for the first time Alex didn't know how to fix it.