NOTE: This is my first GA fanfic...It's MarkIzzie, which I know is not happening in the show, but in the world of fandom it lives on. I just wanted to make a disclaimer. I do not own Grey' s Anatomy, nor the characters of Mark & Izzie...They are all the creation of Shonda Rhimes & the honchos ABC. Let me know if I should continue...thanks.

Sometimes secrets can remain hidden, but for the most part they always find a way out of the shadows. The fear of opening the closet, loads of baggage falling at your feet is a common problem for most people. It's no different here at Seattle Grace.
Izzie was running away from her past. Trying to find a safe place in a hospital where no secret could hide. Gasping for air, she slammed the door of behind her. Closing her eyes and sliding down the length of the door, Izzie prayed that she would never be found.

Hannah was sick. Izzie's daughter was dying. Her daughter, the baby she gave up and expected never to see again. The more she thought about it, the harder it became to breath. The walls were closing in…..I really need a paper bag, she thought, worried about the possibility of hyperventilating.

In her moment of panic, Izzie heard a shuffling of sheets. She slapped her hands across her mouth in an attempt to quell the noise. She pulled herself off the floor and began to open the door, hoping she could escape unseen. Despite her attempt to sneak out, the door creaked as it opened. Couldn't Seattle Grace afford a little WD-40?, Izzie whispered to herself in irritation.

"Stevens?"

A red and puffy-eyed Izzie turned and stood awkwardly in front of the door. Words could barely escape her lips.

She nodded her head in recognition, "Dr. Sloan. Sorry that I disturbed you. I am gonna be going now."

Izzie quickly turned towards the door, but before she even had her hand on the door knob, Mark spoke up.

"Stevens, don't bother. It would be hard to fall back asleep. Besides I have some paperwork that I have to give to Grey."

Izzie looked up from the spot she had been staring at while he was talking. Mark stepped down from the top bunk and Izzie realized that he was only wearing scrub bottoms. As she stared at the origin of the title "Mcsteamy", Izzie couldn't hide her desire to run out of the room. Her plan to avoid people, which in turn would be avoiding her secret, was failing miserably. Sloan looked at Izzie and then immediately to her feet.

He cleared his throat, "Um, Dr. Stevens, do you think you can throw my shirt over here?"

Izzie looked down hesitantly at the floor, "Uh….sure."

She grabbed at the floor and held Sloan's shirt in her hands. Izzie did not throw it across the room. She was sure that it would only make it half way, an incident that would guarantee some form of harassment from Sloan. Instead, she walked forward and handed it to him. In the slight glimpse of light from the doorway, Mark saw the redness of Izzie's eyes. It looked like she had been crying. It didn't help that there was a sense of sadness written all over her face. Uncomfortable with the possibility of having an emotional moment with the intern, Mark quickly grabbed his shirt. Izzie backed away hesitantly.

"Well…I'm going to go find Dr. Bailey. Once again, I am really sorry for waking you."

Izzie turned and hustled towards the doorway.

"Stevens."

"Yes, Dr. Sloan"

"Whatever it is, I am sure it is going to turn out just fine."

Turning back around for the last time, Izzie once again faced Mark. Their eyes met in agreement and Izzie swore that she saw a wry smile form on Sloan's lips.

"Thanks"

Sloan watched the blonde walk into the hospital corridor. It was clear that Izzie was hiding something from everyone, a secret she did not want to reveal. Maybe Isobel Stevens wasn't all she appeared. But then again, everyone has their secrets they want to keep hidden. Mark Sloan knew this all too well.