Author's Note: So I have now business starting a new story. I shouldn't even think about thinking about starting a new one. But here I am, in the process of wrapping up three different fics, and the reality of always needing something to write, something to break my block...I began this story. Because no matter how much the thought of Addex excites me, Azzie is and will always be important to me. Because it the midst of everything, Izzie needs someone to talk to...someone to connect with.

And Alex is it.

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, the show or it's affiliates. So, in short...don't sue.

She had no idea what to do.

She had no idea what to do, and it scared her. It scared Izzie to realize that the world she had fought so hard to build back up around her had crumbled all so quickly.

There was George...which she knew with all of her mind what happened between them had been a mistake. She slept with her best friend, and with the looming reality that his marriage was on the brink caused Izzie even more guilt.

And then there was her daughter. Izzie knew it would happen...eventually. She had figured that by now her adoptive parents had informed her of the fact that she was indeed adopted, that she wasn't born of her "mother". Izzie hoped that her daughter, her Sarah as she thought of her...was okay. Was healthy. She didn't want to meet Hannah under the circumstances that she did.

What started out as a simple day at work turned into something huge, and sitting on the bench outside of Seattle Grace, Izzie Stevens tried hard to wrap her mind around the idea.

She had a daughter. She had a daughter that she could have known, she could have raised. Her daughter was sick. Her daughter was more than sick, Hannah had Leukemia. Tears welled in Izzie's eyes as the realization once again hit her. It hit even harder with the thought that Hannah didn't want to meet her.

Izzie had dreamed of the moment. She had planned out things she would say, things Hannah might say. Izzie had planned everything right down to the outfit she would wear and the pack of kleenex she would pack in her pocket. But she never, ever thought that she would again meet Hannah under the circumstances that were occuring.

The wind rising around her, Izzie knew she should return home. She knew that by now the fear was again beginning to rise in George, and by now Hannah's adoptive parents were in the hospital room with her daughter explaining things about her sickness that Izzie could almost recite like a textbook. Still, there was some hope in the fact that she had helped her. Izzie had gone on the table to donate for her daughter, something she just knew was right.

Because screwing things up this time just wasn't an option.

Feeling a tear sliding down her cheek, Izzie fought to wipe it away before anyone saw. A white puff of tissue appeared before her, a hand reaching out.

"Thanks."Izzie said, gratefully taking it, without looking up. She knew thank you wasn't enough, because without knowing her, someone handed her a tissue in her time of need. Just the thouht of knowing someone cared made Izzie happy a small bit.

"You know you really shouldn't be sitting out here in the rain."Alex said, knowing that Izzie was upset.

"Alex?"Izzie said, surprise laced through her voice.

"Yeah. But don't let word about the fact that I carry those things around get out. I've got a reputation, you know."He said, sitting next to her on the bench.

"Cold?"Izzie asked, thinking it was the probable cause.

Alex nodded, laughing a little. "Yesterday morning I woke up...my head was on fire, and I couldn't breathe through my nose. But ya know..we all live."

Izzie laughed nervousily, fumbling with the kleenex in her hand. "Right."She knew that within the past few days, she had made more mistakes than even Alex Karev would understand, but in that moment, she was just glad to have someone to talk to. "Thanks...for the kleenex."She said, waving it at him.

"No problem."Alex replied, staring foward. "So is there a reason why you've been sitting out here for nearly twenty minutes?"

"I'm not sure if I wanna go home."She replied, wincing as she did. Because Izzie knew as soon as the words left her mouth that Alex would have questions as to why.

"Mer and Shep gettin' too loud for you?"

"Quite the opposite, actually."Izzie replied. She shook her head, trying to remove the thoughts. Bunching the kleenex up in her hand, Izzie drew in a deep breath. "I just think...that there may be a reason for me to stay here."

Alex looked around, then up at the lit up "Seattle Grace Hospital" sign. "Here...in the rain...in front of the hospital?"He asked.

"Not quite. Here...at the hospital. There's a..patient...that I'm worried about."

"The girl?"Alex asked.

Izzie's eyes widened, afraid for a moment that he knew. "How do you-"

"Someone saw you in pediatrics earlier...word gets around."

"Oh. And...?"

Alex shrugged. "Whoever she is, she must be important to you."

"She is."Izzie replied, her voice shaky. "But still...I should go. I can't-I can't get too attached, right?"

"Iz-"

"No. No, I know, Alex. I really do. I am back at the hospital and..."Izzie shrugged, tears brimming. "I am happy. But with all of this business of Mer almost dying, and then her mother died..and this mystery woman patient that you have been dealing with...and of course you have the added drama of the Meredith and Derek, Burke and Cristina, George and McDramaQueen combo...you've got a lot of emotions to deal with."

Alex was quiet for a moment, in thought. "Do you have plans tonight?"

"Alex-"Izzie began to say in protest.

"No, No...I just...Joe's is so close. And clearly you need to talk, or throw darts or play pool or something, right?"Alex asked, giving a smile. "And I am in a mood for a beer. It's the perfect match."

"I was..under the impression that you were hot on the trail of Doctor Mont...Addison."Izzie corrected.

"What?"Alex quickly replied. "Izzie, it's not...What I mean is-"Alex stopped, knowing he was nearing the point of awkwardness. "It's just two friends...goin' to hang out at a bar."

Izzie thought about it. She thought about the fact that Hannah and her adoptive parents were upstairs. She thought of the fact that George was laying somewhere with Callie, praying that the guilt wasn't evident on his face. Izzie thought of the fact that for once, Alex was talking to her without sarcasm, without a smirk or a cocky attitude. In a way, she missed that side of Alex.

Offering a smile, Izzie just wanted an hour to where her troubles would be pushed back. To where, for once, she could feel in control. A game of darts. Ordering a drink. It seemed simple enough. Alex wasn't one for emotional, secret-revealing conversation, so Izzie felt that she would be safe. "Okay."She replied. "I'll go."