Jo clinked her beer bottle with Alex's and leaned back on the new couch cushions. She eyed him curiously, "So the witch got everything in the divorce, huh?"

Alex raised his eyebrows as he brought the beer bottle down from his mouth, "Come again?"

She grinned, "Oh come on, it's so obvious that you're divorced. So spill, I've told you about some of my dating mishaps."

Alex interrupted gruffly, "So I have to tell you mine?"

Jo watched him as he took another drink, "Wow, she did that big of a number on you, huh?"

Alex glanced at her before turning away quickly, "Just what exactly makes you think I've been married before?"

Jo quirked a brow, "Well for one you won't keep eye contact with me right now."

Alex rolled his eyes at her, "So?"

Jo leaned forward on the couch, "You're a doctor, living in a nice house, with no furniture or other furnishings. I mean your kitchen looks like a store model."

Alex shrugged, "Maybe I like it that way."

Jo nodded, "But then you also screw interns like you're trying to hide your pain and not let anyone get too close."

"I thought you were a surgeon not a freakin' psychiatrist," he ground out gruffly.

Jo pulled the bottle up to her lips, "Sorry, I'll drop it."

Several tense seconds ticked by before Alex spoke softer, "I've been divorced for three years." He was quiet for a bit before meeting her eyes, "You read me pretty well."

Jo silently nodded before asking quietly, "What happened?"

Alex sighed and rubbed his face, "I still don't think I understand it. She…she was sick…ah with cancer….and…." He looked back up to Jo, "We weren't married very long, not even a year and she just up and left."

Jo nodded slightly, her chest feeling heavy for him, "I'm sorry, Alex. I shouldn't have pushed it."

Alex gave a half grin, "It's okay, I'm just not used to talking about it. Most people already know about it and watched it happen."

Jo nodded, "What kind of cancer?"

"Melanoma that had metastasized to her liver and brain."

Jo visibly blanched, "How is she now?"

Alex snorted sarcastically, "I honestly have no idea. She mailed me divorce papers and I haven't heard from her since."

Jo nodded silently, "No wonder you're screwed up."

Alex gave a humorless laugh, "I was screwed up before her and I'll be screwed up long after."

Jo nodded and with forced levity raised her beer bottle towards him, "To being screwed up."

Alex chuckled and raised his bottle to hers again, "To being screwed up."