Thanks so much for all of the wonderful reviews! I am humbled. I hope I don't disappoint. So, here goes nothing. I hope all of you like it.


Twelve months ago

It was exactly three days ago that he got the call to come to Iowa. Three days ago that she asked him to return home to help her say goodbye to the two people who raised her and loved her more than life itself. It was just an ordinary day to anyone else, but instead a drunk driver went across the yellow line and changed her life forever. Now, three days later, Jo held on to the only person left in her life as she sat through their eulogy, as she threw dirt on their caskets, as her and Alex walked away from the grave site.

"What am I going to do without them?" asked Jo, as fresh tears began to fall. "I – I have no family left now. Without them, and with no brothers or sisters, I'm all – all alone."

"I know it seems that way, but you still have me." Alex pulled her in tighter to his side and rubbed his hand up and down her arm.

"True, but, you live in Seattle. You can't come 1700 miles one way every time I feel sad or need to see a familiar face."

Alex turned Jo to face him, holding her by her arms. "Jo, you know that I would do anything for you. I haven't forgotten the promise I made to you and your mom and dad that I would always look out for you. I've been thinking these past few days, why don't I come back here, back home? You can finish college at Iowa State. I can transfer my residency to a hospital in Des Moines. You won't have to uproot…"

Jo interrupted him, shaking her head. "No, Alex, I can't ask you to do that. You've worked so hard to get where you are. You only have one more year left of your residency. I can't ask you to give all of that up. Besides, I don't think that your girlfriend would like it very much."

Alex looked away. "Yeah, well we're really not that serious. At least, not anymore."

Jo placed both hands on each side of his face and turned him to look at her. "Alex, what happened? I thought you two were really happy. You kept talking about maybe getting engaged."

"Yeah, well, things change. She's still hung up on her old boyfriend, Mark. Besides, I don't think that I was ever truly in love with her anyway. She's a great person, but it was never really gonna go anywhere."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. It's, it's okay or whatever." Alex took a deep breath. "Look, it's not that big a deal to transfer, really. Jo, I want to do this."

Jo shook her head no again. "I'll be fine. You need to go back to Seattle. Don't worry."

"Don't worry? Not a chance. Look, if you won't let me come back, then you're coming with me." Jo started to protest. Alex held up a hand to stop her. "You graduate in 3 months, right?"

"Right." Jo nodded in affirmation.

Alex grabbed both of her hands in his and looked her in the eyes. Those beautiful, gorgeous, soulful... Whoa, where did that come from?

Jo waved a hand in front of his face. "Alex, you okay?"

"Um, yeah." He gained his composure and continued. "I'll take two weeks off in time for graduation and then help you move to Seattle."

"I don't know…"

"We have lots of hospitals there for you to do your internship. It just so happens that I know some people at this one hospital. Let me think, what's it called," Alex said with a smirk. "Come on, it's perfect. You can stay with me, if you want. Say yes."

"Why would you do this? I'm not your responsibility. Besides, I can take care of myself."

Alex chuckled. Stubborn, as always. "No, you're right. You're not. And, I know that you can take care of yourself. I just, well, I miss you. I also feel like I owe your parents so much for watching over me all those years. Can't you let me kind of return the favor and watch over you?" He paused for a moment to brush a wayward strand of hair out of her face.

"Well…"

"You'd be doing me a favor too."

"What, you need someone to do your disgusting laundry?"

Alex rolled his eyes. "Ha, ha! No. I'll just worry about you being here all by yourself. You're saving me from getting an ulcer."

Jo grinned a little. "Why, Alex Karev, if I didn't know any better, I'd think that maybe you cared about me, in your own weird little way, of course."

"Ya think?"

Jo sighed. "This is a big decision, though. I need some time to think about this. My life's always been, well, here. I feel a little funny just leaving right after my parents have died."

"Take all the time you need. I didn't mean to force you into making such a rash decision. I know that you need time to grieve. Just remember that the offer will always be on the table."

Ten weeks later, Alex was on his way to Iowa again. This time, when he returned to Seattle, he wasn't alone.