A/N: Thank you so much for your reviews. I know some of you are not happy with the fact that Alex is having an affair with Jo. All is not as it seems it is far more complicated then that. So please don't be too critical about Alex and Jo. As I said in my notes in Chapter 1, this story is jumping all over the place in their relationship.

This chapter is dedicated to Kate and Leah who continually give me support to keep going. So thanks girls


Chapter 2 – Distance travelled

Second year.

"Where has Alex gone?" Meredith asked George and Cristina.

"Who cares?" Cristina asked in reply.

"The guy is weird, probably gone off whoring around somewhere after Izzie dumped him." George said as he stuck another French fry in his mouth.

"I know Alex doesn't play well with others, but come on guys he is one of us. Shouldn't we be worried about him a little bit?" Meredith asked.

"Nope. Evil spawn." Cristina said, in between bites of her sandwich.

"I agree with Cristina." George said as he stuffed more food into his mouth as he knew he only had minutes before he had to get back to the pit.

Alex had forgotten how strong the sun could be. Living in Seattle for nearly two years had made him forget. He put his sunglasses on as he made his way to the closest empty taxi. He gave the driver Jo's address. God he needed to see her.

He had called Jo before he boarded the plane and she had told him where the spare key was hidden. He found it easily. Alex made a mental note to speak to her about it at some stage during his two day stay, she needed a better system. He couldn't stand the thought of something happening to her.

Alex made himself at home, looked in the refrigerator and laughed. It was as empty as his own refrigerator at home. He decided to go for a walk and get some food and beer. Jo wasn't planning on being home for at least another three hours.

The Santa Monica sun felt nice as he walked with a bag full of groceries back to Jo's small apartment. Maybe he could transfer his surgical residency? He desperately needed to get away from Seattle. What better place then here?

Jo arrived home and put her things down and squealed like a little girl as she ran into his arms. He hugged her tight, like he was hanging on for dear life.

"Hey, what is it?" Jo asked as she pulled back from him and searched his eyes for some kind of answer.

"Later?" He pleaded, as he walked into the kitchen returning with two beers.

"Okay." Jo said quietly and took the beer he offered her. She knew when to push and when to let him come to her. Alex would tell her, when he was ready.

"So how's things here?" Alex asked.

"Good." Jo replied.

"Made any friends yet?" Alex asked.

"No not really. What about you? Any progress with your group of Interns." She asked back.

"Nah." Alex simply replied. They both just got it. They didn't need lots of words to communicate. It had been like this ever since their initial meeting just over twelve months ago now.

"Any news on your mom, Aaron or Amber?"

"Not really. Kinda had to let go. You are the closest thing I have to family Jo."

"Yeah." Jo nodded her head in agreement. "I know. I don't know what I would do if you weren't in my life either." Jo finished.

"Well I'm not going anywhere. We are each other's family." Alex said as he put his arm around her and pulled her closer. It didn't matter how bad things were, with Jo he felt like everything would work out. There was some sort of strength in being together, being united.

"What about that Izzie? Still sleeping with her?" Jo asked.

She hated herself for asking, hated herself for being jealous, and hated the thought of a name to put with a woman Alex was sleeping with. Alex tensed a little at hearing Izzie's name come from Jo's lips. He had always thought of the two as mutually exclusive. But he came running to Jo, for her special kind of comfort, so he had to tell her the truth.

"She dumped me." Alex said.

"Oh sorry." Jo said taking his hand. It felt inadequate but she really didn't know what else to say.

"Best bit is..." He paused as he took another mouthful of beer "She dumped me for a patient, who is going to die. Needs a heart transplant."

"Fuck." Jo muttered.

"Yeah."

"Alex that sucks. God how bad of a boyfriend were you? I mean if the near dead patient is a better option then you." Jo said trying to lighten the moment.

"Thanks Jo." He said glaring at her. He saw her smirking and then he started to laugh as well. It was the thing he loved best about Jo, her ability to make everything seem okay.

Jo took Alex's hands in hers and played with his fingers. She did this as a comfort thing for both of them. "I really am sorry, she doesn't deserve you." Jo whispered.

"Thanks, I screwed it up on my own though." He replied truthfully.

"Nobody's perfect."

Both of them had agreed a long distance romance would never work so they decided to remain good friends. Neither wanted to lose the friendship they had. It was just too important. It was the only healthy relationship either one of them had ever had.

A romantic relationship was never really established. Yes they gave it a half hearted attempt, but it never really got off the ground. As attracted to each other as they were, in every way possible physically, emotionally, intellectually not to mention the total respect they had for each other. They were always realistic about the logistics of a long distance relationship.

Neither of them was ready for that. Neither of them was ready for a serious relationship with anyone, especially with their work schedules, let alone throw in the complications of the distance of travel required to be together. Besides they both still had a lot of growing up to do. Alex and Jo were happy to just be in each other's lives. The rest would work itself out over time.

They spent the next few hours laughing and talking. Jo ordered a Pizza, Alex took a shower, they watched television. Everything was simple and easy nothing was complicated and they never felt any uncomfortable silences. Later Jo insisted Alex sleep with her instead of on the sofa as it wasn't very comfortable and had seen better days.

They brushed their teeth and lay in bed together. Jo rested her head in the crook of Alex's neck and took a deep breath. She missed that smell. The smell that she couldn't really define, it was just the smell of Alex.

Alex held Jo close. They fit together perfectly and he fell asleep easily for the first time in weeks. Jo felt his arms around her and sighed with content. As independent and strong as she was, sleeping next to Alex made everything right with her world.

Jo had never taken a sick day. But the next morning she decided it was worth it. God knew when she would get to see Alex again, so she took the opportunity to spend the day together.

Over lunch in a small cafe overlooking the ocean, they talked easily as they always did with brutal honesty.

"So you need to find a better hiding spot for your spare key."

"Alex you only found it because I told you were it was."

"The rock near the front door." He said rolling his eyes. "You idiot it is the first place people will look. Jeez and you call yourself a street kid." He continued.

"Hey I was a street kid. No one will look there because it is TOO obvious." Jo replied.

"Yeah well I'm not convinced. I don't wanna get a call from a hospital telling me you have been mugged in your own home."

"Yeah well I don't want to get a phone call telling me you have another Sexually Transmitted Infection either but we both know it's a real possibility that I will." Jo challenged.

"I should never have told you that. You are going to bring that up every single time you want to beat me in an argument." He said. "To be honest sex with that nurse was a huge mistake, it wasn't even good."

Jo rolled her eyes and finished her wine. "You are a bit of a man whore aren't you? And as such you should use protection. Only a dumb ass doesn't use condoms."

"Yeah, Yeah I know. I've learnt my lesson. Speaking of sex lives, do you have one these days?" Alex asked changing the focus onto Jo and off of him.

"Not really. I was seeing an ER doctor for a little while. His name is James; it just didn't quite work out." Jo said shrugging her shoulders.

"Why?" Alex asked. He didn't know why he asked. He really didn't want to know. The thought of another man touching Jo made him clench his fists. He knew he had no right what's-so-ever to feel like that but you can't help how you feel. He loved Jo in so many ways, it overwhelmed him at times, and he didn't quite know how to process all of it. Hell he didn't even know what it all meant. He was twenty six years old. He knew nothing about relationships, of any kind.

"He was nice enough, but I guess there just wasn't any spark." Jo said shrugging her shoulders again. If she was honest with herself, it was because James wasn't Alex. James just didn't get her the way Alex did. She was young, but began to doubt anyone ever would. The feelings she had for Alex transcended anything she had ever imagined. Sometimes they overwhelmed her so much she just didn't know what to do with them. So in true Jo fashion she ignored them and got on with her day.

They took a walk along the beach, every now and then they held hands for a while, just enjoying the feeling of being together. He was glad he came. A dose of Jo was just what he needed. She always had that effect on him. He felt much better and could return to Seattle and get on with things.

He decided not to bring up the idea he had about transferring to St Ambrose Hospital to work with Jo. The surgical program at Seattle Grace was the best in the country; he didn't want to throw that away. As time would go on, he would live to regret that decision.


A/N: Thanks for reading and I would like your feedback on this chapter.