-1Chapter 2
He had been working for her for one week. Things were going well. He kept things running by fixing things around the house and splitting the wood for the wood stove. Occasionally they would have one of her husbands patients come to her for help. They didn't care that she was not a vet; she was just as good if not better than her husband.
They kept to themselves, she would make meals for them but he always took his plate back to his room and she ate alone in the kitchen. Day's were spent mostly in silence. They would speak when it was required.
On this particular day he had been sitting on the porch enjoying the lunch she had made him when a truck pulled into the drive. Two men got out and headed straight for the office. They were too busy talking to notice him. After a few minutes he heard her screaming, he quickly dropped the plate of food and ran to help her. He almost pulled the door off its hinges when he opened it. He grabbed at the first man who was in the way, roughly pushing him aside. He then pulled the second man who had both his arms wrapped around her as she stood back to, screaming. Letting her go he stumbled backwards as Alex punched him in the nose. Izzie quickly turned around and gasped at the sight before her.
"Oh my god!" She screamed.
Alex pulled back his arm to hit the man again when she yelled.
"Alex no! It's okay, that's my brother. I had my earphones in and didn't hear him come up behind me."
"Damn it! I think you broke my nose!"
"Sorry, I heard her screaming and I thought….sorry."
The other man helped his friend to his feet.
"It's okay; it's nice to know my sister is protected so well." He holds his nose.
"I can look at it for you, I'm a doctor." Alex says.
"That's okay my friend here is a plastic surgeon and he can check it out later. My name is Derek Shepard. You must be the guy George told me about. He didn't tell me you were a doctor. Why are you working here?"
"I got fired."
"Kill someone?" The other man asks.
"That's not funny Mark. I'm sorry Alex." Izzie says.
"Look I have a sister so I understand, really I do. My ex-girlfriend was the one who fired me, after I found her cheating. I just can't go back and live with my mother, she's way too controlling. Can you imagine being a twenty eight year old man with a curfew, sleeping on juvenile sheet sets? Dude I just can't do it."
"I think that's something we call all understand." She looks at both Derek and Mark as she says it.
"Why do you always bring that up? You know that Addison and I are done." Derek says.
"And I didn't move back in with my parents, I moved in with your parents and it was only for a couple of months." Mark says.
"All I'm saying is that we've all been where Alex is and so we should give him a break, besides I am a big girl Derek. I can take care of myself."
"I know Izzie, I'm just worried. I'm your brother, I'm supposed to worry."
"You're my half brother and I know. I do love you for it."
"I'm worried too." Mark says.
"Thank you. I appreciate it but I should be worried about you two. Derek my friend tells me that you didn't show up for the blind date I set you up on."
"He's afraid there is something wrong with her." Mark says.
"I'm not, I just don't know about a blind date. I'm not ready for that." Derek admits.
"There is nothing wrong with her Derek; she's a very nice girl."
"That's code for ugly." Mark says.
"I can't believe you just said that!" Izzie yells.
"Uh, I think I'm going to get back to work. Dude, sorry about the nose."
Alex walked out of the office and left Mark and Derek alone with Izzie.
"We're going to get back to the hospital so Mark can fix my nose. Call me if you need me."
"I will, I promise."
Derek wraps his arms around her, hugging her tightly. He then heads back to the truck.
"I'll be right there Derek." Mark says.
"Is he really okay since Addison moved in with that Pete guy?"
"Yeah, he will be alright. I wanted to ask you something Izzie."
"What is it Mark?"
"I think we should go out to dinner Friday night….you know like a double date. Derek is never gonna go out with your friend on his own and I thought if we went too, it might make it easier for him. I would understand if you didn't want to…."
"No, I just thought that you were asking me out for a second."
"Me? No! You're my best friends little sister, he would kill me for even thinking about it. I meant we could both take dates, unless you are not ready for that. We could always go together, you know just because you can trust me. I would be safe. I have known you practically your whole life."
"I think it's a great Idea."
"You do?"
"Yes, Derek needs our help. He's really missing out on a great girl."
"So did you want to go together or…?"
"Mark you don't have to give me a pity date. I wouldn't want you to waste a Friday night babysitting me. I'll see what I can come up with."
"Oh well let me know. It's really no problem if you want me to take you."
"Thanks, if I can't find anyone I'll call you."
"Oh, okay." She hugs him and he walks back to the truck.
As Mark climbs in the driver's seat of the truck he sighs.
"Did you ask her out?"
"Yes, No….kinda….No."
"Oh my god, you're in love with my sister!"
"No I'm not. I just thought it would be good to get her out."
"So did it work? You know I don't want to go on this blind date so it better work!"
"Yeah, she's going to bring a date."
"Then we should be happy she's getting out, right?"
"She's probably going to go out with some jerk who will only want to take advantage of the fact she has been left by her husband. If that's what happens, I'm going to have to kill a guy." Derek laughs. "Don't laugh; you're helping me get rid of the body." Mark says.
"I can't believe you talked me into this. Okay so she's going to bring a date and I have to meet this friend of hers, so who are you going to bring?" Derek asks.
"I'll find someone. Too bad you didn't have another sister." He smirks
"My mother is probably free Friday night…..Or better yet my grandmother's boyfriend just died and she would just love to get out of the nursing home for a night on the town, she does have an early curfew though so you'd have to skip desert….." Derek laughs hysterically.
"This isn't funny Derek." He scowls.
"Nope, not funny at all." He tries to hold the laughter, but eventually starts laughing all over again as they drive down the road towards the hospital.