Author's Notes: I'm sorry it took so long, but I'm finally back with a new chapter. This chapter took a lot of rewriting, which is the primary reason for the delay, but I'm finally okay with the result. I hope you'll like it! As always, reviews and comments with you thoughts are greatly appreciated :)

Chapter 4

In his first year of residency, back when the hospital's name was still Seattle Grace Hospital, Alex had this patient, Annie Connors, who had a giant tumor growing out of the side of her abdomen. She'd watched it grow for over a year, before her mother finally brought her to the hospital. The tumor had started to press down so hard on her diaphragm, Annie had trouble breathing. It was an excessive fear of hospitals that made Annie downplay the severity of her situation for so long. Not dealing with her tumor was easier than facing her biggest fear - until the pain got worse than the fear itself. In the end it was still too late for Annie. She died during surgery, bleeding out on the table because of a burst vessel.

Back then Alex couldn't understand how Annie could let it get this far. He couldn't understand how someone could ignore a problem to the point where it was virtually impossible to fix it. But looking back now, he realized he might have done the exact same thing with his sister. He'd been avoiding her - his entire family actually - for over fifteen years. He had a multitude of reasons, some of which definitely related to fear. First it was fear of being in over his head with a medical residency and a family who depended on him indefinitely. He knew he couldn't do both. Selfishly he chose his education, his career. And out of sight out of mind worked perfectly for him. After a while he barely even wondered if the little sister he'd left back in his old hometown might be missing him.

Later it was probably fear of rejection. He had spent more years apart from Amber than he'd spent with her. How could he have made that up to her? What could he have done? Turn up at her door one day like a surprise package and act like he still had any right at all to want to be part of her life? What could he have said to her when not even Aaron's attack was enough to make him stay with her, not even for a day?

But now everything was different. Amber was here, in Seattle, working at his hospital of all places. Whether it was the universe, fate or simply a crazy coincidence - something had brought them back together. And Alex would be damned if he didn't try his hardest to repair the bond he'd severed all those years ago. He could only hope it wasn't too late to fix things, like it had been for Annie.

Alex did not intend to waste any time, so he arranged for Amber to be assigned to his service on her second day at Grey Sloan.

When she appeared on the peds floor and found him standing at the nurse's station, she came towards him like a furious miniature tornado. She was quite obviously upset about something.

It felt unreal to see her in scrubs and a lab coat. Then again, everything about seeing her felt unreal, starting with the fact that she was a grown up woman now and not a kid anymore. She used to run around the house with a cheap purple magic wand, pretending to cast spells over anything and anyone. Now she was certified to cut people open with a scalpel. There was such an enormous contrast between those two pictures, Alex's mind had a hard time bringing them together.

"You requested me for today, didn't you?" Amber asked outright as she came to a halt in front of him. She was no fool. He had suspected it wouldn't take her long to figure out his ruse. Her feisty attitude left him unfazed, though.

"I did," Alex conceded frankly. She opened her mouth, clearly to throw in an objection, but he was prepared for that. "You said you wanted to learn from me. So that's what you're gonna do today."

She furrowed her brows at him and folded her arms in front of her chest. Alex had to suppress a laugh when he saw that reaction. She looked exactly like she had as a little girl upon realizing she had been outsmarted by her big brother. Pediatrics was one of the most interesting and most prestigious surgical fields. It would be stupid to miss a chance to work here and Amber knew that.

She did not let him off the hook that easily, though. "Okay, but this is a one-time thing. You can never do that again. I don't want special treatment just because I'm your sister. I already got accused of nepotism yesterday. Becoming a target for the other interns is the last thing I want."

Alex's eyes darkened. "Who accused you of nepotism?"

Amber waved her hand dismissively. "It's none of your business. Besides, it's nothing I can't handle myself."

"Fine," he muttered.

They walked down the corridor side by side, but in silence. It didn't surprise Alex that Amber was guarded, though. He knew if he wanted to reconnect he had to make the first step and initiate a conversation.

"So… uhm… how have you been doing? And how's Aaron?" Alex asked carefully.

She met his glance, a disdainful spark in her eyes. He fully expected her to retort something snarky or sarcastic. He would have deserved it, too. He was asking questions that came about a decade and a half too late, he was well aware of that. But he had to start somewhere.

"Aaron's good," she said then, her face still not exactly friendly, but more neutral. "He's got a steady job for two years now. It's at a local courier company. He doesn't get to drive all across the country anymore, like when he had that job at the moving company, but he still gets to drive and he's happy with that. He's taking his meds and seeing a therapist once a week."

"That's good."

For whatever reason, that reply earned him another look of disdain. Amber's mouth twisted like she wanted to say something, but then she pressed her lips together and nodded, smiling microscopically. "Yeah, no, it is good. Very good actually."

Even though he would have liked an explanation for her sudden anger when he asked about Aaron, Alex thought it was probably best to let it go. Instead he brought the conversation back to her. "And you? How have you been doing?"

"Me? I've been doing well too. I went to college, then med school. The usual, you know? Now I'm here. Everything is great. And you and Jo?" she added, turning the question around. "Are you happy?"

Alex studied his sister from the side, wondering if that question was a product of genuine interest in his life or if she'd just changed the subject to avoid talking about herself. Did the reason really matter, though? They were having an actual conversation and that was so much more than he'd expected to get from her. "Yeah. We are very happy," he answered truthfully. "Jo's great. She's the best thing that could have happened to me." For a second he considered telling his sister about Jo's pregnancy, but it didn't seem like the right place nor time for that.

"Great. I'm happy for you."

Again, Alex was left wondering whether her remark was honest or a mere pleasantry. It made him realize that he didn't know his sister at all. When she was a kid he'd always known how to read her tone face. He used to know his sister inside and out, but now she was a mystery to him.

"So are you ever gonna tell me what we're doing today?" she asked impatiently.

"You'll find out in a minute," Alex said, as he abruptly stopped in front of a patient room. He'd almost missed the right door because of his pondering. It was time he put his focus back on the job.

He handed Amber the tablet he had carried with him. "You're gonna need this. You're doing the patient presentation." The chart she needed was already open, so she could read up on the patient.

"The patient is a girl named Cybil Talbot, but she hates that name. Everybody just calls her Billie," he explained, while she swiped over the screen, taking in the most important information.

Eventually she raised her head. "Short bowel syndrome? So we're doing a resection today?"

"Exactly. This is Billie's third resection, actually." He pushed down the door handle. "You ready?"

As soon as they entered the patient's room they were greeted by an excited voice. "Hey Dr. Alex," Billie said, beaming at him like she'd swallowed the freaking sun. If he didn't know it, Alex would never have guessed that this girl was about to have a major surgery. She didn't seem worried at all. Then again, she'd been to the hospital nine times in the last five years and had already had three major surgeries. As sad of a thought as it was, she was probably getting used to the process at this point.

"Hi Billie," Alex said. "You had a good night?" The question was directed at Billie as well as Mrs. Talbot, who was sitting in a chair by her daughter's bed.

The girl shrugged. "It was alright."

"She had a quiet night," Billie's mother confirmed. "But she keeps asking me if she'll be able to eat solid food again after the surgery." Lovingly she stroke her daughter's pitch-black hair. "She really misses food."

"I miss burgers," Billie specified. "And fries. And pizza. And cookies."

"And spinach and broccoli and green beans, am I right?" Alex said with a grin.

Billie rolled her eyes. "Very funny. Just tell me I can eat like a normal person after the surgery. Please?" She glanced up at him with pleading eyes.

"Well, you're gonna have to wait a few weeks and we have to take it step by step, but eventually solid food shouldn't be a problem anymore."

"Yay!" Billie was so happy about the news, she held out her balled fist for Alex. He humored her and gave her a fist bump. Then Billie turned to Amber, demanding a fist bump from her as well, although she didn't know her yet.

Alex was glad Billie was feeling so well today. Her face had a slightly yellow complexion, a sign of jaundice, caused by her bad liver. But other than that she seemed fine. She had the blanket pulled up to her chest, but she didn't seem to be cold. Alex could see two small feet, covered in Winnie the Pooh socks, peek out on either side of the bed. Her current condition was treacherous, though. The bowel resection that was planned for today was absolutely imperative. And it probably wouldn't be her last surgery either.

He addressed his sister. "Amber, would you present the patient?"

Amber shot him a stern look. "It's Dr. Karev."

Alex sighed. "Fine. Dr. Karev, would you present the patient, please?"

Confused Billie's gaze bounced from Amber to Alex and back to Amber again. "You're Dr. Karev? That's Dr. Alex's name. Is he your brother?"

"Yeah, he is," Amber confirmed. "My waaay older brother."

The little girl snickered at the way Amber drew out the word, while Alex grunted disapprovingly. Was it really necessary to highlight the age difference?

"Just read the chart, will you?" he demanded again, unable to hide his irritation.

It made Billie cackle even more. Amber on the other hand bit her lip to compose herself so she could start recounting the key data from the tablet. Billie had been in and out the hospital 9 times in the last few years. Today they were doing a bowel resection, but eventually she would need an intestine transplant as well as a liver transplant.

"I like your socks, by the way," Amber added with a wink as she finished.

"Really?" Billie seemed baffled. "My friends say I'm way too old to still be into Winnie the Pooh. I'm nine and they say Winnie the Pooh is for babies."

"Are you kidding? You can never be too old for Winnie the Pooh. I'm an adult and I love Winnie the Pooh. Tigger was always my favorite."

Billie's face lit up. "Mine too." She turned to Alex. "What about you, Dr. Alex?"

Amber jumped in, before he could say anything. "Oh Alex was always into piglet. You adored him, right Alex?"

Alex rolled his eyes, but decided to humor them anyways. "Uh yeah, sure. I've always been a big fan of that little pink guy."

Both Billie and Amber exploded with laughter.

"Anyways, your friends know nothing. Winnie the Pooh is awesome."

Billie was still wary. "But you wouldn't wear Winnie the Pooh socks now, would you?"

"Sure I would."

Billie narrowed her eyes at her. "I don't believe you."

Alex thought his sister would realize that she'd taken her Winnie the Pooh enthusiasm too far and backpedal. But she didn't. "Fine," Amber said confidently. "Next time you see me, I'll be wearing Winnie the Pooh socks."

She held her hand out to Billie, who shook it solemnly. "Deal."

"Piglet, seriously?" Alex asked when they left Billie's room.

"What do you want? We made a sick little girl laugh. Wasn't that worth it? I mean, if you're more of an Eeorye or Rabbit guy, you could have just said it."

"Shut up! At least I am not the one who has to run around in Winnie the Pooh socks from now on."

"I'm sure she won't remember that. She has other things to worry about right now."

"You clearly don't know Billie. Little girls can be a real pain in the ass," he added with a smirk.

Amber, knowing exactly that he was not talking about Billie anymore, regarded him with a reluctant half-grin. "Please, you and I both know I was low maintenance."

With her long blonde hair and deep blue eyes she looked so much like their mother, but the lopsided grin she gave him now mirrored his own. In that moment it was almost as though they were just normal, bickering siblings. "You really think so? I remember that differently."

Amber shrugged her shoulders. "Whatever. I need to book an OR and prep Billie for surgery."

As she started to walk away, Alex reached for her arm. "Hey kid," he said, "what do you say, we meet after work today and find out who's right? I'd love to catch up with you."

He could tell the exact moment she closed off again. Her eyes became cold, her lips a thin dismissive line. Then she shook off his hand. "I already have plans for tonight," she said, digging her hands deep into the pockets of her lab coat. "And I'm not a kid anymore."

Amber was feeling elated when she left the hospital that evening. The primary reason for her positive state of mind was the fact that she was meeting Andrew at the bar. But other than that she was proud of herself, because she'd managed to work a whole day on Alex's service while keeping a relatively chill attitude. No accusations - not with words anyways, no yelling, no running this time either. She'd held a normal conversation with him and they'd worked well together in the OR. Billie's surgery had been a complete success. As surgeons she and Alex made a surprisingly good team. As long as she left her emotions out if it and as long as it didn't concern anything but their work at the hospital, she should be able to deal with her brother just fine.

At the bar, Amber scanned the room thoroughly for any trace of Andrew. Perhaps he was already there, waiting for her. She saw a few familiar faces. Alex's wife was sitting at a table in the corner with a handsome blond man. He had to be a doctor too. Amber indistinctly remembered seeing him at the hospital. In the area beside the entrance her fellow interns Levi, Taryn and Dahlia were playing darts. They beckoned her to come over. She waved at them, but didn't follow their invitation.

Once she was sure Andrew wasn't there yet, she took a seat at the bar. The sound of the chiming doorbell gave Amber a sense of déjà vu. Every time she heard it, she craned her neck in eager anticipation. Every time her wide smile was met with indifference or a frown by some stranger. But she wanted to welcome Andrew with a happy face this time. The last time he'd seen her at this bar she'd been nervous and apprehensive. Tonight was her chance to rectify that first impression.

She waited ten minutes, then twenty. At that point she ordered a beer, because the bartender kept shooting angry glances in her direction for occupying a seat at the bar, without ordering a drink. After half an hour she foolishly still believed Andrew was just running late. After 45 minutes she gulped down the last of her beer, unsure what to do next.

It occurred to her that she and Andrew had never exchanged their phone numbers. Why hadn't she thought of that? She had no way of contacting him. No way of asking him what had happened. But she already knew what had happened, didn't she? Andrew had stood her up. There was no point in sugarcoating it.

He'd cancelled yesterday's date. That should have been a hint. But she had not seen it. Or rather, had not want to see it. What she saw was the way he held her gaze when their eyes met as they were sitting at the nurse's station. The way he leaned in, like he was toying with the idea of kissing her again. When he ultimately backed away, she thought it was because they were at the hospital. But now she knew she was wrong. All this time he must have been messing with her. Or perhaps he was too much of a coward to tell it to her face that he was not interested. Either way, this had never been more for him than a random late-night conversation with a follow-up one-night, she realized that now.

She didn't know what was worse, the humiliation of being stood up in a bar in a strange city, like some pathetic loser. Or the sadness, because she genuinely liked Andrew and it hurt that the feeling apparently wasn't mutual. But it didn't really matter in the end. She didn't plan on letting either emotion settle.

The guy had stood her up, so what? It wasn't the first time, probably wouldn't be the last. She'd get over it. She always did.

That's what she told herself anyways. But when she paid her beer and headed home, her heart was felt heavy all the same.