"Everything is ready to go I'll go over there this afternoon and set it all up" Derek chuckled as he leant on the sink while Meredith scrubbed in for her solo appendectomy. It was not brain surgery but it was still a good feeling to have a solo surgery that she wasn't especially familiar with. Meredith fed on the challenge no matter how small it was.
"I hope this works" she chuckled and looked over at Derek "We need this to work"
"Alex spent the night at the hospital again last night didn't he? I thought after he spoke to Lauren that he would at least go home"
"Lauren spent the night up on the oncology ward with one of her kids but Alex doesn't know that"
"They are as stubborn as each other..." he sighed
"Which is why we need this to..." Meredith insisted until she was interrupted by the scrub room door opening. Both Derek and Meredith looked over to see an out of breath Alex standing there.
"Where is she?" Alex asked frantically
"Where is who?"
"Dammit Grey where is my wife" he snapped causing both Meredith and Derek to jump slightly "You're doing her surgery, is she in the OR or in the Gallery?"
"She went home" Meredith informed him quietly "One of her cancer kids, Justin, didn't fair very well after his chemo so Lauren sat up with him all night. She went home to get some sleep before her surgeries this afternoon"
Alex nodded before turning to Derek "I'm going to tell you this now before you page me later and I don't answer the page. I'm going home to my wife and grovel because I am an idiot. I am giving up being Chief Resident and I'm going to do whatever it takes to make the last three months up to Lauren"
"I'm surprised it took you this long to figure that out"
"Derek..." Meredith sighed, shocked that he'd just said that. She'd be more shocked at his next sentence.
"I should have kicked your ass a long time ago for doing this to my little sister" he growled "But you still have a chance to get her back so go"
"Already gone" Alex nodded and raced out of the scrub room. Not even bothering to change out of his scrubs, Alex ran out of the hospital and to his car. Nothing was going to stop him from getting to Lauren and apologising for the crap he's put her through.
"All that planning for nothing?" Derek sighed after a moment of silence "We had organised a romantic night for them and Alex comes to his senses before we even get the chance to set it up? What a waste"
"It wasn't a waste, you'll just have to set it up and we'll make the most of it" Meredith smirked
"Well aren't you just a hopeless romantic"
"I had to learn from someone"
XXXXX
Alex bashed on his apartment door loudly waiting for Lauren to answer. He didn't think it was appropriate to just walk into an apartment he may not even be welcome in. Letting Lauren call the shots, he waited for her to decide to let him in or not. Lauren dawdled to the door slightly annoyed. She'd just gotten to sleep only to be woken by someone bashing on her door. Looking through the peephole, she sighed softly.
"I know you're there Lauren. I heard your footsteps" Alex began softly "I'm sorry for waking you. Mere told me about Justin"
"Alex..."
"Hear me out please" he sighed and heard Lauren lean against the door and slide down to sit against it. Leaning his forehead on the door for a moment, he too sat down against the door "I'm sorry I've been such a jerk. I let the job go to my head and I forgot about you. I took advantage of you and I'm sorry. I'm going to tell Dr Webber that I don't want to be Chief Resident anymore because I need you more that I need some stupid job"
"You're a good Chief Resident" Lauren sighed through the door
"No I suck as a Chief Resident because I have slept at the hospital every night this week. If it means losing you, I never want to be Chief Resident"
Lauren got up from against the door and opened it. Startling Alex, she watched him collapse back onto her feet. He never expected the door to open. "I just miss you Alex"
"I miss you too" he smiled weakly before getting up and facing his wife "I'm sorry"
"I don't know if it's enough" she sighed softly sniffing back tears. Lauren wanted Alex back but after everything he'd done, it wasn't as easy as she thought it would be. He hurt her with every lunch date he missed, with every page he didn't answer and with every night he spent at the hospital.
"I can't even begin to make this up to you but I have to try. Please let me try"
Pulling Alex into a tight hug, Lauren burst into tears. She buried her head in his shoulder and let out all her emotion on Alex. Mixed with her exhaustion from staying up with Justin and the relief of having Alex holding her, Lauren cried til she couldn't anymore. Pulling one arm under Lauren's knees and the other holding onto her back, Alex carried her back to bed and laid her down gently. He laid down next to Lauren and held her til she fell asleep. He wasn't about to leave her and give her another excuse to hate him.
XXXXX
"Karev!" Dr Webber barked as he saw Alex walking along the catwalk toward the Chief's office. With his arms full of charts and folders, Alex had a huge smile on his face. Alex stopped in front of the Chief and handed him all the charts "What is this Karev?"
"I've organised the surgical interns and residents for the next three weeks which will make Yang's life as the new Chief Resident a little easier to begin with" he chuckled and stuffed his hands into his pockets.
"You're quitting as Chief Resident? Why?"
"Because I love my wife and if I want her not to divorce my sorry ass, I need to make this sacrifice for her"
Dr Webber nodded with an understanding expression on his face "You're a stronger man that I could ever be Karev"
"Trust me when I say that I'm really not. It took me way too long to realise what I needed to do" Alex sighed "Sorry to quit so suddenly but I know Cristina will make up for it. She can handle it better than I could" he nodded and walked away from the Chief. Feeling like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, Alex knew it was the right decision.
Thoughts? Meredith was never going to have to help Alex but the offer was always nice. I would never jeopardise the baby like that. Alex is a good man for finally choosing Lauren
