A/N - Jason got the EXACT reaction I was hoping for ;)


Chapter 7 - Realizing the Truth

Alex sighed heavily a couple of weeks later as he pulled his Charger into his neighborhood. It had been a long week, and he was ready to come home, grab a beer, and relax in front of the television. Too bad he couldn't do that. Nope, tonight was Izzie night.

Things had picked up at the clinic recently, and Alex had put in many, many long hours. Long hours meant that he didn't have much time for anything, including his girlfriend Izzie. Izzie, of course, took it that Alex was really doing Jo on the side. Alex was trying hard to be patient and to see things from Izzie's perspective. He even switched the tables in his head-he wouldn't like it at all if Izzie had some hot guy living in her house, whether he was a nanny, a maid, or whatever. However, Alex also trusted Izzie. He didn't think she'd step out on him.

Alex tried not to focus on the fact that Izzie obviously didn't trust him. He tried to chalk it up to typical female jealousy, but...it bothered him that Izzie thought he would cheat on her. Alex wasn't that guy anymore. Yeah, when he started off, he was quite the douche; he could freely admit it. You had to be honest about yourself, you know? But again, Alex was not that guy anymore. He had finally grown up and matured. He was a man now, not some boy notching up his bedpost.

With all that aside...Alex could understand Izzie's insecurity. Jo was hot, obviously hot. And the little situation they had going on was quite intimate. They lived together for crying out loud! Alex came home, and Jo was always there. Jo caught everything-his good moods, his bad moods, his irritations. She was his sounding board. She sassed him when he was taking out a bad day on her, and she talked him down when he was upset. Jo was being everything to him that Izzie should be...and it was starting to get to him. Alex found himself looking at Jo sometimes wondering what it would be like to date her. Not the physical aspect of it, but the emotional part of dating. What if Alex came home to his girlfriend Jo, not his nanny Jo? Would they cuddle on the couch and talk more intimately? Would she rub his shoulders when he was tense? Would he do little things like bring her home random flowers he picked up from the market? Jo appreciated the little things-she didn't have to have hundred dollar bouquets in crystal vases.

That thought process alone let Alex know that he wasn't spending near enough time with Izzie. He was letting his work and his home life push Izzie to the back burner.

Alex glanced over to the take-out containers nestled in the passenger seat as he neared his townhouse. Tonight was operation suck-up. He'd picked up Izzie's favorite-take-out Chinese, a chick flick from the red box, and her favorite wine was chilling in the refrigerator. He didn't have the energy for a night on the town, but an intimate night at home with all of her favorite things might put her back on speaking terms with him.

Alex smiled in spite of himself as he pulled his car into his driveway. There, in the front yard nestled on a blanket was Jo and Sarah. Jo sat cross-legged, but was standing Sarah on her feet. The infant bounced unsurely, but slowly became accustomed to the strength in her legs and managed to hold her body steady. Sarah squealed as she watched Alex climb from the car. "Hey, pretty girl," Alex grinned, stopping in front of the two.

"Thanks, but what about Sarah?" Jo smirked.

"Ha ha," Alex rolled his eyes before dropping the take-out and scooping Sarah up, placing kisses all over her cheeks.

Jo smiled to herself as the little girl laughed and squealed. Her eye naturally dropped to the take-out box on the ground beside the blanket. In all the time she'd lived there, Jo noticed that Alex was always grabbing take-out. The man didn't even really buy groceries-he just picked up something on his way home from work. Jo wondered if Alex even knew what a home-cooked meal tasted like. "Take-out again?" she asked casually as Alex deposited Sarah into her arms.

"Yeah," Alex shrugged, bending and retrieving the box of food. "This is suck up to Izzie night."

"Ah, I see," Jo nodded. "Haven't had much time for her lately, huh?"

"No," Alex shook his head. "Hopefully tonight will fix that."

"So she's coming over?" Jo asked, glancing to him as she stood Sarah on her feet again. "Do we need to go to the park or something?"

"No, no, you're fine," Alex shook his head no. He bit his lip. "Maybe we should leave..."

"Don't be silly," Jo dismissed with a shake of her head. "This is your house...you should hang with your girlfriend in your own house." She chewed her lip as her eyes settled on the take-out box. "Can I make a suggestion? It might piss you off," she warned.

Alex smiled softly; most things about Jo pissed him off, but in a good way. Jo challenged him. She made her thoughts and views known, and she didn't let him run over her. Jo was no man's doormat. "Go ahead."

"Why don't you cook for her?" Jo offered. "Anybody can grab some cheap take-out. Cooking would show her that you're really sorry for giving her the shaft lately."

"I haven't given her the shaft," Alex frowned.

"You haven't given her your shaft," Jo teased, "but you've totally blown her off. I swear, I haven't seen her in, like, two weeks!"

Alex rubbed his hand along his neck. Jo was right, surprise surprise. "I don't cook," he admitted. "It's easier to grab take-out anyway. We're just going to eat and watch a movie."

"She might like it better if you had a candle lit dinner before the movie," Jo suggested. "Greasy Chinese food from a box and a movie doesn't really say I'm sorry for ignoring you."

"Fine," Alex snapped, becoming slightly annoyed. "Who's going to cook this meal though? You?"

"Hell no," Jo frowned. "I'm not cooking your booty call meal." She cradled Sarah against her body and rose from the blanket. "You're cooking; come on."

Alex gathered the blanket and followed Jo inside. "Sooooooo, do you like Chinese?" he asked, looking to the take-out boxes.

"Love it," Jo called over her shoulder. "Put it in the refrigerator and wash up while I change Sarah."

Alex watched as Jo disappeared into her bedroom. He moved towards the kitchen, stopping as a picture frame on his coffee table caught his eye. Letting the blanket drop to the floor, Alex moved towards the table, carefully picking up the framed picture of Sarah. He sat onto the couch slowly, tracing his finger around the frame. It was amazing how in a matter of weeks this little girl had changed his life for the better. Alex thought his life was perfect, and that nothing needed to change. He never realized what he was truly missing until the infant was dropped in his lap. Sarah was amazing, and she gave him something that he never realized he needed. Alex stared at her smiling face and her bright eyes, jarring when his cellphone blared. "Hello?" he answered, reaching for it automatically without bothering to see who it was. He knew that it was either Izzie or Arizona.

The caller was silent, though breathed heavily.

"Hello?" Alex frowned, pulling the phone from his ear and checking the screen. Blocked. The number was blocked. "Amber?" he questioned quietly.

The caller remained silent, but the breathing quickened.

"Amber, please," Alex begged. "You can't do this to Sarah. She needs her mother! Amber!" Alex snatched the phone from his ear as 'Call Ended' flashed on the screen. "Damnit!"

"Hey, what's with all the yelling?" Jo frowned as she returned to the living room and eased Sarah into the playpen.

Alex eased the picture frame back onto the table and leaned back against the couch. "I think Amber just called."

Jo bit her lip, seeing that Alex was truly upset. Most of the times when he was angry, Alex would raise his voice and curse, but...this wasn't anger. He was sad, upset. Jo sat beside him on the couch quietly. She wasn't sure what to say, so she remained quiet and pat his knee gently.

Alex sat in silence for several minutes. What was wrong with his sister? How could she just abandon her child?! Did Amber not realize how lucky she was to even have Sarah?! Alex shook the thoughts from his mind and looked to Jo's hand on his knee. His eyes focused on how her fingers stroked his knee in an attempt to calm him. Jo was like that-she didn't have to say a word, but she was there to provide comfort. Izzie never provided comfort-she yapped and yapped at him until he finally told her what was wrong. Izzie had to know everything while Jo didn't have to know a single thing; she simply provided comfort and let Alex tell her what was wrong when he was ready.

Why was he even comparing the two?

Alex glanced away from Jo before speaking. "So, what are you teaching me to cook? It better not be too hard."

Jo smiled softly, looking over to him and meeting his gaze. "Parmesan Chicken."

"That sounds hard," Alex deadpanned.

"A monkey could do it," Jo blew him off, then smiled. "That's why I'm teaching it to you."

"Ha ha," Alex replied dryly as she retracted her hand and stood.

"Is Izzie on one of those low-carb diets?" Jo asked with a roll of her eyes. "Because I was thinking Parmesan Chicken, pasta, and green beans?"

Alex shrugged. "She eats pasta all of the time."

"Good," Jo replied, turned on the baby monitor, and started towards the kitchen. "Don't let my Chinese food go to waste."

Alex watched her a second before scooping up the box of food and following her into the kitchen. "Are you sure you don't want us to go to a hotel or something?" he asked as he opened the refrigerator and stuffed the take-out containers onto Jo's shelf.

"Seriously, I'm fine," Jo replied as she washed her hands. "God made iPods for a reason." She offered Alex soap as he joined her at the sink.

A small part of Alex felt dirty. Considering how long it'd been since he and Izzie had spent time together, and then add in the fact that he was cooking...he was pretty sure the two of them would wind up making love that night. With his nanny and niece in the house. "I don't mind, really."

"It's fine," Jo snapped. Seriously, what was his problem? Why did he keep being so...so...nice and offering to leave his own house?! Geez! Jo turned away from the sink abruptly and dried her hands. Yes, she offered to help Alex butter up his girlfriend, but the fact that he kept offering to leave just confirmed that Jo would be listening to Izzie scream Alex's name tonight. She was not looking forward to that.

So she threw herself into the one thing that calmed her. Cooking.

Jo moved to the refrigerator, grabbing bread crumbs and cheese and plunking the containers onto the counter before retrieving pepper and garlic powder. "Mix this together," she said to Alex and retrieved him a bowl and teaspoon.

Alex's eyes roamed the ingredients. "Just...mix it together?"

Jo pursed her lips, realizing that she was working with an amateur. "Hold out your hand," she ordered as she opened the container of bread crumbs. She filled Alex's palm with crumbs, then turned his hand over the bowl. "Do the same with the cheese," she said as she set the container aside. "Measure the pepper and garlic powder, one teaspoon, then mix it together."

Alex felt that surge of electricity between them, but ignored it and focused on the task at hand. He had really blown Izzie off lately and needed to make it up to her. It wasn't Izzie's fault that his life was completely crazy.

"Good job," Jo praised as Alex pulled out the pan of cooked chicken breasts half an hour later. She grabbed a knife and made a small cut in the middle of the biggest piece of chicken. "Perfectly done." She set the knife aside as the doorbell rang. "Can you plate this up while I let your chick in?"

"Yeah, I think so," Alex nodded, glancing to the pots of food. "Hey, Jo," he called, turning to look at her.

"Yeah?" she asked, stopping in the door of the kitchen.

"Thank you."

Jo smiled softly, feeling her cheeks redden. "No problem," she replied, casually shrugging, before moving towards the front door. "Hey," she greeted after opening the door. Jo's eyes hardened instantly. Izzie was wearing a tight black dress that enhanced every curve she had. Her long blonde hair was perfectly curled and hung loosely down her back. In short, the woman looked like walking sex, and Jo instantly felt inferior. Not to mention she was jealous as hell.

"Hey," Izzie replied cooly and stepped inside.

Jo closed the door quickly. "Alex, is, uh, in the kitchen," she stuttered and moved to the playpen, grabbing Sarah quickly. "We'll give you two some space."

Izzie smiled to herself as the nanny scurried from the room. She smoothed her hands over her tight dress before sassing into the kitchen. "Mmmm, something smells delicious."

Alex glanced over his shoulder, doing a double take as his mouth dropped. "H-Hey," he choked out, his mouth continuing to hang open.

Izzie grinned wickedly. "I see that you like my dress?"

"Oh yeah," Alex nodded, his mouth going dry. He had forgotten how insanely hot Izzie was. "Umm, I cooked dinner," he stuttered, looking back to the plates as he placed a piece of chicken onto each plate.

Izzie walked over to him and pressed against him. "I brought dessert."

Jo forced herself to remain in her room with Sarah for most of the night. The only time she left was to go to the bathroom or get something to drink. One time Alex and Izzie were sitting at the dining room table holding hands. Another time they were cuddled on the couch starting up a movie. Call her crazy, but Jo could swear that Izzie was trying to make her jealous. It seemed that every time Jo passed through, Izzie would touch or kiss Alex. Like she was making her claim on him or something, which was ridiculous. Alex was hers; there was no competition here.

Sarah began to fuss, snatching Jo from her thoughts. Jo moved to the crib, gathering Sarah and bouncing her gently. Jo attempted to play with Sarah, but Sarah was too cranky. After checking her diaper, Jo realized that Sarah was hungry. Which meant...Jo was going to have to go into the kitchen to make her a bottle.

Jo didn't want to go into the kitchen. She might catch Alex mid-thrust or something, and she definitely didn't want to see that! Jo tried to distract Sarah, but it was clear that the baby was hungry. Sighing heavily, Jo eased Sarah into the crib and popped a pacifier into her mouth. "I'll be right back," she promised and smoothed her fingers over the child's head. Squaring her shoulders, Jo turned and marched from her room. Alex told her this was her house too-she had every right to go into the kitchen and make Sarah a bottle.

Jo didn't look left or right as she moved to the kitchen, but she heard their noises none the less. Izzie was clearly doing something Alex enjoyed, and it wouldn't be long before the two were headed for the bedroom. Jo wished they would hurry up and get there so that she wouldn't have to hear them! Focusing on the task at hand, Jo mixed the formula and warmed it briefly before capping the bottle and leaving the kitchen. As she passed the living room, her nose scrunched in disgust. Izzie met Jo's gaze before straddling Alex, his hand promptly going to her freshly exposed thigh.

For some strange reason, a streak of jealousy flared in Jo. It angered her. "You know," she said, unable to resist, "you could save yourself a lot of trouble if you just went ahead and peed on him."

Izzie's eyes widened as she looked to the sassy nanny. "Excuse me?" she asked as Alex chuckled.

"It's clear that you're establishing he's yours," Jo sated. "It might save you a lot more time and effort if you just peed on him now. You know, mark your territory?" She smiled sweetly before returning to her room.

Jo could hear Alex laugh as she closed her door. Izzie didn't seem to appreciate her joke though. Jo clutched the bottle in her hand as tears filled her eyes. What was wrong with her?! Why was she so upset by this? Why did she feel like she wanted to throw up? Jo wiped the tears from her eyes stubbornly and moved over to the crib, cradling Sarah in her arms as she settled on her bed. Sarah resisted the bottle at first, but her hunger weighed out her stubbornness.

Jo sat in a daze as she fed Sarah.

Was she falling for Alex?

No!

She couldn't be falling for Alex! Alex was a jerk! And he had a girlfriend! A girlfriend that he sent flowers to, cooked for, and obviously boinked on a couch! Alex was a creep!

Jo blinked back fresh tears. This was insane! She must be hormonal or something. She couldn't be falling for Alex; he was her boss. With a girlfriend. He was her boss with a girlfriend. Izzie made him completely off limits. Being Jo's boss made him doubly off limits. Their relationship would get entirely too messy if they ever crossed that line.

But again, it didn't matter because Alex had a girlfriend.

Jo wiped away the tears and shook her head. She was tired, yes, that was it. She was tired, run down, and had a lot on her plate. Caring for Sarah took a lot out of her. Plus, she was spending entirely too much time cooped up in the house with Alex. She needed a night off. Jo needed one night away from Alex. She needed some time to herself so that she could feel like she had a life again. Too much of her time was being given to Sarah and Alex.

Jo set the empty bottle aside and burped Sarah before changing her diaper and settling her in bed for the night. Jo cringed when she heard Izzie giggle. Snatching up her iPod, Jo stuffed the earbuds into her ears and turned her music all the way up to drown out the sounds of foreplay from the living room.

Jo paced her bedroom, trying desperately to not picture what was going on in the living room. She stopped pacing as her eyes landed on her cellphone that was charging on her dresser.

Two could play this game.

Jo picked up her phone and composed a new text. Hey, Jason, whatcha doing?