IZZIE

Izzie didn't say anything as she looked at Alex's anxious face staring back at her. Her arms were still folded defensively across her chest and her lower lip trembled as she looked away from him. She knew he was trying, she could see that. But she couldn't stop being mad at him, he had hurt her and made her feel like an idiot, when she had allowed herself to fall for him.

Her mind was telling her to simply request that Dr Robbins take over from Alex as Sarah's doctor and to have nothing more to do with him. But her heart was telling her something quite different, that somehow that just wasn't an option.

"I'm sorry, okay. But….jeez…you know what? Maybe, it's best if you do request another doctor for Sarah. Because I'm kind of tired of explaining myself here, so maybe we're done." Alex suddenly said moodily, his tone changing dramatically with frustration, as Izzie just looked on at him in disbelief at his sudden change of heart.

She really didn't know what to make of him. One minute he was displaying nothing but genuine concern and kindness for her and her daughter, and acting like he really liked her. Then, the next minute he was bragging to his friends and co-workers about getting her in to bed. Then, he was apologising, and now he was snapping at her like she was the one at fault.

"No, Alex." She found herself saying as she reached out to touch his arm. She didn't know exactly what it was that she wanted to say to him, but she knew she didn't want him to leave like this. He looked directly in to her eyes, waiting for her to carry on, his face filled with defensiveness and hurt, as she eventually said quietly. "I don't want you to do that."

He pulled away a little as he said, "Well, you need to work out what you do want then." Turning and walking out of the room, leaving the door wide open behind him.

Izzie was glued to the spot as she simply stared after him, her mouth wide open with astonishment at his sudden mood swing. It had been a very long time since anyone had, had this kind of effect on her and she just wasn't sure what to make of it. One thing she was certain of though, was that she mattered to him too and he was just as unsure of how to deal with that as she was.

Izzie was jolted awake the next morning by the sound of a text arriving noisily on her phone. It was Mark Sloan to say that he and Addison had arrived in Seattle and would be at the hospital in thirty minutes. She quickly jumped up to prepare for their arrival, just as a nurse came in with Sarah's breakfast on a tray, gently nudging her daughter awake to give her, her meds.

"I'm just going to have a shower, princess." Izzie said, kissing her sleepy daughter on the cheek, a little smile creeping on to Izzie's face as she said. "And when I come out, I'll have a surprise for you."

"A surprise, cool," Sarah replied rubbing her eyes and smiling back at her mother.

…..

As Izzie lathered her soft skin with the rich soapy water, her mind started to wander to thoughts of Alex. The handsome, sexy, but slightly enigmatic, Dr, Karev. As much as she was still a little pissed with him for his behaviour and short fuse the night before. She couldn't help but feel a slight tingle of arousal trickle across her as she fantasized about the feel of his hands on her body again as she thought back to that recent night at her house and what could have happened if they hadn't been interrupted. His body had been incredible, his muscular chest and toned abs, he definitely worked out. He had turned her on in ways her ex-fiancé had never done.

But snapping herself out of her sexual fantasy, Izzie remembered how Alex had suddenly seemed so mad at her all of a sudden just before he had taken off the night before. If he had meant what he had said, and he really was serious about stepping off Sarah's case, then that meant that Izzie might never see him again. A thought that all of a sudden made her stomach churn with a feeling of dread. She knew more than anything that she wanted to see him again, and all the time. When she started med school, when she and Sarah finally got themselves settled in Seattle, she wanted him to be there with them too, it just seemed like what was meant to be.

Switching off the shower spray, before she got too carried away caught up in her own little dream world. Izzie stepped out in to the cramped en-suite bathroom in Sarah's hospital room, she smeared the mirror with the back of her hand to see two wide chocolate brown eyes staring back at her from inside the reflection of her model face. She sighed and combed out her long wet hair as she wrapped a towel around her naked body and she tried to focus on the day ahead and the most important task of getting Sarah better.

"Where is my surprise, Mom?" Sarah instantly yelled as fully dressed Izzie opened the bathroom door to let some air in to the steamed up bathroom, from where she stood applying her mascara in the mirror.

"Just be patient," Izzie said as she sprayed herself with perfume, filling the entire room with the fresh aroma of pomegranate and sweet spices. It was one of the rare designer perfumes she had been given as a freebie for appearing in one of their most recent advertising campaigns.

"Okay, right," Izzie said as she stepped back in to the room, trying to figure out a way to stall her daughter, when the door suddenly flung open.

"Aunt Addison, Uncle Mark." Sarah said her big brown eyes shining with delight as Addison and Mark stepped in to the room.

"Hey, beautiful." Addison said as she rushed over to give Izzie's daughter a huge hug and Mark walked over to Izzie, to give her a friendly kiss on the cheek.

"You made it," Izzie said breathing a huge sigh of relief at the sight of her old friends. Now that they were there with her she suddenly didn't feel quite so alone and scared.

"Well, what do you say, one minute I'm preparing for my days patients and then the next I'm whisked in to a cab and before I know it I'm stepping through the doors of Seattle Grace Hospital," Addison said grinning as she stepped forward to give Izzie a huge hug too.

"You have no idea how good it is to see you, " Izzie said breaking apart from her best friend. As Addison sat down on the edge of Sarah's bed putting her arm around the little blonde girl and smiling warmly at her.

Izzie was just about to open her mouth to say something else, when the door to Sarah's room opened again and this time Izzie looked up to see Alex walking in. He immediately met her eyes with his, causing a jolt of adrenaline to rush through her, before he looked away a little uncomfortably and glanced over at Addison and Mark.

"Er…Morning," he said awkwardly.

"Morning," Izzie replied, as she quickly added. "Oh, these are my friends from New York, Addison and Mark they work at Mount Sinai."

"Oh, right.." Alex replied as Izzie quickly said to Addison and Mark, "This is Dr Karev, he's been treating Sarah."

"Oh, right, right, Dr Karev," Addison said looking as though a light bulb had suddenly been switched on in her head as she realized who Alex was, causing Izzie to cringe a little at how obvious it would look that she had mentioned Alex to Addison. Trying not to smile Addison then said, "Dr Karev, very pleased to meet you."

"Good to meet you, Dr Karev." Mark then said after his wife as he leaned forward and shook Alex's hand firmly, grinning confidently.

Addison arched her head behind Alex and Mark to mouth to Izzie, "he's cute." Causing Izzie to instantly blush as she smiled and looked away. Before her heart suddenly sank as she remembered Alex's harsh parting words to her the night before. There probably wasn't a whole lot to get excited about now.

"I was wondering if I could have a word with you," Alex said as he turned to look back at Izzie and she willed her cheeks to stop burning.

"Oh, yes, sure.." Izzie replied as she looked back to where Addison was sat with her arm around Sarah on the bed still.

"We'll be fine here with Sarah, we haven't even done presents yet," Addison said reassuringly as she smiled at Izzie and squeezed Sarah's hand.

"Okay, thanks." Izzie said as she walked towards the door to follow Alex out.

...

"Is that Mark Sloan?" Alex said once they were outside and out of earshot.

"Yeah," Izzie replied curiously.

"He's like the 'go to' plastics guy on the east coast. He's big shot. I followed his career a bit when I was younger, I used to want to specialize in plastics when I was at med school." Alex explained as he looked down at Sarah's patient chart.

"Oh, I see," Izzie replied. When she had first met Alex she wouldn't have been at all surprised to have found out he was a plastic surgeon, rather than a pediatric one. Another sign that maybe she had judged him too harshly, as she thought about how incredible he had been with her little girl and how it was obvious he had a real gift for treating kids. A thought that uncontrollably lit her up inside.

"Anyway, I have Sarah's results here. We got them in earlier than expected." Alex quickly said as his soft brown eyes met Izzie's wide ones straight on. Izzie instantly felt sick and her stomach churned with dread, if they had got the results back this quickly it must be an indication that something was wrong, and why was Alex delivering them too? Hadn't he told her he would be coming off Sarah's case, it must be bad, he wouldn't have passed on something bad to another doctor to deal with.

"Oh. God," Izzie said, her hand instinctively going up to rest across her chest as her eyes searched his face pleading with him to put her out of her misery and tell what they had found.

"Well, it's good news." He said calmly as he continued, saying slowly and clearly, "Sarah's mass was just soft tissue, it wasn't cancerous. We're never quite sure what causes these things in kids, but Dr Shepherd removed it without any complications, so, we'll need to keep her in for a day or so more for observation, but then you can take her home…"

"Thank god. Oh, thank you.." Izzie squealed and ignoring the awkward tension that was still hovering between them she flung her arms around him and hugged him as tightly as she could as she said again, "thank you, thank you.."

Eventually she pulled apart from him and smoothing her top down a little, suddenly embarrassed at how carried away she had gotten, she shot him a shy look, as he just smirked back at her, clearly amused by her over the top reaction and she giggled.

"Sorry," she said giggling some more.

"No problem…" he replied laughing too, as she said awkwardly, "I should go and tell…."

"Right, yeah," he replied awkwardly too.

...

As she walked away from him, Izzie couldn't help but glance back, to see he was still stood in the same spot staring after her and their eyes met for a second as she felt a swarm of butterflies hit her. Before she realized although it was fantastic news that Sarah was being discharged soon, it would mean the inevitable there would be no reason for her to see Alex anymore, she would probably never see him again when they left.

...

Walking back in to Sarah's room the first thing Izzie saw was that Lexie was in there. She was stood chatting to Mark and Addison, looking up at Mark a little adoringly as he was explaining something to her.

"Izzie, hey." Lexie said excitedly as Izzie joined them.

"I just stopped by because I heard the good news." Lexie said beaming at Izzie.

"Can I go home soon? Am I going to get better now?" Sarah said as she looked at Izzie expectantly.

"Yes, baby, you can. You're going to be just fine." Izzie said as she moved over to hug her daughter affectionately.

"Ah, Mom..get off, you're squashing me.." Sarah protested as Izzie loosened her grip slightly.

Izzie then turned back to Lexie as she said. "Have you met my friends Addison and Mark?"

"Yes, we've just been introduced." Mark grinned as he added, "Another Grey, eh? I had no idea she was Derek's sister in law?"

"Yeah, he's pretty great for a brother in law," Lexie said her cheeks blushing as Mark was unable to take his eyes off her and Izzie looked back to Addison to see her eyes flash a subtle hint of anger as Izzie quickly said. "You know what, guys. I think Sarah needs to get some rest, so if you don't mind."

"Oh, sure, sure…" Lexie said as she turned to walk out of the room and Izzie said "Thanks for stopping by, Lexie."

"No problem at all," Lexie said as she smiled sweetly at Sarah again before leaving the room, giving Mark one last shy glance.

With Lexie gone, Izzie turned back to Addison and Mark and said. "You two don't have to stick around here all day, being in a hospital is probably the last place you want to be on your weekend away."

"Nonsense, you know how much we love hospitals," Addison joked, as Izzie added. "Go and see some of Seattle and have fun, you can come back later."

"Okay, well we should leave you two to get some rest, doctors orders." Addison said smiling as she stood up from where she was still sat on Sarah's bed and she said. "I'm just going to use the bathroom and freshen up from the flight." Turning to make her way in to the en-suite bathroom.

"I think I'll just go and see if I can catch up with Derek quickly" Mark said a little sheepishly after Addison had shut the bathroom door.

Izzie turned to see that Sarah had her headphones in and was busily engrossed in watching something on her i-pad. Satisfied Sarah couldn't hear her, Izzie looked back at Mark and hissed, "Do not even think about it, Mark. I swear to God, if you so much as look in that girl's direction I won't be responsible for my actions. Apart from the fact that your wife happens to be my best friend, Lexie Grey also happens to be a very sweet girl. Way too good to be messed around by you! So, you've been warned." Izzie said as she stopped to breathe, realizing that maybe she had over reacted a tad and been a little too harsh on Mark. It wasn't as though he had actually done anything with Lexie except throw her a few flirty grins and Addison had said he was trying really hard to make their marriage work. So, maybe this was more about Izzie's frustration about her unresolved feelings for Alex than it was about Mark.

Mark then flashed Izzie a slightly defensive look back, before grinning and saying, "Okay, I've been warned." Just as Addison came out of the bathroom, her lipstick freshly applied and hair neatly back in place.

"I'm just going to catch Derek quickly," Mark said to Addison, slowly raising his eyebrows and looking in Izzie's direction as he moved across the room to kiss Sarah swiftly on the forehead, saying, "So, see you later beautiful."

"Bye, Uncle Mark, thanks for my presents." Sarah replied, not even so much as turning her eyes away from the screen in front of her.

"I'll come and find you and Derek in a minute." Addison said to Mark as he nodded and left the room.

"What was all that about?" Addison said to Izzie after Mark had gone.

"Oh, nothing," Izzie said, glancing over to see that Sarah was still caught up in her own little world as she let out a loud laugh at whatever it was that she was still watching.

"So, Iz. Dr Karev. Tell me everything…" Addison said playfully, raising a perfectly shaped eyebrow.

"Oh, there's nothing to tell." Izzie replied, sighing as she bit her lip and braced herself to launch in to an explanation of everything that had happened between her and Alex over the last couple of days. "It's beyond complicated. He's kind of turned out to be a massive ass. I caught him bragging to his friends about what happened between us the other night. They all had some kind of bet on, as to how quickly it would take him to get me in to bed and to make it worse we didn't even come close to sleeping together. But, then just as I had completely written him off, thinking he was a total asshole. He came to find me, to apologise and explain. He said that the bet was all before he knew me properly and that it was all his friends doing anyway and nothing to do with him at all, and he told me he actually really likes me. But then he stormed away from me last night, when I wouldn't give him the benefit of the doubt.…So, oh, I don't know, Addie. I can't risk getting hurt again and I know I should walk away. But, when I'm with him, it just feels great. It feels right. But you can't argue with the facts, he's a douche."

Addison smiled at her friend as she said gently. "Iz, if anyone else had told me that. Then I would agree. But this is you we're talking about, you're a top model, everyone knows your face. I expect most guys in his position would have had a bet on whether they could get you in to bed or not, before they got to know you properly."

"Yeah, maybe," Izzie sighed again as she though how Addison could have a point. Maybe she should have given Alex the benefit of the doubt sooner.

"Everyone deserves a second chance, Iz. Especially a guy as hot as that, and believe me, I saw the way he was looking at you earlier, that guy is smitten."

Izzie's face lit up a little then as she said, "You really think so?"

"Hell, yeah," Addison replied smiling widely.

"Oh, well. It's too late now anyway, he told me last night he's done. We'll be leaving here soon hopefully too as well. So, I probably won't see him again."

"Isobel Stevens, you are so blind." Addison said shaking her head as she added, "I tell you what, tonight, Mark and I can stay here at the hospital with Sarah for a bit while you go out with, Dr Karev. You can take our dinner reservations if you like."

"Oh, no, Addie. I couldn't do that. It's your surprise weekend away," Izzie said quickly looking at her friend.

"The best part of the surprise was seeing you and Sarah, Iz. We'd love to spend some time with her here tonight, we can always smuggle a pizza in for her or something, if Derek Shepherd is in charge it will be a breeze and I'm sure Mark won't mind sticking around either."

"Thanks, Addie. You're the best." Izzie said throwing her arms around her friend again before she suddenly said. "But what if Alex doesn't agree to it…."

"He'll agree to it…" Addison said laughing.

"Everything, okay? Is Sarah feeling okay" Alex said as later that afternoon he quickly marched in to Sarah's room and picked up her chart. He was in his blue surgical scrubs and he looked stressed and concerned as he glanced over Sarah's chart

"Yes, everything is fine," Izzie said nervously as she worked up the courage to say why she had really called him in there, as she twisted her hands together and said. "Can I speak to you outside?"

"Sure," he said slightly confused as he looked at her and placed Sarah's chart back at the foot of her bed and they both stepped outside the room.

"I didn't call you here to talk about Sarah. I called you here because I remembered you said the other day, that you weren't working tonight. And now Addison and Mark are here they can look after Sarah, so, I was wondering whether…." She paused and chewed her lip as her eyes flickered over his face nervously waiting for his reaction, any small sign that she should carry on.

He didn't say anything, making her cringe a little, as she said. "Or maybe I …

"Izzie," he said folding his arms across his chest as a cocky smile appeared on his face and he said, "Would you like to go out with me tonight?"

"Sure," Izzie replied a wide excited smile spreading across her face .

A/N - Thanks for reviews. Please keep letting me know what you think and whether you like the direction of the story. :)