A/N: Thank you to everyone who is still reading this story. I hope you enjoy this chapter

Chapter 11 – Recovery

Set just before Season 9 a continuation of Chapter 10 – Emergency call.

Jo's recovery was slow and at times painful. Alex had organised to have three weeks leave to stay in Santa Monica with her. After that, he would organize to spend as much time as he could between his work responsibilities and his need to be with Jo.

Alex was feeling a little better now that Jo's hip; shoulder and ankle were showing signs of improvement. When she was ready he would recommend that Jackson do the work on her cheek bone and jaw. But for the moment the bruising and swelling were far too great to be worrying about that.

As for her three broken ribs, only wrapping in bandages and time could heal those. Besides the rape, Alex's anger was focused on the fact that a man or anyone for that matter, could kick someone so violently while they were lying on the ground nearly unconscious and breaking their ribs. It was beyond him. It still made his blood boil when he re-wrapped Jo's ribs after a shower.

"Jo, when are you getting out of here? Patrick Evans wants to come down and visit you. He is really upset that you are not his Doctor at the moment. Apparently you are much "cooler" then I am." Cooper said, trying to lift Jo's spirits.

"How is he doing?" Jo asked from the chair she was sitting in.

"Honestly not so great, he isn't responding to the chemo."

"Damn. I was really hopeful this time. Perhaps when some of this bruising goes down he could come and visit. Or better yet why don't I take a trip up to the Ped's ward."

"Ah Jo I don't think that is a good idea." Alex said giving Jo's boss a glare that if looks could kill Cooper would most definitely be dead.

"Why? I'm getting better every day, my pain meds have been reduced I'm on the walking frame now and not the wheel chair." Jo said directly to Alex.

"Look Jo I think Alex is right. It will be too much. Besides you don't want to scare the kids off by being unwell yourself." Cooper said acknowledging Alex's concerns.

"Oh Cooper not you too. I need one of you on my side. Between James, Amelia, Violet and Alex I thought you were on my side. I thought you wanted me back on deck."

"I do. Believe me; I don't think I truly appreciated just how much I relied on you. But James, Amelia and Violet are only interested in your health and getting you back to your best so you can come back to work. And Alex here well, I'm still trying to work that one out but he is very scary and obviously is your own personal body guard. So I'm not going to mess with that. Besides Charlotte will have my balls if I get you back to work to early."

"Doctor King has been in to see me a few times. She has been very kind. She was the one that organized for Violet to see me."

"Charlotte knows a lot about what you have been through. Look I better get back. I will tell Patrick that you are doing better and will be back to see him soon."

"Thanks Coop. I appreciate it." Jo said as he left.

"You have so many people that care about you. Tell me about Charlotte and Violet." Alex asked.

"Charlotte well Doctor King is the Chief of staff and also Cooper's wife. She was attacked by a deranged patient and was raped and beaten. She doesn't or hasn't told many people, but she came to me while you went back to Seattle to organise your leave, and told me about her experience. She was the one that encouraged me to open up to Violet."

"Violet is the Therapist?" Alex asked.

"Yes. It's been hard but I am making some progress. I just feel so stupid."

"Stupid?"

"Yeah like why didn't I see his controlling behaviour? Why didn't I see any of this happening? I am a smart woman, how did I stay with him for so long? I mean Jesus I lived on the streets, in and out of Foster homes I know the signs. Why didn't I listen to them?"

"Jo, none of this is your fault. You know that. All of that is on him. You are a smart woman and as a smart woman you know this shit you are talking right now is just that...Shit. So I need you to stop it. It isn't going to help you, blaming yourself when it is not your fault. Please you have to understand that, surely."

"Yeah I do, but I should have gotten out earlier."

"You told me once you were falling in love with him. Being in love with someone and being frightened of them at the same time is a hard thing to deal with."

"Are you talking from experience?"

"Of course I am. I loved my dad, but he scared the crap out of me. I loved my mom, but she scared me too. Seeing your mom waving a knife around, screaming that she wanted to kill you was terrifying. But to be in love with a man who you were sleeping with and having that man, dictate who you could and couldn't see or be friends with must have been awful. Then to have it escalate into a situation where he physically and sexually hurt you because you didn't do something that he approved of just must have been..." Alex stopped. He was no longer angry with Jason, well he was but his main concern now was that Jo was blaming herself for something that was not her fault.

"Alex..." Jo said taking Alex's hand, playing with his fingers. "I know everything you are saying is true. I do. I just need time to convince myself of it. That is what Violet is helping me with. I promise I am going to get better, I am going to be fine and if it wasn't for you being here it would make it so much harder." She said not letting go of his hand.

"I just can't imagine what that must have been like for you. I can't quite get my head around it. I just don't know how he could hit you and force himself on you like that."

"Alex... Do you think you might want to talk to Violet? Don't look at me like that. I know what you are thinking, but what happened to me affected you too. You had to sit here for days watching me in an induced coma, and then you had to sit by and watch all kinds of procedures done on me. You had to deal with the police, see graphic photographs, go to court and give a victims impact statement. All I'm saying is one or two sessions with Violet might be a good idea. If you don't want to talk to a woman Sheldon works in the same practice. He might be a better fit for you."

"Mmm maybe." Alex mumbled to himself.

Two Months Later

Alex opened his front door and led Jo in. She hadn't been to his place since the Hospital shooting nearly two years earlier. Jo walked gingerly as her body still ached and would do for some time. She was on the mend now, especially since she would be staying with Alex. If it were possible for her to feel safe at all it was when she was with Alex.

He had no-one living with him at the moment. He wanted Jo to recover and feel safe without prying eyes. In time he was happy to introduce his Seattle friends to his best friend, but right now, it wasn't the time. Alex helped Jo up the stairs and showed her to Meredith's old room. Alex had figured it was the nicest room and still looked a little girly. He had bought new linen and blankets and made the room up before he went back to Santa Monica to pick Jo up from the hospital...and for good. She would never return to California. She had made it very clear.

Right now whatever it was Jo wanted he was prepared to do. He had been so frightened he was going to lose her that he couldn't think straight. Now she was home with him, he wasn't letting her out of his sight. Not for a long time anyway.

"Do you need anything? Are you hungry?" Alex asked.

"No I'm good. I wouldn't mind having a lay down though."

"Sure, I'll help you up the stairs."

"Thanks." She replied smiling.

"This is Meredith's old room. I think it's the nicest one." Alex explained as he led her into the room.

"But why aren't I sleeping in your room? With you." Jo asked as she turned around to look at him.

"James said you needed some space and this room is the nicest."

"Oh... yeah sure of course. Sorry." Jo said as she went and sat on the edge of the bed.

Alex left Jo to sleep but something was nagging him in the back of his mind. He couldn't quite understand why Jo looked so dejected when he gave her a room of her own. An hour later he made a call to Violet Turner.

"Alex it's pretty simple. Jo feels like she is unwanted. By you not wanting her to sleep in the same bed as her has basically re-in forced to her that she is undesirable or as she likes to say unworthy."

"But that's not true. I just didn't think she would want me to be so close to her. I mean sex is something that isn't important and I would never do that. I mean it is not something on the agenda until she tells me she is ready. I just thought sleeping in the same bed would be too much for her. She still flinches when I touch her arm sometimes."

"Unfortunately that is just an automatic response at the moment and it will improve in time and with follow up counselling. Jo has huge abandonment issues. This attack from Jason has brought all of them back to the surface. All I can suggest is that perhaps you go and lay next to her and over the next few days talk to her about it. She will open up to you. Convince her you care and that you are more than happy to sleep next to her."

"Okay. I am glad I called, I would never have figured that out."

"You're a surgeon you aren't meant to figure that stuff out." Violet said with a small laugh.

Alex thought about what Violet had said and it really did make sense. He walked upstairs and lay down next to her. He took her hand in his.

"You came back." Jo said.

"Well I just thought maybe you might want some company. If you want me to and I mean only if it's what you want, I can sleep in here too."

"Please." Jo said as she moved closer to snuggle into Alex's arms.

Safe and secure at last.

A/N Thanks again for reading. Please review and let me know what you think.