Well, no one guessed what was wrong with Addison, even though it practically told you. I'm very disappointed.

Actually, scratch that. I'm absolutely ECSTATIC because I got 9 reviews. Which isn't alot by most people's standards, but that's the most I've ever gotten on any fic, including my Addex porn fic! So thank you to everyone who reviewed.

I'm sorry this took so long-- I told myself I'd update in two days, but I lost my muse. Thankfully, it came back last night while I was watching a show about the Dixie Chicks.

Okay, two things about this chapter: 1. Since I decided to shorten my fic, last chapter was the pre-finale episode setting up the drama (ie: 17 Seconds). And this is Part I of the finale. The SEASON FINALE. And next chapter will be Part II. I may post Part II in two parts. Haven't decided yet.

ALSO, when I posted this on Grey's Anatomy Message Boards, I put it under the name "How We Operate", so I had to do something with that song. So I loosely incorporated it with this chapter. It doesn't really enhance the reading, but they correspond surpisingly accurately with the text.

Anyhoo, I think I want to hit 100 reviews by the time I finish this fic (which is going to be 13 or 14 chapters.) If I go over 105, I'll write a sequel. So endulge me.

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"The car crash served extensive damage to your lower abdomen, causing some internal bleeding. Though at first the bleeding was small, and should have resolved on its own, because of your ovaries', umm… damaged state…"

Alex let go of Gretchen's hand and strode over to Addison, and before she could protest, snatched the CT results from her hand. He shouldn't have done that. He jerked back violently when he saw the image in front of him, almost tripping over the end of his mother's bed. Addison instinctively grabbed his hand, lightly massaging the palm with her thumb.

It worked. Alex took a deep breath and calmly handed back the scans to the surgeon, and turned back his mom. Gretchen was obviously more interested in the moment that occurred between Alex and Addison than why they were acting that way.

"Mom, your entire ovary collapsed."

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Addison and Alex exited the room together, silent. The nurses around them noticed the absence of the usual flirtatious banter, and started whispering their theories. They were silenced, and questions answered, when Addison told Debbie to schedule an emergency opherectomy/ hysterectomy in two hours for Karev, Gretchen.

Alex veered off from Addison when she stopped at the nurses' station, heading for an on-call room. The shock had worn off, but still it was his mom. And what was that moment between him and Addison? They had agreed that there was nothing there, nothing to do; they had already said everything to each other, done everything to each other. So what was going on?

He was too caught up in his internal battle with Addison to actually notice her follow him into the room. It wasn't until he heard the click of a lock behind him that signified that the door was locked and they were the only ones in the room with no one to stop them, that he knew she was there, back against the door, staring him down with her pure green eyes.

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Alex takes one look at her. Watching her stand there, smiling softly at him, smiling softly because of him, he pushes New Alex, Old Alex, Professionalism, Lines, Agreements, and Sanity to the back of his mind, strides over to Addison—

Please come here
Come right on over
There is no line that you can't step right over

"Thanks."

He kisses her.

Full on the lips.

Tongues battling.

Hands in hair.

Moaning against each other's mouths.

Complete, utter, pent up, long time coming, FINALLY, kissing.

And if there was ever such a thing as kissing back, Addison was doing a hell of a good job of it.

Turn me inside out and upside down
And try to see things my way

He brought his hands to the back of her neck, supporting the base of her head, as his tongue delved deeper into her inviting mouth, exploring what he had tasted before, but hadn't appreciated to the fullest at the time.

Turn a new page, tear the old one out
And I'll try to see things your way

Her arms were around his waist, stroking his sides. She had done the same to him without clothing, but he seemed richer now, months later, when it meant more.

Both were doing it slow. So incredibly, sensually slow it would be boring, but nothing about the situation wasn't exciting and new.

Alex was thanking the almighty lord above that she had locked the door and no one could burst their bubble when their pagers went off.

They both would have ignored them if it hadn't been a 911 for Gretchen Karev.

When we collide, we'll see what gets left over

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"What the hell happened?" Alex exclaimed as he rushed to his mother's room, only to find her already being wheeled out on a gurney.

Debby looked up. "She's unstable, her second ovary may have collapsed. She's losing blood fast. We need an OR now."

"Come on, people, let's go!" Addison directed as she headed to the scrub room. Her lips, which a few seconds prior had been deep and lush, were slowly fading into their normal beauty, but Alex's heart couldn't help but miss his contact with them.

Wherever you lead, I'll follow

He followed her into the scrub room, but before he could say anything—"You're not scrubbing in."

The way that we've been speaking now
I swear that we'd be friends, I swear

He scowled. " Addison—."

"Dr. Karev. That is your mother. I won't have you in my OR." Addison glanced over to him, noticing the hurt. Her eyes, steely with professionalism, softened for a moment. He may have imagined it, because a final "Karev" was out of her mouth, and she already was washing her hands.

By the time she was done washing them, all of the scent of Alex, the smell of his scrub shirt, the hint of his cologne, would be swirling down the drain.

Without you, well I'm left hollow
So can we decide to try a little joy tomorrow

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Alex managed to catch his mom before she was wheeled into the OR. She reached out and grabbed his hand. "Honey?"

"Yeah, Mom?"

"If I die—." The anesthesiologist was ready—"Go after your boss for me, won't you?"

Alex burst out laughing, and hastily agreed as she left consciousness, and he ran from the room the room chuckling, until he was in a storage closet where the mirth had become sobs, as the woman he loved tried to save the life of his mother.

Wait—what did he just say?"

Turn me inside out and upside down
And try to see things my way
Turn a new page, tear the old one out
And I'll try to see things your way

And I'm gonna love you anyway

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Review for a quick update!