"Next round!" Izzie announced to her fellow interns as she set down a number of shot glasses on the table and reclaimed her seat.

"Thank god," Alex said, reaching out for one of the shots. He couldn't remember the last time he had been so miserable. He never should have gotten involved with Addison. Making out with her in supply closets, fine. But a real relationship? He should have known better. He had spent most of the day avoiding Addison, knowing Meredith had done the same with Shepherd.

"This is all your fault, you know," Alex said with a look at Izzie.

Meredith rolled her eyes as she grabbed her own glass, downing the shot. "I think Addison and Derek might bear some of the blame, Alex."

"Sure," Alex said with a shrug. "But none of this would have happened if Izzie hadn't locked the two of us up on that roof."

"That's some impeccable logic there, Karev." Cristina said with a scoff. "Why don't you focus your anger on the people who actually did the cheating?"

"I've got plenty of anger to go around, Yang."

George stood up, "You know, I think I'm just going to ask Joe to give us the bottle."

"Good idea," Izzie said quickly.

"Never again," Alex said. "No more relationships. From here on out, just sex."

"Hear, hear," Meredith said, raising her empty glass in salute.

Izzie slumped in her seat, feeling defeated. "I really am sorry, Alex."

"Jesus, Izzie." Alex shook his head. "It's not like I actually blame you. It's not your fault she turned out to be cheating whore. I should have known better anyway. If she was willing to cheat on her husband with his best friend, I shouldn't be too surprised that she cheated on me."

"And now we get to see them everyday at work," Meredith said bitterly.

"You know things are bad when working with Sloan is the good option," Alex agreed.

"Sloan's not all that bad," Izzie said quietly.

The other three looked at her in shock.

"You've got to be kidding me," Alex groaned.

"What?" Izzie asked defensively.

"Tell me you're not actually falling for the seduction," Meredith said in disbelief.

Cristina grinned. "You're totally going to owe me fifty bucks, Alex."

"Excuse me?" Izzie asked with a raised eyebrow. "You guys were betting on whether I'd sleep with Sloan or not? I can't believe you!"

"I can't believe you're surprised," Cristina said with a shrug. "But sleeping with him is one thing, thinking he's a good guy is another. You've said it yourself plenty of times. He's a total creep."

"Who's a total creep?" George asked, returning with a bottle in hand.

"Sloan," Meredith replied simply as she took the bottle and began refilling everyone's glasses.

"Okay," George said slowly, obviously a little how the conversation had shifted.

"Izzie's decided that Sloan's a good guy after all," Meredith explained.

"Oh, Izzie, no" George exclaimed with a look of horror. "You can't be serious. Tell me you're not serious."

Izzie let out an annoyed puff of air. "Come on, guys. Back off. It's not that big of a deal, okay. He's just been really nice to me lately. I've just started to understand him, that's all."

"Just be careful, okay?" Meredith said worriedly. "The last thing we need around here is more heartbreak."

Just then, Izzie's phone began to vibrate. She glanced down, and wrinkled her brow. It wasn't a number she recognized.

"Hello?" she asked, stepping over to the side a little to the call.

"Where are you right now?"

Izzie was a little taken aback, then she recognized the voice. "Doctor Sloan?"

"Yeah," he said impatiently. "Where are you?"

"I'm at Joe's with my friends," Izzie said, a tad irritated at his tone. "Why?"

"I'm at the hospital. Come meet me."

"And why would I do that? I told you. I'm with my friends."

She could hear a sigh on the other end, then a pause before Mark spoke again.

"Please, Izzie. I've got some news you'll want to hear."

"You can't just tell me on the phone?"

"No."

"Why not?" Izzie asked, frustrated with Mark's cryptic behavior.

"Because if I try to tell you over the phone you'll just not believe me and hang up. But I figure if I get you in person I'll actually have time to convince you."

"Convince me of what?"

"Just come."

Izzie sighed. "Give me one good reason I should."

"Because I'm a good guy."

Izzie rubbed her eyes warily and gave in. "Okay. Give me five minutes. I'll meet you in the lobby." She didn't want for a response, just hung up and turned back to her friends.

"What's up, Iz?" George asked.

"I've got to run back to the hospital."

The others protested.

"Come on, we're off for the night," Meredith said.

"Sloan asked me to come back for a bit," Izzie admitted.

"This isn't the night for booty calls, " Cristina admonished.

Izzie rolled her eyes. "It's work," she insisted. "It's about a patient."

"Sure it is," Alex snorted.

"Whatever," Izzie said dismissively. "It shouldn't take that long, okay. I'll be back before you guys take off."

"Trust me," Meredith said. "We'll be here for awhile."

Izzie smiled and headed for the door, wondering what Doctor Sloan could have to say that would be so important. If Cristina was right, and this was an attempted at a booty call, she was totally going to kill him.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Author's note: Yeah. I know. It's been almost a year. I doubt many people are even reading this at this point, but I was compelled to update. I've promised myself that it's going to get finished. Hopefully by the end of the month. There's not much left to tell, but I always have a bit of a problem with endings.