Chapter 36: Bleeding Love

Disclaimer: I own nothing

"Hello, my name is Andrew, but you can call me Andy." A social worker sat down at the desk in front of Alex and his family.

"I'm not leaving my mom." Alex said leaning forward. "Well, we haven't even got to that part yet." Andy joked but quickly stopped when he realised nobody was laughing.

"Ax, what are we doing here?" Amber asked softly staring at Alex with wide-eyes. "We're just going to smooth over some edges, like us staying with mom." He answered softly.

"I can't leave my family." Aaron said, agreeing with his siblings. Andy nodded and eyed each of them down. Alex's mother was sitting in a corner, separating herself from the rest of her family.

"Let's first discuss how things are going at home." Andy said and grabbed a pen and paper.

"Alex, it says here that you've been involved in some criminal activity, is that true?"

Alex scoffed, trying to put on a front and not show how scared he was. "I just stole some freaking food!" He yelled.

Andy was quiet for a moment and thought about what the reckless teenager had said. "Why would you need food, who is the main source of outcome in your family.

Aaron awkwardly stared at his mom and then fixed his gaze on Alex.

"I help out at the tasty-freeze, okay?" Alex said and stared at his shoes. "Mom doesn't work anymore, my dad's a deadbeat drug-addict who left a long time ago. I'm the only one supporting this family…"

The social worker nodded and wrote something else down on his paper. "Alex, you're 17, right?" Alex nodded. "And Aaron is 14 and Amber is 9" The other two nodded as well.

"Alex, you can get out of the system in a year and you can become the legal guardian of your siblings." He said. Alex blinked a few times and processed the information Andrew had just given him.

"What happens now?" He then asked. Andy sighed. "That's up to the system."

"She's deteriorating." Bailey said softly as both her and Ben stared through the window, into Izzie's room.

It had been 2 weeks since they had started chemo, and Izzie had barely any energy left in her."

"I know." Ben sighed. "But we have to remain strong, because if we can't support her, no-one can."

"Still no word from the mom?"

"Radio-silence."

Bailey stared at her watch. 6 pm.

"I need a drink." She said and stared up at Ben. "You coming? I know a great place where we can get some food too."

Ben looked at her surprised. At first he wanted to joke about how he would get her to go on a date with him, but he refrained himself. It had been a hard few weeks.

"Sure."

"Lexie." Dr. Wyatt repositioned herself in the chair across from Lexie. It was exactly 18:45. "How have you been?" The last time they had seen each-other was last week, Lexie hadn't said anything then and didn't look like she was going to say anything now.

She remained silent and Dr. Wyatt sighed. "Lexie, you didn't say anything last week either, l know something is going on and l'm here to help you.

Lexie pulled her sleeves down a bit more and bit her lip nervously, something that didn't go unnoticed by Dr. Wyatt.

"You cut again." She said softy. Lexie was relieved that there was no hint of anger or disappointment in her voice.

"I'm sorry." Lexie said quietly and stared out of the window.

"Nothing to be sorry for, you're here because you need to learn how to cope with trauma in healthy way." Dr. Wyatt said and flashed a reassuring smile. "Was there a reason that you cut again or did you just give into my addiction?

"My case." Lexie whispered. "I'm sure you already now what the latest developments are and whatnot." Dr. Wyatt shook her head, despite knowing exactly what had happened over the holidays.

"You're lying."

"I want to here it from you."

Lexie sighed for the umpteenth time. "My dad's the one who assaulted me, alright? Are you happy? Did that give you some insight into my pathetic life?" She said angrily.

"No, l wanted you to admit what happened. You've been cutting, not fully accepting what has happened with your father. Replaying all his hurtful words over and over in your head, trying to figure out a way to blame yourself…" Lexie's eyes widened in shock and curiosity.

"I figured." Dr. Wyatt said. There was a pause between the two. "Does Mark know?"

"Know what?"

"About your dad?"

Lexie shook her head and tears formed in her eyes. "He does know l cut again." Her voice broke on the last syllable.

"Was he angry? Upset?" Dr. Wyatt scribbled a few notes down in her notebook. Lexie quickly wiped her eyes and lifted her knee up under her chin so she could hold on to something.

"No, he-he helped me stitch them back, then we got pizza." She smiled slightly at the memory. "And we watched a movie."

"Mark is an extremely good influence on you, l think you should spend more time with him, you immediately got happy when l mentioned him." Dr. Wyatt said with a smile. Lexie let out a small chuckle.

"I'm serious." Dr. Wyatt said. "Spend more time with your friends, that's your homework. Lexie nodded and smiled softly.

"Deal."

"Here's the check." Joe said and flashed a smile, before placing the check in front of the pair.

"I've got this." Ben said and swiftly grabbed the check. "Like hell you do!" Bailey answered.

"Please, it's only fair." Ben said and took the check back.

"Mmhm, because you're the big strong man who needs to protect the woman, trust me. I got this." Bailey said and snatched the check right from Ben's hands.

"There's all done, now was that so hard?" She mocked. "You have to at least let me walk you home." Ben said as they both got up and put their jackets on.

"Why thank you, l only live a few blocks away." Bailey giggled and they both stepped out into the cold Seattle night.

"I live just over here." Bailey said as they reached her door to her apartment complex.

Ben nodded. "You live high up." The floor numbers kept on going up. "Yeah, l live on 21st floor, being a surgeon has its perks." She smiled. An awkward silence befell them and the tension zipped through the air.

15th floor. They were only on the 15th floor and Bailey couldn't wait for it to be over. Ben turned his head slightly and looked Bailey up and down, she blushed when she realised he was checking her out.

"Okay, what is it. You're staring at me like l've got something stuck in my-" Ben crashed his lips onto hers and they both walked backwards until they collided against the back of the elevator.

Bailey quickly pressed the emergency stop button and wrapped her arms around Ben's neck. She could feel his hands on her waist and then on her lower back, slowly slipping further down.

I'm not going to have sex in the elevator. She thought, but her hands were already unbuttoning Ben's shirt slightly. He couldn't contain himself, but he knew they couldn't do anything here.

He slowly ended the kiss and pressed the red button. The elevator jumped into action. Quick enough, they reached the 21st floor. Bailey walked to her apartment and stuck her key in the lock, Ben tailed behind her.

As soon as the door shut, Ben pounced back onto Bailey again. This time, he wasn't stopping.

April stared at the walls that surrounded her. She had been here a little under 2 weeks, but she still couldn't get used to it.

"Knock, knock." Jackson said happily and peered his head through the door of the guest-bedroom. "Permission to enter, l've got pizza."

"Permission granted." April said and smiled. Jackson came and sat down next to her.

"Where's Catherine?" She asked and opened the box Jackson gave her. "Oh she called me a while ago, she got pulled into emergency surgery, apparently some chick cut off this guy's penis."

"Ouch." April said cringing. They both sat in silence, eating the pizza on top of April's bed.

"You're doing okay?" Jackson asked softly. April nodded and swallowed her food. "Yeah, l can't tell you how grateful l am for this."

"April, you're my best-friend, of course l did this." Jackson said and stared at April. There was another pause before Jackson paused again. "You never answered my question…" He said softly.

"Yeah l'm doing great." April said clearly faking it.

"April."

"Fine." She sighed. "I'm not sleeping. Every time l close my eyes, l see him…" Jackson wrapped his arm around April's shoulder.

"tell you what." He said reassuringly. "How about tonight, we have a sleepover, you know what best-friends do." April chuckled slightly. "And when you get tired, you fall asleep knowing that l'll be there."

April nodded. "Okay, but l get to pick out the movies."

"Well, it better not be a scary one or we both won't sleep!" Jackson said and got up followed by April.

"Nope, a scary one. Otherwise it isn't a real sleepover!" She switched on the tv and started scrolling through Netflix.

"Ooh, what about The Ring?" Jackson groaned in response and fell back onto the bed.

Things had been awkward ever since Thanksgiving. Her parents mostly just said 'hello' or an occasional 'how's your day?'"

Addison sat down in front of the tv on the couch. "Hey, Addie?" Bizzy said wiping a cloth over the dinner table.

"Hey mom." She answered started zapping between the channels.

"Honey, we need to talk." Bizzy said and sat down next to her daughter on the couch. "Okay, what is it?" Addison answered, her eyes still on the screen in front of her.

"I mean…" Bizzy grabbed the remote from Addison's hands. "I mean really talk." Addison nodded, knowing what this was about.

"What you said on Thanksgiving." Her mother said. "Did you mean it?" Addison swallowed slightly embarrassed by what she had said then.

"Yes," She said. "yes l did." Bizzy frowned and stared at the ground. "Honey, l want to know why you think that." Addison scoffed. "What do you mean 'why do l think that'?" She asked angrily.

"You and dad fight all the time! He wasn't home for weeks and when he came back, you fought! Not to mention that he's sleeping with his secretary and you're screwing your yoga friend Susan!"

Bizzy seemed taken back by Addison's tone. "Well? Is there anything you want to say?" There was a pause. "How did you know about the affair?" Bizzy asked.

Addie let out a hollow laugh. "Dad mentioned it when you guys fought once, you accused him of his affair and he of yours." Both of them sighed.

"Listen mom, l don't want you to think that you two have to stay together because of me , because it will make me happy. I am happy. But my parents constantly bickering doesn't make me happy it makes me sad…" Addison sighed. "I want everyone to be happy, and the only way is divorce."

Bizzy processed her daughter's words and smiled softly. "I'm going to talk it over with your father, okay?"

"Okay."

"I-I need something to eat." Arizona said shakily to her friend, Teddy. This was her 2nd funeral in a month and the service had just happened.

"I happen to know a good diner." She smiled and wrapped an arm around her friend. "Is it far?" Arizona asked.

"No, it's a few blocks away, close to the hospital." Teddy answered and the two left the cemetery.

"See? It's over there. The guy who owns it, Joe, He's really friendly, we went there after Owen's dad's funeral." Arizona nodded and they both stepped into the diner.

"Welcome." Joe said with a friendly smile. "Table for two?" Teddy nodded and Joe directed them to a table in the corner.

"Would you like to order drinks or should l send my boyfriend over in a few minutes?" He asked.

"A few minutes is good." Teddy answered and returned her gaze to her silent friend.

"Az…" She began. " I know you're not okay right now, but could you at least talk to me about it?" Arizona looked up at her friend with a hollow look in her eyes.

"I need a minute." She said sadly. "I need a minute to miss my brother." Teddy nodded and tried to think of something to change the subject when she spotted something out of the corner of her eye.

"Hey is that-" She pointed to a couple sitting a few tables down. "Is that Bailey?" Arizona looked confused and turned her head.

"Oh my God, you're right!" She exclaimed. "I think she's with Ben."

"Ooh like a date!" Teddy said excitedly. "Look, they're leaving." They both watched as the two made their way out of the diner, Ben had his arm wrapped around Bailey.

"Oh yeah their definitely on a date." Arizona laughed and turned back around. The smile quickly disappeared from her face.

"Hey, you know what always cheers me up?" Teddy said leaning in. "Enlighten me." Arizona scoffed.

"What's we finish dinner." Teddy said. "I'm taking you to the hospital."

"The hospital?"

"Mmhm, we're going to visit the newborns." Arizona instantly smiled and the waiter came to take their order.

R&R!