BACK TO THE FUTURE…AGAIN

FADE IN

MEREDITH (V.O.)

You know you've been here before. That strange sense of déjà vu that tells you something is familiar…yet you can't put your finger on it. And it's not a feeling that's either good or bad…until and unless you are able to connect it to the place where it all began…that past event that keeps reappearing in an effort to tell you that merely pushing it aside is not good enough anymore. Life flows in cycles. So then it's no mistake that the themes circle around and give you another attempt at resolution. In between those times they stand off in the distance or follow you like a shadow. They are a part of who you are…just waiting for the opportunity to remind you…they may be forgotten…but they are never far behind.

Alex wakes up the next morning sore from the events of the night before. Running his hands over his face he groans as the pain in his knuckles helps clear away the fog. He thinks about Daniel…but only for a few seconds before he brushes it off and refocuses on the main event of the day…his date with Izzie.

Alex bounds out of bed and begins to get ready for work…pushing the pain aside to the point where he almost forgets its there.

INT – CALLIE'S APARTMENT – MORNING

Callie walks over and peeks behind the closed curtain to see if the car that was across the street is still there. It is not. She tries to recall what it looked like…dark maybe…model…not sure. She shakes her head and walks away. "That's it. I've finally lost my mind."

She picks up her phone and presses speed-dial. "Hey…what's up?" After listening for a few minutes she interrupts. "Want to have dinner tonight?" She listens to the reply for a few more minutes and then interrupts again. "I don't care where we go. I can no longer drink alcohol which has taken away any enthusiasm I had for eating because let's face it…the best part of choosing a meal was matching the food to my favorite bottle of wine."

She hangs up and undresses to take a shower…catching a quick glimpse of herself in the mirror. "Oh my God…my boobs are huge." She places her hands under them…pushing them up to admire her new cleavage. "Wow…thanks for the boobs little baby."

Across the street…the car has returned.

INT – MEREDITH AND DEREK'S HOUSE – MORNING

Meredith is stacking breakfast dishes in the dishwasher and looks over at Josh who is using one of Derek's old stethoscopes to listen to his own heart…which he tries to hear by placing it on his stomach. "Here Josh…let's put this here" she says as she moves it to his heart. "Can you hear it now?" she says waiting for his response. His face is distant…followed by a look of surprise as his eyes grow big. "I hear it" he squeals.

"Hey Josh…guess where we're going today?" Meredith says.

"Where?" he says…even more surprised.

"After work Daddy and I are going to take you to the shelter so you can pick out a kitty."

Josh jumps to his feet placing his hands over his mouth and begins running around in circles. "Oh my gosh…oh my gosh…oh my gosh…

Meredith starts laughing and Derek walks in the room pulling his toothbrush out of his mouth. "Maybe we should cut back on the sugar."

"Maybe" Meredith echos.

"What time is the dinner thingy tonight?" he asks

"I think the thingy is at seven. Lexie will be here at six to make dinner for Josh so we can get ready."

Meredith retrieves the new cat carrier out of the closet and places it by the door. Josh immediately runs over and looks inside. "Is this where the kitty is going to live?" he asks.

"No…this is just what we use to carry the kitty when we pick it up and to keep it safe so it doesn't get away. The kitty will live in the house with us."

Derek smiles at how natural Meredith is with Josh and thinks for a second that everything is perfect. He then quickly brushes the feelings away superstitiously...in order to avoid attracting problems.

INT – SGH ICU – AFTERNOON

Alex is preoccupied with the evening he has planned and is going over the schedule in his head when Koty walks up…still in the same clothes from the night before.

"Alex…can I talk to you?"

"Sure" he says closing the file he's reviewing…following along behind Koty.

Koty closes the door behind them and faces Alex.

"What's up?" Alex asks as if nothing happened.

"What's up? Are you serious? You just about killed someone not to mention that he is talking about pressing charges which could affect your ability to work as a doctor in this hospital…or anywhere else for that matter. I don't need you to fight my battles for me."

Alex interrupts. "Well apparently you do because how many times have you let this happen and you keep going back. I mean…what the hell is going on in your head that you think he's going to change? He's never going to change. They never do!"

"It's my business…not yours. Did I ask you to intervene? Just stay the hell out of my life and keep your opinions to yourself."

With that Koty storms out of the room. Alex tries to call him back to no avail.

INT – CRISTINA'S APARTMENT – EVENING

Cristina is looking around her empty apartment feeling sorry for herself. At one time she actually enjoyed being alone but since dating Jackson she realizes just how empty the room is without any voices to fill the silence. She grabs a bottle of wine off the counter and the corkscrew out of the drawer, taking it to the living room and plops down on the sofa.

Her thoughts shift to Burke and the surgery the day before. Even with a basic procedure he made it look effortless and artistic…like he was creating something brilliant that would only have value after he was dead. She laughs a bit at her sarcastic thought when there's a knock on the door.

Irritated by the interruption, she walks over to answer it.

"Why aren't you dressed?" George says.

"Because I'm not going."

"Seriously…I just went out and bought a three hundred dollar suit and you aren't going?"

Cristina feels guilty for a brief moment and compliments George thinking that should make them even. "You look really nice bambi." She says lying down on the sofa…holding onto the open wine bottle."

George is visibly pissed. He walks into her bedroom and opens the closet grabbing the first dress he sees.

"Here…put this on…because if I have to go you do too."

"I can't go. I'm afraid it's going to be another ploy by Jackson to win me back and I don't want to have to keep telling him no. Plus…he's really hot…no offense…but I'm afraid I'll be tempted to sleep with him again and then have to avoid him until he once again realizes that the relationship we had wasn't a relationship at all and was just a one night stand that never ended."

"Is that what you're worried about?" George questions. "You don't have to worry. I know what the party is for…and it has nothing to do with you."

Cristina doesn't believe him. "How do you know what it's for?"

"I found out by accident. Now put this on and let's go" he says tossing the dress at her.

"Wow George...way to sweep me off my feet." She grabs the dress and walks toward the bedroom to put it on…stopping in front of him. "By the way…if you're wrong…I will hunt you down and hurt you."

"My...how lady-like." He says. "Tell me again why you are single."

Cristina hisses at him and slams the bedroom door.

George has no idea what the party is for but is just hoping he runs into Koty since he made the effort and looks pretty good…even if he has to say so himself.

INT – MEREDITH'S HOUSE IN THE CITY – EVENING

Izzie is nervously checking herself out in the mirror. She has no idea where Alex is taking her and has tried on several dresses deciding on a simple floral sun-dress that is tight enough to take the attention away from the platinum wig she is wearing but not so tight that she can't sit down. After all…Alex has seen it all before so no sense putting all of the goods on display.

The doorbell rings.

When Izzie opens it she finds Alex on the other side in a dark suit and immediately realizes she's under-dressed.

"You look so nice. I wasn't sure what to wear."

"You look beautiful" he says…forgetting for a moment that he is holding a bunch of wildflowers he bought her. "Oh…here" he says awkwardly. "These are for you."

Izzie smells them and asks him to come in. "I'll just put these in water and we can take off."

He watches her walk away and puts his hand to his chest…stops…and then in a panic starts giving himself a pat down…finding what he was looking for in his pants pocket.

She walks into the living room with the vase and notices that Alex appears nervous. "What's going on with you? You're sweating."

Alex wipes his face. "Nothing…I was running a little behind so I've been rushing is all. Are you ready?"

Alex leads her out the door and opens the car door for her. He is quiet as they drive across town and then pulls up outside of an expensive restaurant. Izzie is impressed but considers telling him that he doesn't really need to try so hard. She's planning to sleep with him anyway…but decides to just let it go.

He walks her to the door and past the reservations desk.

She points behind them. "Don't we need to wait for someone to seat us?"

As they enter the room, there is only one table set with candles and a bottle of champagne. A man playing a violin quietly serenades them and a waiter is standing by in case they need anything.

"Oh my God Alex. This is really beautiful."

Alex helps her into her seat.

"How did you arrange all of this so quickly?"

"The head chef owes me a favor. I removed his gallbladder a couple months ago."

"Well…ok then." Izzie says. "Sorry I asked."

The waiter pours champagne into their glasses and Alex raises his. "A toast…" Izzie raises her glass as well and Alex continues. "To the most beautiful woman I know."

"Aww…thank you Alex. I thought you were going to say in this room…but since I'm the only woman in this room…I'm not sure that would have been much of a compliment."

Izzie feels herself starting to get a little nervous too. She hadn't been alone with Alex in a while and was hoping they could just have a nice dinner at a noisy restaurant and avoid having any deep conversations that would bring up the past…something that always resulted in an argument.

Alex reaches across the table to grab her hand while Izzie smiles at him with a look of confusion.

"Are there menus?" she says.

"Sure" Alex looks around to room. "I'll get you one."

He stands up to walk away and Izzie looks around the room as well thinking how beautiful everything looks. When she turns in his direction he is on his knee next to her chair.

"What's wrong…did you drop something?"

Alex reaches into is pocket and pulls out a small box.

Izzie is speechless.

"Izzie Steven's…in spite of the fact that you are one of the most frustrating and argumentative people I know. I can't imagine not spending the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?"

"Oh my God Alex…I thought this was just a date."

She looks down at the ring. "What happened to your hand?"

"Nevermind my hand. I'm asking you to marry me."

"I know" she says.

"So…?"

"So…" she hesitates. "Ok."

Alex breathes a sigh of relief. "Ok?"

Izzie repeat it again. "Ok."

Alex places the ring on her finger and Izzie places her hands on each side of his face. "This time we're going to do it right."

She kisses him and then immediately thinks of her Mom. "I want to call my Mom…would you mind?"

Alex looks over to the waiter who opens the partition to the room and waiting on the other side is George, Cristina, Meredith and Derek as well as everyone else from the hospital who pours into the room to congratulate the new couple.

"I can't believe you did all of this. What if I would have said no?"

"Seriously…it's all I could think of all week. I just wanted to make sure it was a night you will remember for the rest of your life."

Izzie hears a small voice from behind her. "Cricket?"

She turns to find her Mom standing there in tears and hugs her.

"Alex Karev?"

Alex turns around and finds two officers standing behind him.

"Yes" he says nervously.

"You are under arrest. You have the right to remain silent…"

Alex turns to Izzie. "I'm so sorry."