A/N: Hello again! Sorry that – AGAIN – it took me so long to look over the next part, but Real life is keeping me quite busy… We're happy you're still here and enjoy our little story, so without many words: enjoy Chapter 55! And thanks for always reviewing! That means a lot to us!

Tyler Browning POV:

It had been Tyler's ritual since the day he found out Jackson had left.

Tyler called him every morning and left a message asking him again if he could just call Tyler. Even if it was just to curse him out and tell Tyler to never call him again.

He just wanted to hear from Jackson, he really didn't care in what tone he received it.

"I'm going in to talk to Hunt today" Tyler said into the phone "I'm not sure why he wants to see me, but he looks like the kind of guy you don't want to leave hanging. He's probably just calling me in to tell me that people are getting creeped out by the guy who's wandering around the hospital aimlessly" Tyler tried to keep his voice light and upbeat even though his fear was vibrating throughout his entire body.

"I hope I get to talk to you soon. I love you Jackson, keep safe" and hanging up the phone he stuffed it back in his pocket. Tyler wasn't stupid; he knew Jackson was either in New York or Georgia. They were the only two places that Tyler knew Jackson felt like home, besides Seattle that was.

Tyler was doing his best not to jump on the first plane and start his own search. Although Tyler knew in the end that was only going to push Jackson further away. Still, Tyler had people in New York who were on the lookout for Jackson and the moment they saw him they were going to call Tyler and let him know he was okay.

It was underhanded, but when it came to Jackson's safety Tyler really couldn't care.

Knocking on Hunt's door Tyler waited for the man to invite him in and once he entered Tyler smiled as the chief offered him a seat.

"Thank you" Tyler said nervously and sat down.

"Thanks for coming to see me, Tyler" Owen said "I wanted to discuss something with you."

"Look, I know I've overstayed my welcome" Tyler began "it's just with Jackson MIA I don't feel comfortable just flying back to Miami and pretending like everything is okay and-"

"Calm down" Owen laughed "this may actually help solve your problem"

Tyler's curiosity was peaked "Really?"

"Yeah" Owen reached into his desk and pulled out a manila folder "I've been doing a little digging on you, Dr. Browning, and it seems as if you are quite the celebrated surgeon. Word has it there could even be a Harper Avery in your future"

Tyler was surprised and flattered at Owen's words, but more than anything he was confused.

"Graduated top in Harvard, residency at Princeton and then Fellowship and New York Presbyterian" Owen spoke "nothing to shake a stick at"

"Thank you, sir" Tyler said "but I feel as if I'm missing something"

"I also have word that no hospital has been able to lock you down for their Cardio department and although Seattle Grace isn't quite a Johns Hopkins I was wondering if you would consider being our new head of Cardio."

"Are you serious?" Tyler exclaimed. He had expected a lot when he had come to Seattle, but a job offer hadn't even made his list.

"Very" Owen told him "We've been in desperate need of a Cardio head and seeing as how you're one of the best out there and you have a few connections to Seattle..."

"I'm honoured, sir, really it's..." Tyler didn't know what to say. A part of him wanted to jump at the chance. He had been touring jobs for the past 3 years and it would be nice to have one place to call home. On the other hand if Jackson did go somewhere else Tyler wouldn't have the freedom to follow him and make sure someone was there to have his back. Not even to mention the whole Lewis situation. How would the man react if he knew Tyler would be in Seattle on a much more permanent basis?

"Why don't you just think about it?" Owen said "Take a day or two and then give me an answer"

"Okay" Tyler responded as he stood "and thank you, Dr. Hunt, this really does mean a lot to me"

"I just hope you accept" Owen said "and if not, I'd understand"

Tyler had left Owen's office feeling a little dazed. He hadn't planned on making any hard decisions except when they came to the kind of treatment Jackson would get, but now there was another item on his already full plate.

He needed to sit and eat. Try to figure out all the jumbling thoughts in his head before they found a way to spill out.

Walking into the lunch room he grabbed a sandwich, cookie, and a water and just as he was about to head to a table he saw Lewis and Alex sitting down having lunch together.

Alex was eating quietly, but his shoulders were squared telling Tyler that he was way too tense. Lewis sat across from him and although Tyler couldn't hear what the two were talking about the way that Lewis' face was full of frustration let Tyler know that Lewis was not happy.

"Somebody's staring" Addison joked as she walked up to Tyler and smiled at him.

"What? No!"

"Sure you aren't" Addison said "Lewis looks pretty upset"

"Yeah, he does" Tyler told her and did his best to seem aloof "I guess it's a good thing he has Alex" and he walked over to the nearest empty table and sat down with Addison sitting opposite him.

"You aren't a fan of those two are you?" Addison asked as she took a sip of the coffee she was holding.

"They're grown men" Tyler responded "I'm sure they're capable of handling whatever is going on between them"

"How deep were you and Lewis?"

The question surprised him, but Tyler was getting used to it in this place.

"We were engaged" Tyler told her.

"So pretty serious," Addison said "What happened, if you don't mind me asking?"

"You've seen me have an anxiety attack" Tyler laughed "I think we've passed the casual acquaintance level"

The remark got a chuckle from Addison.

"Jackson" Tyler told her plainly "Lewis has issues with his brothers and once me and Jackson were put in a compromising situation Lewis assumed the worst and past history with Jackson made Lewis refuse to forgive either of us"

Addison's face took on the look of sympathy Tyler saw every time someone found out about his broken engagement.

"That's terrible" she said "I assumed you came here for Jackson"

"I did" Tyler told her "me and Jackson did find one another once Lewis was gone, but it never worked out the way we wanted it to"

"You were still in love with Lewis."

"Yeah, I was still in love" Tyler responded with a half smile "but we move on"

"WILL YOU GET THE HELL OFF MY BACK?"

Turning around Tyler saw Alex stand up from his seat and walk away leaving a humiliated Lewis. The need to go over there was almost desperate for Tyler.

"You should really go and see how he is" Addison said "he can't be feeling very good right now"

Tyler turned back around and looked down at his sandwich "I'm the last person he wants to see right now."

"Don't be ridiculous" Addison chastised "now either you go voluntarily or I drag you by the ear"

Looking at Addison he knew the woman was 100% serious.

"Okay" he said as he stood "just don't blame me if it creates another scene"

"I'll try not to" she smiled "now go"

Tyler made his way cautiously towards Lewis "Hey Lewis" he said as he took Alex's previous seat.

"Not now, Tyler" Lewis said "I can't deal with you"

"I only wanted to see if you're okay"

"I'm sure that's the only reason you came over here" Lewis said sarcastically "I'm sure it has nothing to do with taking advantage of what you've just seen"

"Believe it or not, Lewis" Tyler responded "I don't walk around with my dick in my hands 24/7 just waiting for you to feel low enough to spread your legs for me"

Tyler hadn't meant to get angry, but it seemed as if when it came to any exchange between he and Lewis it always ended that way.

"Right" Lewis said "I'm sure my well-being is what you really care about"

"Why is that so hard to believe?"

"Because I know you, Tyler, and I know you'd say anything if it got you 30 minutes in some supply closet"

"To hell with it" Tyler spat out "you want to sit here and be miserable be my guest" and standing back up he stormed out of the cafeteria only to hear Lewis follow him.

"Jackson is gone, Tyler, why are you even still here?"

The two found themselves in a small corridor and Tyler was thankful for the privacy "Do you want me gone?"

Lewis was silent and Tyler knew that the man wanted him here, even if he didn't want to say it.

"I'm not going to keep playing these games with you, Lewis"

"What games?"

"Did you even notice that you let Alex leave, but you followed me out here?"

The realization seemed to hit Lewis "I-"

"What, Lewis?" Tyler asked angrily "You need to stay with Alex? He's the one you really love? I've heard that song more times that I care to"

He was walking off when he heard Lewis speak.

"Something is seriously wrong with him and he's closing me out"

Tyler turned around and could see how much it was hurting him.

"We laid in bed last night and he looked completely at ease and then at lunch it's like he's a zombie. He doesn't talk and if I try and talk to him he just shuts down"

"Lewis" Tyler said as he brushed a hand over the man's cheek "you can't keep trying to force this thing with him"

"I won't abandon him now" Lewis told him "I can't do that"

"So you let yourself get hurt? Go home with him and sit in silence?"

"I don't know what to do"

Tyler grabbed his hand and held it up to his lips "Loving him shouldn't be this hard, Lewis"

Lewis looked at him and he could see something close to a smile and before Tyler realized what was going on Lewis had leaned in and kissed him.

"Lewis" he said as he backed off.

"Please, Tyler" Lewis begged "I just...I can't spend another minute feeling this alone"

"Then you come and stay with me tonight" Tyler told him "if you really mean it. Then spend the night with me"

"Tyler...I can't"

"It's your decision" Tyler told him "but if you want me then show up at my hotel room and you stay so I can see you when the sun comes up" and with that Tyler turned on his heels and made his way down the hall.

Lewis Avery POV:

Lewis had no idea anymore who this guy was he went to bed with last night. Or the one that was sitting right in front of him, sluggishly poking around on his plate. And it drove him crazy, that he didn't know. That Alex and he had barely exchanged three words since he had come home last night.

Lewis knew something must have happened, but at first he didn't want to push it, didn't want to pressure Alex, since it was still fresh how hard Jackson's leaving hit them.

Jackson was gone, and Lewis just didn't want Alex to lop off, too. He needed him to stay. Alex just couldn't leave him. But Lewis couldn't just watch him be in a state like this either. He needed to talk to him.

"Will you please tell me what's wrong with you, Alex?" he asked gently, looking at the man, but Alex barely looked up at him.

"Nothing, okay? It's... nothing... just a hard day at work..." Alex gave back and he obviously didn't want to talk about it.

"Please... please don't do this to me..." Lewis literally begged, but instead of giving in, it looked like Alex just got angrier with every word he said.

"Please just leave it alone," Alex hissed, shoving away his plate. "I can't talk about it."

"Why not? I'm your boyfriend? I can help you... please talk to me... you know exactly how things went down with Jackson... because he wasn't talking either..." Lewis tried again, but it only made things worse.

"WILL YOU GET THE HELL OFF MY BACK?" Alex screamed and literally jumped off his chair and made his way out of the cafeteria, leaving Lewis just like that. Humiliated and alone.

Over and over again Lewis replayed their conversation in his head once he was back in his office, and he asked himself if he could have done anything different. If it was his fault that Alex shouted at him like that. If he had triggered something he didn't even know about, but he couldn't think of anything that would justify Alex' reaction. He had just been worried, and after everything that had happened, he expected Alex to understand him at least a little bit. But he didn't.

Instead it had been Tyler he had found comfort in. Again. And Tyler's words still made him think about everything.

"Did you even notice that you let Alex leave, but you followed me out here?"

Tyler was right. When Alex took off, Lewis hadn't even thought for a single second to follow him and talk to him again, but he couldn't have left Tyler like this. He needed to clear the air with him.

It was like he was unconsciously clinging to the one thing that was good in his life: Tyler.

It was still wrong, but it was exactly how he felt. That Tyler was the one thing he hadn't completely screwed up, yet, even though after all that happened, their relationship should be the most screwed up of all. But it wasn't. And they were still talking to each other and no matter what Lewis had said or done, something always drew him back to Tyler, and he couldn't do anything about it.

Touching his lips, Lewis could almost feel Tyler's taste on them, and it was the only thing that still made sense in his life.

Tyler had always been with him, even if it wasn't physically, but as much as he had tried to deny it, Tyler had always been on his mind. That's why no other attempt of starting a new relationship hat worked. Not, that Lewis had tried really hard, but there had been some guys here and there he could have imagined being happy with. But he hadn't even taken that chance. Instead, he had kicked them out once he had what he wanted and went on with his life.

Alex. Alex, on the other hand, was the first guy that made him let down his guard enough to let him in. Alex had been there in the darkest of his hours, and he would be forever thankful for that.

Not to give him the same... not being able to push through when Alex was obviously suffering, killed him from the inside. It hurt him that he couldn't be there for Alex, because Alex wouldn't let him.

"Then you come and stay with me tonight, if you really mean it. Then spend the night with me. It's your decision but if you want me then show up at my hotel room and you stay so I can see you when the sun comes up."

Lewis let out a sigh. He shouldn't even consider Tyler's offer, and that he did, should already be a sign for him. He should have just shut him off. He should have told him that he wouldn't come. Hell, he could find him now and tell him he wouldn't come, but deep down Lewis knew it wasn't what he wanted.

He had to talk to Alex one more time. He had to see him. He had to try to make things right. He couldn't leave Alex in a situation like that when Alex maybe needed him.

Lewis got off his chair and left his office, making his way down to the plastics section.

It was still a little strange that he had to find Alex there and not in the Peds section as usual, and maybe that was one of the reasons Alex was so on the edge. That this wasn't his home anymore. That he had decided to work in Peds for a reason and now Mark forced him to do what he didn't want to do anymore.

Maybe he should just try to talk to Mark. Ask him to let Alex off the hook. To find someone else, because Alex didn't belong there anymore, and he definitely wasn't a replacement for Jackson.

When he turned around the corner he saw Alex and Mark standing in the hallway and discussing something, and from the way Alex was standing there, with his shoulders slumped down, it definitely wasn't a pleasant conversation.

He moved closer towards them, trying not to catch their attention, but when Mark looked up, he saw him, and his look got ice cold.

"What are you doing here?" he asked angrily.

"This is the plastics section and you have no business being here."

"I just... I needed to talk to Alex..." Lewis replied, feeling caught off-guard completely. He knew Mark was mad at him, but right now it almost was as if he hated his guts. If looks could kill, he would have probably been dead by now.

"Alex has work to do. Come back when he's on his break. Right now I need him." Mark gave back.

Lewis let out a sigh. "Please, Mark. Can't we talk about this like civilized people?"

A chuckle left Mark's lips. "Civilized people? You're actually telling me about being civilized?" He moved towards Lewis, looking him straight to the eyes.

"You're the one that behaved like a monster. You're the one that made Jackson's life a living hell with all your threats. It's your fault that Jackson is gone, and if he never comes back... or if something happens to him, I will make your life a living hell, understood?"

Lewis felt cold chills running down his spine, and the look in Mark's eyes told him that he was not joking. That he meant every word that he said.

"I do understand, but..." he started, but was cut off mid-sentence by Mark.

"Save it, I don't wanna hear it." He turned around and looked at Alex.

"Karev... take care of your boyfriend. I don't wanna see him in my section ever again. Meet you in my office in five. We need to go over a few patient's files."

It didn't sound like a request, more like an order, and Lewis absolutely didn't like the way he was talking to Alex.

Once Mark was out of sighting distance, Lewis turned to Alex.

"Why do you let him talk to you like this?"

"Lewis, please..." Alex sighed. "Don't make this bigger than it is. Mark is just... really stressed. It's his second day back at work and instead of being with Jackson to wrap things up around here he got me..."

"Because he requested you. And treating you the way he does is not right... You can't expect me to stand by and watch him hurt you." Lewis replied.

Alex moved towards him, looking directly into his eyes.

"It's exactly what I'm expecting you to do, Lewis. I can deal with Mark, so please leave it alone..." he said. "I don't need you to play my knight in shining armour. I'm a big boy and I managed my life before I met you, and I can manage my life now, so don't treat me like a little kid who needs some kind of bodyguard."

"That's not what it is, Alex, and you know it... you're shutting me out, instead of letting me be there for you. Don't you see that it's tearing us apart?" Lewis asked desperately.

Alex shrugged. "If you wanna break up with me, just do it... just get it over with, I need to get back to work."

"Alex!" Lewis blurted out. "What are you talking about? I'm not going to break up with you, but I have my limits. There's only so much I can take... you need to meet me halfway. You need to talk to me... We can make it through, but you need to be honest with me... you need to trust me."

"Okay." Alex gave back. "We'll talk. Tonight."

Lewis let out a relieved sigh. "Okay..."

"Good... and now let me get back to work, or Mark will get really mad..." Alex gave back. He pressed a peck on Lewis' cheek and left him standing there just like this.

Confused and hurt, Lewis looked after him. Alex hadn't been this distant to him in quite a while, but he hoped, prayed to god that they could really talk tonight. He would definitely be there and wait for him.

The hours until Lewis was finally free to leave the hospital had felt like days, even though he even had had two new patients, but the later it got, the more impatient he got.

He knew Alex had to work for at least another hour, most likely two, so he decided to cook dinner for him, and he was really looking forward to spending an evening with him like they hadn't in a while. An evening with candlelight-dinner and them talking.

He had just set the table and taken his lasagna out of the oven when his mobile phone vibrated.

He put down the lasagna and took out his phone, only to see he had gotten a message from Alex. An uneasy feeling started to bubble up in his gut, and when he opened the message he knew why.

I'm really, really sorry, Lewis, but I can't make it. Something came up and I have to work late and I will probably just sleep at the hospital. I know I said we'll talk, but we have to do this some other day. Have a nice evening.

Anger started building within Lewis and he blew out the candles he had already lightened. He was about to throw the lasagna into the trash can when he got another idea. He took out some aluminium foil, put it over the lasagna and grabbed his jacket and his car key.

He was so sick of always waiting for Alex and Alex still letting him down like this, and he really wanted... needed to be with someone who understood him. Who was there for him, and who he could trust.

He put the lasagna on the passenger seat and got into his car.

Not even ten minutes later he was standing in front of Tyler's hotel room door with the lasagna in one hand and a red rose he picked up on the way in the other and started knocking.

"Tyler? It's me..." he said through the closed door and when he heard footsteps from the inside his heart started racing. He was really looking forward to seeing Tyler right now, and when he finally opened the door, it literally blew him away.

Speechless, he stared at him for a couple of seconds, clearing his throat.

"You... you... look..." he started, searching for the right word. Hot? Sexy? Tantalizing? All things that were true but just weren't appropriate. "...nice..." he finally blurted out, causing Tyler to grin.

"Nice?"

Lewis swallowed hard, reaching him the rose. "This is... for you and... I... I made... made lasagna... if you haven't already eaten, we could... you know..."

He couldn't remember when was the last time he was this nervous and this lost for words, and he just didn't want to mess anything up. He wanted to be with him. More than anything else and he just hoped he wasn't making a mistake. That it wasn't a mistake to show up here in the first place, but this time he had just listened to his heart, and his heart told him he was right where he belonged.

Tyler Browning POV:

If Tyler was going to be completely honest with himself he hadn't really expected Lewis to show up. Lewis was never a fan of ultimatums and Tyler assumed Lewis wouldn't show up just to spite him.

Yet here Lewis was, at his front door and holding a lasagna tray and looking so nervous that Tyler wanted to hug him on the spot.

"This is... for you and... I... I made... made lasagna... if you haven't already eaten, we could... you know..."

"I haven't eaten" Tyler said quickly as he stepped aside to let Lewis enter and once he was in Tyler shut the door "you look amazing"

"Thanks" Lewis responded shyly "you may want to heat this up before we eat...if you want to eat"

"Of course I do" Tyler smiled and took the tray from him "you can get comfortable, turn the television on if you like"

"I can just wait here" Lewis told him and sat the table where he and Tyler would eat the food Lewis had brought.

"Back in a flash" Tyler said and leaned down to kiss Lewis without thinking about it and when he backed up he saw Lewis give him a warm smile and Tyler knew the night was going to be good.

Sticking the tray in the oven he set it and grabbed two beers from the fridge. Walking back into the living area he handed one of the beers to Lewis and the man took it happily.

"I'm glad you came"

Lewis looked as if he wanted to say something, but thought better of it at the last minute "I'm glad too."

"I have to be honest" Tyler said "I was pretty sure you weren't going to show up"

"I was pretty sure I wasn't going to either" Lewis had no malice in his voice. It was just a statement of fact and Tyler couldn't get offended.

"Why did you?"

Lewis looked at him silently for a moment "I couldn't lose you again" and it was the most honest that Tyler had seen him since his return to Seattle.

Grabbing his hand he gave a kiss to the knuckles "I'm here and I'm not going anywhere"

"Jackson may not even return" Lewis said "what are you going to do then"

"Hunt offered me the Head Cardio position" Tyler told him "and I may have just gotten my reason to stay"

A look of something that looked like fear crossed over Lewis' face.

"Lewis?"

"Tyler" he said "I-I can't be your reason to stay"

"What… why?"

"This thing with Alex…"

"FUCK" Tyler yelled as he stood "I told you not to come here unless you made a choice"

"I did make a choice" Lewis told him "I made a choice to come here and be with you because I finally admitted to myself that I still love you" standing up he went and stood in front of Tyler "but Alex was there for me and stood by me when he didn't have to be and probably shouldn't have been"

"Then why don't you go home to Alex then?" Tyler asked as he walked into the kitchen and pulled the tray out of the oven "I see I read the situation wrong"

"Please, Tyler" Lewis begged "can't you at least try and see from my perspective?"

"Your perspective?" Tyler laughed "Your perspective is that you want to have your cake and eat it too."

"I'm not going to be pushed into an argument with you, Tyler," Lewis said calmly "Would you have left Jackson in New York if I just showed up on your doorstep and started telling you that you should leave him and give us another chance?"

"Alex and Jackson are hardly the same situation" Tyler told him.

"Alex just lost his best friend and he blames himself for that" Lewis said "he stood by my side when everything and everyone told him what a mistake it was and if he hadn't I can't guarantee you that we would be having this conversation right now"

Tyler bowed his head and let the shame wash over him. Of course Lewis had a life after Tyler and Tyler was a jackass for assuming that he would walk back into the man's life and Lewis would just drop everything and run back into his arms.

As much as he loved Lewis if the man had asked him to get back together in New York Tyler would have told him no. Jackson needed Tyler too badly to just abandon him like that.

Lewis obviously saw Alex the same way.

"I'm sorry, okay?" Tyler said "I know this can't be easy for you and I'm not making it any better"

He could see Lewis visibly relax "I'm just so tied of fighting with people" Lewis told him "you.. Alex... Mark"

"You finally talked to Mark, huh?" Tyler asked "how'd it go?"

"Not well" Lewis responded and the tone told Tyler that dropping the subject would probably be for the best.

"Let's eat" Tyler said and grabbed Lewis hand and walked back to the table.

An hour later and one of the best lasagnas Tyler had ever eaten he was looking across at Lewis as the man took a sip of his beer.

"What?" Lewis smiled

"Nothing" Tyler grinned "I just see you haven't lost your touch"

"I'm alright" Lewis responded.

"More than just alright" Tyler said as he walked up and grabbed Lewis' hand to raise him up and pull him close "much more than just alright" and leaning in he pressed a soft kiss to Lewis' lips.

It started out tender at first, but once Lewis moved into it Tyler opened his mouth and stuck out his tongue to seek entrance into Lewis' mouth and the man gave it without hesitation.

Lewis tasted of lasagna, beer, and mint and Tyler just wanted more.

"Tyler, wait" Lewis said as he broke away from the kiss and put a hand up to his chest.

"Yeah?" Tyler asked breathlessly.

"Can we just.. I want to have one of our old nights."

Their old nights consisted of lying in bed, watching television, and just listening to one another's heartbeat. Tyler was more than happy to oblige. It showed him that Lewis wanted him for more than just sex.

Leading Lewis to the bed both men took off their shoes and pants. Leaving them in just shirts, shorts, and socks. Laying on his back he wrapped an arm around Lewis shoulder when the man moved in close.

Turning on the television Tyler could only focus on the heat that radiated off of Lewis' body.

"I'm sorry" Lewis said quietly and looking down at the man confused Tyler asked why.

"I ran Jackson off" Lewis said "I was just so...obsessed with some stupid notion of justice that I ruined his life just because I could. I don't know how you can still look at me, let alone love me"

"Because you're a man who knows he made a mistake and is working his damndest to fix it"

"It's still not enough, though" Lewis said "not nearly enough"

Rubbing his shoulders Tyler spoke softly "Jackson is coming back and when he does he'll curse you, but then we'll get him help and he will come to realize how much you love him"

Looking up at Tyler Lewis looked as if he wanted ask a question.

"What is it?" Tyler asked.

"Did it happen?"

"Did what happen?"

"You and Jackson… the night before our wedding?"

Sitting up straighter Tyler stared at Lewis "I love you now and I loved you then and I would have never done something like that to you and although you may not have believed it, neither would Jackson. He came to Boston because he was clean and wanted to be there for your big day. Our big day. He wanted to make you proud. He always wanted to make you proud"

Bowing his head Lewis nodded "I know" he told Tyler "I knew for a long time, but I've done so much to Jackson, lost so much time making him pay that I wouldn't let myself believe it"

"Why did you hold such resentment for Jackson?" Tyler asked "he talked about you all the time, ya know. He thought that one day you would come around"

"I was stupid and selfish" Lewis told him "I blamed him for our father's preference and when he died I...I didn't make things easier"

Tyler had known about their father and how it moulded the complicated relationship between the brothers.

"You will get the chance to fix this, Lewis" Tyler said kissing the top of his head "trust me"

Lewis Avery POV:

Moving closer to Tyler - as close as he could without rolling onto him completely - Lewis closed his eyes, listening to Tyler's heartbeat for a couple of seconds, maybe minutes. He didn't know, because he had lost track of time. Being with Tyler now made him feel complete, and it felt so right, that Lewis rather wanted to stop time, so he would never have to leave again.

"We would be married by now..." he said after a while to break the silence. "If I wasn't so stupid, we would have gotten married five years ago..."

"Yeah, maybe... but..." Tyler started, stroking Lewis' back. "That doesn't mean we can't get married one day."

"What?"

Lewis lifted his head to look at him, feeling his heart pound in his chest.

"You serious?"

"Dead serious. I wouldn't joke about something like that..." Tyler replied, gently touching one of Lewis' cheeks and making him look at him. "I love you, Lewis... and you said you love me, too..."

"I do..." Lewis nodded, and ever since he said it, it felt so much easier. Everything felt so much easier.

"This is not a proposal or something like that, so don't worry..." Tyler said with a soft smile. "When I propose to you, I'll do it right." It sounded like a promise and Lewis knew he meant it, and only the imagination of it did something with Lewis.

It opened some old wounds but at the same time, it touched him so much that tears started welling in his eyes.

"You... you would really marry me some day?"

"I would have married you five years ago and I will marry you some day in the future..." Tyler confessed, leaning forward and kissing Lewis, before he gently wiped away his tears.

"I love you... and this... us... is a new chance... I know it's not gonna be easy, but I believe in us... and I believe that we have a future..."

"But we're not even together..." Lewis said, placing his hand over Tyler's that was still on his cheek.

"I know... but I won't give up on you... I understand that you can't... can't be with me right now... that you feel responsible somehow for Alex... and that you don't want to leave him right now, because I was in the same position with Jackson." Tyler explained. "I wouldn't have left him back then, just like you can't leave Alex... but things will get better eventually, and maybe he even realizes himself that this thing wit you... is not what he wants in the long run..."

He leaned his forehead against Lewis', bringing his fingers to the back of his neck and caressing it, before he pulled Lewis in for a kiss.

"I know that you and Alex... that this is special... and I'm glad that you had someone by your side in your darkest hour... but just like with me and Jackson, it won't work out, because we... you and me... will always find a way back to each other. If I didn't believe it before, I believe it now..."

A small smile appeared on Tyler's lips.

"My god, that sounds stupid, doesn't it?"

Lewis shook his head. "No... no, it doesn't..." He leaned forward, capturing Tyler's lips in another kiss. "And I know you're right. Deep down I always knew, but I didn't expect to ever see you again... and if... if the thing with Jackson hadn't happened, I might have never called you..."

"Maybe not..." Tyler agreed. "But somehow I think, that our paths would have crossed again nevertheless, because this... us... is meant to be..."

"I love you." Lewis whispered, laying down on Tyler's chest again and feeling his arms around him again immediately.

"I love you, too, Lewis." Tyler replied, pulling the blankets over him and Lewis and turning off the nightstand-lamp that was the only light that was still on.

Lewis closed his eyes and just enjoyed the warm feeling Tyler gave him. He hadn't felt this safe and secure in a long time, and he just now realized that he really needed to end things with Alex, before he would really hurt him. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but he had to make a decision, and Tyler was right: In the long run they couldn't be happy with each other. Not as happy as they could be with the people they really belonged to.

Lewis somehow knew - he always had known - that April was the one for Alex, and maybe Alex would see that, too, if they would really talk to each other about everything.

It took Lewis a while to fall asleep and he knew that Tyler had fallen asleep the moment he started snoring silently, cuddling closer to him. He had missed even those little details, even though back then he had complained about it from time to time, but tonight it was just the sound he wanted to hear.

He grabbed one of Tyler's hands and entwined their fingers, letting himself drift off to sleep after a while, because even though he didn't need to get into the hospital early that next day: he had to get in after all, and he wanted to get at least a little rest.

Lewis had no idea what time it was when he opened his eyes the next morning, but when he felt around, he noticed immediately, that the bed next to him was empty and he was alone.

Panic rose within him.

Had he dreamed everything? Had he not spent the evening with Tyler?

He looked around, feeling slightly confused. He was in Tyler's hotel room after all, but there was no message whatsoever from Tyler.

He literally jumped off the bed and putting on his jeans he stormed out of the room, noticing the smell of coffee and fresh pastries.

Nevertheless, his heart was still beating like he had just ran a marathon and he let out a relieved sigh, when he found Tyler in the kitchen. Only in his shirt and pyjama bottoms and he was standing with his back to him, obviously preparing breakfast.

"God, you scared the hell out of me..." Lewis admitted, moving closer and hugging him from behind, so he could kiss his neck and cheek.

Smiling, Tyler looked up at him. "Why? Did you think I would leave you without a word? After everything we talked about last night?"

Now, speaking it out loud, Lewis noticed how silly that sounded and he knew that Tyler would never do something like that.

"I'm sorry... this was stupid... I just... I don't know what's the matter right now... I don't recognize myself sometimes..." Lewis explained. "Just the other night I was literally going crazy and about to call the police only because Alex wasn't home when he should have been..."

"Sshhh... it's okay..." Tyler whispered, turning around in his embrace and wrapping his arms around Lewis' neck. "I'm here... and I'm not leaving you. I'm not going anywhere, I promise."

He hugged him close and Lewis just buried his head in his shoulder, clinging to him.

"Tell me that everything's gonna be okay..."

"Everything's gonna be okay... We'll get Jackson back and we will make him see that we all love him and that we'll be there for him no matter what." Tyler replied.

Lewis felt much better, once he let go enough so he could look him in the eye. Leaning forward, he captured Tyler's lips with his own, kissing him gently and sweet, but all of a sudden he felt a burning desire within him. He knew they could have slept with each other last night, if he had let it happen, but it had been wonderful just the way it was. Right now, though, he felt like he really needed to be close to him.

His tongue parted Tyler's lips and when it slid into Tyler's mouth he started massaging Tyler's tongue, exploring his mouth, while his hands travelled up and down his spine, and pulling his shirt up.

"Wow... Lewis... wait..." Tyler said breathlessly, looking up at him once he ended the kiss. "I... made breakfast..."

"Breakfast can wait." Lewis replied. "I want to feel you." He pulled Tyler's shirt up even further and when Tyler lifted his arms, he took it off him, throwing it to the floor and then his lips were on Tyler's again. "But if you rather want to eat instead of fucking..." Lewis mumbled into the kiss. "Just tell me... I'll... start without you..."

"The hell you will..." Tyler chuckled, responding to the kiss and starting to undress Lewis by pulling off his shirt.

Lewis lifted him up and sat him down on the counter, letting his hands slide up and down his thighs, rubbing it with his palms.

"I... need to be inside of you... I want to bury my hard cock balls deep inside of you and afterwards I want you to fuck me..." he hissed, feeling Tyler's hard erection touching his stomach. "You think you can do this?"

"God, Lewis..." Tyler moaned. "So much dirty talk from those pretty lips of yours... you're a naughty boy..."

"And you wouldn't want me any other way, right?" Lewis grinned up at him. "So? What do you say?"

"Don't you have to get to work?" Tyler asked, his cheeks red and his eyes full of desire.

"Not for..." Lewis took a look at his watch. "Not for another three hours... a lot of time to... be naughty..."

Tyler Browning POV:

Tyler was getting hard just from Lewis' words and when gave him a choice it was really no choice at all.

Tyler would choose Lewis and having sex with Lewis every single time.

Sitting on the counter with Lewis between his legs Tyler wrapped his arms around the man's neck and pulled him close to kiss him.

"So, are we going to do this?" Lewis grinned "because my cock is 5 seconds away from busting out of my jeans"

"Well, let's solve that shall we?" Tyler told him and grabbing Lewis' zipper he pulled it down and reached inside to grab hold of the hard member"

"Somebody is ready" Tyler smiled

"Very ready" Lewis gasped as Tyler started to stroke him and putting a strong hand on Tyler's shoulders he fought for balance as Tyler's hand worked their magic.

"You want to fuck me?' Tyler asked and nodding enthusiastically Lewis told him yes. Taking his hand out of Lewis' pants he pulled down his pyjama bottoms until they pooled at his ankles. Then kicking them off Tyler let them hit the ground softly.

His cock sprang up. Hard and in desperate need of attention.

"I want you on your knees and your mouth around my dick" Tyler told him "then you can bury yourself inside of me"

"Fuck, Tyler" Lewis' voice dripped with want and falling to his knees he wrapped his hand around Tyler's erection and when Tyler made it jump Lewis looked up at him with a grin.

"See how much it wants you" Tyler said "see how happy you make it. Show him how much you appreciate it, Lewis, lick the head"

Leaning in Lewis did just that. Sticking his tongue out and working it around the bulbous head before sticking his tongue in the slit.

It sent electricity through Tyler's body "Just like that, baby" Tyler told him "run your tongue up the shaft". Feeling Lewis languish his cock with his tongue it took everything not to grab Lewis' head and force his cock deep into Lewis' mouth.

"I need your mouth on me, baby" Tyler said "I need to feel that heat"

"You don't have to ask twice" Lewis told him and taking Tyler inside of his mouth Tyler gripped onto the counter top as Lewis began to suck with a progressive speed.

Moving his hands from the countertop to Lewis' curly hair he let his fingers entwine through them as he closed his eyes and got lost in the sensation.

"Always been so good at this, baby" Tyler whispered "missed having you do this to me"

Looking up at Tyler Lewis' eyes were filled with lust "I missed it too" he told Tyler "I forgot how good your cock taste on my tongue"

Tyler wasn't going to last with the mixture of Lewis' mouth and his words.

Grabbing him by the shoulders Tyler lifted him up to stare in Lewis' eyes "Need you to fuck me. Now!" Tyler said urgently "need to feel you moving inside of me"

"My pleasure" Lewis smiled and wrapping his legs around Lewis' waist he let the man carry him over to the bed and lay him down gently.

Bending down Lewis took off his own shoes and pulled off his pants and shorts and now the two men got to gawk at each other in all there glory

Falling on top of Tyler Lewis started to kiss him deeply. Pushing his tongue against Tyler's lips Tyler opened up and welcomed the wetness.

Lewis was rubbing his cock against Tyler's own before grabbing Tyler's right leg and lifting it up. Breaking away from the kiss Lewis put his index finger up to Tyler's lips and opening them up Tyler began to suck on the digit. Slow and languidly and he could see how much it was turning Lewis on.

Taking his finger away he went and found Tyler's opening and teased it. Biting his lip as Lewis inserted his first finger Tyler leaned up to kiss Lewis as the digit moved in and out. When Lewis broke the kiss and started to kiss his neck he inserted a second finger. Tyler could already feel himself opening up.

"You look so beautiful" Lewis whispered in his ear "I love seeing you like this"

Lewis' voice was intoxicating and closing his eyes he turned his head to the side and captured the man's lips and when he felt Lewis insert his third finger Tyler started to move his hips back and forth.

"You want me in you?" Lewis asked "you want me to fuck you so hard your eyes roll into the back of your head"

"Yes, please" Tyler begged "fuck me, please"

Tyler wanted Lewis to take him. Take him and make him come completely undone.

Feeling Lewis place the head of his cock at his opening Tyler ran his hands up and down the man's back.

"Do it" and less than a second later he felt Lewis pushing in. The burn was becoming familiar once again and Tyler found himself loving the feeling. The pain only lasted for a few moments, but by the time Lewis was completely inside Tyler could feel the pleasure start to blossom from within.

The thrusts were slow at first as Lewis made it a point to be cautious, but Tyler wanted to feel him at his most aggressive. On one of Lewis' outward thrusts Tyler grabbed his ass and pushed him back in getting a gasp from Lewis.

"Hard Lewis" Tyler said "fuck me harder"

Obliging him Lewis grabbed Tyler by the hips and started to piston in him at a breakneck speed. It was euphoric for Tyler and he knew in this moment that he could never leave this...never leave Lewis and if it took Lewis some more time to end things with Alex he would wait. Lewis was more than worth it.

Feeling Lewis put his hand around Tyler's cock the man bucked up and was about to moan when Lewis captured him in a kiss. Feeling his oncoming orgasms Tyler started to buck his hips quickly.

"Lewis I..." and before he could finish his release landed on Lewis' stomach.

"Tyler, I'm coming" Lewis warned as he felt the man tighten around his member "I'm… oh god!" and when he came Tyler could feel it burn through his body. A mark that he belonged with Lewis.

Collapsing on Tyler the man kissed the top of Lewis' head.

"That was amazing" Tyler smiled as he felt Lewis start to soften inside of him.

"Very awesome" Lewis responded.

The two were enjoying their post orgasmic bliss when Tyler spoke up.

"I'm going to take Hunt's offer"

Lewis looked up at him and he couldn't hide the happiness on his face.

"Really?" Lewis asked "I mean I don't want you to feel you have to just because of...this" and pointing between them Lewis continued "I mean I'd like you to, but-"

"I want to" Tyler told him as he put a finger to Lewis' lips to stop his babbling "For you. For Jackson. For everything that I could have here in Seattle"

He could see Lewis' eyes become brighter.

Rolling over he felt Lewis' cock pop out of his body and now laying on top of the man Tyler leaned down and kissed Lewis' neck.

"Now, let's start round 2 and I do believe it's my turn to make your eyes roll in the back of your head" Tyler said as he lifted one of Lewis' legs to place his ever growing cock at Lewis' opening.

"Then get to it Mr. Browning" Lewis smiled "show me what you got"

Two hours later Tyler was at Seattle Grace to talk to Owen Hunt about accepting the position. He had arrived with Lewis, but the two made sure to go in separately as to not rile up any suspicion.

Making his way to Hunt's office he felt his phone vibrate and taking it out he saw that it was a text from Lewis.

Thank you so much for everything. I can't tell you how much it meant to me. I love you and I'll talk to you later.

The message made Tyler grin like a fucking teenager which was exactly what he felt like. A teenager in love who saw nothing but a world of possibilities in his future.

Leaning against the wall Tyler closed his eyes and replayed the images from that morning in his head and felt his cock start to bulge.

"Then what, Karev?" Tyler heard Mark say "Then what did Jackson do? And stop beating around the fucking bush."

Opening his eyes in alarm Tyler took a small peek around the corner to an empty hallway where he saw Mark and Alex discussing something that obviously had to do with Jackson.

What Tyler could see of Mark's face the man looked agitated and pissed.

"I was pissed that he had hurt Lewis" Alex told Mark "I told him that if he didn't get help I would go to Hunt, but you had to see the welt that Jackson put on his back" and Alex's voice sounded panicked "I had to do something"

"You threatened him again?" Mark's voice was a thin line of steel "how many times had you and Lewis hit him by then. 4, 5, and you had the nerve to paint him as the bad guy?"

"No" Alex said flustered "I apologized, okay? I had made a mistake"

"The mistake is that Jackson is gone and you're still here"

"Mark!" Tyler said as he walked around the corner and towards the two men and he could see both look at him with wide eyes.

"Tyler" Alex said nervously "what are you doing here?"

"Apparently getting quite an earful" Tyler told him. Turning towards Alex Tyler looked at the man "You mind if I have a talk with Mark?"

Tyler had no idea why he was angry over the way Mark was treating Alex, it wasn't as if he and Alex were best friends, but Tyler had to admit the guy wasn't half bad and certainly didn't deserve that kind of treatment.

"Tyler it's okay I-"

"You can go now or I can go to Lewis and get his opinion on it" Tyler told him and he could sense that scenario was one Alex really didn't want.

Looking at Mark then at Tyler Alex turned and made his way down the hall and out of sight.

"What do you want Browning?"

"We're going to talk!"