"You know, We don't have to go to the cafeteria." Jo said, eyeing the utility closet as she stepped off the elevator.

"I doubt there's much else to do," Jackson said, following Jo's gaze with his eyes. His eyes swept across the cafeteria until they landed on the top of an all too familiar head, Alex. Scarfing down oatmeal while reading the newspaper laid in front of him. Jackson put his hand on the small of Jo's back, pushing her towards the elevators, "let's go."

Jo smiled a little. "I was thinking maybe we- " As Jo followed Jackson's gaze, her flirtation turned to horror.

"We can just get out of here," Jackson said quietly, not wanting to risk Alex hearing them even if he was on the other side of the room. When Jo remained quiet he grabbed her hand, reminding her of his presence.

Jo cleared her throat and started laughing loudly as she put Jackson's hand on her hips. She wasn't sure why she was doing this, but she was hoping Jackson would play along with whatever the hell she was trying to do.

Jackson frowned at Jo. He knew seeing Alex would elicit a strong reaction but this… this was unexpected. When he finally managed to tear his eyes away from her Alex was staring straight at them.

She stared Alex down before kissing Jackson eagerly.

It took Jackson a second to relax into it. When she finally pulled away he couldn't keep himself from staring at her, even as she was looking at Alex.

"Now we can go," she whispered.

While the lecture on experimental Corona treatments was very interesting, Jackson was more focused on the sound of the door a few rows behind him and Jo opening and closing every once in a while. He couldn't keep himself from checking to see if Alex had come in as Jo, still holding onto his hand, kept her eyes on the speaker.

"Why do you keep staring at the door like that?' Jo asked, slightly annoyed. She was trying to stay focused on the lecture.

He sighed, "no reason."

Jo frowned. "Look, I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean to just spring a kiss on you like that. It was impulsive. Alex was just sitting there after 7 months, and I wanted to shock him. I should've warned you."

"It's okay." He wouldn't say it but she could kiss him whenever she wanted; they were already sleeping together anyway, even if they weren't in a relationship. "What do you want to do if we run into him again?"

"Slap him." Jo said curtly before looking down at her lecture slides.

Alex was waiting outside when they exited the hall where the presentation had been held. Jackson turned towards Jo, they were still out of earshot from Alex, "you don't have to talk to him if you don't want to, we can just leave."

"It's okay. I can handle it." Jo retorted. "Hello Alex," Jo exclaimed confidently, even though she felt the constant urge to run and cry.

"Jo, I…" Alex didn't know what to say. He hadn't expected to ever see her again, to now have her right in front of him… He had spent the entire time she had been in the lecture trying to figure out what to say but now he was speechless.

"What do you want, Alex? I was just about to have dinner and continue to live my life."

"I can't even check in with you anymore? See how you're doing?" Alex asked. He knew that their marriage hadn't exactly ended on a high note but he had hoped she would understand and could make peace with it.

"I think you lost that right when you broke up with me by letter."

"Jo…"

Jackson tugged on Jo's arm, "we should go," he said quietly.

"Why don't you stay out of this, Avery," Alex said, wondering why he was budding into their conversation in the first place.

"No. He's not gonna stay out of it because he's my friend, as a matter of fact he's more than that." Jo stopped when she realized what she'd just said.

Jackson hesitated before reaching out for her hand. If she wanted to pretend they were a couple then he was fine with that; whatever she needed to cope.