Chapter 11

Derek hears her and tries another spot on her leg. Nothing. Izzie fights to hold back tears as she realizes she can't feel her legs. Alex looks worriedly at Derek as Bailey steps forward to hold Izzie's hand.

"It may just be temporary. The body's way of giving you time to heal. I want to run some tests to make sure there is not blood accumulating on your brain and to check you spinal cord. You were treated very quickly Izzie, this can just be temporary." He leaves the room to go make arrangements for the tests. When he steps out into the hall he is bombarded by the interns.

"How is she?" Comes instantly out of three mouths. Derek looks sadly at all of them. "I need to run some tests."

"Why?" George asks.

"It's not my place." Derek answers walking down to the phone to start making arrangements.

Bailey hears the knock at the door and turns to look at Izzie and Alex. Alex has carefully climbed into bed with Izzie and is holding her while she cries. Bailey lets go of Izzie's hand and backs out of the room. She looks at her interns.

"What happened?" Meredith asks. Bailey hesitates, part of her wanting to protect her patient's privacy and the other warring with being truthful to her interns.

"She's lost feeling in her legs. Shepherd thinks it may be temporary, but wants to run some tests. She needs time to cope with that. Go do your rounds and then come back."

The subdued interns head back to the surgical floor as Bailey walks back into Izzie's room. The scene in front of her breaks her heart as she watches Alex cradle the distraught woman. He's whispering in her ear to calm her down but after such a traumatic event Izzie just needs to release. Bailey holds her hand and sits silently in the chair next to her bed and waits patiently for the tears to subside. The dam of tears slowly trickles down to a few sniffles as Izzie buries her head into Alex's chest.

"You'll be fine." He whispers.

"What if I never walk again?"

"You will. Shepherd's right the doctors took great care of you and you were in surgery right away. He just wants to make sure everything is okay physically, and then we'll just have to wait for your body to heal." Izzie nods and grimaces as it causes the shunt to pull. Alex lays her back down in bed so that she is no longer pulling on any wires.

"How long does this have to stay in?" She asks placing a hand up to her temple.

"A day or two more I'd say. I'll know for sure after the test." Derek states walking into the room. "Let's get you upstairs and checked out okay?"

Izzie nods as nurses enter the room with another stretcher and begin to set things up to move Izzie.

"I'll be here when you get back." Alex tells her as they wheel her away. Bailey who is following Izzie stops.

"Where are you going Karev?"

"Flowers, she needs flowers." He says simply before grabbing a coat and heading out to the stairs to go find a florist shop.

By the time Izzie is wheeled back into the room Alex has returned to his seat and two bouquets of roses light up the windowsill.

"They're beautiful." Izzie says after she is settled back in and gives Alex a kiss when he leans over. "Did you get the results?" He asks fiddling with her fingers.

"The bleeding is pretty much stopped so he'll take the shunt out tomorrow. There is no physical damage to any nerves in my brain or spinal cord that he can see. He doesn't think there are any blood clots in my spinal cavity. He wants to watch me overnight and see if it gets worse because that would be a sign of some kind of blood clot on my spine." She pauses and takes in a shaky breath.

"It's okay to be scared. One day everything is normal and the next…"

"I know, it's just, what happens if tomorrow I still can't feel my legs? They don't see anything wrong. If they can't find what's wrong it can't be fixed. At least if he said there was nerve damage I could say oh well, there's the chance that it can be fixed. I don't even know what's wrong."

"You'll be fine." Alex consoles. "You're young and strong. Just give yourself time."

"I know." Alex sits on the edge of her bed and holds her hand.

"Your mom flew in earlier today. She stopped in to see you. Do you want me to call her so you can see her?"

"I don't want her to see me like this. Not today." Alex nods in understanding.

"What about the others? They've been in and out of the room all day. I doubt Bailey has left the floor. Every time I peak outside she's at the nurse's station." Izzie agrees to see her friends and Alex goes out into the hall and tells Bailey that Izzie is ready to see everyone. Then he returns back to his spot on her bed and holds her hand while they wait for everyone to arrive.

When the knock comes at the door Alex calls for them to come in. Meredith and George come in with some flowers while Christina holds a card and some chocolate.

"Every girl needs chocolate during times of crisis." She says shrugging when Alex raises a brow at her choice. Bailey follows them in and the four pull up chairs.

"How are you feeling?" Meredith asks.

"Okay. I didn't see what they have me on but my ribs and head don't hurt that much. I guess that's a plus right?"

"It is." George agrees. "Just wait until you get out of here. We'll have brownies and cakes baked at home for you."

"She can't go back with you guys." Alex interrupts. Izzie just turns and looks at him questioningly.

"Why not? It's where I live."

"I know, but I wanted you to stay with me until you got better."

"Alex I'll be fine at home."

"Izzie you sleep upstairs."

"You said I'm going to be fine. Why would it matter?"

"Your leg Izzie. You're left leg is broken." He whispers feeling guilty for not telling her earlier. "They didn't put it in a cast yet, they figured with all the moving around it would be best just to splint it until after your surgery. They were going to set it later today. Two of your ribs are broken too."

"So I guess sleeping on the second floor is out for awhile at least." Izzie says trying to lighten the mood. She looks around at the somber faces. She squeezes Alex's hand.

"It's fine. Everything will heal. It'll just take longer than I'd like." The group sits together a little while longer before Izzie cries. "My patients! How are they?" Alex opens his mouth to interrupt, but Meredith grins as she hands Izzie some files.

"They are all fine." Izzie scans through the files. Every so often she would mumble an 'I knew it' before continuing down the file.

"Thanks you guys." She says handing the files back to Meredith. Alex just shakes his head.

"You're sitting here in a hospital bed with a shunt coming out of your head, a broken leg, broken ribs and some kind of phantom damage and you want to know about your patients."

The group stays with the couple for another hour before they leave them to themselves. Izzie leans back in bed and asks Alex to lay it back down. He is instantly at her side asking if she is in pain.

"No. I'm just tired. Will you stay with me?"

"Of course." Alex promises as he lowers the bed for Izzie. When she is settled he climbs in next to her and they intertwine their hands.

"I'm scared Alex. What if this doesn't get better?"

"You will get better." He says placing a kiss on her temple. "Now get some sleep. Or at least pretend to sleep because I want some sleep and I won't be able to sleep until I know that you're going to sleep." Izzie smiles and turns her head to rest it in the crook of Alex's neck.

"Goodnight." She feels him kiss her temple again and whisper into her ear.

Author's Note: So what did you guys think of last nights episode? Edge of my seat I can tell you that. Sorry it took so long for the update but my family was here this weekend visiting. Hope you guys enjoy it and I love the reviews! Thank you so much!