Chapter 13

Two days later Izzie is back at the hospital to start her physical therapy. She's sitting in her wheelchair looking out the window thinking back to the day before and her conversation with her mother.

"I'm going to make myself scarce okay babe?" Alex tells Izzie as he gathers up some of his stuff. He walks over and kisses her deeply before leaving the apartment.

A few minutes later there is a knock on the door.

"It's open." Izzie calls out wheeling over towards the door.

"Cricket. How are you feeling?" Asks her mother as she walks in the door.

"I'm fine mom. Just a little frustrated."

"Well my psychic said that if you went to medical school bad things would befall you and now look."

"Mom I don't give a damn what your psychic said! This is heaven compared to what my life would be if I stayed home and waitress the rest of my life like your psychic suggested." Izzie says sarcastically. "Look where I am. I'm a doctor. I'm out of debt, I'm with a man who loves me and wants to spend the rest of his life with me. This is something that will go away. I would rather spend the rest of my life in this chair then be serving some overweight trucker who takes sick enjoyment in grabbing my ass."

"My waitressing paid to feed and clothe you for years!"

"No it paid for your psychic! My waitressing paid to feed and clothe me! Hell it paid the bills!"

After this outburst Izzie took a deep breath and asked her mother to leave. By the time Alex got back to the apartment she was crying.

"I thought she changed. That she cared! All she cares about are those people and what they tell her! She doesn't care about me, but how they were right about me!" Alex picked her up and carried her to the couch and sat her in his lap and rocked her.

"We're fine. That's all that matters. Not what anyone thinks or tells us."

"Hello Dr. Stevens. I am Dr. Bloom. How are you feeling today?" The doctor's voice comes from behind Izzie jerking her back into reality.

"I'm feeling good considering."

"That's good. Today all I want to do is exercise your muscles and see if you feel any sensations." Izzie nods and looks up to the doorway where Alex is lurking. She smiles at him and beckons him over.

"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be on rounds?"

"I wanted to see how your first day goes. See what needs to be done in case you need any help." Izzie smiles kindly at him. She looks over to her doctor.

"It's okay if he stays." Izzie thanks her and then lays back on the table. The doctor massages her legs being careful to avoid the broken tibia. Afterwards she instructs Izzie on ways to keep her muscles relaxed.

"Next time we'll see if there is any change and then work from there." Izzie nods and thanks her as Alex returns her to the wheelchair. He wheels her out of the room and down the hall.

"Are you hungry? We can go somewhere to eat before going home."

"No, I just want to stay here for awhile. Will you take me to the surgical floor?" Alex agrees and wheels her to the fourth floor.

"Well look who the cat dragged in." Christina comments when they arrive on the floor.

"Not you Izzie. It's good to see you up here again, not as a patient of course."

"Yang don't you have some charts to fill out or something?" Alex retorts.

"It's not the same." She complains. "That was without any kind of pizzazz or feeling. I'm hurt Karev, very hurt." Christina taunts as she turns away from the couple shaking her head.

Izzie spends the day helping fill out paperwork and filing while Alex does his rounds. Meredith and George stopped over to say hello when they heard Izzie was in for the day. The three make plans to have dinner the next night. Bailey spotting Izzie walks briskly over to her.

"Stevens! I know you are not on the schedule! What are you doing here?" Izzie turns in her chair and looks at Bailey sheepishly.

"I didn't want to sit at home another day and Alex has to work so I'd be by myself. I just thought I would help out a little." Bailey looks over to the nurse standing near by.

"Get Karev back here." The nurse nods and scurries away at Bailey's annoyed tone.

"Being mean doesn't work for you anymore Dr. Bailey. Alex told me how kind you were after my accident. I believe that I may never be afraid of you again."

"Oh I'll make sure you're afraid of me Stevens. Just wait until you're back under my thumb. Then you'll remember to be afraid." Izzie just grins.

"Tomorrow night Meredith and George are coming over. Possibly Christina. I'd love it if you would come also."

"Seeing me outside of work is supposed to be your nightmare. Not something you invite."

"Tell me about it." Alex says coming up behind Bailey shuddering. "You bellowed?"

"Watch it Karev. You've caught me in a weak moment. Don't push it or I will change my mind."

"What would you like?"

"You're off the rest of the day. Take her home and keep her there. Feed her, let her rest, whatever you have to do. I do not want to see you back here until you are one hundred percent do you hear me Stevens?" Bailey turns and begins to walk away, and then she stops and turns back. "I'll be there tomorrow. You better have something good to eat." She laughs as Alex sends her and then Izzie a horrified look.

"You didn't."

"Oh I did. Come on doctor, get me home to bed."

"Oh how I love to hear those words." He answers with a lifted eyebrow. Izzie just shakes her head.

"Not like that."

"Alas I must go without. You keep leading me on like this I might not be able to control myself and ravage you or go find a hooker. Either would work for me."

"Keep it in your pants Karev or there will be nothing left to go to the hookers with."

"Ohh feisty. I think I'll keep you around." They continue to banter back and forth as Alex pushes Izzie out to the car. The drive home is filled with laughter as they keep the light mood going.

Around midnight Alex is lying awake in bed watching Izzie sleeping. Unable to help himself he lightly traces his fingertips down her thigh. When he gets no response from Izzie he continues to play.

"Alex! Stop that I'm trying to sleep!" Izzie murmurs fidgeting around. Alex's eyes fly to Izzie's face as he hears her words.

"You felt that?"

"Of course I felt that, you're tickling me." The second the words leave her mouth Izzie's eyes go wide. Alex shoves the sheets down to the edge of the bed and leans over her lightly tracing his fingers back down her leg. As he does it he looks at her questioningly.

"How does it feel?"

"Like a tingle. Not painful, but very light." Alex presses down harder and she shakes her head. "It doesn't feel much different. But I can still feel it." She moves his hand to her other leg and he lightly pinches her thigh.

"I can feel that! Alex I can feel it!" She cries happily. Alex kisses her deeply and whispers how much he loves her as they hold each other.

Author's Note: So what do you guys think? No drama or torment this time. See I'm a nice person deep down. But I do have some bad news. I have a ton of tests and quizzes this week so I probably won't be back until Friday night at the earliest. But at least I'm leaving it at a good point right? I'll be back as soon as I can, but school's gotta come first.

Review Review Review! I love reviews old, new, good, bad, all kinds! I also want to thank my continuous reviewers because you guys are the best and your words mean so much to me, you know who you are!

Spoiler Alert: Alex kissed Izzie! I've been smiling and screaming and carrying on ever since! I'm so happy! That was totally hot! Especially after he made the big deal about what a first kiss should mean. It made the kiss so much more meaningful. I love Alex so much right now! Alex and Izzie forever!