Disclaimer: Don't own GA, etc, etc, etc. You know what I mean.
A/N: For all those who think Izzie has been annoying, obnoxious, and/or self-righteous recently (and that includes me; she's really been bothering me), this chapter is for you. Besides, I need to get it off my chest!
Chapter 5: Showdown at the Nurses' Station
Meredith ignored Alex's concerned voice, and maybe even the sensible little one in her head telling her to walk away. But she couldn't. She just simply couldn't take Izzie's overbearing self-righteousness anymore. It was too much to take at this point. Too much stupid little looks about George, and now about her friendship with Alex. TOO DAMN MUCH. Meredith Grey had enough going on between her mother, her father's appearance, finding out about half-sisters she never knew existed, McDreamy, and her internship, to deal with her roommate's childish behavior anymore. So she wasn't going to. "Enough," she said, a little louder than she had intended. But volume didn't really matter, anyway, since the entire hospital would know about this conversation by the end of the day even if she whispered it, or used freakin sign language, for that matter. And Meredith knew Seattle Grace well enough to understand her time in the elevator with Alex, and their cuddling would surely make the gossip rounds. At the moment, she didn't give a damn.
"Excuse me," replied the blonde, not bothering to look up.
"You heard me. I'm sick and tired of all of this. You act like you're all that, like you're better than the rest of us, when you're really not. This holier-than-thou stuff has got to stop. You think I don't feel terrible about what happened with George? You really think I don't get it? But you know what, it takes two to tango, Izzie. TWO to have sex. George is a grown-up, and he knew how I've been feeling. As for you… and the way you've treated Alex. Oh boy. You know what, if you didn't want to be with him, that's your mistake to make. But you were such a cold-hearted bitch when you broke up with him, it's no wonder he's upset and angry. He didn't deserve that, despite any mistakes he may have made. You forgave him, remember? Or at least you said and acted like you did. If you had bothered to actually get to know him instead of just screwing in storage closets, maybe you would have realized what there is underneath. But you didn't. Now you're going around blaming ME because I happen to get what he's going through and am being a loyal friend. Heaven forbid someone besides you gives a damn, right? Well, tough. You are just going to have top deal with the fact that I am Alex's friend and I will stay Alex's friend. I am so unbeliev-"
At that point, the other intern dropped her pen and looked at Meredith full of disbelief at what she was hearing. Meredith was actually reaming her out, publicly, about everything. Truth be told, she was shocked (as was everyone who had the privilege to hear Grey's rant). It was so out of the ordinary for Meredith; that didn't mean Izzie had to stand it, however. "Yes, because you're just the person to be lecturing me about giving a damn. You, who like everybody else, jumped ship when Alex slept with the skanky nurse in the on-call room. Yeah, you're a great friend. Oh, I have an idea, why don't we ask Addison Montgomery-Shepherd how good of a friend she thinks the woman who flirts with her husband constantly is ? Don't you dare presume to tell me you know Alex better than I do."
"I do. I certainly care more, that's for sure. You are just so freaking self-absorbed and unbearable. I mean, you have to interfere with everybody and everything. Now you're like interrogating Callie at every turn. It's not your place, Izzie. You need to grow-up and learn to just leave things alone sometimes. You haven't made the situation between me and George anything but worse, if it can be that, and you have no place interfering in my friendship with Alex. Suck it up." Not interested in hearing any more of Izzie's excuses, Meredith turned around and walked away, leaving a shell-shocked, humiliated, and ticked off Isobel Stevens.
Alex had been standing there quietly, mostly looking at his shoes as Meredith went after Izzie. Truth was, he was embarrassed over the commotion, but in a way, grateful, too. Nobody at SGH had stood up for him before, so he appreciated that. Besides, if nothing else, he did wish Izzie would back off Mer about the George thing. She was suffering enough over it without Izzie's sermons and ultimatums. Meredith smiled at Alex, said "Let's go," and headed off toward the patient's room, with Alex beside her.