Part 2

Alex as thumbing through a medical journal on his couch when Addison emerged from his bathroom, fresh from the shower. Looking up he smiled at how adorable she looked in a pair of flannel pajama pants and an old sweatshirt of his that she had stolen. "Feel better?"

"Yeah," she said, sitting next to him. "I love your shower. It beats the measly water pressure at the hotel."

"I told you so. How's your side? Feeling any pain?"

"Not really. It looks pretty ugly, though."

"Addison, nothing about you could ever possibly look ugly." Blushing, she hid her face in his shoulder. Alex laughed, then wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close to him.

Nestling into the crook of his arm, Addison said, "Tell me about your grandmother."

"She was incredible. She was my mother's mother. My mom died when I was two. Drug overdose. She and my dad had that in common and that was about all. I spent a lot of my time growing up at a blues club watching my father drink, do lines of coke, or play the trumpet. But I was happiest when I was with my grandmother. She lived a couple of streets over from Dad and me. I knew I could count on a home cooked meal and she listened when I told her about my day. She even checked my homework, at least when I was little. Calculus wasn't really her thing. My dad always told me I was worthless, but Grandma said he was wrong, that I was special and that I could do whatever I set my mind to. When I was a junior in high school, she went to the doctor for a check up and that was when the lump was found. She had a mastectomy, chemo, radiation, but she just kept getting worse. Even as weak as she was, she made it to my high school graduation. She died a couple of weeks later."

Addison looked up at Alex and saw a single tear rolling down his cheek. She gently brushed it away. "She would have been really proud of you, Alex. You've become an excellent doctor."

"Thanks. That means a lot, especially coming from you." Kissing the top of her head, he asked, "So who's Erin?"

"She's Derek's little sister. She's one of the best oncologists on the east coast. Plus, she knows my family history."

"I had wondered if you had a family history of breast cancer."

"Four women, two on either side of my family."

"I wish I knew what to say or do to make this easier on you."

Sitting up, Addison looked him square in the eye. "You're doing it right now, Alex. Just by being you." Settling again against his left shoulder, she said, "Alex, can I ask you something?"

"Sure," he murmured.

"What are we doing?"

"Um…sitting on my couch talking?" he said, knowing that was not the answer she was looking for, but in his nervousness, all he could think to do was make light of the situation.

She smacked him lightly on the chest. "Seriously? That wasn't what I was talking about, Alex."

"I know that. I just…I don't know. I know that you are an amazing woman and I care about you a lot. I know you're a good kisser. But we've never really talked about that night at Joe's, and I didn't know if that meant you aren't interested or if you're as nervous about this as I am."

Addison sat up again and turned to face him on the couch. "Alex, it's not that I'm not interested. That much I can assure you. I just…I'm your attending, and I have no real desire to become part of the Seattle Grace rumor mill. Plus, I'm a mess, Alex. My personal life is a mess. And I don't want you to get dragged down by that. But I wish it were simpler, because I'm ridiculously attracted to you. Everything's different now, though."

"It is," he agreed. "You are the most complex, captivating woman I have ever met, Addison Montgomery. And I have so much respect for you—as a doctor, as a surgeon, as a woman. You are strong and intelligent and funny and sexy as hell. Whatever happens next, surgery and chemo and all of that, I'll be right here, because first and foremost, I consider you a friend, and that's what friends do."

"Thank you, Alex," she said, offering him a shy smile. "So does that mean that we take things as they come?"

"Absolutely," he replied, returning her smile.

"Okay."

"Okay," Alex mimicked with a smirk.

Addison laughed at him, then laid her head back on his chest, yet again. "I'll probably have to have a mastectomy," she said quietly.

"Probably," Alex echoed. "Have you thought about reconstruction?"

"I don't think I want it. That may sound weird, but it just seems so…fake."

Alex laughed. "Addison, it would be fake."

"I just…it's a hassle. And, if this tumor is as advanced as I think it is, part of my chest wall will have to be removed, which means reconstruction would have to wait, and I don't want two surgeries. Is that strange?"

Alex laid his cheek against the top of her head. "Not at all. Addison, you are beautiful, and that won't change if you choose not to have breast reconstruction."

"Thank you," she said, yawning.

"You've had a long day, Addie. Why don't you go to bed?"

"Could, I mean would you…hold me? At least until I fall asleep?"

Alex kissed her forehead. "Absolutely." Helping her to her feet, he said, "Why don't you go get comfortable. I'm gonna go pee and change clothes."

Five minutes later, he emerged from the bathroom clad in pajama pants and an old grey t-shirt. Addison was already curled up in his bed, under the covers. He climbed in next to her and turned off the light. Laying on his back, Alex grabbed Addison's wrist and pulled her gently toward him. Wrapping his arms around her, he said, "Does it bother you if I call you Addie?" he asked, suddenly realized that he had been using her nickname a lot throughout the course of the day.

"No," she murmured, resting her head on his chest. "It sounds good, coming from you."

"Well, in that case, sleep well, Addie."

"You too, Alex," she mumbled as she drifted off in his embrace. Alex was only able to keep his eyes open for a few more minutes before he joined her in sleep.

oOoOo

Addison was paying for her coffee at the stand just outside the hospital when Miranda Bailey approached her. "Addison? I tried to get a hold of you all night last night. I was worried."

Taking a sip of her latte, Addison said, "I was with Alex. He didn't think I needed to be alone last night."

Miranda let out a big sigh. "Addison."

"Miranda, there's nothing going on. Yet. I consider him a good friend. He was a perfect gentleman."

"You said 'yet.' What is it in the water of this hospital?"

Seeing the look in her friend's eyes, Addison knew she was only faking most of her exasperation. "You know I'd never favor Karev over the rest of the interns, Dr. Bailey. But…"

"I hate that word."

"It's just that I'm going to be out of commission for awhile and I would appreciate it if Alex could be assigned to my service indefinitely. He has an aptitude for obstetrics and gynecology, even if he won't admit it. I know that he'll be an asset to whomever fills in for me while I'm out."

"I can do that, assuming that's what he wants. I still haven't heard him admit that he doesn't want to pursue plastics anymore. Although something tells me he'll agree. That's what 'friends' do for each other, after all, isn't it?"

Addison rolled her eyes at the sarcasm she heard in Bailey's voice. "Miranda—"

"All of you attendings and interns are gonna drive me to an early grave. Explain that to my little boy."

Addison laughed. "Sorry."

"For what it's worth, Addison," Miranda said. "You could do a lot worse than Alex Karev."

"Thanks, Miranda." Addison smiled as she walked away. That was as close to the Bailey seal of approval as she figured she would ever get.

oOoOo

"Where is Yang?" Bailey demanded as the rest of her interns gathered at the nurses' station to get their assignments for the day.

"She's coming, Dr. Bailey," Meredith Grey answered. "She was running late this morning."

"I'm sure she was," Bailey muttered under her breath as Christiana Yang sprinted toward them. "Good of you to join us, Yang. Have fun in the pit today."

Christina opened her mouth to protest then thought better of it. No one ever won an argument with the Nazi.

"Stevens, with Torres, and you will behave yourself and keep your snarky comments to yourself unless a week of scut sounds like fun to you." George attempted to hide his smile. "O'Malley, you're with Shepard, Grey with Burke. Karev, you'll be on Dr. Montgomery's service indefinitely."

Alex nodded in understanding, sure that Addison had talked to Bailey about taking a leave of absence to recover from her surgery. Meanwhile, Yang snickered. "What the hell did you do, Evil Spawn? This is the second time you've been stuck on the gynie squad."

"Shut up, Yang," Alex snapped.

"Oh, come on, Alex. You must have done something," Izzie teased.

"Why don't all of you mind your business and get to work," Bailey shouted as she walked away from them. Everyone scampered off except Meredith, who followed Alex into the stairway.

"Something's wrong with Dr. Montgomery," she stated.

Alex looked at her in surprise. "How did you know?"

"I overheard Derek on the phone with his sister last night. They were talking about her and he sounded worried. He left early this morning to pick her up from the airport. I don't know which sister it is, but I know they're all doctors."

"It's Erin," Alex said. "She's an oncologist."

"Cancer?" Meredith asked in disbelief.

Alex nodded. "Breast cancer. Addison thinks it's already pretty advanced."

Meredith looked closely at Alex's face. "You're really worried about her, aren't you? You really care about her."

"I do. And she's scared and I'm trying to be strong for her, but I'm scared too. My grandmother died from breast cancer. I was there when it happened. I guess I just…I don't ever want to go through that again."

She squeezed his arm. "I'm always here if you need to talk, Alex."

"Thanks, Mer," he said, grateful for her support. "And Mer? Don't tell anyone. She'll let people know in her own way."

"Absolutely."

oOoOo

An hour later, Addison and Alex were in the NICU when there was a quiet knock at the door. Addison turned and smiled. "Erin!"

"Hey, Ads. It's been too long," the short brunette with curly hair said, embracing her former sister-in-law.

"That's my fault," Addison replied, looking guilty.

"Nonsense. You both screwed up. Don't you dare take all that guilt on yourself." Leaning in, she pointed toward Alex who was standing back, unsure what he should be doing. "Who's the hottie?"

Much to Erin's delight, Addison's face flushed to match the color of her hair. "Alex Karev, this is Erin Shepard. Erin, Alex."

Erin looked Alex up and down unabashedly. Looking pointedly at Addison, she said, "We'll talk later."

Feeling sorry for Alex who was squirming uncomfortably next to her, Addison said, "Sorry, Alex. Erin isn't known for her subtlety."

Erin grinned. "Enough funny business, Ads. Let me take a look at the biopsy results and your mammogram and do a quick exam. Then we'll decide where to go next."

Shooting a quick sideways glance at Alex, Addison said, "Okay. Alex, can you check on those labs and go ahead and round on my patients. You know what needs to be done."

"Sure thing," he said. Swooping in, he kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear. "Page me when you're done."

Turning red yet again, Addison mumbled her assent before following a highly amused Erin out of the NICU.

"He's cute, Addie," Erin said as they walked down the hall.

"It's complicated, Erin."

"All the good ones usually are, honey. So are you dating?"

"No. Or not yet. I don't know. We kissed a couple of weeks ago, but we hadn't talked about it until last night. And now things are even more crazy."

"He adores you, Ads. I can tell that by the way he was looking at you."

"Really?"

"Yes, really. Even Derek thinks so."

"You and Derek talked about this?"

"He might have mentioned something about an intern last night on the phone. So is he good in bed?"

"Derek?" Addison asked, confused.

"Ew, no! I don't wanna know that about my big brother! I'm talking about the intern, you goof."

"I don't know."

"You mean you haven't?"

"No. We're taking things slow. I don't even…I mean, I wouldn't blame him if he didn't want the hassle of dealing with breast cancer."

"Addison, Alex seems like a decent guy, and he obviously cares about you. Things might be a little more complicated, but don't go shutting doors that shouldn't be shut yet, okay?"

"Since when where you the voice of reason?" Addison asked, opening the door of the exam room they would be using for the exam.

"I don't know," Erin replied with a smile. "And I'm not sure I like it. I was kind of used to being the neurotic, wild one." Their laughter could be heard up and down the hall as the door shut behind them.