Taking Over Me part 8
Izzie didn't know what she was going to do. She couldn't stand the fact that she had brought George into this too. And what if he told someone? Why couldn't anyone understand her? This guy was for real. This was a guy that didn't get caught. She knew that quite well.
She was ashamed by her earlier actions, and went to find Bailey to apologize, even though she'd much rather hide under a rock for the rest of her life. It really didn't sound like a bad idea.
She found Dr. Bailey in the clinic. She walked up to her timidly, still embarrassed, especially because Bailey had been there.
"Dr. Bailey?" she said quietly.
Bailey turned around and looked at her.
"Dr. Stevens."
"I'm sorry," Izzie said at once. "I didn't mean to get like that, I was just- under a lot of stress."
"I could tell," Bailey said, studying her. "Are you going to tell me what's going on?"
"George didn't tell you?"
"No," she said. "He said you should tell me."
Izzie sighed. "It's- complicated."
"Well I can't have you working on patients if you're going to have a mental break down," Bailey said firmly. "So you better figure something out. Whatever's going on isn't good for you."
"I'm trying," Izzie said.
"Well try harder," Bailey said sternly. "I mean it."
Izzie didn't know what else to say, so just nodded.
"Go home," Bailey said. "And make sure you do what you have to do."
Izzie nodded again and walked away. She decided to find George. She'd keep out the part about her most recent phone call.
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"What's going on with Izzie?" Callie asked as they got ready to leave. "I heard she had a meltdown earlier."
"She didn't have a meltdown," George said, not looking at her.
"Then what happened?"
He looked at her. "Nothing. She just has a lot of things going on."
Callie looked disappointed. "Well you seem to be plenty distracted by her lately."
"No," he said at once. "I'm not distracted at all. Let's just go."
He opened the door to leave the locker room. Izzie seemed to have just been reaching for the doorknob.
"Oh, hey," she said. "I was looking for you. I-"
Callie came up behind him. Izzie stopped when she saw her.
"Oh," Izzie said shortly. "Hi, Callie."
"You ready to go?" Callie asked George.
"Um- yeah, in a minute," he said. "I just have to talk to her for a second."
"Okay," Callie said unenthusiastically. "I'll wait then."
She passed Izzie. Izzie watched her go, then turned back to George.
"Sorry," she said, stepping into the room.
"It's nothing," he said.
"Is anyone else in here?" she asked, looking around.
"No," George said. "Just us."
She sighed and looked at him seriously. "You can't tell anyone. I mean it, George, you can't."
"Well it's not like I can say much," he said. "It's not like you gave me a name."
"You can't say anything about any of it. Promise me you won't."
"I don't know if I can," he said.
"You have to," she said desperately. "You don't understand. I shouldn't have told you in the first place-"
"So if something happens, if you mysteriously disappear, I just keep my mouth shut?"
"You have to," she said pleadingly. "Things will only get worse if you do."
"Are they gonna get worse since you told me?" he asked.
She looked at him for a second, then looked down.
"I don't know what's gonna happen. I never do." She looked up. "This is serious George."
"Yeah, I figured that out," he said rather coldly, making her look away again. "Look at what this is doing to you. I thought you'd lost it."
"I'm fine," she said. "There's – there's more important things to worry about right now."
"So tell me," he said. "Am I gonna have to deal with this everyday now too?"
"I really hope not," she said. "And I'm gonna do everything I can."
He shook his head. "Whatever. Do what you want. I have to go."
"George –" she started, but he just walked out. She sighed and sat down on the bench. After a few moments she took out her phone. She looked at it for several moments, then dialed a number. His number.
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The night was cold and dark. She stood by herself, afraid yet determined. She was beginning to think that she was wasting her time, or that it was gonna be some kind of trick. Then he showed up.
"It was mighty brave of you to come," he said, coming out of nowhere, making her jump. "I never would have thought you'd want to see me. I'm impressed."
"I need you to tell me what you really want," she said, trying to sound calm.
"You cut right to the point, don't you?" he grinned. His smile chilled her.
"I mean it," she said. "This has been going on long enough."
"You want to make sure that I keep away from your little friend, right?" he said. "You're afraid for him?"
"You don't have to worry about him," she said firmly. "He isn't going to say anything. He doesn't even know enough to say anything."
"Oh he does," Al said. "Trust me, he does. And he wants to. He really wants too. But he thinks it's better if you tell them. At least until you can't."
Her heart sank but she didn't step away. "I'll do what ever you want me to. Just tell me."
"We've had this conversation," he said. "Unless you want this to end the hard way. I wouldn't mind it so much, but I think you and your friend would."
You're absolutely crazy, a voice in her head said. Get out of there. What were you thinking, coming here? I guess he really has driven you insane.
"Why don't we call it a night," Al said. "There's much to be done in such a little time. Don't you have things to be worrying about right now?"
"So you're gonna just let me go?"
"Unless you don't want me to," he said. "I like it better when it's a surprise."
She stared at him.
"And Izzie- stop trying to bargain with me. I'm really starting to get annoyed by it. And make sure you watch your back more closely. And your friend's too. Because you're right. You have every reason to be afraid."
"What are you going to do?"
"Now if I told you that," he smiled, "it wouldn't be a surprise. And I like surprises."
And he let her go. Just this time. He wanted to give her another day to slip away into the world of fear.
