Author's Notes: Thank you all for hanging in there. I appreciate every single one of you!

I know some of you felt Meredith was out of character in a previous chapter. I always felt that Meredith would have some anger at Izzie cause I feel that Izzie really didn't treat Meredith well in her last year or so. Plus her statement "this isn't my home" or whatever was said when she left in my mind would have really hurt Meredith. Plus Meredith had to see Alex flounder around for a long time missing her. Add to that her anxiety over Alex's health, and I wanted her to be a little snippy and protective. She's back in this chapter, but not as short tempered as she was in the earlier chapter. I hope that makes sense, my brain is kinda fried today :)

Cristina Yang gripped her tray as she followed her best friend through the hospital cafeteria to find an empty table. She mused how all hospital cafeterias seemed the same: the same sullen faces, the same plastic trays, the same seasoning-deprived food. She sat down across from Meredith and moaned as she caught a glimpse of Izzie headed in their direction, even the people were the same.

"We aren't making nice," she abruptly told Meredith.

Her friend scrunched her face in confusion, "Why wouldn't we make nice with Jo? We like her remember?"

Cristina readjusted in her seat to turn her back towards Izzie, "No, not the current wife, I'm talking about his mistake wife."

Meredith's eyes widened as realization dawned about the same time that Izzie walked up holding a tray with her lunch, "Hey guys, mind if I sit with you? It could be like old times..."

"Except instead of pretending to not like you, we'll just really not like you," Cristina said, her voice dripping with disdain.

Izzie began to turn away as Meredith spoke up, "Wait Iz. Why don't you sit down?"

Cristina's eyes widened in surprise, "Seriously? What happened to 'I ran into the vapid narcissist bitch' while visiting Alex?"

Izzie sat down and smiled, ignoring Cristina, "Thank you Meredith. So how is Alex doing?"

Cristina was ready to hurl another insult when Meredith said shortly, "Why are you asking? You already know the answer." There was a brief silence with Izzie looking at Meredith questioningly. "Jo mentioned you had been dropping by almost daily. Seriously Iz, I told you to stay away. What's the matter with you?"

"She doesn't have anyone. And Alex needs support," Izzie protested.

"No, you know what? He needed support what, six years ago when you dropped off the face of the earth. Where were you then with your support?" Cristina asked while giving air quotes with her fingers. "You were selfish then and you're being selfish now."

"How is checking on him and supporting him being selfish?"

"Maybe if you had mentioned supporting his wife just then I would have believed you," Cristina pointed out.

"His wife is calling him a dumbass and making a list of things to insult him about when he wakes up!" Izzie said, her voice rising.

"Okay stop!" Meredith instructed motioning with her arms for them to hush. "Cristina, just eat so we can get back upstairs. And Izzie, stop judging Jo, and stop judging their relationship. Just stop."

Izzie shook her head and quickly chewed her food, "I'm not judging her. I know she's had it rough, but I just think he could do better."

"With who? You?" Cristina asked with a sarcastic snort before muttering "Unbelievable" under her breath.

Meredith gave Cristina a warning glance over the table before venturing softly, "Izzie, is this like when George was dating Callie?"

Cristina threw her head back and laughed, "Oh I forgot about that. That was embarrassing."

Izzie shot an angry glare in Cristina's direction, "No, this time I know for certain that Alex and I could work. I understand my feelings this time."

Before Cristina could respond, Meredith pointed out, "It didn't work last time Izzie and it won't work now. Alex won't leave Jo for you."

Izzie looked at the ceiling and shook her head, "You don't know that. He might. We had something really special..."

"Which you doused in gasoline, set on fire, pissed on, then tied to a cement block and threw in the Pacific," Cristina said with contempt. "I'm sure he will jump for joy that you want to be with him again." She then began to laugh, "I'm sure Mer and I will have to restrain him from leaving the wife he loves and his newborn baby to get back with the ex-wife that crushed his heart." She tried to calm her laughter, "That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!"

Izzie shook her head vigorously, "I know him..."

"Jo knows him," Meredith said quietly. "Jo knows him and understands him better than even we do."

"Word," Cristina added.

A silence fell over them with all three eating quietly. Cristina glanced at Izzie, who was staring off in space, tears shining in the corners of her eyes. Cristina began to feel sorry for the woman that she had once served as a bridesmaid for and ventured, "Have you had any more mets, Izzie?"

Izzie brushed the tears from her eyes, "I had a few three years ago. Two surgeries and four rounds of chemo. It wasn't so bad... I read your article on cardiac conduits in infants. It was brilliant."

"Thanks."

Izzie smiled slightly, "Mer, do you have pictures of your kids?" Meredith smiled and pulled up a few images on her phone. "They are beautiful! How old are they?"

Meredith beamed with pride, "Zola is five, we adopted her from Malawi and Bailey is three, he looks just like Derek's father."

"You adopted from Malawi?" Izzie asked impressed.

"Yeah, I have Alex to thank for that," she said sadly as she took the phone back.

"How so?"

"Zola has Spina Bifida and was brought over for surgery as part of his surgical pro bono program," Meredith explained.

"Alex has a pro bono program?" Izzie asked disbelievingly as she sat back in her chair, "Wow." At that moment both Meredith and Cristina reached for their phones and quickly jumped up. "What's going on? What's happening?" Izzie asked worriedly as she followed them out of the cafeteria. When they didn't respond she pleaded, "Come on guys, just let me know things are okay."

"He's fine," Cristina offered.

"Then why are you both walking so fast?"

Meredith hesitated before blurting out, "Jo says he's showing more signs of consciousness."

"Meredith!" Cristina reprimanded as they walked quickly to catch the elevator with Izzie still on their heels. "Wait why is she still following us? Why are you following us?"

Izzie stared at the elevator doors as they moved upward, "I just want to know he's okay. Why can't you understand that?"

"He's fine Izzie," Cristina ground out. "And if he's not we, along with Jo, will handle it," she said pointing between herself and Meredith. As they reached the ICU entrance she paused to make eye contact, "This isn't your place Izzie."

She and Meredith then stepped into the ICU to see Jo standing outside Alex's room. They both panicked at the sight of her standing up and lightly jogged over to her. Meredith reached her first, "Oh God, what happened?"

Jo looked at each of them and reached out to Meredith's arm in a consoling manner, "Nothing, he's fine. Dr. Clifford doesn't think it will be much longer before he's alert. He's already responding to simple commands. I just wanted to speak to Dr. Stevens for a minute."

Meredith and Cristina turned slightly to see Izzie standing a couple of feet behind them, "Yes Jo?"

Jo inhaled deeply, "I appreciate everything you've done for me...for us," she said as she gestured into Alex's room. "Really I do, but I think it would be best for him if his ex-wife weren't around when he fully wakes up. It'd just confuse or agitate him and I can't allow that." Jo then turned and walked back into Alex's room.

Cristina watched with a satisfied grin as Izzie stood shell-shocked in the corridor. As she and a surprised Meredith slipped into the room Cristina muttered under her breath, "I like the hairball even more than usual."