A/N: I can't thank you enough for the kindness you have given e in your kind reviews. As also thanks to Jamie who edits and gives me some ideas.

Please enjoy

Chapter 3 –Panic

Alex knew he was running out of time. Whilst Thomas had two more asthma attacks he was now in the clear and taking his Ventalin without incident. Alex really was at a loss as to how much longer he could keep him admitted. Just one more day maybe two.

"Hey Dr Karev?" A new male intern asked.

"What?" Alex replied without looking up from his chart.

"Thomas Wilson, is he on some special diet or something?"

This caught Alex's attention. Over the years he had learned to show little or no emotion, this was one such occasion and he was not going to allow anyone see the slightest of weaknesses on his behalf.

"Not as far as I'm aware. Why?" Alex asked looking up from his chart.

"Oh it's just that his mother won't let him eat anything that she doesn't bring in herself."

Alex tried to hide the small smile that formed on his lips. After the whole juice episode of course Jo would only bring in home cooked food or some such organic shit for Thomas to eat. Alex had already been given the chat about how much refined sugar can stunt a child's brain development.

"Maybe she is just a good mom." Alex supplied.

"Who?" Another male intern asked.

"Thomas Wilson's mother." The other intern answered.

"Oh yeah, haven't seen the father around. Hot single mom. Nice."

"Hell yeah, wouldn't mind tapping that." The first male intern added.

"What did you just say? Alex said in a low angry voice.

"Um sorry Dr Karev that wasn't professional." Intern one stuttered.

"That's it, both of you go back to and see Dr Edwards your Chief Resident, because you don't belong in Ped's." Alex yelled.

"Sorry it won't happen again."

"That's right it won't because neither of you will work in my Department again. In Paediatrics we have two patients, the kids and their parents. Obviously you have no respect for Thomas or his mother so get the Hell out of my Department."

The two interns just stood still staring blankly at the Head of Paediatrics what had just happened in the past thirty seconds to make him react like that.

"NOW." Alex roared one more time.

Alex didn't know what pissed him off more the 'no father around' comment or "hot single mom' comment. It was probably the "wouldn't mind tapping that" that really did it for him. All three hurt. Whichever it was he had sent another two interns packing. Stephanie would be pissed with him again. Oh well same shit different day Alex thought to himself.

"Good Morning Alex." Arizona said in her usual chirpy happy voice.

Alex just glared at her.

"Good morning Arizona it's nice to see you too. Beautiful day isn't it." Arizona said sarcastically.

"Sorry. I'm in a bad mood. What brings you here? I didn't page you."

"I know, I thought I might see if maybe you would like to take a few days leave and I could fill in for you."

"And why would I want a few days leave?' Alex asked.

"No reason just thought you might have some things you need to do, people to talk to, that kinda thing."

"Mer sent you didn't she?"

"Yes but only because she is worried. And the scared look on those two interns' faces just now reminds me of the angry Alex I knew when we first met."

"Fuck. I'm sorry. Have I been that bad?"

The silence Arizona provided was answer enough.

"Okay. I'll do better, but I don't want any leave. I need to stay here."

"Well okay but seriously Alex if you can't handle all of what is happening, you need to take some time, sort it out, fix it and then come back to work."

"I know. I know I do. It's just I'm so freakin angry with her. And at the same time I'm so fucking scared she is gonna run and take him from me."

"Well Alex if you don't give her a chance to talk that is exactly what will happen. If you keep biting everyone's head off Jo will take Thomas and leave, and who would blame her. If you want him in your life you have got to get a grip on that temper of yours."

"Your right, I know you are. I have to do it soon."

"Yeah, because you know he is well enough to go home. We need the beds Alex. You can't keep making up excuses for him to keep staying another night. Jo isn't stupid, or did you forget that she is a Doctor too?" Arizona smiled, touched him on his arm and left to go back to her office.

Alex stood by Thomas' window he could see Jo was sitting on the bed with him while they were playing with some blocks. The smile on both of their face's warmed Alex's heart like he had never experienced before. He had loved Jo so much, more than he thought it was possible to love, but the dynamic of a son thrown in just has taken that love to a whole different place. He can't lose them, he won't. He needs to go into his office, sit down and think about what he is going to say. God knows Jo has tried so many times to tell him, explain and he had shut her down. Nothing she can say will ease the pain he has felt for the past four years but then again it can't make it any worse. His biggest fear is that Jo left because she was pregnant and that she thought he would make a shit father.

Alex caught sight of Jo walking towards the elevators and quickly went to see her. It's now or never

"Jo, where are you going?"

"To get a cup of coffee." She replied.

"Oh, well when you come back I wanted to talk to you about Thomas staying another night."

"What? You have been saying that for the past three nights. He is fine. He has had enough of this place, and quite frankly so have I. What Tommy needs is his own bed, without all of these Dr's and nurses around."

"You call him Tommy?" Alex said with a genuine smile.

"That's what you took from what I just said? Jesus Alex."

"Sorry it's just it suits him."

Jo's face softened. Alex could be the biggest pain in the ass, but when he did things like that her insides turned to mush and all she wanted was for him to hold her. To feel his strong arms around her.

"I still want to take him home today. I'm a Doctor too you know and I know what I'm doing, he needs to go home and feel safe in his own surroundings." Jo said as she began to walk away closer to the elevators.

"JO!" Alex said and grabbed her on the wrist."

"OWE. What the hell Alex don't ever touch me like that. You know better." She spun around at the force of him turning her around from walking away from him.

"Fuck Jo, I am so so sorry, I didn't mean it. I didn't, I wasn't thinking. Please I'm just scared as shit that you are going to take him away and I will never see him again. Or you."

"Alex we are not discussing this in the hallway." Jo said whilst rubbing her wrist.

"No you're right, come into my office please. I promise I won't touch you and try my damndest not to raise my voice.

They both walked silently into Alex's office and he asked one of the nurses to get two cups of coffee and bring them in.

"Love what you've done with the place." Jo said sarcastically. She remembered when this office belonged to Dr Robbins and how pretty it was now it looked like a bomb site.

"Yeah well I tend not to let people in here." He supplied a little embarrassed.

"So let's get it over with." Jo said.

"Jo I have no right to keep Thomas in any longer. I know he is well enough to go home. But I don't know where home is? It could be anywhere."

"Did you even look at his chart?"

"What?"

"His chart Alex. All patients' charts have their address on them, correct?"

"Um yeah." Alex replied quietly feeling really stupid now.

"Well have a look at the address."

Alex went to his computer and called up Thomas's patient records.

"Seattle. You live in Seattle."

"Yes. We moved back three weeks ago. The first week I spent setting up our new apartment, the second week I started my new job at an out patients clinic and trying to get up the nerve to come and see you. The third week, I brought him in here."

"So you were always going to let me meet him."

"Of course Alex. I have fucked up royally I know that. My head was in a bad place back then I had so much going on. It's not an excuse. It's just how I dealt with it. But I want you in our son's life if that's what you want."

"Of course it is. What does he know about me or his father?"

"Not much. Just that his daddy is a Doctor that looks after sick babies and kids and is a really kind man. He just lives far away but just for a little while."

"Thank you. Now I have your address you can take him home today." He said smiling.

"Geeze thanks. Maybe tomorrow night you could come over for dinner."

"Really?"

"Sure. I have deprived you of Tommy for far too long, you need to get to know him outside of here before we tell him the truth."

"Can I call him Tommy? Or is that just a mom thing?"

"No you can call him that. He will love it. He has already taken to you. He isn't usually so friendly with people he doesn't know."

"Thank you Jo."

"It's the least I can do. Maybe when you are ready you might let me explain why I did what I did. I don't expect you to forgive me. But it's important that you know."

"Okay. Let's get Tommy's discharge papers ready." Alex said smiling with total relief he wasn't going to lose his son. Or Jo.

A/N I hope you enjoyed it. Please leave me a review just so I know if I am on the right track.