Alex was the one to pick me up and take me to the nearest available trauma room. He wrapped his arms around me and comforted me while I hyperventilated and now I'm sat here in a total state of shock, yet again being comforted by Alex Karev. He always seems to be the person that's there when I'm vulnerable or when I need somebody. It's not fair that he gets to see me while I'm vulnerable and that he knows how to comfort me, that he knows how to be there for me. It's like he knows me when he really doesn't and that frightens me.
"I have to get out of here, I can't just sit here and do nothing, I'll go insane." I say and slide off the chair, pulling the plastic cape off of my body and throwing it away. Alex stands up and holds me by my wrists, preventing me from leaving and shakes his head.
"We need to stay here and wait for Bailey, okay? They're going to take care of your Mom. Right now, you can't do anything and I know that sucks, but you need to stay here and let them do their job." He assures and I nod, taking my seat back. "I'll go and see what's going on."
"No! I mean, will you stay with me, please?" I ask him and he nods, wrapping his arms around me. I lean my head in to his chest and try to control my thoughts and stop them from racing, and a few moments later, Bailey walks in.
"Are you alright?" Bailey asks and Alex moves out of the way so she can come closer. She sighs and I look at her in anticipation. "Your Mother had a heart attack at the airport, she came in unconscious and we had to resuscitate her. She has a blood clot in her chest that we're going to operate on immediately, Doctor Burke is preparing the OR with Cristina Yang. I'll make sure you're kept updated. Is there anybody that you want us to contact?"
"My sister, Louise. She needs to know. I'll contact my brother." I reply.
"I'll make sure somebody gets on that immediately. Karev, I want you to stay with her and make sure she's okay, keep her away from the OR and patients. Can you do that for me?" She questions and he nods. "She's in good hands." After Bailey left, Alex grabbed my hand and told me to go with him.
"Let's go and get some coffee while we wait for your family to get here."
We sit in the reception together while we wait and I lean on Alex's shoulder. The first people to arrive are Louise and Tom with Alana and Isabella, who instantly rushes towards Alex to give him a hug. Louise hugs me and I can tell that she's been crying but acts like she hasn't because she thinks she needs to be strong for me. We don't ask each other how we are, because what are we supposed to say? They both sit down and the baby quickly falls asleep.
"She's doing her kissy face, that means she likes you." I point out to Alex and he smiles, letting her kiss him.
"Now you kiss Alex." She says, pointing to me. I laugh and look at Louise, who is smirking at the four year old. "Go on."
"You're a very smart four year old." Alex compliments and she rolls her eyes at him, laughing.
"Just kiss her!" She exclaims, lightly pushing his head towards mine. I take a deep breath and look at him and in my mind I replay the moments from the last time we kissed, although it all seems to fuzzy and my train of thought sidetracks when the only thing I can feel are his lips against mine and my heartbeat. "Okay, okay, that's enough. Get a room!" She laughs, cutting our very sweet kiss short.
"I'm going to go and get some coffee, does anybody want anything?" Louise and Tom shake their heads, but I offer to go with him. They'll say they don't want anything, but they will. Tom's usual is black coffee with two sugars and Louise drinks vanilla cappuccinos. However on the way to the coffee machine, we take a slight detour when Alex pulls me into the store cupboard.
"What are you doing?" I ask him and he sighs, pushing my hair out of my face and tracing my jawline with his thumb.
"I like you. I like you a lot. I know that you just got out of an engagement and that's okay, I can wait until you're ready, but I hope you understand that I won't wait forever. I know that you're going through a lot right now and I wish that I could take it all away from you and I just want to be here for you. I know that I have a reputation, but I'm not as bad as people say that I am." He whispers and I nod, wrapping my arms around his neck and stepping closer to him to close any distance that was left between us.
"I like you. I like you a lot." He laughs and I continue. "I just got out of an engagement and the fact that I'm already catching feelings for you scares me to death. I know that I don't have to wait and the truth is I really don't know what I want, but I don't know what I want from anything. I know that you have a reputation and I'm a glass half full kind of person, but the truth is we really don't know each other that well and this is moving so fast, it scares me. But it's a good scary. I just need a little time. Not a lot, just a little bit more."
The store cupboard door opens and we quickly move away from each other and Meredith walks in, frowning.
"When did you two start hiding in the store cupboard? That's my thing." She laughs. She looks at me with a sympathetic look and she won't question me about it while we're with people, but I know that she will later. I nod at her and sigh.