IZZIE

Izzie sighed as she felt her phone vibrate in her hand again. She looked down to see it was Nina her agent back in New York. It was the fifth time she'd called that morning. Nina didn't have kids, so she just didn't get it. She'd tried to be understanding, sent a huge bouquet of flowers to Izzie's house. But then the next day she was back to leaving urgent voicemails about deadlines and flight details and unhappy clients.

Izzie rolled her eyes as she listened to the latest message thinking maybe it could take her mind away from Sarah's surgery. Quickly realizing it had been a mistake as soon as she heard Nina's excited voice saying how a movie producer wanted to speak to Izzie about a potential role in an up and coming Hollywood block buster. That he thought she had just the right look for them, but it would require her flying out to LA by the end of the week to meet with him. Izzie quickly deleted the message, as she thought what a joke that was, she had never acted in her life, nor did she have any intention of doing so, certainly not at the moment anyway.

She pressed her lips together as she then saw her mother's name flash up on the screen. She'd have to deal with Nina later she thought as she debated whether to speak to her Mother. She decided against it. There was no point in telling her about Sarah yet. Robbie, Izzie's mother was a drama queen at the best of times, and she would just make everything ten times worse now if she knew what was happening. Izzie would have to break it to her later. The only person Izzie really wanted to speak to at that point in time was her best friend Addison and she had been in surgery herself all morning back in New York.

As a fresh wave of anxiety rushed over her at the thought of Sarah in surgery, Izzie suddenly thought of Alex in there with her and she instantly felt better. He'd been so kind to Sarah and had really put her at ease. Apart from Addison's husband Mark and Izzie's ex, Denny. Sarah was wary of men. Izzie sometimes wondered whether that was her fault. Whether her reluctance to let go and trust had rubbed off on her young daughter. But with Alex, Sarah had seemed so relaxed, she hadn't even been like that with Denny.

Izzie had looked Alex up on her ipad in the middle of the night when she couldn't sleep and she'd found out that he'd come top in his residency year and was now a very well respected pediatric surgeon. He'd also been responsible for an exchange programme bringing African orphans over to Seattle. Izzie had smiled when she'd read that. Not just because it couldn't be further from the super confident, bad boy image he'd given off when they had first met. But, because it was also something that Izzie could see herself doing if she was a surgeon.

She tensed as she heard her phone ring again, but quickly breathed a sigh of relief as this time she saw it was Addison's name flashing up. "Addie." Izzie said, picking up straight away.

"Iz, I'm so sorry, just got your message, been a nightmare morning... I've got two minutes. How is she?" Addison said sounding concerned and a little breathless.

"In surgery with Shepherd. So we just have to wait now." Izzie replied.

"Well, she's in good hands. If you like I can get Mark to give Derek a call later? Find out exactly what's going on." Addison said calmly.

"Thanks, but it's fine. He's explained everything really clearly...and Alex is in there too…" Izzie added a little shyly.

"Alex being 'the guy'?" Addison said playfully, lightening the mood a little.

"Uh huh." Was all Izzie could reply as she felt her cheeks burning as she thought about Alex again.

"So, come on then. It's been at least 24 hours, any updates?" Addison teased.

"Well, we kind of went for dinner last night and then he kissed me and I freaked out like a complete idiot." Izzie said sighing.

"Whoa, you went on a date and kissed? Good work." Addison replied.

"It wasn't a date, like I could even think about dating when Sarah is so sick. He was just trying to be nice." Izzie said defensively.

"Yeah, so nice he decided to shove his tongue down your throat. I don't comfort any of the relatives of my patients like that." Addison said chuckling.

"Well, whatever it was or wasn't. He's going to think I'm a total screw up now….Ah, I don't know. It's not exactly the right time to start anything at the moment now anyway." Izzie said a little miserably.

"When you know, you know, Iz, you said that remember? And I'm sure he understands you're going to be a little freaked out at the moment, he is treating Sarah after all.….Listen, sorry to cut this short, but I've really got to go now, so give Sarah a huge hug from me. Both Mark and I are trying to free up our schedules to take a trip over to Seattle soon…..We're here for you, Iz. " Addison said as she hung up.

...

Izzie put her phone back in her bag feeling a little better. She glanced at her watch, they would still be a few hours in surgery and she felt sick wondering just how she was going to make it through the rest of the day. She stood up to make her way to the elevator. Reaching it just as the doors were about to shut and a helpful looking young doctor, clutching a pile of patients charts, quickly held it open for her.

"Thanks. Do you know which floor the restaurant is on?" Izzie said trying not to look him in the eye as she glanced at the name on his ID card, 'Dr O'Malley', it sounded kind of familiar. She could also tell by the way he was looking at her too that he recognised her celebrity status and she looked away, she just wasn't in the mood for that today.

He cleared his throat, before he said. "Sure, it's on the top floor that's where I'm heading."

She looked straight ahead then as he mumbled. "Umm.. excuse me, but aren't you Isobel Stevens?"

"Yep." She said politely not wanting to get in to a conversation but trying not to be rude as she continued to look away.

"Sorry, you must hate it when people stare at you. It's just my friend Alex…I mean, Dr Karev, is treating your daughter. They're in surgery right now aren't they?"

Izzie turned to look at him now, he was shorter than she was with slightly shaggy hair, but he had kind brown eyes and she smiled at him with genuine warmth as she said. "Yeah and honestly this is the longest day of my life." Frowning as her smile quickly disappeared.

"Honestly, Dr Karev, he's an awesome doctor, your daughter will be fine and Dr Shepherd he's world re-known." O'Malley said proudly as he juggled the pile of charts in his arms.

Izzie was silent for a moment then, before a thought popped in to her head and she suddenly blurted out. "Did Dr Karev mention me to you then?"

He looked a little embarrassed then as he said. "Oh, only to say he was doing the surgery on your daughter."

Izzie looked a little disappointed as she watched the elevator speed up through the floors, before it jerked to a halt and the doors flew abruptly open and she silently followed Dr O'Malley out as a single chart flew out of his arms, landing by her feet. She bent down and picked it up, handing it to him.

"Thanks," he stuttered as he rebalanced them.

"What's Dr Karev really like, as a person?" Izzie suddenly blurted out to him.

He laughed, as he said. "Who, Alex? Well, let's just say when I first met him I couldn't stand the guy. I thought he was the biggest jerk I'd ever met. But then once you get to know him you realize it's all an act. He's a decent guy, one of the most quality people I know in fact. I even lived with him up until last year... But, Alex doesn't let his guard down easily, you know…." He paused then as though he wanted to say something else but thought better of it.

Izzie looked at him a little expectantly for a second, before she said. "Well, it was nice to meet you."

"You too, oh and I'm George O'Malley, if you ever need anything just ask." He replied and Izzie looked deep in to his eyes, and again similar to when she had first met Alex she was hit with a strange sensation that they'd met before.

…

It was a good few hours later when Izzie was back in the relatives waiting room anxiously waiting for news, when she saw Dr Grey and Dr Shepherd walking towards her, both looking tired and slightly relieved.

"Ms Stevens, Sarah is out of surgery." Dr Shepherd said as Izzie rushed up to them.

"Dr Karev, was called away." Dr Grey said immediately, as Izzie realized the younger doctor sensed she was looking around for him. Izzie bit her lip irritated with herself, that it was that obvious she was bothered whether Alex was there or not. He probably wanted to get as far away from her as possible, after the way she'd run off on him the night before.

"Well, the good news is we got all of the tumour out and there shouldn't be any lasting damage to Sarah's spinal cord." Shepherd said.

"Oh, thank god." Izzie replied, her hand flying up to her mouth.

"It's been sent away to the lab for analysing, so it will be a few days before we know what we're dealing with though. But, Dr Karev will take over her treatment from here, although Dr Grey and I will conduct a post-operative check on Sarah tomorrow." Shepherd said smiling as Izzie flinched at the mention of Alex again and the thought of seeing him.

Dr Grey stayed behind as Dr Shepherd turned to walk off and touching Izzie's arm she said kindly. "This must all be such a shock to you. You want me to go and get you a drink? I could sit with you for a bit too. It will be a while before Sarah wakes up from the anaesthesia and you're able to go and see her."

"That would be great." Izzie said slowly. Glad of the company of a relative stranger rather than a member of her highly strung family.

….

Lexie stayed with Izzie for a good hour. The more Izzie got to know about her the more she liked her and the more it took her mind away from her sick daughter. She found out Lexie had grown up in Seattle with her parents and sister and her older half-sister Meredith had lived a couple of streets away with her mother, Ellis Grey and step father Richard, the chief of surgery. Izzie couldn't help but feel a little envious, they all sounded so close and so many surgeons in the family too.

...

After Lexie had gone, Izzie decided to go and check on Sarah. Even if she was still unconscious, she just wanted to see her face, hold her hand and kiss her cheek.

Walking cautiously down the sterile white corridors, it was strange but somehow Izzie couldn't help but think that despite the circumstances she felt right at home. Most people she knew hated hospitals, the smell, the sick people, the atmosphere of doom and gloom. But to Izzie, spending the last 48 hours in one had felt more normal to her than any glamorous photo shoot or catwalk show ever had.

She paused as she reached Sarah's room and looking in the first thing she saw was that Sarah was awake and Alex was in there. He was still in his dark blue scrubs and he was sat next to the bed talking to her.

Izzie quickly opened the door and walked in, immediately having to choke back the tears as she felt her heart break a little at the sight of her perfect little girl lying on the bed, wired up to a range of different machines. She looked so tiny and helpless. It was at the moment Izzie knew that however much she wanted to be a doctor, a surgeon even. There was no way she could ever be a pediatric doctor. That was hard-core and she found a whole new respect for the man sat in front of her.

Alex looked up a little startled as he saw Izzie and quickly said. "She's only just opened her eyes and she's a little groggy." Izzie didn't say anything at first as she tried to take it all in, causing Alex to shift uncomfortably as he said. "I should go."

"No, stay." Sarah mumbled from where she lay on the bed.

Izzie instinctively grabbed her hand, as Sarah said to her, "he can stay, can't he Mom?"

"Sure." Izzie said, flashing Alex a small sideways smile as she sat down next to him, gently stroking her daughter's platinum blond hair as she said. "How are you feeling princess?"

"I'm sleepy." Sarah replied as she giggled a little and said. "Mom, evil spawn here says I can have ice cream later and milk shakes."

"Evil spawn?" Izzie said surprised, as she turned to look at Alex.

"Hey, you promised you wouldn't say anything," Alex said to Sarah, shaking his head playfully.

"Sorry." Sarah said looking straight back at him.

"Okay, maybe you should try not to talk." Izzie said protectively to her daughter. As Sarah then started to cry a little and said. "Mom, I'm scared. Will I ever be able to ride horses again and play with my friends and go back to New York and visit Aunt Addison?"

Izzie felt a huge lump form in her throat and a jolt of pain behind her eyes as she looked at her daughter and her eyes glazed over as she tried to speak, she had honestly never felt so alone and helpless in her life as she moved her chair even closer to Sarah's bed. Suddenly feeling Alex reach gently for her hand, wrapping it protectively in his and Izzie instantly felt safe and protected, and as though she was no longer quite so alone. Giving her the courage to say softly. "Of course you'll be able to do all those things again, sweetheart."

"When?" Sarah said, her voice coming out quiet and babyish.

"Soon, but now you need to get more rest to get better." Izzie said, still fighting back the tears as she moved to kiss Sarah on the forehead, careful not to let go of Alex's hand.

"We'll be back later. Remember to call the button if you need me." Izzie then said, standing up and eventually breaking her hand away from Alex's, she walked towards the door to dim the lights before they left. Realizing what she had just said 'We'll be back later' and Alex hadn't even so much as flinched. It was as though they were already a little family, but how could that be? When Izzie barely knew the guy.

The pediatric department was quiet and deserted as they stepped outside Sarah's room and Izzie realized it was nearly midnight as she looked straight up at Alex, her wide eyes brimming with tears. Normally she was great at switching her emotions on and off. She was so used to wearing a mask to protect herself from becoming vulnerable. She was Isobel Stevens the successful supermodel, she could switch the charm on and smile and be polite and friendly to anyone. But the real her, the real Isobel Stevens, that was someone she let very few people see. But here with Alex it felt so good to just be herself, as the tears slid down her cheeks and she said. "I feel like I've let her down somehow."

Alex placed both his hands gently on her shoulders as he said. "Ssshh.. you can't think like that. You've done everything you can for her and more. You're a good parent, Izzie. Never forget that. None of this is your fault."

Izzie's lip trembled a little then as she looked up at him. His hair was slightly ruffled from his day in surgery and he had the look of a man that hadn't shaved for a few days, but he was so handsome in a raw, manly way and she felt a longing for him that she'd never felt before. Not even her ex fiancé and his movie star looks, had stirred her like this. She swallowed as she lowered her voice and said, "About last night…"

He looked away and removed his hands as he said, "it's ok, we don't have to talk about it." His gaze shifting to the floor as Izzie could tell he was feeling increasingly uncomfortable.

"I want to. I want to explain….Because the things is, I'm no good at this, at dating and being with a man." She said taking a step closer to him.

"Izzie, it's.." He went on to say, as she stopped him, putting a perfectly manicured finger up to his lips, not caring that anyone could walk past and see them as she said firmly. "It's been a long time since I've been with a man, I mean even wanted to be with a man. It's even been over ten months since I..." This time Alex was the one to silence her as he gently removed her finger from his lips and looked straight at her.

Izzie looked away, this probably wasn't the time or place to be discussing this, not when Sarah was so sick. But she couldn't help her desire, she had never been one for casual sex and at times she had felt as though she had no sexual desire left in her at all after her last failed relationship. But here with Alex it was as though it had awakened something deep inside her and despite how inappropriate it was she couldn't help the rush of arousal trickling through her in his presence.

He didn't say anything, just settled for drawing her closer to him and she drank in the subtle scent of his aftershave. He tightened his arms around her and lifted her chin with his fingertips so their eyes met, brushing her hair away from the side of her neck as he buried his lips below her ear. Izzie felt her heart beating against her breast, she knew he was trying to comfort her and they were in the middle of a hospital. But the intimacy between them was overwhelming and all she could think about was what it would feel like to have him inside her and it was driving her crazy. And for a moment she even managed to forget the total nightmare she had been living through all that day.

"I should get you out of here." Alex then whispered.

Izzie looked at him a little confused as he said, "Sarah will probably sleep until morning. I'm off duty now, so why don't you let me take you home, so you can rest for a bit and pick up some more stuff for you and her."

She ran her hand through her hair as she said. "Oh, I don't know. I don't want to be far away from her... But, I guess a hot shower would be good, the ones here aren't the best. Maybe I could leave for a couple of hours. But you don't have to….."

"I'm heading home now anyway and your place is on route so it's no trouble and saves you getting a cab..." Alex replied.

"Okay" Izzie said and the faintest small smile crossed her lips. Somehow leaving the hospital for the rest of the night didn't seem half as scary, if he was with her..

...