A/N: This part (when I'm about to publish) always excites me because I love hearing what you guys have to say. This chapter was harder for me to write. I'm not totally pleased with it, but I hope you like it anyway! BTW, there is a method to my madness here (yes I am speaking in code). You'll have to read to see what I mean. :).

"Hey," Alex greeted Jo as she was walking down the hall toward Peds.

"Hey yourself."

"You busy tonight? I know that your exam is coming up soon. I'm not on duty and I thought you might need some help studying."

"Actually, I'm going out with the other interns tonight," replied Jo.

Alex raised his eyebrows. "You never go out! Anywhere. Who are you and what have you done with Jo?"

Jo gave him a look of mock disgust. "Very funny. It just so happens that I do know how to have fun."

Alex hesitated. "Okay, if you say so." Jo punched him in the arm playfully. "So, where are you going and what time will you be back?" Alex asked with a smirk.

"Well, father, I'm going to Joe's and I don't know when I'll be home. Satisfied?"

Alex rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Just remember that you have rounds with Yang tomorrow. If you don't wanna be banished to the Pit for the next month, you better be there on time."

"Yeah, I definitely don't want to be on her bad side. Do I? Evil Spawn?"

Alex shot her a look of warning. "Watch it, Princess."

Jo's hand flew to her chest in a gesture of feigned shock. "After all these years, you still insist on calling me that. I think that we've established that I am not a Princess. I grew up in the same neighborhood that you did and went to the same public school." While there wasn't a pretentious bone in her body, she really did look and act like a princess. Alex always meant it as a joke, but he knew there was some truth in the nickname. He might have been her best friend, but he was a guy and he wasn't blind.

Alex raised his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. You win. You're not a princess, but have you ever noticed that you look like Princess Kate? I mean, you could portray her in a movie, that is, if you were an actress."

"Okay, first, she is technically a Duchess. Second, I could be an actress. Fake tears, remember? Besides, I always thought that I looked more like the girl in Tomb Raider," Jo stated matter-of-factly.

Alex scoffed. "Right. You're not that badass."

Jo raised an eyebrow in disapproval. "Anyway, don't wait up for me tonight and no calling me to see what time I'll be home." She jabbed a finger into his sternum.

"All right, but don't call me expecting me to bail you out of jail or something."

"Me? I would never…," she replied innocently.

Alex started down the hallway to the left toward Peds as Jo went to the right. "Hey," he hollered back to her, "don't do anything I wouldn't do."

"Oh, trust me. I wouldn't dare," she yelled just as she rounded the corner.

Jo and Stephanie walked into Joe's and spotted Leah and Shane in a corner booth. They were sitting with a couple of guys Jo had never seen before.

"Who are Leah and Shane sitting with?" she asked Stephanie as they made their way back to the others.

"Oh, well the one sitting by Shane is Jason Meyers, Dr. Jason Meyers."

"Oh. Is he a doctor at Seattle Pres? I don't think I've seen him at Seattle Grace."

"He's a new transfer from Mercy West. He doesn't start until next week. I've seen the other guy around. I think he's a paramedic."

"Oh, right. The soon-to-be merger. How did Jackson take the news? Where is he anyway?"

"Well, ever since Mercy West announced the closing, they have worked everybody overtime trying to tie up loose ends. He's also a little depressed, not just because of the hospital closing, but he just found out that he'll be going to Seattle Pres instead. He was all set to start at Seattle Grace and now all the plans have changed."

"So, how are you taking the news?"

"Fine, it's probably for the best. You know, sometimes if you work with your other half, it can destroy the relationship."

"Nice of you to finally join us," Shane said as they made their way to the table.

"Sorry we're late," Jo replied. "Rough evening in the pit."

"No problem," Leah responded as she whacked Shane on the arm. "So, what was it? Multi-car pileup? A knife sticking out of someone's head?"

Jo slid into the booth, finally noticing the guy sitting next to her. He was boyishly handsome, with dark hair and eyes. She could get lost in those eyes. "Huh?" Jo asked distractedly.

"Your case? What was it?" Leah asked again, slightly amused.

"Um, I don't remember." Jo suddenly realized that she was staring and quickly turned away.

"Jo, this is Matthew Taylor," Leah gestured toward him. "He's one of the new paramedics."

"Matt," he replied and stuck out his hand for her to shake.

Jo took his hand. "Dr. Wilson, um, Jo, Jo Wilson. Nice to meet you."

"You too, Jo Jo," he replied with a smile. He leaned in, as if they were sharing some sort of secret. "That's not your real name is it?"

Jo flushed with embarrassment. "No. It's just Jo."

"Well, nice to meet you Jo."

"This," Leah motioned toward the other new member of the group, "is Dr. Jason Meyers."

"Jason," he replied, as he held out a hand across the table. Jo shook it. "Nice to meet you Jo." He turned to Stephanie. "Good to see you again Dr. Edwards."

"Please, call me Stephanie," she replied with a bright smile.

They spent the rest of the evening talking and playing a few round of darts. At the end of the night, they all made plans to meet up again at the end of the week. Once they said their goodbyes, Jo and Stephanie stepped out into the cool night air.

"Well, it looks like someone had fun tonight," Stephanie remarked as she nudged Jo in the side with her elbow.

"What do you mean?" Jo asked.

"Oh, come on, don't think I didn't see the looks that you and that paramedic were giving each other."

"That? That's nothing. Just some harmless flirting," Jo replied with a dismissive wave of her hand.

"Are you making plans to see each other again? "

"Yeah, with everybody else."

"Do you want to see him without the rest of us tagging along?"

"Well – maybe." Stephanie stared at her hard. "Okay, okay, yes!"

"I knew it! Stick with me and you'll have him eating out of the palm of your hand in no time."

"Ugh," Jo groaned. "That's what I'm afraid of." There was a short pause before they both burst into laughter.

Jo walked as quietly as she could through the front door of the house. She did the best she could to avoid the spot in the floor that would announce her arrival. She didn't even notice the figure lounging on the couch.

"Well, somebody sure had fun tonight," Alex stated smugly.

"Oh, crap!" Jo nearly jumped out of her skin. She walked over and slapped him on the arm – hard. "You almost gave me a heart attack."

"Good thing I'm a doctor," he replied.

"Not funny. What are you doing up so late? Don't you have to work tomorrow?"

"Couldn't sleep."

"Aww. Were you worried about me?" she asked sarcastically.

"Shut up. Why on earth would I be worried about you? You can take care of yourself. Isn't that what you told me?"

"Darn right I can and on that note, I'm going to bed." Jo pretended to yawn and started for the stairs. Truth was, she was too high on the night's events to get any rest. She knew that Alex could read her like a book. He would surely see that something went on this evening. She needed to avoid the subject for a little while, just until she could break the news to him. Otherwise, poor Matthew might not know what hit him, literally.

"Okay," Alex replied skeptically. "I guess I'll see you in the morning. Maybe you can tell me how your night went then." Alex could tell something was up with Jo. He knew her too well. There was an odd look on her face, almost like she was smitten with something or someone. Part of him was glad that she was finally putting herself out there. The other side, the protective side, didn't want to see her get hurt. Alex wasn't about to interfere, but intervening, that was a different story.