A/N: Hellooooo! :) Okay, a lot is gonna happen in Chapter 49 and I'm quite sure not everyone who's still reading the story is gonna like it… ^^" But I mean, see it that way: Another person CAN be some kind of addiction and one little thing can make you totally relapse… I hope, you don't hate us for what we're doing here… =)

Enjoy reading!

And maybe I'll be able to post another chapter tomorrow, if I finish "proof reading" it tonight… if not, it might most likely not be before next weekend!

Lewis Avery POV:

Lewis took a few deep breathes once he stepped out of his office, feeling slightly unbalanced. Actually, he didn't really want to see Tyler right now, at least not alone. He didn't trust himself. But he was the only one that really knew Jackson. That knew how to handle him and how to talk to him. He just hoped they really were able to talk. And not fight again.

His legs moved by itself, and he made his way to the elevators and went down, getting out in the lobby. Tyler had said he needed air, so he most likely was outside. Only a few steps and he would be with him.

He moved towards the entrance a lot slower than he intended to, but eventually, he was outside, turning around to look for Tyler, but he didn't see him.

At least not immediately.

It took him about two minutes, until he spotted him on one of the benches a few feet away. And he didn't look all too good. Pale, and stressed, and his hands were balled to fists.

Lewis knew that he was upset. Really upset. He still knew Tyler so well that it scared the shit out of him. It was like he could read him like a book. Just like back then.

He made his way towards Tyler and sank down on the bench next to him, causing Tyler to twitch.

"Relax, it's just me..." he quietly said, not looking at him at all.

"And that should calm me down how?" Tyler replied, and Lewis could feel his eyes on him. It was like they were drilling into his body, and when Lewis finally turned his head towards Tyler, he almost lost himself in this beautiful blue. Just like last time.

"I... I know I'm probably the last person you want to talk to right now, but... we're in this together..." Lewis started talking. "I know we're putting a hell lot of pressure on you... especially in a situation like this... but you're our only hope."

"I know that!" Tyler replied through gritted teeth. "Don't think I'm stupid... I know I'm probably the only one Jackson still trusts, but I seriously don't know how to stop any of this... I wish I did..."

Shaking his head, Tyler looked down at his hands. "Why, Lewis?"

Lewis bit his lower lip, looking at him. "Why what?"

"You know what I'm talking about," Tyler gave back. "So don't play stupid..." He turned to look at Lewis again, and Lewis could tell that he was getting angry again, but the last thing Lewis wanted right now was another fight with him.

"I... I regret it, believe me... and if I could turn back time, I would, and I would undo everything I've done to him... I should have never pulled Michael into this thing, because if I hadn't, Jackson probably wouldn't be that bad off right now. And I would still have my best friend."

"Oh, now we're talking about you again. Like always. You're such an egoistic bastard, Lewis. But you're right about one thing, you shouldn't have brought Michael in at all... this was none of his business..." Tyler replied angrily.

"And now you need me to clean up your messes. Like always. I'm so sick of it."

"I'm sorry, Tyler..." Lewis said earnestly. "I'm really so sorry... I don't know what else to say..." Lewis felt like crying at that very moment, but he tried to be strong, because Tyler didn't need to have to take care of him, too.

"I know... and I believe you..." Tyler said a little calmer than before, and Lewis knew how much this whole situation already wore him out.

He knew that this was probably a bad idea, but Lewis just couldn't bear to see Tyler like this, so he moved closer to him and put an arm around his shoulder.

"What are you doing?" Tyler asked, looking at him, and Lewis could see that this touch did something to Tyler. Just like it did something to him.

"I'm here for you... because I think you need it right now..." He wrapped his other arm around Tyler and hugged him tight, feeling Tyler's resistance at first, but then Tyler leaned into him, and Lewis just let go.

He closed his eyes, inhaling Tyler's scent.

God, he had missed him so much and holding him like that almost felt like back then when they were still a couple.

Especially when Tyler started touching his back, rubbing his hands up and down. It sent shivers down his spine immediately, and his heart started beating faster and faster.

'Oh God... I never wanna let go again,' Lewis thought, feeling that he slowly but surely was losing control over his feelings. It was just so overwhelming and way too much in this moment.

"I... I should probably go back... back to Alex..." he said hoarsely, trying to calm down his breath, but without much luck.

"Can you... just hold me a little longer? It feels so good..." he heard Tyler whisper, feeling Tyler's hot breath in his neck as he lifted his head just enough so he could look at him.

"That's... probably not such a good idea..." he replied, letting go of Tyler immediately and getting off the bench to get some distance between them.

"Why? I thought you're so happy with Alex?" Tyler called after him and Lewis stared at him in shock.

"I am!" Lewis blurted out, and at least that was the truth. He was happy with Alex, and because of that, it shouldn't feel so good to be with Tyler. So right.

"Then it shouldn't be a big deal to stay with me a little longer, right?" Tyler asked, and got up too, moving towards Lewis until he was barely a foot away from him.

"It's no big deal... I just... have patients... and Eli and Arizona are probably also waiting for me to come back," Lewis lied, looking down to his feet.

"You've never been a good liar, Lewis. At least you were never really able to lie to me..." Tyler took another step towards him and grabbed one of Lewis' hands, placing it on his chest.

"Deep inside of your heart you know exactly that you're just afraid to admit what we both know..."

"And what would that be?" Lewis wanted to know, looking at his hand and feeling Tyler's heart beat really fast underneath his shirt.

"That you still love me..." Tyler replied without hesitating.

Immediately, Lewis pulled back his hand and let out a laugh. "You're crazy."

"Am I?" Within Seconds, Tyler had approached him again, touching his cheeks and forcing him to look at him.

"Can you look me in the eye and tell me that this kiss yesterday meant nothing to you? Tell me, you felt nothing, and I won't bother you ever again..."

Biting his lower lip, Lewis looked down at him, feeling his knees go weak, so he wrapped his arms around Tyler's waist and pulling him closer.

"It... it meant nothing..." he whispered, leaning down, so their lips were only mere inches apart. "I don't love you..." He had to close his eyes, because he just couldn't stand to look at him any longer, or he would not be able to resist him anymore. It was already hard enough and he was already way too close to him.

He felt Tyler move the both of them and then he felt something in his back. A tree, he assumed, and then there were Tyler's lips, barely touching his own.

"I don't love you either..." Tyler whispered against his lips and then his lips were on Lewis completely, literally ravishing them, nibbling at his lower lip, letting his tongue slide into Lewis' mouth as soon as Lewis gave him access.

Lewis leaned back against the tree, wrapping both of his arms tighter around Tyler's body and responding to the kiss in every possible way, breathing hard and hot in his mouth. His hands slid down, grabbing his butt cheeks and he could feel Tyler starting to get hard, slowly, but surely and it kind of woke him up.

"We shouldn't... I mean... I shouldn't..." he said slowly, trying to get some distance between them, but with him, trapped between the tree and Tyler's body it was almost impossible, and he didn't know if he wanted this to end either. He could feel his blood rushing through his veins and his whole body was shaking in anticipation. This was wrong on so many levels and every moment there could come someone and see them. It was dangerous, and Lewis knew he shouldn't want Tyler as much as he did, but his resistance was slowly fading, and he knew that Tyler felt it too. Because Tyler knew him just as well as he knew him.

"Tell me to stop and I will..." Tyler's words pulled him out of his thoughts.

"Why are you doing this to me, Tyler? I am happy with Alex!" Lewis tried again to clear his mind, but it didn't really work, as much as he hoped.

"Who are you trying to convince? Me or yourself?" Tyler asked with a soft smile. "I get he's a good man, but I know he's never gonna be another me... I'm the one for you..."

"Don't flatter yourself. You're not that unforgettable..." Lewis replied, hoping he was somehow convincing, and he wanted to be mad at Tyler so bad, but somehow he couldn't. Because he knew Tyler was right.

"Is that so?" Tyler asked, letting a hand slide down in between Lewis' legs. "Your body says otherwise."

Biting his lower lip, Lewis had to fight back a moan. "God, Tyler... you're driving me crazy..." The words just slipped out of his mouth before he had any possibility to hold them back, and he attached himself to Tyler's body again. He knew he was playing with fire here, but he had no idea how to stop anymore.

This wasn't a good idea. He could blame it all to Tyler afterwards, but deep down he knew he wanted this just as much as Tyler did.

"Not here!" Lewis hissed when Tyler started touching him, finally managing to push him off him and taking a step back. He knew he was blushing right now, but he didn't care. He just stared at Tyler, waiting for his next move.

Tyler Browning POV:

Tyler had been feeling the pressure ever since he had gotten Lewis's phone call in London. He was the one who helped get Jackson back from the brink all those years ago, but none of them knew how close Tyler came to losing him.

After losing his family Jackson had tried so hard to pretend that he wasn't affected, but Tyler knew he had been. It was in the way he avoided any talks of them or the way that when his birthday or the holidays came up he was just a little depressed. The relapse had started small then too. Something that Tyler didn't even pick up on until the man's erratic behaviour became far too obvious to ignore.

Then the arguments started and Jackson would disappear for days at a time and he always came back bloody and miserable. Tyler had begged him until his voice was hoarse, but it wasn't until Tyler had taken the choice out of Jackson's hands that he finally managed to make headway.

He had rented a cabin and convinced Jackson to go away with him for a weekend. Once there Tyler had locked the two in and spent the next four days drying him out.

The things Jackson said to him, about him, had been some of the worst things Tyler had ever heard. Tyler had done his research and knew that when an addict was coming down they could say and do things that they would never do normally.

Jackson had promised him anything if Tyler had just let him out. Sex, money, love and at its absolute worst Jackson had begged Tyler to kill him. Anything to stop the pain and Tyler had sat on the other side of the door crying and barely holding himself back from opening the door and pulling Jackson into a hug and asking for him to come back, to be who he used to be.

Once it had been over Jackson had been drained completely and he had spent the next three days in the hospital getting treated for the symptoms of withdrawal. Then came the rehab and slowly the old Jackson returned and he and Tyler had managed to have a relationship that was one Tyler would cherish forever.

The two had gone to hell and back and now Tyler had a group of people needing him to make that journey all over again. He couldn't fail, not when Jackson was on the line.

The dinner with Jackson had been the first time that Tyler had really seen the signs. The twitchiness and scratches to his neck and the need to go to the restroom every half hour or so told Tyler all he needed to know.

Now that Dr. Robbins had given him an ultimatum of two days Tyler knew he had no choice but to confront Jackson and knowing that had made the room feel suffocating and he had to get out. Get some air and try to catch his breath.

Tyler had been surprised when Lewis had come after him, especially after their last argument he was pretty sure Lewis was going to avoid him unless absolutely necessary, but there he was comforting Tyler and just like that Tyler had felt at peace. Even at their worst Lewis always made things better by being around.

That was why when Lewis was so close and smelled so much like he used to Lewis couldn't expect him to not want to kiss him, to hold him close and remember the last time Tyler's life wasn't complicated and falling apart a bit more with each passing moment.

He could feel Lewis' body react to his touch, to his kiss and he knew the man needed it just as bad as Tyler.

"Not here" Lewis told him and it wasn't a 'No' and it wasn't a 'Stop'. Grabbing Lewis' hand he led him back into the hospital making sure to avoid drawing any suspicious looks.

He had a mission and it was essential that Tyler saw it through. He had looked at every door as he walked down the hall.

"What are you doing?" Lewis asked him as he was pulled along.

"Looking for...there it is" he said as he turned the doorknob and thanked whatever higher being it was that was giving him this chance. Opening it up he saw that it was an empty on-call room and pulling Lewis in he quickly closed the door and locked it.

"We can't" Lewis said, but the minute Tyler pushed him against the wall and kissed him his protest died on his lips.

"Don't tell me you don't want this" Tyler said as he snaked a hand inside Lewis' pants and grabbed a hold of his cock. It was already half hard "because your cock is already telling me you do" and taking his hand out he quickly undid Lewis belt and undid his pants before pulling them, along with the guy's boxers down.

"Tyler-"

Sinking down onto his knees Tyler came face to face with Lewis' dick and it was just as beautiful as he remembered. Leaning in he kissed the head and the moan Tyler got from him spurred him on. Licking the underside he felt Lewis put a hesitant hand on top of his head and that was when Tyler took Lewis in fully and the hesitant hand turned into a grip as Lewis gasped out his name.

Tyler started slowly, but as he got more and more of Lewis' cock into his mouth he picked up the pace until his nose had settled into Lewis' pubes.

Then with a rapid speed he could feel Lewis grow harder and when he felt like Lewis was close he pulled off and stood up.

"Take off your pants" Tyler said and without hesitation Lewis kicked off his shoes and socks and then got out of his jeans. Tyler followed suit and once the two stood only in their shirts Tyler placed his hands on Lewis' ass and lifted him up to allow Lewis to wrap his legs around Tyler's waist and with his arms wrapped around Tyler's neck he was the one to kiss Tyler and snake his tongue in his mouth.

Grabbing his cock Tyler placed it at Lewis' opening and started to push in.

"Tyler" Lewis hissed as he felt the man go slow, but consistently. Tyler wanted to be careful because hurting Lewis was the last thing he wanted to do, but the moment he was inside of him all the memories came rushing back. Everything from the first time they made love until the last and all the ones in between.

"This is us" Tyler whispered in his ear "we will always end up like this because we are it for each other Lewis and you know that"

"Tyler, please" Lewis begged and bucking up into Lewis Tyler felt himself go in completely. Tyler felt Lewis use his legs to pull him closer and Tyler started to go faster.

"Tell me you missed this" Tyler said as he angled his hips and hit the spot that made Lewis' eyes roll to the back of his head "tell me you missed me"

"I missed this" Lewis told him as he looked Tyler in the eyes "I've missed you" then burying his head in Lewis' neck his body held Lewis firmly against the wall as he fucked him faster and felt Lewis bounce off his cock. Seeing Lewis, covered in sweat and lips begging to be kissed Tyler wondered how he had went so long without this. Fucking Lewis felt like breathing and Tyler knew he would need it for the rest of his life.

Putting his hand around Lewis' cock he started to pump it with the speed of his thrust and another gasp from Lewis sounded like music.

"I love you" Tyler said "I love you so much, I've always loved you"

"Tyler, I-I-"but before Lewis could finish he had released himself between their bodies and feeling him tighten around his cock Tyler followed suit and came inside Lewis with a force he hadn't felt in a long time.

It took a while for the two to come off their high, but once they did Tyler pulled himself out of Lewis and let the man down.

"That was amazing" Tyler smiled as he tried to pull Lewis close only to have the man snatch his arm away.

"Don't" Lewis told him "just don't...do anything" and he sounded both angry and sad.

"Lewis?"

"I have to go" Lewis told him "Alex is waiting for me and I.. have to go"

Tyler put on his own clothing and once both men were dressed Tyler walked over to him "You don't regret this, do you?"

"Of course I do" Lewis said "This is not who I am"

"It seemed like it was you five minutes ago" Tyler spat "why can't you just admit that this thing between us is still there and will always be there"

"Stay away from me" Lewis said and was about to turn around before Tyler yanked him towards him and gave another crushing kiss to the man's lips and Lewis tried to fight him off, but once again relented and returned it in kind.

Breaking away Tyler looked at the man "You can try to lie to yourself as much as you want to, but your body and your heart have never been good at it, not with me"

"Go to hell" Lewis said angrily and yanked the door open and made his way back to, what Tyler assumed, was back to his office.

After collecting himself Tyler straightened his clothing and walked out of the room.

Lewis could delude himself as much as he wanted to, but Tyler knew the man would come back to him. Their love was too strong for Lewis not to and until he did Tyler had a job to do.

It was time to talk to Jackson and he didn't expect it to be pleasant, but it had to be done. After going to the restroom to clean himself up Tyler walked to the younger Avery's office. Tyler had knocked briefly before opening it up and seeing Jackson sitting there looking out the window.

Swivelling around once Jackson noticed that it was Tyler a smile appeared on his lips. However, it wasn't the relieved happy smile that Tyler had been used to seeing from Jackson. This one was bitter and it matched the hard look in the man's eyes.

"Jackson?"

"I was wondering when you were going to show up" Jackson said "I was starting to get impatient"

Tyler knew something was wrong "You okay?"

"Of course I am" Jackson told him and the smile got wider "but something tells me no matter what I say you won't believe it"

"What?"

"Why did you come to Seattle?" Jackson asked as he placed his elbow on his desk and sat his face on a balled up fist.

"I wanted to see you?" Tyler said.

"Why?"

"I-I missed you, why else?" Tyler was feeling nervous.

"So why not come six months ago, or three months ago, why now?" Jackson's face looked curious, but Tyler could see the anger in the man's eyes.

"What is this Jackson?" Tyler asked.

"How's Lewis?" Jackson asked "surely you've had to see him by now"

"Of course" Tyler told him "but I'm not here to see Lewis"

"You may want to tell that bit of news to your dick" Jackson said "because I think it's very interested in seeing Lewis"

Tyler felt like his heart was seizing in his chest "What?"

"If you're going to lie to me, Tyler, you may want to find a better place to make out instead of right outside of the hospital" Jackson said and now all the mock pleasantries were out of his voice "of course dragging Lewis to an on-call room is a lot more private so at least you learn fast"

"Jackson I-" Tyler panicked

"Get out" Jackson told him and Tyler could hear the crack of emotion in his voice and the hurt was like a punch in the stomach.

"Let me explain" Tyler said as he felt like his vision was starting to tunnel. All he could see was how badly he had fucked up and now Tyler was no different in Jackson's eyes than everyone else.

"Save it" Jackson responded "I heard about your little meetings with Lewis and Dr. Robbins, with Alex, and Eli and I should have known you just showing up wasn't just a coincidence. I just wanted to believe so badly that I was going to have one person on my side"

"I am on your side" Tyler said and now his own voice was cracking as a tear rolled down his cheek "I always am". The words were useless and Tyler knew it. Jackson was already shutting him out and even though he could see Jackson was wiping away his own tears he was going to wash his hands off Tyler too.

"Get out or I call security to have you thrown out" Jackson said and turned back around to look out the window.

"Jackson, please-" Tyler begged

"GET OUT" Jackson yelled and it shook Tyler to his core. He had failed. He had failed everybody and now he had lost Jackson.

Rather than make the situation any worse he left Jackson's office but he had only made it halfway down the hall before he collapsed against the wall. His breath came in short spurts and he tried his best to gain control of them.

"Hey Tyler" Addison said as she rushed over to the man "you okay?"

He looked up at the woman and he tried to speak, but he was in the middle of a full panic attack and all that would come out of his mouth were harsh puffs of air.

"Calm down" she said as she rubbed his back "just sit down and tell me what's wrong"

Falling onto his backside he tried to concentrate on the soothing hands of the woman "J-Jackson" he managed to say and looking up and towards his room he could see the woman's eyes form an understanding that Tyler couldn't understand himself.

"Why don't you come to my office?" Addison said "I'll get you some water and we can talk. I think I may be able to help you with your situation" and grabbing his hand she lifted him up and led him towards her office.

Tyler had no idea what she meant, but right now he had no other options.

Lewis Avery POV:

Lewis couldn't believe what had just happened. He felt weak in his knees long after he had left the on-call room, but he was still feeling Tyler everywhere on his body. His lips on his own, his cock buried deep inside of him. It was like Tyler had marked him all over again. As if he had put a claim on him and Lewis had no idea how he could ever be with Alex again without thinking about Lewis.

Alex.

Fuck. He most likely still waited in Lewis' office. But Lewis couldn't face him right now. Not like that.

He found the next bathroom and closed the door and locked it from the inside before he went to one of the sinks, looking in the mirror. That just wasn't him. He wasn't a lying, cheating bastard. This was all Tyler's fault. If it wasn't for him, he would have never cheated on Alex. Never.

He loved Alex, no matter what, and Alex was the one that had pulled him out of his whole messed up situation. If it wasn't for Alex, he maybe would still want to destroy Jackson. Alex had made him see things he wouldn't have seen without him. And Alex had made him want to be in a relationship again.

Alex didn't deserve this, and even though he had just slept with Tyler, he had to make sure it would never happen again. He belonged to Alex. Being with Alex was the right thing to do.

But why had it felt so right to be with Tyler then? Why did all of his heart cry for Tyler?

Tears were forming inside of Lewis' eyes and he was so glad that he was alone right now. He wasn't able to face anyone right now. He couldn't live with himself right now, and with what he had done. What Tyler had made out of him.

Why had he let it happen? Why hadn't he stopped him? Tyler would have never done anything he didn't want. He could have stopped him. He could have told him that he was not going to sleep with him. He could have just went away, but instead he had let Tyler led him into this on-call room and fuck him. Without a condom. Just like when they were still together. Tyler had pushed inside of him without preparation, and he hadn't even felt as much pain as he expected to feel, because Lewis had wanted it. His whole body had craved for Tyler and had opened up for him the moment they had started kissing.

"This is us... we will always end up like this because we are it for each other Lewis and you know that"

Tyler's words were still fresh in Lewis' ears and he hated himself for being so weak. For letting Tyler proof that he was right, because he was. Tyler was his soul mate, his better half, the love of his life, and even though he always knew he would never love anyone as much as he loved Tyler, Alex made him believe he could be happy without him. He could be in a relationship and just have a nice life. Not the perfect life, but still a good one.

And with one kiss, one fuck, Tyler had shattered everything Lewis had believed in.

Lewis felt a deep anger rise within him. He was so mad at Tyler, but he was even angrier at himself. He struck out and with one movement he hit the mirror and shattered it into a thousand pieces. He didn't even feel any pain, only noticed that he hurt himself with the broken glass when he saw the strains of blood running into the sink.

"FUCK!" he cursed, turning on the water, but immediately noticing that it was a deep cut and that it most likely would need stitches. He was a doctor after all.

He took some of the paper towels and pressed it on his hand before going to the door and unlocking it, only to find Nurse Eli standing right in front of it. One of the last persons he wanted to see right now.

"What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing," Eli replied, looking down at his hand. "What happened?"

"Nothing!" Lewis barked, knowing that the blood on the towels proved otherwise.

"You're bleeding," Eli noted matter-of-factly, looking behind him. "And there is glass. I assume the mirror?" Gently, he touched Lewis' hand and Lewis let him look underneath the towels.

"You need stitches."

"I know that, smartass," Lewis replied angrily. He didn't want to take his anger out on Eli, but he was there and there wasn't anyone else far and wide.

"Okay then. I can go and tell Chief Hunt there had been an accident involving a mirror in a bathroom, and get you someone to take care of your hand..." Eli suggested, and Lewis already hated this idea.

"Or?" he asked, knowing that there was something else to come.

"Or I can get someone to clean up this mess and then I and Sasha take care of your hand without anyone even knowing it. But under one condition..." Eli went on.

Lewis let out a sigh. "Which one?"

"You tell me what happened... Is there anything I... we all should know?" Eli asked, causing Lewis' heartbeat to speed up, because immediately, the pictures of Tyler came back flooding his mind. He was sure there was still "something" of Tyler inside of his body and he needed a shower, and he needed to go home, but he knew Alex would ask questions if he left without him. It was their home after all.

"It's... Tyler and I kind of fought... Don't worry, I know he's our best shot for helping Jackson, and I didn't do anything to him..." He turned his head towards the mirror. "But that's the reason the mirror is broken now. I took it out on the mirror..."

Now it was on Eli to sigh. "Okay... but next time try to find something less dangerous... you can be happy that it was me they sent out to take a look for you since you've been gone for so long."

"Who? What?" Lewis asked alarmed.

"Arizona had to get back to her patients, and she took Alex with her, but the two of them were worried about you. And so was I... and when I heard the noise in here, I stopped and that's when you opened the door," Eli explained. "I am going to let go and believe your story, but I don't know if Arizona or Alex would have let you off the hook that easy, okay?"

"Yeah... thanks, man!" Lewis replied, letting Eli guide him to one of the treatment rooms, sitting down.

"You sure you can do that?" he asked a little concerned, looking down at his hand. "You're just a nurse..."

"Yeah... that's why I'm going to get Sasha... she is just a nurse, too, but she has studied one or two semesters of medicine... she can do this..." Eli replied.

"No!" Lewis hissed. "Please... we don't have to involve any more people."

"You can trust her... and I won't tell her anything about Jackson or the others... just that you had a little accident and that we want to keep it off the radar..." Eli promised.

Sighing, Lewis gave in. "Okay... yes..."

He didn't feel completely comfortable with involving another person into this whole mess, but right now he obviously didn't have a choice if he didn't want Alex or the others to get even more suspicious. He just hoped, Eli was right and the other nurse wouldn't start to ask questions, but only ten minutes later he knew that his worries were for no reasons. The red-haired nurse stitched him up without even talking to him at all and when Lewis thanked her, she just left.

"Okay... what did you tell her?" he asked, looking at Eli suspicious.

"Just that a friend needed help," Eli replied, taking one of the bandages out of a closet.

"Do you really think that's necessary?" Lewis complained, causing Eli to roll his eyes.

"Yes, it is. You're a doctor, right? That's what you told me... and I'm sure you don't want to get an infection, so let me do my work, so we can all get back to our real work."

Nodding, Lewis reached him his hand and waited for him to finish up.

"Thank you!" Lewis said, once he got up from the bed he was sitting on and turning towards the door.

"You're welcome..." Eli smiled.

Lewis was already at the door when he heard Eli speak up again.

"You need to be more careful about what you're doing in here and around here, though, okay? People talk..."

Alarmed, Lewis turned around again. "About what?"

"Just be careful," Eli replied, leaving Lewis really suspicious.

Had someone seen him and Tyler making out outside the hospital? He wouldn't be surprised, because they hadn't been very careful at all. Hell, if his common sense hadn't kicked in, he would have let Tyler fuck him right then against the tree. But if someone had seen them, and rumours started spreading, he was screwed. He didn't want Alex to know about this under any circumstances. It was just sex after all and it wouldn't happen again. He would take care of it. He wouldn't let Tyler get to him like this ever again. He knew he had told himself that after their first kiss, too, but this time he really meant it. He needed to be with Alex. Alex was good for him, no matter if his heart told him otherwise. Being with Alex was right.

Making his way out of the room he decided to see Alex. Maybe it wasn't the best thing he could do, but it was the only thing he wanted to do right now. See his sexy, adorable boyfriend.

He made his way to the paediatric station and found Alex standing at the nurse's station, writing something into a chart.

"Hey Babe..." He whispered, hugging him from behind and kissing his neck. "Wanna take a break?"

"I just took a break," Alex chuckled, turning around in his arms and looking at him. "Any news about Tyler?"

Immediately, Lewis' whole body went stiff. "No... I mean... it's... it's a lot of pressure we're putting him under... but I think I managed to calm him down."

"Good..." Alex smiled, grabbing Lewis' hand and catching the bandaged one. Immediately, he froze.

"What happened? Did you two get in a fight?"

"No!" Lewis hurriedly said. "I just cut myself when I dropped a glass and wanted to pick up the pieces. Nothing to worry about."

"okay!" Alex smiled, lifting Lewis' hand and kissing it over the bandage. "I will make it better..."

"You already have..." Lewis replied, pulling Alex closer and kissing him with all of his heart. "I love you..."

"I love you, too!" Alex replied, hugging him and leaning into the embrace.

Lewis closed his eyes and placed his head right over Alex' stroking his back.

"We're gonna get through this... I promise... and we'll do everything in our power to help Jackson..." he whispered into Alex' ear, feeling slightly better with him by his side. He just needed to keep Alex close to him from now on, so Tyler wouldn't get the chance to seduce him again. Not to hard to achieve at all.

Addison Montgomery POV:

Addison had managed to lead Tyler back to her office as she heard the quick breaths the man gave as he tried to stand up straight and pretend like his heart wasn't beating 100 miles a minute.

Once inside she closed her door and sat him down in the nearest chair "Just try and relax" she told him as she walked over to her mini-fridge and pulled out a bottle of water.

Tyler sat bent over with his head between his legs taking very deep breaths "I hope this doesn't make you think less of me" Tyler told her from his position "I promise I'm usually a lot more put together than this"

With a laugh Addison tapped his shoulder and reaching up he grabbed the bottle and opened it up before quickly downing half the bottle.

"You can talk in complete sentences so it looks like you're getting better" Addison said and she walked around her desk and sat beside it "so if I may be so forward, what happened?"

Looking up at Addison the woman saw the dots of sweat line on Tyler's forehead and he looked far paler then she remembered. He looked hesitant to talk, but after giving him a warm smile she could see the man's shoulders relax.

"That friend I told you about-"

"Jackson"

"Yeah" Tyler said "he's having a really difficult time right now and I came here to help him, because it's what I had done in the past and I think I just really fucked it up" and realizing he had cursed he had offered an embarrassed apology "sorry about that"

"It takes a lot more then some colourful words to turn these cheeks red" Addison said and the remark made Tyler laugh.

"Duly noted"

"This Jackson wouldn't be Jackson Avery, would it?" Addison asked and Tyler's reaction told the woman that it most definitely was.

"H-How do you know him?"

"We actually shared an elevator" Addison told him "he introduced himself and I have to say he was a perfect gentleman. Until I said my name that is"

"What?"

"I don't know. I told him who I was and it just seemed like he had seen some sort of ghost. I think my reputation may have preceded me"

Tyler looked concerned "He seems...not himself and I hope you didn't take it as an insult"

"Of course not" Addison said "it's just..."

"Just what?"

"The way he looked at me, the erratic behaviour. I've seen that before" Addison said and she could see Tyler's hand start to shake.

"It's not what you think" Tyler told her frantically "I know it seems like it, but that's just Jackson and-"

"I get it, Tyler" Addison said "you've been protecting him for so long that you can't just shut that off"

Tyler looked like he wanted to protest, but he knew Addison was right "They called you here because they need you to fix him, right?"

Tyler simply nodded his head.

"I have this friend who actually went through something very similar" Addison said "it started small, just a glass of champagne here and there, then it turned to hard liquor which turned to pills and eventually they were so far gone that they weren't anything but a shadow of who they used to be"

Tyler sat frozen "What happened?"

"They started performing surgery while under the influence" Addison said "even brain surgery and by sheer luck nothing catastrophic happened, but all it would have taken was one second" she added "one second to completely destroy them, and that patient's life, forever"

"Jackson is smart enough to know that even attempting to do surgery is career suicide" Tyler told her "he's worked too hard to get where he's at to just flush it down the drain"

"So was she" Addison said "until she stopped being the woman I used to know. Tyler, I'm not trying to tell you what to do, but if you want to really help him you have to understand that the man you used to know isn't there anymore. Not if it's gotten so bad that they had to call you in from another state"

"So what do I do?" Tyler asked. She knew simply asking that question was one of the hardest things he ever had to do.

Addison hadn't planned on being in this situation. Her return to Seattle was supposed to be nostalgic and progressive and somehow she had stumbled into a situation that had reminded her too much of her past.

She had no obligation to help if she didn't want to. This Jackson Avery was a stranger, but Tyler was not and the idea of leaving him alone to deal with this was something Addison just couldn't do.

"You have to talk to the Chief" and the sentence had gotten an immediate reaction from Tyler.

"I can't do that!" Tyler told her "he'll lose his license"

"No" Addison said "he may get his privileges revoked, but it seems as if he hasn't performed surgery on any patient while under the influence and if we go to Owen now we make sure that won't happen"

"This job is all he has left" Tyler told her "They tell me he lost his friends, then this Mark guy, and if he gets his job taken away..."

"Mark?" Addison asked confused "Mark Sloan?"

"Yeah, that's him" Tyler told her distractingly "it seems as if the two had been really serious, but Jackson thought it best to end things"

Addison's mind felt like it had jumbled up into a hundred different pieces. It simply wasn't possible that her Mark Sloan could be the Mark Sloan Tyler was talking about.

It just wasn't possible.

"Does he know?" Addison asked "about what's going on with Jackson?"

Turning around to face Addison Tyler shrugged his shoulders "I don't think so" he told her "seems last time he was worried about Jackson he had a pretty bad relapse of his neurological disorder and since he comes back in a few days they think holding off until he starts work again would be the best plan"

Addison couldn't deny the logic. It just broke her heart that Mark couldn't tell her the truth about him and this Jackson guy and worse that he was obviously still hurting because of it.

Addison started to wonder how many did know. If Mark didn't know then Addison knew without a doubt that Derek didn't know either because there was no way that Derek would keep that from Mark.

"Can you keep this under wraps?" Tyler asked "going to Hunt will be bad enough, but if word starts to spread about why Jackson is gone, better or not, he would never come back to this hospital again"

"I can do that" Addison said and if you'll accept my help I think I know someone who can get a lot further than we can"

"Bring another person in?" Tyler asked "I don't think-"

"Believe me, Tyler" Addison interrupted "she will know how to get to him so much better than we can"

Tyler stayed silent for a moment "Okay" he relented "and thank you Addison. I know you didn't have to help me, but I really appreciate it"

"Hey" she smiled "I don't turn my back on friends" and Tyler gave her a smile.