Hello all! It's that time once again. I hope you are enjoying the story so far. Without any further ado what so ever, read on and enjoy.

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Chapter Twenty Three

By Rosa241

Mark POV:

Alright. Suck it up Sloan and get in there. My internal pep talk was doing little to sway the nerves that were creeping up my spine. Meredith was right. There was no way either one of these two idiots were going to admit to how they felt about each other. Not a chance in hell.

But was this really a good idea?

I know we have to do something if we don't want them dancing round each other and moping for the rest of their lives. I know we do. But is this really the best idea? Shaking my head I force the thoughts out of my mind and focus instead on the text message I've just received.

From Meredith
Your up.

Knocking on the door I can't help but smirk. This had better work.

"What the hell do you want?" Karev snarks as he opens the door. He doesn't bother telling me to go away, he's learnt by now that it wouldn't work anyway. Heading back inside he gives me an odd look before turning his attention back towards the TV.

"We need to talk." I say as I push the door almost to a close. Don't close it all the way, not if we want this to work.

"About what?" He mutters as he takes another swig out of his mug. Taking a deep breath I try to remember my part.

"O'Malley." Sitting myself so that I've got a good view of the door I wait for the inevitable explosion. His glare almost makes me change my mind. "Look I for one am sick of the two of you pining and moping over each other. Why don't you just suck it up and find a way to tell him how you feel?"

"What the hell does it have to do with you?" He'd given up denying how he felt by now but that didn't mean he was close to admitting it.

"Because I'm the one you keep running to and I'm sick of it." His eyes narrow and I get the distinct impression that it wasn't a smart thing to say.

"Well then get the hell out of here!" Oh well done Mark. You're supposed to be getting him to admit how he feels not pissing him off. "I didn't ask you to come!"

"I came because I'm your friend. I'm worried about you Alex." He stops his glaring at that but continues to scowl.

"Don't need to worry I'm fine." Shaking my head I simply give him a look.

"You're basically sitting here admitting that you're in love with him but you won't do anything about it!" If he wants to get riled up then I'll let him that man lets his mouth run away with him when he's angry. "Why the hell don't you just man up?!"

"Man up? What the hell are you expecting me to do? What you want me to just walk up to him and say…what exactly?" He genuinely doesn't know what to say!

"How about telling him how you feel?" He sighs at this and stands from his position on the couch.

"It's not that easy. What am I supposed to tell him?" Looks like he's about as good at this as me.

"Well do you love him?" Apparently I'm going to have to puppy walk him through this. He stops completely at this and goes silent for a few moments before he finally speaks. "Do you?"

"Yes." Finally we're getting somewhere. Meredith I hope you're doing your part. "Yes I do love him but that doesn't matter."

"Why not? Why doesn't it matter that you're in love with George?" He just keeps telling himself that it doesn't matter but it does. Why doesn't he just accept it and get over it?

"Because he deserves someone else! He deserves someone better than me." What?

"Wait so you aren't telling George how you feel because you don't think that you're good enough for him?" He shrugs as he flops back down on the couch. "Alex that's total crap! George deserves someone who loves him and cares for him, that's what he deserves."

"I'm damaged. Seriously I've got a whole shit load of baggage dragging behind me and it's not going away any time soon. He doesn't need the crap that I'm going to bring to his life Sloan." He sighs and takes another swig from his mug. "So you can save whatever speech you've got saved up for now and cram it. George deserves someone better than me so no. I'm not telling him how I feel."

Letting my gaze flash behind the man on the couch I let the smirk cross my face. He doesn't see my face as he's too busy staring at the floor.

"How do you feel?" At the sound of George's voice Alex shoots up from the couch and gazes open mouthed at the man stood in the door way. Meeting Meredith's eyes she sends me the same triumphant look I'm sure is written on my own.

Meredith POV:

"Thanks for giving me a ride home Mer." George gives me a grateful smile before turning his attention back to the road.

"Your welcome." I really hope Mark is playing his part. "So I wanted to talk to you about Alex. Are you two still fighting?"

"We're not so much fighting but ignoring each other. I get I shouldn't have said what I did, he didn't lose a patient the patient died. There's a difference. That doesn't mean he gets to treat me like this. He's being a complete ass." He's not good with this kind of thing. He's scared of how he feels and to be honest he's still angry at you.

Of course I don't say this to George. He needs to hear from Alex how he feels and that right there is the problem. George will never believe that Alex cares for him the way that he does, I could tell him from now until the end of time but it wouldn't make a difference. The only way that he'll ever believe that Alex cares for him is if he hears it from the man himself. Alex won't ever say that though. That's why we had to do this.

I just hope they both feel the same way when this is over.

"He'll come round. You'll be fine eventually, you know that deep down." He says nothing for a few minutes until we round the corner into the car park of their apartment block.

"It's just so hard. I don't know how much longer I can do this for. I just keep standing there every day, knowing the whole time that I'm in love with him, and watch him flirting and being with other people." I feel for you George. You're clearly in love with him and he's clearly in love with you. That can't be easy.

"I know. Maybe it would be easier if you told him how you felt." As we get out of the car he gives me a dark look. Clearly he doesn't agree. "I'm just saying that if you told him how you felt then maybe you'd be in for a surprise."

"Meredith you keep saying that he'll end up feeling the same way but I know Alex. He won't want someone like me. He deserves someone better." Oh for the love of god. He won't find someone better for him than you George. The two of you are perfect for each other. He scoffs when I tell him as much. "Meredith he doesn't want me like that. You know that he doesn't."

Sighing heavily I almost want to bang my head against the wall. Thankfully as we near the apartment it sounds as if Mark is playing his part perfectly.

"Because he deserves someone else! He deserves someone better than me." That's Alex right there.

Coming to a halt right outside the slightly ajar door George listens intently. Come on Mark.

"I'm damaged. Seriously I've got a whole shit load of baggage dragging behind me and it's not going away any time soon. He doesn't need the crap that I'm going to bring to his life Sloan." George turns his eyes to me as realisation sinks into his mind. AT LAST! He pushes the door open carefully, clearly not wanting to disturb the two men inside, and steps into the apartment just as Alex finishes off his speech.

"So you can save whatever speech you've got saved up for now and cram it. George deserves someone better than me so no. I'm not telling him how I feel."

Sharing a triumphant look with Mark I can't help that crosses my face as George finally speaks.

"How do you feel?"

Tada! George finally knows how Alex feels! Yay! Will they finally stop being such babies and get together already? How will Izzy react when she finds out?

Keep reading and maybe you'll find out.

Until next time,

Bye Bye x