(no subject)
Title: Ready For A Fall (3/?)
Author: Chelle Storey-Daniel
Rating: PG
Pairing: Callie/George implied, Callie/Alex friendship, George/Izzie implied
Summary: Sometimes the most unlikely people will catch you when you fall. And sometimes, they're falling too.
A/N: I'm baaaack. :)
Part One
Part Two
*~*~*~*~*~
The chapel at Seattle Grace was small and nondescript. Six pews sat on either side of a small aisle and the floor was covered in burgundy carpet. An altar with several lit candles stood at the front of the room and every pew had several boxes of tissue handy. Alex had hidden in the small room to avoid the latest couple claiming to be Ava’s parents. There was just no way the loud, obnoxious and rude people could have parented Ava. He was deep in thought, contemplating DNA tests and anything that could be done to jog Ava’s memory when Callie rushed into the room and promptly collapsed a few feet away from him.
He grabbed tissue first, but discovered the box was empty and tossed it aside. Wasting no time, he grabbed another and then kneeled beside her, instinctively wrapping his arms around her. She smelled good, like honeysuckle and roses. Or maybe cherry blossoms. He wasn’t sure, but it was soft and sweet. When she stiffened, he spoke quietly, reassuring her that it would be okay. She mumbled something about her ring and giving it back to George and when he saw that her left hand was bare, he understood what had happened.
Her tears eventually subsided and he helped her to her feet, sitting next to her on the front pew. "Are you okay?" he asked.
"I don’t think so." She dabbed at her face and sniffled. "Being kidnapped isn’t very fun."
"Kidnapped?"
"George followed me into the elevator, hit the stop button, and wouldn’t let me start it again. He kept saying-"
"He stopped you from leaving when you wanted to?"
"Well, yeah. He wouldn’t let me go."
"I’ll kick his ass for that."
"Alex-"
"No. This is a *hospital*. He can’t be stranding the elevators or holding you hostage or -"
"You sound like Bailey."
"That’s a good idea. I’ll tell Bailey and *she* can kick his ass. God, she would kill him."
Callie nodded. "I gave him back the ring."
"Good. You deserved better than that anyway."
She shook her head. "I really loved it because it came from his heart. You know? He went out on his own and got it the first night we were in Vegas. I was fine using a ring that I already had, but he insisted. He was so proud."
Alex heard her voice choking up again and put an arm around her. "He’s not worth crying over."
"I honestly wanted to be married to him, Alex. I did. I really loved him and now I can’t believe how much I hate him. I genuinely, really, and truly loathe him."
"There’s a thin line between love and hate." He squeezed her hand, but didn’t let it go. "The best thing you can do is ignore him."
"I have been." Callie sighed and rubbed her stomach as it gurgled loudly.
"You’re hungry."
"I’m thirsty. The whole rule about not drinking while we practice medicine is wrong, so wrong. We do have the most stressful job on the planet."
"No, we don’t. Crab fisherman do."
Callie gasped and looked up at him. "You watch ‘Deadliest Catch’?"
"Duh! Half the fisherman live here in Seattle, Cal. Haven’t you seen Sig Hanson at Joe’s?"
"Shut up!" Her eyes widened, but Alex simply nodded at her. "You’re serious?"
"I don’t lie about crab fishing because crab, while I can’t really afford it, is my favorite food." He grinned at her. "Let me buy you a sandwich."
"Thank you, but I can’t."
"Why not."
"I’m avoiding the cafeteria. He takes his lunch break around this time and -"
"And let’s give him something to talk about." He stood and held out his hand. "You in?"
"In what?"
"Turnabout is fair play, wouldn’t you say?" He cocked his head a little. "I can’t think of anything that would bother George more than me hanging out with you. And it will piss Izzie off, too, since I’m one of the planets that she thinks is supposed to revolve around her. So, two birds with one stone, right?"
"You’re insane."
"I love to get under people’s skin. It makes my day so much happier."
"Well, God forbid I should stop you from finding a happy place."
When she stood, he took her hand in his and grinned at her. "Ready for our shocking debut?"
"Debut of what?"
"Who knows? Let’s keep them guessing."
*~*~*~*~*~
Izzie was sitting next to Meredith, self consciously poking strands of green hair under her scrub cap. Cristina slid into the seat across from her and gave her a look that was both mocking and full of glee. Izzie glared at her and said, "What? I have an appointment in two days to get it done!"
"Two full days?" Cristina snorted a little. "Miss Clairol, Izzie. Every drug store has it."
"I need a professional," Izzie replied, then brightened a little. "Oooh, there’s George." She leaned back and frantically waved at him.
Meredith and Cristina exchanged looks when George turned away and sat on the other side of the cafeteria. "Maybe he didn’t see you." Meredith told Izzie, trying to sound sincere.
"Are you kidding? He looked right at her." Cristina took a bite of her sandwich. "You made it weird, Izzie. The drunken sex? That’s even worse than George’s singing and I really doubted that he would show his face after that."
"Shut up," Izzie snapped and dug into her chocolate cake. She devoured it in about four bites and then asked Meredith for hers. She was enjoying it thoroughly when someone laughed, loudly, behind her.
Alex was sitting next to Callie, leaning unbelievably close to her, and whatever he was saying to her was apparently amusing her to no end. The three female interns watched with interest as she playfully punched him on the shoulder and he caught her hand, then whispered something in her ear. Cristina was the first to notice George, who had stood up. She tapped Meredith on the arm and pointed at him.
"Oh crap." Meredith bit her bottom lip.
"Bambi is about to get his ass kicked." Cristina pushed her plate away and fished a twenty dollar bill from her pocket. "My money is on Callie."
Izzie slowly got to her feet and took a step forward, only to be yanked backwards by Meredith. "But-"
"But nothing." Mer held her arm firmly. "I’m the one who had to x-ray your face to see if any bones were broken the last time you got near Callie and remember, I am tiny and she can hurt me, so I’m not jumping in between you two."
"Me either. I think you deserve it." Cristina took a bite of her own cake and stood so she could have a better view. "It’s like watching a little virgin about to be sacrificed."
*****
"Callie?"
Callie was still chuckling at the way Alex had changed the words to ‘You Belong To Me’ to ‘You’re A Dog With Fleas’ when George stepped up beside them. She felt Alex put a reassuring hand on her thigh and took a deep breath, keeping the smile on her face. "Dr. O’Malley, I would prefer it if you addressed me as Dr. Torres at work."
George could see exactly where Alex’s hand was and he felt his own hands fist at his sides. "What are you doing?"
Callie glanced around, then down at the untouched fruit tray in front of her. "Well, we’re in a cafeteria. I’m on a break. There’s food in front of me. I’d say I’m having lunch."
"What are you doing with *him*?"
Alex plucked a grape off Callie’s plate and tossed it into his mouth, the smirk never leaving his face. "I’m having lunch, too."
George narrowed his eyes at Karev. "You’re not going to get under my skin."
"Is that why you look like your about to have a stroke?" Alex pointed as his own face and said, "You’re all red, dude."
Ignoring him, George spoke to Callie. "Can you please come and talk to me?"
"No."
"Callie, please? I - I feel like I’m dying."
"Not yet." Alex plucked another grape and nudged her with his leg. "It just so happens that your friend here is only mostly dead. There's a big difference between mostly dead and all dead."
Callie, who had taken a sip of her soda, almost blew it from her nose as she started to laugh. She laughed hard, she laughed in a way that a few days ago she had considered an impossibility. "Stop with the Princess Bride quotes!" she wiped at her mouth, still grinning. "You mock his pain."
"Life is pain, highness. Anyone who says differently is obviously selling something." Alex chewed the grape thoughtfully as he looked up at George. "Besides, he caused his problems himself. You made your bed, Georgie, so you can sleep in it."
"Could you shut up?" George glared at him, then put his hand on Callie’s shoulder and tried to turn her to face him. "You will-
Alex caught his hand at once and stood, twisting the shorter man’s arm behind his back. "Don’t touch her and while I have your full attention let me make one thing very clear to you ... the next time you lock her in an elevator or a room or a closet or within five feet of yourself ... you’re going to need the ICU for about six months."
Callie got her feet just as George swung his right fist at Alex’s face. It clipped her in the nose and she half stumbled into Alex, whose face was now even redder than George’s had been. He grabbed her, tilted her chin, saw the blood and, still clutching George’s left hand, slammed him face first onto the table. Callie intervened before Alex could do it a second time and pulled him away. She felt her own blood dripping from her nose, over her lips, and cupped her face.
George, who finally realized who he had punched, reached for her. "Oh my god. Callie, I didn’t mean-"
Alex stepped around Callie and shoved him hard, causing George to land on his backside. "Stay the FUCK away from her!"
George scrambled back to his feet and glared at Alex. "You slept with her! You slept with my wife! My WIFE!"
"George!" Callie, who had been wrestling the napkin holder with shaking hands finally gave up and threw it on the ground in front of her. "I am not your wife! I stopped being your wife when you cheated on me with that - that good for nothing, white trash, trailer park dwelling, Anna Nicole Smith wannabe! You can have her! You deserve each other!"
"I married you!" George plucked up several of the napkins that had fallen out of the holder and held them out to her. "I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hit you."
"Oh?" Callie slapped his hand away and then drew back and putting her weight into it, hit him with a right hook that spectators would claim for weeks actually lifted him off his feet. "I just meant it enough for both of us."
And with that, she turned on her heel and left the cafeteria with her head held high.
Thirty minutes later she was sitting in one of the smaller trauma rooms with an ice pack on her hand while she waited for the X-rays to come back. She knew that nothing was broken in either her nose or her hand, but Alex had insisted and because he gave her a choice of letting him check her out or strangling George with IV tubing, she agreed to the tests. The nurse finally arrived with the films and she watched as Alex tacked them to the lightboard and studied every inch of them.
"Nothing’s broken," he finally announced and shut the light off.
"Told you."
"Where did you learn to fight like that anyway?"
"I grew up in Miami and I already told you that I was the designated whipping post at school. My older brothers taught me how to fight before I was potty trained."
Alex lifted the ice pack off her hand and held it in his own, massaging it, warming it. "Remind me not to piss you off."
"You haven’t so far."
He lifted one brow. "That’s not entirely true. You were pissed last night when you found out where I lived."
"I was more shocked than pissed," she replied. "What were you doing in the chapel earlier?"
"Hiding."
"Hiding?"
He explained about the people who claimed to Ava’s parents while he slowly wrapped her hand in an ace bandage. After he secured it, he said, "Have you met her?"
"Not really. I consulted with Sloan about the bones in her face, but didn’t work the case." She studied him. "Why?"
"I think you’d like her."
"Do you like her, Alex?"
"I like her."
"Do you *like* her, Alex?"
"You know," he said, sitting next to her on the stretcher. "It’s weird. When I pulled that pylon off her face and looked down at her I saw my mother."
"Your mother?"
"I know it sounds insane because Ava is clearly younger than me, but the first real memory I have of my mother is me pulling a chair off her. My father had beaten her into unconsciousness. I couldn’t have been more than six or seven. Maybe younger. It was Christmas Eve and my dad was pissed because she didn’t have enough money for beer after she bought a turkey and stuff for a real dinner the next day.
"She had put me to bed early, telling me that Santa would come, but since he never did and my father liked to tell me I was a fucking bastard every chance he had, I wasn’t holding out much hope for Santa. But I went to bed anyway and her screams woke me up."
Saying nothing, Callie put her bandaged hand on top of his. He laced their fingers gently to avoid hurting her as he continued. "That whole night I kept talking to her and she wouldn’t wake up so I did the only thing I could think of. I put cookies beside the fireplace and a glass of milk, the way the kids at school said they were going to do, and I kneeled down and prayed that Santa would bring my mother back. Then I got a blanket from my bed and slept next to her on the kitchen floor."
Alex smiled a little. "Santa came that year. My mom woke me up that morning and she had tried to cover the bruises and the blood had been cleaned up and when I saw the used bicycle in front of the tree I knew that Dad’s beer money had bought that for me and the beating she took was so that I could have a present."
"I’m sorry," Callie whispered.
"I’ve never told anyone that story." He sounded shocked and glanced at her. "Ever."
"Then thank you for sharing it." She smiled a little. "And for not letting it break you."
"We are not our past, Callie. We’re our present and I’m okay." He glanced over at her. "Are you? Your nose could light up the sky, Rudolph."
"He was aiming at you."
"Don’t do that. Don’t make excuses for him."
"I’m not."
"You are." Alex glanced up at the big clock on the wall. "Our shifts are up. Want to get out of here?"
"What did you have in mind?"
"Want to go see a movie?"
"Sure." Callie grinned at him. "Can I pick?"
"As you wish."
"Johnny Depp’s new one is out."
"I take it back."
"Now now, don’t go back on your word."
"Dammit." He made a face as he hopped off the bed and helped her down. "I pick the next one."
*~*~*~*~*~
Addison called Callie’s cell number again and frowned. She had left no less than six messages and had called at least six more only to hang up when it clicked over to voice mail. Her little black dress was clinging to her body in all the right ways and she had splurged on the Prada pumps that she had been eyeballing for weeks. She pushed her freshly washed hair over her shoulder and picked up the hotel phone, asking to be connected to Callie’s room. When there was no answer, she hung up and grabbed her purse.
In the parking garage, she noted that Callie’s car was not in the usual spot and got into her own. Her hunger had reached critical mass so she quickly left the hotel in search of food. She wasn’t exactly dressed for Joe’s but the man could make a great club sandwich and with any luck, she would find Callie there. She pulled into a spot near the entrance and ignored the catcalls that a group of men sent her way as soon as her long leg emerged from her convertible.
Once inside, she scanned the bar for her friend and took a seat at the bar. Joe appeared at once and set a glass in front of her. "Hey, Ads! How’s it going?"
"Good, you?"
"Busy night."
"I see that." Addison scanned the crowd again. "Have you seen Callie? We were supposed to be meeting for dinner."
"I haven’t seen her, but after everything I’ve heard today I’m not shocked."
"What do you mean?"
Joe leaned forward, bracing himself on his elbows. "Everyone’s talking about it. Apparently George accused Alex of sleeping with Callie in the cafeteria because those two were all over each other and then Alex and George started to fight, George accidentally hit Callie, and Callie punched him so hard that the latest estimate is that he went two feet into the air, but Yang says it was more like four feet."
"What?" Addison was scandalized. "He hit her?"
"Everyone says that he didn’t mean to do it, but she had a bloody nose and Alex played the dashing prince and fought for her honor." Joe glanced toward the small group of interns at the table in the corner. "Izzie said that Alex and Callie were having foreplay right in the middle of the food court and that the only thing stopping it from being sex was the fact that they had their scrub pants on."
Addison blinked several times. "Callie and Alex? *Karev*?"
"I know, right?" Joe shook his head and stood up a little more. "Karev gets around! It was what? A few weeks ago that I saw the two of you kissing in this very spot."
"They were kissing?" She could feel anger bubbling from somewhere deep inside. "Are you sure?"
"Well, I don’t know how many other ways you can have foreplay in public that wouldn’t get you banned from the hospital." He shrugged. "What can I get you, kiddo? You want food or spirits?"
"Uh, neither." Addison shook her head and got to her feet. "I - I gotta go."
When she grabbed her purse and turned, George was standing behind her. His eyes were bloodshot and glassy and his lip was so swollen it looked like he had an entire package of chewing tobacco tucked behind it. His jaw was mottled with bruises and he stared at her, his eyes accusing. "Did you know?" he finally asked, and his voice was hoarse from the apparent tears that he had shed. "Did you know about her and Alex?"
"No." Addison shook her head. "Joe just told me."
"He’s sleeping with her."
"Did they tell you that?"
"They didn’t deny it." George ran a hand through his hair, making it stand on end and it completed the look of a man who was completely broken. "I - I just - my dad was right, you know? He said that she was the one for me, that she got me, and that I would be crazy to let her get away and I didn’t see it. I didn’t see it, Dr. Montgomery. I didn’t see it until she was gone."
"You're drunk," Addison said, digging through her purse for a tissue. "You didn’t drive here did you?"
"I’m living in my car now. Can't afford a decent place and the roaches finally got to me." George blew his nose. "I can’t go back to Meredith’s and my mother would choke me to death with her bare hands if I showed up on her doorstep and had to tell her what happened between me and Callie."
"When was the last time that you ate?"
"I dunno." George looked heavenward, his eyes tearing again. "She won’t even talk to me. I - I made a mistake that I don’t even completely remember so I don’t think I even liked it."
Addison met Joe’s gaze and the bartender shrugged. "Come on, studmuffin." Addison put an arm around his shoulder and led him toward the door. "You can sleep on the sofa at my place and we’ll order enough room service to soak up all that liquor."
"I’m never eating again."
"I know." Addison patted him on the back as she led him to her car, where she buckled him in and tried not to notice that he was in the exact same shape she had been the night Derek had left her.
*~*~*~*~*~
"Admit it." Callie took a sip of her frozen drink as the credits rolled and the lights came up. "You liked it."
"Not in a million years."
"Liar." She grinned a little as he tilted the bag of popcorn back and finished it off. "Do you have someplace that you need to be?"
"Nope."
"I’m hungry."
His eyes widened. "It’s about damn time."
"Johnny Depp. ‘Nuff said."
"Bull shit. It was the smell of this buttery popcorn that you refused to even try."
"I know a great place and they’re open late."
"Lead the way."
Thirty minutes later they were being seated outdoors at a swanky seafood place that overlooked Elliot Bay. The lighting was dim and there were two small tea candle lanterns on either side of the scrubbed wooden table. Callie ordered a glass of wine and urged Alex to do the same, telling him that it complemented the king crab legs perfectly. He figured that he could put his credit card to good use and agreed, scanning the food prices on the menu.
The manager brought the wine himself and addressed Callie by name, asking for her order. She introduced Alex and said, "Crab. Lots and lots of crab, Nate."
Bowing slightly, the manager hurried toward the kitchen and Callie beamed at Alex. "It’s your favorite food on the planet."
"It’s also the most expensive on the planet which is why I only eat it once a year."
"Then consider yourself lucky because George hated seafood of any kind and I’m rich enough to buy this restaurant, this street and probably half of Seattle."
"Huh?"
"Oh, you didn’t hear? I thought everyone knew."
"You’re rich?"
"Very."
He finally said, "Uh, how rich exactly?"
"Do you like the wine?"
"It’s actually the best I’ve ever had."
Callie lifted her hand and a waiter appeared. "We’d like the bottle, please."
She waited until the waiter was out of earshot and said, "You trusted me this afternoon and told me about your mom so I’m gonna return the favor. No one knows this either. I mean, George knows that I have money, but he has no idea how much. My family is old money. My mother is Greek and her family is one of the wealthiest in Greece. My dad is technically Cuban, but he was born here in the states. His parents had inherited millions years ago and my dad, being as business savvy as he is, put a ton of stock in the computer craze and his money quadrupled in a matter of years. Now he dabbles in real estate and oil and he has resorts and villas all over the world that turn over billions of dollars every year."
"Billions?"
"Billions." Callie leaned back in her seat as the bottle of champagne was brought to the table in a beautiful wine chiller. She plucked it out, looked at the date, and said, "That’s why paying four thousand dollars for a bottle of wine or twenty five hundred a week to stay at the Archfield really doesn’t matter to me."
Alex choked on his wine, his eyes round. "Four thous- Callie! Four thousand dollar for a bottle of *wine*?"
"It’s good. You said so yourself."
"Oh my god."
Callie bit her bottom lip as she watched him stare out over the bay. "Are you freakin’ out?"
"Why? Do most people freak out?"
"Yes. My bank account has cost me every relationship I’ve ever had and was the catalyst that drove George into Izzie’s bed. Well, that and the fact that she’s his ideal woman. His Venus. His dirty whore. God, I hate them both."
"Now who’s freakin’ out?"
"I’m not freakin’ out."
"You look like you’re freakin’ out. If you hold that glass any tighter you’ll shatter it." Alex reached across the table and took it from her. "Any more secrets?"
"Only that I’m dying."
"Come again?"
"I’m dying."
"You want to explain that one a little better?"
"When my family finds out that I’m going to be divorced they’re going to kill me. My mother claims that she already wrote me out of her will for eloping and so this? I’m signing my own death warrant by signing the divorce papers."
"How about an annulment?"
"Same difference really. My family is very religious and very old fashioned. My mother especially."
"Tell her that Jesus would not want you to stay with a cheater."
"Oh god no." Callie shook her head, her eyes wide. "If my dad or my brothers caught wind of what George did to me ... that would be signing his death warrant. I’m the baby of the family and the only girl so that makes me special."
"That’s not what makes you special."
Their food arrived and Callie reached for a piece of bread, which she savored for a while. She watched as Alex cracked into the crab legs and instead of putting them on his plate, he filled hers first, digging out the meat for her. No one had ever done that for her and she smiled as she finished off her wine and refilled her glass, then his. Their conversation was light while they ate. They joked, mostly about their weirdest patients, and finally Callie leaned back and rubbed her stomach. "God, I’m full."
"You barely ate!" He pointed at her plate, at the mound of food still there.
"You gave me ten freakin’ pounds." She scraped what remained into his plate, which was empty.
Not missing a beat, he dug in. "God, this is good. Not for nothing, you’re a damn good dinner date."
She nodded and then her mouth dropped open. "Holy hell!"
"What?"
Digging through her purse, she turned her cell phone on. It immediately beeped and she saw that Addison had called. Several times. "I was supposed to have dinner with Addison tonight."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. We were supposed to get all dressed up and look pretty and -"
"Well, you got most of it right without her. You look very pretty."
"Now I know you’re flirting with me."
"What would you say if I was? Really?"
She took a deep breath. "I’d tell you that you probably shouldn’t because I’m a little tipsy from the wine and you’re looking better and better to me and it wouldn’t be fair to either one of us to pursue something right now."
"Why not?"
"Because I like you. I genuinely like you and I don’t know what’s going to happen in the next few weeks with George or my family or at work once Webber gets wind of what happened today so-"
"I’m a big boy. I can take it."
"It wouldn’t be fair to you, Alex. Don’t you get it?"
"You’re not ready."
"I’m not ready."
"But if you were -"
"We would have already been back at my room and halfway there," she stated bluntly.
"You’re wrong."
"Am I?"
"You wouldn’t be halfway there. You would have been there several times and we’d just be getting started good."
She swallowed hard and licked her lips, glancing down at her hands. Her ring had left an indentation in her finger that refused to go away. Closing her eyes, she remembered the way George’s hands shook as he slipped the simple, silver band over her finger. He had never taken his eyes off her and she believed him when he spoke his vows in a strong, succinct voice. Her eyes found Alex’s again and she shook her head. "I’m sorry."
"It’s okay." He leaned forward and used his thumb to wipe away a small amount of butter from her cheek. "You can’t blame a guy for trying, though."
"You’re good at trying."
"I’m even better at waiting. And I will wait."
*~*~*~*~*~
Alex dropped her off at the hotel and slowly meandered the residential streets until he pulled into Meredith’s driveway. The moon was full and seemed to hang directly over him, bright and shiny. Making a mental note to joke with Callie the next morning about werewolves, he grabbed his duffel bag, which contained his soiled scrubs, and headed into the house, whistling. Meredith was sitting on the bottom of the stairs, a cup of hot cocoa in her hands.
"Hey," he said, shutting the door behind him. "You’re up late."
"Cristina is sleeping in my bed again. She flails."
Alex glanced into the living room, but Derek wasn’t on the sofa. "And Shepherd?"
"We’re in an off phase. He met a woman."
"There’s a lot of that going around." Alex dropped the duffel at his feet and sat down next to her.
"What are you doing with Callie?"
"Trying to keep her mind off O’Malley."
"Don’t you think you should stay out of it?"
"Not really. She’s my friend."
"Since when?"
"You know - I’ve listened to all of you at one time or another bitch about her. Izzie’s the fucking worst, but all of you have said things. George made a mistake. He rushed into something with her. She’s not good enough for him. She’s a bitch, she’s a whore. And you know what?"
"We were wrong?"
"Exactly. And she genuinely loved him. And she’s genuinely hurt in the most horrible way possible. I saw what I did to Izzie when I slept with Olivia and we weren’t even technically together at the time. Callie’s hurting and she doesn’t have anyone on her side."
"It’s not that we’re not on her side, Alex, but George - George is one of us. We’re the interns!"
"Is that really something to be proud of though? One of us? Look at the mistakes we’ve made. And when you really think about it, it shouldn’t be us against them, because we’re going to be one of them one day very soon."
"That’s true." Meredith sipped her cocoa and sighed. "But a little bit of friendly advice? If you’re sleeping with her you should stop. If you haven’t, you shouldn’t. Sex complicates everything and solves nothing."
"I’m not sleeping with her. I wanted to, but I didn’t. She wouldn’t."
"Really? I just figured that since she was with McManWhore-"
"See, you’re wrong about her again."
"That’s not all we were wrong about," Izzie said, walking down the stairs behind them. She sat behind Meredith and wrapped her arms around her bare legs. "George does love her. He loves her and not me." She glanced up at the ceiling and her eyes brimmed with tears. "God, it sounded different out loud than it did in my head."
"Most things do," Meredith offered, then handed Izzie her cup. She watched as the blond took several sips, handed it back to her, and dried her eyes. "Things will work out. They usually do."
"Since when are you Polly Sunshine?" Cristina joined them, her hair sticking out like curly horns and her eyes puffy from sleep. She grabbed the mug of chocolate and drained it, then crossed her arms. "It’s either too late at night or too early in the morning to be having a bonding moment."
"Why are you awake then?" Alex asked.
"Because Bethany Whisper over here has been playing the same sad shit for the past forty minutes and crying off key. Which apparently means that Bambi isn’t in her bed for a change."
"It was *one* time!" Izzie shouted. "Once! And it was a big deal to me because it was right after ... right after Denny died and it felt right."
"Everything feels right when you’ve had enough bourbon." Cristina rubbed her eyes. "I once sutured my own leg at a frat party and didn’t even realize it for two days."
"How did you cut it open?" Alex asked.
"I didn’t." Cristina glared at him. "I was practicing my technique. And in case you failed to notice I do have the best suturing technique in our year. Yours usually look like loose shoe strings."
"How long is she going to be living here?" Alex asked, glaring at Meredith.
"Until Burke stops being an ass."
"Burke is always an ass."
"Then I guess she’s here to stay."
"I really gotta find a place," Alex said. He stood and picked up his bag.
"Alex?" Izzie asked softly.
"Yeah?"
"Is she okay? I mean, Callie?"
"How do you think she is?"
"Not good," Izzie replied.
"Would you sleep better if I told you that she cried her heart out and wants to die?"
"No!"
"Fine, I’ll tell you the truth. She’s strong and she’s okay. This isn’t beating her and she’s not going to hide under the bed or let either one of you get to her because she’s better than that." His eyes met Izzie’s and he added. "She’s better than you and it’s no wonder George would rather have her. Wouldn’t we all?"
Izzie jumped to her feet and rushed back up the stairs, her sobs hanging in the air. Cristina sighed and said, "I’m sleeping on the sofa."
*~*~*~*~*~
Author: Chelle Storey-Daniel
Rating: PG
Pairing: Callie/George implied, Callie/Alex friendship, George/Izzie implied
Summary: Sometimes the most unlikely people will catch you when you fall. And sometimes, they're falling too.
A/N: I'm baaaack. :)
Part One
Part Two
*~*~*~*~*~
The chapel at Seattle Grace was small and nondescript. Six pews sat on either side of a small aisle and the floor was covered in burgundy carpet. An altar with several lit candles stood at the front of the room and every pew had several boxes of tissue handy. Alex had hidden in the small room to avoid the latest couple claiming to be Ava’s parents. There was just no way the loud, obnoxious and rude people could have parented Ava. He was deep in thought, contemplating DNA tests and anything that could be done to jog Ava’s memory when Callie rushed into the room and promptly collapsed a few feet away from him.
He grabbed tissue first, but discovered the box was empty and tossed it aside. Wasting no time, he grabbed another and then kneeled beside her, instinctively wrapping his arms around her. She smelled good, like honeysuckle and roses. Or maybe cherry blossoms. He wasn’t sure, but it was soft and sweet. When she stiffened, he spoke quietly, reassuring her that it would be okay. She mumbled something about her ring and giving it back to George and when he saw that her left hand was bare, he understood what had happened.
Her tears eventually subsided and he helped her to her feet, sitting next to her on the front pew. "Are you okay?" he asked.
"I don’t think so." She dabbed at her face and sniffled. "Being kidnapped isn’t very fun."
"Kidnapped?"
"George followed me into the elevator, hit the stop button, and wouldn’t let me start it again. He kept saying-"
"He stopped you from leaving when you wanted to?"
"Well, yeah. He wouldn’t let me go."
"I’ll kick his ass for that."
"Alex-"
"No. This is a *hospital*. He can’t be stranding the elevators or holding you hostage or -"
"You sound like Bailey."
"That’s a good idea. I’ll tell Bailey and *she* can kick his ass. God, she would kill him."
Callie nodded. "I gave him back the ring."
"Good. You deserved better than that anyway."
She shook her head. "I really loved it because it came from his heart. You know? He went out on his own and got it the first night we were in Vegas. I was fine using a ring that I already had, but he insisted. He was so proud."
Alex heard her voice choking up again and put an arm around her. "He’s not worth crying over."
"I honestly wanted to be married to him, Alex. I did. I really loved him and now I can’t believe how much I hate him. I genuinely, really, and truly loathe him."
"There’s a thin line between love and hate." He squeezed her hand, but didn’t let it go. "The best thing you can do is ignore him."
"I have been." Callie sighed and rubbed her stomach as it gurgled loudly.
"You’re hungry."
"I’m thirsty. The whole rule about not drinking while we practice medicine is wrong, so wrong. We do have the most stressful job on the planet."
"No, we don’t. Crab fisherman do."
Callie gasped and looked up at him. "You watch ‘Deadliest Catch’?"
"Duh! Half the fisherman live here in Seattle, Cal. Haven’t you seen Sig Hanson at Joe’s?"
"Shut up!" Her eyes widened, but Alex simply nodded at her. "You’re serious?"
"I don’t lie about crab fishing because crab, while I can’t really afford it, is my favorite food." He grinned at her. "Let me buy you a sandwich."
"Thank you, but I can’t."
"Why not."
"I’m avoiding the cafeteria. He takes his lunch break around this time and -"
"And let’s give him something to talk about." He stood and held out his hand. "You in?"
"In what?"
"Turnabout is fair play, wouldn’t you say?" He cocked his head a little. "I can’t think of anything that would bother George more than me hanging out with you. And it will piss Izzie off, too, since I’m one of the planets that she thinks is supposed to revolve around her. So, two birds with one stone, right?"
"You’re insane."
"I love to get under people’s skin. It makes my day so much happier."
"Well, God forbid I should stop you from finding a happy place."
When she stood, he took her hand in his and grinned at her. "Ready for our shocking debut?"
"Debut of what?"
"Who knows? Let’s keep them guessing."
*~*~*~*~*~
Izzie was sitting next to Meredith, self consciously poking strands of green hair under her scrub cap. Cristina slid into the seat across from her and gave her a look that was both mocking and full of glee. Izzie glared at her and said, "What? I have an appointment in two days to get it done!"
"Two full days?" Cristina snorted a little. "Miss Clairol, Izzie. Every drug store has it."
"I need a professional," Izzie replied, then brightened a little. "Oooh, there’s George." She leaned back and frantically waved at him.
Meredith and Cristina exchanged looks when George turned away and sat on the other side of the cafeteria. "Maybe he didn’t see you." Meredith told Izzie, trying to sound sincere.
"Are you kidding? He looked right at her." Cristina took a bite of her sandwich. "You made it weird, Izzie. The drunken sex? That’s even worse than George’s singing and I really doubted that he would show his face after that."
"Shut up," Izzie snapped and dug into her chocolate cake. She devoured it in about four bites and then asked Meredith for hers. She was enjoying it thoroughly when someone laughed, loudly, behind her.
Alex was sitting next to Callie, leaning unbelievably close to her, and whatever he was saying to her was apparently amusing her to no end. The three female interns watched with interest as she playfully punched him on the shoulder and he caught her hand, then whispered something in her ear. Cristina was the first to notice George, who had stood up. She tapped Meredith on the arm and pointed at him.
"Oh crap." Meredith bit her bottom lip.
"Bambi is about to get his ass kicked." Cristina pushed her plate away and fished a twenty dollar bill from her pocket. "My money is on Callie."
Izzie slowly got to her feet and took a step forward, only to be yanked backwards by Meredith. "But-"
"But nothing." Mer held her arm firmly. "I’m the one who had to x-ray your face to see if any bones were broken the last time you got near Callie and remember, I am tiny and she can hurt me, so I’m not jumping in between you two."
"Me either. I think you deserve it." Cristina took a bite of her own cake and stood so she could have a better view. "It’s like watching a little virgin about to be sacrificed."
*****
"Callie?"
Callie was still chuckling at the way Alex had changed the words to ‘You Belong To Me’ to ‘You’re A Dog With Fleas’ when George stepped up beside them. She felt Alex put a reassuring hand on her thigh and took a deep breath, keeping the smile on her face. "Dr. O’Malley, I would prefer it if you addressed me as Dr. Torres at work."
George could see exactly where Alex’s hand was and he felt his own hands fist at his sides. "What are you doing?"
Callie glanced around, then down at the untouched fruit tray in front of her. "Well, we’re in a cafeteria. I’m on a break. There’s food in front of me. I’d say I’m having lunch."
"What are you doing with *him*?"
Alex plucked a grape off Callie’s plate and tossed it into his mouth, the smirk never leaving his face. "I’m having lunch, too."
George narrowed his eyes at Karev. "You’re not going to get under my skin."
"Is that why you look like your about to have a stroke?" Alex pointed as his own face and said, "You’re all red, dude."
Ignoring him, George spoke to Callie. "Can you please come and talk to me?"
"No."
"Callie, please? I - I feel like I’m dying."
"Not yet." Alex plucked another grape and nudged her with his leg. "It just so happens that your friend here is only mostly dead. There's a big difference between mostly dead and all dead."
Callie, who had taken a sip of her soda, almost blew it from her nose as she started to laugh. She laughed hard, she laughed in a way that a few days ago she had considered an impossibility. "Stop with the Princess Bride quotes!" she wiped at her mouth, still grinning. "You mock his pain."
"Life is pain, highness. Anyone who says differently is obviously selling something." Alex chewed the grape thoughtfully as he looked up at George. "Besides, he caused his problems himself. You made your bed, Georgie, so you can sleep in it."
"Could you shut up?" George glared at him, then put his hand on Callie’s shoulder and tried to turn her to face him. "You will-
Alex caught his hand at once and stood, twisting the shorter man’s arm behind his back. "Don’t touch her and while I have your full attention let me make one thing very clear to you ... the next time you lock her in an elevator or a room or a closet or within five feet of yourself ... you’re going to need the ICU for about six months."
Callie got her feet just as George swung his right fist at Alex’s face. It clipped her in the nose and she half stumbled into Alex, whose face was now even redder than George’s had been. He grabbed her, tilted her chin, saw the blood and, still clutching George’s left hand, slammed him face first onto the table. Callie intervened before Alex could do it a second time and pulled him away. She felt her own blood dripping from her nose, over her lips, and cupped her face.
George, who finally realized who he had punched, reached for her. "Oh my god. Callie, I didn’t mean-"
Alex stepped around Callie and shoved him hard, causing George to land on his backside. "Stay the FUCK away from her!"
George scrambled back to his feet and glared at Alex. "You slept with her! You slept with my wife! My WIFE!"
"George!" Callie, who had been wrestling the napkin holder with shaking hands finally gave up and threw it on the ground in front of her. "I am not your wife! I stopped being your wife when you cheated on me with that - that good for nothing, white trash, trailer park dwelling, Anna Nicole Smith wannabe! You can have her! You deserve each other!"
"I married you!" George plucked up several of the napkins that had fallen out of the holder and held them out to her. "I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hit you."
"Oh?" Callie slapped his hand away and then drew back and putting her weight into it, hit him with a right hook that spectators would claim for weeks actually lifted him off his feet. "I just meant it enough for both of us."
And with that, she turned on her heel and left the cafeteria with her head held high.
Thirty minutes later she was sitting in one of the smaller trauma rooms with an ice pack on her hand while she waited for the X-rays to come back. She knew that nothing was broken in either her nose or her hand, but Alex had insisted and because he gave her a choice of letting him check her out or strangling George with IV tubing, she agreed to the tests. The nurse finally arrived with the films and she watched as Alex tacked them to the lightboard and studied every inch of them.
"Nothing’s broken," he finally announced and shut the light off.
"Told you."
"Where did you learn to fight like that anyway?"
"I grew up in Miami and I already told you that I was the designated whipping post at school. My older brothers taught me how to fight before I was potty trained."
Alex lifted the ice pack off her hand and held it in his own, massaging it, warming it. "Remind me not to piss you off."
"You haven’t so far."
He lifted one brow. "That’s not entirely true. You were pissed last night when you found out where I lived."
"I was more shocked than pissed," she replied. "What were you doing in the chapel earlier?"
"Hiding."
"Hiding?"
He explained about the people who claimed to Ava’s parents while he slowly wrapped her hand in an ace bandage. After he secured it, he said, "Have you met her?"
"Not really. I consulted with Sloan about the bones in her face, but didn’t work the case." She studied him. "Why?"
"I think you’d like her."
"Do you like her, Alex?"
"I like her."
"Do you *like* her, Alex?"
"You know," he said, sitting next to her on the stretcher. "It’s weird. When I pulled that pylon off her face and looked down at her I saw my mother."
"Your mother?"
"I know it sounds insane because Ava is clearly younger than me, but the first real memory I have of my mother is me pulling a chair off her. My father had beaten her into unconsciousness. I couldn’t have been more than six or seven. Maybe younger. It was Christmas Eve and my dad was pissed because she didn’t have enough money for beer after she bought a turkey and stuff for a real dinner the next day.
"She had put me to bed early, telling me that Santa would come, but since he never did and my father liked to tell me I was a fucking bastard every chance he had, I wasn’t holding out much hope for Santa. But I went to bed anyway and her screams woke me up."
Saying nothing, Callie put her bandaged hand on top of his. He laced their fingers gently to avoid hurting her as he continued. "That whole night I kept talking to her and she wouldn’t wake up so I did the only thing I could think of. I put cookies beside the fireplace and a glass of milk, the way the kids at school said they were going to do, and I kneeled down and prayed that Santa would bring my mother back. Then I got a blanket from my bed and slept next to her on the kitchen floor."
Alex smiled a little. "Santa came that year. My mom woke me up that morning and she had tried to cover the bruises and the blood had been cleaned up and when I saw the used bicycle in front of the tree I knew that Dad’s beer money had bought that for me and the beating she took was so that I could have a present."
"I’m sorry," Callie whispered.
"I’ve never told anyone that story." He sounded shocked and glanced at her. "Ever."
"Then thank you for sharing it." She smiled a little. "And for not letting it break you."
"We are not our past, Callie. We’re our present and I’m okay." He glanced over at her. "Are you? Your nose could light up the sky, Rudolph."
"He was aiming at you."
"Don’t do that. Don’t make excuses for him."
"I’m not."
"You are." Alex glanced up at the big clock on the wall. "Our shifts are up. Want to get out of here?"
"What did you have in mind?"
"Want to go see a movie?"
"Sure." Callie grinned at him. "Can I pick?"
"As you wish."
"Johnny Depp’s new one is out."
"I take it back."
"Now now, don’t go back on your word."
"Dammit." He made a face as he hopped off the bed and helped her down. "I pick the next one."
*~*~*~*~*~
Addison called Callie’s cell number again and frowned. She had left no less than six messages and had called at least six more only to hang up when it clicked over to voice mail. Her little black dress was clinging to her body in all the right ways and she had splurged on the Prada pumps that she had been eyeballing for weeks. She pushed her freshly washed hair over her shoulder and picked up the hotel phone, asking to be connected to Callie’s room. When there was no answer, she hung up and grabbed her purse.
In the parking garage, she noted that Callie’s car was not in the usual spot and got into her own. Her hunger had reached critical mass so she quickly left the hotel in search of food. She wasn’t exactly dressed for Joe’s but the man could make a great club sandwich and with any luck, she would find Callie there. She pulled into a spot near the entrance and ignored the catcalls that a group of men sent her way as soon as her long leg emerged from her convertible.
Once inside, she scanned the bar for her friend and took a seat at the bar. Joe appeared at once and set a glass in front of her. "Hey, Ads! How’s it going?"
"Good, you?"
"Busy night."
"I see that." Addison scanned the crowd again. "Have you seen Callie? We were supposed to be meeting for dinner."
"I haven’t seen her, but after everything I’ve heard today I’m not shocked."
"What do you mean?"
Joe leaned forward, bracing himself on his elbows. "Everyone’s talking about it. Apparently George accused Alex of sleeping with Callie in the cafeteria because those two were all over each other and then Alex and George started to fight, George accidentally hit Callie, and Callie punched him so hard that the latest estimate is that he went two feet into the air, but Yang says it was more like four feet."
"What?" Addison was scandalized. "He hit her?"
"Everyone says that he didn’t mean to do it, but she had a bloody nose and Alex played the dashing prince and fought for her honor." Joe glanced toward the small group of interns at the table in the corner. "Izzie said that Alex and Callie were having foreplay right in the middle of the food court and that the only thing stopping it from being sex was the fact that they had their scrub pants on."
Addison blinked several times. "Callie and Alex? *Karev*?"
"I know, right?" Joe shook his head and stood up a little more. "Karev gets around! It was what? A few weeks ago that I saw the two of you kissing in this very spot."
"They were kissing?" She could feel anger bubbling from somewhere deep inside. "Are you sure?"
"Well, I don’t know how many other ways you can have foreplay in public that wouldn’t get you banned from the hospital." He shrugged. "What can I get you, kiddo? You want food or spirits?"
"Uh, neither." Addison shook her head and got to her feet. "I - I gotta go."
When she grabbed her purse and turned, George was standing behind her. His eyes were bloodshot and glassy and his lip was so swollen it looked like he had an entire package of chewing tobacco tucked behind it. His jaw was mottled with bruises and he stared at her, his eyes accusing. "Did you know?" he finally asked, and his voice was hoarse from the apparent tears that he had shed. "Did you know about her and Alex?"
"No." Addison shook her head. "Joe just told me."
"He’s sleeping with her."
"Did they tell you that?"
"They didn’t deny it." George ran a hand through his hair, making it stand on end and it completed the look of a man who was completely broken. "I - I just - my dad was right, you know? He said that she was the one for me, that she got me, and that I would be crazy to let her get away and I didn’t see it. I didn’t see it, Dr. Montgomery. I didn’t see it until she was gone."
"You're drunk," Addison said, digging through her purse for a tissue. "You didn’t drive here did you?"
"I’m living in my car now. Can't afford a decent place and the roaches finally got to me." George blew his nose. "I can’t go back to Meredith’s and my mother would choke me to death with her bare hands if I showed up on her doorstep and had to tell her what happened between me and Callie."
"When was the last time that you ate?"
"I dunno." George looked heavenward, his eyes tearing again. "She won’t even talk to me. I - I made a mistake that I don’t even completely remember so I don’t think I even liked it."
Addison met Joe’s gaze and the bartender shrugged. "Come on, studmuffin." Addison put an arm around his shoulder and led him toward the door. "You can sleep on the sofa at my place and we’ll order enough room service to soak up all that liquor."
"I’m never eating again."
"I know." Addison patted him on the back as she led him to her car, where she buckled him in and tried not to notice that he was in the exact same shape she had been the night Derek had left her.
*~*~*~*~*~
"Admit it." Callie took a sip of her frozen drink as the credits rolled and the lights came up. "You liked it."
"Not in a million years."
"Liar." She grinned a little as he tilted the bag of popcorn back and finished it off. "Do you have someplace that you need to be?"
"Nope."
"I’m hungry."
His eyes widened. "It’s about damn time."
"Johnny Depp. ‘Nuff said."
"Bull shit. It was the smell of this buttery popcorn that you refused to even try."
"I know a great place and they’re open late."
"Lead the way."
Thirty minutes later they were being seated outdoors at a swanky seafood place that overlooked Elliot Bay. The lighting was dim and there were two small tea candle lanterns on either side of the scrubbed wooden table. Callie ordered a glass of wine and urged Alex to do the same, telling him that it complemented the king crab legs perfectly. He figured that he could put his credit card to good use and agreed, scanning the food prices on the menu.
The manager brought the wine himself and addressed Callie by name, asking for her order. She introduced Alex and said, "Crab. Lots and lots of crab, Nate."
Bowing slightly, the manager hurried toward the kitchen and Callie beamed at Alex. "It’s your favorite food on the planet."
"It’s also the most expensive on the planet which is why I only eat it once a year."
"Then consider yourself lucky because George hated seafood of any kind and I’m rich enough to buy this restaurant, this street and probably half of Seattle."
"Huh?"
"Oh, you didn’t hear? I thought everyone knew."
"You’re rich?"
"Very."
He finally said, "Uh, how rich exactly?"
"Do you like the wine?"
"It’s actually the best I’ve ever had."
Callie lifted her hand and a waiter appeared. "We’d like the bottle, please."
She waited until the waiter was out of earshot and said, "You trusted me this afternoon and told me about your mom so I’m gonna return the favor. No one knows this either. I mean, George knows that I have money, but he has no idea how much. My family is old money. My mother is Greek and her family is one of the wealthiest in Greece. My dad is technically Cuban, but he was born here in the states. His parents had inherited millions years ago and my dad, being as business savvy as he is, put a ton of stock in the computer craze and his money quadrupled in a matter of years. Now he dabbles in real estate and oil and he has resorts and villas all over the world that turn over billions of dollars every year."
"Billions?"
"Billions." Callie leaned back in her seat as the bottle of champagne was brought to the table in a beautiful wine chiller. She plucked it out, looked at the date, and said, "That’s why paying four thousand dollars for a bottle of wine or twenty five hundred a week to stay at the Archfield really doesn’t matter to me."
Alex choked on his wine, his eyes round. "Four thous- Callie! Four thousand dollar for a bottle of *wine*?"
"It’s good. You said so yourself."
"Oh my god."
Callie bit her bottom lip as she watched him stare out over the bay. "Are you freakin’ out?"
"Why? Do most people freak out?"
"Yes. My bank account has cost me every relationship I’ve ever had and was the catalyst that drove George into Izzie’s bed. Well, that and the fact that she’s his ideal woman. His Venus. His dirty whore. God, I hate them both."
"Now who’s freakin’ out?"
"I’m not freakin’ out."
"You look like you’re freakin’ out. If you hold that glass any tighter you’ll shatter it." Alex reached across the table and took it from her. "Any more secrets?"
"Only that I’m dying."
"Come again?"
"I’m dying."
"You want to explain that one a little better?"
"When my family finds out that I’m going to be divorced they’re going to kill me. My mother claims that she already wrote me out of her will for eloping and so this? I’m signing my own death warrant by signing the divorce papers."
"How about an annulment?"
"Same difference really. My family is very religious and very old fashioned. My mother especially."
"Tell her that Jesus would not want you to stay with a cheater."
"Oh god no." Callie shook her head, her eyes wide. "If my dad or my brothers caught wind of what George did to me ... that would be signing his death warrant. I’m the baby of the family and the only girl so that makes me special."
"That’s not what makes you special."
Their food arrived and Callie reached for a piece of bread, which she savored for a while. She watched as Alex cracked into the crab legs and instead of putting them on his plate, he filled hers first, digging out the meat for her. No one had ever done that for her and she smiled as she finished off her wine and refilled her glass, then his. Their conversation was light while they ate. They joked, mostly about their weirdest patients, and finally Callie leaned back and rubbed her stomach. "God, I’m full."
"You barely ate!" He pointed at her plate, at the mound of food still there.
"You gave me ten freakin’ pounds." She scraped what remained into his plate, which was empty.
Not missing a beat, he dug in. "God, this is good. Not for nothing, you’re a damn good dinner date."
She nodded and then her mouth dropped open. "Holy hell!"
"What?"
Digging through her purse, she turned her cell phone on. It immediately beeped and she saw that Addison had called. Several times. "I was supposed to have dinner with Addison tonight."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. We were supposed to get all dressed up and look pretty and -"
"Well, you got most of it right without her. You look very pretty."
"Now I know you’re flirting with me."
"What would you say if I was? Really?"
She took a deep breath. "I’d tell you that you probably shouldn’t because I’m a little tipsy from the wine and you’re looking better and better to me and it wouldn’t be fair to either one of us to pursue something right now."
"Why not?"
"Because I like you. I genuinely like you and I don’t know what’s going to happen in the next few weeks with George or my family or at work once Webber gets wind of what happened today so-"
"I’m a big boy. I can take it."
"It wouldn’t be fair to you, Alex. Don’t you get it?"
"You’re not ready."
"I’m not ready."
"But if you were -"
"We would have already been back at my room and halfway there," she stated bluntly.
"You’re wrong."
"Am I?"
"You wouldn’t be halfway there. You would have been there several times and we’d just be getting started good."
She swallowed hard and licked her lips, glancing down at her hands. Her ring had left an indentation in her finger that refused to go away. Closing her eyes, she remembered the way George’s hands shook as he slipped the simple, silver band over her finger. He had never taken his eyes off her and she believed him when he spoke his vows in a strong, succinct voice. Her eyes found Alex’s again and she shook her head. "I’m sorry."
"It’s okay." He leaned forward and used his thumb to wipe away a small amount of butter from her cheek. "You can’t blame a guy for trying, though."
"You’re good at trying."
"I’m even better at waiting. And I will wait."
*~*~*~*~*~
Alex dropped her off at the hotel and slowly meandered the residential streets until he pulled into Meredith’s driveway. The moon was full and seemed to hang directly over him, bright and shiny. Making a mental note to joke with Callie the next morning about werewolves, he grabbed his duffel bag, which contained his soiled scrubs, and headed into the house, whistling. Meredith was sitting on the bottom of the stairs, a cup of hot cocoa in her hands.
"Hey," he said, shutting the door behind him. "You’re up late."
"Cristina is sleeping in my bed again. She flails."
Alex glanced into the living room, but Derek wasn’t on the sofa. "And Shepherd?"
"We’re in an off phase. He met a woman."
"There’s a lot of that going around." Alex dropped the duffel at his feet and sat down next to her.
"What are you doing with Callie?"
"Trying to keep her mind off O’Malley."
"Don’t you think you should stay out of it?"
"Not really. She’s my friend."
"Since when?"
"You know - I’ve listened to all of you at one time or another bitch about her. Izzie’s the fucking worst, but all of you have said things. George made a mistake. He rushed into something with her. She’s not good enough for him. She’s a bitch, she’s a whore. And you know what?"
"We were wrong?"
"Exactly. And she genuinely loved him. And she’s genuinely hurt in the most horrible way possible. I saw what I did to Izzie when I slept with Olivia and we weren’t even technically together at the time. Callie’s hurting and she doesn’t have anyone on her side."
"It’s not that we’re not on her side, Alex, but George - George is one of us. We’re the interns!"
"Is that really something to be proud of though? One of us? Look at the mistakes we’ve made. And when you really think about it, it shouldn’t be us against them, because we’re going to be one of them one day very soon."
"That’s true." Meredith sipped her cocoa and sighed. "But a little bit of friendly advice? If you’re sleeping with her you should stop. If you haven’t, you shouldn’t. Sex complicates everything and solves nothing."
"I’m not sleeping with her. I wanted to, but I didn’t. She wouldn’t."
"Really? I just figured that since she was with McManWhore-"
"See, you’re wrong about her again."
"That’s not all we were wrong about," Izzie said, walking down the stairs behind them. She sat behind Meredith and wrapped her arms around her bare legs. "George does love her. He loves her and not me." She glanced up at the ceiling and her eyes brimmed with tears. "God, it sounded different out loud than it did in my head."
"Most things do," Meredith offered, then handed Izzie her cup. She watched as the blond took several sips, handed it back to her, and dried her eyes. "Things will work out. They usually do."
"Since when are you Polly Sunshine?" Cristina joined them, her hair sticking out like curly horns and her eyes puffy from sleep. She grabbed the mug of chocolate and drained it, then crossed her arms. "It’s either too late at night or too early in the morning to be having a bonding moment."
"Why are you awake then?" Alex asked.
"Because Bethany Whisper over here has been playing the same sad shit for the past forty minutes and crying off key. Which apparently means that Bambi isn’t in her bed for a change."
"It was *one* time!" Izzie shouted. "Once! And it was a big deal to me because it was right after ... right after Denny died and it felt right."
"Everything feels right when you’ve had enough bourbon." Cristina rubbed her eyes. "I once sutured my own leg at a frat party and didn’t even realize it for two days."
"How did you cut it open?" Alex asked.
"I didn’t." Cristina glared at him. "I was practicing my technique. And in case you failed to notice I do have the best suturing technique in our year. Yours usually look like loose shoe strings."
"How long is she going to be living here?" Alex asked, glaring at Meredith.
"Until Burke stops being an ass."
"Burke is always an ass."
"Then I guess she’s here to stay."
"I really gotta find a place," Alex said. He stood and picked up his bag.
"Alex?" Izzie asked softly.
"Yeah?"
"Is she okay? I mean, Callie?"
"How do you think she is?"
"Not good," Izzie replied.
"Would you sleep better if I told you that she cried her heart out and wants to die?"
"No!"
"Fine, I’ll tell you the truth. She’s strong and she’s okay. This isn’t beating her and she’s not going to hide under the bed or let either one of you get to her because she’s better than that." His eyes met Izzie’s and he added. "She’s better than you and it’s no wonder George would rather have her. Wouldn’t we all?"
Izzie jumped to her feet and rushed back up the stairs, her sobs hanging in the air. Cristina sighed and said, "I’m sleeping on the sofa."
*~*~*~*~*~