Chapter 2

The surgery was long, complicated, dangerous...just what Cristina Yang was made for.

The tree acted with a vengeance on Alex's chest, more broken ribs than not broken, but it was the internal bleeding that was threatening his life.

Cristina was possessed, driven with a fierce determination that Karev would live. He had to live.

It had been the three of them when Derek died. Well, the two of them at first...Meredith and Cristina. More like a shell of Meredith. Cristina cradling her in bed for days, feeding her, wiping her face with a wash cloth.

Alex was fighting his own battle, trying to make it back from that bullet lodged in his chest. He clawed his way to the land of the living and joined the two forming three, three friends desperately finding a reason to live.

Zola proved to be that reason. Meredith pushed the grieving of Derek aside a little. She had to. She had a little girl who could not be pushed to the side. So it was a rainy, dreary Saturday when Meredith decided to join Alex and Cristina and continue with life.

"Alex, can you take Zola to her dance lesson tomorrow?"

"Sure, Mer." Alex stepped up in a way no one could have expected. He didn't even realize he was doing it.

Meredith asked. He said yes. Every time. No questions, no thinking, just yes.

"You enjoying being Meredith's bitch?" asked Cristina giving Alex her usual hard time.

"Suck it, Yang," said Alex grabbing Zola's hand.

Alex even moved back in for a while. There was a comfort in this dysfunctional family, really the best family any of them had ever experienced.

Eventually, he moved back to a place of his own. Jo had entered his life, sort of. An attraction, undeniable, definitely. Chest Peckwell, douche, in the way, definitely.

Now Alex was back in surgery again fighting for his life, but Cristina was fighting alongside him, and Avery was putting in his two cents worth. And Meredith was waiting with Jo holding hands, silent, praying to a God she knew didn't exist, praying she wouldn't lose another person she loved.

Cristina entered the waiting room, and Meredith knew immediately that Alex was alive. It was something in the way she made eye contact or the way her mouth pursed up as she was about to speak.

"He's alive. It's bad, Mer." Cristina pulled her in and squeezed. It was Yang's idea of a hug.

Meredith knew immediately that Alex could very well die. This time it was in the way Cristina didn't complain about all the trouble he was causing, in the way she didn't call him evil spawn, in the way she didn't talk about being a miracle worker and saving his ass. This was bad.

"It's Alex. He's tough. Tell me he's gonna be okay. Cristina, say it! I need you to say it!"

Long pause.

"He has years of pissing us off left in him. We're stuck with him. He's a disease that has no cure. He's..."

"Okay, enough," said Meredith smiling a little.

One of the advantages of being a doctor was that no one could tell you "no visitors" or "family only." Meredith headed to Alex's room needing to see him, needing to tell him that Zola was expecting him to take her to dance on Friday, needing to tell him that she wanted a pizza, movie, and beer Saturday night.

"Oh, Alex," she whispered rushing to the side of his bed. Her hand went to his head stroking his hair instinctively. "Oh, my Alex."

Jo was again a forgotten afterthought. She wasn't invited to Alex's room, so she hung awkwardly back. She knew what she had to do. Looking out for herself, story of her life. No one else was going to do it.

"How is Jason Myers?" Jo asked the nurse on duty.

"He's out of danger, looks like he's going to be fine. The police are talking to him now."

Jo braced herself as the officers left his room. She hoped her face looked bad. Yes, sympathy would be her best bet, and she could get those waterworks going if she needed to. She bristled as the police walked right by her and out of the hospital.

Jason not pressing charges? Good news. Now, she needed to know that Alex was going to be okay. They had a conversation to finish.

Jo found Alex's room, Meredith still inside. She walked in slowly unsure of what to do.

"C'mon. Sit," said Meredith pointing to a chair. "You know he's going to be fine." She wasn't sure if she was convincing herself or Jo.

The storm had finally calmed to a steady rain. Meredith had to leave to be with Zola. She desperately needed to see her little girl, but she also didn't want to leave her friend. He needed her; she knew her being there mattered.

"Alex, I'll be back tomorrow morning. Don't do anything stupid." She stroked his face thinking how untouched and peaceful he looked. Really more peaceful than when he was awake. Usually a little scowl on his face.

"You'll stay with him?"

"Yes, not going anywhere." Jo was holding Alex's hand, rubbing it gently as she watched Meredith leave.

"Alex, please wake up. Open your eyes. We didn't get to finish. I have something to tell you." Jo felt her face wet, tears coming down, no audience, real tears.

Cristina came in every thirty minutes to check on her friend.

"Hey," she said to Jo. "What are you doing here?"

"Um, just thought someone should be with him if that's okay," answered Jo nervously getting up.

"Fine, sit. I thought you were going to say you were the latest crazy to declare her love for frat boy." Cristina checked Alex's vitals and spent a few minutes opening his eyes while shining a light into them.

Jo couldn't help but notice how gently Cristina was handling him despite the tough talk. When she checked his central line, she smoothed his hair a little with her hand.

"No change, but that's good." Jo wasn't sure if Cristina was talking to her or to herself.

Before she could ask, Yang was gone.

Jo dozed off and on, someone was constantly buzzing in the room checking on Alex, taking him up to X-ray to make sure the internal bleeding had not started up again.

Meredith showed up around six thirty encouraging Jo to go shower, eat, sleep. More like forcing her to go.

"Alex, enough with the whole sleeping not waking up. Open your eyes, please." Meredith stroked his hair, his face.

"Evil spawn is being a pain in the ass, as usual," said Cristina rushing in the room, immediately getting to work. "His vitals are okay, though. Still no bleeding. That's good."

"Cristina, you've gotta go home. You need a shower. You stink."

"You like my stink. And I don't want to leave till he opens his demon eyes. Then I will shower, eat, sleep."

"Come with me." Meredith hooked her arm in Cristina's leading her out of the room. "I need to hear what all's wrong with him. I'm ready to hear it now. And I'm making you eat something."

Alex had a new visitor in his room. She moved instinctively to his side kissing his cheek softly.

"Alex, what have you gotten yourself into now?" She grabbed his chart and scanned it for a quick rundown of his injuries shaking her head slowly.

She put the chart down and reached for his hand, holding it, felt familiar, comfortable.

"Alex. Wake up. Look at me. I need to see your eyes."

Alex heard the voice. Confused. What was this? What had happened?

He moaned loudly, a pain shooting through his chest. Gaining consciousness was not all it was cracked up to be. It hurt. Really hurt.

Alex tried to open his eyes, but it was like they were sealed shut with super glue. He lifted his eyebrows trying to see a little something, just get them open a tiny crack. He went to lift a hand to rub his eyes but was met with another pain. Better to leave it by his side.

Finally, one eye opened a little, and he saw a blurry figure sitting at his bedside.

"Aaahhh," he groaned, blinking hard trying to clear the fuzz away.

"You're okay, Alex. Look at me. You're okay."

Alex could see now. Yes, he could see the person clearly now.

"Izzie? Iz, you came back for me. You came back," whispered Alex before losing consciousness just as quickly as he'd gained it.