Chapter Text
Alex Karev not feels anything like empathy for George O'Malley. Not for him, not for anyone. He's just not like that.
However, he has not been able to prevent the man from making his way into in his space: The way he helps you down to the smallest details without your asking, as if paying attention and helping people was a natural instinct in George, the way you will reassure a patient with a gentle smile, the way you will risk yourself for a cause, as you did that time for Joe. It is inevitable to remain oblivious to man when he is such a rare specimen and so fucking easy to appreciate.
Alex has decided that it is simply curiosity. George is a weird guy and his way of being catches Alex's attention. Very objective and scientific curiosity and all the shit (he did the lab with everyone else and he has the scientific instinct, hard to believe though).
Anyway, it's not like he's going to befriend of him or something. They've had their moments, but pups like George were made to be teased by guys like Alex. The law of nature.
Plus there's Izzie. Alex thinks he might like Izzie in the future. She is attractive and cute and Alex respects her now. He's just biding his time to ask her out.
He's thinking about it as he walks to drop off the last file with the nurses when he glances out of the window of Meredith's mom's room at a scene that makes him back up and blink to be sure of what he sees.
Yes, there it is, he are not imagining it.
On the gurney, Mrs. Grey clings to George's arm, who is lying patiently next to her, obviously a bit tense as he stares at the ceiling and occasionally bites his lip nervously. George's brown hair is all disheveled, as if he has run his hands through it several times.
Alex's first instinct should be to laugh. In fact, he comes up with a great repertoire of jokes about likings for older women and stuff. However, the first thing he does is neither of those things.
Alex smiles. It's a soft, sincere smile, the kind that you allow yourself when no one is looking. George O'Malley is definitely something different... And then Karev realizes he's smiling and cuts him off instantly, feeling betrayed by his own expressions.
He peeks out the doorway to the room, even if he really has no reason to. He whistle.
"I suppose you decided to take the role of husband seriously, huh O'Malley?" mocks. His arms are crossed over his chest as he leans against the doorway frame.
George quickly lifts a finger and brings it to his lips, his eyes wide with nervousness like a deer in front of the headlights.
"Shshsh" he whispers anxiously, "she just fell asleep" he sighs, looking at her with that characteristic George kindness before starting to try to separate from her without waking her up.
Alex rolls her eyes and walks over to him.
"Let's see, let me," he says, and very slowly moves Mrs. Grey's hands away from George's arm so that he can slide off the gurney.
"Thank you," George whispers, looking at him a little surprised.
Alex shrugs as he drapes the blanket over Mrs. Grey.
"I just have more practice than you in getting rid of a woman without waking her up" he winks at her petulantly. "You know, to get out before they want something from me the morning after."
George's expression drops and he rolls his eyes, as if to say to himself: How can I think this guy is less than an idiot?
“Anyway, how you ended up in the lady's arms. Did I want you to fulfill your duties as a husband? " Alex asks, scoffing.
George pushes him out of the room shaking his head and Alex, for some unquestioning reason, allows him to do so.
"She... She just wanted... wanted a safe place," George babbles, like it's no big deal. “A-And I could give it to him. That is all."
They go out into the hall and Alex looks at him, wondering if this guy is real.
"You are something else, right?"
“I'm just kind. It wouldn't kill you to try once in a while, ”says George, the sassy bastard.
Alex laughs, always with that touch of arrogance.
"I helped you get out of their clutches, didn't I?"
George gulps, flushed. It's so fucking easy to make him blush that Alex thinks he might even make bets on it. He opens his mouth, probably to say thanks again or some similar shit, but Alex puts a hand in front of him to stop him.
"Take it as compensation for all the things I'm going to tell to everyone about what I saw here, mischievous little one" he winks and begins to walk down the hall.
"You're an idiot," George snorts, following him.
"They tell me often." Alex shrugs, his smile oddly light-hearted.
For no reason, they walk to the elevator together.
Alex Karev is totally unaware that he never feels like this with Izzie. Whatever is in George ... It's just not his business. He does not care. He does not care.
Doesn't it?