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Izzie walked across the hospital car park the smell of rain and wet grass as the sun began to set. A typical Seattle evening. She had decided to go to Joe’s bar and wait for Meredith who said she needed to do something then left the locker room, and George who was finishing his shift so they could go home together.
After having to deal with Evil Spawn for her whole shift, a drink, dinner and a bath seemed like the perfect way to end her day. She pushed open the door of Joe’s Bar, and the familiar smell of cigarettes and beer greeted her. The bar was packed as usual, with loud conversation, music, and laughter.
“What can I get you?” A familiar voice asked.
Izzie turned to see Alex standing behind the bar wearing a long sleeve black henley and a red checkered towel slung over his shoulder.
“What are you doing there?” Izzie asked in shock.
“I’m helping manage the bar since Joe is in the hospital. Just for tonight. Walter and Pete are going to take over until Joe recovers. I just want to make sure Joe can pay for his hospital stay, medication and whatever”.
“Oh” Izzie replied in shock. “That’s really nice of you”.
“So, to drink?” Alex asked.
“Right. Um… red wine” Izzie replied as she sat on one of the bar stools in front of him. She watched as Alex walked over to the wine, pored her a glass, and slid it towards her. She sat by the bar watching the 2 waiters and Alex quickly become over worked.
The exhaustion was still there but now ignored by a familiar restless energy. It was the same energy that made her bake dozens of muffins when she was stressed, that pushed her to fight for her patients.
She couldn’t just sit here and drink at Joe’s bar while his life’s work was on the line. He was recovering from major surgery and didn’t need the added stress.
“I can help if you like” Izzie offered.
“I don’t have time to train you” Alex said as he wiped down the dark wood counter.
“I don’t need training” Izzie replied.
Alex grunted, not particularly interested. “Selling cupcakes with inspirational frosting doesn’t count as experience, Stevens”.
“I’ve been a bartender and a bottle girl before at a place twice this size and three times busy. I can pour a hundred drinks in sixty minutes flat and still remember who needed a tab”.
He turned to face her fully, his eyebrows raised in genuine surprise. “You’re kidding?”
“Do I look like I’m kidding? You’ve been triple-pouring your whiskey sours, under pouring your beers. You’re losing money and time” Izzie responded as she took a sip of her wine glass.
“So, what, Sunshine? You gonna sit there and critique my form all night?”
“No, I’m going to help” Izzie said as she slid off her stool and walked behind the bar.
She grabbed a clean rag and started organizing the garnish tray. Izzie spotted a large, nearly empty plastic container that had a few pretzels and crumb sitting on a back shelf.
“I have an idea” Izzie said as she grabbed the large tub, dumping the contents into the bin. She walked around the bar and hopped onto a barstool and her kitten heels clicking as she stepped onto the countertop.
Alex stared at he in disbelief. “What on earth-”
“Excuse me, everyone!” she called out, the chatter died down as heads turned towards her.
“What the hell” Alex hissed as he walked over to her.
“Most of you know Joe. You know this bar is his home, and for many of us, it’s ours too” Izzie continued ignoring him.
“Well, earlier today Joe was admitted to the hospital as he needed emergency surgery. While he’s gets better, the bills are… well, they’re a problem”. Izzie’s voice was filled with a raw sincerity that was impossible to ignore.
A murmur went through the crowd.
“So tonight, we’re not just drinking for ourselves. We’re drinking for Joe! Every tip, every spare dollar you can find, put it in this jar. My… colleague and I will be you’re your servers for the evening. And we are fast. So, drink up, tip well, and let’s make sure Joe has a bar to come home to!” Izzie declared holding the pretzel container above her head as she finished her speech with a dazzling smile
and the bar erupted in cheers and applause. Someone immediately walked over with a bill Izzie lower the container so she could put it into the container others followed her lead.
Alex stepped in front of her and arched one eyebrow “You’re insane”.
“Well, thank you” Izzie replied as she took a bow then she handed Alex the tub. Izzie watched as he placed it on the bar, so it was accessible to the customers.
Izzie stepped down onto the bar stool and looked at the floor wondering how she was going to get down from the stool without breaking her heel or ankle.
Alex laughed lightly as he extending his hand. “As funny as it is to watch you pout at the floor, I really don’t need you breaking something. Since you’re helping out Joe, I’ll be nice”.
Izzie rolled her eyes. “I don’t need your help”.
“Ok then” Alex shrugged as he started to walk away.
“Ok, ok. Come back” Izzie said frantically as she put her hand on his shoulder pulling him back by his shirt.
“What’s the magic word?” Alex teased.
“Hurry up before I fall and haunt you for the rest of your life” Izzie replied sweetly.
“Try again” Alex replied.
Izzie narrowed her eyes. “Pretty please you giant, pain in the ass”.
Alex smirked. “Not exactly what I was looking for, but effective”.
With a sigh that was more amused than annoyed, Alex slid one arm around her waist and, lifted her effortlessly off the stool and onto the ground. Izzie’s hands instinctively braced against his shoulders. Once he placed her on the ground, they stood chest to chest.
“Well, that was quite the performance” Alex said, with a half-smile as he looked down at her. Izzie tilted her chin up, a spark in her eyes.
“We’ve got drinks to make” Izzie said as she picked up the bucket and walked behind the counter. “Hope you can keep up, Karev”.
Izzie taught Alex how to pour drinks properly and just like that they were a team. For the next four hours, along with Genna who helped behind the counter and Max who helped waiter with Izzie.
Izzie shared and listened to stories of Joe with the regulars and ran tabs with a speed that left Alex genuinely stunned. The pretzel jar, placed prominently in the middle of the bar, grew steadily heavier with crumpled bills and loose change.
They managed to close the bar an hour earlier sending Max and Genna home leaving Izzie and Alex to clean the bar and counted the money in the tub.
“I can’t believe that actually worked” Alex said as he slid another rubber band around a stack of money.
“Told you” Izzie replied with a grin. “People will do anything if you give them a cause”.
Alex stared at the Jar then back at her. “Joe’s going to think I robbed a bank”.
Izzie laughed lightly. “I actually think that’s more believable than we worked together”.
Alex laughed. Izzie smiled at him then looked back at the pile of money.
“So, you were a bottle girl, Huh?” Alex asked as he looked over at her.
But Izzie tucked the last stack of bills into the box they’d scavenged from the back room. Her eyes grew tired and dry, but there was a pleasant feeling in her chest part adrenaline, part pride, part… something else.
Alex leaned against the counter, arms crossed, watching her with that look he sometimes got when he was annoyed with her.
“So,” he repeated, “a bottle girl, huh?”
Izzie raised an eyebrow without looking up. “Why is that surprising? I’m versatile”.
“Yeah” Alex scoffed lightly, “that’s one word for you”.
She rolled her eyes, tying a final rubber band. “Some of us had to work our way through high school to med school”.
“Oh please” Alex rolled his eyes. “You think I didn’t work? I’ve been busting my ass since before I could legally clock in”.
“Fine, you worked” Izzie said. “I’m just saying none of those jobs taught you any basic bartending or customer service skills but lucky for Joe, you had me tonight”.
“Lucky for Joe”, Alex echoed, but his eyes didn’t leave her face.
“You really didn’t have to help”, he said after a beat. “I mean… you could’ve just had your wine and gone home”.
“And let you drown behind the bar?” she teased, nudging his shoulder lightly. “I’d never recover from the guilt”.
He snorted, but the corner of his mouth twitched. “Still. You didn’t have to”.
“I know”, she replied softly.
They stood there for a moment, surrounded by the muted clatter of empty glasses and the lingering echo of a night that had turned out better than expected.
Finally, Alex cleared his throat and picked up the box of money. “I’ll lock this in the office. Joe’s gonna lose his mind when he sees it”.
“Happy tears or ugly sobbing” Izzie said, smiling.
“Oh, definitely ugly,” Alex agreed. “The man’s got range”.
She laughed brightly, tired but real. Alex watched her again, the quiet creeping back in.
“You did good tonight, Stevens” he said, and this time he wasn’t smirking.
For a second, the room seemed to hold its breath. Izzie tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “So did you, Karev”.
He looked like he wanted to say something else, but instead he jerked his chin toward the door. “C’mon. I’ll walk you out”.
She grabbed her green coat, sliding her arms through the sleeves. She followed him out through the dim bar, stepping out into the cold Seattle night. The pavement was still slick with rain, reflecting the streetlights in long, shimmering streaks.
They walked in silence as they reached spot where their paths would split, her toward the frat house, him toward the opposite side of the lot.
She hesitated. “Good night, Alex”.
He paused too. “Night, Izzie”.
She turned, taking a few steps before glancing back.
He was still watching her.
And for just a heartbeat, she let him.
Alex shook his head to himself, but there was a quiet grin tugging at his mouth.