Eating in the dining room when you have guests, friends, or family is normal. Ivan knew this, but actually doing it was different. He recalled the days when he was still living with his family and when they ate at the dinner table. However, most of the time it was unpleasant and if not unpleasant, they just dined in uncomfortable silence.

This was the first time in Ivan's life that eating at the table wasn't unpleasant for him.

"So how long did you stay in Greece?" Micheal asked propping his face up with the palm of his right hand. The blond was sitting at the end of the rectangular brown table closest to the kitchen. Alex sat on the side of the table serving the salad on separate white plates. And Ivan, of course, sat nearest to the door at the end of the table. Ivan was comforted by this as he listened to Alex's and Micheal's conversation.

"Why, I grew up in Greece." Alex began, "So I didn't leave until after college where I studied Medicine and Psychology ten years."

'Ten years.' Ivan thought. He only went to school for business for four years in business management, but that seemed small compared to that time frame.

"You're a doctor in medicine right? So what about the psychology?" Micheal asked.

"A Master's degree at best." Alex smiled sadly, "I'm afraid my colleagues at Geo have more experience than me."

Micheal snickered not really interested in the food placed before him by the doctor. Ivan flinched when the doctor handed him his share. Ivan thanked him for it with a curt nod and picked up his fork after that Alex looked away from him.

"Your colleagues, huh?" Micheal fluttered his lashes, "Are they all doctors like you?"

Ivan had to roll his eyes. He remembered in high school how much of a flirt Micheal was. The man always had an interest in foreigners.

Alex seemed hurt by the question, "Are you trying to say that I'm too boring and that you'd rather hear about my work friends?" he huffed in indignation. "Why, I never!"

"Wha—no! I was just curious about your work!" Micheal explained but it seemed futile.

Ivan watched the doctor closely. There wasn't a lot to go on since Ivan had only seen the doctor once in his life. This, Ivan was sure of: Alex was a strange doctor. And that egged Ivan to question him.

"Uhm—"

Alex and Micheal turned to him.

Ivan's voice vanished suddenly and he flicked his eyes down.

"Yes?" Alex said gently, "Let me hear your voice Ivan."

Ivan's face lit up and he glared at the man. "You are the most unprofessional doctor ever!!"

Shockingly, the man wasn't offended. On the contrary, he looked glad. Alex lowered his gaze at Ivan and asked, "Do you want me to be professional?"

That threw Ivan off. He thought for a moment on the question posed to him realizing he didn't want the doctor to be a doctor. It was enough knowing what he was. It seemed so different. It was almost like he wasn't a doctor.

Grimacing, Ivan grumbled.

"Oh geez Ivan!" Micheal picked his face up scowling disapprovingly at his friend. "The least you could do is contribute to the conversation!"

Ivan scrunched up his face in disgust and was preparing to say something to the southerner when he noticed the doctor's laughter.

"Don't be hard on him Micheal." Alex said looking at the blond, "he'll get to know me in his own way." He looked back to his patient, "Right?"

"Y-yeah..." Ivan answered plainly. He didn't want to admit it, but the man had a way with words. Despite his teasing, he hadn't made him out to be a mental case. He had to admit that at least speaking to him wasn't too bad. It was just one thing. "Dr. Steel?"

"Hm?" Alex raised a brow pausing his feasting.

"Don't tease me." Alex's eyes blinked rapidly. "And you know exactly what I mean."

"I like his teasing." Micheal batted his lashes at the doctor.

"Excuse me Mike, but who's the sick one here?" Ivan folded his arms in authority. That's the name he used when he was scolding Micheal.

Micheal stuck his tongue out, "He's not yours! You can share!"

Ivan rolled his eyes and picked his fork up again to finish the salad. In all honesty, Ivan wanted to get better as fast as possible. He didn't see the reason to have more fun than necessary. The pleasantries were enough in his books. Besides, it wasn't for Micheal, it was for him.

Ivan stole a glance at the doctor who had also gone back to eating. Alex smirked at Micheal's whining, his lips taking on a cat like smile. They looked shiny from the olive oil on the salad.

Mentally kicking himself back on track, Ivan stared at his meal for the rest of the time.

The enjoyment Ivan was experiencing ended too quickly, for the moment came for Micheal to leave.

"You know how the guys get without me. Not to mention there is someone I have to interview later this afternoon." Micheal explained more to his friend than the doctor who was walking with them. Micheal slipped his blue jean jacket on effortlessly and adjusted it. "Ivan?"

"You know why I'm looking like this." Ivan hugged his arms slightly.

Micheal sighed sadly and embraced his friend tightly.

"Do you have to go?" Ivan felt so stupid being this scared over what most would deem to be nothing.

"I swear I'll check on you tomorrow. I'll call tonight too, if it makes you feel better." The blond assured, patting his friend on the back before turning to the door.

"Allow me." Alex said opening the door.

Micheal thanked him, but paused to whisper something to the physician. Ivan couldn't make it out. All he knew was that it was serious because the doctor gave a slight nod with understanding. Ivan watched with doom struck eyes as his friend left to go to his car. The doctor kept the door open long enough for Ivan to see Micheal start his car. Then the door closed.

Ivan had no idea how much Micheal's presence mattered until the southerner was gone. Awkward wasn't the right term to describe this situation right now. The house fell deadly quiet, and it took everything Ivan had not to run right upstairs and lock his doors.

As if on cue, Alex turned from the deep brown door to face Ivan who shrank back a little. He didn't say anything. Rather, he seemed to be assessing Ivan carefully. That only made Ivan nervous. Those black eyes were planted right on Ivan, studying, questing...

"Uhm." Ivan had to make a sound. Any sound. He was starting to fidget under the man's gaze. It didn't help that the man was taller than him.

"If you feel uncomfortable, just say so." Alex said calmly.

Ivan said nothing, just bit his lower lip. "It's not...." He swallowed, "It's not that I feel uncomfortable. It's just that—"

"You don't like me." Alex assumed cocking his head.

"No!" Ivan declared slightly embarrassed. He could have added that the man was quite likable...for a doctor. "...Okay. I'm uncomfortable."

"You don't have to admit to anything Mr. Grey." Alex said sternly. "There are many that feel the way you do."

"What way?"

"The fear you feel with doctors."

Ivan sneered, "For the last time, I'm not—"

Suddenly the man took two big steps forward making Ivan nearly leap backward. Ivan's eyes were wide with fright at the man. Every fiber of his being wanted to flee and every muscle was tense. After a long moment of slowly realizing that Alex wasn't going to come any closer, he let out a tense breath.

Alex raised a hand, the other resting on his inner elbow, "Well?"

"..." Ivan shifted his jaw looking away.

Alex just waited.

"Okay fine!" Ivan threw his hands up in reluctant defeat. "I am afraid of doctors! Hospitals make me hyperventilate! I faint at the sight of scrubs! Are you happy now?!" Ivan shouted for the whole world to hear. "And don't you fucking tell me 'acceptance is the road to recovery'!"

"Please Mr. Grey, give me more credit than that!" Alex said harshly. "In fact, admitting it only helps eleven percent of the time."

Ivan stopped, but his blood was still boiling. He never said it himself, that he was afraid, but now that he did, he felt slightly worse. Guess that's what Alex meant.

"This is humiliating for me!" Ivan choked, "What sort of twenty-six year old man is afraid to get a checkup?"

"Actually, three percent of the world's population is." Alex said, "And that's gender and age non-specific." He paused to let it set in for Ivan. "Mr. Grey, I'm not going to pretend to understand what you're going through. Your case is severe enough that I'm glad Geo Phobia was called."

Ivan frowned at this, "So...can it be fixed?"

"Can what be fixed?"

Ivan glared, "My fear."

Alex shook his head, "Fear isn't something that is fixed. It's human nature. Rather than fix, we help people overcome that fear no matter what it is." He paused again watching Ivan's expression. "You can overcome this."

"I don't know how." Ivan admitted. He never thought of getting over his fear. All he thought about this entire time was getting better. But if he can't even speak to the doctor normally, how in the world will he be healthy? "I...never thought about it."

Alex smiled warmly at the saddened man, "That is my job Mr. Grey." Alex then took a few small steps toward Ivan. His patient didn't move away. In fact, he seemed to be stuck to the ground.

Ivan was aware that the olive skinned man had stepped closer to him, but was stuck in his thoughts. Was it really possible to overcome such a thing? He couldn't fathom such a thing. Ivan finally looked at the man in front of him and realized how warm his eyes really were. Would a man with such warm eyes mean any harm?

At last, Ivan came to a decision. He would accept any help he could get. "Alright." Ivan said and grasped the man's hand when it was given to him. It was shocking that Alex had such a strong grip.

"I'm glad you came to this decision. We can discuss our plan of action right away. And...Ivan?"

Ivan raised his brows, "Yes?" he continued shaking the man's hand.

"Are your eyes hazel brown or hazel green?" Alex leaned in closer into Ivan's personal space. "They changed color twice already."

A blush set into Ivan's cheeks and he backed up a little. "Uhm, they're hazel brown." He looked away.

"They're very pretty." Alex complemented. He looked like he still wanted to stare at Ivan's eyes.

Desperate to change the subject, Ivan informed the man that starting their plan of action against Ivan's phobia is way too, soon.

Alex took this into consideration, but stated his reasoning for rushing, "I haven't forgotten that you're still unwell." He said, "So, unless you want to be racked with a possible flu, I think this is best."

Ivan threw his hands up in confusion, "No offense but I'd rather you not touch me!" Even though he said this, a small part of him was curious to how it would feel to have the man's strong hands on him. Ivan felt he had been hanging around Micheal too much.

Oddly enough, Alex seemed to be genuinely disappointed by Ivan's comment if not hurt by it. After a moment of deep thought, Alex raised his hand to Ivan, "Then, may I propose a solution?"