Le Chemin

"On a parcouru le chemin"

– Kyo Ft. Sita

Chapter One – Use Somebody

You are a surgical intern. You have been admitted to one of the finest surgical programs in the country. You. Can. Do. This.

April gripped her notebook a little tighter, her eyes desperately scrolling through the words engraved on the page. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she shoved the notebook into the pocket of her sweater. She had to get a grip. How could she expect to survive the competitive, cutthroat years ahead if she couldn't even walk through the doors of her new workplace? April peered around the corner of the imposing building – where she was currently taking refuge in a well-placed nook – and saw that no one was currently walking through the sliding doors; a rare occurrence and an opportunity she'd be foolish not to seize. Hastily scrambling to her feet, she gathered her bag and jacket and hurried for the entrance.

"Oof!" In her haste to reach the invitingly empty doorway, April had failed to notice the person who'd been heading in the same direction until it was too late. Her bag went flying as she and her victim tumbled to the ground in a tangle of limbs amidst gasps of surprise and pain.

"Oh my gosh, I am so sorry," April exclaimed, horror and humiliation staining her cheeks red. She determinedly avoided eye contact as she struggled to free herself and clambered to her feet. "I wasn't looking where I was going, so stupid," she muttered miserably.

"No, it's okay, I wasn't either." The voice was familiar, and April cringed, her back to him, as her brain finally retrieved the name – and the unforgettable face – that matched the voice from her memory. "I'm Jackson."

She could hardly refuse to turn around and shake his hand, not after mowing him down so gracelessly. Reluctantly, clutching her scuffed bag in hand, she turned to face him. Unbelievable. Of course she would knock the most beautiful man she had ever laid eyes on – and her new coworker – down on her very first day at Mercy West Hospital. Of course.

"Yeah, I know," she blurted, and then hurried to explain as his brows furrowed inquisitively, his head tilting slightly. "No! I mean, yes, I do know, we've met. Well, not really. I mean we have, at the Intern's Dinner? I remember you. Not in a creepy way, just, I have a pretty good memory, but you probably wouldn't remember me," she rambled as he squinted at her, his eyebrows steadily rising. "Not that I'm saying you don't have a good memory, I mean, you probably have to, to become a surgeon, right? All the studying, and all the things you have to remember and all the exams and everything." April inhaled a stuttering breath as he stared at her, an amused tilt at the corner of his lips. She gazed back at him, growing more and more light-headed until her body remembered that she'd pass out if she didn't exhale soon. She expelled her nervous energy in a burst of air as Jackson's smile grew. "So," she said, just to fill the silence, "How about those MCATs?"

"How about those MCATs?" Brad's face was set in an expression of comic disbelief. "You didn't."

"I did," April moaned, burying her face in her hands and shaking her head as if to shake the encounter from her mind. "And then I just ran away, because it was just too mortifying, and he was staring at me like he didn't know whether to laugh or back away slowly with his hands up!"

Brad chortled at the image.

"It's not funny," April protested, "It was just like Bright Pratt all over again, so humiliating!"

"Bright Pratt?"

"Bright Pratt, this guy I went to high school with." April explained as they paid for their coffees and made their way to the elevators.

"Say no more, I can fill in the blanks." Brad reached around April to call the elevator to their floor. "No good comes from a story that starts with 'this guy I went to high school with'."

April sighed despondently as the elevator dinged its arrival. "Exactly. Ugh, what a horrible start to what will undoubtedly be the worst 48 hours of my life."

Brad hummed, commiserating, stepping into the elevator and wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

"At least I have you," April smiled. "That'll make this slightly less unbearable."

"About that…" Brad withdrew his arm guiltily, avoiding her eyes.

"What?" April stared at him, realization dawning. "No, don't. Don't tell me you chose—"

"I did," he confessed apologetically, "I chose Internal Medicine."

He peeked at April, taking in her dismayed, betrayed expression.

"I'm sorry, April, I told you I was on the fence about surgery, and I figure I should do something I love if I have any hope of getting through residency." April turned away from him, crossing her arms. "Come on, April, we'll still see each other all the time!"

April scoffed. "Oh please, you can't actually believe that. You know that for the next five years, social lives outside of your specialty are a pipe dream. I'll be lucky if I see you five minutes a month! Especially because I'm doing surgery! It doesn't get more demanding than that!"

"You said it! Surgery is soul-consuming," he emphasized, grasping her arm and turning her to face him. "Every other intern at that dinner, including you," Brad's face was earnest as he struggled to get through to her, "talked about surgery as if it was the be-all and end-all of everything. You live for it, don't you?" He waited until she conceded with a brief nod of her head. "See? So you can get through the spirit-destroying workload and lack of sleep because you can't imagine doing anything else!" He gazed at her quietly, lowering his voice as more people piled into the elevator, pushing them against the wall. "It's not the same for me."

April stared at him. She had been so relieved when she'd met him at the Intern's Dinner. She didn't make friends easily. All the other interns had been socializing, while she lurked in a corner, clutching a glass of red wine and furtively eyeing anyone in her vicinity. She'd been staring at a diminutive brunette with long wavy hair talking avidly with two other interns, silently envying the ease with which they interacted, when he'd snuck up on her…

"You know, you could go talk to them," he said in her ear. April startled, jumping back to avoid the wine that sloshed out of her glass. "Whoops, sorry about that." He reached out to steady her hand.

April flushed, mumbling nonsensically under her breath.

"On second thoughts, maybe you actually can't talk to them?" he teased pointedly, cocking his head. When this failed to draw a reaction, he sighed. "It's really not that hard, here; let me demonstrate." He drew back, straightening and affecting an overly confident air, a smarmy grin adorning his otherwise charming face. "Hello, my name is Bradley Parker, but I go by Brad. I'm kinda-sort-of gatecrashing this do, since I'm actually undecided on whether or not I want to do surgery or internal medicine, but the hors d'oeuvres are far better here, so surgery is looking more and more appealing. I feel I'll fit in well, since I'm as cocky as they come and we all know being arrogant is practically a prerequisite for being a surgeon." April's lips twitched, and Brad's subsequent overreaction drew a few wary glances from the people nearest to them. "She's alive!"

This drew actual laughter out of April. He winked at her. "So, do you have a name?"

"April Kepner. I'm a future surgical intern, of the non-arrogant kind. We're a rare breed."

Brad laughed. "I like you, April Kepner, I like you a lot."

April tried and failed to hide her surprise at his proclamation. "What, is that so hard to believe?"

He stared at her expectantly until she felt compelled to answer – truthfully no less. "I just," she struggled, "I don't find it that easy to make friends," she confessed, taking a huge sip of wine.

"Well, it is hard to do when you're standing in a corner all on your lonesome." He nudged her gently.

"I know, it's just—" She glanced at the group of fellow interns. "I don't make a great first impression."

"Well, you're in luck, I do!" He linked his arm through hers as she hurried to transfer her wine glass to her free hand. "It's a new dawn, April, and we are feelin' good!"

"I am definitely not feeling good," April muttered as he dragged her towards the trio. They stopped their conversation as the pair reached them.

"Hey, I'm Brad, this is April, what specialty are you guys thinking, hm?" April slowly turned to look at him. This is what he called 'good at first impressions'? April ducked her head as an awkward silence ensued. Finally, the man standing directly opposite April spoke.

"Uh, hey man, nice to meet you. I'm Jackson." April looked up into the most arresting eyes she'd ever seen. He turned to nod at his companions. "That's Reed, and this is Charles." Charles raised his beer in greeting, whilst Reed just lifted a dismissive eyebrow. The last of April's confidence shriveled into nothing. Already she knew she didn't belong. She downed the rest of her wine and began steering Brad away, stammering something about more refreshments.

"Nice to meet you!" Brad called over his shoulder as he was hauled away. "That went well, I think." He laughed at the look she leveled at him, and threw his arm around her shoulder. "Oh, cheer up. So they're jerks. Who cares? You've still got me."

April had smiled. "At least there's that," she'd agreed.

Coming back to the present, April realized they were once again alone in the elevator. Brad was looking at her earnestly as it fully hit her that she didn't, in fact, have him. It made the prospect of facing the next 48 hours wholly unendurable. Brad studied her. He seemed to read her thoughts.

"April—"

The elevator doors opened. This was his floor; the surgical interns floor was two more up. He moved to leave and then stopped, turning to hold the doors open before looking at her. "You can do this, April. You're a rare breed." He stepped back giving her one last encouraging smile as the doors closed.

She was alone.

Author's Note:

The lyrics at the top are from a French song. Translated: "We have traveled/covered the path"

The quote in the summary is from "The Story of Us" by Taylor Swift"

The chapter title refers to "Use Somebody" by Kings of Leon.

I do not own Grey's Anatomy, or any characters, places you may recognize.

I do not have a posting schedule.

Please review; review if you please. J