Disclaimer: I do not own anything.

Chapter One

Jackson Avery wasn't exactly sure how he became Chief Resident. He wasn't necessarily liked by more than one attending and wasn't really in the in-group of his year. After all, he was the last Mercy West resident standing at Seattle Grace, and now he was once again an outsider. First, it was Chief Resident, then it was becoming the Gunther-whatever that meant- but even if he lived in the house filled with other doctors that he claimed as friends he never quite felt like he belonged. Perhaps it was because he tried dating Lexie only for that to fail miserably. Mark had gone missing for a month and he had caught her crying about it yesterday, and that was when Jackson knew he had no chance with Lexie. Or maybe it was because he was the only resident that hadn't slept with an attending. Perhaps that's why he felt like an outsider in his group of friends, they had literally all slept with a superior at some point. Jackson wasn't sure how his life was ending up the way it was, but somehow he had.

"Hey, I am the new resident," said the woman standing in the doorway of his office. She was young, with fair skin and beautiful auburn curls. Her brown eyes were warm with comfort but Jackson could tell there was a hint of sadness behind him. "I was told you had the paperwork that I needed to fill out so I could start tomorrow?" She added.

Jackson suddenly came to his senses. Owen had told him that they had hired a third-year resident from Northwestern, or more or less traded residents. One of Seattle Grace's third years had gotten married and needed to relocate to Chicago, and one of Northwestern's residents wanted out of the program. Jackson as Chief Resident was now in charge of getting the new resident situated at Seattle Grace. "Oh yeah right," he said as he began looking for the paperwork on his desk. "Your name, it slipped my mind," Jackson asked as his hands found the paperwork he needed.

"April Sloan," the woman answered as she walked over to his desk and took the paperwork out of his hand.

"Sloan?" Jackson questioned. "As in Mark Sloan? You two didn't like elope in the month that he's been missing?" He rambled out, not even realizing what he was saying. It had been a long day, and he just couldn't help his gutter mouth.

April laughed. "That would be illegal, Mark's my half-brother. We share the same dad who was really only good for paying for med school," April remarked as if it was ancient history. "Mark's been itching for me to move closer since he had a kid, and I figured why not. He's the only family I have," she added, answering his next question.

Northwestern was great residency program, and most people wouldn't dare to transfer teaching programs. The Chief Resident found it odd, but then again this woman's brother wasn't exactly normal himself. "Mark's never really mentioned you," Jackson commented leaning back in the desk chair. For the week Mark had been back, they had paired up on a few surgeries. It seemed breaking up with Lexie had helped his career at least. To be honest, he and Lexie were just sex. They didn't have long romantic talks or discussions about the future, but it still stung a little bit knowing he couldn't win over a beautiful girl.

"I told him off a few years ago, and we haven't been as close since," April said, with a look of regret on her face. She then held up the papers, "So, I just need to fill these out and turn them into HR?"

"Yeah, I think you're going to be on Derek Shepherd's service tomorrow," Jackson stated looking at the schedule pulled up on his computer. "He's a neurosurgeon, dark hair,-

"I know Derek," April smiled. "I may be a lot younger then the two of Mark and him, but they've been inseparable since birth or something. I think I was the flower girl or junior bridesmaid at Addison's wedding, I've must have been ten?"

Jackson smirked, she really was Mark's sister. It was odd to think that the stuck-up plastic surgeon had a little sister in the world. "I'll see you tomorrow, though, Dr.?" She looked at him and hit Jackson that he never told her his name.

"Jackson, Jackson Avery," he smiled, looking at the girl in front of him.

April grinned, "It was nice meeting you Jackson," she said before turning out of his office. Jackson waited a few seconds before letting a sigh out. Of all the people April Sloan had to be related to it had to be Mark. He had just started to get on good terms with the plastic surgeon that he hoped would mentor him, and now one look at April and Jackson had a feeling about her. April Sloan was something different, and he wanted to find out what made her tick, what made her smile as big as she did. He wanted to know her, all of her, and Jackson knew that was only doing to cause problems with Mark.

April sat in the chapel looking at the cross that stood at the alter. It had been a long day and her first at Seattle Grace. Being a resident was hard, but being the new resident was even worse. At least she had been on Derek's service, which had been comforting at first. Then she realized he kept glancing over at her, and she could tell by the look in his eyes, that he knew. Derek knew the real reason why she left Northwestern and came to Seattle. Luckily for Mark, she had made it to the chapel and prayed, or else she would have slapped him. When she agreed to move to Seattle, she made her brother promise not tell anyone the real reason why she left Chicago. It wasn't a good story to tell, and it wasn't one she was proud, and April didn't even want Mark to know. Yet, he blabbed it to Derek of all people. Good, kind, Derek who would probably want her to talk and get help. Help wasn't needed, space between her and the incident was help enough.

"Hey," April jumped at the sound of someone's voice, and she turned around to see Jackson Avery standing in the doorway of the chapel. "I am sorry to disturb you," he said as he walked in and sat in the pew with her. "A nurse said you were in here, and you left this in the OR," Jackson informed as he handed her her pager.

April offered him a half smile and took it. "How did you get this?" April asked. He had been in the OR next door with her brother, while she had scrubbed in with Derek.

"Apparently, a part of Chief Resident is returning lost items to residents," he smirked with a glisten in his eye. Those eyes were dangerous, and April knew if she stared into them too long it would only cause her trouble. Trouble was the last thing she needed in her life. "No one's paged, so don't worry," Jackson stated.

"Thanks," She replied, not knowing what else to say. The chapel had been all to herself before Jackson had come in. Now, she felt like her hiding space had been invaded by an outsider.

"Rough day?"

The question hung in the air and seemed she didn't even need to answer it. "The first day is always the hardest," Jackson offered her a small smile, as he looked around the room. "I don't think I've ever been in here."

April raised an eye. Religion was an important part of her life. Her mother, Mark's stepmother, had been raised Catholic. Despite her mother's adulteress affair while Mark's mother was still married to their father, April's mother claimed religion was important to her. April had been enrolled in catholic schools since she was in preschool, and had attended Norte Dame for undergrad. The unexpected deaths of both her mother and father her freshmen year of college, had caused April to really think about religion for the first time. All her life, it had been there, something she had been forced to study. Yet, in a required theology class, she had found comfort in ancient bible verses during her troubled time. Religion suddenly was more than just a subject to her, but it became a part of her.

"That's a shame," April said. "Chapels always bring me peace, they reminded me there are things much bigger than myself," she added looking at Jackson.

She could see the furrow of Jackson's brows, and she assumed he wasn't a believer. A lot of surgeons and doctors simply weren't, they were people of science and not faith. "Are you a part-time preacher on your off days?" He joked, trying to make the subject lighter.

"I actually minored in theology," April answered, causing Jackson's eyes to raise. "I went to Notre Dame, it was only four more classes and one of them was latin. Plus, it made me stand out from all the other pre-med majors."

Jackson laughed a little. "I've never heard of anyone minoring in theology. I didn't even minor, heck I almost didn't major in anything. I just took a lot of chemistry, and I think they just handed me a chemistry degree," he said.

"Chemistry?" April questioned. She had hated the subject. Biology she liked, anatomy interested her, but chemistry made her mind hurt. It simply didn't come easy to her, and she had to work for her solid B's in the subject.

"I am a nerd when it comes chemistry, don't ask," he stated, as he beeper went off. "Your brother," he mumbled looking at her as he stood. "One question," Jackson began looking at her. "As he always been so-

"Rude, stuck up, self-centered, think's he the gift to the world?" April rattled off, looking at Jackson, who looked as if she just read his mind. "Yes, he has," she stated.

Jackson grinned at her, and April couldn't help but little her heart skip a beat. There was no doubting that Jackson Avery was a stunning man. He was just the right height, tall but not towering over her, and his eyes were just the perfect shade of blue which seemed to give her a glance into what was going through his head. Despite his looks, he seemed to be a good guy, and April knew she could use a good guy in her life, but not at the moment. She let out a sigh, once Jackson had left the chapel. Staring at the cross, she bowed her head in prayer and prayed that God would show her the path she was supposed to follow because she was lost and had been for a long time.

April could see the phone laying against the dark plank wood floor. It was only a few inches from her, but the pain her body was radiating. A few inches might as well be miles. She had to get to the phone. If she could get to the phone, she could call for help. Help is what she needed, April didn't want to die. At twenty-seven years old she hadn't done anything yet, no one had loved her yet. As she dragged her beaten body against the floor towards the phone, she saw a pair of black dress shoes mere inches in front of her face. In horror, she prepared for the worse. However, the pain didn't rush over her instead her eyes widen as she saw the phone be crushed into a million pieces. All hopes of escaping of getting help gone.

"April, wake up!"

Startled, April shot up and groaned when she realized it was just a dream. The phone hadn't been crushed, she had gotten help. Taking in her surroundings she realized she was on Mark's couch, and a frustrated Callie Torres stood in front of her. "You scared me half to death! I thought there was an axe-murder in here!" The latina woman exclaimed.

Callie didn't exactly like her, and April couldn't blame her. Mark hadn't told either of Sofia's mothers the whole truth about why he had to fly to Chicago and stay there for a month. He had simply said his sister had gotten in some trouble, leaving Callie's mind to go wild. "Sorry, I just had a nightmare," April mumbled as she sat up on the couch she had fallen asleep on, why waiting for Mark to come back with takeout.

"Well, take some sleep meds or something so the yelling doesn't wake up Sofia," Callie instructed crossing her arms. "I don't need my baby to be terrorized by your yelling," she added.

Not once, had Callie called her Sofia's aunt in the few short days she been here. In a way, it bothered April. Callie had no siblings, so she didn't understand the relationship she had with Mark. Instead, Callie probably saw April as a threat to the relationship she and Mark shared. However, April knew Mark would never call her a best friend, she was his kid sister.

"I will," April simply replied not wanting to get in a fight. It had been her first day back, and all she wanted to do was eat and sleep. Sleep though was hard to come by, and even with the help of medicine she sometimes found herself stuck in the terror of what had happened to her.

"Callie," Mark said as he walked in clutching a large brown bag. "Are you and Arizona planning to join us? I got plenty!" He smiled as he sat the bag on the counter.

Callie looked at her and then glanced at Mark. "No, Arizona's at the hospital tonight monitoring a patient. So, Sophie and I are having Mommy and Me time," she stated before walking out of the apartment.

April sighed and looked at Mark who sent her apologetic look. "She'll come around," Mark said as he sat out the containers of Chinese food. "I'll go out with the girl from Seattle Pres they've been trying to set me up with, and it'll be like nothing happened," he added.

Removing herself from the comfort of the couch, April walked into the kitchen and grabbed a container of orange chicken and fork. "If you go out with her, can you please take her back to her place?" April asked as she sat on the bar stool.

Mark laughed. "I'll take her to her place," He answered truthfully. "How was your day?"

April didn't look at her brother and instead stabbed a piece of chicken with her fork. "The other third years suck," she mumbled before popping a piece of chicken in her mouth. "They're weird, and Derek doesn't know how to act around me anymore."

"Kid, he hasn't seen you in five years. Derek will be back to trying to convert you to neurosurgeon from plastics," Mark said as he sat on the bar stool next to her.

"Mark I've never wanted to be a plastic surgeon," she quipped. For years, Mark and Derek had tried to convince her that their respective specialties were the best. After all the years, she still had yet to decided her specialty. Plastics didn't ignite a spark inside her soul, and neurology was interesting, but it was just that, interesting.

"I make a pretty great teacher," Mark smirked before he opened up his own container of chicken. "You know, Callie doesn't have a student, maybe you should take an interest in ortho the next time your own that rotation."

"We both know Callie doesn't like me, and we both know she isn't going to like me until I let you tell them the truth," April stopped as she stood up. "I don't wanna talk, I think I am going to sleep," she muttered before walking away and heading into her bedroom.

Mark was trying to be a good brother. It had been a month and a half, and she was exhausted. Exhausted from work, from trying to act normal, from healing, and from dealing with her brother. If she could go back and redo any part of her life, she would go back and not chose Northwestern. The moment she chose Northwestern over both Seattle Grace and Mass Gen, she set a course of action for her life that she didn't like. If she had chosen Seattle Grace, perhaps Callie would like her and the pain she had lived through would be nonexistiant. April knew she made a lot mistakes in her life, and now was the time she started not making them.

April could feel Jackson's eyes on her as she talked to her fellow third-year residents at Joe's. They had a few exchanges since the day in the chapel, harmless patient talk and coffee stand wait complaints. Yet, she couldn't help but notice how when she was working in the pit he often floated to her and her patients. She had only been in Seattle for a week, and she knew that she needed to just work. Seattle was going to be about becoming a better doctor and not letting herself getting caught up with some guy, again. Jackson Avery wasn't just any guy, though, she could feel the attraction between them. Everything seemed to become just him and her when they were around other people. April knew as much as she wanted to act on her feelings for Jackson, she couldn't. It wasn't the right time, and she didn't feel confident her ability to be in a relationship.

"Hey stranger," He began as her brown eyes looking up from her drink to meet his eyes. April had drifted from the crowd of third years playing darts and had settled in a booth by herself. "It's been awhile since I saw you last," he added.

April gave him a smile, it only had been a few hours. "Yeah, it has been," she replied weakly.

"Long day?" He tried, and April felt guilty for trying to push him away. She knew she should let him in, that he wasn't like others, heck he was friends with her brother. On top of that, Jackson had dated Mark's ex-girlfriend for a hot second, and he was such great guy that Mark still remained good friends with him. Jackson Avery was one of the few decent guys in the world, but the thought of getting hurt scared her more than the thrill of putting herself out there.

"Look," he said when she didn't say anything. "We don't have to talk about whatever is going through your head, I just think you look prettiest when you're smiling, and I haven't seemed you smile all day."

April titled her head at him, her we yes suddenly gaining back a little bit of the sparkle that she once had before. "Are you trying to flirt with me?" She asked hesitantly.

The plastic surgeon hopeful nodded. "I am," he said, slowly wanting to test the waters. "One date," Jackson stated after he admitted to trying to flirt with her. "One date, and if it doesn't work out, we can just be friends," he suggested.

For a few seconds, April was quiet. One date seemed harmless seemed safe. She could handle one date. Mark was always telling her not to let the past rule her future. Perhaps this was the moment her brother had been talking about, the moment where she let the fear of her past overtake her, or overcome it. "One date," April agreed to give Jackson the first real smile she had smiled in months.

Author's note: Thanks for reading! Please review and tell me what you think and if I should continue! I know this is really AU, but I wanted to take Jackson and April in a different situation. Anyway, any comments are welcomed!