For the third night straight, Jackson sat at the head of the conference table as another intense meeting was underway at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.
Each of the assembled members had their own personal reasons for debating the two choices named to replace Cristina's vacant seat left on the board of directors. It seemed that Jackson was the lone member without a horse in this race.
He felt that Bailey or Karev were both solid candidates, plus he knew that he could work well with either.
Which is why, despite his deciding vote that could end this wrangling, Jackson hadn't made a choice just yet.
He had been hoping that one of the other members would be swayed by the opposing side, and he could simply join with the majority.
This way he, and by association, April, could avoid more "Avery" bashing that was sure to follow.
Weber, Callie and Derek were dug firmly in Bailey's camp, while Meredith, Arizona and Cristina's proxy were in Karev's.
Jackson knew this couldn't go on for another night and he was just hoping that someone would cave, and soon.

He was semi listening to Meredith and Derek throw verbal daggers at each other, alluding to more personal issues versus the topic at hand, when simultaneously everyones pager went off.

911 pit.

Collectively they were on their feet and rushing from the boardroom in an instant.
It had to be a big catastrophe for all the attending to be paged at once.

When they reached the ER Jo Wilson, Karev's girlfriend and third year resident, rushed to them and started filling them in on the incoming traumas.
"Interstate 95 and the 404 overpass collapse. Multiple crush injuries. Forty man road crew taking the brunt of injuries. Also, several vehicles were caught under the overpass. They haven't reached the victims in the cars yet. Search and rescue is on the scene." Jo relayed each detail while navigating to the center of the group of attendings so that everyone was briefed at once.
"Chief Hunt has been page and is on the way in. Kepner hasn't answered her page yet.
First ambulances about six minutes out", she finished just as they reached the nurses station in the middle of the state of the art ER.

Jackson went numb. He knew the area well. He and April took that route everyday, twice.
Once on the way to, and once on the way home from the hospital.
Just yesterday they were caught in a two mile backup due to the construction.
They spent the time bouncing baby names off each other.
April giggling at every dorky name Jackson playfully threw her way.

"When?", Jackson barked as he grabbed Wilson elbow, turning her to face him.

Noticing the panic in Jackson's demeanor, Jo quickly consulted her tablet.
"About thirty-forty minutes ago", she replied, scanning the rest of the group as they all seemed to take note of his distress.

Jackson and April had taken separate cars today because of the continuing battle over Bailey and Karev.
He had insisted, not wanting April stuck at the hospital waiting for him when she could be home resting.
Her pregnancy had been completely uneventful thus far. Not even one bout of morning sickness.
The only thing Jackson had notice recently, besides the noticable baby bump, was a few occasions when she had gone off for a nap in an on call room during her lunch break.

"Jackson, what's the matter?" Meredith asked, placing her hand on his forearm to bring him out of his stupor.

"Oh no", whispered Arizona, putting two and two together. "When did she leave?" she followed up, grasping Callie's arm and looking to Jackson.

The remaining group caught on at once. Each feeling that moment of dread that creeps into your gut when fear grips you. One of their own, again, was possibly in danger.

His answer to Arizona's dangling question was evident as Jackson quickly reached into his lab coat for his phone. Pushing April's number be began frantically chanting "pick up, pick up, pick up!"

Silence descended on the group while chaos erupted around them in preparation of incoming patients.

After six rings it went to voicemail.

He clicked "end" and dialed again. His normally closed off emotions, except with his wife, threatening exposure.

Everyone saw his movements, no explanation needed. The second call went to voicemail as well. Shoving his phone back into his lab coat Jackson started to take a step to his right, pausing, than to his left, pausing again.
He was a jumbled mess.
He needed to get home, he needed her to answer her page, he needed to get to the scene, he needed...he needed...he needed to see her. NOW!

All to familiar with the helpless feelings bombarding him, Richard stepped forward and grasped Jackson's shoulders giving him a shake to get his attention.
"We'll call your mother and have her go over to your apartment. She was making dinner for us at my place tonight", the ex Chief calmly suggested.
"She's only ten minutes away. Maybe April is just in the shower or sleeping", Richard offered, trying to coax Jackson from his dismal thoughts.

Catherine and Richard had managed to tweak out a truce of sorts in their personal relationship.
Since the day of the perceived terrorist attack several weeks ago, which had turned out to be a undetected gas leak, they had chosen to leave their professional battles inside the hospital doors.
They were gradually rebuilding their fragile relationship.
He was grateful to have her in his life, especially since the new Chief of Cardio, Maggie, recently divulged that Ellis Grey was Maggie's birth mom. He was still trying to wrap his head around the knowledge that he was a father, and unbeknownst Meredith, she had another half sister. Catherine had been a rock for him while he continued to workout how to handle this revelation.

Jackson stared blankly at Richard. His piercing blue-green eyes glowing with terror. The other doctors had began to scattered towards the ambulance bay, keeping hopeful that Richard was right and April wasn't in any danger.
Richard pulled out his phone and placed the call to Jackson's mother.
"Catherine" he said when she picked up.
"Hiya baby, dinner is almost done and I am becoming one lonely, and might I add frisky lady. Are you on your way?," she asked suggestively.
"Catherine, listen." Richard stated firmly than paused knowing the next few sentences where going to come as a shock to her.
"Now I don't want you to get upset, but there was an overpass collapse on the route Jackson and April take to and from the hospital. She may have been in the area at the time.
You need to go over to Jackson's and see if April is home. She is not answering her phone or page. "

"Oh my God, where's Jackson", she stammered. The breath knock out of her.
"He's here", slightly turning and keeping his voice low, Richard added, "but he is about to fall apart at the seams Catherine".

"I am on my way. Put him on", she quickly made her way to the kitchen, turned off the stove, grabbed her purse and keys, then headed towards the door.

"Mom". She heard it, his heart break all in that one uttered word.

"Jackson, honey, you listen to me. She's fine. I just know it", she stated firmly.
He could not afford to hear any doubt in her voice. She knew her son. He was completely in love with April. She was his everything. Never had he ever told Catherine that he loved a woman. Never. Until April.
And he said it twice, with a "she's the one" thrown in just to make sure Catherine knew how committed he was.
"I am just pulling out of Richards driveway right now"!

"Mom, I made her bring her car today. It's my fault if she's, if she's...", Jackson choked on the last few words, unable to put into words his greatest fear.
He wouldn't be able to live without her, and if he was the cause of her being in amongst this disaster he wouldn't be able to live with himself.

"Sweatheart, I want you to take a deep breath. April would not want you to do this right now, or ever. We will find her, and she will be fine." Catherine could hear the sirens in the background as the first in a string of ambulances could be heard pulling up to GSMH.

Just then Chief Hunt strode into the ER shouting out orders, little did he know that his prized student may be in the back of one of those ambulances.