So this is my second story. I hope you like it!

Characters belong to Shonda Rhimes.


April walked across the street, hugging herself tightly. How the hell did she let that happen? What was she thinking? Well, honestly she was thinking that Alex is cute, okay, he is hot. He did amazing things today, and she just got sucked in. He had been inspiring and brave, kind and humble, and she felt smitten. She had been warned by Jackson and Lexie both that any interest in Alex Karev was asking for trouble. Alex was bad new sand she would get burned. And she did, quickly.

She felt like a teenage girl. She felt stupid and ashamed. He wanted her, he was kissing her and yanking her clothes off her. The way he pulled her down underneath him. And then it was too much, too fast. He was treating her like a groupie. He knew she was a virgin but he didn't care, it didn't matter. She didn't want to lose her virginity as a quickie in an on call room, but she would have, if he had just slowed down. But then he was yelling at her, about holding her "stupid virgin hand" and he just wanted her to "screw or get out." He walked out the door, slamming it behind him, leaving her shocked and embarrassed.

She found herself climbing the stairs to Christina and Hunt's house-warming shower. No matter how hard she wanted to push what had happened to the back of her mind, it wouldn't stay there. She rounded around the corner, suddenly realizing she forgot a present. She was so stupid. First Karev and now this. What kind of idiot forgets a present for a house-warming shower for god's sake. As she is spewing apologies to Hunt, who is graciously trying to console her, she breaks down. The tears start falling and it's too late to stop them. It's then that she hears his voice.

"April?" he calls softly. She spots him walking from the kitchen, in all his blurry glory. He quickly rushes towards her, his hands grabbing her wrists and gently leading her away. He pulls her into the kitchen with him and guides her so that they are standing in front of the fridge. He rests his hands on her shoulder, trying to calm her down. "April," he tries again. She focuses on his face, and any hope of squashing what had just happened, and burying it in the closet disappears. His concern for her, his comforting touch, it's enough for her to confess her almost transgression.

"I should- I should have listened to you." She wipes at her eyes, taking deep breaths. Tears subsiding for the moment.

"What happened?" His soft tone had a slight edge to it.

"Alex, he-he kissed me," she begins, cheeks flushing in embarrassment, "and things got heated, and I asked him to slow down." Tears started falling again. "I didn't mean to make him so mad, but he started yelling at me and… and I don't understand what I did." She braved a glance up at him and there was no denying the rage in his eyes. She noticed the bottle of tequila in his hand and instantly regretted confiding in him. "Jackson, it's fine.. I'll be fine." She tried but then she saw Alex in the living room looking around. Jackson followed her gaze, and Alex spotted the pair huddled in the kitchen.

"Hey, just let me talk to her." Alex attempted, but Jackson had already closed the distance between them and punched him in the jaw. April was stunned at Jackson's violent outburst, but then he continued to hit the peds surgeon, even tackling him and continuing the onslaught of punches. April watched, horrified, as Owen and Sloan pulled the two apart and dragged Jackson back to the kitchen. She followed them, sparing a glance back at Alex as he was ushered outside by Meredith and Callie.

Owen still had a grip on Jackson, as the anger slowly ebbed out of his rigid frame.

"I'm good." Jackson tried, Owen shook his head in disbelief.

"You got to get a handle on yourself."

April stepped forward and stood in front of Jackson. "I'll take care of him, Dr. Hunt." Owen nodded at her and left the pair alone, but not before giving Jackson one more exasperated grimace.

Jackson was staring at his hand, it was already swelling. He leaned back against the kitchen counter, slightly groaning when he touched his knuckles. She smacked his shoulder with as much force as she was capable of, gaining his attention.

"What the hell was that for?" His green eyes wide.

"What the hell was that in there?" she countered, "You fighting for my virtue, Jackson?" She was pissed to say the least. He could have broken his hand; they completely obliterated the coffee table, making one hell of a mess.

"April, what he did, it's not okay." He tried.

"I know, but you shouldn't have done that." He nodded his head slowly.

"You're probably right, but he deserved it." He slightly grinned at her, causing her to mirror his expression.

"Yeah," she caved slightly. "Thank you." She smiled warmly at him. "I'm not one for violence, but knowing he is going to have one hell of a bruised face tomorrow… it, honestly, makes me feel better." She turned so that she was leaning beside of him on the counter. They fell into an easy silence as they watched the party return to normal, besides the stepping around shards of coffee table.

Things had changed between them since the shooting. After Reed and Charles died, they had become close. Their deaths had left a huge hole in both of them, and they turned to each other, morning their losses together because they were the only ones who understood. She was grateful to have him in her corner. Alex was right, he was her only friend with Reed gone. He had been her rock. And, she was his. She knew that. He leaned on her too.

She glanced up at Jackson and saw he was eye-stalking Lexie again, with that adorable dazed expression covering his face.

"You know," she started, wanting to protect him, "she is just as bad of an idea as Alex." She felt him looking at her now. April continued to watch Lexie talk animatedly with a scrub nurse. She understood the allure. Lexie was gorgeous and smart, and just a tad bit goofy. "She is in love with Mark, and Mark's in love with her, and you are going to get caught in that cross-fire."

"Yeah, what can I say, I'm a glutton for punishment." He said looking back at the brunette.

"Jackson, take it from someone who just caused a fight between two of her roommates because a stupid almost hook-up, this won't end well, she is a roommate too. And she dated Alex, it's weird." Jackson didn't look dissuaded.

"It's different. You are…" he paused and April waited patiently for whatever half-assed explanation he was going to come up with for it to make it okay for him to go after an unavailable woman. "You are special, innocent. I just want sex, I want sex with her." She rolled her eyes at him then, he was lying, to himself and her. Jackson wasn't that guy. That guy was Alex. He grabbed the bottle of tequila and took a large gulp.

"Alright, whatever you say." She took the bottle from him and took a swallow before handing it back to him. He looked at her questioningly. "It's for courage. I am going home and praying that Alex is at Joe's and then I am going to hide in my room."

"Want me to go with you?" He asked, standing at his full height, smiling down at her, seemingly amused by the uncomfortable situation he had made ten times worse.

"No, no… I think you have done enough. Stay, have fun. I'll see you at home." She grabbed his forearm and squeezed it gently. She turned away from him and walked out of the kitchen, stopping by Lexie. If it's what he really wants, why not?

"Hey Lex?" She interrupted. Lexie turned towards her inquisitively. "Do you mind getting some ice for Jackson. I have to run back to the hospital."

Lexie looked towards the kitchen, where Jackson was flexing his hand and wincing. April felt the need to go back to him and take care of him herself, but she was trying to help him.

"Yeah, I'll get it." Lexie walked into the kitchen as April started down the stairs, sighing slightly, hoping Jackson could figure things out before he got too deep. She walked out the front door only to come face to face with Alex who had been deep in conversation with Meredith. He scurried over to her from the car he was leaning on. She noticed the bruising on his cheek and the blood that had been smeared. She smiled at that, oddly comforted.

"April," he started but the quickly cut him off.

"No, I'm tired and I am going home and to bed." She walked past him and hailed a cab. She was definitely done with this day.


I had to re-watch this whole season, it was good stuff. I forgot that Jackson was actually pretty funny. This story will be a lot different that the show, but I will use some of the plot elements, they just won't line up exactly the same.

Reviews are loved and cherished.