A/N: So the summary is basically what's going to happen in the story: a spin-off of what happened to Charlotte King in Shonda Rhimes' other show, Private Practice. However, the plot lines will only be similar in what happens to both characters. After that, the storyline will change, so I don't think I'm ripping off an entire plot line. If I am, please PM me. I don't need you to flame me in a review.
Oh, and this is rated M for a reason. For those of you who don't watch Private Practice or don't know what happened to Charlotte King (because the people who decide Emmy nominations apparently don't), the material is much darker than my other fanfictions and contains physical/sexual assault (though I won't be too graphic).
This first chapter just sets up what's to come.
"Good morning, Dr. Kepner," Owen greeted warmly with a smile as he stood beside the young, perky surgeon. Her auburn hair was tightly pulled back in a ponytail, eyes fixated on the surgical board as she relentless searched for her name. His blue eyes followed her carefully as she moved from left to right, down to up, and back in the other direction. Owen found himself smiling moments later, remembering his days when he wished desperately to be on someone's, anyone's, surgical staff but came up empty.
Yes, he certainly remembered what those days were like and didn't miss them. The pressure of worrying about a surgery, however, was nothing compared to the rigors he had endured while serving in Iraq. That was a different kind of tension, one that had rocked him to the core, leading to post traumatic stress and moments with Cristina that he still wasn't proud of – that he never would forget. Remembering the way his hands had enclosed around her throat still sent chills down his spine.
In an attempt to force the horrible flashback – the result of a flashback itself – away, he smiled gently at April and repeated his greeting.
Her head turned swiftly toward him and the small, confused frown on her face immediately morphed into an innocent, sweet smile. Owen was certain this woman didn't have a hateful bone in her body; the only real display of anger he had seen from her was during the trauma simulation months ago, and that was more of a display of passion than anything else – a passion to save lives, whatever the cost. No matter what anyone said, Owen firmly believed this young woman had the skills to make an excellent trauma surgeon. Her resolve and attitude that day had proven to him she could handle anything, and perhaps offer hope in a field that was wrought with so many casualties.
In a way, she reminded him of O'Malley.
The sheer mention of O'Malley's name still choked Owen up, even though he'd never publicly admit it. George O'Malley wasn't simply an excellent surgeon with the skills beyond any that Owen had seen, but he had the heart and valor of an amazing human being. The moment George had told him about enlisting in the military to become an army doctor, a special bond between them had been formed, known only to the men and women who fought overseas, who knew what it was like to walk to Hell and back. Owen had gained as much respect for George O'Malley that day as he had for April Kepner the day she proved her trauma chops.
He wanted to take her under his wing, show her the ropes of trauma, and emphasize the importance of such a condoned field – a field he had fought for after the shooting that had killed eleven people and almost destroyed the woman he loved. She would do amazing in trauma, he was sure.
"Good morning, Dr. Hunt."
He smiled and nodded. "Looking for your name on the board?"
April turned back to the surgical board absentmindedly, as if ashamed to be caught scanning for her name. His question had flustered her slightly, he could tell, but she recovered quickly but shrugging with a still slightly nervous smile. "You caught me."
Owen nodded again in understanding. "It'll get easier, Dr. Kepner."
"What will?"
He pointed toward the board. "Finding surgeries to join and picking a specialty. I heard yesterday you were on Altman's service."
April nodded, the light in her eyes disappearing. "Yeah."
Owen frowned slightly, turning toward her. He crossed his arms and asked, "Cardio isn't your thing, Dr. Kepner?"
She shrugged, trying to show that it didn't matter one way or the other, but he wasn't convinced. "You know, I know I have to go through all the fields and find one that best fits me and…Well…Cardio is great and all and it's a respectable field – which surely you know – but it's just…"
"Kepner?" He interrupted her rambling and, seeing a startled look on her face, asked, "Cardio really isn't your thing, is it?"
"No," she admitted softly. "It's great, but it's not…I don't feel like I belong there."
"Understandable." He realized his mistake when her eyes perked up at him slightly, a little irritated and confused at his insinuation that cardiovascular surgery obviously wasn't the right option for her, for a reason unbeknownst to her. He found himself immediately back-tracking. "Oh, not because you wouldn't do well in cardio, because you would, it's just…Uh…I always sort of saw you more in trauma, then cardio."
She smiled softly, and the hint of frustration was gone. "Trauma?"
He nodded. "You did excellent during the trauma simulation months ago and from your work in the pit…You've been excellent under stressful situations." Surviving a shooting spree would do that to some people; he had learned a lot about stressful situations during his tours, and nothing scared him anymore when it came to trauma and surgeries. He could handle any situation thrown at him, and with time and some grooming April could do the same.
Her cheeks turned a soft, pink color at the compliment. "I was just doing my job, Dr. Hunt."
"It's a job you're good at," he praised, remembering Dr. Stark's recommendation for her as Chief Resident, which proved to him that any specialty would be fine for her. However, he saw a piece of himself in her – of what he used to be – and found himself pushing her toward a specialty he knew she'd excel in. "If you'd be willing, I'd be happy to have you in the pit more. You know, get more trauma experience. It's better than going around all day filling out charts and post-ops and schedules."
April smiled. There was a time when scheduling was her safe haven away from the hustle and bustle of surgeries - that was after she had killed a patient on accident. April had found comfort in the known, the predictable. Surgeries, a time ago, were something she never dreamed of setting foot in. Now, she was torn between the sanctity and knowledge of charts or the risky, stressful actions that saved or killed lives. It was a thin line, and she was skating around both sides, unsure which side she wanted to completely travel on. His words, however, pushed her closer toward surgery. If he thought she could do it, then that was good enough for her to try.
"So would you be willing to work with me in the pit tomorrow then if you're free?"
"I'm actually already scheduled on your service," she chirped with a smile and a nod. "So…yeah!"
Owen returned her smile. "Good. All right. Well, have a good day, Kepner. I'll see you around."
"Have a good day, Dr. Hunt."
A/N: This fanfiction will be slowly updated, not like my other ones, so it'll take a little bit longer between chapters, but please bear with me! I want to make it as accurate and realistic as possible, and that'll take time.
