A/N: Thanks for the reviews and follows I really appreciate it! To krista: I like your suggestion! I think you will like this chapter for one of your requests ;) but I have ideas for the baby so I'm not going to promise anything but I will consider it!
Chapter 2
It had been a long day at work. At least that's the way Jackson felt and he was pretty sure most of his resident friends felt the same way. All day he seemed to be running into Lexie, going to fetch labs, passing by in the hallways and stairwells, and even in the cafeteria. He would steal glances and watch her when she wasn't looking. This wouldn't have been such a big deal if he hadn't been on Mark's service all day. He and Mark were really starting to get close since Jackson told him he was really considering Plastics as his specialty. But as the two men grew closer Mark started telling him more and more. This included details on his personal life which meant Lexie.
Mark knew that they roommates and was using that to his advantage. He would ask if Lexie had been talking about him and asked him to say good things about him around the house to try and make Lexie go back to him. This was not easy for Jackson because of his feelings for her but for the sake of his education he told Mark he would try to help him out.
So when they all got to the locker room to get ready to head home Jackson invited everyone to Joe's. He thought that maybe with a few beers in him he'd be able to talk to Lexie without feeling so nervous. Everyone agreed to go and together they walked to the bar across the street from the hospital.
"I had a good day today guys so I'm feeling generous, first round's on me!" April said as they entered the bar. No one was in the mood to protest free beer so they let her go to the bar and get their drinks.
"I think I see a free table over here," Lexie said and Jackson and Alex started following her there. That is until Alex notices Olivia on the other side of the room looking pretty cozy with tall blonde guy.
"Oh hell no," was all he said before he headed over in that direction.
Jackson and Lexie just laughed and shook their heads as they watched their friend confront the nurse he'd been sleeping with.
"And then there were two," Jackson said as they took their seats. They sat across from each other and Jackson was just admiring her.
"So how was your day? You with Sloan right?" Lexie questioned trying not to sound too needy about her maybe ex-boyfriend.
"Yeah, I was. We had pretty easy cases so I'd say today went pretty well" he answered deciding not to mention Mark asking about her yet.
"That's good. I was with Callie so you just imagine that awkwardness," she laughed awkwardly and looked down at the table for a second.
"I can imagine. But you didn't look like you were feeling uncomfortable at all today." Jackson said without thinking and quickly looked away from her when she gave him an odd look.
"How would you know what I looked like today?" She asked with that same confused look. Maybe she hadn't noticed him in the hallways when he had noticed her.
"Oh, uh I mean we passed each other in the cafeteria and you seemed okay." Jackson stuttered out ignoring the look he was getting from her suddenly remembering why he wanted to come here in the first place. Alcohol. "What is taking April so long anyway?" He changed the subject they both looked towards the bar to see what the delay was.
"It looks like April made a new friend," Lexie smirked noticing the guy standing a little too close to April to just be friends.
"Who is that guy?" Jackson asked aloud feeling the tiniest bit jealous but not recognizing the feeling as such.
"I don't know his name, but I think I've seen him around the hospital before." Lexie answered. They were still watching the interaction. He was definitely flirting with her and the two of them could both see April's blush creeping up her face.
"Well he's not a doctor or else I would know him." Jackson said a little judgingly.
"No, I think he might be a paramedic I tend to always see him around the pit."
"She seems nervous should we go over there and help her out?" Jackson asked. Although he couldn't see it Lexie smirked at how protective he was being towards her.
Knowing that if Jackson went over there he would most definitely intimidate this innocent cute paramedic Lexie volunteered. "I'll go. You stay here and try not to scare the poor guy away."
She got up from the table and started walking toward the bar. Jackson was suddenly distracted by watching Lexie walk away and forgot about the whole thing long enough to turn back around and not worry anymore about it.
When Lexie reached the bar she casually walked up and stood next to April. She had no intention of actually breaking up the conversation until she could tell April wanted out. She just listened in to see what was going down.
"You handled that trauma really well today, April" he gently placed his hand on her knee just to get a feel for what she was feeling about him. She didn't flinch or push him away so he took that as a good sign.
She blushed "Oh it was nothing really. Just doing my job" she never knew how to respond to compliments she always felt undeserving of them or felt like they were making fun of her.
"I know I saw you come in here with friends so I don't want to keep you, but I was hoping that you might say yes to going out to dinner with me sometime. I know you must have a crazy schedule so whenever it's best for you." He started rambling and April giggled.
She could feel her blush burning her cheeks. She was so nervous and now so confused. She must have heard him wrong. This really attractive and really nice guy was not just casually flirting in a bar but wanted to go out with her? There's no way. "Um I don't know. I'm really busy with work and everything," she stuttered out a response.
He didn't look defeated at all even though she basically just rejected him. That's why she didn't understand why his smile just grew. "How about this, I'll give you my number and you can give me a call when you're available. And besides I know where you work so I can just ask you again the next time I see you." He joked while writing his name and number down on a napkin.
He handed her the napkin and she took it from him. "Okay" was all she could get out.
He chuckled a little and patted her arm before saying "It was nice bumping into you. I hope to hear from you soon." Then he turned around and walked away leaving her with the napkin and his charming smile.
As soon as he was out of ear shot Lexie turned to her. "He's so cute! You have to go out with him!" She grabbed the napkin from her to see his name. "Matthew." She read aloud as they started walking back to the table Jackson had been sitting alone at since Alex had gone off with Olivia.
April set the beers on the table and just said, "Sorry for the wait" not bothering to look at Jackson because she knew he was going to start asking questions. He was like an over protective brother that way. She liked it most of the time because it made her feel safe when he was around but when it came to guys she liked she just wished he would ignore it.
"Oh no. Don't think you're getting off the hook that easy. I saw you over there. Start talking. What's his name? What's he do? What were his intentions?" Jackson pressed.
She couldn't help but laugh at that last part. "His intentions? Seriously, Jackson." April said still not answering either of them.
"Seriously, April." And he was serious so she knew she was going to have to tell him. When she hesitated still he continued "You might as well just tell us because I won't stop until you do and that won't be fun for any of us." April nodded and took a swig of her beer before she finally decided to tell him.
"His name is Matthew; he's a paramedic so you've probably seen him around the hospital at times, he's really cute and very nice and he asked me to dinner. There that's all." She slumped back in her seat next to Jackson and took another drink of her beer.
"Wait no, that can't be all because you didn't say what your answer was or explain the napkin." Wow was he pushy or what?
Lexie could tell she didn't want to talk about so she answered for her. "She said she doesn't know when she'll be available but he's so sweet he wrote down his number so she could call him when she's free." She smiled. She loved seeing couples get together, she was such a romantic. Now if only she could work out her own relationship.
Before Jackson could respond they all heard the bell on the door ring signaling the arrival of more people. They turned to see who it was but the voices alone gave it away. In walked Mark Sloan and Derek Shepherd. Jackson's face fell while Lexie started getting fidgety.
Evidently the two attendings noticed the three of them sitting together because soon Mark was making his way over to the table. Lexie quickly chugged the rest of her beer thankful that Alex left with Olivia so she had another one to sip. There was an open seat next to Lexie so of course Mark helped himself to it and started up a conversation.
"Avery! My man!" He greeted his friend with a smile. "I didn't expect to see you here." He took a drink of his own beer.
"Yeah well April here was feeling generous and I couldn't say no to free drinks" He responded but he could tell he was way more interested and the brunette sitting right next to him.
"Oh great," He said distractedly then continued "Hey would you two mind if I take Lex away for minute." Ah the real reason he came over.
April shrugged and Jackson didn't have any excuse ready so Lexie and Mark promptly walked off towards a booth in the back. Jackson was still able to see them from where he was sitting and April caught him staring.
"You're doing it again," she teased as she bumped shoulders with him to get his attention.
He turned away from the booth and to look at April instead. "Doing what?" He played dumb.
"Oh you know what. Staring at Lexie again." She said as she motioned to a waitress to bring them more beers.
"What? No I'm not." He denied it.
April sighed. "Come on Jackson. I see things; I have eyes. You're totally crushing on her."
He downed his beer and shrugged his shoulders. "Yeah, well it doesn't matter anyway because she's in love with Mark and Mark's in love with her. Everyone can see they're meant to be. But stupid me can't help but fall for the girl who's dating my friend who happens to also be my boss!"
April rubbed his arm in a comforting way. "Hey, they're just talking now. Maybe it's over maybe you'll get your chance." She didn't blame him for not believing her because she didn't believe it either. The two of them were so meant to be and it just hurt her to see her best friend hurting over it.
"Yeah, I guess that's why they're leaving together then." He sighed and pointed to the exit when April gave him a questioning look. And there they were making out as they were trying to make it out the door.
"Alright let's get you drunk!" and she jumped up to grab more drinks from the bar.
April spent the next two hours helping Jackson drown his troubles with alcohol. She knew they had work the next day so she made sure he didn't get drunk off his ass but when he started stumbling over some words and going off about Mark she decided it was time to go.
Once they were home April led Jackson over to the couch and helped him sit down before she sat down next to him and leaned into him. They sat in a comfortable silence like that for a couple of minutes until Jackson suddenly spoke up.
"Hey Apes." He looked down at her.
"Yeah?"
"How come you didn't say yes to Matthew? I mean I could tell you were in to him so why didn't you say yes?" He asked her softly.
April looked down at her hands and sighed. "He didn't mean it."
"What do you mean?"
"Guys like him don't go out with girls like me. He was just messing with me. If I were to call him he would just turn me down." April said biting her bottom lip, which Jackson knew was a nervous habit of hers.
"What do you mean girls like you?" He was still talking softly in a comforting tone but he was getting serious.
"He's attractive and smart and really nice. And I'm just me. April Kepner. The girl that no one liked and everyone finds annoying. I'm not good enough, pretty enough for him." April still wasn't looking at him.
"Hey. No, you don't get to talk like that about my best friend. Look at me." She hesitantly looked up at him. His eyes were so blue and so serious. He looked directly at her and continued. "You are not just April Kepner. You are Dr. April Kepner. And he's just a paramedic. You are smart and funny and beautiful. And how dare you say no one likes you. What does that make me, huh? Now smile for me I don't like negative April." He said and gave her a small encouraging smile.
Looking into his eyes she couldn't help but smile. He always knew the right thing to say to cheer her up. "So you think I should call him tomorrow?"
"Hell, call him right now!" He said suddenly reaching for the phone. April laughed and pushed him back on the couch.
"It's 1 in the morning I can't call him now. You're crazy." She then went back to being serious "but really thank you, Jackson. You always know how to cheer me up." She smiled and gave him a side hug.
Wrapping his arm around her shoulders he pulled her close and hugged her backed. "Hey that's what friends are for."
A/N: I hope you enjoyed chapter 2! I keep coming up with ideas so I'm excited to see where this will go. Leave me a review and let me know what you want to happen! I'm open for suggestions. Thanks for the reviews on chapter 1 I love knowing that people are reading this. Hopefully chapter 3 will be ready soon! Follow this story to be notified when I update.
