A/N: Thanks for all the reviews! You guys are awesome! Don't hate on the short chapter :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Grey's.

"Thanks Alex," April muttered in embarrassment as she reached towards the passenger door handle of his car. She was thankful that he remained true to his word. He had picked her up at Jackson's apartment and taken her to the hospital without any nosy questions or snide comments. She had decided on heading straight to work instead of stopping by her apartment. She didn't need to and she really didn't want to be alone.

She had never been more grateful to have Alex Karev in her life.

"No problem," he replied as he shifted his car into park. He hadn't asked a lot of questions when she had texted him asking to be picked up from Avery's apartment. He knew that she was going through a rough time, and she didn't need to be badgered. She had seemed very upset and had simply asked to go to the hospital and he had obliged. "So what's going on?" He asked tentatively. Avery had seemed just as upset as the red-head so he was very confused. The plastic surgeon hadn't fought for her to stay though; he had quietly let her go.

She turned to him and sighed, "It's complicated."

He simply nodded, he knew when not to probe, and he would probably talk to Avery sooner rather than later. "Okay, I'll be coming in in a few hours. Talk to you in a bit."

She smiled and thanked him again before she got out of the car. She walked through the main entrance and kept her head down as she headed towards the locker room. She changed into her scrubs and pulled her damp hair up into a ponytail before she grabbed her makeup bag and walked into the single occupant bathroom. She groaned before she tried to cover up some of her bruising with foundation.

After taking a deep breath and telling herself that she could do this, she left the locker room and headed towards the pit. Her makeup didn't cover up everything but at least she looked a little bit better. It was easy to see since her skin was so pale but she was going to try not to be self-conscious about it.

She approached the Chief with a bright smile. "Hey Chief Hunt, where do you need me?"

Owen spun around and fixed her with a confused stared. "Kepner? What are you doing here? Avery called in and said that you weren't feeling well."

"Well I feel much better now," she stated with a fake smile. She could tell that the older trauma surgeon was sizing up her face but she was grateful that he wasn't asking any questions.

"Well that's great! I really need you on storm prep."

"Awesome," she chirped perkily. "I'll get right to it."

She turned on her heel and set off to prepare the hospital for the influx of patients that the incoming storm was certainly going to bring. At least she had work to take her mind off of everything else. She wanted to clear her head of Matthew and Jackson, and relationships. In comparison to that, trauma surgery was easy.

Jackson's phone vibrated in his pocket and he pulled it out to glance at the screen.

What's going on with you and Kepner?

He replied to Karev's text: I don't know but I'm going to try to find out.

The elevator doors opened and Jackson stormed towards the ER with a purpose. He wasn't sure what had sent April running from his apartment but he was determined to find out. It was as if she had emerged from the shower a different person. He had thought that they were in a good place, it was certainly the most open and honest they had been with each other since their relationship had taken a turn in San Francisco.

He desperately hoped that it didn't have anything to do with a certain intern, or worse, a paramedic.

He spotted Leah Murphy and strode towards her. He knew that she had been on April's service for the past week. "Murphy," he barked, "where is Dr. Kepner?"

"Uh, she's, uh, getting supplies from the basement…I think." She was startled by how visibly upset the usually composed plastic surgeon was.

"Thanks," he replied sarcastically with a roll of his eyes. He was not in the mood to receive such an uncertain answer.

Instead of riding the elevator again, he ran down the stairs to the tunnels. An eerie feeling came over him as he walked down the hallway. He hadn't been down here since just after the shooting. Back then it had been their refuge, now it just brought back unpleasant memories and a life that he barely recognized anymore.

He found one of the larger supply closets and peeked inside. No April. He pinched his nose to keep his frustration at bay as he continued down the hallway. He stopped at another supply closet and a small smile graced his face.

He slowly opened the door and noticed April jump at the sound. "It's just me," he called softly.

April turned around and held numerous packs of bandages tightly against her chest. "You scared me," she whispered. "What are you doing here?"

"I needed to talk to you. I don't know why you left," he explained.

She awkwardly looked down at her feet before she responded. "I just think that we should take some time apart until you figure out what you want." She placed all of the bandages on the wheeled cart in front of her before she grabbed some more blankets and suture kits.

He took a step towards her as he tilted his head in confusion and attempted to catch her gaze. "What do you mean?"

"Until you figure out if you want me or Stephanie," she sighed. He clearly had feelings for the intern, whether he wanted to admit it or not. And the relationship that he had with Stephanie was miles away from the complicated mess that they shared.

A look of hurt flitted across his face before he gently grasped her chin. He could still see the bruising on her face and it made him want to go back to Matthew Taylor's apartment for round two. "April, I love you," he breathed sincerely.

She smiled softly as she raised her hands and grasped the lapels of his favourite leather jacket. She did not doubt his feelings for her. She was just wondering if maybe he was letting his heart lead him in the wrong direction. "I know that you love me, but do you want me?"

"What's the difference?" Jackson questioned with a slight chuckle. Of course he wanted her; he wouldn't have told her that he loved her otherwise. He had been in self-denial about wanting her for months.

He leaned in for a kiss but she tilted her head away from him. "There is a big difference, Jackson," she said with a hint of disappointment in her voice.

"Then tell me what it is," he begged desperately. "You kinda gotta help me out here."

She chewed on her bottom lip as she thought about exactly what she wanted to say to him. "You know that I'm a wreck," she began slowly. He opened his mouth to speak but she delicately placed her fingers on his mouth. "Don't try to argue, I am, and we've tried this before and it was a disaster. You seem to have a good thing going with Stephanie. She's nice, she's smart, she's really pretty. Being with her is obviously a lot easier than being with me. I'm," she paused to take a deep breath. "I'm giving you an out; you can have a do over. We can pretend that last night never happened."

She grabbed another armful of supplies and placed them on the cart in front of her. Jackson stepped aside and she pushed the cart out of the closet without another word.

Jackson simply stared at her in shock as she walked away. She had left him speechless and confused for a second time today and it wasn't even noon yet.

A/N: I kind of want to do the flip side of what I think April and Jackson's relationship will be when we return in Season 10. I want her to be the one thinking of his best interest.

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