So, somehow the show handed me a scene that played perfectly into this story. It kinda blew my mind. This chapter includes dialogue from the show - no copyright infringment intended. Hope you enjoy!

~later that evening/night – after the events of "Dark Was the Night" & during "Suddenly"~

April Kepner was basically a nice person. A people pleaser. A pushover, even. 'Hate' was not an emotion she expressed often.

But right now, at this moment? It had not been a good night and April Kepner hated a lot of people.

She hated Henry for dying. (Not his fault, of course, but still.)

She hated Owen for telling her about Henry. And for making her essentially spy on Teddy.

She hated Teddy for being such a damn good surgeon that they couldn't tell her yet that her husband was dead.

She hated Cristina for resorting to making fun of her to keep Teddy distracted.

And she really hated Jackson for lying to her about something so important.

She groaned to herself as the gallery door opened and she turned to see the object of the bulk of her hatred enter the small space.

"How're they doing?" Jackson asked.

"Uh, still trying to repair the valve," April replied, glancing at him as he sat down beside her. "Well, and making fun of me," she admitted.

"What?" The tone of surprise mingled with a touch of concern in his voice was evident and April had to force herself not to analyze what it meant.

"Cristina doesn't want to talk about Henry's surgery and so instead she's making fun of me."

Jackson started to stand up as he said, "I'll turn the intercom off."

"No," April said, shaking her head as he sat back in his chair. "It's – I have to know everything that's going on. It's okay." She smiled ruefully, glancing briefly at him. "I can handle it."

Jackson looked a little dubious and it made her temper flare up again.

"Just like I can handle you using and humiliating me," she added before she could stop herself, hating the bitter sound of her voice.

Jackson winced at her words. "April – I –" he took a deep breath and then continued in a low voice, "I told you I'm sorry. I don't know what else to say."

April shook her head. "Never mind – don't say anything. I shouldn't have brought it up. This isn't the time or place to discuss it."

Jackson considered her words for a moment. "But we will discuss it eventually?" he finally asked.

April sighed, cracking a tiny smile in spite of herself. "God, yes, eventually we will discuss it. After I have had some time to stop being mad at you. And to wrap my head around the idea that you might not be delusional."

"Delusional?"

April glanced sideways at him. "Whether you really are actually attracted to me or you just think you are," she muttered grudgingly.

Jackson grinned. "Thought we weren't discussing it right now."

"We're not," April said firmly. "Not anymore anyway."

Jackson nodded, looking amused as he leaned back in his chair. He turned his attention back to the surgery below, his expression sobering as he watch Teddy and Cristina work.

April glanced sideways at him again, seeing the guilt in his eyes. She sighed. She might be pissed at him, but he was still her best friend.

"They've got it under control," she said quietly. "I really think she'll be okay."

He nodded again. "I know. It just sucks, you know? I mean, it's my stupid fault they had to get it under control in the first place." He made a face. "I hate screwing up."

"Trust me – I know," April replied. "Sometimes I think it would be really nice to have a job where screwing up meant just, like, typos in a memo. Or someone gets mayonnaise on their sandwich instead of mustard. Don't you think?"

Jackson chuckled. "Yeah, sometimes," he admitted. "But, I guess the good outweighs the bad."

They sat in silence again for a few moments before April finally said, "You'd probably better get out of here. Update the husband; see if they need your help in the ER."

Jackson nodded, but made no move to stand up. "I know I should, but I really kinda just want to sit here with you."

April wrinkled her nose. "That was hideously cheesy. If you want me to consider dating you, you're gonna have to do way better than that."

Jackson laughed. "It really had nothing to do with that, although I'm glad to see you considering the possibility. But seriously – if my choices are to go face an understandably pissed-off dude or chill here with you, which do you think I'd rather do?"

April flushed slightly, at a loss for words. "I –"

"You're right though," he said with a sigh. "Guess I should go."

April nodded as he stood up and headed for the door. "Hang in there," he said, nodding towards the window. "And don't let it get to you – you know it's not really about you."

"Thanks," April said. "I know. I'll see you later, okay?"

Jackson nodded and left the room. April shook her head and leaned forward, forcing herself to focus on what was happening in the OR and not on the man who had just walked out.