So, I am not sure how much longer I will keep this up...not sure if there is much of a following here. I hope you enjoy this next chapter. Let me know what you all think! Thanks everybody!
The Fall
Chapter 14
April
April woke when she heard the front door open. Jackson held Sophia, who was sound asleep against his neck. April smiled and sat up as Jackson walked towards Mark's bedroom. He walked out shortly after settling Sophie, leaving the door cracked as he walked out and joined April on the couch.
April leaned forward and kissed Jackson, wincing at the slow throbbing in her leg.
Jackson looked to the untouched glass of water and asked, "Why didn't you take your pill? I set the timer."
"I slept through it," she said, reaching for the pill bottle as Jackson handed her the water.
Jackson stood and walked towards the door and held a grocery bag up. "We stopped to grab your something. That chicken you like from Pike Place Market and a little dessert from Bakery Nouveau."
He set out her entree, a little side salad and her desert on a little tray. April sat up as Jackson brought her a tray full of her favorites. She could definitely get used to being waited on hand and foot and then given all of her favorite foods.
She began to eat as Jackson told her all about his and Sophia's trip to McDonalds. April laughed as she listened to Jackson chasing Sophia around the PlayPlace and then getting stuck in the netting on the large jungle gym.
April laughed and said, "I wish I could have been there!"
"You laugh, but it was terrifying to have so many McDonald's workers hands on me," Jackson said chuckling as he stroked her hair affectionately.
April laughed and finished eating. As Jackson gathered her plates and went to clean up, April asked, "How are you here with me like this? The hospital? The board? They must be-"
"I don't care. You're all that matters and luckily for me, my mother was more than happy to step in until I can get back," Jackson said, as he washed her dishes.
April smiled as she stood and stretched her arms over her head. She had been lying down all day and she felt the need to move. Jackson asked, "You okay?"
April nodded and said, "I just feel restless."
Jackson nodded and said, "How about we take a small walk up and down the hall and then watch a movie?"
April nodded, glad he wasn't pushing her to lay down with her leg up.
April grabbed the walker and slowly Jackson and April paced back and forth up the hall until April felt her leg begin protest.
Jackson and April settled into the couch and Jackson put on a movie. April snuggled into Jackson's side and said, "I wonder when Callie will let me return back to work."
"You barely walked the hall a few times without your leg bothering you," Jackson said, wrapping his arm around her. April shrugged and said, "I wouldn't necessarily need to walk around. Just do the paperwork part of the job."
Jackson chuckled as he started the movie and said, "I won't believe that for a second, Kepner. Once car crash, one skateboard accident, one massive trauma and you would be hobbling along bossing interns around and demanding intubation tubes and crash carts."
April smacked Jackson playfully and said, "Would not."
Jackson and April watched the movie, occasionally breaking into conversation about the movie or a funny side story.
"What did your parents say?" he asked, curiously.
April bit her lip nervously and said, "Well, they wanted to know what my holiday plans were for Thanksgiving. I told them I work," she said.
"But you don't work," he said confused.
"I know. They offered to come and visit and I thought it would be a good time to come and... meet you. Tell them I am pregnant. And that you are the father," she said, looking up at him.
Jackson inhaled and nodded, "That is probably the best idea. Your dad won't be able to bring guns on the plane, right?"
April chuckled and he turned to her and asked, "I know we haven't talked about this, but...well, we could get married."
April sighed and Jackson said, "I guess I should have done it in a more romantic way, but I-"
April raised her hand and said, "No, I know you meant well. It's just...I don't want you to marry me because you feel like you have to. Being pregnant and raising a child is going to be difficult enough. We don't need to add more to our blessed consequence by trying to manage a marriage on top of it."
Jackson just looked at her and she said, "And...I want someone to want to marry me because they love me. And so do you."
"I do love you, you know," he said softly.
"I know, and I love you, but...we aren't ready for that yet," April said.
"So, Thanksgiving with your parents," Jackson said.
"And yours," she said, shooting him a nervous look.
"Mine?" Jackson asked, sitting up straight, "You want my mother there? Are the pain meds making you crazy?"
"Come on Jackson, I thought it would be good to...rip the Band-Aid off and let them all meet. As future grandparents," April said, knowing that no matter what scenario they chose to tell her parents she was pregnant out of wedlock would be a disaster.
"Plus, you have to admit, in this type of scenario, your mother might actually be a help," April said.
Jackson sighed and rubbed his eyes and April knew he was accepting the truth of her words.
"Fine, but if it backfires I blame it all on you," Jackson said, leaning back against the couch and pulling April into his side.
April smiled and said, "I will take that risk."
Jackson
They finished the movie just as Callie knocked on the door before walking in...in just her bathrobe.
Jackson grimaced and April looked the clock, surprised it was after 1:00 am.
"Have fun?" Jackson asked, smirking.
"Oh yeah," Callie said, waggling her eyebrows at them. "How was she?" Callie asked as she walked towards Mark's room.
"She was perfect. We went to McDonalds and the PlayPlace and then she passed out and has been asleep ever since," Jackson said.
"Good," Callie said, as she went to grab her daughter.
She came out of the room and said, "Okay, well thanks for watching her. April, how is it feeling."
"Good, does that mean I can go back to work?" April asked hopefully.
"Nope, it means you are sailing on a sea of vicodin. Night," Callie said with a smirk and a raised eyebrow, shutting the door behind her.
Jackson chuckled and said, "Come on, we are going to bed."
April sighed and began to get up when Jackson picked her up off the couch and carried her to the bedroom.
"I am not going to break, Jackson. I can walk," she scolded as she chuckled in his arms.
"You are broken," he said, pointing to her leg, "Walking is a little iffy too."
April rolled her eyes, but settled into the soft pillows and blankets in Mark's guestroom, already feeling the effects of the drugs she was on.
Jackson left to go and lock the doors and turn out the rest of the lights before returning and stripping down to his boxers and white undershirt.
He snuggled close to April and thought about everything they had talked about before April began to drift off.
"April?" Jackson asked as he wrapped his arm around her waist.
"We might not be ready to get married, but what about if...I moved with you to DC?" he asked.
April looked up at him in surprise and said, "You would do that?"
Jackson nodded and said, "Of course. I want to be with you and I want to be there for this baby. I don't want you to have to be alone with this."
April asked, "What about the board? The whole hospital is depending on you and-"
"I told you, I don't care. I mean, I do, but not if it means I can't be there for you and the baby," he said, placing his hand on her stomach.
April leaned forward and kissed him softly and said, "Let's just...wait and see. Okay?"
Jackson nodded, wondering why she didn't want to set anything in stone yet. She leaned forward and kissed him again and said, "Thank you for offering."
He smiled and shrugged.
April's eyes hooded and said, "I am so tired."
He kissed her forehead and pulled her close, whispering, "Go to sleep."
April quickly fell asleep and Jackson lay awake, holding her as he thought things through. He hadn't been intending to offer moving with her yet, but as they watched the movie he realized that if she moved to Washington DC and he stayed in Seattle, they would never have nights like this. Jackson didn't know if he could handle that.
April rolled in her sleep towards him and rested her arm on his chest. He rested his lips against her forehead and inhaled the smell of her shampoo as thoughts raced through his head.
He decided that tomorrow he would go into the hospital for a half day and while he was there he would talk to Sloan about this. Jackson knew Mark probably had some contacts in plastics located out of Washington DC. He could probably arrange a fellowship for Jackson and quickly if he had to.
"What are you thinking about so hard?" April asked in a groggy voice, startling him.
Jackson looked down at April, her eyes still hooded with fatigue.
"Nothing. I am sorry I didn't mean to wake you," he said, "Go back to sleep."
"I can't sleep with you thinking so hard," she said.
"You were snoring five minutes ago," he said, with a small smile.
She said, "Tell me."
"I am just thinking about how all this will work," he whispered.
"Washington DC?" she asked as she yawned.
He nodded and April rested her chin on his chest as she looked up at him and said, "I think...I think it feels like everything is moving too fast for both of us and it doesn't have to."
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"I think I should move to DC in a month and you should stay here for as long as possible, stabilize the hospital by making sure it's on solid ground and then maybe in my last trimester you move if that's what you want," she said, "It might be tough the first two trimesters, but planes go back and forth from Seattle and Washington DC all the time. We can make it work."
"I just don't want it to feel like I am not in this with you. I don't want to miss the pregnancy," he admitted as he looked down at her.
"Are you sure? I am probably going to be a monster pregnant woman with wickedly swollen ankles, mood swings like you wouldn't believe, cravings that will have you frantically running around town at all hours of the night," she joked, "It won't be pretty, Jackson."
"I can handle it," he said, smiling.
"I know you can," April said softly as she kissed his chin. "And you won't miss the pregnancy. Not if we plan it out where we see each other often enough."
"It won't ever feel like enough," he whined, but he could see the sense in her argument.
"I know," she said, "But this might be our best option. It's just a suggestion. I just don't want you to feel pressured to move, leaving this job and your family's foundation, because of me and the baby. I don't want you to resent me or the baby. You know?"
"I could never," he said honestly, looking down into her face.
April smiled and jostled up a little so she could kiss his lips. "You need to sleep," she said.
He nodded and kissed her lips softly once more before placing a final kiss to her forehead before settling deep into his pillow with April nestled into his side. It was only then that he fell asleep.
April
April woke up early, having slept the majority of yesterday away. April looked up at Jackson, who was still sound asleep. He was exhausted and stressed and April knew he needed as much sleep as he could get.
April eased out of bed and tried to walk as carefully as possible so as not to wake Jackson. As she closed the door behind her, Jackson rolled in his sleep mumbling. April smiled and shut the door. April spotted the bottle of pain pills off the coffee table and with the help of the walked, went into the kitchen to get herself a glass.
April took her pills just as the door to Mark's apartment creaked open. Arizona popped her head in, chirping, "Morning, I was just going to come and see if you needed help getting ready for the day. Callie needed a bit of a sleep in."
April said, "I am going to take a shower. I think I can manage though."
Arizona raised an eyebrow and asked, "You sure? If you slip in the shower and ruin Callie's work, she will divorce me."
April chuckled and said, "I am sure. Just put on a pot of coffee, will you?"
Arizona nodded and April hobbled back into the bathroom. She eased into the shower and sighed as the hot water pounded down her back. It was the first shower she had in days that didn't involve either Callie or Arizona fluttering around her nervously.
April held onto the shower handles as she carefully washed her hair. As she rubbed conditioner in her hair, the bathroom door opened and April sighed, knowing Callie was probably going to bust her for showering by herself.
The stall door opened and April spun, shielding her body as she did.
"Calli-" she began, but stopped short when Jackson slipped into the shower with her.
"Jackson," she gasped, her eyes raking over his naked body as he stepped closer to her. He stepped under the spray of the shower, his eyes focused on hers as he did so and April felt herself trembling as he grabbed the soap and began to lather it up.
Jackson pulled her closer to him and began washing her slowly, angling his face towards hers and kissing her passionately. She grabbed the soap and lathered it up and began running her hands along his olive skin slowly, wondering at his quivering muscles under her fingertips.
April looked back up at Jackson whose eyes were dark with want. April trembled under his gaze and said, "Can we…?"
He attacked her lips and gently lifted her bad leg to rest on the side of the tub. He whispered out in a ragged voice, "Don't move that leg."
She nodded and he bent down and kissed her nipples, taking each in his mouth causing April to whimper in pleasure. She wrapped her arms around him, digging her nails in his back roughly as he rubbed his erection against her stomach provocatively.
April was dizzy with lust and on the verge of screaming when Jackson released her nipple from his mouth, wrapping one arm around his waist and the other hand palming her ass as he slid into her. April cried out as Jackson grunted against her lips as he thrust into her frantically.
April bit her lower lip to stifle her cries, but Jackson claimed her mouth, swallowing her cries.
He reached between them and stroked her slowly, maddeningly. April kissed his shoulder before biting into it causing him to croak out in pleasure as he sped up.
"I love you," he said, his voice strained.
"I love making love to you," he grunted out as April began to shake with her impending orgasm.
"Jackson," she whimpered out.
He gripped her tighter and whispered, "Its okay, baby, come apart. I got you."
April shook around Jackson as she came and her nails dug in his back as he kissed all over her face. She felt all her muscles seize as her pleasure took over and Jackson grunted as he too came apart. When April's rejoicing muscles relaxed, she began to slip, but Jackson held her up.
"Hang on," he whispered, kissing her forehead and then her lips as he steadied her on her one foot. April held onto Jackson, who groaned as he pulled out of her. He smiled down at her and whispered, "Morning."
She smiled and kissed him. He grabbed the soap again and they quickly rinsed off.
"How is your leg?" he asked as he got out of the shower and helped April out.
"My leg?" she asked, dumbly.
"It's broken, remember?" he asked, chuckling.
"Oh, it's fine. There are about five other body parts that are taking priority right now," she said, smiling and blushing as he wrapped a towel around her.
He laughed and spanked her behind lightly before turning towards the sink and brushing his teeth. April also grabbed her toothbrush and set to work.
"You are going in today?" she asked around her toothbrush.
He nodded and said, "I want to talk to Sloan and it would be good to show my face around the administrative offices to give them an update. My mother has been texting me about your progress and wants to come by later to visit you for lunch."
April shrugged and said, "That would be good. It's not like I have anywhere else to be."
Jackson kissed her forehead as he finished and said, "I will tell her. Maybe if I am good I can come with her."
April smiled and said, "That's always my preference."
Jackson smiled as he waited for her to finish brushing before helping her back to the bedroom. He laid out a pair of sweatpants and a long-sleeved shirt which she quickly threw on, before helping her out into the main room where Arizona was waiting.
"Well, I see you found someone to keep you entertained while you showered," Arizona teased as she munched on a piece of bacon.
April blushed as Arizona tsked them and said, "I am totally telling Mark."
Jackson settled April on a bar stool before heading back into the bedroom to finish getting ready for the day. Meanwhile April dug into the breakfast Arizona had fixed her. She was about to ask if there was more bacon when Arizona plunked a big glass of something that April didn't recognize...was that green?
"Uh, what's that?" April asked.
"It's a veggie smoothie that is supposed to help with morning sickness and a gaggle of other early pregnancy symptoms," Arizona said.
"But I don't have many symptoms," April said, wrinkling her nose at the concoction.
"Oh and it's healthy for you and the baby," Arizona said as she scooted it closer to April.
April looked at it warily as Arizona also set what looked like prenatal vitamins in front of her.
"Go on, it's not going to kill you," Arizona urged as Callie walked in.
"Ew, that stuff. Don't make her drink it," Callie said, looking at Arizona reproachfully.
"It's good for her and April isn't nearly as big of a baby as you are," Arizona said.
"You've had this?" April asked.
Callie nodded and said, "And that was exactly when my morning sickness kicked in."
Arizona playfully hit Callie on the arm and said, "Shut up!"
Jackson decided to walk out and asked, "What's...that?" as he pointed to the glass in front of April.
April looked up at him and said, "It's obviously a smoothie designed to hurt me and our baby. Get rid of it."
Jackson looked down at her with a smile as he looked to a laughing Callie and to a scowling Arizona for an explanation.
"It's a veggie smoothie that is good for her and the baby. It also helps with morning sickness and stuff," Arizona said, "And those are prenatal vitamins."
"Sounds legit," he said, smirking at April in amusement.
"Sounds legit, looks gross," April said, scrunching her nose.
"Stop being so adorable," he said, pushing the glass and the vitamins towards her.
"I don't want to drink that," she said.
"If I drink half of it, will you?" Jackson asked.
"That won't work, trust me," Callie said.
"Yes, if you drink half of that, so will I," April said.
Jackson shrugged and lifted it to his lips as Callie and Arizona both gasped in interest.
Jackson chugged half the glass and then set it down, cringing at the taste and wiping his mouth.
He grabbed April's glass of juice to chase it and then said, "Your turn."
April looked from him to the glass. Really dreading it.
"Is it bad?" she asked.
Arizona shook her head and said, "No," at the same time as Jackson and Callie said, "Yes."
April inhaled and then grabbed the glass and downed the drink, trying not to focus on the taste.
As she neared the bottom, she realized it wasn't as bad as she thought it would be. It was more the texture that bothered her, but she could deal with that.
She pulled the glass away and almost laughed as she caught sight of Callie and Arizona both covering their mouths in shock and Jackson handing her orange juice.
She took the glass and sipped it before standing and saying," It's not so bad."
Jackson chuckled and shook his head before he kissed her lips before grabbing his jacket as he said, "I will be back for lunch with my mom."
Jackson
Jackson didn't like leaving April alone at Mark's apartment, but he knew she could fend for herself.
Jackson walked to the lounge and was getting changed when the lounge door opened. He turned and froze when he realized it was Stephanie.
"Hi, I just wanted to-"
"No," Jackson said, holding his hand up. "Nothing needs to be said. I am with April and I don't want there to be any further confusion about that."
Stephanie nodded and said, "Okay, umm, well I guess I will see you around."
Jackson wanted to tell her he didn't want to see her around, but he bit his tongue and let her leave the lounge. He quickly changed into scrubs and walked towards Sloan's room. Jackson just reached the door when he noticed that the bed was inhabited, but not by Dr. Sloan.
He turned and walked towards the nurses' station and asked, "Was Dr. Sloan moved?"
The nurse nodded and said, "His stats were good enough to discharge him from ICU. He is on the medical unit now."
Jackson got the room number and walked down to the new floor and room. Jackson knocked on the door and said, "I have to say, I liked the old digs."
Mark smiled and said, "Me too. More room to myself and less of a chance that I'll get a roommate."
"I think we can arrange for you to have a private room. But even then, I don't think that you are going to be here much longer. I talked to your nurse upstairs who said your stats are up. Feeling good?"
Mark shrugged and said, "Yeah, I am okay. How is Kepner? I heard you made up...in my shower."
Jackson chuckled and said, "She is giving me another chance. I don't deserve it."
"You do and this time you won't let her down," Mark said.
Jackson nodded and said, "I wanted to check on you, but I also wanted to talk to you about-"
"Washington DC?" Mark guessed with a small smile on his face.
Jackson nodded and said, "How did you know?"
"Your mother came by and gave me the rundown. I do know a guy at Inova actually. We went to Columbia together. I could call him. What are your plans? What are Kepner's plans?" he asked.
Jackson told him everything April and him had talked about the night before and Mark said, "I gotta agree with Kepner. I know it will be hard for you to be apart for awhile, but this place really does need you. Once you prove to the foundation that it's stable, then you can appoint someone to take your place or the foundation can and then you can go and finish your fellowship in Washington DC."
Jackson nodded and it helped that Mark seconded April's opinion. They were the two people he trusted most and their opinions really mattered.
Jackson thanked Mark who waved him off and said, "Don't thank me, just name your child after me."
Jackson chuckled and said, "I'll get back to you on that after I check with April."
Mark smiled and said, "I can't believe you are breaking up the Plastics Posse for some pregnant chick."
Jackson stood, chuckling and shaking his head as he replied, "You are...something else, Sloan."
"That's why you love me," Mark called after him as he left the room.
The rest of Jackson's day went quickly considering he only had a half day. He checked in on a couple of his patients he had and then went to Administration to find his mother. They quickly discussed the business that Jackson was behind on. After they finished, they were getting ready to leave when she asked, "Have you made up your mind?"
Jackson nodded and said, "I think so. I will tell you though, when I am sure."
Catherine smiled and nodded and said, "I am proud of you, baby, no matter what you decide."
Jackson nodded and smiled as he pulled up in front of Mark's apartment. Hopefully they could go back to their own apartment with Alex, but it was nice having a little privacy.
As they neared the door, they heard April laughing her infectious laugh behind it. Jackson opened the door to April sitting on the couch with Cash Melloy sitting on the loveseat.
"Hi," April said, waving them in, "Jackson you remember me telling you about Cash, right? We went to the same school. He came to check on me when he heard I had been in an accident. Isn't that sweet?"
Jackson nodded and said, "Nice to meet you, I am Jackson Avery and this is my mother, Dr. Catherine Avery."
Cash stood, wincing in pain, having a few broken bones himself and said, "Nice to meet you, ma'am."
Catherine smiled at him and made her way towards April hugging her and cupping her cheeks. She then looked towards her leg and asked, "How are your injuries, my dear?"
"Fine, Jackson has been taking very good care of me," April replied, smiling up at Jackson.
Jackson smiled back and asked, "Have you taken your second dose of meds?"
She shook her head and said, "Could you hand them to me?" she said as she gestured to his mother, who was undressing the wound and inspecting it for herself.
"Callie has outdone herself, I see," Catherine said.
"Dr. Torres is the best. She is a little stubborn and she plays dirty by calling April in to wrangle me back in a hospital bed, but she did do a fine job on me," Cash said.
"However did you sustain so many injuries, Mr. Melloy?" Catherine asked as she settled into the couch.
"I am a professional bull rider," Cash said.
"Oh my, I knew a bull rider once. I met him in Spain," Catherine said.
Catherine began telling them all about her encounter with the Bull Man, Guillermo. April and Cash laughed as Catherine told them her adventures abroad as Jackson ordered them all lunch.
"So, April how is the bab-" Catherine asked, but paused when she noted April's look of panic.
"April, you are pregnant?" Cash said in disbelief.
"Cash-"
"Mom," Jackson chastised.
"Cash," April said, "You can't tell anyone, especially my parents. They don't know and I want to tell them myself."
Cash shrugged and said, "Sure. Congratulations are in order."
"I mean it, Cash," April said seriously, shooting him a look.
Jackson sat next to April and rubbed her back in comfort as Cash swore his lips were sealed.
April relaxed and the four of them enjoyed their lunch until Cash said, "Well, I am heading home to Moline tonight to explain to my mother why I never told her about my injuries, possibly sustaining a few more in the process. It has been good catching up with you, Kepner."
April smiled at him as he left, Jackson helping him out to his cab.
"April, she is a real good girl. You are lucky to have her," Cash said as they walked out of the buildin slow pace.
"I know," Jackson said.
"She doesn't deserve to be cheated on either," Cash said, "I know because I cheated on her sister. They-"
"Look, no offense, but I know April doesn't deserve that. She doesn't deserve anything but the best, and for some reason she thinks that's me. I am lucky and I will never, ever forget it," Jackson said as they came to a stop by a cab.
Cash nodded and smirked before extending his hand and saying, "It was good to meet you, Avery."
Jackson nodded and said, "You too, Melloy."
Jackson walked back to the apartment just in time for April telling his other their new Thanksgiving plans, which his mother was immediately in favor of. She asked if it was okay if Richard was there and with a warning look to Jackson, April said that would be fine.
Jackson didn't know how the next few weeks would go, but as long as he was with April he knew everything would be alright.
So please review to let me know what you think. I might just focus on Something Real unless the readers from this story want me to continue The Fall . So review or PM me if you have an opinion. Thanks everyone!