A/N: So… weekend means more time on my/our hands, so here's already the next chapter for you… and it's gonna be a pretty rough one… don't hate us ^^" But we're glad people start warming up to Lewis and see that he was blinded by his hate and jealousy but actually isn't "just" a bad guy and still has "feelings" for his brother even though he has difficulties to show them…
We have 95 reviews, by the way *_* I think the 100. we'll have to "celebrate" somehow, I just don't know how yet XD any ideas what you would want for the 100. review? Some kind of reward?
As for April: At the moment we haven't planned any new lover for her, but thanks for the suggestion, we keep that in mind ;-) She could really need some happiness, that's true :D
And now enjoy Chapter 37… if you can XD Sorry again, I know it's another "dark" Chapter…
Lewis Avery POV:
Lewis knew that he didn't leave Jackson much of a choice, because this was a threat. One he didn't plan on going through with, though, even though Jackson of course didn't know... He already felt bad enough for causing so much stress for Jackson that he - indeed - was using again. At least that was what everything looked like at the moment. Lewis still somehow had a little hope, that he was wrong, even though deep down he knew better.
"And you say you're not threatening me?" Jackson blurted out. "Then how would you call what you are doing? Seems like a threat to me..." He sat down in front of Lewis' desk, but understandably - he didn't look very happy.
"You don't leave me any other choice, now do you, Jackie?" Lewis gave back.
"Don't call me Jackie... my name is Jackson," Jackson replied through gritted teeth.
A resigned sigh left Lewis' lips. "Yeah, I know... but for me you'll always stay my little brother... and that's what you are, Jackson. You're my family."
"Well..." Jackson rolled his eyes. "You have a strange way of showing me your love."
"Jackson, please... can't we talk like two grown ups? I know I made a lot of mistakes in the past, but you haven't been exactly a saint either, right?" Lewis tried to look Jackson directly in the eye, but his brother made a habit of avoiding his gaze, and Lewis knew he was starting to get to him.
"You're rubbing that in my face every chance you get..." Jackson replied. "And I'm so sick of it... why can't you just leave me the fuck alone? This is none of your fucking business."
"Yes it is..." Lewis disagreed with him.
"I can't stand by and watch you destroy your life..."
Jackson let out a chuckle. "Right, because then I would do your job. Why does it always have to be about you?" He turned his head to look at Lewis finally. "You don't want me to destroy my life, because then your revenge plan is gone... then you can't destroy it anymore."
"That's not what I meant," Lewis tried to convince him, but he already saw that his words didn't really reach Jackson.
"Then what do you mean?" Jackson asked, crossing his arms above his chest once more.
"Jackson, please... I..." Lewis started, trying to compose himself, but it became harder every minute. "I am really worried about you. I stood by and watched you getting into using deeper and deeper and instead of helping you, I let my jealousy and my hate get ahead of everything else... I should have been there for you. I should have tried to do something. I should have tried to protect you, but I didn't..."
Lewis bit his lower lip, feeling slightly shaken up. He didn't want to be this vulnerable in front of Jackson. Not after everything that happened between them.
"You really expect me to watch from the sideline how you flush your life down the toilet? You have friends here, Jackson... and a life... and people you love and who love you."
Jackson was quiet for a moment, obviously trying to process what Lewis just said, and Lewis still wasn't sure if it was good for either of them to show Jackson so much of himself. He hadn't done that in a while, if ever.
"That hasn't really interested you so far... in fact, you wanted to take all of it away from me, and you're already on a good way... Alex is yours and my friendship with April isn't what it used to because you broke Alex and April up... are you satisfied by the way?"
"Hey, that's not fair," Lewis defended himself. "I never wanted to break them up. Hell, I didn't even know he was just your friend and not your boyfriend."
"Yeah, that excuses everything." Jackson replied sarcastically. "And that makes everything so much better..." He shook his head in disbelief. "You know what? It only shows how lousy your Research has been. And that you didn't put a lot of effort into it."
"Well... maybe you're right, but believe it or not: I care for Alex. A lot... and he does make me happy. It's the first time since Tyler that I look into the future positively." Lewis admitted. "And after all you did, don't you think I deserve a little happiness?"
"Oh right, now we're talking about you again... you know what, Lewis? You're an egoistic bastard, and you will never change... for a moment there, though, I really thought you meant what you said, but of course you had to bring up Tyler again..." Jackson said with a very disappointed look on his face.
"Have you ever considered, that I was telling the truth back then? That Tyler was telling the truth?"
"The truth about what?" Lewis asked, feeling slightly overwhelmed by the direction that conversation was heading into.
"About this night? The night before your wedding day?" Jackson leaned slightly forward, focusing on Lewis. "Believe it or not, but Tyler and me... we haven't slept together... nothing happened that night..."
Lewis had to bite his lip, because the memories were floating his mind again. The memories of Jackson and Tyler in one bed, arm in arm. He had wanted to surprise Tyler, he had wanted to wake him with a self-made breakfast before their wedding, but he hadn't found him in his room. That had been the reason he had went to Jackson's room, only to find them cuddled close underneath the blankets.
Of coursethey denied everything once he had woken them up. They had both said that they just fell asleep talking, but somehow Lewis couldn't believe Jackson. Because in his eyes that was just what Jackson would do. Take away the one thing Lewis really cared about.
"Why do you have to bring that up again? It's in the past..." Lewis finally said.
"Obviously not..." Jackson replied, getting up from his chair.
"I'm not using again, okay? And I need to get back to work... Alex needs my help down there..."
"I don't believe you..." Lewis replied, standing in Jackson's way as he wanted to make his way out of his office.
"Yeah, like you ever believed any word I ever told you... tell me something new." Jackson bit back.
"Jackson... I know that look in your eyes, and I can see that you did some drugs last night... you need to be very careful here..." Lewis replied.
Again, Jackson let out a laugh. "Because otherwise you're going to Hunt? You're only happy if you have something to hold against me, right, Lewis?" He pushed his brother away, opening the door. "Congratulations... but if you think I'll play your puppet again, you're wrong. Believe whatever you wanna believe, it never was any different at all... Why am I not surprised by that?"
"I... I won't go to Hunt, if you stop using... please, Jackson... that's not worth it... I'm not worth it..." Lewis tried to convince him.
"That's where you're right... you're not worth it, Lewis... you're not worth anything to me..." And with those words, Jackson brushed Lewis off and left the office, leaving an almost desperate Lewis.
That last sentence really hit home. And it hurt way more than Lewis dared to admit.
There was no way he could ever fix his relationship with Jackson ever again, but he really needed to fix Jackson. He needed to do something, but going to Hunt wasn't the solution. Not for now. Maybe he should tell Alex about Jackson's former drug use. That was the only way they could find a solution. Together. He couldn't get through this alone and Michael wasn't an option anymore, because Michael WOULD use his knowledge against Jackson. He was like a train Lewis had activated and couldn't stop anymore. He had gotten himself into a lot of trouble.
Alex Karev POV:
Jackson had been gone for close to 30 minutes. Alex had taken care of 3 patients and was working on his 4th when Jackson walked back into the pit and grabbed some empty charts.
The man had a smile, but Alex knew it was just one for show and the rigid stance of his body told the real story of how he was feeling. Alex thought it best to just back off until the two could talk alone, without the watching eyes of patients.
It was only when he and Jackson's replacements came for the night shift and he saw Jackson head back towards his office that Alex decided to make his move.
Jogging to catch up with Jackson Alex fell in stride with him and didn't miss the frustrated sigh he received.
"Where you headed?" Alex asked "I was thinking maybe me and you could grab a beer or something"
"No, thanks" Jackson told him "I'm good"
"Dude, it will just be us. I can leave Lewis home for the night"
Stopping dead in his tracks Jackson turned and faced Alex "Don't you get it?"
"Get what?"
"I don't want to be around you" Jackson told him. His voice cold as steel "I don't like you and I don't trust you"
The words felt like a knife in his stomach. It wasn't as if Jackson hadn't said worse to him, but that was out of anger and Alex could believe Jackson didn't actually believe what he was saying, but this? Jackson was simply stating facts and the fact was Jackson had finally washed his hands off Alex.
"Is that so?" Alex said as he tried to get a hold of his emotions.
Jackson didn't say anything.
"I'm not going to sit by and just let you throw your life away" Alex told him "you think you're the first person I loved and was trying to help who lashed out? It takes more than some hurtful words to get me to give up on you"
"Too bad you can't get me pregnant, huh? That's a sure fire way to get you running in the other direction" Jackson said.
Alex had rushed the man before he could stop himself and slammed him against the wall "Shut the fuck up" he shouted. He heard Jackson's head make a resounding thud as it made impact.
"Alex" Lewis yelled as he ran towards the men and separated Alex from Jackson. Once Alex let him go Jackson looked shaken up at the man's sudden burst of anger "Why don't you just both stay the hell away from me?" Jackson said and made his way towards his office.
Alex hadn't wanted to attack Jackson like that, but after Jackson's remark he had just reacted.
"I-I'm sorry" Alex said as he looked at Lewis "I didn't mean to-"
"I know" Lewis told him "why don't we go and get something to eat. I think there are some things we need to talk about"
Nodding his head absently Alex let Lewis lead him to the locker room where he was able to change out of his scrubs.
Lewis had taken him to the burger place that Alex had always liked. After ordering, the two sat down, but Alex couldn't bring himself to actually eat any of the food on his plate.
"I can't believe I just attacked him like that...again" Alex said aloud "no wonder he wants nothing to do with me"
Lewis reached over and grabbed his hand "You made a mistake, Alex" he said "Jackson has an innate ability to know exactly what buttons to push"
"No" Alex responded "I should have controlled myself"
He felt like complete shit and he couldn't stop thinking about the ways in which he had seen his own father act out in anger. Alex couldn't be that kind of man.
"I know why you went to that club" Lewis said drawing Alex out of his dark thoughts.
"What?" Alex asked confused.
"You went there for Jackson" Lewis told him "to stop him from doing what we both know he's been doing for awhile"
"I wanted to tell you" Alex said "it's just… I had to be sure"
"I get it" Lewis smiled "you don't have to explain, Alex. I've been where you are"
"What do you mean?"
Lewis took a deep breath before his thumb started to run over the back of Alex's hand.
"Jackson came back from Paris just before he turned 18" he started "I hadn't seen him in close to two years and he wasn't the little brother I remembered. He was so...angry and resentful. I and my mom chalked it up to being a teenager, but the way he used to speak to us...the things he said...it made living with him impossible"
Alex had only recently seen the nasty side of Jackson and still the picture Lewis painted seemed completely foreign from the man Alex knew. Even when Jackson had first come to Seattle Grace and Alex had treated him like a threat the guy never seemed mean. If anything he just reminded Alex of the kind of guy he used to be before Izzie. Full of hunger and the need to prove himself.
"The first time I caught Jackson using was on his birthday" Lewis said "my mother had thrown him this elaborate party to celebrate him turning 18. My grandfather invited a bunch of magazines and papers, to really sell that Avery brand, ya know?" Lewis laughed bitterly "but Jackson had spent most of the party dodging everyone and after an hour or so I finally caught him in the guest house. He and some guy that he claimed was a friend of his were doing a line of coke and I just lost it" Lewis looked down shamefully "I went on and on about him being a disgrace to our family and how ashamed our father would be. I didn't ask him once why he felt he had to turn to drugs; I just condemned him for it"
"You were young and scared" Alex said "a lot of people would react the same way"
"My grandfather sure did" Lewis told Alex "he told Jackson he wouldn't let him ruin the family name like dad did and the morning after his birthday he was shipped off again. This time to a rehab centre across the country. See Alex, that's what we did with Jackson. We never bothered to try and understand him...we just got rid of him and hoped he would come back better off then how he left. Of course Jackson spent the next 2 years falling in and out of recovery and I was just so angry with him… I blamed him for so much that I just ignored how badly he was hurting. Then when the Tyler thing happened I...I didn't even bother to try and listen to anything he had to say" Lewis looked as if something had just dawned on him "I didn't even listen"
Getting up from the table Alex walked over and sat by Lewis and wrapped his arms around him "It's okay" he whispered in the man's ear "we're going to find a way to fix this. I promise"
"I'm his big brother, Alex" Lewis said as he looked at the man "I should have been protecting him and instead I became the thing he needed protection from"
Alex could feel his heart breaking. He knew what Lewis was feeling. Aaron and Amber had been two of his biggest failures and as their big brother Alex should have saved them from the horrors that came with being a part of his family.
"We can do that now" Alex said "we can go and tell Jackson together. If he just knows that he has people who are behind him then maybe that can make a difference"
"I don't know, Alex" Lewis told him "he's had a lifetime of people turning their backs on him"
"We change that.. tonight" and looking at Lewis the man smiled at him "I can't thank you enough for being in my life" he said as he leaned over and gave Alex a kiss.
"Likewise" Alex smiled and meant it completely. How Lewis had come to him hadn't been important, just the fact that he was here was all that mattered "now let's go" and dropping a few bills on the table Alex and Lewis got up and headed for Alex's car.
Alex knew Jackson had to be at one of two places. Either at Mark's, or at their apartment and a quick call to Mark where Alex had made up an excuse about needing to ask Jackson a question, but being unable to reach his cell phone lead to Mark telling him that Jackson wasn't there.
So the apartment it was.
Pulling up Alex parked the car and as he and Lewis walked up to the front door Alex grabbed the man's hand as a sign of support.
One that Alex knew Lewis appreciated.
Taking out his keys Alex opened the door to find the lights on. Good, Jackson was here.
"Jackson" Alex yelled "I need to talk to you"
He could feel Lewis' hand start to shake and looking at the man Alex pulled him close "we can do this" he told Lewis as he gave the man a kiss and felt Lewis wrap his arm around Alex's waist "I love you"
"I love you too" Lewis said and turning his head Alex was about to yell for Jackson again when to he and Lewis' surprise they saw April standing there holding a cardboard box filled with various items.
"April" Alex said surprised as he broke away from Lewis "what are you doing here?"
The woman looked at both Alex and Lewis awkwardly "I'm just here to pick up some things to take back to Meredith and Derek's"
"Let me help you" Alex said as he ran over and tried to take the box from her.
"No, I got it" she told him as she held on tightly.
"Don't be ridiculous" Alex chastised as he made a play to grab it again.
"I said n-" she repeated before doubling over in pain.
"April?" Alex asked urgently "what's wrong?"
"Nothing...I'm fine" she squeaked out.
"Alex" Lewis said as he ran over to the woman "call 911"
"What...why?"
"She's bleeding...do it now" Lewis told him as he snatched the box out of April's hand and threw it to the ground just in time to catch the woman before she collapsed.
Looking at April Alex had no idea what the man was talking about until he saw the woman's leg. Blood was running down it and Alex knew it was way too much blood to be anything close to normal.
Suddenly, he found himself unable to move.
Lewis Avery POV:
Lewis was still very surprised not to find Jackson but April in the apartment. He didn't want to have another fight, especially not considering she was pregnant with Alex' kid, so he just stood by and watched for a moment, until he noticed that something here was completely wrong.
And now he held her in his arms, while she was making painful sounds and Alex just stood there and stared at them.
"Alex... please! Do something... April needs you!" Lewis yelled at him, but he seemed to be in some kind of shock, because he didn't move an inch.
Lewis could only imagine what the man was going through, but he knew he had to do something. He knew he had to act when Alex couldn't. He needed to fix this.
As gently as possible he lifted April up and carried her to the couch in the living room, laying her down carefully, before leaning over her and brushing some of her long hair out of her face.
"April, listen to me..." he started talking, not knowing if she would even hear him in her pain.
"You're gonna be okay... I promise...everything's gonna be fine... I'll get you some help..."
He got back to his feet and looked for the landline phone and when he finally found it, he ran towards it and dialled '911' immediately.
"911, what's your emergency?" he heard a male voice ask and tried to compose himself.
Even though he didn't really have any connection to April, he knew he had to help her. He was a doctor after all, even though he couldn't do more than call an ambulance right that moment.
"My girlfriend is pregnant fourth or fifth month to be exact... and she's bleeding. She just collapsed," he described April's condition as exact as possible.
"Is she conscious?" the guy on the other end of the line asked and Lewis shook his head, only realizing a second later that he couldn't see that.
"No... not at the moment, but she's moaning and whimpering... she seems to be in pain... please hurry..." Lewis replied, trying his best to stay calm. It wouldn't help anyone if he freaked out now as well.
"Okay, I'll send an ambulance right away. What's the address?" the guy on the phone asked.
Lewis froze. Shit. He didn't even know. "Just a moment, okay?" he replied, grabbing Alex' arm and shaking him slightly.
"Alex... what's the address? Where are we?" he asked, but not getting an answer right away. He put down the earphone, taking Alex' face in his hands. "Alex... focus... please... you gotta help me here, buddy, okay? What's the address of where we are now? I haven't paid any attention on the drive over here, so I need your help. April needs your help. Please, Alex..."
And finally, finally Alex was giving him the right answer as if waking up from his numbness.
"Thank you..." Lewis replied, grabbing the phone once again and telling the medic the right address and only hanging up when he promised the ambulance was on the way.
He turned back to Alex who was just standing there, looking completely lost. "Come on... we need to help April... she needs you right now... your baby needs you..."
"I... this is my fault..." Alex whispered, but Lewis shook his head energetically.
"We don't have time for that...you can blame yourself later and I will tell you later that you didn't do anything wrong, but right now we need to do something..."
He grabbed Alex' hand and pulled him into the living room, where April was starting to coil up by now, in danger to fall off the couch.
Immediately, Lewis was by her side, grabbing her hand and watching her open her eyes.
"What are you doing here?" she shied away, staring at Lewis in shock.
"I'm helping you, but you need to help me too," Lewis replied gently, trying not to upset April too much.
"I don't want your help... Go away..." she gave back, before another whimpering sound left her mouth and tears were starting to fill her yes. "It hurts..." she cried. "It hurts so much..."
"I know..." Lewis said understandingly. "But that's why I need you to calm down... for you and your baby, okay? Take long, deep breathes... try to focus on Alex..."
Lewis let go of April's hand and got up again, pushing Alex towards April. "Please Alex..." he whispered in his ear, watching how Alex clumsily bent down and looking at her. He obviously was still in shock, but at least Lewis had gotten him to move again.
"Alex..." April sobbed. "I don't wanna lose the baby..." Her body was starting to shake and finally, Alex grabbed her hand.
"You're not... you're not gonna lose the baby, okay? You two are gonna be just fine..." Lewis heard Alex say and let out a sigh of relief.
It was him April needed right now and Lewis knew it, but he was the one to keep a clear head. He was the only one not involved more or less, and he was the only one able to stay calm, even though he was also a little shaken up on the inside, but he could freak out later. When he was alone. If he had learned one thing being an Avery, then it was not to let your feelings get ahead of yourself, and he wouldn't.
When he heard the sirens of the ambulance, he looked down at April and Alex. "I'm gonna be right back."
"Where are you going?" Alex asked, panic obvious in his eyes.
"I'm just showing the paramedics where to go... I promise I'll be back soon..." Lewis replied, taking one last look at Alex before leaving the apartment and running down the stairs to let the ambulance men in which were already standing in front of the door.
"Where is she?" One of them asked immediately. "And how is she?"
"She's conscious again and talking... but she's obviously in a lot of pain and she's still bleeding," Lewis informed him, running up the stairs and point to the open door of the apartment. "She's in there... in the living room..."
He watched the paramedics make their way in and getting down in front of the couch, and Alex moved away just slightly when they did so.
Lewis stayed behind as they started examining April and then they gently lifted her onto their barrow.
"We need to get her to a hospital immediately..." one of the paramedics replied, and Lewis knew it was time to step in again.
"Could you bring her to Seattle Grace Mercy West? It's the closest and the three of us are all working there... the people April knows are there..."
"Of course, that's what we intended to do..." was the reply.
"Go with her..." Lewis told Alex, grabbing the car key out of Alex' jacket pocket. "And I'm gonna follow the ambulance with your car, okay?"
"Lewis, I..." Alex started, obviously not wanting to go alone.
"I'll be right behind you... I promise..." He said, while following the paramedics out of the apartment alongside Alex and closing the door behind.
April looked very pale and she obviously was still in pain and Lewis was really worried about her, even though he didn't know why exactly. She shouldn't concern him at all, but maybe it was because she was the mother of Alex' child and he knew losing the child now would crush him.
"Alex..." April cried out and Alex looked at Lewis for a moment as if waiting for his approval.
"Go, Alex..." Lewis requested and went directly to Alex' car while Alex was climbing into the ambulance with April, grabbing her hand again.
The ride to the hospital didn't take long and when Lewis had parked the car, he ran into the ER immediately, trying to find Alex, but since it wasn't all too busy that night, he found him immediately, sitting on a chair in the waiting hall.
"Any news?" he asked immediately, walking towards him.
He watched Alex getting up and literally running into his arms, hugging him very tight.
"Hey... it's gonna be okay..." he tried to calm Alex down, but the look in Alex eyes literally broke his heart.
"What if not? What if the baby dies? What if April dies?" Alex asked desperately, obviously fighting back his tears.
"Shhht..." Lewis whispered, holding Alex close to his chest. "No one's gonna die tonight. They are gonna be okay... it's her first pregnancy... sometimes there are complications, but that doesn't mean she's gonna lose the baby, okay? The doctors here will do anything in their power to save them..."
"I would feel a lot better if Addison was still here," Alex replied, causing Lewis to look at him confused.
"Who?"
"Addison Montgomery Forbes. Maybe you've heard of her... she's Derek's ex-wife and she's one of the best gynaecologists Seattle Grace ever had." Alex informed him.
"Okay... I understand... but I'm sure the doctors here are good, too... and they know what they are doing..." Lewis tried again to convince him.
Alex nodded, when they heard a female voice behind them.
"Doctor Karev? You can see your girlfriend now..." the nurse said, causing Alex to twitch.
"She's not..." Alex started, but Lewis cut him off mid-sentence.
"He'll be there immediately." He looked at Alex, trying to put all his love in his eyes.
"It doesn't matter whether she's your girlfriend or not... she needs you right now, okay? So just go..." He let go of Alex, hoping that April was okay and that - once Alex came back - he had good news for him.
That was absolutely not how he had pictured the evening to go down, but he hoped, he had done the right thing and not got April even more upset with his mere presence. He had destroyed enough for one day.
Alex Karev POV:
Alex had felt like he was in a daze the moment he saw that April was bleeding. He had completely dropped the ball and had Lewis not been there to take control of the situation Alex didn't even want to imagine what could have happened.
When the doctor had told Alex he could go see her he felt his stomach drop. How could he look April in the eyes when he had failed her so drastically?
Entering her room he saw her laying there, the hospital sheet covering her stomach and legs. Standing at the doorway he felt uneasy about approaching her.
"Alex?" she asked quietly. It was obvious she was heavily medicated, but she was awake and talking which was the most important thing to Alex.
"How are you feeling?" he asked as he walked towards her and when she smiled it made his heart twist painfully.
"Better" April told him when Alex sat in the empty chair that was placed beside the bed. Grabbing her hand he held it tightly.
"Thank you" she said "I'm glad you were there"
"You shouldn't be" Alex responded sadly "Lewis was the one that did everything. I stood there like a useless statue"
He could see a look of...something cross April's face at the mention of Lewis, but the last thing Alex wanted to do was bring him up again and start an argument.
"You're here now" April said "that's what matters"
"Have the doctors told you anything" Alex asked "does this have anything with the sickness you've been feeling the past few weeks?"
"I don't know" she said guiltily "I thought that was just morning sickness, but if I did something to hurt this baby I-"
"Don't think like that" Alex told her "you didn't do anything wrong and we'll find out what happened and fix it"
She gave him another smile.
Before either person could speak again an obstetrician by the name of Dr. Hemsfield came in. He was a man fastly approaching 60, with shaggy black and white hair and a gut that Alex assumed came with the spoils of a comfortable life.
"Ms. Kepner" he said "I'm happy to see you're awake"
"Hello doctor" she responded.
Dr. Hemsfield only seemed to notice Alex once he stood by the man "Oh, I'm sorry" he said "I'm afraid I must ask you to step out while I go over Ms. Kepner's results"
Alex felt offended, but April spoke up before he could react.
"That's alright doctor" she said "he's...family"
Alex couldn't deny the warm feeling that had washed over him at the comment.
"Okay" Hemsfield said "so running the test it seems as if the cause could be placental abruption"
Seeing the confused look that April had given him the doctor continued "What that means is the placenta has separated from the uterine wall, but the good news is that it appears to be a minor case"
April gave a somewhat nervous, but relieved smile.
Alex on the other hand, did not "Excuse me doctor, but the way in which she was bleeding indicates severity"
Dr. Hemsfield looked at Alex, surprised that the man was questioning him "Sometimes excessive bleeding can occur Mr...?"
"Dr" Alex corrected "Dr. Karev"
"The Karev that works in paediatric surgery?" Hemsfield asked.
"Yes"
Looking at April Hemsfield turned his body fully towards Alex "Would you mind if we talk in the hall?"
Shaking his head yes Alex followed the doctor out and once the two made it out of the room Hemsfield faced Alex. "Dr. Karev, what happened in there was highly unprofessional"
"Excuse me?"
"With all due respect you are a paediatric surgeon so your scope on Obstetrics is limited at best and for you to question me, let alone in front of my patient, was completely uncalled for"
Alex's anger was bubbling under his skin "What's uncalled for is saying a woman who bled out as much blood as April has is suffering from something that is minor"
"Are you questioning my 30 years of solid medical history because you, a baby in this profession, have a hunch?" Hemsfield asked and his tone was sharp.
"I'm saying that whatever test you've run is wrong and if you can't get your head out of your own ass then I will find somebody who will, because that woman in there means a hell of a lot more to me then your goddamn ego" Alex spoke strongly to let Hemsfield know that him, or his prestige, didn't intimidate him into backing off.
"What's going on?" Lewis asked as he stepped up and in-between Hemsfield and Alex.
"I'm going to need you to take your friend and get him out of here before I call security" Hemsfield said to Lewis.
"WHAT?" Alex yelled "You can't-" he started to say as Hemsfield headed back into April's room.
"Alex, stop" Lewis told him as he held the man firm.
"I'm not going to let him feed April his bullshit diagnosis" Alex said.
"Okay" Lewis said "if you want to get another doctor I'm sure we can"
"I'm already on it" Alex told him as he pulled out his cell phone "can you do me a favour and go in there and just make sure April is okay?"
"I-I don't know" Lewis responded nervously "I think she would much rather have you around"
Pulling Lewis close Alex gave him a kiss "You saved her life, baby. I think that's going to carry a lot of weight, so please…for me"
He could hear Lewis sigh "Okay...just make it quick"
"Will do" Alex told him and once he saw Lewis enter April's hospital room he headed outside. Quickly dialling a number it took two rings before he heard a pleasant sounding woman answer her phone.
"Los Angeles Information, how may I help you?"
"I'm looking for the number of Dr. Addison Montgomery of Seaside Wellness" Alex said and after being put on hold the woman came back and told Alex that she would be able to connect him.
Taking her offer he suddenly felt anxious about speaking with the woman. They had a complicated history, although with Alex most people he had any history with was pretty complicated.
After the fifth ring he heard Addison's voice telling him to leave a message. Taking a deep breath Alex started to speak.
"Hey Addison...it's Alex. I know I'm one of the last people you thought you would hear from, but I have a problem. I have a friend who could really use you. She's in the hospital right now after experiencing very heavy bleeding and this Dr. Hemsfield is a quack. It's my kid Addison and I don't trust anyone else but you with this, so if you could get back to me you got my cell and if not it's 211-555-0241. I'm freaking out here"
Hanging up he stuffed the phone back in his pocket and feeling his hand shake he did his best to get it under control.
He had to be strong now. There was no room for the kind of man he had been back at that apartment.
April Kepner POV:
April still felt a little weak from all the medications she had gotten, but before they had given it to her, she had made sure that they wouldn't hurt her baby and that the doctors knew what they were doing. Alex' outburst on the other hand - towards Doctor Hemsfield - made her feel insecure again.
The doctor had just left the room after checking on her one last time, when she heard a knock and a second later she saw Lewis entering her room.
She had expected to see Alex, and having Lewis in her room now made her slightly uncomfortable.
"Listen, April..." Lewis started, once he moved towards her. "I'm only here to do Alex a favour... He asked me to not let you out of my sight... he's really worried about you..." He stopped his tracks in the middle of the room, seeming slightly nervous. "And I won't come closer if you don't want me to. I'm pretty sure you must hate me..."
April bit her lower lip. She somehow did hate Lewis. Or at least, she used to do. Before he had saved her and her baby. She would be forever thankful for that.
"You... you can come closer... in fact..." She pointed to the chair next to her bed. "In fact... I need to talk to you anyways..."
"Okay..." Lewis replied, taking his seat in front of April's bed and looking at her.
For what seemed like an eternity - but couldn't have been more than a couple of seconds - it was pretty quiet between them. Until April decided that it was enough and she broke the silence.
"Thank you..." She simply said, looking into Lewis' eyes, and god, they were pretty. Just like Jackson's. No surprise Alex fell for them. If she was into blue eyes, she could totally imagine herself falling for him.
"What for?" Lewis asked, tilting his head.
A small smile crossed April's lips. "Not only pretty, but also modest, huh?"
"What?" Lewis seemed more confused with every second.
"You most likely saved my life... and the life of my baby. Who knows what would have happened if you weren't there. If I had been alone tonight..." She clung to the bed sheet. "I could have blacked out and bled out in the apartment..."
"That... that goes without saying. I'm a doctor, April... I would have never just left you there in this situation..." Lewis looked her directly in the eye. "I never meant for that to happen, and if I'm the reason for you being this upset, I... I'm sorry..."
"No..." April replied immediately, feeling slightly guilty. Lewis seemed to really have thought that this... all of this... was his fault. "I think I... I don't know... maybe it was all the stress in the last few days and weeks..."
"And I played my part in you having so much stress..." Lewis gave back. "You have every reason to hate me, I know what I did, and believe me, I'm not proud of it, but I really care for Alex..."
"I know..." April replied, leaning forward and grabbing Lewis' hand. "I can see that." She let out a sigh, smiling sadly. "And no matter what happened between us, I still care for him as well... he's the father of my kid and I will always love him... but I have to accept that he has moved on..."
The thought of it still hurt, but she knew, at the moment there wasn't any chance for them getting back together. Too much had happened. Maybe at some point, but not right now. And as much as April hated to admit to it: Lewis seemed to be a nice guy after all.
"Do you love him?" she asked softly.
Lewis looked at her, biting his lower lip. "Yeah, kind of... but it's... it's really complicated... I mean... it's not the love he still has for you, I know that... and I swear to god, I never wanted to destroy a family..." He looked really guilty that moment, and as much as she wanted to, April couldn't be mad at him. And she couldn't blame him for all of her problems.
"I know..." April replied, gently stroking the back of his hand before she let go of it. "And it's okay... I really owe you one for staying calm and being there for Alex when he needed it, so he could be there for me..." She gave him an honest smile, gently touching her belly.
"You think my baby's gonna be okay?" she asked, looking down at her rounding belly. "I... I am so afraid to lose it, even though Doctor Hemsfield said otherwise... but somehow I don't trust him..."
"Neither does Alex..." Lewis replied immediately. "And I think he's about to get you someone else... I don't know exactly, but he was really upset when I left him..."
"Really?" April asked, feeling her heart beat faster. It meant a lot to her to know that Alex still loved her, and hearing it from Lewis was just something special. He was the man who stole him away from her after all; even though she knew it wasn't only his fault. Alex didn't have to respond to his flirting, but he did.
"Yeah, really... he wants what's best for you two... and the reason he's not with you is, that he doesn't think he is the best... and that he can give you what you deserve... I... I tried to tell him that sometimes love is worth fighting for, and that he's not as bad as he thinks he is, but..."
"You did?" April responded, looking at him slightly surprised. "But why?"
"Because I know how it feels to lose the one person you love most in the world... it's as if someone rips your heart out," Lewis gave back, and April knew that he was honest with her in that very moment.
"Thank you..." she said, and the moment Lewis was about to say something in reply, the door opened and both, her and Lewis, turned towards it, seeing Alex walk in.
"Hey..." Alex said, coming closer and stopping next to April's bed.
That was the moment when Lewis got up from the chair and looked at Alex.
"I think I should leave you two alone right now... I think you have a lot to talk about, huh?"
"You... you don't have to go," April replied immediately, seeing how Alex looked up at Lewis. He obviously wanted and needed Lewis here and April was the last to complain about that.
"I think I do..." Lewis replied, grabbing Alex' car-key from his pants pocket. "Here... the key to your car..."
"Lewis, I..." Alex started, but Lewis cut him off mid-sentence.
"No, it's really okay... I'm gonna see Michael and take a look how long he still has to work... if I can't get home with him, I'll call a cab... no problem. I'm a big boy..." He gave Alex a smile, before leaning down and pressing a kiss on Alex' head.
"See you tomorrow, okay?"
Alex nodded, seeming slightly uncomfortable all of sudden. "Okay... and we'll talk tomorrow..."
"Sure..." Lewis smiled again, before waving his hand good-bye in April's direction. "Feel better very soon, April. And take care..."
"I will..." April gave back, looking after him and waiting for him to leave the room, before she turned to Alex again.
"He's a really nice guy..."
Surprised, Alex looked up at her. "What?"
Amused, April chuckled. "He's a nice guy? But I'm sure that's nothing new to you, huh?"
"No!" Alex replied immediately. "But it... it somehow doesn't feel right for you to say that about him..."
"Why not?" April leaned forward, placing a hand on Alex cheek and pressing a soft kiss on Alex' forehead. "It's the truth... and I can somehow understand now why you like him so much... and he's pretty, too... just like Jackson."
"But that never was the reason for me to... you know..." Alex gestured with his hand.
"I know..." April nodded.
"Listen, I already told that to Lewis, and now I'm telling you... you will always be a part of my life... and of the life of our kid, no matter what happens... even if you decide to stay together with Lewis."
"What do you mean by that?" Alex asked, raising an eyebrow and looking slightly offended, April could tell.
"I mean, that I can accept that you have moved on, and that Lewis is a part of your life now..." April tried to come around, definitely not wanting to fight with him. "And that this doesn't change a thing about the fact that this is your baby... I want you to be a part of it, no matter if you're with me or with Lewis or whoever..." She leaned forward, leaning her forehead against Alex'.
"Please... I need you right now... as a friend, if that's all you can give me... I can't go through all of this alone... and I'm scared..." She placed a hand on her belly again. "I... I already love this baby so much... and I don't wanna lose it... but I... I don't trust this Doctor Hemsfield..." she admitted. "And I could tell you don't either... will you help me find someone else? Please?"
She let out a sigh.
"For now the pain is gone, but what if it comes back? What if this happens again?" She bit her lower lip, trying to bite back the tears, but they were coming anyways, even though she knew she shouldn't get so upset, because this definitely wasn't good for the baby, but she just couldn't help it. The thought that her baby could die literally killed her from the inside.