I do not own any characters, plots, or anything else pertaining to "Grey's Anatomy". This chapter will bring us back to April and Samuel. You will find out the last thing Samuel has chosen to show April. I hope you continue to enjoy the story, it's been a joy to write. As always, thanks for following/favoriting and commenting.
Chapter 9
Only You
The bright light fades and reveals a scene she thought was left behind long ago. A scene that made her believe that Jackson was her soulmate. April can't help but smile at the magical image of her and Jackson in that tiny on-call room, dreaming about a future that was just beyond their reach. "Dad was serious about marrying you here." April nods at his words, not able to take her eyes off the scene playing out in front of her. "I know, it feels like a lifetime ago." She watches herself for a moment, so young and hopeful, and wishes she could just go back to this point in time. Her and Jackson were at their best in this moment. They were one in the same and she misses feeling so whole.
April tries to hold back the tears that are threatening to escape her eyes. She misses the unexplainable connection they used to share and the powerful love that sprung from it. April feels Samuel's hand on her shoulder and she's taken away from the moment. She turns to him and he gives her a smile. "You can start over with dad and have moments like this again. Don't give up on him, you're a soldier, remember?" April gives him a small smile despite the tears cascading down her cheeks.
After a few moments, April feels Samuel release her shoulder from his grasp. The scene suddenly changes to a much darker one. April watches as she appears again in a hospital bed, only this time, she sees her entire family gathered around her. As her eyes roam over her family, she notices that everyone is crying. Her heart stops when she realizes what's about to happen and her head starts spinning. Is this how her life ends? If so, where's Jackson and Harriet? April's not sure how long she's standing there feeling utterly lost before she feels Samuel's hand slip into hers. "It's going to be okay, mom. You can go back before anything happens. I promise Dad and Harriet are waiting for you." Her eyes unblur, as she turns to her son.
April's heart aches at the thought of leaving him here alone because she feels like she's abandoning him. April touches his cheek softly. "I'm not leaving you, Sammy. I won't abandon you." He shakes his head, a tear slipping down his cheek. "Mom, you're not abandoning me. This is your path and mine has already diverged from yours." April gives him a nod and somehow her smile widens. "Diverged, huh? How many other big words do you know?" She watches a smirk appear on Samuel's face and her heart warms at the sight. "I'll always be with you, dad, and Harriet. I promise I'm not going anywhere." April can't help but cry through her laughter. "That's good because I don't want you missing out on all the family fun we're going to have." She watches her son's smirk widen and despite her pain, she's thankful that she's been blessed with the miracle of seeing her son again.
April takes one last look at the son that she loves with her whole heart, the son that was taken from her too soon. From them. She reaches out one last time to embrace her beautiful boy. April feels the tears falling down her cheeks, as she holds onto Samuel tightly. "This isn't goodbye, mom. I promise we'll see each other again." Her son pauses, and a few moments pass, before his voice breaks the silence. "Tell dad that I'm okay and that he can stop worrying about where I ended up." April pulls back to look at him and gives him a nod. "And tell Harriet that her big brother will always be watching out for her." Her tears continue to fall rapidly down her cheeks, as she holds her son again, trying to memorize every detail of this moment.
When Samuel pulls back a second time, April's heart begins to ache sharply. The dreaded moment has finally come to leave her son behind. "I love you, Sammy. Your father and I will always love you. You're apart of us, just like we're apart of you." April's eyes meet Samuel's and she can see the tears glistening within them. A smirk suddenly appears on his face and her heart warms. "Stop getting sappy on me, mom." A look of playful annoyance crosses his face and it once again reminds her of his father. Samuel gives her a nod and backs away from her. April finds herself taking a sharp breath in before she meets her son's eyes. "So, how does this work?" Samuel takes a few steps towards her. "Think of dad and Harriet. Picture yourself reuniting with them and your mind will align itself with your body." April takes her son in for one last time before she turns and closes her eyes. She takes another deep breath and the other half of her family swims in front of her eyes.
April feels her ears humming and her heart throbbing. Her body suddenly feels like it's falling in slow motion. After a few moments, the humming suddenly stops, and she hears what sounds like a heart monitor. April's not sure how long she's falling before she feels a jolt through her body. She slowly opens her eyes and adjusts them to the bright lights overhead. April feels a pain shoot through her head and she's forced to close her eyes. "Dr. Kepner, can you hear me?" Even though she doesn't want to feel that blinding pain again, she knows that she has to.
April starts to open her eyes for the second time and sees an unfamiliar nurse standing next to her bed. "I'll go tell Dr. Shephard you're awake." The nurse rushes out of the room and then April's eyes fall on her extended family. Before she can even react, she feels her mother wrap her up into a huge bear hug, something she hasn't done since she was a child. Her eyes then peer over her mother's shoulder at her father, who's giving her a wide smile. Even though she's happy at this moment, there are only two people in the world she wants to see right now. Her family, Jackson and Harriet.