Thank you for the wonderful comments and feedback. Because of you wonderful people, I was inspired to write more. Here is part 1 of season 7!
The Interlude, Part 1
She is sick of the condolences, "the sorry about your friends" line, and the fact that they have to get approved to go back to work. "Rules are rules. They are there for a reason," she reminds herself by writing in her little pink book.
"Keep it together," she repeats to herself.
He huffs as he enters her room, "Good luck with that. If they don't approve me tomorrow-
"Rules are rules, Jackson. They just want to make sure we are okay-
"Of course we are not okay. We lost two friends and I had freakin' gun pointed to my head-
"And you have nightmares every night and I can't open a closet door without flinching. I know."
He hears the strain in her voice, sees the horror in her eyes, and suddenly all his frustration is forgotten.
There is a protective switch that turns on with her, ever since…well they've been gone. They only have each other now. Jackson scoots next to her and puts his arms around her; he can feel the goose bumps on her delicate skin.
She buries herself in him and he holds on with no intention of letting go.
This is their pattern. They take turns comforting each other.
Today, it was his.
The wedding was over, but the remnants of the celebration still lingered with left over food, dirty plates, a bar comprised of different types of alcohol on the kitchen table, and confetti everywhere – all in all a mess. She couldn't sleep nor could she take in the mess in front of her, so like any normal person recovering from a trauma: she cleans. In fifteen minutes the place is halfway to being immaculate when-
What the hell are you doing?" Karev groggily asks.
"Cleaning."
"It's 3 am."
"Someone needs to do it."
"You are insane-
"What's going on?" Jackson asks, while she Swiffer's a stain profusely.
She didn't even hear him come in, or Alex for that matter. Why won't they leave her alone?
"I'm cleaning! Okay? I can't sleep! And this place just needs to be clean. Is that alright with you both?"
Alex, with a huge piece of cake in his mouth shrugs and mumbles, "Do wh-atever the hell you want Kepner."
Jackson stares at her for a moment, and can feel his heavy eyelids fighting the nightmares he faces in his sleep. Without a word he begins to clean the dirty dishes in the sink. Alex stares at them both, as they work in a team to get the kitchen in order- it is natural and effortless, each trying to distract themselves from their own demons.
A moment later, Alex joins.
Today is not her day. They found out something about her that she wanted to keep private, something she didn't want anyone to know. It is her personal business. Why is everyone in such a fit about it? She waits for the elevator in frustration, clicking the button impatiently until the metal door opens. Of course, he is there.
"Whoa, looking a little angry there April," he teases.
She glares and moves past a grinning Jackson, towards the back of the elevator. She leans against the rails, hoping somehow he will forget she is there.
"So, the beach huh?"
"Yup."
"Sounds pretty romantic..."
"It was. There were fireworks and everything."
"Fireworks?"
"Yes. Beautiful, sparkling, colorful fireworks-
The elevator door opens and she books it; Jackson shouts after her, "See you at Joe's tonight!"
Though he teases her, deep down, something about her being a virgin makes him respect her all the more.
It is eleven p.m. and the residents from Seattle Grace are checking out of their local bar. They usually split a cab or walk, but with drizzling rain foreshadowing a huge storm they opt for the first option. She declines the offer and decides to walk home.
"You sure?" Meredith asks with concern.
"Yeah!" the buzz is already picking up her mood. "I just want to clear my head."
"If this is about your whole purity thing-"
Meredith punches Alex in the stomach as they enter the cab, "See you at home!"
She begins to walk down the road, her mind trying to process the day.
Is it her promise to Jesus or her own personal insecurity that is upsetting her? Maybe it is time to make a change-
"April!"
She turns around to see a dark image rushing towards in the distance - and soon enough it is revealed to be none other than Jackson Avery.
He is out of breath, and holds on to her shoulder for support.
"You walk fast for someone with short legs."
"Thanks?" A beat skips. "Why didn't you take a cab with everyone else?"
"I wasn't going to let you walk home alone. It's dark."
"Uh-huh. Or maybe you wanted to apologize for saying there is "shame" in being a "virgin."
"Not really." He sees her about to turn away and stops her, "Kidding. Yes, that too. I actually respect it."
"Really? You don't think I'm pathetic or a prude?"
"I think one day you are going to find someone very special. And nothing else will matter."
She bows with a smile, "Wise words from Jackson Avery."
"Please, would you expect anything less?"
She rolls her eyes, "Arrogant."
As they begin to walk home, the rain thunders and the drops begin to fall at a rapid pace.
"Race you home!"
He takes off and a moment later she shouts after him, "Short legs, remember!"
Before she catches up with him, April Kepner dances in the rain and never feels more alive.
He checks himself out in the mirror, blue scrubs and all.
Why is he single again? When he is an attending he better be in a relationship-
"You look good okay? Stop checking yourself out. It's narcissistic and weird."
"Ha, ha. I just wanted to make sure I didn't stain them. I can't wait to wear them for real."
"If you pass the boards that is."
"Oh, I will. I have the family history to prove it."
April smirks, "That can only get you so far. I've already ordered my books to study for the boards."
"What?"
Jackson looks panicked, as she fixes her hair nonchalantly in the mirror.
"You're kidding right?"
"Nope!" She walks away, back into the temporary life of an attending.
He looks after her with his mouth agape, and quickly takes out his I-Phone.
He sits in the living room with a beer in his hand, watching a rerun of Friends with a cold pizza on the table in front of him. He sits in a daze and April comes in with another set of beer and pizza.
She takes out a beer before collapsing next to him and pouts, "I failed today."
"Join the club."
As April takes a sip of her beer, she can't help but cough a sarcastic laugh.
"Some future attendings we are."
"Cheers to that," he clanks his beer with hers.
They both take a sip with the same deadpan look on their faces.
"I guess I should really order those books," she sighs.
"You mean you don't have them?"
"I was messing with you...Wait, did you-
He groans and shows her his receipt on his phone, "Of course."
April starts laughing hysterically.
"Not funny. At least I have the head start now."
Her laughter continues.
His stone cold face breaks, and he begins to crack as well.
The laughter dies down a few moments later, and April composes a serious face.
"You think Reed and Charlie would be disappointed?"
His heart tugs from hearing their names, and tries to remain steady.
"They'd be happy, because they would have kicked ass at their surgeries today and showed us up."
She nods and this time she clanks her beer with his.
"Cheers to that."
He is reading a chart with intensity, when she interrupts him.
"There is a camera behind you!"
Jackson stops reading the chart, and instantly looks up with a nervous grin on his face.
"Gotcha!" she teases.
"Seriously?" he shoves her. "You are a brat."
"Maybe. But you are a camera whore."
He shakes his head, "You know I was at the store this morning and got your favorite chocolate mocha pudding-
"Give it!"
"Nope. I think it'll be my victory snack after surgery today," he says while walking away.
She goes the opposite direction in a huff.
She was excited to tell him about her victory in surgery today and how she managed to steal the pudding from him, until she heard about him getting stuck during the lockdown.
She can't imagine how that must feel, the pressure to keep that man alive - the memories of being trapped it must have set off. She walks around the hospital to find him, in all his secret spots, but he is not there. The last place she looks is Joe's and he is alone in the back of the bar, clearly wanting to be alone.
Of course, she walks of over.
She doesn't care if he yells at her or pushes her away or even calls her annoying. She is going to persist to the very end, until he releases some of the aggression or fear he is keeping inside.
"Look I know you want to be alone-
"I felt helpless."
Her innocent eyes widen, as she sits in surprise at his omission.
"Today, between those doors...it felt like the day we lost them."
All she can do is nod, her own emotions resurfacing.
She does the only thing she can and slips her hand in his.
This is their pattern. They take turns comforting each other.
Today, it was hers.