Chapter 8:
Sorry to everyone for not updating sooner, despite promising to. Sydney is having a terrible heatwave at the moment. Temps peaking at 42C (107F)! I hate it and find writing un-motivating when its boiling. But now I've got the air conditioning pumping and ready to write!
Thank you so much for all the reviews! I've broken that 100 review barrier….first ever in all my time writing fan fiction. It means a lot to me. Thank you all. Please enjoy and leave your review at the end.
….
"Jackson wake up!", he was woken by a harsh shake on his shoulder.
"What the hell?", he exclaimed, his eyes opening slowly as he adjusted to the bright sunlight flooding through the blinds. He felt a sharp stab of pain in his lower back as he adjusted himself in the armchair next to April's bed. He looked up over his shoulder and came face to face with Meredith who was looking down at him with a concerned frown.
"How long have you been here?", she demanded, folding her arms.
"I don't know", Jackson sighed, running a hand down his face. "What time is it?".
"7am", Meredith told him. "You need a shower. We've got rounds in a few hours and you are starting to reek", she rose her eyebrow at him. "When was the last time you went home?'.
"Home isn't the same without her", he replied softly, glancing back at April sadly. "Karev spends most of his time here with the car crash kids….and I don't like the place empty. Plus I want to be here", he added.
"At least go have a shower in the attending lounge", she instructed him firmly. "April's a clean freak. She wouldn't want you here smelling like a landfill".
Jackson smiled wryly and nodded, giving April's hand one more squeeze before standing and leaving the room. Meredith remained behind, giving the unconscious April a sad smile.
"Wake up April", she whispered softly. "Don't give the bastard the satisfaction".
And with that, she also left the room.
….
Jackson entered the attending lounge and frowned slightly when he found all the first year attendings also gathered there.
"What's on?", he asked, approaching Yang and Karev.
"Hunt called a meeting", Alex told him blankly. "I don't know why", he answered Jackson's next question immediately.
"Probably something to do with what happened", Meredith offered, joining the group.
"I thought they caught the guy", Jackson asked.
"Yeah they did", Alex replied in his usual sarcastic manner. "He was schizophrenic….claims the 'voices' were telling him to do it", he chuckled dryly.
"I hate it when they're fucked in the heads" Jackson fumed, his fist curling. "Means we can't go all ape shit on them. Also means the media tends to go easier on them".
"It's always the crazy ones", Yang shook her head.
She was interrupted with Hunt opening the door to the lounge. Silence immediately fell in the group as they waited in anticipation.
"Thanks for coming", Hunt began. "Once again, Seattle Grace Mercy West has been ravaged by a horror and sadness of unimaginable proportions. I wanted to bring you all here so that I can give you the official update on what's happened. I don't want rumours flying around with lies. As a group", he swept his hand around the room. "You've been through this kind of event before. You know how to cope and what to expect emotionally and mentally".
Jackson stared at Hunt with a slight frown. This speech sounded like it'd come straight from the laptop of someone in HR. His own girlfriend was lying ICU with critical injuries and all Hunt could offer were somebody else's words. It wasn't good enough! He lowered his stare until he knew it resembled a glare. He saw Hunt glance at him uncomfortable a couple of times already.
"The perpetrator, James Windup, 23 year old schizophrenic. He stabbed six people. Four staff members: Kelly Quinn, Dr Ahmed Jamal, Lucy Damun and Dr April Kepner. And two civilians. The police have him in custody and its very likely at his stage, he won't be acquitted of murder on physiological grounds. I had the opportunity to speak to a lawyer on the prosecution team this morning and they are saying they want to push for the death penalty".
Jackson allowed himself to relax slightly. He didn't usually advocate for capital punishment, but this was personal. He hated himself for seeking revenge, but then his thoughts returned to April lying upstairs in ICU and he faltered, returning his focus to Owen.
"We do have trauma counsellors on stand-by", Hunt told them. "They will be making appointment with whom they deem necessary. Those will be compulsory- we've all seen what trauma can do to our emotional states, so I'm not taking any chances here people. I'll keep you updated with more soon", he finished. "Thank you".
"This is all a load of bullshit", Jackson muttered to himself as the attending's began to disperse.
"Don't get so wound up about it Jackson", Meredith said to him warningly. "No use getting upset. It's done, it's over. The guy will get his justice", she shrugged.
Jackson opened his mouth to protest fumingly, but stopped when he locked eyes with Hunt across the room. He closed it again and stormed out of the lounge, his white lab coat flying behind him.
…
Jackson sauntered up to the nurses' station with an stormy look plastered on his unshaven face.
"You ok?", the senior nurse, Michelle asked him compassionately. Pretty much everyone was beginning to hear about April and Jackson's relationship now that one half was hooked up to a ventilator.
"Never better!", Jackson countered dryly, keeping his eyes trained on the chart in front of him.
"We're all thinking about her", she continued with a sad note in her voice.
Jackson didn't even reply, he signed the chart and left the desk with Michelle looking sympathetically at his retreating figure. He needed to punch something! Needed to let out all the dangerous anger boiling up inside him. He felt terrible about himself. He knew he should be feeling anxious. Scared. Worried. Freaking out about April. But instead all he could feel was this insatiable rage. It was eating up his insides. He walked into the nearest on call room and sighed gratefully to find it empty. Thumping down onto the closest bed, he lay down on his back and stared up at the beige coloured ceiling.
He couldn't help but smile slightly as he thought about if the roles were reversed. April would probably be freaking out. Panicking and blabbering in her usual, adorable manner. She'd be going into overdrive, trying to do everything and anything.
Suddenly it hit him! Sitting up in the bed, his eyes grew wide as he realised that nobody had alerted April's family yet. They didn't know she was injured and in ICU, let alone in a coma. He didn't know too much about her family. They hadn't really discussed it properly. He knew her parents were on their family farm back in Moline. Two of her sisters lived there too while the fourth was somewhere on the East coast studying. He had to let them know. Jackson was at a loss about what to do here. If the roles were reversed, he would want his mother there by his bedside. April loved her family and Jackson knew she'd want them there too.
…
Staring uncertainly at the number scribbled on the scrap of paper in his hands, he lifted the receiver of the telephone and placed it to his ear as he began to dial.
"Hello?", a placid female voice answered.
"Hi", he spoke anxiously. "Is this Karen Kepner?".
"Yes. Who is this?".
"Ahh", he paused. "My name is Jackson Avery. I work with April here in Seattle".
"Oh yes", Karen replied compliantly. "April mentioned your name a few times. You worked with her in the other hospital".
"Yeah that's me", Jackson nodded.
"What's wrong?", Karen spoke worryingly. "Why are you calling here?".
"Mrs Kepner", Jackson sighed heavily. "April's has been hurt. She's in coma here at Seattle Grace Mercy West".
…..
Disclaimer: the opinions expressed in this chapter do not necessarily represent my own.
Please enjoy and remember to review! All advice is appreciated. Don't worry! Haven't forgotten about the pregnancy thing….it'll be there!
Now buckle up people! Grey's is returning tomorrow and from the sneak peeks have shown, Jackson might actually be keen on Edwards! *cue the devastated wails of tears*
Japril forever!