Chapter 9:

A/N So I won't lie when I say I'm a little disappointed at the lack of reviews. Please keep reviewing! I love hearing the feedback and it motivates me to update quicker! Aiming to get past 130 reviews!

I know that I've been dragging it out a lot with April out of it, but I guess that's part of the plot. Plus I really want to dedicate this chapter introducing the Kepner family to the story.

Hopefully you will all enjoy and remember to review!

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"Is it just me, or do they all look the same?", Alex snickered, leaning back against the counter.

Meredith frowned and gave him a whack over his head. Alex responded with a small protest, rubbing the place she's hit him. "What was that for?", he returned her frown.

"Stop being an ass", she told him firmly, turning back to face April's room.

The entire group of them, Jackson included were standing around the nurses' station opposite April's ICU room. It had been two days since Jackson made the phone call to Moline and within 24 hours her entire family had arrived. Her parents, Karen and Joe along with her three sisters. All five of them were crammed into April's room, sitting at her bedside. Jackson didn't want to interfere, instead remaining outside the room with his friends. None of her family had budged since arriving there this morning, but with visiting hours ending soon, he would be able to sneak in and get some alone time with this girlfriend.

"Evil spawn has a point", Yang stared at April's sisters. "They all have red hair…look at em", she gestured at the women. "It's weird".

"It's genetics", Jackson countered sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "They can't help it".

"I wonder if they all sound like her too", Alex chuckled.

"Alex", Meredith scolded him with a glare. "Leave her family alone. This is a hard time for them".

Alex's smile faltered and he didn't reply, knowing fully that it was true. Instead he popped a few grapes into his mouth and chewed quietly.

"Have they said anything to you?", Meredith directed her question at Jackson.

"Not really", he replied. "Her mum said hello earlier. Thanked me for calling her and all that. Just asked about her condition….but Hunt came up later and spoke more to them".

"When are they gonna reverse the coma?", Yang asked, stealing some of Alex's grapes. "I kinda miss her squeaky voice and marching orders. It ain't the same without Kepner".

Jackson smiled wryly and shook him head. "She's not stable enough yet. Shepard said still some pressure in the brain".

Suddenly Yang's pager rang "forget Virgin Mary. She's Sleeping Beauty now", she quipped and she left the group with a small wave.

Meredith leaned in closer to Jackson. "Do they know about", she paused. "You two".

Jackson shook his head again. "No….I think if April had told them, they would be making a bigger deal".

"They'd probably be getting ready to kill you", Alex interjected with a snort. "You stole the Virgin Mary's virginity".

"I didn't steal it!" Jackson hissed. "She gave it to me!".

"Woah!", Alex held up a hand defensively. "I don't need to be hearing about that!", he stood from the chair he was sitting in and left, shaking his head in disgust.

"How are you?", Meredith asked him empathetically when Alex wasn't within earshot.

"The anger phase is passing", Jackson nodded slowly. "I'm still scared shitless. I'll be fine once she wakes up".

"I was the same with Derek", Meredith agreed. "You just want to hear the person's voice. Feel their warmth. See their open eyes".

Jackson looked at Meredith with a newfound respect. Beneath the 'twisted sister' thing, she was just another normal, emotional person who looked out for everyone.

"Anyway", she spoke. "I'll see you later. Good luck!", her eyes indicated to the family in the room.

Jackson gave her a thankful smile and went to sit down in the chair behind the counter. He had some spare time before his next surgery and wanted to fix up a few charts. His resident had the messiest writing and never did them quite the way he liked.

He was halfway through his first chart when he heard someone clear their throat. He looked up and saw one of the Kepner sisters glancing down at him warily.

Jackson looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to speak first. She didn't, instead continuing to look at him like he'd done something wrong.

"Yes…", he raised an eyebrow and smiled.

"You have really pretty eyes", she finally spoke. Her voice was blank and hollow. Emotionless.

"Ahhh…" Jackson's eyebrow rose further. "Thanks?", he replied uncertainly.

"She told me you had the most gorgeous eyes", the girl continued. "That they sparkled when you were angry or sad".

Jackson's smile turned sad as he thought of April confiding in her sister about her life. About him.

"I can't believe she's lying that that bed", her voice dropping to a whisper, threatening to burst into tears.

"She'll be alright", Jackson spoke reassuringly, rising from the chair. "April's a fighter. She's strong and she'll survive this".

The sister nodded and wiped away a stray tear with her hand. "I'm Alice", she told him with a small polite smile.

"Hi", Jackson greeted her. "Jackson Avery", he offered her his hand, which she shook.

"She's told me a lot about you Jackson", Alice smiled further. "I feel like a practically know you already".

"Wow", Jackson chuckled uncertainly. "I don't really know that much about April's family to be honest".

"Once she's back up to scratch, I'll kick her ass", Alice joked, glancing behind her shoulder at her sister. "Well I'm the youngest. Libby is the one with the green sweater and Kimmie is wearing the jeans. All four of us been blessed with the Kepner ginger-ness", she indicated to her own auburn curls with a wry smile. Jackson allowed himself to chuckle gently.

"April and I are the closest. Our other sisters are the prettier Kepner's. They were always out chasing boys and partying, April wasn't into that and I was too young. So we bonded. We speak on the phone all the time", she explained. "We tell each other everything."

Jackson glanced at her nervously. "Yes", she stopped him with a knowing smile. "I know about you two. Don't worry. I'm happy about it. Its time April found someone and you seem really good for her", she told him enthusiastically.

"Thanks", Jackson replied. "Do your…" he started apprehensively.

"No, the rest of the family don't know yet. Probably best not to mention it. Just leave it for April to tell them. It'll sound better that way".

Jackson relaxed and grinned, nodding in agreement.

"April once mentioned something about you studying on the East Coast?", Jackson asked her casually, making conversation.

"Yeah", she nodded. "I'm doing Dentistry at Boston University", she explained proudly.

"You flew all the way out here? Don't you have classes?", Jackson frowned.

"She's my big sister", Alice shrugged nonchalantly. "She'd do the same for me. Plus I've got another two weeks off for Christmas break".

"Lucky you! So you'll be a doctor like April?" Jackson said enthusiastically.

"Don't tell her", she leaned in closer with a smile. "But April is kinda my hero", she explained softly. "She studied hard. She worked her arse off in high school and graduated as the valedictorian. She broke that stereotype that you have in small towns. You know" she waved her arm. "Barely finish high school, marry young, have a truckload of kids…but April broke out. She became a doctor and works in a big city. My parents weren't too happy about it, but April didn't care. She did what she loved. I really admire her for that".

Jackson beamed at the youngest Kepner daughter. He was really beginning to like her. She was so much like April.

"Are your parents happy with you doing medicine?", Jackson asked further.

"They think I'm just copying April", Alice rolled her eyes. "I've always been a little bit of a rebel child, so they think I might be doing it to spite them".

"Are you?", Jackson grinned. He knew all about pushing the parental boundaries.

"Maybe", Alice shrugged with a playful smirk. "But mostly, I really want to become something. I don't want to end up like my sisters", she groaned. "Housewives, running around after smelly, dirty children and cleaning up for their lazy husbands. That's just not me".

"It's not April either", Jackson added proudly.

"Yeah", she agreed. "Another thing I admire about her".

"But you should see what she's done with our apartment. She cooks and cleans and looks after us really well".

"But that's her caring, but slightly neurotic side coming out", Alice countered with a knowing smile. "She loves looking after people. It's in her nature".

"Do you want to grab a coffee?", Jackson questioned gently. "I've got another hour off before surgery. There is a stall outside that makes a great latte".

Alice glanced uncertainly over her shoulder back at her family crowded around her sister's bedside. Jackson saw her and suddenly felt guilty.

"Don't worry", he told her. "Bad idea. You should stay here with everyone".

"No", Alice shook her head, smiling at Jackson. "April wouldn't want everyone sitting around, crying and feeling sorry for her. Its only coffee, let's go".

Jackson smiled as he led out of the ward towards the lift.

…

Jackson waved goodbye to Alice as she left to meet her parents and sister at the hotel they were staying at. He felt really happy knowing he'd found a friend in April's family. He still hadn't had a chance to properly meet her father and other sisters, but felt better knowing he'd gotten closer to one of the sisters.

As he exited the lift onto the ICU floor, he checked his watch. It was only 8:30pm. Visiting hours finished half an hour ago so the floor was pretty much empty, except for the few lingering residents checking on patients for their attending's. The rhinoplasty he'd had scheduled was cancelled when the women left with a bout of cold feet. Something about a phobia of needles. In his hand he held a steaming hot coffee he hoped to use in bribing the night duty nurse to allow him access to April's room.

Walking confidently up to the nurse's station, he flashed his best grin at the women behind the counter.

"Hi Justine".

"Give me the coffee", she outstretched her arm with a knowing expression. "You've got 20 minutes", she told him firmly.

"Thank you", he told her gratefully, handing her the coffee and walking into April's room.

The rhythmic sound of the ventilator greeted him coldly as he slid the door closed behind him. She looked paler. Weaker. Pulling up the chair to her bedside he took her colder hand in his warmer one and kissed it gently.

"I missed you today", he told her softly. "But I got to meet Alice. I really like her. She's so much like you. She's got that same fire. And I'm not talking about the hair", he chuckled.

His smile faltered as he continued to stare at her blank face. He gave her hand a firm squeeze.

"Please", he pleaded. "Come back to me April".

Suddenly he felt April's hand move, giving his a soft squeeze.

…

Cliffhanger alert!

REVIEW ME! Remember I'm aiming for that magic 130!

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Let me know what you think of the Grey's episode. You lucky Yanks get it earlier than we do. I gotta rely on the internet for my fix. Don't worry about spoilers. I want to know everything about Jackson, April and that annoying, stupid, ugly bitch of an intern whose name shall not be spoken.