Hi,
so yeah, here's finally the next chapter, it'll show you a bit what happened on 9/11.
Thanks fo reading! :)

Chapter XV: What really happened

"Bittersweet memories,
That is all I'm taking with me.
So goodbye, please don't cry. "

Catherine walked to the CICU and stopped in front of the window to see April's face buried on her last remaining son's arm. She exhaled to suppress her tears and blinked frequently before entering the room. April had fallen asleep so she gently rubbed her shoulder to wake her up.
The urologist smiled slightly at her when she looked sleepy from Jackson to his mother and back. Suddenly April's eyes became glossy again and she started to sob:

"Oh my God, I'm so, so sorry...I-I-It's all my fault...I-I-I-"

"Oh no, dear, it's not your fault. He decided to protect you, it was his choice, all right?"

Mama Avery hugged the younger surgeon and whispered with now glossy eyes, too:

"He'll wake up, he's a fighter. And don't forget what he's already been through, darling."

April felt terrible, because maybe Catherine was about to lose her last child, and she had this abominable feeling that it was her fucking fault.

"But...but what if he won't wake up? I mean...he's...he's your last child," April choked and looked up to the surprised face of Catherine Avery.

"He never told you, didn't he?" She asked and moved back.

"Told me what?" The trauma surgeon asked confused.

"About his siblings and father?"

"No, I just learned that he lost his father, brother and sister on 9/11," April required confused.

"Well, I think we should talk, my dear. Let's go to the cafeteria."

April nodded slightly, but turned around to peck Jackson on the cheek. Slowly, she and his mother walked out of the room and made their way to the cafeteria. On their way they met Webber, who hugged Catherine saying, that she could crash at him for the time she stayed here. The urologist thanked him and with April in tow, they entered the cafeteria. It was really empty, because all the other surgeons were still with the patients from the terror attack. After another bomb explosion, they had gotten about twenty more patients. April wasn't hungry, she still felt sick like she could throw up every second.

They sat down and Catherine started talking...

It was five o' clock in the morning when Jackson, Cora and his mother arrived at the airport of Boston. Today they' would celebrate Cora's graduation in New York, their father had invited them to eat breakfast in the Windows on The World, a noble restaurant in the north tower of the World Trade Center. The half of the Avery Clan entered the security check and put down all their belongings on a tray.

"When will we meet dad and the others in New York?" Cora asked while she grabbed her bag and coat.

"At quarter to nine, darling."

"Yeah right, I forgot, thanks. Do you know whether Josh got his plane?"

"No, he didn't get it, I just got his text. He'll try to catch the next flight," Jackson answered instead, waiting for the two Avery ladies.

"Oh, I was so looking forward to see him again...," Cora replied with a sad expression on her face.

Josh was the second eldest of the Avery children and had been in Oxford for his medicine study and today he would had come to Boston for this week. But now he had missed his flight, so he woudn't be able to celebrate Cora's graduation.

They sat down in the waiting lounge to finally border the plane. Jackson looked down on his phone and saw that his other sister Penelope called him.

" Hey, big brother, you're already at the airport?"

"Hey, sure we are. We're currently sitting in the waiting lounge, our plane will depart in 30 Minutes. How are you guys?"

"Good, we're waiting for you. Well, Sky is still asleep and I just wanted to call before you guys arrive here."

"As if Skylar Avery would wake up before it's 7a.m. Is Dad in the WTC yet?"

"Almost, he left the hotel half an hour ago. Would you give your phone to Cora, Jackie? Please, I have to tell her something."

"You know that I hate it that you're calling me Jackie just like Grandpa, right? But, I'll give you Cora. Love you both and see you soon!"

Jackson gave his cell to his other younger sister and laid back in the seat. He was happy to see Josh and Skylar again since he hadn't seen both in weeks. Sadly, they hadn't been able to celebrate with him his 20th birthday, but in combination with Cora's graduation, they wanted to re-take it today.

"Here mom, Penelope also wanted to talk to ya'," Cora finally gave her brother's cell to her mother.

Penelope told them that she loved all of them and hung up. For the last time ever.

Jackson, Cora and Mama Avery left the New York airport at quarter to eight. It wasn't easy to get through Queens and Manhattan at this time, so many workers were on their way. It took them an hour to get from the airport to the World Trade Center and it was quarter to nine when they arrived. No one of them knew that their lives would change forever within the next one minute.

Jackson was about to open the door when they suddenly heard a noise that was almost ear-splitting. All the people around them started screaming an running for their lives, but Cora and Her mother were just staring up to the tower's summit. Cora cried without warning and fell to the ground:

"Dad! Penelope! Sky! NOOOO!"

The 20 years-old felt a cold fist crushing his heart. He finally looked up and saw that the outside of the building was on fire. Jackson managed to breathe out, but he wasn't able to inhale the air he needed so desperately. The people running away in front of his eyes seemed to move in slow-motion and so did his mind. This couldn't happen. No, his dad and siblings hadn't been caught, no, no, no.
Jackson expected to hear noises which came from explosions or screaming people, but he didn't hear anything - he felt numb.

Cora felt a hand grabbing her arm and she looked up, seeing a guy with short black hair and brown eyes trying to pull her up. His voice just came in pieces to her:

"I'm James...we need to...this is horrible."

Jackson was finally able to breathe in and had to cough hard. Pieces of the building started to fall down and hurt people in the process. His mother was still standing there, looking up to the now in flames standing tower, tears running down her face. Jackson saw a huge glass splitter tumbling down with the task to hit her. The youngest Avery male stormed to his mother, moving her away from her current position. Slowly he became aware again of what just happened. Looking around, he wasn't able to find Cora so he called out her name a few times and finally she arrived at the side of him with another guy.

"Jackson...mom...this is not happening, isn't it?" The newly graduate asked terrified with tear streams all over her face.

Jackson felt completely empty, this wasn't happening. He didn't just lost his dad, Penelope and Sky. God damn it, Penelope was only sixteen, she had her whole life in front of her, and Skylar, he was 24, he would had turned 25 in fifteen days...

Why was he alive? Why hadn't he been in New York since yesterday? Why in the name of god did this plane crashed into the tower in which the other half of his family was? Why?

April had listened to Catherine with a blank expression on her face. She had known Jackson since their first intern year, but never heard about his father, brothers or sisters.

"W-w-what happened to Cora and Josh?" April asked quietly and tried to avoid eye-contact with the urologist.

"Caroline lives in Los Angeles as a cardiothoracic surgeon...and Joshua...well...he was killed later in the Iraq war...," Catherine replied with watery eyes.

"Did he was a trauma surgeon there?"

"No, he was a cardio surgeon just like Caroline."

Slowly, a tiny tear escaped April's eye. She felt so sorry what had happened to the Avery family. Jackson had lost his father, sister and brother in one day, and then later his other brother because of the war that arose because of this one freaking day. She couldn't imagine living without Libby or Alice, she would even miss Kimmie.

"Oh my god, I'm so, so, so sorry...and I shouldn't have asked...I mean...,"

"No, it's okay, my dear. You should know this, because after Jackson wakes up again, you'll be a part of this family."

Now April couldn't keep it together anymore, she started crying again, covering her face with her hands. She'll be a part of his family - if he wakes up at all...

April looked up to the ceiling, laying in her bed and just breathed in and out. It was hard for her to listen to the Avery's past and she had been constantly afraid that she'd crossed the line by asking about this day.

Her doorbell rang but she didn't get up, she was too exhausted and emotionally devastated to do anything. It rang five more times, but after it had stopped, her cell went off instead. April just wanted to be left alone, so she answered annoyed:

"What?"

"April, I know you're at home, so open your door!" Izzie replied with her free hand on her hip.

"I'm fine." April lied now sitting in her bed.

"You're a terrible liar, April Kepner. You're not okay, and if you're not going to open this door, I'm gonna kick through the door, just to make sure you're not doing something life-weary, okay? And don't forget I grew up on a trailer park in Chehalis!"

"I'll open the door, but just stop," April said and finally allowed Izzie access to her apartment.

Izzie put her basket and sleep belongings on the floor and checked April out.

"I decided to crash here with you until Jackson's getting better. You shouldn't be alone at this time, all right? And don't even try to chuck me out!"

April exhaled sharply and burst out into tears, again. Izzie hugged her tightly and caressed her back sympathetic.

"I baked my mother's favorite chocolate muffins. You should eat one."

April laughed slightly for the first time this day. She took Izzie's sleep belongings and said:

"You can bring the muffins to the living room, I'll bring your things to my bedroom."

Izzie nodded and laid the basket on the coffee table. April arrived there a few seconds later and looked interested on what Izzie had set up in her living room.

"So, I baked you muffins and took some comedy movies with me. I've got the old but gold movie Austin Powers and The Hangover with me. What do you think?"

April smiled slightly and sat down on the couch. She grabbed one of the muffins and bit it. Freaking delicious.

"Oh my god, those are the best chocolate muffins I've ever tasted."

"I know. You get easily obsessed with'em. Just be careful, later you end up as the fattest women alive and then we have to roll you into the hospital,"

April let out a small laugh and leaned back in the couch.

"Okay, before we watch the movie, I want to know what happened between you two. I never asked, but now it's definitely time for me," The blonde surgeon said and sat down next to April.

"You're sure this is a good idea? In my current condition? Really?" April asked in disbelief.

"Yup, I mean better out than in, right?"

"You're a horrible person."

"I know. It keeps me awake at night. But you have to tell me eventually, okay?"

"Yeah, Izzie, right. If he doesn't wake up, I'm probably never going to be able to talk about it, nor being the same person again. He changed me in so many occasions and...I can't imagine living without him...he...he changed me and I liked that. So no, I don't think I'm ready to talk about it now."

Izzie turned her head to the redhead and asked:

"Still wanna look the movie?"

April laughed and threw a pillow at her head saying:

"You're terrible, Isobel Rivera."

So, what do you think? Please leave a review so I know what I could do better :)
And, as you might noticed, I'm not good at keeping time lines, so for now, I'll be only updating on sundays :)