Hello Everyone. I just wanted to thank those of you who have continued to follow this story although I have not been able to update as often as i would like to. Your support and your continued reviews really mean a lot to me and I thank you again for following this story. -sdwash27

Chapter Ten

"Hey Baby. How are you feeling?" Catherine asked leaning over her son and placing a tender kiss on his fore-head.

She'd flown in from Boston the moment she'd heard of Jackson's unfortunate accident. She was expecting to see a half-alive unresponsive waste of talent holding out for his demise. So when she saw her son's beautiful green eyes looking back at her, she was overcome with joy.

I'm fine Mom," he lied peering over her shoulder at the space that marked the doorway.

April was still on his mind despite his desire to get her out of his head. The need to see the perky red-head had taken full control over him, mind, body, and soul. The more he thought about it the angrier he grew.

"Well you sure don't look fine," the urologist observed with a raised eyebrow.

She turned to Alex who had remained seated next to Jackson's hospital bed and gave him a daring look.

"Now does my baby look ok to you?"

"Mrs. Avery Jackson's a big boy. If he says he's fine, then he's fine," Alex replied although avoiding direct eye contact with the opinionated older surgeon.

Catherine smiled at him innocently before ripping into him like a lone wolf would its prey. "

Now where do you get off? You've known my son three years and you think you know him better than I do. I am his mother. I birthed him, taught him how to be a man when his father was too busy being a boy. I raised him into the man that he is today Dr. Karev, and NOBODY knows this young man like I do."

Alex remained speechless, hoping to gather his thoughts so that he could respond. He knew better than to go against the more experienced surgeon but he had let his arrogance lead him in a direction he dare not go.

"What's the matter Dr. Karev? Catherine teased-her pupils dilated. "You mean to tell me you don't have a thing to say."

Alex glared at Jackson who by the looks of things was happily entertained. Damn it why did I say that, he thought to himself before his eyes drifted to Catherine's eager face.

"I was only saying."

"Yes," she intervened, her eyes growing larger as Alex struggled with the words to say.

"Well I… Um… Dude I'm sorry," he managed to mumble as he gathered his files and fled the hospital room.

"That boy is really going to have to grow a pair if he's ever going to be a surgeon worth talking about," Catherine confessed after she was sure Alex had gone.

"Mom cut the guy some slack. He's been through a lot in his lifetime. The fact that he's still standing after what he's had to endure is astounding."

Catherine let out a playful giggle.

"Ok I'll leave the boy alone. He can't be half bad if you can put up with him," she admitted while taking a seat next to her son.

"Now that we're alone, you want to tell me about this girl you're smitten with?"

"And why would I do that?" Jackson countered not feeling up to talking about the object of his affection.

He couldn't recall if he had told his mother of his engagement to April but he strongly doubted that he had. His mother was a meddler especially when it came to his relationships or lack thereof.

"Because I'm your mother, and besides if you're not serious enough about her that you'd want to tell your mom, then she's s definitely not the woman for my baby," she said pinching his cheeks as she'd always had.

"Mom," Jackson wined remembering all the times she had done that very same thing.

I'm sorry baby. You know how your mother gets sometimes. You're just so handsome," she smiled affectionately at her bright young son. She was so proud of him-of the man he had become and she wanted him to know that always.

"So are you ever going to talk about her," she asked again almost pleadingly. "I want to know her name, what she does for a living, and how you two first met."

"Have you seen Dr. Webber since you landed?" he asked purposely trying to change the subject.

The fair-skinned woman stared at him slyly while pursing her lips. She knew exactly the game he was playing but she surprisingly obliged.

"I saw Richard briefly on my way to your room. We have dinner plans later this evening."

"Great," Jackson said simply awaiting the moment when he would be left alone. He loved his mom, but boy did she drive him insane like no other.

Just then a woman appeared in the doorway. She was obviously a staff member, maybe an intern judging from the baby blue scrubs she was wearing. Jackson watched her momentarily as she reluctantly entered the room.

"Dr. Avery I'm here to check your vitals," she announced walking over to the other side of his bed.

Catherine looked at the girl knowingly.

"Hello Dr. Edwards; I'm surprised to see you here," she admitted while giving the girl a stern look.

She nodded while taking his blood pressure. "BP is 170 over 80," she solemnly stated while placing her stethoscope on his chest. "Heart rates a little elevated," she continued.

"Uh hmm," the older woman hummed with a nod.

Jackson noticed the awkward exchange between the two women. The young woman must have rubbed the urologist the wrong way.

"How do you two know each other?" he asked-his curiosity getting the best of him.

The girl didn't answer; instead she pretended to fumble with the medical equipment.

"I consulted on a case with her a time or two," Catherine answered for the both of them.

"I see. So Dr. Edwards have you worked here long?"

Stephanie shrugged her shoulders. "Not long I'm a first year intern," she answered unable to control the smile that had become of her face.

Jackson smiled back at her recalling to a time when he had been just an intern and was eager to learn. "So have you chosen a specialty?"

"Not yet, but I'm really digging Trauma. The excitement of the unknown, not knowing what situation is going to land on your operating table completely blows my mind," she replied forgetting that Catherine was in the room.

"Trauma, so you've worked with Dr. Kepner then."

Stephanie had been enjoying talking to Jackson until he mentioned April's name. She had thought she would have been able to entertain Jackson's memory loss, but hearing him talk about the other woman had proven to be too much for her.

"Yes I have," she said just above a whisper.

"You're lucky to have her as a resident. She ranked top of our class intern year."

Stephanie gathered her things as she prepared to leave. "I should go now," she announced.

Jackson nodded acknowledging her plan to leave. He couldn't put his finger on it, but there was something about that girl that intrigued him. It felt so easy to talk to her, almost as if he knew her somehow.

"Dr. Edwards can I see you out in the hall," Catherine asked following her out into the corridor.

She closed the door behind her quietly and gestured for the girl to follow her further down the hall. She did not want to chance Jackson overhearing their conversation.

"What in the hell was that?" Catherine questioned-her body taking a dominant stance. She was infuriated with the intern and she wanted her to know it.

"I needed to see him," Stephanie confided in the older surgeon. "I had to know if he was ok."

"You could have followed up with his doctors? You could have read his chart? Hell you could have sent one of your dopey friends to get you an update, if you were that desperate to know how he was."

Stephanie listened to her child's grandmother rant as if she had no right to see her baby's father. How dare she?

"You have strict orders not to go anywhere near his hospital room," Catherine hissed waiting for the girl to speak.

Stephanie had honestly had enough. Why should she be alienated just because he loved another? It wasn't fair.

"What did I ever do to you to piss you off this much? I am carrying your grandchild for God's sake. Do you really have that little respect for me?" Stephanie sneered clinging to her patient files.

Catherine's eyes softened momentarily as she pondered the idea of this incompetent woman holding all the cards. She couldn't help but wish her son had been wiser.

"You may be having my son's child, but you'll never have his heart hunny," she quickly shot back daring the younger woman to fight back. The malice behind her words was evident and she could tell that the girl couldn't handle her intent to kill her with the truth. She was really enjoying toying with the intern especially since she made it so easy.

Stephanie rolled her eyes fighting the urge to slap the elaborate surgeon from here to Boston. She pushed the notion from her thoughts although she desperately wanted to give this woman a piece of her mind. "I don't have to listen to this," she said rationally and then swiftly made her exit.

"Humph," Catherine screamed while turning back towards the direction of Jackson's room. "That girl doesn't know who she's messing with," Catherine said to herself. "She just doesn't know."

"Dr. Kepner shouldn't you be in OR two?" Chief Hunt inquired after spotting the fellow moping around in the attending's lounge. "You're scheduled to assist Dr. Grey with a Gastric exploratory surgery."

"I gave it to Webber. He's been wanting in on some action for weeks now."

The Chief grimaced.

"That doesn't matter. This was your surgery April and you haven't been in the OR in three days," he said sharply. "The boards are in two weeks. Have you been studying?"

April shook her head and revealed a small smile.

"I've read every single medical book there is."

She slowly nodded hoping she'd seem a little more convincing.

"Well I would hope that you've read your medical books. You can't afford to fail again," he reminded her, his words cutting through her layers of defense and pride.

She suddenly felt a small ping in her chest. She knew what he had really wanted to say. The hospital simply could not justify keeping a failure like herself on their payroll. If she didn't pass her boards this time then she knew she could kiss her career as a surgeon goodbye. She'd have to become a stay at home wife, or maybe a school teacher; she definitely had the organizational skills for it.

She sighed.

"I won't fail," she said determinedly.

This was her very last chance to change everyone's opinions of her. Yeah sure her friends and colleagues cared for her; they had all experienced so much together. They were each other's backbones, support system, and no matter where they went in their lives she knew she could always count on her Seattle Grace family. Despite their bond, when she failed the boards they all looked at her as if she was less the surgeon that they all were. She couldn't bear the idea of her failure playing out all over again.

The chief placed a strong hand on her shoulder hoping to offer some comfort to the troubled surgeon. She accepted his gesture covering his hand with her own. Silence nestled between them as they both took the moment to reflect on their current mood.

"It's been three days April," the Chief said concernedly.

Somehow she knew they were no longer talking about surgery anymore. She hadn't seen Jackson since he'd been awake. She knew she had agreed to Derrick's unusual request but she hadn't the nerve to go anywhere near Jackson or his insane Mom who had put a lot of pressure on her lately. She didn't dare go near his floor for fear that she would be seen.

"Chief I don't think I can do this," she confided in him.

Owen listened intently not knowing how to ease her conscience. She had agreed to follow Jackson's rendition of the truth despite her first mind to say no. However now she had not held up her end of the bargain. He could force her to give in to their demands and she would listen, but he just wasn't that type of person. She had to make her own decisions were he was concerned.

"That's alright. I want force you to do anything that you don't want to do, but you have to do something whatever that might be."

"He's been texting me. He wants to see me," she offered turning around to face the veteran surgeon. "He says he loves me."

"Do you love him?" He asked unintentionally. It was something that had crossed his mind but he had not planned on it ever leaving his lips. He stared at the red-head whose cheeks now wore a shade of rose; she was anxiously biting her finger nails and from the look on her face he didn't expect to get a straight answer from her. "I'm sorry April; you don't have to answer that."

She stared at the chief with yearning eyes giving thought to his previous question. Of course she loved Jackson; he had been the most important person in her life since Reed and Charles were murdered in the hospital shooting a few years back. Even before then she had always held a place in her heart for the fellow plastic surgeon but she had never expected him to reciprocate those feelings.

"Jackson and I are complicated," she answered after some time had elapsed. "I do care for him but I will not jeopardize my relationship with Matthew on a whim."

The chief nodded. "That's a reasonable answer Kepner."

"Thanks Chief," she answered back with a smile.

"So I will see you in OR 2 for surgery," he reminded the trauma surgeon. "Webber will understand."

"Yeah, Sure, I'll be there soon," she replied.

"Ok then. I'll see you there and don't worry about the boards. You're going to do brilliantly."

Right now April wasn't concerned with her boards. She had a wedding to plan, an angry fiancé to adhere to, and then there was Jackson. She had to see him. She couldn't believe she had let this much time-lapse without ever going to visit him since he'd been awake. She had to be the worst person alive. She would stop by his room after surgery she decided leaving the lounge and heading towards the OR.

After eight hours of total chaos in the operating room, April was completely exhausted when she left the OR. The patient she and Grey were scheduled to cut open had an unknown allergic reaction to the anesthetic given during surgery. They were able to subdue the patient and continue their work but the unknown allergy was only the first of many occurrences to arise. They were lucky enough to have bought the patient some time, but they did not find the source of the man's gastric complications. She decided to shower and change before heading to see Jackson, spotting the Chief on her way to the showers.

"How was surgery," he asked briefly leaning over the nurse's station in the East wing of the hospital.

"You don't want to know," she answered back stopping to chat with the older surgeon.

Owen continued to stifle through patient files unaware that April had stopped to talk to him. He looked up momentarily his eyes meeting hers expectantly. "Oh were you saying something," he asked.

"Oh just that the patient you stuck me with was allergic to the anesthetic given during surgery."

"Crap, did we have that on file somewhere. We can't afford another law suit against the hospital," he reacted nervously now giving Dr. Kepner his undivided attention.

She smiled at her mentor glad that she didn't have absolute bad news for him. "No we didn't have a record of it, so no law suit there. The patient is fine for now but unfortunately we weren't able to find the source of his pain," she explained. She could sense his relief as the wrinkles on his forehead smoothed themselves out.

"Well at least the patient's stable. We can reassess his symptoms tomorrow; maybe you'd like to lead the case?"

"Chief this is Grey's patient, I was only assisting her in surgery," she reminded the surgeon who appeared to be annoyed by her response.

What was his problem anyway? He was starting to be a little overbearing, maybe it was because her boards were quickly approaching and he wanted to make sure she was prepared for the occasion. Whatever it was she prayed he would take a step back because he was definitely starting to aggravate her.

"Chief Hunt I really have to go. It's been a long evening and I am in desperate need of a shower. I'll see you tomorrow," she replied exiting the east wing of the hospital on a mission to find the nearest locker room.

After showering she found the nearest elevator and rode it up to Jackson's floor. Her hair was still damp from showering and she could feel little drops of water precipitating down the rear of her neck. She hastily wiped her neck with the back of her hand then dried her hand on her jeans leaving a damp speck on the material. She anxiously watched the doors as she neared his floor, finding herself leaning against the rail in the back corner for support as the elevator came to a halt.

The doors opened and she quickly exited the elevator making an immediate sharp right landing her directly in front of Jackson's room. The door was propped open and it appeared that no one was visiting him at this hour. She could hear the TV roaring from inside; it sounded like he was watching an old episode of Bugs Bunny and Friends. He was such a kid at heart and the thought only made her want to snuggle up next to him and join him. She walked into his room and strategically lingered in the doorway hoping he would see her first.

"Hey, "she said softly.

Jackson was so captivated by the episode that he could barely hear her fragile voice over the sound of his television mistaking it for distant hospital chatter among the nurses assigned to his wing.

"Classic," he said following with a boisterous laugh.

The road runner had just tricked the coyote into standing foolishly on the marked x in the middle of the desert, resulting in a grand piano dropping from the sky only to land on the unsuspecting coyote's head. By the end of the segment the coyote was seeing stars and the road runner had escaped.

"Jackson, don't you see me standing here," April said once more this time with a little Humph in her voice. She had grown a little agitated after standing in the doorway for about a minute and a half.

He immediately acknowledged her voice, turning over in bed so that he could get a good look at the woman he had been in love with for the better part of his residency. My god she was beautiful, he thought to himself as he admired every inch of her figure. She was wearing a plain white sweater and a pair of fitted blue jeans and her hair was still wet and had already started to form deep waves all over her head. She looked absolutely irresistible and Jackson could not prevent his lower half from agreeing with him.

"Are you just going to stare at me all night?" she asked taking note of the way Jackson had looked at her. In the past she had never been able to tell when a guy was into her, but it was obvious that her best friend had it bad. If she was honest with herself then she could admit that she wanted him just as much as he wanted her.

"I'm sorry. I'm just surprised to see you. That's all."

April tentatively entered the room finding a seat right beside Jackson's bed. She assessed his previous injuries pleased that they had already begun to heal. He looked well. In fact he looked damn right desirable; it was amazing just how much three days of solitude and proper care had done for the plastic surgeon. Of course he still had a few scars and bruises but Jackson was and would always be a pretty boy as Karev would put it.

"You're healing just fine," she observed placing her finger on his cheekbone where a scar had once been.

"Thank you. I'm very gracious," he answered back taking her hand from his face and tucking it underneath his hand.

He felt her hand twinge as if her first thought had been to pull away but after a few seconds her hand nestled into his as it belonged. God he missed her and he couldn't describe how grateful he was that she was here now with him. He could admit that he had been furious with her for staying away for so long, but now that he had her here with him, any anger he harbored subsided.

"April can I ask you something without you getting all you on me? I really don't want to upset you but I've gone crazy without you these last couple of days and I want to know what took you so long to come around?"

April expected him to ask her this, but what she didn't expect was for him to be so cool about it. He was the guy who punched Karev after she had told him that he had taken advantage of her. He had also been the one that told her that if they couldn't be together then why even bother being friends. He could say some of the most hurtful things if he wanted to.

"I've been busy around the hospital lately. Believe it or not Chief Hunt has lodged so many hours on my behalf to help me prepare for my boards. It's approaching quickly and honestly I'm a lot more nervous about it this time around then I was the first time. Maybe that's a sign that I'm going to fail, "she went on to say aware that she had not given him the absolute truth.

"April you shouldn't worry about the boards. You're an excellent surgeon and doctor. You care about your patients and that's not a quality of care anyone can look over, he said reassuringly."

"Thank you Jackson," she said with a smile. He was being so great now; she didn't feel uncomfortable at the least.

"Ok, Now that we've gotten that out of the way why don't you come here so I can hold you?" he suggested moving over to make room for her petite frame. "I've missed you."

"I don't know if that's a good idea Jackson," April quickly countered now feeling the heat between them. She was engaged and her fiancé would not take kindly to her flirting with another man.

Jackson frowned.

"Why not, what's wrong with a man wanting to hold the woman that he loves?" Jackson questioned gazing at her with those gorgeous eyes.

"There's nothing wrong with that at all," she answered back shyly cowering her head in an attempt to avoid eye contact with the surgeon.

"Well if there is nothing wrong, then why isn't it a good idea for you to jump into bed with me?" he asked with a raised brow.

"Why Jackson, There are a number of reasons why I shouldn't JUMP into bed with you. For starters, she said with a soft giggle, I have revirginized myself and I will not succumb to your treachery. Secondly, you were just in a horrible accident and I don't think you or your body is ready for anything physical without rehabilitation first."

Jackson reached for her arm, grabbed hold of it, and quite easily lifted her up from her seat.

"I don't need rehabilitation Dr. Kepner. All I need is you," he admitted hoping that she would give in to his only demand. April was taken aback by the assertiveness in his voice as he spoke so tenderly to her. She didn't see any other way out, so she obliged settling into bed with him and lying comfortably against his side.

"Now was that so hard," Jackson whispered in her ear as he turned up the volume on the television and resumed watching Bugs Bunny and Friends.