First Day Back (Japril Imagine)
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Age Rating: 12+
Chapters: Four of Five
Fandom: Grey’s Anatomy
Ship: Jackson Avery x April Kepner
Trigger Warning: Elements of human trafficking
Human Trafficking Resources: https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en, https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/what-human-trafficking,
Canon Episode: Season 17 Episode 6
Summary: After getting Jada’s mom out of jail Jackson talks to Alex in the lounge about April, seeking his advice on his conflicting feelings toward April.
Words: 1070
May 2nd, 2020
“So, both girls are responding well to the oxygen.” Alex explains to Shanice and Jada who are being comforted by Sharon, “As long as the next X-rays are looking good, you can all be discharged tomorrow.”
Jackson enters the room with Jada’s mom, Joyce. Jada gasps at the surprise and hugs her mom in tears who immediately runs to her in joy. Jackson and Alex look on in triumph over this night ending better than how it started. They walk out of the room to give the families a moment to themselves.
“You did this?” Alex asks Jackson as they walk out, “You got her out?”
“Money did this.” Jackson explains while they walk down the hall, “It's the only language this country understands. I need a break, you?”
“Yeah.” Alex responds in exhaustion, and they enter a doctor’s lounge sanitizing their hands before Alex takes his mask off and slumps on the couch rubbing his eyes, “This case man.”
“Yeah, you’re telling me.” Jackson makes them both a cup of coffee, “Did you see that video on the news of 19? The cops arrested them when they tried to stop them from arresting Joyce. I guess we’re not the only ones who suffered because of that soul depraved abomination and the rest of his disgusting cohorts.”
Alex groans at that, “I hope that cop gets his badge taken away from him. I mean who the hell arrests a mother after her kidnapped daughter was rescued? And they say we should feel safe around them.”
“It’s a cruel irony.” Jackson hands Alex a cup that he takes before sipping his dark roast, “I just hope those girls are gonna be okay.”
“Me too.” Alex sips his cup, “How’s Kepner holding up? I gotta say I didn’t think she could ever scare me but tonight she did.”
“Yeah, she scared me too.” Jackson sits in a chair six feet away from his friend, “She’s in the pit right now, Hunt is busy with Satan so she’s helping out.”
“I couldn’t help but notice you hovering over her like you used to when you were together.” Jackson narrows at that observation causing Alex to chuckle lightly, “Dude we all have eyes and frankly you two don’t hide it well or at all. Also, I saw you staring at her while she was walking away, if it was anyone else I would report them for stalking.”
“Okay thanks for that buddy.” Jackson retorts with a sarcastic grin.
“So what’s going on there? I could use a distraction even if it’s your messy love life, spill it.”
Jackson sighs before standing up and closing the door to avoid being a nurse’s topic tomorrow.
He sits back in his chair rubbing his chin, “We kissed two weeks ago.”
Alex chuckles to himself, “I knew it, it was only a matter of time before you guys cave. You live together, you’re raising a kid and dating is not an option now. I called it before Amber did, I don’t care what she says.”
“Yeah, but the things is…” Jackson tries to find the words to explain, “My best friend was in quarantine along with a good friend of ours who is in the ICU.”
Alex nods solemnly at the reminder of Meredith, “April has been great during that time, she has. She let me cry on her shoulder, she told me everything was gonna be okay and I was grateful for that. If it wasn’t for her, I would have been a mess…and when she hugged me, I felt this need to kiss her. It was like I was back to when we were first married before everything fell apart. It was like we were together again.”
“But? I can see a but coming here.” Alex says knowing the up and down circuit of his friend’s relationship.
“But then she pulled back, and I remembered that we weren’t together. I remembered the pact we made when I asked April to move in and I was embarrassed. I was embarrassed that I would risk ruining the dynamic me and April were just starting to form again, and I apologized.”
Jackson sighs rubbing his head in turmoil, “I apologized, and she accepted and said she knew it was a reaction to everything that is going on right now and I tried to convince myself she was right. I tried to convince myself that I would feel differently once Amber and Meredith were better and I wouldn’t feel so sad and desperate for a distraction.”
Alex can see where this is headed before Jackson can elaborate further, “But you don’t feel different do you?”
“No, I don’t.” Jackson confirms with contention, “I still feel that pull that I did that night, and I don’t think it’s going away.”
“So don’t let it.” Alex states bluntly, “You love her, and she loves you just get back together and get it over with for all of our sakes.”
“I wish it was that simple.” Alex scoffs at that causing Jackson to explain, “Me and April it didn’t work before. We tried but we could never…we could never get our timing right, what makes this so different than five years ago?”
Alex sighs before leaning forward on his knees, “Look you and April were young when you got hitched. You two were never serious before then so of course the timing wasn’t right because you never really followed a normal path. But now you two are older, you’ve been with other people and went out in the world on your own paths until those paths crossed and you two started living together again.”
Jackson looks at his friend in thought as his advice starts to seep through, “I know there’s other stuff that got in the way of you two but maybe this time you two can do things differently and actually talk to each other instead of letting your problems ruin you. It took a long time for me and Jo to get to that stage and now we’re happy. I love her and she loves me and nothing in this world can tear us apart. The timing wasn’t right for you and April before but maybe this time it can be. The only question is, do you two want it to be?” Jackson looks on in thought at the question that he already knows the answer to.
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First Day Back (Japril Imagine)
Previous Part Here
Age Rating: 12+
Chapters: Three of Five
Fandom: Grey’s Anatomy
Ship: Jackson Avery x April Kepner
Trigger Warning: Elements of human trafficking
Human Trafficking Resources: https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en, https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/what-human-trafficking,
Canon Episode: Season 17 Episode 6
Summary: Jackson and April move the girls upstairs when they are told the man who kidnapped them is coming to the hospital. April comforts one of the girls when she blames herself for what happened.
Words: 2510
May 2nd, 2020
April helps Shanice get ready to transfer up to radiology while Jackson applies ointment on Jada’s burnt hand, “Radiology is ready for a chest x ray it shouldn't take long. Sharon you can come with us but you have to be outside the room while we do it.”
Sharon shakes her head, “I’m not leaving her alone. Never again.”
April nods seeing a reflection of herself if it was Harriet in this bed instead, “Okay we’re gonna fit you with a lead vest it will protect you from the radiation so you can be inside the room while Shanice is inside the MRI.” She looks to a nurse, “Get a vest ready for Sharon here please.”
Jackson explains to Jada, “We're gonna have to do the same for you, too. Let me just finish this hand first.”
Jada explains to Jackson, “I pushed on the vent thing to get out, but the fire made it really hot. Stupid.”
“No, no. It sounds smart.” Jackson tells her in comfort.
Sharon approaches them with her phone in hand, “This is Jada's father. Can they talk?”
“Of course. I'm almost done here.” Jackson bandages Jada’s hand and leaves her to talk to her father on the phone just when Owen enters the pit with an upset face and signals the three of them towards him. Alex, Jackson and April go to him.
“Hey, any word on Jada’s mom?” Alex asks Owen, “I can't believe they arrested her.”
“I can.” Jackson comments bitterly.
“Nothing yet, but we need to get them transferred upstairs.”
April looks at Hunt confused, “What? Why? They just started to calm down.”
Owen sighs in anger and explains, “They're bringing the kidnapper here, and Montgomery said that he is belligerent.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” April asks her friend in disbelief.
Jackson is too angry to notice April cursing in the pit, “Absolutely not. We're not bringing him to this hospital.”
“I'm as against it as you are. But Seattle Pres has closed their doors, and he has to go somewhere.”
“Yeah hell.” April says in rage exhaling behind her mask, “Okay I’ll talk to Sharon tell her about the situation and come up with some excuse for the girls if they ask.”
“I’ll do it.” Jackson offers to April who scoffs.
“Jackson I am fine.”
“April you have done more than enough for them now it’s my turn.” Jackson explains calmly, “I’ll talk to Sharon and you help the girls while I do it, they’ve been through hell and they feel more comfortable around you than the male doctors. You know I’m right.”
April sighs knowing Jackson is telling her this from a good place as a father with a little girl, “Do it quickly before that bastard comes and traumatize these girls more.”
Jackson nods before leaving them to approach Sharon who is with Jada as she talks to her dad on the phone. He is upset to have to give her this news but knows somebody has to. He inhales before walking and standing a respectable distance away from her.
“Sharon?” She looks at Jackson, “Can we talk privately?”
Sharon nods and follows him out of Jada’s earshot, “What is it? Is it Shanice, did something show up?”
“No, not yet it’s not about that, it’s…” Jackson sighs and continues, “We have to move you and the girls to a private room upstairs.”
“Why?”
He swallows the bile in his throat, “The paramedics are bringing the man who kidnapped Jada and Shanice here.” Sharon’s eyes widen in shock, “The other hospitals are closed, and we have to treat him I am so sorry.”
“Is this a joke? Some sick joke?”
Jackson shakes his head sharing in her frustration, “I wish it was but it’s not, we have to move them we won’t tell them the reason we’ll just say a room is the best place for patients with smoke inhalation. I wouldn’t do this if there was another option. If it was up to me, I would tell the paramedics to send him to a pauper’s grave to die and be forgotten about. I know it’s hard to look at the face of the person that ruined your life so believe when I say we will do everything we can to make sure these girls don’t go through that. I know you’ve been through hell today but please trust us on that.”
Sharon exhales in rage and looks up at Jackson, “…How long?”
“Their six minutes out.”
“Okay get them out of here quickly.” Sharon demands to Jackson who signals a nurse before heading to Jada.
“Okay Jada we’re gonna go upstairs, you and Shanice are gonna rest up in a private room.”
Jada is confused as a nurse preps the gurney, “Is something wrong?”
“No nothing’s wrong.” Jackson lies with great ability, “We just thought some quiet time is what you and your friend need after what happened. Get her up to the fifth floor and we’ll room her with Shanice. Sharon, you can follow them a nurse will get you ready so you can be in the room while we examine Shanice.”
“Thank you.” Sharon says to Avery before following them up to radiology. April looks at Alex in sadness that he shares as well but they keep calm so the girls can be as well.
Later
After getting them cleared at CT, Jackson went to Jada’s room to treat her leaving April to treat Shanice while Owen treats the sex trafficker downstairs. April tries not to think about the disgusting, barely human piece of trash that is being treated by their best trauma surgeon downstairs while his victims are suffering from his actions four floors above him. April checks Shanice’s vitals while her mother is outside calling her father.
“Okay your lungs sound good, the O2 is working so far.” April says with a grin putting the stethoscope away, “I think supplemental oxygen for the night is what you need and if the chest x ray is clear we’ll discharge you in the morning.”
Shanice looks worried, “What about Jada? Where is she?”
“She’s with Dr. Avery, her injuries were more severe but she’s okay.” April explains to Shanice who looks relieved, “She’s just getting her hand bandaged, but she should be better by the time you are.”
“Better?” Shanice asks bitterly, “I don’t even know what that word means anymore.” A code blue is called out causing an alarm that causes Shanice to jump in fear.
April’s heart breaks for the poor girl and tries to console her, “It’s okay it’s just an alarm no one is here to hurt you. I know you’re not gonna feel like it for a while but you’re safe here. We’re gonna fix you up and get Jada’s mom out, Dr. Avery is already doing that, and your mom is calling to get a hold of her for Jada. Just get some rest, a nurse will be here to monitor you, I’ll be back to check on you.” April is about to walk out the door when Shanice speaks up.
“I heard a couple of nurses say that there was a human trafficker coming here…to this hospital. Is that true?” Shanice asks in fear causing April to close her eyes at the gossiping nurses who upset this poor girl.
April wants to lie but she knows a girl as smart as Shanice will see right through it. She turns to face Shanice with remorse, “…Yes.”
Her breath hitches and she asks the red head in a broken voice, “It’s him, isn’t it?”
“…I’m so sorry Shanice. You need to know we wouldn’t let that monster anywhere near here unless we had to. He’s downstairs in handcuffs, there’s a security guard down there and up here. He is not going anywhere near you two we are making sure of that.” Shanice looks down at her intertwined hands in agony and April cautiously steps forward, “Are you okay?”
The teenager sniffles before looking at April with regret in her eyes, “…I was the one who suggested we sneak out. Jada wanted to meet up with some girl who wanted to teach us to become influencers, make a ton of money. She wanted to wait till the morning but…but he wanted to meet us at midnight. We snuck out, went to the place and…he grabbed us and put us in his van.”
April looks up at the ceiling silently praying to God to give Shanice and Jada the strength to overcome this.
Shanice doesn’t notice as she looks down at her hands close to tears, “I’m so stupid.”
April looks at Shanice in sympathy, not bearing to see this young girl beat herself up for a criminal’s actions. Seeing her like this has her thinking of Harriet at her grandma Catherine’s right now where she’s safe. It has her thinking she could easily be taken like Jada and Shanice. It makes her close the door behind her for privacy. She grabs a chair and sits by Shanice’s bed who is still looking down at her hands in sadness.
April clears her throat before beginning, “I’m not gonna pretend like I know the horror you and your friend experienced today. It’s something no human being should have to go through, much less a child like you. But I can tell you that none of this was your fault, that much I am 100 percent certain of and you should too. Now I’ve never been a black girl in this terrifying day and age, but I do have a black daughter.”
Shanice looks up at April with tears in her eyes, “My little Harriet is only 3 and I have been afraid for her since the moment I had her. My fear has only skyrocketed when I educated myself on the scary numbers of what black girls go through. I have been afraid of someone taking her from the streets and…it kills me a little, but I try to hang on to her as long and as tight as I can. But if God forbid, she goes through what you went through I wouldn’t want her to blame herself for it. I would want her to remind herself that she is brave and that she is a survivor, so I want you to do that. Whenever you feel like you could’ve done something different or blame yourself for this day just say to yourself, ‘none of it was my fault’ I want you to say it.”
Shanice sniffles and swallows before shakily speaking, “N…none of it was my fault.”
“Good, again.”
“None of it was my fault.” Shanice says with more conviction to April’s relief.
“None of it was your fault.” April repeats to the young girl who looks calmer now, “If you keep saying that every time a bad thought crosses your mind, you’ll start to believe it.” April gets a page from her phone causing her to stand up with regret, “I have to go, tell the nurse to page me if you need anything.”
Shanice nods gratefully at April, “Thank you.”
April leaves the room and is about to turn left when she notices Jackson waiting outside with a sympathetic expression. She sighs but walks down the hall with Jackson joining her.
“I heard what you said to Shanice.” Jackson tells her in admiration, “I think you really helped her understand none of this was her fault. She’ll be grateful to you for that.”
April nods with a sullen face, “I just said to her what I would have wanted a doctor to say to Harriet if…if it was her in that bed. God, can you imagine if it was-”
“I can’t.” Jackson interrupts in torment, “I really can’t otherwise I’m gonna move her to the moon if I do.”
“Me too.” April says also scared for their daughter, “This night is just…awful.”
“It is.” Jackson keeps walking by April’s side keeping a distance, “I saw the divorce papers on the table yesterday. Harriet opened the envelope, and I put the papers back in before you saw.”
Normally April would be embarrassed at this intrusion but having just worked on two trafficking victims she feels indifferent at this confession. It’s amazing how two hours can make your problems from earlier seem miniscule compared to children being sold to abusers.
“Well, I’ll forgive my daughter for violating government law and opening my private mail.” Jackson grins slightly at her amused tone, “Why are you bringing it up now?”
Jackson shrugs, “I figured you needed to get your mind off of this night, God knows I need a little distraction. Are you okay?”
“Um amazingly yeah. Treating two kidnapped victims really makes divorce a least important priority.” April confesses, “He sent them to me yesterday for me to sign and I’ve been meaning to it’s just…I’m busy.”
Jackson can tell this is an excuse by April and a stone forms in his stomach as he asks his next question that takes all effort from him to sound neutral, “Are you having second thoughts? You and Matthew I mean.”
“No.” Jackson feels relief at that quick response and lets April continue as they walk down the hall, “I mean I love him don’t get me wrong, a part of me always will but…but I’m not in love with him. He’s kind and generous and I told myself that when I married him but then a few months to a year later the pain in him was still there. He deserves to have someone he can look at and have that pain go away even if it’s just for a second. Instead of looking at me and remembering how I left him in the altar and treated his wife who died.”
“Karin’s death was not your fault.” Jackson tells her remembering that event and a few others led to her crisis of faith as well as her downward spiral.
“I know. But still it doesn’t help that I was right there when she died, and Matthew knew it.” They turn left, “He and I…we weren’t meant to be. It sucks and I wish I knew that before we got married but it is what it is, and I am accepting that. I am and I will sign the papers when I get a chance so that he can move on and find someone he can spend forever with.”
Jackson nods at that before adding, “And you too. You deserve that just as much as him.”
April feels her cheeks flame at that before clearing her throat, “I have to go Hunt is working on the Devil Incarnate with Shepherd and someone has to take over the pit.”
“Yeah, go I’ll update you on Jada and Shanice.” April thanks Jackson before walking away from him, not seeing Jackson watching her with what looks like love in his eyes. He shakes it off so he can go back to getting Jada’s mom out of jail so she can be with her daughter.
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