Jackson readjusted his tie and suit jacket, smoothing down the expensive tailored shirt beneath. He had few expectations for the night, but having a quickie in the back of his SUV certainly wasn't one of them. Stephanie was turning out to be an alright date after all. She didn't talk too much, was clearly infatuated with him, had a nice body, and just insisted on giving him a pretty decent post-coital blow job. After the past few months of back-and-forth with his best friend-turned lover-now ex best friend and ex lover, a fun uncomplicated relationship was just what he needed to get back on track.

He was not the type of guy that moped around over a female. He was Jackson Avery. He had women throwing themselves at him day after day and somehow he'd managed to let his innocent best friend get under his skin and basically turn him into a junior high girl. She was relieved she wasn't having his baby, she thanked her God that she didn't have to marry him, and then basically served him Stephanie Edwards on a silver platter. Clearly, she did not feel the same way he felt, and he was over the one-sided relationship they'd been having. He was moving on, for good.

He glanced over to the ladies room where his date had disappeared to clean herself up when someone jabbed his side.

"Hey man, you seen Kepner?"

Karev. Jackson ignored the urge to roll his eyes. No, he hadn't seen Kepner. No, he doesn't know where she is. And quite frankly, he doesn't care. He's over it.

"Nope."

"Hmm." Karev glanced around the dance hall, clearly searching for her. Jackson hated to admit he was curious. Alex and April weren't exactly best friends and usually he went out of his way to avoid her, not seek her out.

"Why?"

Alex shrugged. "Ah, she just looked pretty upset a few minutes ago. Just wanted to check if she was alright."

Ok, that annoyed Jackson. "Since when do you care about April's wellbeing?"

Alex scoffed. "Hey man.. forget I asked. Enjoy your intern." He rolled his eyes as Stephanie walked up to them and left, Jackson staring after him. He had to admit, the fact that April was upset over something did not sit well with him. It made his stomach tighten in an uncomfortable way that he hated. He hated that she affected him so much.

"What was that all about?"

Jackson turned back to Stephanie and gave her his charming mega-watt Avery smile. "Who cares. Let's get out of here?"

The intern, clearly excited, nodded her head.

ooo

"Pour me another one, Joe!"

Joe looked at the red-head, conflicted on whether to serve her another shot. She'd been there less than an hour and had already downed 6 shots of Jose Cuervo. His thoughts were interrupted by the clinking of the shot glass on the bar top.

"Jooooooooooeeee... another one..."

"April, I'm not sure that's such a great idea. Why don't I get you a glass of water and call Jackson to come pick you up?"

April felt like she was doused with a cold bucket of ice water at the sound of his name. Tears immediately pooled her eyes as she willed them not to fall. She was still in shock. She was disgusted, with him and with herself. She was embarrassed, humiliated, and devastated. She hated him at this very moment, more than she'd ever hated anyone, and wished she never had to see him again.

"NO. Do not fucking call him, Joe! I'd rather walk! You know what!? I'd rather die!" She didn't realize how loudly she had protested. "You know what, Joe? That's fine. Don't get me another shot, I'mma go play some pool with these fine fellas." She pointed to a group of sketchy looking bikers at the dart board. She hopped off her stool, and almost fell in the process. Giggles escaped her mouth as she found her balance. "Whoops. I got it, I got it.." she shoved Joe's helping hand away forcefully and zig-zagged over to the burly men.

Joe shook his head and looked over at her, not feeling at all comfortable about the situation she was putting herself in. Two of the bikers were already touching her and flirting with her, and in her intoxicated state, he wasn't sure what could happen. Clearly she didn't want Dr. Avery to come get her, but he had to call someone who could talk some sense into her.

The phone rang twice.

"Dr. Karev."

"Alex, hey it's Joe.."

"Joe, what's up man? Don't tell me I forgot to pay my tab last night?" He chuckled at his own joke.

"No, no. You're square. Listen, Dr. Kepner has been up here for a while and she's pretty intoxicated. She's more combative than I've ever seen her and now she's hanging out with a pretty rough crew. Do you think you could come get her?"

Alex furrowed his eyebrows. April was known to get tipsy from time to time but majorly intoxicated and combative was not her. "Give me ten minutes."

Joe hung up the phone and kept a close eye on April, who was currently bent over the pool table in a short dress, nearly showing her ass to the ogling men behind her. He shook his head and hoped Alex would get here sooner rather than later.

ooo

"Hey, man, where's Kepner?" Twice in two nights Alex was asking about April's whereabouts. Must be the full moon, he thought. Joe's had picked up quite a bit and unfortunately, he had lost tabs on April. Both men surveyed the crowd, searching for any sign of her or her new biker friends.

"Shit, I'm sorry Alex. Got busy and lost her.."

Alex waved him off. "Ah, don't worry, I'm sure she's just puking her ass out in the bathroom. I'll find her. Thanks for the call, Joe."

Alex checked the ladies room with no luck. He surveyed all of the booths and tables, a quick once over at the pool tables, and again on the small dance floor with no sign of April. He didn't know why an uneasy feeling had settled in his gut. He suddenly felt like he had to find her, and find her fast, before something bad happened to her.

ooo

"No.. no... stop it, please.." her protests were barely above a whisper as the alcohol had taken over her body. One man had her pressed against the brick wall of the back of Joe's, while the other stood nearby to keep an eye out.

"Oh, stop it baby. You know you want it. You've been prancing around all night practically shoving that tight little ass in my face." He reached down and pinched her rear end. She tried to reach behind herself and grab his hand, but her motor skills were completely lacking and before she knew it, he had both arms pinned above her head.

"Now, be a good girl and let Lionel have a piece of that sweet candy." He bent down and started licking her neck. April cringed and tried to free her arms with no avail. He started to pull up her dress, revealing her panties below. April started shaking her head viciously.

"Please stop!"

The two men laughed as he continued his pursuit. He grabbed the band of her panties and started to pull them down before roughly turning her around, her face planted on the bricks. She could hear the faint sound of a belt buckle unbuckling and a zipper. She was shaking uncontrollably, begging him to stop.

"Shut up bitch and enjoy it."

This was it, she thought, her mind sobering enough to realize what was about to happen to her. This was all her fault. He was right, she had asked for it.

Suddenly, the man was gone, and her arms were free. She opened her eyes and spun around, only to see Alex on top of the biker, pummeling his face. The other guy was holding his groin area and groaning off to the side. April quickly pulled her panties up and her dress down, and wiped the tears from her face.

"Al..Alex?"

One last kick to the ribs, and Alex looked up at her.

"Let's go." He grabbed her hand and bent down to pick up her purse, and then hurriedly led her outside and to his truck. Once safely inside, he turned and looked at her.

"What the fuck, Kepner?"

ooo

Stephanie rolled off of Jackson and plopped down beside him on the bed, completely out of breath. "Wow. That was great."

Jackson gave her a half smile, his eyes still closed, and nodded. Great? Eh. Good, he guessed. Perhaps if his mind wasn't focused on trying not to think about another woman, he would've enjoyed it more. Nevertheless, he wasn't going to complain.

Stephanie propped herself up on her elbow with a cheeky smile on her face. She took the opportunity to survey Jackson's tidy bedroom, wondering how many women were there before her. "So, I guess I should go.." she was hoping he'd invite her to stay the night.

He nodded again. "Sure. See ya later."

Her smile quickly faded and she raised her eyebrows, surprised by the dismissal. "Fine. See you later."

ooo

She spent the whole ride home sobbing and apologizing for her behavior. She couldn't believe what almost happened to her, what almost happened to her of her own doing. Alex could barely comprehend two words between the the hiccups and the tears, but he'd be lying if he said he wasn't concerned. He'd never seen her behave like this, and had he been 2 minutes late, he would've walked out on an entirely different situation. The thought made his shudder deep down to his bones.

He pulled the truck into the driveway and parked it, but didn't make a move to get out. April's sobs had died down considerable, and now she sat in silence, occasionally wiping a fallen tear.

"Alright.. what's up Apes? What happened? Why would you do this to yourself?"

She finally looked up at him, her eyes full of.. pain? Embarrassment? Shame? He couldn't decide.

"I just wanted to forget."

He raised his brow, waiting for further explanation... "Forget what?"

"What I saw."

She just had to find him. She had been an idiot. This whole 'lets bring other dates to the wedding' was a terrible idea. She couldn't stop thinking about him, wishing he was holding her hand, and twirling her around the dance floor. Wishing they could leave together and go back to his place, or her place, and make love all night long. It felt terribly wrong to be apart like this. She had to tell him. She had to tell him her true feelings, that she was falling in love with him, that she wanted to be with him and only him.

"Hey, Callie! Have you seen Jackson anywhere?" April spotted Torres by the entrance.

She nodded. "Yeah I think I saw him headed to the parking lot." She pointed behind her in that direction.

Crap. She had to catch him before he left.

"Thanks!"

April took off faster than she had been before, searching for the familiar SUV parked among the sea of vehicles in the dark night. Finally she spotted it near the back of the parking lot, a smile brightening up her face. He hadn't left yet.

She picked up her pace and was nearly there when something stopped her. A sound. Coming from Jackson's car. She tentatively stepped closer, trying to peak inside. There was no one in the front seat or passenger seat, but she heard the sound again. She took a few more steps and that's when she saw them.

Both naked. Dark sweaty legs wrapped tightly around an equally dark and sweaty back. She could see him pump in and out of his date, the car slightly rocking with their movements. She heard the faint moans leaving Stephanie's mouth and that's when she covered her mouth, stopping a half gasp/half sob from escaping. She backed away, slowly, not able to take her eyes off of them. She watched as his hand trailed up her leg, raising it slightly, and then clutching her thigh. She watched as her hand trailed up his muscled back and grasped the back of his neck. Her back suddenly hit the car behind her and she finally turned and ran back inside.

"Oh.. damn." Alex sat there, looking at her sympathetically, not really knowing how to respond. "I thought the thing with you and Avery was over with?"

"Oh, it is. Believe me. More than over." The bitterness in her voice did not escape him. "I mean, really Alex? Two days? Two days ago he proposing marriage and raising a family and... and..." a new round of tears started to fall. "And once he finds out I'm not pregnant, he dumps me and then fucks the first available female? At a wedding that I am attending!?"

Alex remained quiet.

"Seeing them.. it hurt me more than I've ever been hurt in my life. He was the one person I trusted not to hurt me, and he did. He hurt me bad, Alex." Her bottom lip trembled and Alex couldn't help himself, he reached over and pulled her into an embrace, noting how wonderful she smelled.. like vanilla and strawberries and tequila and something else he couldn't put his finger on..

"It'll be alright Apes. Look, why don't we go inside, I'll get you some comfortable clothes to put on and we can watch a movie or something. Get your mind off everything." He rubbed her back soothingly.

April pulled back, slightly perplexed look on her face. "Alex.. why are you being so nice to me?"

He scoffed. "Don't mention it. Ever. Really, don't ever mention it." He smirked, letting her know he was kidding. "Come on, let's go."