Hi all! Inspiration is striking as I binge watch old eps of Grey's on Netflix this weekend and I wanted to revisit this story. Thank you so much for sticking with me despite the infrequent updates. It's all I can promise at this point.

Thanks again and enjoy!

We Dodged a Bullet

Chapter 7

Jackson

Jackson sat heavily down in the cafeteria between Alex Karev and a hugely pregnant Meredith. Jackson was surprised she was still working. On the other side of Meredith was April and Owen and

Jackson dug into his lunch, famished. The hospital was in busy preparations for the massive storm that was brewing and the entire hospital staff was readying themselves for the flood of patients and chaos that usually accompanied massive disasters.

Jackson only frequently tuned in to conversations during lunch, but he couldn't help tune in when Meredith asked what April would be doing next once the ER closed down.

April chewed on her apple as she considered Meredith's question and it was then that Jackson knew she didn't have a plan. For April not to have a plan...that was unheard of. April was a planner, so Jackson empathized for his friend and wanted to help, but didn't know how to with the way things were between them.

"Well, what about Kevin?" Meredith asked, "What's his plan? Will he put in a transfer since he is board certified?"

April flushed and said, "I don't think he knows what going to happen either, even though he has mentioned going back to Ohio if that's where I end up."

Meredith raised her eyebrows as she took another bite of salad and said, "Wow, so it sounds serious."

April flushed an even deeper shade of red and mumbled something under her breath that Jackson couldn't hear. Jackson broke his study of April, not wanting to give away that he eavesdropped on the conversation.

Just as Meredith was forming her next question, Kevin Banks walked in and perched on the seat across from Meredith and April, grabbing her Apple and taking a bite out of it.

"Can we talk?" Kevin asked April.

"Now?" April asked, looking down at her half-eaten lunch and frowned.

"No, you should finish," Kevin said, "But I think I have good news."

April studied Kevin for a moment and then said, "I am ready now. I need good news."

Kevin smiled and said, "I have an idea for both of us."

April leaned forward and so did Jackson. Jackson wanted to know when Kevin and April started to think in terms of "us".

"Okay," April said in confusion, a small amused smile on her face. Kevin looked excited and there notably less tension in him than there had been for the past few days.

"I was researching trauma programs when it hit me," Kevin said, getting more and more excited as he spoke. Everyone was now listening with rapt attention that Jackson didn't feel awkward for eavesdropping.

"We should do Doctors Without Borders," Kevin said, "I have a colleague in Haiti that is helping with providing trauma care to displaced victims in Haiti and they are desperate for more hands. We can do it for however long we want to do it and you can even fly back for the boards and we can reassess what we want to do from there based on your results."

"Haiti?" April said, her face shocked.

"I know it seems crazy-" Kevin began.

"No, it doesn't," April said, a small smile beginning to form on her lips.

"There is just such need down there and it's a way we can both be together and doing what we love and making a huge impact," Kevin said, taking April's small smile and using it to fuel his pitch.

Jackson was feeling sick…Haiti? It was then Jackson realized April was really leaving.

"Haiti?" Alex said, "Don't participants in the programs there have to stay in the displaced tent camps?"

"Yeah, it's part of the program so there are medical professionals are on hand where the patients are," Kevin said.

"It's not as bad as it sounds," Owen chimed in, "And it really hones your trauma skills and makes you aware of the need around the world for medical care in developing countries."

"So you would be sharing a tent with Kepner?" Alex asked in amused disbelief, "What a nightmare."

Kevin, Owen and Karev broke off on what the actual experience would be like if they did go, but Jackson and Meredith were focused on April who was silently considering this.

"Are you really considering this?" Jackson asked around Meredith, who was also facing April, studying her.

April looked up at him and was quietly assessing him before answering him, "Yeah...I think I am. It's a wonderful opportunity and it would be rewarding work. I would be able to practice medicine."

"But it's in Haiti!" Jackson said desperately. He knew that April was a good hearted person, but he was worried that April was making this decision because she didn't have a plan and was desperate enough to jump on any plan that came her way.

"Just think about it before you do something crazy," Jackson implored her, wondering if he begged her to stay if it would make any difference.

"I rarely do things without thinking them through," April replied, annoyed.

Kevin turned back to April, focusing on her once more and said, "I can show you a couple websites and research I have done about what it would be like."

April nodded and said, "Yeah, I would like that."

Jackson watched as the two left and he realized what he was feeling was desperation and panic. To keep April here and safe. But also for him. He didn't know when April had become essential to him, but she was.

"She is just considering it Jackson," Meredith said kindly in a low voice, "We don't know what will happen."

Jackson stood with his half-eaten lunch, his head spinning.

"Thanks Mer," he murmured, "I have to go."

Just as he walked away thunder began rolling over the hospital, reverberating through the walls of the corridors.

April

April looked over the website and information that Kevin had found and read over the forwarded emails that Kevin's friend had sent him along with pictures of the site where they would be.

If April was honest, it was slightly terrifying the idea of flying halfway across the world and living in such challenging conditions. As she looked at the images of the camps and the faces of the people looking at the camera in interest, she tried to imagine herself there.

It was then that she realized...she could see herself there doing this work. And it excited her even though it terrified her.

April scrolled through the dozens of photos and with each one she became more and more confident that she could do this. April loved the idea of being of service to others and seeing the actual rewards of her work. Right now, people came into the ER and then left, but she noticed that wasn't the case in this tent camp.

Kevin's friend was smiling with large groups of smiling people in the photos. In fact, she never saw him unhappy or scared or even frustrated, despite the living conditions

April realized that could be her.

April leaned back in her chair with the big thoughts racing through her head, trying to calm them down. But they wouldn't.

April signed out of her email and thought about the logistics. She only had a few weeks left at the hospital and then...there was nothing. Her big plan was to go home and mope until the next boards and try to get hired on anywhere that would take her. Ideally somewhere near Kevin.

April couldn't help the smile that took over her face as she thought of him. The other night...it was incredible. Kevin had been sweet and gentle and it had been everything she had wanted it to be.

April looked down at her phone and picked it up, deciding to call her parents.

"Hi Mom," April said once her mom picked up. Her mom was always home during the summer since she was a teacher and April asked if her dad was around, she wanted to talk to them about something.

Her mom called out to her dad and she waited nervously before her dad came on the line with her mom.

"So you both know they cut the ER department here and I have been doing a lot of thinking about my next steps. And I think I have an idea about what I want to do and I want you to be open to it and consider it and then give me your opinion."

Her parents were wonderful, but they were protective and new things tended to freak them out. They had a lot of practice with April. She was the only daughter who moved out of Ohio and the only daughter that didn't settle down right out of college.

"I don't know if I like the sound of this," her dad grumbled.

"Keep an open mind!" April exclaimed with a smile on her face. Her parents were predictable.

"I am thinking about doing Doctors Without Borders for a few months and then coming back here to do my boards and decide if I want to start applying for a trauma position or if I will finish the year out with Doctors Without Borders."

Dead silence on the other end. She could only imagine the silent conversation that was going on between her parents on the other end of the line. Something along the lines of, Where does she get these ideas?

"Mom? Dad?"

Her mom cleared her throat and said, "Where is this you would be going?"

April closed her eyes and bit her lip before saying, "Haiti."

Her dad said, "Is that one of those countries with terrorists? The terrorists that kidnap people and cut their heads off on television?"

"No!" April exclaimed in exasperation, even though she wasn't 100% sure on that. "This is the place where they had that devastating earthquake kills hundreds of thousands of people and ruin entire cities and villages that forced people into camps as they rebuild. I would be providing medical care as they rebuild and rehome victims of the earthquake."

Her dad let out a big sigh and said, "That doesn't sound so bad as the beheading place, but I do worry about you over there sweetheart. What if something happens to you and we are on the other side of the world? You would be all alone."

"Well actually," April said, "I told you both I was seeing a fellow trauma resident. His name is Kevin. He would actually be coming with me because he also lost his spot here when they closed down and we are kind of in the same boat."

"I see," her mother said, "Well...I am not opposed to it, but I have to think it over."

"I am too," April said, relief surging through her. If her mom was willing to consider it, that meant her dad would too and the fact that they hadn't said no was huge, "It's just an idea Kevin and I are thinking about and I wanted to get your opinion. Let me know if you have any questions. I have a bunch of informaiton here that Kevin found for me."

Her parents said they would talk and let her know and told her to be safe with the storm brewing. She knew they had been watching the weather channel and had been calling to make sure she was being safe. They were amazing parents.

"Hey," Kevin said, coming in behind her and kissing below her ear causing her to smile, "What are your thoughts?"

"I am leaning more and more toward this," April said, handing him the research.

"Me too!" Kevin said, smiling down at her. April grabbed his chin gently and pulled him in for a kiss that caused butterflies in her stomach.

"Kepner, Banks, we have an incoming trauma fifteen minutes out. It's a school bus filled with kids and their parents, some with minor injuries, and they are looking for a safe place to wait out the storm."

April nodded and stood with Banks following behind her.

So I am writing like a madwoman this weekend, tackling some of my older stories too. Thanks for reading and for continuing to follow me!