Second Chance

Invisible String

It is raining hard in Seattle. Jackson is on his way to his place because he has been in a 14-hour surgery. He went straight to the bathroom.

*April Kepner sends a message*
His phone keeps buzzing

As he left the bathroom, wearing the towel around his waist. He checks his phone and opens April's message: "Jackson, we are on our way". Jackson frowned in confusion. Then suddenly there's a knock on the door. "coming" Jackson shouts.
Quickly wearing his jogger pants. His towel around his neck
He opens the door staring at April carrying Harriet. "Hi! What happened?" Jacksom asked. As he gets Harriet from April. "Come in," he added.
April walking inside Jackson's apartment. "I- uhm.. I figured you miss Harriet" April tries not to cry. "yeah! Of course. Did something happen to Harriet?" Jackson felt that there is something wrong with April "Where is Matthew?" Jackson asked. "no no, she's okay. She misses his Daddy. Uhm.. C-can Harriet stay here for awhile?" April replied.
April sat on the couch "Of course, I have surgery tomorrow, I will leave her at the Daycare."
Jackson put Harriet in her playpen.
"alright" April replied in a weak voice, "Thank you, Jackson" April added
Jackson sat beside April, facing her.
"how about you? Are you okay? Where's Matthew?" Jackson asked, concerned.
"I-I am not" April replied *cracking between her voice between her words*
"I am not okay, Jackson. My marriage is falling apart, We haven't spoken to each other since Ruby died" April confides. "What?! That's what half a year now, since" Jackson replied shocked.
"I don't know what to do," April revealed. "I don't want this to fail, I wanna fight for this" April cried, leaning on Jackson's shoulders. "I know you do" Jackson consoles, patting April's back. "You can stay here tonight, you have room." Jackson offered. "No, no..I just came to drop off Harriet" April declines. "Come on, It's raining, you should stay, it's safe and you are too upset to drive" Jackson insisted. "Okay, I think you're right. Thank you" April replied and gave Jackson a weak smile.

The next morning. April woke up, carried Harriet and went out of the guest room and saw Jackson unpacking coffees and sandwiches. "Hi! *sleepy voice* Are you up early?" April asked. "Yeah! I went out for a run. I thought you might want breakfast, so I bought it on the way" Jackson replied. "Oh! Thank you. Don't you have an early surgery today?" April asked. "yeah! The surgery got moved. I will stay here with you and Harriet" Jackson replied excitedly.
April gave a weak smile. "You didn't move it, though? Right?" April asked. "No,no." Jackson replied.
Jackson walked towards the couch where April and Harriet are seated and handed the coffee to April.
"how did you sleep?" Jackson asked.
"It's okay. The first decent sleep I had in a long time" April confesses. "What's going on April?" Jackson asked. April is hesitant to confide with Jackson.
"Hey, I am ... I'm your person, April." Jackson assured April. "It's just so messed up, Jackson. I was happy, we were happy. I didn't know what happened?" April confides.
Jackson looked at April intently.
"After the wedding, it was good you know. Honeymoon phase, I love him. We're happy. I know we were. But after Ruby's death, everything changed. He did not go to work for five months, We don't talk. I wanted to, but he keeps pushing me away. I thought he needed me, like you did with Samuel. Then, I thought maybe..maybe he needs space. I-I don't know what to do anymore" April continued.
April stood up and gathered the coffee cups.
"And I think he's cheating on me," April said, looking down. "WHAT?" Jackson said loudly. "are you sure?" Jackson added.

*flashback*

April went to Grey Sloan to pick up Harriet. She was walking towards the Daycare when Owen saw her.
O: Kepner!
A: Dr. Hunt!
They hugged each other
O: how are you? We missed you here. The E.R. is the same without you.
April smiled.
A: I missed it here too.
O: so you and Matthew didn't work out huh?
April was confused and about to ask Owen by what he meant by "didn't work out" when Owen's phone rang.
O: excuse me, Kepner! It's the baby.
April left stunned. Then Harriet was handed over to her.

*end of flashback*

"I had the feeling that he might be, because his wedding ring is always in his pocket. But I said to myself he'll never do that to me. But my suspicion just grew when I spoke to Owen" April continued. "Were you able to confirm to Hunt what he meant?" Jackson asked.

*flashback*

The second time Owen and April was in the Grey Sloan parking lot.
April was putting Harriet on the back seat when she saw Owen walking by.
A: Dr. Hunt! *april shouts*
O: Kepner! Here again.
A: Harriet needs to visit her doctor.
O: Why, what's the problem? Did Jackson know?
A: yeah, yeah! I just meant to ask you what do you mean by "Matthew and I didn't workout?"
Owen looked at April confused.
A: you know..the last time you saw me I am picking up Harriet from the Daycare and you said you missed me working here ..then, someone called you and you said to me the baby needs me
O: oh! Yeah! I saw Matthew with another girl. Actually I have been. Many times. Why? Are you not..?
A: No, no! Thank you.
April quickly went inside the car and drove off.
O: Kepner! Kepner! April!

*End of flashback*

"That's my confirmation. He's cheating on me. I never thought he could"
April looked at Jackson in misery. April is sobbing, Jackson stood up and hugged April. "everything will be fine" Jackson reassure April
April continued to cry
"Is there anything that I can do?" Jackson asked. "Is it okay for Harriet to stay here? I will just visit her. I .. I want to fix this with Matthew and I don't want Harriet there. I want her to be safe." April replied. "what do you mean, are you not safe?" Jackson asked with weariness in his voice.
April did not respond and just looked into Jackson's eyes. "do you want me there? I can ask my mom ..." Jackson suggested. "No, no! It doesn't look right if you are there. You are my ex-husband and I am trying to patch things up with my husband." April chuckles, wiping her tears. "I .. uh understand, That'll be weird huh?" Jackson replied playfully.
"So, what about you? How are you?" April changes the topic. "I have new research working on. Pretty busy in the hospital. That's why *picking up Harriet* I am so happy that this girl is right here with me." Jackson excitedly replied.
April looked at them with twinkle in her eyes. Asking Jackson an abrupt question
"Do you think it was the right decision?",
Jackson frowned in confusion "what do you mean?" , "us, getting divorced. Me, marrying immediately?" April clarifies.
"no, don't do that to yourself," Jackson shook his head. "I am thinking maybe this is God's punishment to me. I left Matthew on the altar, I left you when you need me the most ..." April looking afar. "hey, April, no! God is merciful, remember? This is just a consequence of our decisions." Jackson reassures April. "maybe you're right. *chuckles weakly* I forgot that you are a believer now. How was that going with you?" April replied teasingly. "I am years late, but I guess it is working for me pretty well. I work okay, I find more meaning in my life. Not just operating, you know." Jackson replied.
Jackson and April looked at each other with smiles on their faces. "that's good! I am glad you found God, Jackson." April weakley smiled. "Yeah! Me too." *still looking at April*

April walked towards Harriet, "I should probably go home, maybe Matthew's home." kissed Harriet. "Thank you for the four dollar coffee" April chuckled softly.
Jackson smiled at April, "You stay here with daddy, okay? Be a good girl, I will be back in no time. I am gonna miss you" April kissed Harriet again.

April gathers her things and walks toward the door. Jackson is behind her.
"April, I got you ..and Harriet." ,
"Thank you. Gonna visit tomorrow?" April asked. "sure, sure" Jackson replied.