Doing The Dance (Jackson Avery Fanfic)

twenty-five

2010

"Is leaving right now the greatest idea?" Jackson's voice came from the door of my room.

"Because staying is?" I shot back, not looking at him, and continued to pack my bag as carefully as I could. I had just had open-heart surgery and then nearly been shot by a mad gunman.

"Teddy should have kept you in another day"

"She already did, I have to get to LA"

"What's so important you have to get to LA so quickly? You just had-"

"Major open-heart surgery. I'm well aware Doctor Avery"

"Oh, so I'm back to Doctor Avery am I?" I finally turned to look at him.

"Jackson, I can't stay"

"I know, I know you need to go. But I'm saying stay for one more night." I looked up into his eyes. The brightest shade of turquoise shone out in comparison to his darker olive skin. And his eyes looked to be pleading into mine. I stopped packing and nodded.

"One more night. You're okay to be here?" He shook his head.

"Not really, we're all being evaluated before we're cleared to work. Behind those that were actually shot, I'm their next top concern. But I'm not here as a doctor right now" I cocked my head.

"Because of your relationship with Doctor Percy and Doctor Adamson?"

"Because I faced the gunman and put both my life and yours at risk" I chuckled, a movement that felt weird given the circumstances.

"Jackson, you saved my life, you didn't risk it. If anything I risked yours by needing constant post-op check-ups"

"But if I hadn't been there, he definitely wouldn't have shot you. He was only looking for surgeons" I laughed again.

"Yeah, but I didn't know that until you told me. And my smart mouth wouldn't have helped me either" Jackson finally flashed a smile himself.

"No, it wouldn't have."

"What happens now?" I asked. Jackson sighed and came and sat next to me on the bed.

"I don't know Tay. Charles and Reed's families have been told. Shepherd has Meredith, Hunt has Cristina and Karev has Lexie so they'll be okay. April's pretty shaken up" I cocked my head at him.

"Who's April?"

"Oh, I forgot you wouldn't know her. She was Mercy West as well but she was fired not long after the merger"

"Really?" Jackson nodded.

"Webber needed to make cuts and one busy night after a fire and heaps of people in the ER, one of her patients died and it ended up being her fault for not checking her airways. She finally got brought back because Derek's the chief now and he wanted her back. She watched him get shot"

"Oh hell, poor thing"

"No kidding" I could feel my lungs struggling for air, knowing that Jackson forcing me to stay an extra night wouldn't be the worst thing right about now. My flight to LA was in three days and I had already sold all my things in anticipation of leaving immediately after this surgery. Only a few suitcases of clothes were stored at a friend's house, just waiting for me to pick them up and go. At least another night in the hospital was a night's accommodation I didn't have to pay for before I went. Jackson frowned as my breath shallowed, him moving my bag from in between us.