General Hospital Rewrite Part One

May 5th 2016

3:47 p.m.
In the days since Dr. Monroe's news Julian had a few more scares. His heart rate would drop too low or too high or he'd stop breathing or start to burn up. Three days and a thousand things that could and did go wrong. Ava had finally gotten Avery back after convincing Sonny to let their daughter see her uncle. He'd said no at first but Ava called in Scott Baldwin, her attorney, and got him to review the terms of agreement. He was reluctant but when Ava threatened to press charges he gave Avery over. Ava had returned to the hospital with her baby.
Alexis was happy to see her soon to be adopted daughter. She assured Ava she and Julian would bring Avery to visit her in jail as often as possible. Alexis knew the pain of losing a daughter and knew it would be hard for Ava to go through with the custody change. She and Ava had gone and talked about it in Julian's room so if he was able to hear them then he could.
Lucas was back working around the ER and trauma, but still stopped in as often as possible. Jordon had come to see if Julian was awake to ask about him getting shot. Alexis sent her away but was warned to play nice. She started to fear more and more for her husband. He seemed so vulnerable in the state he was in.
Alexis sits in the chair next to Julian's bed. She holds his hand on both of her's. "Sometimes I really hate you. I don't know how you always manage this but Julian Jerome you have once again defied all odds. When you wake up and you will wake up, I'm gonna kick your ass then kiss everywhere else." she jokes. She waits to see if he has a reaction but the monitor keeps saying what is had been the last three days. She frowns, hoping that he would have heard her. "Please honey, wake up. Everyone is scared for you. Your kids want their father back. Leo was reaching towards your room. It's like he knew his daddy was there. And it isn't just Leo and your other kids it's Ava and Olivia too. Oh and me. In falling apart. I have super important court stuff but I'm spending all my time crying over my husband's bedside. And all because he just had to get back into the business. You just couldn't stay out. I mean I get why you did it but why did you lie to me? I would have accepted that you did it for your sister. God Jules, just be okay." she finishes.
She holds his hand to her cheek and closes her eyes. Tears roll down her cheeks, some roll over Julian's hand and the rest fall onto his bed. A slight tug makes her slowly open her eyes. "Don't cry. You're getting makeup on me." Julian mumbles. "Julian." Alexis cries. "Yeah." He whispers. "Its me." He adds. "Oh Julian. You're awake." she exclaims, holding his face. She kisses him for a long time before letting go and calling for help. Dr. Monroe comes running in.
"Something wrong?" he asks. "No he's awake!" she exclaims. Griffin doesn't look as happy as Alexis thought he would. "That's good. I'll send someone in to get you set up." He tells them. "Thanks." Julian croaks. Dr. Monroe flashes a hostile look at him before leaving. "Did you yell at him?" Julian asks weakly. "No, he's been so nice these last few days." she says. "Days?" he echos. "Oh honey you wouldn't know. Its May 5th." she tells him. "Oh my God. I've been out for a week." He says. "I gotta get out of here." He states, trying to sit up.
Blinding pain stops him from moving. "Ugh, what happened to me?" he asks. "You were shot. Then you ran your car off the road." she tells him. "I was what?" he exclaims. "No no no, I was having lunch with you then I went to meet Anna. I couldn't have been shot. Unless, unless Anna shot me. I got to the pier that's the last thing I remember." he says. A nurse walks in and interrupts their conversation. "I'm gonna have to ask you to leave." she says to Alexis. She reluctantly agrees and waits outside.
"Can you tell me when it hurt?" she asks, pressing his sides with her hands. "Now, ow ow." He complains. "Okay, that was fast. How's your breathing?" she asks. "I can breath fine. My throat is dry. Can I have some water?" he asks. She grabs a bottle from the counter and pours some into a cup. She holds it out for him. Julian reaches for it but lays back down after. "You wreaked your shoulder pretty badly." She comments. "Apparently. I have like, no idea what happened to me." he tells her.
"It's common for trauma victims to block out memories. I'm sure you'll remember soon enough and you'll get back to life as you know it with your beautiful son and new baby on the way." She tells him. "What?" he asks. "Your son Leo. Oh he's adorable. And the new baby your wife mentioned. She said 'Julian will be so happy to wake up and find out were gonna have another baby.'" she tells him. "I'm gonna be sick." he warns. He doesn't but still seems much paler after hearing that. "Normally someone who makes it back after staring death in the face who finds out he's gonna have another baby is happier. I'm assuming there's more to the story." She probes.
"I'm 57 years old. My wife is 52. I didn't even know it was possible. I mean, I don't know how to feel. My wife is having a baby. I just woke up from a coma and my son, with a woman who isn't my wife, is turning one in a few days. My other son is getting married and my daughter's husband came back from the dead. I'm gonna be put on trail for murder. I've been ruining my marriage because I'm a liar. My life is falling apart." he confesses.
"I don't know how to help you there. Only that you're feeling good now because of the pain meds but once you get used to them you'll feel much worse. So take it easy." She tells him. "I will. I need to see my wife." he tells her. She nods and leaves the room, letting Alexis slip in after her. "Hey. How's everything?" she asks. "Fine. Or at least on my side of things."
"I'm fine. What's this about?" she asks. "Oh nothing. Just wondering, when were you planning on telling me you're pregnant?" he asks. Alexis nearly spits out some water. "You must be pretty high. Julian I can't get pregnant. You know that. Why would you think that?" she asks. "The nurse told me she over heard you tell Ava I'll be happy to have another baby around." he tells her.
"That's something I have to explain. Ava asked you and I to take full custody over Avery. She's planning to take the fall for every crime Carlos tries to frame you for." She explains. "What? That's insane, she's nuts if she thinks I'll let her go through with it." he states. "You don't have another option. After you rejoined the mob for her and put your new life in danger she feels like she owes you. She does owe you and she owes me too. The both of you forgot one thing. Me. Now it sounds selfish but you completely forgot that by doing this you were hurting me too." She scolds.
"That is the only thing I thought about. I hated lying to you and I feared for our relationship. I knew what I was doing was messing things up and I want to fix everything I broke. I'm sorry Alexis." he apologizes. "Do me one small favor and get some rest. If you want I'll tell you everything you missed." She offers. "If I get to hear your voice then I'll listen to anything." he praises.

7:19 p.m.
Julian sits up straighter than before, though it's still painful. Lucas sits next to him. His head's started spinning. "Your burst of life is wearing off huh?" his son teases. "I feel awful." he says. "Alexis says she's not mad I was lying but I know she was. Now Ava is going to prison for me. I'm failing everyone I love. It probably would have been better if I stayed in that coma." he regrets. "Alexis was a mess. Ava too. I can't speak for Sam but I was falling apart for a little while too. We're all glad you're awake. I was worried that you wouldn't wake up." he admits.
"What, and miss your wedding. No way. I'm gonna be there and I'm gonna annoy you and your husband. I wasn't here for Sam's wedding and Leo is well not even a year old yet so I'm not thinking about his wedding. Listen, what I'm trying to say is that, being at your wedding, seeing your special day is one of the most important things in this world to me. I can't even show you just how much I truly love you. And I am so, so proud of you. I never taught I would have such a smart, loving, amazing son. And a doctor none the less." he praises.
"Thanks Dad. Just do me a favor and get out of the business. And this time stay out. I said this God know how many times, but I like having a dad. Don't mess this up for me." he jokes. "I won't." he promises.
"Remember last time we were like this? Only I was the one laying in the bed and you were the one sitting next to me telling me not to leave you." he reminisces. "I do remember that. I, I... Uh... I feel, feel l-light headed." he tells him. "Lay back. You're just getting over the first round of meds you were given after you woke up." he states. "I'm dizzy." he stammers. "What did I say? Just lay back and let me take care of it." he orders. "Okay doctor Jones."
He relaxes while Lucas goes over to the counter to get something. His chest starts to feel full. "Lucas." he forces out. "Calm down you're fine. You'll make it worse by panicking." he warns. "Can you breathe?" he asks. "Kinda." he rasps. "You're hearts going fast. I'm gonna call someone in okay. Lay tight." he tells him.
"Wait. I feel better." he says, a little easier than before. "Okay, it was probably just a false alarm." Lucas says. "Am I allowed to call it a night? I'm exhausted." he tells his son. "Course Dad. I'll tell the nurses so they don't make too much noise." he says. "Thank you so much Lucas. Love you kid." he tells Lucas. "Night dad."
Lucas shuts off the lights before leaving. Julian lays his head down and stares at the ceiling. "May 5th. I missed the 29th. I failed you again. I'm so sorry." he thinks. Exhaustion takes hold of him and he drifts off.