General Hospital Rewrite Part One

May 9th 2016

12:17 p.m.
Julian started getting more irritable and annoyed. He'd been stuck in the same bed in the same room for more than a week. Everyone knew a change of scenery would do him good but with him still not strong enough to leave the ICU and too proud to be pushed around in a wheelchair there wasn't much left. Sam has stopped by with Danny so Julian and Alexis could spend time with their grandson.
Julian's side had started aching and he felt lightheaded but he didn't want to cause anymore problems. Jordon had come back that morning and warned him she wanted to nail him for the witnesses death. She had the lab results made a priority and no one could find any evidence of fowl play. Alexis believed that her husband had nothing to do with his death.
It killed Julian to lie to Alexis more than he already was. Alexis went to take a phone call leaving Julian alone with Sam and Danny. He loved his wife but he valued alone time with his daughter and grandson.
"So how are you and mom doing?" Sam asks him. "We're fine." he says vaguely. "I feel bad for getting hurt and scaring everyone so much." he admits after a little while. "Are you really still going on like that? No one is mad at you for getting hurt." she tells him. "Yeah but all the pain I've caused this last week. I thought your mother was gonna cry when I woke up. Poor Lucas was by almost every day, I just felt like a nuisance." he admits.
"Danny is grandpa being sick a bad thing?" Sam asks her son. Danny nods. He hands Julian a truck. "I don't want Grandpa sick. I want to play with him in the park." Danny says. "Are you mad at grandpa for being sick?" she adds. This time Danny shakes his head. "You said it wunt grandpa's fault." Danny says. "See, your grandson knows we aren't mad at you and he's just a kid." she says, nudging Julian's arm.
Alexis walks back in. "I have to go down to the station, I'll see you later honey." she says to neither of them in particular. "Bye Mom." Sam calls. "Love you." Julian says after Sam. "Shoot! I was bringing Danny to lunch with Jason." she tells him. "Go, I'm fine. I'll take a nap or something." he tells his daughter with a good bye kiss."
Julian picks up his phone and dials a number that isn't saved to his contacts. "Hey, can you stop by at my room. I really need to talk to you." he says leaving the message.
1:02 p.m.
Arthur knocks on Julian's door. He smiles at his friend. Julian can see how forced the smile is but he takes it anyways. "You called. I thought I should stop by." he says. "Thank you for not just deleting my message."
"We need to talk. I know you're probably pissed at me for not telling my family about Stevie or Jo but I didn't want them to go through the grief like I did. It was so hard to move on after Stevie died and when Jo did too I didn't think I'd make it. You know I turned to organized crime to distract myself and now that I'm finally out of the mob once and for all I didn't want the pain from Jo to come back." he explains.
"I get it. After Stevie died I was a mess too. I turned to sex and drinking to keep going. I cared about Jo too. She was special and I saw so much of your brother in her. It was like having a piece of him still with us." Arthur admits. "She was just like him wasn't she? I mean she had his laugh and gentleness." Julian comments. "She was my guiding light." he adds.
They take a while to silently recover from what was said. "So, are you seeing anyone?" Julian finally asks. "No I'm not. I was with this guy for a while but I realized I was just trying to replace Stevie." he tells him. "I get it man. You and him were like soulmates and I saw how hard his death hit you. And that's something cause I didn't truly believe in soulmates until I meet Alexis."
Arthur rubs Julian's shoulder. "I know this isn't what you want to hear but I look at you and see Stevie. Its stupid but it makes me feel like he isn't truly gone. You know last year when they legalized gay marriage my first thought was him. I would have asked him to marry me so fast we'd both be dizzy." he says.
"I would have planned the wedding before you even proposed." Julian claims. "You know, when my son came out to me I messed up and told him I think he might be confused. Its not what I meant it's just what came out. I was so afraid when he told me because I remembered all the times I had to get into bar fights because some guy went after Stevie. I could bare the thought of Lucas going through the same thing he went through. I mean Stevie was though. Born and raised. Lucas not so much. He didn't have to fight his way through life. He didn't have to deal with my father." Julian stresses.
"You're son's getting married right?" he asks, changing the subject. "Yeah, to a lab tech named Brad Cooper. Can you believe it? I mean I want Lucas to be happy but really, I'd take anyone over Brad. Turns out he's been married since before they meet. Like, why would you propose to someone when you're already married?" he questions. "That's not a situation I've ever been in."
"I really dislike Brad but somehow he makes Lucas happy so I guess I could hate him more. I mean I don't really know anyone else Lucas' age who's a gay male that's good enough for him." Julian adds. "Knowing you, no one will ever be good enough for your son in your eyes." Arthur teases. "Well there is this one nurse I think would be good for Lucas. You've probably seen him around. Young black guy. Real nice and sweet. His name's Felix. But I think he's with someone and well Lucas won't leave Brad. He loves him too much. Plus, Dad tells you to do something you do the opposite." he jokes.
Arthur smiles at Julian. "Don't give me that look, I love you man but you dated his uncle, you've got a few too many years on Lucas." Julian says. "Oh for Christ's sake I don't want to be with your kid. Julian I'm smiling because you are finally happy. You have three beautiful kids, you've got an amazing, loving wife. You're a grandfather for God's sake. You aren't the same sad man I left in a police station because he had given up on life."
"Well, I got back on my feet and I don't plan on giving up again. I mean have you seen my kids? They're some of the most perfect kids a man could ask for." he brags. "I know you got mad when I said this the other day, but Stevie would be proud of you." he says. "I know." Julian nods.
Alexis walks in halfways through Julian and Arthur hugging. She stops and stands silently in the doorway. Julian presses his face to Arthur's shoulder. "I miss my baby brother." he cries. "I miss him too." Arthur admits, hugging his friend tightly, afraid to let go. He just didn't want to lose him again.
They pull apart and touch foreheads. "What's wrong Arth, and don't lie to me. You aren't yourself, you seem smaller and weaker than last time. You're moving so slowly and carefully." he worries. "I'm just gettin' older." he assures him. "You're a God damned liar." Julian scoffs.
Alexis walks in, Julian looks up and sees her. "How long have you been there?" he asks, not with an angry tone like she expected but a kind, soft tone. "I walked in when you said you miss Stevie." she tells him, leaving out she saw the hug. She stares at her husband. He seemed weaker than normal, his eyes were soft and the emotional toll of the last few days was starting to show.
It killed her to see him this way, vulnerable and helpless. She sits next to him, letting his put his arm over her. She kept her eyes focused on Julian while he kept his on Arthur. The room becomes uncomfortably quiet.
To everyone's relief, Olivia walks in. There welcoming smiles turn to horrified stares as Olivia explains what's happening. "Is Leo safe?" Julian interrupts her. "Yes, yes, Leo's okay. He's fine, safe and sound at your house with Sam, Jason and Danny." she tells him. "Oh thank God. So start again, what's happening at the Metro-Court?" he asks. Olivia takes a few deep breaths, now being comforted by Alexis.
"There was a couple of guys. They came in and asked to speak to Carly, when I told them she was off they told me if she wasn't there in the next few minutes they'd kill everyone. One of them came with me when I called her but Jason managed to knock one out and take his gun. One of the guys got away but the other two were caught." she rushes.
"Did anyone get hurt?" Alexis asks. "I don't know, I was just trying to get Leo out of there." she tells them. "I am just so happy you're all okay. When you came in saying about an armed gang and I thought you were gonna tell me we lost our son. Again." he adds. "I don't know if I could survive loosing another kid." he admits.
Olivia looks down in shame. Julian tried to not mention it but everytime someone mentions Leo's fake death it makes her remember how much she hurt him. He has mostly forgiven her but there was still a lingering mistrust. Olivia works the courage to break the gaze. "I'm sorry I did that to you Julian. What I did was unforgivable an-"
"I wasn't talking about Leo." he states. "It's a long story and I can't explain now. Find a way to get Sam, Jason, Danny, and Leo here. I just want to make sure my kids and grandson are safe." he says. A gun shot rings through the hospital. "I shouldn't have come. I should have ran and hid somewhere." Olivia worries. Arthur touches her shoulder. "I'll keep you safe. Alexis, help Julian make himself look like he's in a coma. Olivia can you come help me make the rest of the room like no one's been here?" he orders, nicely.
Julian lays back so Alexis can put the mask on and adjust the blanket, making him look more dead than comatose. Olivia and Arthur hide cards and flowers in the drawers. Arthur helps Olivia hide behind the bed with him and Alexis. They wait there for a long time before anything happens.
Police sirens sound outside. Arthur puts his hand on Olivia's back. "It probably wasn't a gun but I don't want to take any risks." he tells them quietly. They wait for a while before they hear the sirens shut off and someone makes an announcement that it's safe.
Julian sits up and takes the mask off. He's shaking heavily and clings to Alexis when she stands up. She holds him back, letting him cry into her shoulder. His cries come out more like terrified sobs. She looks to Olivia and Arthur for help. Olivia just shrugs but Arthur walks over and puts a hand on his friend's back. "You're in a safe place." he tells him.
"Julian, what's wrong?" Alexis asks. He just keeps going with breathless sobs. "What do I do?" she asks Arthur. "Keep him as calm as possible, just make sure he knows he's safe. I'll go find someone." he promises, leaving Julian's side. Olivia stands back, not wanting to make him worse.
The walls began to close in on Julian. How breathing grew faster and more shallow. Cold panic took over his entire body. Alexis just rubbed his back and kept repeating he was safe. "Is there anything I can do?" Olivia offers. "I don't even know what I'm supposed to be doing?" she admits.
Arthur gets back with a doctor in almost no time. "We just heard the gun fire and this started." he explains. "He was shot wasn't he?" Dr. Madix asks. "Uh, yes yes he was." Alexis tells him. "He's having a ptsd related panic attack. Mr. Jerome I need you to take a deep breath. You're not in any danger here. You will be okay." he promises.
By the time Julian's breathing returns to normal he's already calmed down, for the most part. He lets go of Alexis but keeps his hand firmly in her's. "Julian, if it's okay I call you that, I want you to think about trauma therapy. You just had a panic attack and I do think it'll happen again. I can help you get past this and help you through whatever for of PTSD you may develop."
"I just freaked out it won't happen again. I'll be fine, thanks to my father I've been around this my whole life." he states. "It takes one event to set PTSD off." the doctor tells him. "I can help you Julian and I think you'll reconsider next time someone makes a loud noise." he says. "Yeah well, I've never been one for therapy." he scoffs. "Sure, bet you've probably never had a panic attack like this before."
Alexis follows him into the hall and talks to him for a while. Olivia sits next to Julian and holds his hand. "You really scared us." she tells him, looking back at Arthur. There's a hint of admiration in her eyes as she looks at him. Julian cant help but laugh. Olivia snaps her gaze back to him. "What about this is funny to you?" she asks.
"The fact you're barking up the wrong tree. Please, the last time I saw you look at someone like that was when you looked at me last New Year's Eve." he states. "I didn't mean it like that, it's just Arthur you're a very nice man." she stammers. Arthur smirks. "But I'm sorry I didn't mean to cross onto another woman's territory." she apologizes. Both men almost choke on laughter.
"I feel like you're laughing at me." she worries. "No woman's ever had a claim on me." Arthur states proudly. "He's gay, Olivia." Julian tells her. "Oh." she says softly. Arthur smiles at her. "You seem lovely Olivia and you are very beautiful. I'm sure you'll find a straight man who loves you very much." he says. She blushes heavily.
Alexis walks back in. "I don't want to be rude but I want to spend time alone with my hubby." she says. Olivia and Arthur say their goodbyes and leave. Alexis climbs onto his lap and holds his face. "I love you, and I don't care about your past. All I care about is your future. The one you're gonna build with me." she says. He tilts his head slightly to the right. "Can I ask what you and the doctor talked about?" he asks. "You, I was worried and he said this was actually a good thing. Something about the panic showing that you're in the mindset of a slow paced life. Our life, is much slower than before, without all that mob crap."
He puts his hands on her back and pulls her close. "I love you too. And I do love this new life, with you and our kids. All 5 of them." he laughs. Alexis lays down on top of Julian's stomach. She cuddles up to his neck. "You said you had somewhere to be at 2." Julian reminds her.
"It was a possible new client. Some rich guy who skipped on some taxes, he can find another lawyer. One who's not preoccupied with her injured husband. I have my priorities in order." she states. "Well, I have a beautiful wife, who I respect and love, and she just happens to be the most wonderful, and talented, and smart, and kind, and perfect woman." he says. "Oh you do now? Well would this wife be upset if she walked in and saw me with my hands all over you. Touching you and feeling you." she teases.
"She'd be very mad, but I'm assuming so would your husband. I bet he's a tough guy." he laughs. "Oh he is, and he's strong, and oh so sexy. But he's not around so if you don't tell I won't." she promises. Julian moves his hands farther down her back. "Well, my wife is pretty smart. I'm sure she'll find out, and I'll be in trouble for being... Naughty." he whispers. "Ooh, well I bet if she found out she may have to tighten your collar a-"
"Wait my what?" he interrupts. "Oh my god you don't know yet. Of course you don't I was waiting for the perfect time to surprise you. So you know how for our wedding the girls all got me something and it was sweet sentimental stuff? Well Diane showed up at the last minute and gave me a box with a dog collar, a leash, handcuffs, and a whip." she tells him nearly laughing.
"Oh dear God. Alright, conditions, you can put a collar on me, you can put the leash on me and you can handcuff me but no whip. I'm thinking we should burn that." he says. "Its not like a bullwhip. Its soft, you know as soft as a whip can be." she jokes. "I'm gonna regret this." he worries. "Oh, baby don't you want me tying you up and being in control?" she questions. "That's not what I said. Come here." he says, pulling her closer.
"Alexis Davis Jerome, I want to spend every minute of every day with you for the rest of my life. I want to grow old with you. I want to raise my son with you and I want us to be in our grandson's life together. We have the chance to give our family something they don't have, a couple that stays together. I know I've said this before but I want to say it again. I will never cheat, I will walk with you to the end of the earth and even if we can't have paradise, I'll make everywhere paradise for you." he vows. Alexis stares at him, confused.
"Why does it suddenly seem like you think you're gonna die?" she asks. "Well I don't plan on it but if being shot and driving my car off the side of the road taught me anything, it's that I'm not indestructible, and life can end at any second. I didn't want those things to go unsaid. I hope this doesn't ever happen but if I get a call one day saying you're hurt or worse and I know that I have things I didn't say, things you need to hear, I'll never forgive myself." he tells her sincerely.
"Which is also why I've been working up the courage to talk to the family about Jo."