General Hospital Rewrite Part One

May 10th 2016

4:56 p.m.
Arthur was the last to arrive. Alexis had been there all day, like most days, and Lucas and Sam had stopped by just go hear what Julian had to say. He figured since Leo was too young to understand he didn't need to invite his younger son. Ava had joined in too, stopping by just lunch and keeping her brother company while Alexis had to run to the office.
Arthur took a spot right next to Julian, much to Lucas' jealousy. "So first you tell me we had another brother, what is it this time? You got another kid we don't know about?" Ava asks. Arthur grunts to warn her. "You're pushing boundaries but you aren't wrong Ava." he starts.
"It was the 4th of July, 1999. I was still using a fake name and identity but I had made some friends. One of them, his name was, sorry is, Charlie, invited me to his barbecue. Well Charlie had a very pretty friend. Her name was Jennifer and she was just as interested in me as I was with her. She thought I had just the most perfect face and body. Well it was the 4th of July and we all got pretty drunk, Jennifer and I ended up in Charlie's bathroom. Which was awkward cause it was the only one and there was a line.
We went back outside and had some more to drink. I really can't remember the rest of the night and Jenny never told me anything. Well I woke up that morning in her bed with probably the worst hangover I'd ever had. I got out of there as fast as possible but I didn't want to be rude and I liked her so I gave her number then bolted.
I hadn't really thought about her for a couple weeks by the time she called again. Now she was mad. I mean like livid. She was screaming and yelling that I get my irresponsible ass over to her house or she's gonna track me down and make me listen to her. I tried to calm her down but I ended up going to her house anyways. I figured something went missing and she thought I had it.
I got there and she was sobbing yelling at my for anything. Then she started making demands about how much I was gonna have to pay for child support. After the shock died down I calmed her down and asked if it was okay that I'd be allowed in our kid's life. She agreed and I moved closer so I could be there for her.
Things were going good. We were on great terms, the baby was healthy and it really seemed like nothing could go wrong. Until I got a call one day. About a month before her due date she called me in a panic screaming that she needed me at the hospital, that she was in labor.
I was freaked out. She was early enough so that she wouldn't have been at risk of being underdeveloped but just enough that I hadn't had enough time prepare me or her mentally. It was horrifying. I got there just in time to be with her every step of the way. Our baby was fine, strong and healthy. She was perfect, so beautiful and smiley.
When I held her for the first time I, I just," he pauses to take a deep breath, "I felt the same thing I did when I held Leo for the first time. We named her Jodie Jennifer Miller, she had her mother's name. Considering mine was fake I didn't object. Jo was the perfect baby, she hardly cried, she slept through the night, she was quiet and well behaved.
Her mother was Christian, not super over the top but she wanted to follow some traditions. So we had Jo baptised and that's where Arthur comes in. He's Jo's God father. He helped a lot with taking care of her and keeping me on the right track.
When she was about 10 months old we were trying to teach her to walk and she fell the first time but when her mom stood her back up she came straight to me. She fell again but I caught her." he zones out and stares at an empty spot on the floor. Alexis touches his shoulder. "Are you okay?" she asks. He gives his head a slight shake. "Yeah, it's just, this is the first time I've talked about her in a long time. Its just hard to reopen all these scars." he states. He takes another breath and closes his eyes, mentally preparing himself.
By the time he opens them again, Arthur's on the verge of tears. "April 29th, 2002, Jo was 2 but she was already talking and walking. I was bringing home dinner and when I got to the house, Jenny's car was in the driveway so I thought her and Jo were home. When I got inside it was... It was a- a-"
"A blood bath." Arthur cuts in. "There was blood everywhere, on the walls, the floors. Julian was in shock, he didn't think to call the police till after he'd ran through the house looking for them. Uh, after the police got there they did a more thorough search, they said the bodies were taken after it happened and whoever did it probably was gonna go back and clean it up but Julian got home too early.
They still don't know who did it or why. Julian's always blamed himself but he was in such deep cover it's impossible to have been his fault. He still blames himself." he explains. He turns back to Julian, who's trying hard not to break down. He scans the group, Sam and Lucas are holding hands and Ava's staring blankly at her brother. Alexis is holding Julian's hand close to her face, a tear streaming down one cheek. "I had no idea."
"Dad, I don't know what to say. I, I'm just so sorry." Lucas says. "It was a long time ago." Julian mumbles. "If you wanna talk I'm here. We're all here." Sam pipes up. "I need to go. I can't be here, Jules I don't know what I'm supposed to do but I can't be here for you. I love you.v Ava says, rushing out. The room goes silent for a few seconds. Lucas' pager goes off. "I'm sorry I gotta go. I'll be back later Dad I promise, love you all." he says.
Alexis let's go of Julian's hand and walks out. Sam takes it and wraps it in her's. "I'm here Dad, if you wanna talk or you just need someone. She was my sister and even if I didn't know her I still feel like I lost something. I am not gonna leave your side. I know what it's like to lose a child, and I know it's hard an-"
"Sam it was 14 years ago. She's just a memory to me now. I loved her and I still do but the grief was too much and I had to get over it. In not saying I got over her, Hell a part of me still wants to believe that maybe she's alive but I know, she's gone and no amount of mourning is gonna bring her back." he says. "I know that but if you need me I'm gonna be right here, by your side, annoying the Hell out of you." She promises.
"You would have been an amazing big sister." Arthur tells her. "Thank you." She says, touching his shoulder. He flinches and moved away. "Sorry." they both apologize. "Are you okay Julian?" Alexis asks after his long period of silence. "No, I don't think I am." he admits. "Is there anything we can do?" Sam asks.
"Just outlive me. Just don't let me go through that ever again. I lost my brother, then I lost my identity, then I lost my daughter and I came back to town where I got everything that I had lost and more back. I thought I lost Leo and I caved, the only reason I didn't kill myself was because I was always surrounded by someone who loved me." he tells them.
Alexis rests her head on his shoulder. "Do you wanna talk more?" she asks. Julian takes a breath and smiles. "I don't think I need to. I just want to be my family, or whoever's left." he says. Arthur starts coughing. "Sorry." he wheezes. He stops and goes back to sitting quietly.
"I wanna change the topic. Sam, how's Jason?" Julian asks. Arthur starts coughing again, this time harder. He puts his hand on his chest to steady himself but falls anyways. Alexis leaves Julian's side and leans down next to him. "Are you okay?" she asks frantically. "I'm alright. I just need a drink." he says unconvincingly. Alexis looks up at Julian. "I'm sorry Jules. I'm not used to hanging out in a hospital, I probably just caught something." he explains.
"Liar, what's wrong?" Julian asks. "Wrong Jerome brother's riding my back." he hisses before getting up and staggering out. "Arthie!" he calls after him. "I'll go talk to him." Alexis offers.
She follows him into the hallway. "Hey." she grabs his arm and stops him from going any further. "Tell Julian I'm fine and go back to him. You're his wife not mine, you hardly even know me." he snaps. "He's your friend and he's worried about you. Why is that such a bad thing?" she asks. "Because I don't deserve his care. I left him alone after his brother died and after Jo was killed. I cant let him be there for me when I was never there for him." he explains. "Arthur." she calls after him as he leaves.

6:27 p.m.
Arthur walks into the Metro-Court lobby and over to the front desk. "Excuse me." he says to the woman behind the counter. Olivia turns around. "Hey, I didn't know you work here." he says. "Actually I co own the place." She tells him. "I didn't know that either. So I'm gonna be staying in town a while and the crappy little motel room I'm in now isn't enough so I was looking to upgrade and Julian mentioned something about this place. I can see why, not only is it beautiful but he's friends with the owner. Sorry co owner." he says cheerfully, having recovered from earlier.
"Well what kind of room would you prefer?" she asks. "One with a bed and a bathroom. A window would be nice too but I can go without." he says. "Oh and one that's warm. I get sick when it's cold." he adds. "That's easy. Come on, I got the perfect area in mind." She says, taking his hand and leading him to the elevator. "There's this doctor staying and he likes to keep his room hot for his lizard. All the rooms around his are hotter them we'd normally keep them and I think one of them will do just fine." She tells him.
They get off the elevator and walk down the hall a little before turning the corner and nearly running into a man. "Dr. Finn." Arthur greets. "Mr. Finch, it's good to see you again. Are you staying here too?" he asks. "Yeah actually I am." he tells him. "Well you two have a good day." he says walking away.
Olivia waits until he's too far to hear before turning back to Arthur. "He's an infectious disease doctor. Why do you know him?" she asks. "That's my business and I'd prefer you forgot you saw or heard anything." he says. "Are you sick?" she asks. He huffs and stops walking. "Its non of your concern. You hardly know me, and I know enough about you to know we could never be friends." he tells her. "Now I'm gonna be decent for Julian's sake but I know what you did to him, and I'm not as quick to forgive. You opened so many wounds and I can't turn a blind eye to it." he tells her.
"Forgiveness isn't what I'm after. I just want to make up for what I did." She tells him, handing him a key card and leaving. He lowers his head in shame, looking down at the key in his shaking hand. "Damn it." he mumbles.

7:02 p.m.
Arthur sits in his room. His stuff had just gotten up and he had started unpacking but quit halfway through and laid down. His body ached almost everywhere. He wanted to sleep but he couldn't force his eyes closed long enough to drift off. He held the picture of him, Julian, and Stevie, though he hadn't remembered when it was taken he'd always had it.
He recognized which was Stevie by the dog tags he wore around his neck. He'd completely forgotten what they said, after Stevie died Julian had taken them so Arthur hadn't seen them in a while. He rolled over and touched his hand to his chest.
He closed his eyes and tried to imagine Stevie's face, Julian's but younger and softer.

*Many years ago*
Arthur sat with his legs off the side of his bed. Arms wrapped around his torso and he melted into the embrace. "Hey you." he hums softly. Stevie kisses the back of his neck and puts his legs over Arthur's. "Don't go work today. Stay home with me." he pleads. "You know how much I'd love that. But you know how much I need the money." he reminds him.
"We can mooch for Jules for a while. Come on baby, spend the day in bed with me." he begs. "I know you want to." he adds. Arthur twists around and pushes him onto the bed. "I can be a little late, but only a little. One round." he tells him, kissing him. "And try to keep the screaming to a minimum, we don't want the neighbors all knowing." he warns. "Someday, it'll be okay for two guys to be together and when that day comes I'm gonna be so loud the whole block will know." he promises.
"Good to know." Arthur teases.