General Hospital Rewrite Part One

November 21st 2016

6:59 a.m.
     "I'm gonna head down to bring Jo to school. I'll be back in a little while." Julian tells Alexis. "I wanna come say goodbye." She says, holding his hands so he can pull her up. "Should we really be letting her go back to school?" he asks. "We don't really have a choice. She's missed too much time and she wants to get back to her friends." Alexis says. "Is the trial really only gonna take two days?" he asks. "It should. Because Jameson was arrested on scene, prep began immediately. Everything is all set, now we just need to present to the jury."
     He rubs his face. "We gotta get moving if we don't want Jo to be late to her only day of school this week." he says. "I'll be down in a minute. My back hurts I just wanna stretch." She tells him. "Okay!" he smiles and kisses her.

     Jodie shovels the last of the cereal into her mouth. Julian comes down and grabs his coat. "You ready kiddo?" he asks. "As I'll ever be." She answers. He gives her a reassuring smile. Alexis comes down and gives a long goodbye before Jo gets into the car and doesn't speak the whole way to school. Julian stops the car in the drop off area. Jo turns to face him. "I love you Dad. I'm gonna be fine so stop your worrying. Remember, I have musical rehearsal later." She reminds him. "Noted. Either Alexis or Sam will pick you up." he tells her. "Don't worry, I'm never walking home again." She assures him. He kisses her forehead. "I love you too."

7:23 a.m.
     Julian walks back into the house and pulls his coat off. "You already drop Jo off?" Kristina asks him. "Yeah." he answers. "Oh, I would have like to say goodbye." She says. "Sorry, we didn't wanna wake you and we couldn't let Jo be late." he says. "It's alright. I'll talk to her later." She says. "About what?" Julian asks. "Nothing in particular. She's just great to have a conversation with." She says. "She's a good kid." he says. "She's awesome. Take care of her. She's got a light, don't let it go out." She says, kissing his cheek. "Mom's upstairs trying to get Leo out of bed. I'm heading off. First I have a class then I'm heading to Crimson for my first day as Dillon's assistant." She says.
     "You're not his assistant, you're an intern." he reminds her. "Yeah, assistant." She laughs. "Call me if you or Mom need anything." She says. "Same goes for us." he says. She grabs her bag and leaves. Alexis comes down a few moments later with Leo in her arms. "Leo there's your daddy." She says. He giggles and reaches so she puts him on the ground, he run towards Julian. "Hey little man." he beams. They move to the couch and sit with him, letting him stand. "I never asked, how was the funeral?" she asks. "Depressing. Tom had a son, and no one who loved him. Jodie was the only person who lost someone. No matter what everyone said. His partner was upset but not because Tom mattered to her. His son was bummed but, he didn't feel the way a son should. Poor Jodie had to grieve for everyone. She didn't have to but she did."
     "She's a good, kind girl." She says. "Do you remember the day you woke up?" she asks. "Not really. Bits and pieces but I was pretty out of it." he says. "You really were. You were hysterical. You asked me to protect Jo. I promised you I would. I'll keep that promise." She tells him. "I didn't even know I said that." he says. "You didn't have to. Even though I didn't know who she was, I still promised to protect her. I wasn't there for her today." She says. "Stop it. Jo knows why you weren't there." he says. "I still feel like I let her down."
     "She wouldn't have wanted you there. She knows you didn't like Tom. I mean, I didn't either but she needed a ride." he says. "And she's your daughter." She says. "Yes that's true. You're her mother as much as Jenny was." he says. "I'll never be her mother like that." She retorts. "You need to give yourself more credit." he says. "I give myself plenty." She says. "Leo, give Mama a kiss." he tells his son. Leo presses his face to Alexis' cheek. She smiles at her husband. "How would like to go take a walk in the park?" Julian asks her. "Hmm, a little later. Its still too cold."
     He smiles, rubs Leo's head and kisses Alexis.

     Jodie opens her locker and pulls her hoodie out. She hadn't seen it in more than a week. Jo puts it to her face and breaths in. "Hey Princess." Cassy greets. "Good to have you back. I had no one to walk to class with." She says. "Glad that's why I was missed." She says, seeing the joke. Alex walks up behind Jo and puts his hands on her shoulders. "Hey baby, good to have you back." he says. "You wouldn't have missed me as much if you'd visited me." She says, closing her locker and walking off with Cassy.