Oops (General Hospital)

Going Under

Later That Night

     "Well, Mr. Jerome, you've done some irreparable damage to your knee. The fracture that was causing the pain is now triple its original size. You've effectively crippled yourself." The doctor tells him, sitting on the stool near Julian's bed.
     Kim squeezes his hand. "What can you do to help him?" She asks.
     "Surgery, immediately. We were going to keep awake and just numb the area but this is too severe, we're going to have to put him under full anesthesia."
     Julian shakes his head. "No, I said I will not go under."
     "Mr. Jerome, it's really our only option if you don't wanna lose your ability to walk unassisted."
     "I can't believe you're being so selfish." Kim snaps. "I'm thirty one weeks pregnant with your child. So are four other women. You have six babies due in a few months. Don't you dare lose your ability to walk just because you're too scared to go under for a simple procedure. I didn't sign up to take care of ten people alone."
     "I don't want Sonny to kill me. Or have Jason do it for him. I've had a target on my back since I was born. If I'm defenseless, I'm an easy target. I don't wanna die."
     Kim's gaze softens. "I didn't think about that, I'm sorry. Dr. Wolfe, are you sure there's no other way?"
     "I'm positive. We've exhausted any other options."
     "Don't worry, I'll do it." Julian says, placing his hand on Kim's stomach. "For our family. Just promise me that if I die my kids will be siblings."
     "Good thing you're not going to die."

A Few Hours Later

     Kim rubs slow circles over her stomach, stopping the feel the light kicking at the side. "Oh, Charlie, are you getting ready to flip? Shouldn't be too much longer until you're here to meet Daddy and I. Take it easy in there with the kicking and squirming, Mommy's already not feeling great. I'm scared for Daddy. He was stupid and didn't have the surgery sooner. I know it was because he didn't want to leave Derek alone, but still, he scared your big brothers tonight.
     Poor Leo, he was so scared. I hope Lucas got him to bed. There's not much sleeping going on anymore, and it's only gonna get worse." She trials off when Dr. Wolfe walks up, pushing the air out of his mouth.
     "He's out and doing very well. There was a small problem, he did stop breathing. But he started up again on his own. We're gonna monitor him, but he should be fine. He was just waking up when I left him. Overall, he passed with flying colors. You can go see him now."
     Kim stands slowly, making her way to his room. She stands in the doorway, her hand under her stomach, smiling. "Hi, Baby. How are you feeling?"
     He gives her a smile she's never seen before. "High as fuck."
     She laughs and shakes her head, going over to his bed and laying next to him, placing her head on his chest. He wraps his arm around her and pulls her closer. "You're super hot."
     "And you really are high off your ass."
     "So high. Like, college high."
     "Okay, Baby. Get some sleep."

The Next Morning

     Leo runs into Julian's room and climbs onto the bed, landing on Julian's chest. "Daddy, I was really scared. But I told the nice old lady that you were hurt and she called the 911. I made sure Derek was safe. I held on real tight, but not too tight. He cried a whole lot, but I gave him his binky."
     "You're such a good big brother." Julian beams, ruffling his son's hair.
     Lucas walks in with Derek, asleep in his arms. Julian smiles and opens his arms. "Bring my boys over here."
     Oscar pokes his head in, leaning on the doorframe. Julian waves him over before he takes Derek. "You too, Oscar. You're one of my boys."
     Julian looks to Leo, lifting his son's chin. "I'm fine, Leo. I'm perfectly fine. I'm so sorry you had to see that last night. It's not gonna happen again." He promises.
     Leo wraps his arms around Julian's neck. "I love you, Daddy."
     "I love you too, baby boy."
     Drew appears in the doorway, Scout walking next to him. "Go get Grandpa." He says softly. She totters over, stopping so Lucas can pick her up and put her next to Julian.
     "Pop-pa."
     "Aw, did you hear that? She called me Pop-pa." Julian says, tears forming in his eyes. "Sorry, it's these pain meds. They have me getting sentimental and over the stupidest things."
     "What's sentimental about Pop-pa?" Oscar asks.
     "I used to call my father, 'Pop.'"
     "That's stupid to you? I think it's a nice sentiment." Oscar says, looking over to his father.
     "My father was off the rails insane. He was obsessed with a woman and ate a necklace. That's how he died. After faking my death to keep my sister from killing me. They were both nuts. When I was like five, Liv told me there was something shiny on the bottom of the koi pond. She held my head under until I passed out. Pop watched."
     Lucas starts laughing. "You're high right now."
     "No I'm not, we're only on the third floor."
     "Your pain meds are on a timer. You got them just before we came in, they would've just kicked in. You have no idea what's really going on." Lucas says, mostly telling everyone else. "Hey, Leo. I bet Dad really wants to hear some of the jokes from that joke book you have."
     "Okay! I love my joke book."

Later

     Kim sits on Julian's bed, leaning in and kissing him. "How are feeling?" She asks, looking down at Derek, still happily asleep in his dad's arms.
     "I'm in a lot of pain right. The meds wore off and I honestly feel like shit."
     "I can take Derek so you can sleep." She offers, rubbing his arm.
     "I need you to rest. I couldn't keep going if something happened to you or the baby."
     "I know my limits, Julian. Give Derek to me and take a nap." She half demands.
     He blinks a few times and does just that, passes Derek over and settles into the bed. Kim takes Derek over to the seats and sits with him, letting out a sigh of relief. "Sweet dreams, my love."
     "You're here, they're already sweet."

I wasn't really going hurt Julian. At least, not this particular time...

Next is Thanksgiving, and it's a big crowd. Big crowd = drama... Or does it? Maybe I'm going to be nice. XD