Show: General Hospital

Title: Change is Good 2

Disclaimer: I own them all... really I do! Hmm... I guess it's also time to admit I'm a pathological liar.

A/N: Thanks for all the reviews for the previous chapter. Now, let's talk characters: What do you think of Julian? Good, bad, indifferent? What do you think? Drop me a line, and don't forget to let me know how you like the story so far.

X-X-X-X-X

CHAPTER SEVEN

Quartermaine Estate, Port Charles, New York

"Grandmother looks tired," Jason said softly.

Monica grimaced and looked away. "She's been especially so in the past weeks."

The two were strolling together in Lila's rose garden after their late lunch. Reginald had taken Lila upstairs to rest, most likely 'til just before dinner. The Quartermaine house was more quiet these days - Edward had surprised everyone by dying before Lila, who'd never been the same since his death; Tracy, not long after A.J. had run off with the family fortune, had disappeared again to parts unknown; Dillon had seemed happier after she left and had started to take music more seriously, so much so that when it was time to graduate and go off to college, he'd been awarded and accepted a place at Julliard, where he was studying to become a composer; Ned had moved to New York City to be closer to Brook-Lyn and to keep a closer eye on his little brother, to whom he'd grown closer to since their mother's latest abandonment; Emily had moved to London; Justus worked for the Mob; it was doubtful whether they would ever see A.J. again, not that anyone seemed to care which was a bit shameful; Jason hadn't lived there in twelve years, and Alan and Monica worked so hard at GH that they were hardly home anymore - and Lila was lonely.

"Is something wrong? She didn't look so tired at Joanna's birthday party."

"Well, she had something to cheer her up. The house is an empty nest," she said, pausing to look up at the elegant structure of the mansion, "she's just lonely. She misses your grandfather terribly, though why I'll never understand." Monica smiled wanly, "Love is blind, I guess."

Jason smiled softly. "What about you, Monica? You look tired, too, and I know it's not just because you've been working so hard."

"I guess we're all a little bit lonely," she replied softly.

"Are you and Alan having problems?"

"No... it's not my marriage. Not really. I mean, I'm feeling the empty-nest blues, too. Without Dillon there to yell at for breaking curfew or Edward to gang up on," she sighed, "well... it's like we've got nothing to talk about anymore besides... work."

"Have you told him about the baby?"

"No," Monica shook her head. "I haven't even told Lila. Do you want me to tell him?"

"I dunno," Jason shrugged. Though he would never come out and actually say it, Jason felt that one of the strains on her marriage was her rebuilt relationship with him. He'd been getting flashes of his life as Jason Quartermaine over the years, enough to be wary of Alan Quartermaine. The boy he had been hadn't trusted his father entirely, so it was no surprise that Jason Morgan wouldn't either. At the beginning of the rekindling of their relationship, Monica had tried to include Alan but Jason had been steadfast in his refusal. It wasn't hard to imagine that this hurt his father.

"You could tell him yourself," Monica encouraged hopefully.

No, Jason shook his head.

"Ok," Monica conceded.

"I'm sorry if this is causing trouble between you and him."

"He understands, Jason."

Jason's blue eyes were piercing in inquiry. "Does he really?"

"He cares about you. He understands how you feel -"

"He couldn't possibly understand how I feel, Monica," Jason interrupted, his voice threaded with steel.

"He wants to try. He can't change anything if you don't give him a chance."

"Jason Quartermaine didn't trust Alan, so why should I?" he blurted in admission.

Monica's eyes widened in shock and she looked as though she'd been slapped. "What?" her inquiry was barely above a whisper.

"Jesus," Jason roughly scrubbed his face in frustration. "I'm sorry, Monica," he said softly, gently taking hold of her shoulder.

"No," she shrugged her son's grip off. "What are you talking about? Tell me, Jason!" she demanded when it appeared that he would not answer her.

He turned his back to her but replied quietly. "He was scared of him. He walked on eggshells around him. He didn't trust a word that came out of Alan's mouth because he never knew if it was a lie or the truth. He never allowed himself to even care because he always felt that he would be disappointed, that he would wake up and see that same deadness in his eyes, that he would become that monster again... that he would hurt you again... that he would snap. And he couldn't understand why you didn't feel the same. Why everyone in that damned house seemed to continuously sweep any problems under the rug. That's why I want nothing to do with him."

Monica's bottom lip wobbled. "I loved him... it was because of my love that I didn't abandon him when my mind was screaming at me to. He's changed. Haven't we all?"

Jason shook his head vigorously, his mind assaulted with a fresh crop of images - Monica covered in bruises, the despair in A.J.'s eyes, just one of many things that had contributed to his brother's drinking problem, the distrust he'd harboured inside for so long. "I haven't changed that much."

X-X-X-X-X

PH2

Francis opened the door for them just as Elizabeth cleared the final step into the living room. Alexis and the two girls were giggling hysterically and Francis gave them all a good-natured wave as he closed the door behind them.

"Did you guys have a good time?" asked Elizabeth as both Joanna and Kristina hurried over to give her a hug.

"We had a great time, Mama!" Joey gushed.

"What did you guys do?"

"Everything!" Alexis explained dryly, setting her picnic paraphernalia by the door.

Liz looked up at the older woman. "You look exhausted!" she said with a giggle.

"Don't I know it!"

Kristina and Joey had lost interest by then and were bounding up the stairs by the time Alexis took off her shoes. "Hey, girls, aren't you two gonna tell me about your day?" asked Elizabeth.

"Later! We're gonna miss 'Sponge-Bob'!"

Alexis smiled as she made her way over to the couch and collapsed on it. Liz shook her head and looked down at her friend. "You look beat. Can I get you a drink?"

"And a beefy Swedish masseur if it's not too much trouble," Alexis joked, leaning her head back.

"Sorry, Sven's out on another job, but I can get you a Coke."

"I suppose," Alexis deadpanned.

Elizabeth chuckled all the way to the kitchen but, by the time she'd returned, Alexis looked a little better.

"Ah, caffeine!" Alexis took a long sip of the carbonated beverage. "Nectar of the gods!"

"You know, Lex, all that caffeine isn't good for you."

Alexis lifted a brow and looked at her. "You know, for a second there, you sounded just like Cameron. All you needed was the facial hair and a tweed sweater."

"Very funny."

The two women chatted for a while, Alexis regaling Elizabeth about their day in the park, before Alexis stood up. For Joey's big surprise, she'd taken them horseback riding, and her butt was doing all of its complaining now. "Listen, I gotta go. I have to be at the Grille for six."

"Whoa, hot date tonight?"

Inwardly, Alexis grinned. "I wish... Justus is buying me dinner. I think he's trying to pitch a partnership with me again."

"'Partnership'?" Elizabeth echoed dubiously, arching an eyebrow.

"Entirely businesslike." Alexis defended herself. "Seriously, so don't give me that look."

"Does Cameron know?"

Alexis pursed her lips. "No."

Elizabeth opened her mouth to speculate on why Alexis hadn't told him, but the look she leveled her make her think twice. "Okay," Liz conceded holding her hands up in acceptance.

"Krissy!" Alexis called up the stairs. "Mama's going now! Come give me a kiss!"

Both girls bounded down the stairs and Kristina hurriedly bestowed the requested kiss on her mother's cheek while Joanna gave her aunt a hug.

"Thanks Aunt 'Lexis," she said again.

"Anytime, kiddo. Bye, sweetheart," Alexis said to her daughter. "I'll pick you up in the morning."

As the girls bounded back upstairs to watch more television Liz turned to her friend again. "Thanks for today, Alexis," she said softly.

"Like I said, anytime." She hugged her friend. "See you tomorrow."

"Bye. And Alexis," Elizabeth called out as the other woman made to leave, "keep your wits about you and wear sensible shoes."

Alexis blushed at her comment. "It's a business dinner."

She shut the door, but Liz didn't have to arch that perfectly plucked eyebrow to remind her that that was how she'd gotten into so much trouble in the first place.

X-X-X-X-X

"I'm impressed." Zander set his carton of shrimp fried rice on his desk and leaned back in his leather chair.

Emily's smile was brilliant. "I do try," she said, with mock smugness in her tone.

The two had been sifting through the gallery's reports and projections as well as sorting a system for dealing with clients for most of the day, pausing barely for coffee and stopping merely for the Chinese that his assistant had delivered before she'd left for the day.

"No, seriously, Emily, you really helped us outta a jam, here."

"No problem," she replied, folding a set of printouts neatly. "You really ought to get a fulltime accountant," she advised.

Before he could stop himself, the words were out of his mouth. "You lookin' for a job?"

Emily's brown eyes snapped up to meet his. She hastily swallowed her mouthful of chicken lomein and asked, "You hiring?"

Zander paused, his dark eyes intent on hers. "We'll see."

X-X-X-X-X

Port Charles Grille

When he saw her standing at the entrance to the dining room with the seating host, he wished that she was there for an entirely different reason. She was wearing a navy-blue skirt suit with soft turquoise pinstripes that ended just below the knee and molded to her curves, and a turquoise camisole with lacy collar. Her legs looked dynamite in a pair of navy pumps.

He wished that this dinner was like old times, a cover for what was really going on - that after they'd gorged themselves on dinner they would tumble themselves into his bed and have each other for dessert.

He knew that would never happen again, at least if Alexis had her way. She'd promised that the last time they'd been together, which was over two years ago. And she'd kept her promise, much to his dismay, maintaining a cool professional relationship with him whilst she'd launched herself back into her romance with the good doctor with renewed vigour.

He had hated every single of the twenty-six months - one hundred and twelve weeks; seven hundred and eighty-four days; nine thousand, four hundred and eight hours; five hundred and sixty-four thousand, four hundred and eighty minutes; thirty-three million, three hundred and eighty-eight thousand, eight hundred seconds since she'd kissed him last... two years, two months of absolute gut-wrenching, soul-yearning torture.

And she hadn't a clue.

Pasting a friendly smile on his face, Justus stood up in greeting.

"Sorry, I'm late," Alexis spoke, allowing the waiter to pull out her chair and seat her.

She appeared harried and Justus was concerned as he replied, "That's okay," and took his seat across from her. He waited until the waiter took their order - Scotch on the rocks for him, rum for her - and left them alone with their menus and the wine list before revealing his concern.

"Are you alright?"

"Huh?" started Alexis, looking at him in surprise.

"You look a little harried. Kristina giving you hell?" he asked good-naturedly.

A shutter fell over Alexis's dark eyes and she found herself wondering if he'd noticed. If he had, he certainly didn't indicate, which, knowing him as she did, probably meant that he had noticed, and she debated how much to tell him of what had gone wrong with her evening between leaving Harbourview and arriving at the Grille for dinner with him. "I'm fine," she replied firmly, meeting his gaze across the table. "Just have a lot on my mind." There, she'd hinted that something was nagging - which was obvious - but she'd also made it clear in only the way another fiercely private person like Justus would understand that she was not prepared to talk about it.

He knew better than to fish.

Fortunately, the waiter reappeared saving them for the moment from having to make any awkward small talk. That came later, after they'd ordered their meal and the wine and Justus found himself limping through his first-course of sautéed mushrooms in conversation with a very inattentive Alexis who barely picked at her food.

After their dinner plates were cleared and they'd both declined desserts in favour of a coffee, Justus finally took the plunge. His gaze was observant as he spoke. "I could simply tell you why I invited you to dinner but, as a friend, I'm gonna go out on a limb here and ask you what's wrong."

Alexis took a deep sip of her fragrantly rich cafe mocha and took her time answering. When she did, her voice was flat. "Cameron and I broke up."

The Hallelujah Chorus broke out in his head.

X-X-X-X-X

Portland, Oregon

Across the country, it was a little before five in the evening in the fair city straddling the Willamette. Perhaps a bit early for drinks but somewhere in the world it had to be happy hour.

Carly parked her SUV in a side street and walked casually into O'Reilly's, a bar amongst many close to busy RiverPlace. After a brief inspection, she spotted Julian sitting in a high table in the corner with another man, who she supposed was the friend from Yale.

The man was doing great things, was basically what her doctor had told her.

She hoped he could do a great thing for her.

"Carly," Julian greeted with a smile, standing up. His friend stood as well as she made her way over to them. "Caroline Corinthos, this is Dr. Elliot Sinclair."

"Nice to meet you," Carly replied, taking the man's proffered hand. She wondered if he could feel the nervous tremour in her arm.

The knowing, yet friendly look in his dark brown eyes showed that he could.

Elliot Sinclair was not as handsome as his friend - very few men were - but there was such a kindness and air of competency about him that was strangely calming. On his feet, he was only an inch or two taller than Carly, stocky with a slight paunch around the middle and his dark hair was receding from his hairline. Yet, when he replied, his voice and friendly smile was like honey, immediately putting Carly at ease.

"The same, Mrs. Corinthos."

"Carly," she automatically corrected.

"Carly," he acknowledged. "Elliot."

"Splendid," Julian said. "Now we've got the hellos out of the way, I'm heading for the bar. Fancy a pint, Carly?"

"How about just one beer, huh, doc?"

"Elliot?"

"I'm fine," he held up his almost full bottle of Bud.

"Your Scots ancestors are rolling in their graves, Sinclair," Julian joked, scooping his two empty beer bottles up. "I'll be right back."

The two chuckled good-naturedly as they watched him weave his way to the bar.

"So, you're probably wondering why I chose to meet you here in a bar instead of the hospital," Elliot deduced, taking a shallow grimacing sip from the bottle.

"The thought has crossed my mind," Carly admitted, albeit warily.

"I've looked over your charts, Carly. Physically, you're a textbook candidate for the study. I simply wanted to get to know you a little better. A bit of a look into your psychological outlook."

"Isn't that a shrink's job?"

"Would you prefer a psychiatrist?"

"No, of course not... It's just, you gotta admit, doc, this is a little unorthodox."

"Well, Carly," he looked at Julian, waiting at the bar for their order, "in time, you'll find 'a little unorthodox' are the perfect words to describe me."

Carly laughed with him and finally allowed herself to relax. Elliot was very easy to talk to and she found his strange brand of self-effacing humour quite entertaining. When Julian returned with their drinks, it was easy to feel that this was more of a get together between friends, than an interview for what Carly would learn was a highly controversial cancer trial.

"How controversial is it?" Carly asked.

They'd put Elliot in a cab back to his hotel and now Julian was walking with her along the street rapidly filling with the after work crew, heading back to her car.

"Very. It's a combination of chemo and radiation therapy plus a special cocktail of drugs before you become part of a trial study for the vaccine Elliot and his colleagues are working on. Elliot'll give you more details when he examines you personally."

Carly paused. "You know how I feel about chemo, Julian."

"I know Carly, but for Christ sake, hear me out!"

"Why is it so controversial?"

Julian dragged a hand through his shaggy hair. "Everything's a trial, Carly. The drugs... the therapy... it's never been done before - at least not on this scale. The cons could by far outweigh the pros and you and whoever else is chosen for this study will be the people we learn those things from. Its critics believe it's far too big of a risk for so uncertain an outcome."

"And you... do you think it's too big of a risk?"

By this time, they'd made it back to her car. They paused beside it and Carly gazed at him intently.

"I told you about it in the first place knowing how you feel about chemotherapy. I have faith in Elliot... he believes in this project."

"That's not what I asked you, Julian."

"Somehow, I don't think you truly want to hear what I think because part of you is afraid."

"Hey, that's not fair," Carly hissed.

"Not fair, but true, eh, Carly?" He reached out and took hold of her arm. Carly promptly shrugged it off.

"I told her," Carly admitted softly, tugging the elastic holding her ponytail and tunneling her fingers through her hair. "I told Leticia about the cancer and she said the same thing - that I'm scared. But I'm dying, Julian, I have a fricking right to be scared!"

"Of course, Carly! No one ever said that you didn't!"

"Then quit making me feel that way for not jumping at the chance for regular chemo far less this project which would probably leave me like a goddamned vegetable at the end of it all!"

Julian took a deep breath. "Sometimes you have to take a risk, Carly... for your sons, for yourself..."

"It's alright for you to talk... for Elliot to talk. But I'm the one who has to take the drugs. I'm the one who has to 'take the risk'."

"I'm taking a risk too, Carly." He stepped into her personal space and forced her to look into his eyes. "I started to take the risk the moment you stopped being just my patient and started being my friend. I hope this works out as much as you do... when will you realise that you won't have to go through this alone?"

"How big of a risk is it?" she whispered again, her voice child-like.

"A big one. But we'll take it together."

X-X-X-X-X

"You're late. I was beginnin' to think you weren't gonna call."

Across the country in Portland, Leticia grimaced, as she stepped out on the patio with its riverside view. "I'm sorry, Mr. Corinthos. The boys had me worn out today."

Sonny chuckled, imagining just that. "How is everyone?" he asked softly.

They both knew he didn't just mean the boys.

"Fine," Leticia managed to choke out the lie. "Everyone's fine."

TBC...

A/N: Well?