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I am in no way suggesting that everything I wrote here is what happened in real life during the taping of "Such Sweet Sorrow", this is just my idea on it.
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Julianna hated being alone. She didn't like coming home to an empty house, with no arms to hold her. That's the only reason she regretted having broken up with Ron. And..she thought sourly, it was the only reason she had stayed with him. So she wouldn't have to be alone.
She laid back on the couch, throwing her legs up onto the couch and crossing them. She stared at the ceiling, her mind wandering to another man in her life. Her best friend. George. God, she missed him. She hadn't seen him very often....not since he had left ER. He still called her regularly, to exchange their friendly banter, getting caught up with each other.
In a way, she was glad she was quitting ER. It wasn't the same without George there everyday. Besides, she knew she had played Carol to her fullest. She knew she was going to miss all of her friends. She loved that job, but she knew it was time to move on.
Julianna let out a sigh. She sat up, running her hands through her hair, restless. The phone rang. She reached over and picked up her cordless telephone from the coffee table.
"Hello?" She asks.
"I'd like a deep dish pepperoni pizza with extra cheese." A deep voice says. She smiles.
"Hi George." She replies. He chuckles.
"Hello. How are ya?" He asks.
"I'm fine, and you?" She asks.
"I'm good....great. Uh...so..have they told you how you're leaving ER yet?" George asks. Julianna smiles slightly.
"Uh, nope. They're supposed to let me know before Friday." Julianna says. It was Wednesday.
"Hmm...I got a call today..from...someone you might know...John Wells?" George says, his voice filled with delight.
"Why would John call you?" She asks.
"Oh..he just wanted to invite me back to the show for your last episode. Nothing big." George says.
"You've gotta be shittin' me!" Julianna says. George laughs. "What did you say?" She asks.
"Of course I said yes. I had to come whisk you off the show!" George says.
"Oh, that's great! I was really wishing I could just skip the last episode, because I didn't want to leave the show some stupid way I figured they were going to make me leave." Julianna says. He chuckles lightly.
"Wanna know more?" He asks.
"Yeah!" She says enthusiastically.
"Alright, well we're going to film the episode in Seattle or someplace. You're coming back to me, or whatever. John wouldn't go into major details. All he said was that he wanted me to call you because he figured you would want to hear it from me. But..we're not supposed to tell anyone. I'm not even allowed to tell my agent. John's not going to give the tape to NBC until the night before the show airs. So..you can't tell anyone that I'm coming back. It's supposed to be the biggest secret, like in TV history." George says, chuckling. She smiles.
"Oh, I can't wait to film it. Did he say when we're gonna do it?" She asks.
"He's supposed to get back to me on that. Well..get back to us, he said." George says.
"Wow...this is great. I'm glad I get to do my final episode with you. It just didn't seem right to have Carol leave without Doug." Julianna says. He chuckles.
"Oh! Right...John also told me to tell you..don't tell ANYONE at work. They're not supposed to know either. He said to me...don't tell your mother, your father, anyone in your family, your agent, your friends, etc. etc. He just went on and on. Then he told me to tell you all that too. So..we shouldn't talk to anyone about it, unless it's between the three of us. He's going to get like two camera men and take them with us when we go, and they don't even know yet. So...shhh..it's a secret." He says. She giggles.
"I'll keep it!" She says. He chuckles lightly.
************
"Boo." Someone whispered in Julianna's ear. She jumped and turned around.
"Jesus George! You scared me!" She says. He laughs and hugs her quickly.
"Sorry." He says. She laughs and punches his arm playfully.
"You always do that!" She says. He chuckles.
"I get a personal thrill out of it!" He says. She smiles and shakes her head.
"So....this will be our last scene ever, huh?" She asks. He chuckles and shrugs.
"Well...we can't really say that for sure, because I thought that my last episode was going to be the last one ever...and it's turning out not to be." George says, shrugging. She nods.
"True...but why would they have us come back?" She asks. He shrugs again.
"Who knows?" He asks, smiling. She giggles.
"I cannot believe we've kept this a secret." She says after she's finished laughing. He nods his head.
"I know." George says, just as John Wells comes up to them.
"Alright.....are you two ready?" John asks.
"Give us our scripts." George says enthusiastically. John grins.
"I've give it to you orally. It shouldn't be too difficult to remember. Alright..first off, we'll have Jules pull into the driveway in a little black car and all you gotta do is walk up to the door and knock and wait..turn around and look impatient or whatever. We're going to film that now and I'll tell you the rest later." John says. George sighs.
"Well sheesh!" He says and the three of them laughs.
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"Okay, is it my turn yet?" George asks John as he stands beside Julianna. The camera guys are standing close by, listening. John nods.
"Yes. Okay! Here is what we're gonna do! First we're going to film Julianna walking in the backyard...towards the boat dock, where you will be George. Julianna you've gotta pretend like you didn't know he was back there, but then you saw him." John tells Julianna. She nods her understanding.
"I can do that." She says. He nods.
"Then...George...when you hear her shoes on the steps in the yard...you gotta turn and look up. You'll be putting something in the boat, pretending like you just came in from a boat ride." John says.
"Got it." George says, nodding.
"Alright. Then....we'll cut it and get our cameras situated. Then.....George, you have to say 'Where are the girls?'. Julianna you have to reply, 'They're with my Mom.' Then..you're gonna look away and look out at the lake. Then you'll say 'It's beautiful here.' and turn back to George. Then you've gotta do a stomach churning make-out session. Then we'll cut it and move the cameras once again and do the very last part. George you've gotta do this whole wrap-your-arms-around-her-waist-and-pick-her-up thing, while she wraps her arms around your neck. Then we'll be all done!" John says.
"Whew!" George says for him. The three of them and the cameramen laugh. "Think we can pull it off?" George asks Julianna.
"Piece of cake." She replies. He chuckles.
"Alrighty then. We gonna practice first?" George asks.
"Of course." John replies.
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Julianna walks down the yard, pulling her coat over her chest. She pretends like she's just spotted George. She walks foreward as she pays no attention to the cameraman moving around behind her. She walks down a few steps and George looks up at her, his body bent. She walks down another set of steps and he stands. She goes down the last set and stops and he strolls towards her and stops a foot or so in front of her.
"Cut!" John says. They stop and smile at each other.
"Great job. Don't change a thing. Alright. When we film it, I've decided we won't cut it there....it will be simpler to just continue on. Alright?" He asks. They nod. "Now practice your lines but please..refrain from kissing." John teases. George chuckles.
"It'll be hard." He says, winking at Jules. She laughs.
"Alright, alright. Do your lines." John says, getting down to business.
"Where are the girls?" George asks Julianna, his face turning serious.
"They're with my mom." Julianna says, looking at him before turning her head. "It's beautiful here." She says, turning back to him.
"Cut. Great job." John says. George bows playfully.
"Thank you, thank you." He says. Julianna snickers.
"Okay, okay. Make-out time, skip foreward." John says, grinning. "Now..Jay and Chris, move out here." John says, showing the camera guys where to stand, motioning for George and Julianna to stay put.
"You ready for this?" He asks her. She smiles.
"I'm ready!" She says. He chuckles warmly as John comes back to towards them.
"Alright.....do the pick-me-upper." He says. George chuckles and Julianna moves into his arms. He wraps his arms around her waist and picks her up. Her arms are around his neck and she laughs into his shoulder. He chuckles.
"Oh yeah...when you do that, kiss her again. That'll look better." John says. George grins wickedly, putting Julianna down. She laughs.
"God, George." She says. He chuckles.
"Alright! Are we ready for this?" John asks.
"Yeah!" George says. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a gum wrapper. He spits his mint gum into it and smiles evilly at Julianna. She grins and makes her way back up to the edge of the house. George makes his way down to the edge of the dock.
Julianna's head begins to swim as she realizes George is about to kiss her. Really kiss her. God....she craves his kiss and it's been so long. It was one of the many reasons she had wished he had never left ER. She missed his kisses. They were perfect. Whenever she and George kissed...it was never really acting. She knew it but she didn't know if he knew. She smiled to herself and wrapped her arms over her chest like she had during the practice.
George stood down on the dock, his stomach fluttering. She was so beautiful and he could hardly breath as he realized she was about to be in his arms. Even if it was unreal, it felt so right. It had been way too long since he had kissed her. It was one of the many reasons he missed doing the show. This would be the most real kiss they would ever experience together, he thought. Even better then that one time on the porch for the season three finale. Did she know what he knew?
"Okay! Ready?" John yells. The two of them smile and nod, giving him a thumbs up. Then they exchange smiles and George takes his position, bending over the boat.
"3..2..1.." John says. Julianna begins her slow journey towards the boat.
Does he know why she had broken up with Ron? Did he know it was because she had feelings for him and she couldn't be truthful with Ron? Her body moved a step closer and her heart quickened it's pace.
George watched her out of the corner of his eye as he pretended to know what he was doing with this rope. Another step...and another. Oh God. She was almost there. His whole body screamed at him, telling him to tell her what he felt for her. But there was still a part of him that said to play it safe, keep your feelings hidden. He heard his signal and he turned and looked at her. Her face was calm, serene.
Did he know the battle she was fighting with herself on the inside?
Did she know how beautiful she looked?
His body straightened and he watched her as he dug his hands into his pockets and walked slowly towards her, where she was standing still. He walked up close to her and stared straight into her eyes before looking down shyly. Then he looks back up at her.
"Where are the girls?" George asks, a faint smile upon his lips.
"They're with my Mom." Julianna says. She then turns her head, looking away from him. He chuckles lightly.
Oh God. Oh God. Oh God. Her heart thumps wildly in her chest.
Here it comes. She's so beautiful.
"It's beautiful here." She says quietly, barely managing to get the words out. She looks up at him and her heart surges as she sees the small smile upon his lips. She smiles slightly and then she looks down briefly before she looks back up and his big, warm hands embrace her face. She smiles wider and he smiles as they press their lips together.
Never before has he felt lips so soft..so perfect. They sway gently, their arms moving, embracing each other, tangling together.
Melting. She can barely think straight....or at all as his warm lips capture hers. He pulls away and they smile as he chuckles. She presses her lips into his once again and they kiss for just a few seconds.
"Cut." John says. They stop and pull away from each other. They smile shyly.
"Alright.....what we're gonna do is move you two back here." John says, motioning towards Jay and Chris. They nod and begin moving the equipment.
"Now....you guy's gotta kiss again and then stop kissing. Then pick her up. Then kiss again." John says. George chuckles.
"And then kiss this and kiss that." George mimics. Julianna giggles and looks at John who just shakes his head as he smiles.
"Just do it, alright?" John asks.
"No prob, Cap'n!" George says. Julianna laughs and John rolls his eyes. He turns around.
"Ready?" He yells up at the men. They nod, signaling towards him. He nods and steps back. "Alright...do your thing." John says.
Julianna feels so odd as she moves into George's arms on order. She loves being in his arms, no doubt, but she feels strange having John tell her to do it. George smiles briefly at her, reassuringly. She smiles back at him.
"Alright. 3..2," The two of them begin kissing. "..1.." John says.
Passion soars through them and Julianna swears he can feel her heart beating wildly within her.
George feels her heart next to his own and he almost smiles at the racing. Something inside him tells him that her heart isn't beating that fast because she just likes him as her best friend. George feels the power behind the kiss and he knows something has changed.
Julianna knows he knows. She can tell by the way his kiss deepens..yet relaxes. She sighs through their lips. She feels as his knees bend and then her lips are breaking away from his as her feet leave the ground. She hugs his neck tightly and then he nudges her cheek with his chin and she moves her head towards his and they press their lips together, gently this time, less fierce, but still passionate.
"Cut!" John says and George gently releases her. She stands and looks in his eyes. She can see the understanding and she smiles shyly before turning and look at John, stepping out of George's embrace. George watches her briefly before turning to John. John is silent for a second, observing the change. Uh-oh, he thinks and he smiles, chuckling slightly, under his breath.
"Great job. Very realistic." He says his grin widening. Julianna blushes slightly and George chuckles uncomfortably. "Well.....I guess this is your guy's last scene together and my last time directing either of you..for an episode of ER." John says. They nod and he smiles warmly at the two of them. "Oh..and remember...this is top secret information. You can't tell anyone what happened today......at least not until this episode is aired." John says. They nod their agreeance and smile brightly.
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John, Chris, Jay, George, and Julianna are sitting on a private plane going back to California. Chris and John are sleeping and Jay is working diligently on a crossword puzzle. George looks over at Julianna who is just sitting, staring out the window. He smiles slightly and stands, walking over to her and sitting down beside her. She looks over at him and smiles slightly before turning and looking back out the window.
"Jules....I need to talk to you." He says. She turns back to him, shifting her body so she is facing him.
"Yeah?" She asks quietly. He stops, sighing and pauses.
"I uh....." He stops yet again, not knowing how to say this. Hoping to God that he hadn't misinterpreted her body language. "What happened..today?" He asks. She studies his eyes, her face blank.
"I don't know. What?" She asks, her voice hesitant as she plays dumb, but knows very well what he is talking about. He looks away.
"I mean....that wasn't really..acting, was it?" He asks. She looks away, shifting uncomfortably.
"I...uh." She pauses, unsure. "I wasn't acting." She whispers quietly. He looks up and she looks at him, her eyes wide in anticipation of his reply.
"Me neither." He whispers gazing into her eyes. She looks away, the look becoming intense.
"What now?" She asks. He shrugs.
"What do you want?" He asks.
"I.." She stops. He smiles slightly and looks over his shoulder. Jay is still working on that crossword puzzle, not paying any attention to the two of them. George turns back to her and reaches over, taking her chin into his right hand. She looks up into his eyes and he then presses his lips to hers gently. She kisses him back, her mind beginning to buzz. He pulls away, breaking off the fuzzy feeling in her mind.
"George.." She whispers, opening her eyes. He smiles.
"I know." He whispers, stroking her face with his finger. She smiles.
"What are you doing when we get back?" She asks.
"Going home." He replies softly.
"What are you doing tomorrow?" She asks.
"I have an interview in the afternoon." He says. She nods.
"Come home with me tonight." She says.
"Jules..are you sure?" He asks.
"Please." She replies. He nods.
"Okay." He whispers. She smiles and he kisses her once again. "Hey..is this a public announcement or are we going to keep it secret?" He asks.
"Well...we have to keep it secret at least until the episode airs, but after that I don't care." She says.
"Me neither. How about we don't tell anyone...but they can figure it out for themselves?" George suggests. She nods.
"Okay. Sounds good." She says. He smiles at her and kisses her briefly, once more, before he releases her face. He scoots down in his seat and she leans against his shoulder. He smiles.
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"It's getting late." George says later that night at Julianna's house. She nods and they just sit there on the couch in each other's arms. She looks up at him, looking into his eyes.
"Come to bed with me." She whispers, her voice hoarse. He smiles slightly, brushing his hand across her face.
"Are you sure, Jules?" He asks. She nods.
"Please." She whispers. He nods.
"Okay." He replies. She reaches up, kissing him hard and strong. She pulls him up, dragging him up the stairs to her bedroom.
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I am really proud of this fic. I like how I portrayed George and Julianna's thoughts throughout the filming. Please send me feedback on his one, because I want to know what everyone else thinks of it. :)
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