September 15-16, 01.
+_)(*&+_)(*&
If this was REAL life there would be a LOT of press involved. But I don't feel like writing all that jazz. It's not the point of this story, so, just pretend that all happened behind the scenes of this fic or something.
Julianna's pregnancy will progress throughout this, so don't get confused if I say in one scene that she is 3 months pregnant and in the next four and half. That's just how I'm playing this out.
There is some language inappropriate for children in this story.
+_)(*&+_)(*&
On the first day of practicing for the live premiere episode, Julianna stood in a small group of her friends, including Laura Innes, Noah Wyle, and Anthony Edwards. George was off practicing a scene with Maria Bello.
"I can't wait to start filming for real." Anthony said. Noah grinned.
"Me neither."
"It'll be like being back on-stage." Julianna replied. Anthony nodded.
"The good old days." He said with a small sigh. The small group chuckled.
"I, uh, have some news." Julianna said. They focused on her, watching her. "This'll probably take you by surprise. A huge surprise." She said.
"Enough suspense already." Noah joked. Julianna smiled.
"I'm pregnant." She said. The three of their jaws dropped. Julianna chuckled to herself.
"You're what?"
"With who?"
"How?" Noah, Laura, and Tony asked. Julianna grinned.
"I'm pregnant and I think you know how."
"But with whom?" Laura asked her question again. Julianna shifted a bit uncomfortably.
"Well, I.." She stopped. Laura sensed her hesitation.
"Would you like us to zip our lips and throw away the key?" Laura said. Julianna smiled slightly.
"It's a difficult situation." She said and glanced over her shoulder, hoping George wasn't nearby.
"Why?" Noah asked.
"Because he's made it clear that he's not interested in this child."
"Oh, Jules." Laura said and rubbed her arm slightly. Julianna forced a smile.
"I'm okay with it now. It'll be hard but I'm ready to be a single mother."
"Who is the bastard? I'll tie his balls in a knot and shove them down his throat." Anthony said, none to delicately. Julianna winced.
"Then maybe I shouldn't tell you who it is." She said.
"It's someone we know then?" Laura asked. Julianna nodded.
"Uh, yeah. You could say that." She said. Suddenly, out of nowhere, George and one of the cameramen came around the corner, deep in conversation. George barely noticed the crowd, let alone acknowledge them, but Julianna blushed and bowed her head, hoping her friends hadn't caught her reaction to him. As George walked down the hall, Anthony spoke.
"It's George, isn't it?" He asked softly. Julianna managed a small nod.
"Yes. It's him." She said.
"Sonofabitch." Anthony cursed under his breath. "I oughtta beat his ass for this."
"Tony, don't.." Julianna said. He turned back to her.
"I won't. For your sake. But he better get his act together. Real quick." Anthony said and then stalked off in the opposite direction George had gone. Julianna bowed her head.
"I probably shouldn't have told anyone." She said.
"Hey, we would've figured it out soon enough. If you were pregnant and not speaking to George." Noah said, trying to comfort her. She nodded.
"Yeah, I guess you're right." She replied.
"Of course he is." Laura said and then hugged Julianna.
+_)(*&+_)(*&
Julianna turned sideways in her bathroom and lifted the big t-shirt she wore. She studied her bare stomach in the mirror and smiled slightly at the small mound she had. Her little baby. At three-months pregnant, Julianna was now beginning to show. She placed her hand on her stomach and murmured.
"I love you, baby."
+_)(*&+_)(*&
Five weeks later Julianna stood just outside the admit desk in the studio. Others were gathered around her, either in the camera-range or standing outside and watching. Julianna glanced at Anthony, who had still not spoken more than five words to George since he had found out about her pregnancy. Julianna studied Tony who was trying his hardest to ignore George's presence.
Alex Kingston stood beside Julianna and smiled when Julianna looked over. Julianna smiled in return but her attention was quickly taken back to the director.
"Ready, everyone?" Julianna gave a quick nod. "Alright, 3..2..1..Action!" Julianna began reciting her dialogue as Carol talked to Elizabeth. Julianna stopped in mid-sentence, although the script didn't call for it.
"Whoa." She murmured. Everyone's attention was drawn to Julianna, especially George. He took a step toward her.
"What is it?" Alex asked. The cameraman stepped back from the camera.
"I felt the baby." Julianna said quietly and met George's gaze for a split-second before she dropped her eyes.
"Really!? The first time?" Alex asked. Julianna nodded, grinned, and touched her hand to her belly.
"Yeah, it was like a fluttering." She said.
"Can I try to feel?" Alex asked as people began gathering around Julianna. Julianna grinned.
"Yeah, go ahead." She directed Alex's hand toward the spot, just to the left of her belly button. "Feel it? You probably can't. It's soft." She said. Alex shook her head and looked disappointed.
"No, I can't."
"Let me try. I'm the expert." Anthony said. Julianna chuckled and thought of his children. He pressed his hand gently to her stomach and focused. Then he smiled.
"I felt it." He said.
"You didn't!" Alex exclaimed in her British accent. He nodded with triumph.
"I did!" He said.
"Let me see!" Alex said and placed her hand on Julianna's belly again. Soon enough everyone had their hand in, trying to feel. Anthony turned his head and looked at George who was standing back about fifteen feet and talking to one of the few crewmen who were actually talking to him still.
Seeing George standing back pissed Anthony off. He had two children of his own and feeling your child move for the first time was a big deal for a father, considering they couldn't feel it inside them like a woman could. Anthony made his way toward George, glad Julianna was surrounded and couldn't see him. He marched up to George and stuck his face close.
"You're a bastard." Anthony murmured under his breath, his voice as hard as steel. Then he turned and stalked off to cool down. George felt the guilt rise up and would admit to only himself that he was dying to press his hand to Julianna's tummy. Just once, to feel his child. But he couldn't. He wouldn't.
+_)(*&+_)(*&
About half an hour later, Julianna walked outside to the back lot of the set.
"Hey." She said quietly to Anthony, who was leaning against the brick building. He smiled.
"Hi." He replied. She stood beside him and folded her arms under her breasts.
"We're getting ready to film again. What're you doing out here?" She asked. He sighed and looked away from her.
"Cooling down." He said.
"Oh. What happened?" She asked, knowing it had something to do with George.
"I cannot believe that stupid bastard." Anthony said. Julianna nodded.
"Did you say something to him?" She asked. He shrugged and pushed off the wall.
"I only called him a bastard. Then I came out here so I wouldn't give in to my urge to punch his face in." Julianna smiled.
"I'm glad to have a friend like you, Tony, who'll stand by me. But, you really don't have to take it out on George." Anthony looked at her like she had grown an extra head.
"Why the hell not?" He asked.
"I knew all along that George never wanted children. It was stupid of me to sleep with him without using any-" Anthony cut her off.
"He used you, dammit!" Anthony exclaimed. "He had sex with you and then discarded you like you meant nothing to him! And you got pregnant. Not on purpose, but he isn't taking responsibility for his reckless actions and that..makes him a bastard." Julianna looked down at the ground and nodded.
"I still knew what I was getting into." She said quietly and held up a hand before he could argue. "Yes, George made some stupid decisions, but so did I. I slept with him because I love him." Tony's jaw dropped and Julianna continued on, figuring since she had finally slipped that she was in love with George, she might as well finish it up. "And because I was naive in thinking that maybe he could love me back, I let him have me. It has caused a lot of hell and a lot of emotional pain for me, but I'd do it all over again. I'd do it again because I already love this child growing inside me more than anything or anyone I've ever loved. And I think you can understand that, Tony." He sighed and ran his hand over his balding head. Then he nodded.
"Yeah, I understand that. But I still can't understand how a man could abandon his child like George is. Especially since George always seemed to be such a caring, giving person. And I was his friend. But I'm also your friend and he has hurt you and your child already, so much. And that is why I can't forgive him. Or pretend it didn't happen." Julianna nodded.
"I know." She murmured.
"Tony? Jules?" They turned at the sound of the voice. Gloria Rueben was holding the door open and motioning them inside.
"Back to work." Julianna said. Anthony nodded.
"Yeah. C'mon." He said and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. And Julianna knew she would always have friends to back her up, even if the man she loved, the father of her baby wouldn't be there for her or their child.
+_)(*&+_)(*&
A few days later, Julianna and Alex sat in the set lounge, which the crew often used as a real lounge. Alex sipped on coffee and Julianna drank a glass of milk.
"I went to the doctor's last night." Julianna said.
"Oh, yeah, how'd that go?" Alex asked. Julianna smiled.
"I found out what I'm having." She said. Alex's eyes lit up.
"Really?" She asked just as George entered the lounge. He looked at them for a brief second before heading to the coffee maker. Julianna swallowed and nodded her head subtly at Alex. Alex, never missing an opportunity, faked a wide smile.
"So, what are you having?" She asked. Julianna shifted nervously in her seat and placed a hand on her stomach.
"A girl." She murmured. George strained to hear, but didn't quite catch what she said. Damn.
"Oh, that's wonderful! A girl!" Alex said loud enough for George to hear but not loud enough for it to be obvious. Even though it was obvious to George, Julianna, and herself that she had said it so George would hear. "Have you chosen any names yet?" Alex asked. Julianna shrugged slightly and cleared her throat.
"I'm still working on it." She said. Alex nodded and George picked up his fresh coffee and walked back out the door.
"Alex." Julianna said. Alex grinned.
"I couldn't help myself." She said and chuckled as she took another sip of her coffee. Julianna rolled her eyes a bit and willed herself to relax.
+_)(*&+_)(*&
Julianna stood by herself in the hallway, standing away from where they were filming a trauma scene. She sighed and placed her hands on her seven-month stomach and rubbed gently, a small smile upon her lips.
"Hey baby." She murmured and felt a good strong kick against her hand. "Nice aim. You've been watching too much Tae-bo." She said and chuckled at herself. Julianna leaned back against the wall and closed her eyes, concentrating on the movement of her baby inside of her. A few moments later, Julianna heard someone walking down the hall in her direction. She opened her eyes slowly and quickly straightened when she saw George. Somehow they had managed to never end up alone together and this was the first time since she had told him she was pregnant. George cleared his throat and came to a stop in front of her.
"Hey." He said. She managed a small smile.
"Hi." She replied. He glanced into her eyes but quickly looked away.
"How're you feeling?" He asked, a bit cautiously. She leaned back against the wall again, forcing herself to be more comfortable.
"Good, actually. Just a little tired. She likes to keep me up at night." Julianna said. She knew George knew she was having a girl and if she subtly mentioned it, maybe..maybe he would do something about it. I mean, this is the first time he's talked to me without anyone around, she thought. There's hope yet. George nodded a bit and shuffled his feet a bit.
"I, uh.." Anthony chose that time to walk out of the trauma room and look down the hall. He stopped when he saw George and Julianna facing each other and having an apparently awkward conversation. At first Anthony wasn't sure what to do, if he should leave them to go at it or what. Then he sighed. George was needed for filming and they couldn't waste time.
"George!" Anthony called. George swiveled his head around and looked at him.
"Coming." He replied. Anthony nodded curtly and went back into the room. George glanced at her. His eyes still had yet to land on her stomach, Julianna noticed. "I, uh, gotta get in there." He said. She nodded and smiled a bit.
"Yeah." She replied and he turned and headed back toward the trauma room. She watched him go and rubbed her hands across her belly with some satisfaction.
"Did you hear that, baby girl? Progress." Julianna said and felt a couple of strong movements inside of her. It was strange, Julianna thought. The whole time George was talking the baby had been still but now that he was gone, she was kicking up a storm. It was as if she knew that had been her father. Julianna grinned.
+_)(*&+_)(*&
"Aww, look at her. She's so cute." Alex exclaimed, looking at the black and white picture in her hand. Julianna laughed.
"You can't tell what she looks like!" Julianna announded. Alex grinned.
"Yeah, huh. She's sucking her thumb, see." Alex said. Julianna laughed.
"I know. I was there, remember?" Julianna said and grinned. Alex looked back down at the ultrasound picture.
"What's all this?" Anthony asked, coming up to the women. Julianna and Alex smiled at him. Alex handed the picture to him.
"Meet Taylor." Alex said.
"You've picked a name out for her?" Anthony asked as he looked down at the picture. Julianna beamed and nodded.
"Yeah. Taylor Jordan." Julianna said.
"That's a good name. Taylor." Anthony repeated it. The three of them didn't notice George standing across the room, pretending not to listen, but really soaking up every word. Anthony reached out and touched his hand to Julianna's stomach. She laughed slightly as the baby kicked him right on the hand. George felt a flare of jealousy come over him but he pushed it down.
"She likes it!" Anthony said. Julianna smiled.
"And she has good aim. Every time I put my hand down on my stomach when she is awake, she manages to hit my hand right on, at least once." Julianna said. Anthony grinned and bent down and whispered against Julianna's stomach, loud enough for both women to hear.
"Hey Taylor. Wait until you meet Uncle Tony. We'll play baseball as soon as you come out." He said. Julianna and Alex laughed as Anthony straightened. He chuckled. Then he caught sight of George over Julianna's shoulder. Their eyes met and Anthony's expression hardened. This went unnoticed by both of the women as Julianna took the picture back from his hand and Alex placed her hand on Julianna's stomach and felt the kick. Anthony didn't hear Alex's comment about how she wished she had a baby because he was still staring at George. Finally George looked away. Anthony sighed and felt the anger churning in his gut.
+_)(*&+_)(*&
"I need to speak with you." Anthony said later that night as he and George headed out to the parking lot to leave.
"Alright." George said and they came to a stop beside George's jeep. Anthony turned to him and unclenched his jaw.
"What in the hell is going on in your head?" Anthony asked.
"What?" George asked in reply.
"Goddammit. Julianna is eight months pregnant. You've said maybe ten whole words to her since you've found out. You've not treated her with respect and accepted your responsibility. I'm more of a father toward that child than you are!" Anthony said and saw a little big of anger flare in George's eyes. "I've felt her move. I've even talked to her through Julianna's stomach. I've talked to Julianna! You've watched me do it several times, too. And I wonder what the hell you think about when you see that." Anthony waited but George didn't reply. He just clenched his fists at his sides. "Damn you! Don't you give a fuck what happens to your daughter? Or at least to the mother of your daughter? Your old best friend. Don't you care how she feels about all of this?"
"I care." George murmured under his breath. Anthony shrugged.
"Do you? Do you really? I couldn't tell. Bet Julianna can't either. I don't know about you, but I'd sure as hell hate myself if I acted like you are." Anthony sighed in disgust when George stayed silent. "Damn you!" Anthony said and was so angry that he was ready to punch George.
"Tony." Anthony stopped and restrained himself at the sound of Julianna's voice behind them. He turned and looked at her. "It's alright." Julianna said, having heard some of what had been said.
"No, it's not and you know it." Anthony replied.
"Let it go, Tony." She paused. "It's no use." George felt the pain slice through him at her words. And he felt the truth. Anthony gritted his teeth and glanced over his shoulder at George. Then he turned back and walked to Julianna, took her arm, and headed toward her car.
+_)(*&+_)(*&
The next afternoon at work, George headed into the lounge where he knew no one was at because they were all working. He quickly made his way to the locker that had the name Nurse Hathaway on the top of it and opened it up. They often used the lockers that had the names of their characters on the front of them in the lounge because it was conveniant. He swiftly twisted in combination into the lock and with a glance over his shoulder, opened Julianna's locker.
He paused when saw a copy of the ultrasound picture on the inside of the locker, where he had found out she kept the pictures of the baby. His eyes quickly scanned the pictures until he saw the top one which Julianna had hung up yesterday after showing everyone. He sighed as he made out the picture of the baby's head and arm as she sucked her thumb. He reached up and let one finger trace around the picture of her head and he smiled slightly. Forgetting for a moment that he probably wouldn't have any part in her life.
+_)(*&+_)(*&
About two weeks later, Julianna and George awkwardly began acting their way through the filming of Julianna giving birth to the son they would have on the show. It was difficult and strange because they had to pretend like Doug wanted to be there for Carol, therefore George had to go through what it would be like to be there with Julianna through the birth of their child. But finally, through many awkward days, they got through it.
The day after they had finished, George walked onto the set where everyone was already gathered together in a small circle. As soon as he walked in, all the talking ceased. Some of them stared at him and others pretended not to see him. He wondered what was going on. His eyes scanned the room for Julianna, but he didn't see her.
Finally, George drummed up the courage to speak to them all. "What's going on?" He asked. Nobody really answered him straightly and he stared at them all. "Well?" He asked.
"Julianna's in labor." Finally one of the crewmen announced. George paled considerably.
"She's what?" He asked. Laura stepped forward.
"She went into labor early this morning. We just got a call from Julianna saying she's at the hospital."
"Which one? Which hospital?" George asked frantically.
"Los Angeles Health Care Center." Laura replied. George turned and ran back out the door he had come in. Everyone stared at him.
"Well." Laura finally said.
"Guess that settles that." Noah said. Everyone began to laugh slightly, thinking how ironic it was. Meanwhile, George was speeding in his jeep, on the way to LAHCC.
+_)(*&+_)(*&