Chapter 22

And so it begins, Keesha thought. Early the next morning, she and Julianna had no sooner stepped off the elevator onto the Second Floor at General Hospital than Bobbie saw them and did a triple take before rushing to greet them.

"Keesha! It's been way too many years. How are you?"

Keesha and Julianna had seen the concerned look on Bobbie's face at Keesha's appearance and her use of a walker when she'd first approached them.

"I'm okay," was all Keesha said and Bobbie didn't press.

"Is this your daughter?" Bobbie asked.

She smiled warmly at Julianna.

"Yes. Julianna, this is Bobbie."

"Nice to meet you," Julianna said.

"Same here. You are a lovely young lady."

"Thank you."

Keesha desired to move on but didn't want to be impolite. "How have you been? I...I heard about Carly and Sonny. I'm sorry for your loss."

"Thank you," Bobbie said, her eyes revealing the depth of her pain. "It's been a very difficult time. Having Michael with me is helping. Both of us, I think."

Julianna's interest piqued when she heard the name "Michael." Keesha glanced at her daughter and was surprised to see that she seemed to perk up at hearing Bobbie mention Michael. Keesha wondered if A.J. had talked to her. She didn't think he had because he hadn't said anything to her. And neither had Julianna.

"Julianna," Keesha explained, "Bobbie is Michael's grandmother. Her daughter Carly, Michael's mother, was killed, along with her husband, in a very tragic way."

Julianna nodded and offered her condolences. The story sounded way too familiar. The Michael she knew and Bobbie's grandson had to be the same person. She was sure of it.

"How is Lucas?" Keesha asked. "Lucas is Bobbie's son," Keesha explained to her daughter.

"He's fine," Bobbie said. "He's attending NYU, but he's here for the summer. He's mostly with his Dad, but we're spending time together. It's nice."

"How is Tony?"

"He's doing well," Bobbie answered, deciding not to venture into the subject of A.J. not being Michael's father. She assumed Keesha and A.J. weren't in contact, but the more she looked at Julianna, the more she couldn't help but wonder if A.J. were her father. She could see some resemblance, especially around the young girl's eyes. "You might run into him. He's around. Well, I should get back to work. It's wonderful to see you again. You take care. I enjoyed meeting you, Julianna. If you're going to be in town for a while, let's get together for lunch. I may even be able to persuade Michael to join us."

Julianna's heart lurched at Bobbie's suggestion. Would that be how her and Michael's paths would cross? She hadn't stopped thinking about his suggestion to meet since he'd mentioned it, but she had no idea how she actually wanted it to happen.

Keesha said she would be in touch, and then she and Julianna headed to Dr. Burgess-Harmon's office while Bobbie walked towards the nurses' station.

*~*

The knock on the door caused Nikolas to look up, in surprise, from the mounds of paperwork piled on his desk. He blinked twice to make sure he wasn't seeing things.

"A.J.! Come in, come in."

"I hope I'm not disturbing you."

"You're not. It's been too long since we've seen each other. Have a seat. Can I get you anything?"

"No, thanks."

After they shook hands, A.J. sat down in a black leather swivel guest chair across from Nikolas' large and somewhat disheveled oak desk.

"How do you like being the hospital administrator?"

"There's so much paperwork as you can see," Nik lamented. "But, overall, it's satisfying. How about you? You must deal with a lot of paperwork, too."

"I do, but since I generate most of it..."

Nik laughed, and then his expression turned serious.

"Ellen talked to me."

A.J. nodded. "I figured she would have to. That's why I'm here. Keesha and I talked, and I told her I wanted to make certain things would be as stress free and smooth running for her as they can be."

"I was shocked and saddened when Ellen told me. How is Keesha doing?"

"She's hanging in there. Keesha is one amazing woman. I know she will be fine if a liver can be found for her. Soon."

"We're going to do everything we can for her," Nikolas assured A.J.

"I believe that you will. Thank you."

"Does it seem strange to be here?"

"Very," A.J. admitted. "Almost surreal."

Nik sat back in his black leather chair, looking thoughtful. "Planning any reunions while you're here?"

"I don't know," A.J. answered honestly.

"I can't imagine that your family wouldn't be thrilled to see you."

A.J. shrugged. "Maybe. I haven't let myself think about it. I live by the code of taking one day at a time. That's especially true in this situation. But speaking of family, how are Gia and the children?"

Nikolas' dark eyes lit up like a Christmas tree as he handed A.J. a framed portrait of his family that he proudly displayed on his desk.

"They're my sanity," he acknowledged.

A.J. studied the picture for a few moments. The daughter had Nikolas' strong features while the son looked more like Gia. "Your family is beautiful," he told Nik, with sincerity in his voice.

"Thank you."

"How old are Sonya and Nikolas, Jr.?"

Nik looked at A.J. in surprise. "You've been keeping in touch with someone."

"Emily tells me some of what's going on, just not about our family, unless I specifically ask. I know her and Zander's twins are close to your children."

"That's true. So are Liz and Lucky's children. To answer your question, Sonya is seven and Nikolas is nine."

"Very nice. You should be proud."

"I am. Gia and I both are."

As A.J. handed the silver frame back to Nikolas, he couldn't help but wonder if he would ever have a portrait of his family. The temptation to tell Nikolas about Julianna was strong, but A.J. decided against it. He didn't feel the time was right.

"How is Stefan?" he asked instead.

"He's fine. He took Alexis and Ned's daughter, Kristina, to visit Greece for a few weeks."

"Do you see much of them?" A.J. couldn't help but ask.

Nik nodded. "We're close, and I'm happy about that. Gia is pretty much running L&B Records. Brooke Lynn is helping her. Lesley Lu wants to get involved, too."

"Good for them," A.J. said sincerely. "I know Ned must be ecstatic to be running ELQ the way he wants to."

"He is," Nik confirmed, "but I believe he misses you."

"No way," A.J. said.

His chuckle didn't hold much mirth.

Nik shrugged. "People and situations change in eleven years."

"How true that is," he said, taking a moment to reflect on his own life.

"Maybe you'll be able to make peace with some things and some people while you're here."

"Maybe. But my main concern is taking care of Keesha."

"I understand. We're going to do everything we possibly can for her."

"That gives me hope, Nikolas. Thank you."

"You're welcome. Tell Keesha I plan to see her."

"I will."

"And I'd like to see you again. Perhaps in a social situation such as dinner at the house with Gia and the children?"

"I'll see how it goes."

"I understand."

*~*

Ellen put Keesha and Julianna at ease the minute they walked into her plush office.

"How are you feeling?" she asked, after she had done a preliminary examination.

"Today, I feel pretty good."

"Traveling to Port Charles wasn't too much for you?"

"No, it wasn't bad."

"Excellent. I am thoroughly familiar with your file, so I'm ready for any questions you may have."

"My main concern is staying healthy enough so I can have the operation if a liver becomes available."

"I understand that concern. I'm going to give you a prescription to help your immune system. I'd like to see you weekly so that I can closely monitor your vital signs and any symptoms you may have which might indicate there's an infection somewhere in your body."

Keesha nodded.

"Other than that, I think you should continue to do what you have been. Eat sensibly, get plenty of rest, don't do anything strenuous."

"My mother knows how to do all those things well."

Ellen's dimples emerged when she offered Julianna a gentle smile.

"And I know you help her."

"I try."

"I have a great support system," Keesha said. "My daughter is at the top of the list."

"That's great to hear," Ellen said. "It's what you need."

She wrote out the prescription and handed it to Keesha.

"You can have that filled here at the pharmacy and start taking the pills tomorrow."

"Okay. Thank you."

"I'd like to see you next week at the same time."

Julianna wrote down the appointment.

"We'll be here," Keesha said.

"If you think of anything you want to ask me, don't hesitate to call."

Ellen gave Keesha and Julianna her business card.

"Thank you," Keesha said as she and her daughter stood to leave.

"You're welcome. I'll let Dr. Williams know we had our first consult."

"Okay."

"Remember you can call me any time. I'll see you next week."

*~*

Since Dara and Justus needed to be at the courthouse, A.J. met Keesha and Julianna when they exited Ellen's office.

"How did it go?" he asked, his voice anxious.

"Very well," Keesha said, relieved the first meeting was over.

"You like your doctor?"

Both Keesha and Julianna nodded.

"Good. I'm glad to hear that."

"We need to stop at the pharmacy to get a prescription filled."

As the trio walked towards the elevator bank, Monica Quartermaine rounded the corner and caught a glimpse of someone she believed could be her son. Stunned that it might indeed be A.J., she tried to call out to him before he stepped into the elevator, but her voice failed her. Watching the doors close, she could only stare and wonder if that had actually been her estranged son. And if it had been, what was he doing at General Hospital with a woman and a young girl?