Title: Traveling Soldier
Significant Change: Just about everything! Its totally alternate reality. (Its okay if you don't like it, I won't be offended. This has been rolling around in my head and its an idea that has intrigued me for a really long time. Anyway, review if you like it, don't slander it, if you don't.)
Disclaim everything recognizable as thought up by those behind the soap opera known as General Hospital.

Heart pounding in his chest, Jason pushes himself to surpass the rest of his squad, making it to the front, closely followed behind by Francis and Johnny. Quickly glancing at both men, he notices that Johnny has a huge smirk on his face the moment that Jason passes him. By the increase in speed, it was obvious that Johnny took his lead as a challenge, pushing himself further to beat Jason.

Shaking his head, he nods at Johnny before running faster and faster, prompting Johnny to run even faster than ever before. Finally getting to the end, Jason and Johnny end up the first to get their times jotted down, Francis coming in third. Looking at them, he shakes their head, knowing Johnny's competitive streak, impressed that Jason was able to bring that out in him.

"Impressive." Johnny manages to say as he catches his breath. "Didn't think you had that in you."

"That makes both of us." Jason admits, having underestimated him. "I'll be sure to not make that mistake again."

"Same here." Johnny shakes his hand before accepting the cup of water from the guy handing them out. "Bet you I'll beat you at the next challenge?"

"You're on." Jason accepts the cup of water, shaking his head as Johnny makes it a point to get there first. "He always like that?"

"Not always." Francis admits. "I guess you just bring it out in him."

"He's okay." Jason turns to look at Francis. "You, too."

"The feeling's mutual." Francis steps aside as the other men move to get water. "We should probably head over there before he thinks you've chickened out."

Making their way over to Johnny, the two men hear as their drill sergeant starts yelling at the men who are still downing water, shaking their heads as the other men start tossing their cups and sprinting over to the next leg of the training. Glancing back at the Sergeant, he couldn't help but notice that he wasn't only yelling at them, but watching their reactions, as well.

"What the hell is this?!" Sonny shouts at them, shaking his head. "You're all worse than a bunch of children! Get in line! Santiago, do you need me to draw you a map?! GET IN LINE!"

"Is it just me or is he always dogging on that guy?" Johnny questions in a hushed tone to Francis.

"If I were you, I'd shut that hole on your face before he starts in on you." Francis counters, keeping his focus ahead at the training they will be going through.

"Corelli! O'Brien!" Sonny snaps at them. "You girls done gossiping? If its not an inconvenience to you ladies, its time to start! Corelli, Morgan! Go!"

By the end of their first training, the men were practically begging for some down time, something that Sonny takes note of. As the men are drinking water, Sonny walks about the men, giving them their preliminary results, letting them know that their official results will be available by the end of the day.

"Morgan, Corelli, and O'Brien, you three have made the top three." Sonny informs the three of them, truly impressed with how they worked together through the course. "If you ladies can handle it, the elite squad is having an enrollment exam which starts in fifteen minutes. Report to the Lincoln building if you think you hack it. As for the rest of you, report to the mess hall for some grub!"

Without another word, the Sergeant walks off, leaving them to their own accord. The three men look between each other, unsure of whether or not they want to take it on. As the other men start rushing off to the mess hall, the three of them make their way to the Lincoln building.

"You ready for round two, Morgan?" Johnny questions as they grow closer to the building. "I'm sure to beat your ass now."

"Keep dreaming, O'Brien." Jason pushes him out of the way, laughing when he tries to tackle him, stepping out of the way at the last minute. "You're just too slow."

"Oh!" Francis laughs at the expression on Johnny's face. "Told you I wasn't the only that notices."

"Shut up." Johnny mutters, following closely. "I'm fast enough."

"Whatever you say, kid." Francis chuckles pushing open the door. "Lets just get this over with."

From the moment they get into the training exam, the three of them are worked harder than they ever thought possible, having questions thrown at them while they are running the course set out before them. The only bright side, they had to admit, was that the drill sergeants weren't as bad as Sonny. Having survived training with Sonny, this was a walk in the park.

"Morgan, Corelli, and...O'Brien." the instructor calls out, making them step out from the group. "Congratulations for surviving. Sergeant Corinthos will have your results by the end of the day. After which, he'll discuss what that'll mean for each of you. You're dismissed!"

Leaving the room, all wondering if they made the cut or not, they head out of the Lincoln building and make their way back to the main building where the mess hall was located. Johnny's mind was focused solely on getting some food in him that he barely noticed when Jason started walking off.

"Whoa, where you headed?" Johnny questions. "Don't you want some grub?"

"I'm not hungry." Jason concedes, gesturing to their building. "I'm just gonna head back to the bunk."

"How is it possible that you're not hungry after what we went through?" Johnny looked at him confusedly. "Come on, man, that's just crazy."

"Let him go." Francis noted the look in Jason's eyes, something telling him that he knew what the kid would be doing. "We'll just catch you back at the bunk area."

With a single nod, Jason heads off back to the bunk house while the two guys head to eat. Leaving the Lincoln building, he had thought he was hungry, hell, he should be hungry, but he just wasn't. As he walks inside the building, he had to admit that it was strange to not have all those men inside, but finds that he appreciates the privacy.

Settling into his bed, he pulls out another sheet of paper and his pencil, sitting up against the head of his bed as he starts his next letter, finding that he wanted to write to Elizabeth. To tell her the new things that have conspired in his life, about the elite squad, about the two guys that were quickly becoming his friends. In truth, he just needed to write to her, to satisfy his need to talk to her. It wasn't much, but it was enough. For now.