Josh and Donna: Post Gaza

Summary: A two part story, the first part about Donna's recovery in Gaza, and the second about her recovery at home.

Disclaimer: Not mine. Just borrowing them :)

Part 1: Storms, Surgery, and Homeward Bound

A/N: for the sake of my story, Donna's injuries are as follows: collapsed lung (later the pulmonary embolism, though in my timeline, there was no worry of neurological damage), concussion, cracked and broken ribs, internal bleeding, bruised shoulder and collar bone, minor cuts and bruises. Also Colin was just a journalist showing her around, they didn't have a "fling" and didn't come to see her in Germany.

A/N 2: This is the updated, type-o free version :)

Josh shifted uncomfortably in the makeshift bed, otherwise known as two chairs pushed together, as he tried to focus on what the news announcer was saying. There was a rainstorm brewing outside. The rainfall and soft rolls of thunder were strangely lulling him to sleep, but he jumped to his feet, tangled in the blankets and pillows when he heard Donna whimpering. He quickly untangled himself and rushed to her beside. She was sleeping but didn't seem peaceful. He reached out and softly stroked her blonde hair with his fingertips, being mindful of the large bump on her forehead by her hairline from where she hit her head when the car flipped.

"Shhh…" he whispered softly, hoping to lull her into a more peaceful state, slipping his free hand into hers. He silently prayed that she wasn't having a nightmare, remembering the worst part of his recovery from Rosslyn was the not sleeping to avoid nightmares, and made a mental note to call Stanley and have him fly down as soon as Donna was cleared to be transferred back to the US. A particularly loud clap of thunder caused Josh to jump slightly, but also awakened Donna. She awoke with a start, which jarred her already sore body.

"Hey, hey, shhhhhh…" he whispered, softly rubbing her arm to try and comfort her sobs, which only hurt her body more.

"Th-th-th the thunder…" Donna choked out. Josh looked at her funny at first, but then it clicked with him.

"Sounds like the bomb. I know baby. I know." Said Josh, feeling helpless as Donna continued to cry softly and click the morphine button as the storm raged on. He felt a pain settle in his own chest as he did his best to comfort her.

"Josh…."

"I'm right here baby."

"Ho-hold me?"

Josh hesitated. He wanted nothing more than to wrap her up in his arms and hold her until she felt better. But she had four broken ribs and the ones that weren't broken were cracked, he abdomen was sore from the surgery to stop the internal bleed, and he knew her crying was making it worse.

"Donna...I want too...but honey I don't want to hurt you…"

"I already hurt. A lot. Josh please…" Donna whimpered, reaching up to touch his face. Not being able to stand standing by helplessly any longer, Josh nodded and as she shifted over so there was room for him, unable to ignore the catch in her throat as her body protested the movement. He hesitated again, but Donna weakly tugged on his collar, urging him to come closer. Josh slowly settled down on his side, and wrapped one arm around her shoulders and allowed her to curl against him in the most comfortable way for her. He could tell her movements were pained and between the thunder claps and extra movement her sobs continued. Josh felt tears well up in his eyes as his heart continued to ache for his wife. He felt some sense of relief when Donna rested her head against his shoulder, something about feeling her against him reassured him that she really was here and was going to be ok. He softly kissed her forehead and softly rubbed her arm as her tears finally began to subside.

"You're mom's on her way. She'll be her sometime tomorrow." Said Josh. Donna nodded against his shoulder.

"Are you sure Leo doesn't—"

"Donnatella listen to me." Said Josh, shifting so he could look into her eyes. "What's going on at the White house doesn't matter. I'm your husband before I'm deputy COS. I'm here as long as you're here."

Donna gave him a weak smile. "I love you." She whispered

"I love you. Go back to sleep. I'll be right here when you wake up." Said Josh.

Later…

The storm still raged on, though not quite as loud as before. Josh had also drifted off, finally able to get some sleep now that his wife was safely in his arms. He was awoken by the insistent ringing of his cell phone.

"Hello?" he answered groggily

"Joshua, It's Ann. They won't let me in." said a very upset Mrs. Moss

"Damn it told them…" not finishing his thought, He continued, "I'll be down in a minute." He said, hanging up the phone. He slipped out of the bed carefully, trying not to disturb Donna, but she groaned and her eyes fluttered open.

"Hey beautiful. You're mom's downstairs. I've gotta go get her I'll be right back, go back to sleep." Donna nodded and he kissed her forehead before leaving the room.

In the lobby…

"I'm sorry Ann." Said Josh as he walked up to his mother in law "I told them to let you up." He said, glaring at the nurse on duty to insure she knew that comment was directed at her and the staff.

"I know dear, don't worry about it." Said Ann hugging her son in law. Something about being in the arms of the woman that had become a second mother to him, caused all his pent up emotion to well up again. Sensing this, Ann held him for a few moments, allowing him to pull himself together. After a few moments, he pulled back and took her suitcase as they walked to the elevator.

"How's Donna?" she asked

"Banged up pretty bad. She had a collapsed lung, a bruised collar and shoulder bone, 4 broken ribs and the rest of them are cracked, and some internal bleeding. She's lost a lot of blood but the doctor's say she'll be fine." Said Josh

"She'll pull though. She's always been a tough one. Has to be to put up with you." She teased him. Josh smiled and laughed softly for the first time since CJ had told him of the bombing.

"She's a saint to put up with me." He said as the exited the elevator. They walked towards Donna's room, only to find she was gone, and a pile of bloody gauze on the floor.

Down the hall….

Second later, Josh and Ann arrived at the nurse's station down the hall.

"Where's Donna Lyman?" demanded Josh

"I'm sorry?" asked the nurse, giving him a funny look.

"I have the ambassadorial rank of a three star general, I'm the deputy chief of staff to the president of the United States, who is very fond of Donna and will be most unhappy to hear that you didn't tell me where she is, now you tell me where my wife is." Demanded an unhappy Josh who was in no mood to deal with the stiff nursing staff.

Outside the OR…

"Mr. Lyman." Said Donna's surgeon, Col. Leahy

"What happened, Doc?" asked Josh

"A nurse came and checked on her right after you went down stairs. She was experiencing shortness of breath and chest pain. It's a pulmonary embolism. Her lung is also in danger of collapsing again. We're going to try and remove the clot. She asking to see you before we put her under." Said Leahy. Josh nodded as the nurse lead him to be scrubbed before taking him in to the OR while Col. Leahy caught Donna's mother up on events since the explosion.

Inside the OR…

Josh walked over slowly to the operating table, his heart pounding hard in his chest.

"Hey beautiful. I talked to the Col. Leahy, he said you're gonna be just fine." Said Josh, softly caressing her cheek with his gloved hand. Donna looked down to write something on the notepad.

"The hat's sexy."

Josh smiled underneath his mask and laughed softly.

"Stylish, isn't it? Did they tell you what they were gonna do?" asked Josh. Donna nodded, and then looked to her pad again.

"I'm scared, Joshy."

Josh felt his heart break at the tears in her eyes and the words on the pad as tears welled up in his own eyes. But he had to be strong for her.

"I know you are. I am too. But everything's gonna be fine. I love you." Said Josh. Donna simply drew a heart on the pad and showed it to him. Josh leaned down and kissed her forehead through his mask and laced his fingers with her hands, which were folded on her stomach.

"It's time Mrs. Lyman." Said the nurse, talking the pad from her.

Donna's hand clamped down on Josh's. Noticing the increased panic look in his wife's eyes, Josh spoke up "Can I stay with her while you put her under?" he asked, his voice rising slightly.

"Sure." Said Col. Leahy. Josh squatted down next to the bed, leaving his hand in hers, and softly stroked her hair under her hair next and whispered comforting words to her, eyes never leaving hers, and Donna drifted off to a deep sleep.

One Week later…

After a successful surgery, and a few days of recovery, Donna was feeling much stronger and rested comfortably in her hospital room. Josh sat in the bed with her, as she laid curled up best she could in the bed with her head in his lap. Her mom sat in a chair beside the bed. Ann filled her on all the lasted gossip in Madison, and everything she had missed while being away. Josh's attention had drifted from the conversation, resting his head against the back of the bed, absent mindedly playing with her hair. They were interrupted when Col Leahy walked in with a nurse following behind him.

"How are you feeling today, Donna?" he asked.

"Ready to go home." Said Donna

"Well let's take a look at you and see if we can't send you home" Said Col Leahy "Josh, do you mind?"

"Nah of course not." Said Josh, slipping out from under Donna and stepping back beside Ann. They watched as the Leahy and the nurse checked all her vitals, checked and changed the bandages from her operations, and checked her other injuries.

"Well I have good news" said Col Leahy "The good news is I think you are well enough to fly home. We'll fly you home on the med-air, and then I want you to get checked out a GW as soon as you get back." Said Leahy.

"When can I leave?" asked an excited Donna.

Col. Leahy laughed softly "We're arranging a flight for tomorrow. Josh, you and Mrs. Moss of course can fly with her. Josh, if you don't mind can you come with us to sign some papers for her release?"

"Of course." Said Josh, following the Doctor out.

The Next Day…

The next day, Josh sat in the seat beside Donna's bed in the med-air. Both her and Ann were sleeping. Josh was busy reviewing some speech Sam had emailed him, when he heard Donna softly call his name.

"Hey, Donna" Said Josh, reaching over to hold her hand "how you feeling?" he asked

"Still really really sore. But I'm ready to be in my own bed and not these stupid gurneys." Said Donna

"We're about 3 hours out, we're in US air." Said Josh

"Bless them for getting me a direct flight to JFK." Said Donna

"Donna…I talked to CJ, she's called off the press corps from meeting us at the airport, but there still might be some, and you know at some point we're gonna have to do a press conference eventually." Said Josh

"Yeah I know. I just hope coming in late will deter them." Said Donna

"Well I do have some good news. Dr. Bartlett will be meeting us at the airport, she'll check you out at home so you don't have to go into GW." Donna smiled.

"I wish everyone could know the Bartletts like we do, he'd would have elected unanimously both time." Said Donna. Josh smiled.

"They are pretty great. Now go back to sleep for a while. You know the entire senior staff will be over tomorrow. Them I can't hold off. Your Dad will also be flying in tomorrow too." Said Josh.

"Come lay down with me? You need sleep too." Said Donna. Josh shut his laptop and lay down next to her as she scooted over so there was room for him, and then snuggled up next to him. Josh rested his arm around her, happy that her ribs and sore body was feeling better so he didn't have to treat her like she was about to break under the smallest touch—though to a degree he still did. They both quickly drifted off to sleep.

End part 1.

R&R! Look forward to part two dealing with her first few weeks at home.