Jealousy. No, not Jealousy. Josh wasn't the jealous type, especially when it came to Donna. Why would he be? She was just his assistant. His receptionist. No, he wasn't jealous. He was simply . . . surprised. Yes, that sounded right.

"Josh? Are you still there?" He had completely forgotten about CJ.

"Huh? Yeah. I'm here." He finally managed to rip his eyes away from the intimate reunion taking place in Donna's hospital room and returned to the conversation. He started walking down the hall toward the lobby. "What were you saying?"

"I was asking you about -"

"Yeah. Listen, CJ," Josh cut her off mid sentence. "Did Donna say anything to you about a guy?"

"Donna? Why? Did something happen with a guy?" CJ asked, sounding excited.

"No. Some guy with flowers just . . ." Josh hesitated. He wasn't sure how much he should say.

"Is this about the photographer?"

"Photographer?" Josh couldn't remember seeing a camera.

"Yeah. Colin, the photojounalist who was showing her around Gaza."

"When did this happen?" Josh vaguely remember reading something about a photographer in her e-mails, but he had pictured him being shorter and balder and less . . . manly.

"What do you mean? She met him in Gaza. Is he there at the hospital?!"

"Looks like it. CJ, you should see this guy with his humongous flowers and his foreign charm. And who knows where those lips have been. She's in the hospital, you know! Is that even hygienic? He's probably giving her all sorts of -"

"Woah, boy. Slow down there, crazy."

"Sorry." Josh took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

"Do I detect a hint of jealousy?" CJ asked.

"Jealousy?" Josh answered quickly. "Why would I be jealous?"

"Well, Joshua," CJ sounded exasperated, "What did you think was going to happen? Donna is a single woman in her prime. She met a handsome photojournalist who offered to giver her a tour of the city. Did you honestly think that tour wouldn't include his bedroom?"

"Maybe. Yeah." Josh hadn't given it much thought until now. He had watched Donna go out with dozens of men over the years, none of which Josh approved of. But he made it a point to never think about exactly what those dates entailed. He told himself it was none of his business. But that was before she had been nearly killed. Before everything changed. It felt like a lifetime ago.

"Well, I got news for ya. If he's half as good-looking as Donna made him sound in her e-mails I would have skipped the tour and gone straight for the bedroom, if you know what I'm sayin'. Is he?"

"Is he what?"

"Good-looking?"

"Don't you have some important press release to get ready for?" Josh tried to sound irritated. This was not where he wanted this conversation to go.

"Okay. But have Donna give me a call when she feels up to it."

Josh didn't say anything.

"And Josh," CJ hesitated. " I say this as your friend and as a woman: Either tell her how you feel, or quit getting jealous whenever any other man shows her any attention."

"CJ, I don't get jeal-"

"Goodbye, Joshua."

"Bye"

He hung up and went back to Donna's room, but the photojournalist was still sitting next to her bed. As much as Josh instantly disliked him, it was hard to begrudge his presence when Donna looked so vibrant - so alive - talking to him. It was the happiest Josh had seen her since she had woken up. Josh quietly pulled the door closed and leaned against the wall in the hallway, looking at his watch.

Either tell her how you feel or quit getting jealous whenever any other man shows her any attention.

What was that supposed to mean? Tell her how you feel? How did he feel? He felt scared. He felt sleep deprived and sick. For some reason he felt extremely frustrated. How would telling Donna any of that do either of them any good? Still, he had to admit that just being here - being near her - made that fear and guilt and frustration fade, if only slightly.

But - he reminded himself - he wasn't jealous! He knew what they were all thinking - Sam and CJ and the nurses. They were wrong. He was only here because he was the one who had put her in harm's way and now he was trying to make up for it. Any of them would have done the same if it had been their assistants in that SUV. But a little voice in the back of Josh's mind knew that wasn't true, knew that the relationship he and Donna had was . . . special. It went beyond the bounds of being simply professional. She had taken care of him - practically moved in with him - after he had been shot. And he knew details about her life that were reserved for close friends and family members. With as much time as they spent together it was inevitable. And right now she needed him as much as he needed her.

Josh shook his head and looked at his watch again. What did it matter anyway? Now she had the photographer to keep her company. It gave Josh time to think about more important things, work things. He decided to grab some dinner and try to get some work done.

Several unproductive hours later Josh returned to Donna's room to catch the end of Palestinian Prime Minister Mukarat's address on TV. The Prime Minister was condemning the act of aggression and asking the leaders of the world to seek for a peaceful solution.

"They do get it, you know." Colin, the photographer, said, once the speech had ended. He spoke with what Josh now recognized as an Irish accent. "Despite the rhetoric. The Palestinians realize if they've got any chance at real peace it's with you guys as brokers. Be a shame to see that blown."

Colin put on his jacket and picked up his bag. Josh couldn't think of anything diplomatic to say so he changed the subject.

"So, you two spend a lot of time together?" he asked offhandedly.

"Uh . . . some." Colin answered, sounding slightly uncomfortable as he looked from Donna - who was still sleeping - to Josh.

"Pretty long flight from Gaza to Germany." Josh pointed out.

"Not really. It's nothing compared to the flight from DC." Colin looked at Josh with suspicion. He hesitated, before adding, "Look, she didn't mention . . . anything. If this is going to be an issue, then . . ."

"No." Josh said quickly. "No issue." What else could Josh say? He had no reason, really, to make it an issue. And even if he had wanted to . . .

A soft moaning came from Donna's bed. Both men turned in alarm. Colin was at her side in an instant. "You alright?"

"Where's the . . ." Donna started moving around, looking for something.

"The what?" Josh asked, although he stood back with his arms folded, as Colin was already attending to her.

"The Morphine?" Donna asked, as Colin placed the clicker in her hand. She clicked it several times. As her eyes found Colin's face, she started to relax, although she continued to squeeze the clicker several more time.

"I think it only works the first time," Josh said awkwardly referring to the morphine clicker. He wished he could be anywhere but here.

Donna didn't even seem to notice. She noticed Colin's jacket and bag. "You're leaving."

"Yeah." Colin said, leaning in to kiss her. "Yeah, just for a little bit."

Josh turned away from what was sure to be a sickeningly romantic goodbye scene. He wanted to roll his eyes as he heard Colin whisper dramatically, "But I shall return before first light. Don't go anywhere."

Josh tried to focus on the tv, tried to act like he wasn't paying attention, but turned back a little too quickly as Colin bid him farewell. "Nice to meet you," Josh said, in what he hoped was a casual tone. He couldn't help but smirk as Colin finally left the room.

There was a moment of silence following Colin's departure in which Josh couldn't quite meet Donna's eyes. He looked at the ground and shuffled his feet as he tried to compose himself and stop smirking.

"Isn't he charming?" Donna asked in a dreamy voice.

"Sure, in a bodice-ripping, heathcliff-on-the-moore, I'm-too-sexy-for-my-camera sorta way." Josh couldn't help himself.

"Josh . . ." she scolded, turning away and closing her eyes, sounding embarrassed.

They were spared any further awkward small talk by the sudden arrival of another bouquet of exotic looking flowers.

"More admirers," Josh said as he took them from the nurse, looking for a card.

"Really?" She sounded mildly curious.

"How many photographers did you meet over there?" Josh teased as he set the flowers next to her bed.

"Who are they from?" Donna didn't sound amused at his joke.

Josh pulled out the card and read it. Then flipped it over. There was something that looked like Arabic on the other side. "K, this is sorta weird."

"What?" Donna tried to sit up, looking more interested.

Josh read the English side aloud. "Wishes for a speedy recovery. Father of the Baker, Father of the Light, Son of the Sword."

"Let me see." Donna reached up and Josh handed her the card. She examined both sides.

"You sure you don't know someone named Father of the Baker?" Josh tried to lighten the mood.

Donna just shook her head, handing the card back to Josh. "Is that Arabic?" She looked worried.

"Don't worry." he reassured her. "I'm sure it's nothing. I'll just give Leo a call and be right back."

He hesitated before reaching down to gently tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Try to get some rest."

He let his hand linger on her face for just a moment as he searched her eyes. He couldn't help thinking about what CJ had told him. Then he turned away, reaching in his pocket for his phone to keep his hands from shaking as he left the room.