Title: Dark Depths
Author: Lucy Mars
Rating: PG-13-ish?
Disclaimer: I don't own 'em. I'll play nice and return them when I'm done. Well...maybe not with Amy. ;]
*All you Amy lovers...run! ;] Thank you for all the reviews!! They're great! Inspiring even. *ahem* *hint hint, nudge nudge*
CHAPTER #4:
Grabbing his wallet and stuffing it into his back pocket, Josh sprinted out of his apartment. Leaving the lights blaring and the stove on for all he knew. All he could think about was getting to Donna. All he needed was to get to her side as quickly as humanly possible. He would take a breath as soon as he could look at her and see her give him that amazing smile. Hear her laugh and let her tell him that he was worrying about nothing. Let her dissolve the lead weight that had fallen on his heart with her wondrous laughter. Donna had to be all right. She just had to be. If she wasn't…than Josh didn't know what he was going to do.
Stumbling down the cold steps, Josh nearly crashed into a warm body.
"Took you long enough."
"Amy?" Josh asked breathless. Running while his heart was speeding away at a hundred miles an hour with worry probably wasn't a good idea. Donna was scold him if she knew. Donna. He had to get to Donna. Arching his neck up, Josh tried to make out the familiar yellow taxi. What was taking it so long to get here?
"J.?" Amy asked snapping him out of his Donna induced trance. "J. are you even listening to me?"
"Not right now Amy." Josh snapped quickly jumping down the rest of the steps and shooting nervous glances up and down the road.
"What are you doing out here?" Amy asked crossing her arms. "If you came out after me just admit it." she said smiling smugly at him. "No need to pretend that you didn't."
"I really didn't." Josh said feeling his breath catch when a car passed by them and washed the street with a brief white glow. Where the hell was his cab?! Donna needed him and he couldn't get to her. He needed to get to her.
"Than why are you out here?"
"I'm waiting for a cab." Josh growled turning his agitated face at Amy. "Why the hell do you think I'm out here?"
Her lips forming a long tight line, Amy narrowed her eyes at Josh. "Donna was the one who called…wasn't it? She called and you go running."
"Not.Now.Amy." Josh said in measured tones. "Just don't. You want to pick a fight? Do it later."
"You're pathetic, you know that? I mean, Donna calls and does her damsel in distress crap and you go running like a…"
"Amy," Josh said putting up his hand harshly, "just shut up."
"If you think that I'm going to continue to play second fiddle to you, than you're dumber than I thought J." Amy snapped. "You want to be with Donna? Fine. But I was right. You are just a hit and run guy."
His heart twisting at the mention of 'hit and run' Josh couldn't help but let his frantic mind run away with the thought. Had Donna been in a car accident? He'd told her to get a new car. Hers was an antique. He should have driven her home. He knew that she was upset after hearing the news. Hell, they all were. Swallowing heavily, Josh tried to clear the images from his mind. Donna had to be all right. She had to be. He had to believe that.
"J."
"Yeah?" Josh answered distractedly as he tried to will his taxi to arrive.
"Go to hell." Amy spat out as she turned on her heel and stalked away to her car.
Watching her walk away, Josh felt his adrenaline spike when a familiar yellow taxi rolled down his street. "I'd go if that meant that Donna would be all right." Josh said to no one in particular as he slipped into the warm car.
"Where to buddy?"
"G.W. Fast." Josh said handing the cabbie a nice tip.
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Stumbling into the emergency room, Josh didn't have time to ward off the
horrible memories of Rossyln. His mind was too wrapped around finding Donna and extinguishing that awful feeling in the pit of his stomach. Knowing that someone that you cared about was hurt was one thing. Not knowing was another. His eyes furiously scanning the overflowing emergency room, Josh nearly jumped out of his skin when a firm hand fell on his shoulder.
"Josh." Sam said leading him through the crowd.
"Where is she?" Josh asked breathlessly. "Is Donna okay? What happened?"
Leading Josh back to the waiting room that the nurse had lead them too when people recognized them, Sam looked up at Toby and CJ. He didn't know what to say. His own mind was still running in circles and trying to grasp the situation.
"Sam?" Josh asked clutching at his arms desperately. "Where's Donna? What happened?"
"I don't know." Sam said shaking his head, "We don't know anything yet."
"Sir, I think that I can answer your questions."
Turning around at the firm, yet gentle voice, Josh nearly lost his cookies when he saw the dry blood staining Donna's White House I.D badge. "Oh god…"
"Josh." Sam said leading his pale friend to one of the seats, "Sit down."
Feeling his knees give out, Josh looked up at the man who was holding Donna's bloody I.D badge. "What happened?"
"My name is Officer Dylan Lewis. I was the one who found Miss. Moss and called you Miss. Cregg."
"What happened?" Josh asked desperate for information.
"It seems that Miss. Moss was being mugged. We think that there was a struggle between the two when the mugger tried to rape Miss. Moss."
A small gasp escaped CJ's pale lips.
"She sustained a head wound that looks to have been caused by the butt of a gun. The doctors are optimistic about her condition. She's just been taken up for a CT. A doctor will be here soon to give you her condition. I'm here because I need to ask you all a few questions."
"What kind of questions?" Sam asked eyeing the police officer suspiciously.
"On the surface this looks like a simple mugging," Dylan said treading lightly, "but I just need to know a few basic things about Miss. Moss so that we can rule out a few things."
"What do you want to know?" Toby asked squeezing CJ's hand.
"Well, has Miss. Moss acquired any enemies over the past few weeks?"
"No." Josh said immediately. "Donna's a good person. Nobody would want to hurt her."
"Has there been anything erratic about her behavior lately?" Dylan asked.
"No." Josh answered again.
"Okay." Dylan said holding the bloody badge in his hand. "I just have one more question."
"What?" Josh asked watching Dylan absently move the badge between his fingers. Fingers that had dried blood caked beneath his nails. Donna's blood, Josh though blanching slightly.
"This is going to sound odd," Dylan said shifting uncomfortably, "but is Miss. Moss married or dating anyone?"
"No." Josh said more harshly than he intended too, "Why would you ask that?"
"It's just that before she passed out she asked for Josh." Dylan said looking at the three men in the room. "I promised her I'd find Josh."
"That's me." Josh said softly feeling the blood pound painfully in his head. Roaring and drowning out everything else, "That's me."
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Pacing the halls, CJ felt trapped. No matter how many times she walked up and down the hall, the walls still felt like they were closing in one her. She was trapped. Like she was being suffocated by the sterile environment.
"You're going to wear a hole in the floor." Toby said as he stepped out of the waiting room. "Why don't you come back in and sit for awhile?"
"I shouldn't have let her leave Toby. I should have insisted that she come with us." CJ said ignoring Toby's suggestion to sit down, "If I'd just insisted that she came with us, than she would be okay. Donna would have been okay."
"CJ." Toby said catching her arm, "Don't beat yourself up. This isn't your fault. This isn't Donna's fault. If anyone is to blame than it's the psycho who mugged her."
"Toby, if I'd just…"
"Don't." Toby said firmly, "Don't beat yourself up. Nobody could have seen this coming. It happened. We'll deal with it. Donna will be okay."
"It shouldn't have happened." CJ said shaking her head.
"I know." Toby said pulling her in for a hug. "I know. But the doctors are optimistic. Donna's got a hard head. She's got to have one to work with Josh."
Laughing through her tears, CJ nodded. "Yeah."
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"Here." Sam said handing Josh a hot cup of coffee.
Looking at the steaming cup that Sam held out, Josh felt his mouth dry up. "You brought me coffee."
"Drink it." Sam ordered. "It'll make you feel a little better."
Taking it, but not drinking it, Josh looked down into the dark depths. Willing it to give him all the answers.
"Donna is going to be okay." Sam said trying to calm Josh's unspoken fears.
"How do you know that?" Josh asked softly, "You heard the officer. She sustained a head wound Sam."
"Donna's to stubborn to be taken down by a mugger."
"Yeah." Josh agreed.
"She's not going to let some asshole ruin her life. Donna's strong."
"She is. She's tough." Josh said a soft smile touching his lips. "Determined."
"She's going to be okay." Sam said rubbing Josh's shoulder. "She's going to be okay."
"Is this what it felt like to wait for me?" Josh asked suddenly.
His eyes shooting up in surprise, Sam was taken back by Josh's question. "Josh…"
"Was it?"
Sam didn't like thinking about that night, but he owed that much to Josh. "Yeah. Worse."
"I'm sorry." Josh said sincerely.
"Don't be. You survived. That's all we wanted. All we asked for."
Nodding his head, Josh felt this throat close up when a doctor ushered CJ and Toby back into room. He wasn't ready to hear what the doctor had to say, but he would. Because Donna needed him, and he needed to know.
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The heat burned straight into her head. It was hotter than anything she could have imagined. Any second now she'd go up into flames. Her eyes were watering with the intensity of the heat and her head was throbbing. No, Donna thought blinking through her hazy vision. It was a light. Light that was too bright, too strong and too intense. It burned beneath her eyelids. She tried to turn away and shield her face but it hurt to much to move. What was going on?
"Donna? Can you hear me? Donna? Open your eyes."
Of course she could hear him. He was using that amazing voice to his. It made her skin tingle because even through the pain induced fog surrounding her brain, she could hear the hint of tenderness in his worried tone. Donna wanted to say something to reassure him, but her mouth was too dry and everything hurt so much.
"Donnatella?"
Oh poor Josh. He was worried. She could hear the panic and strain when he gently uttered her name. She tried to form the words, but no sound came out.
"Give her some water."
CJ? Was that CJ? Either this was one really odd dream, or CJ was in the room. Someone raised her head. Donna could feel cold water on her lips and desperately tried to open her mouth. She choked, then slowed down. Donna drank and drank the heavenly cold water until finally the water was dribbling down her chin.
"Now can you talk to me?"
"The light." Donna whispered, "Please, the light."
"It must be hurting her." CJ said reaching over Josh and flicking off the harsh overhead lamp.
The light was gone the next instant and it was now shadowy and dim. Donna sighed with relief. The pain subsided but not enough to be constituted as bearable.
"That's better. Josh?"
"I'm right here." Josh said his face lit by the light seeping in from the open door. "How you feeling?"
"Like crap." Donna said trying to move her head to get a better look at Josh. Her flinch didn't go unnoticed.
"Try and stay still." Josh soothed shifting so that she could see him better as he rubbed her hand.
"What happened?" Donna asked trying to piece together the jumbled bits of her memory. "Where am I?"
"You're at G.W." CJ said casting a quick look at Josh. "Do you remember what happened Donna?"
Her mind registering CJ's words, Donna opened her eyes in alarm and looked up at Josh.
Shaking his head, Josh gave Donna's trembling hand a reassuring squeeze. "I'm okay Donna. You're the one I'm worried about. Do you remembered what happened?"
"Remember what?" Donna asked feeling her head throb harder and harder. "Why does my head hurt so much? God, it hurts."
"I'll go find a doctor. Let them know that she's awake." CJ said hurrying out of the room. This was a hospital. There was bound to be some doctor…you know, somewhere.
"It's okay Donna. Everything's gonna be okay." Josh said gently rubbing her arm. "You don't remember what happened?"
"No."
"Okay." Josh said swallowing hard. "You were mugged Donna. Do you remember?"
Trying to focus on Josh, Donna felt the room start to spin around them. The walls were moving and the floor was shifting beneath them both. Closing her eyes when it became too much, Donna tried to focus on the warmth of Josh's hand. The strength that she felt when his fingers intertwined with hers.
"Donna? Donna, are you okay?"
His voice sounded so far away, but Donna could feel his warm breath tickle her cheek. He was so close. His cologne filled her senses and calmed her frayed nerves.
"You need to stay awake Donna." Josh pleaded, "Just wait for the doctor to come and check you out. Than you can sleep for as long as you want too. I'll even let you come in late today, Donna. Just hold on."
Feeling her lips tug upwards, Donna struggled to open her tired eyes. "You're a slave driver."
His own lips mirroring her smile, Josh felt relief flood him. If they were bantering, than everything was all right. Wasn't it? "I may even be persuaded to refrain from yelling for you for a couple of days."
"It hurts Josh." Donna whimpered feeling the pain intensify and wash over her sore body. "I can't see."
"Open your eyes Donna." Josh ordered leaning closer to Donna and feeling panic edge out his short lived relief.
"That's not it."
In the next second, Donna was unconscious and her head lolled to the side. Josh had never yelled for a doctor so loudly in his entire life.
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Sprinting to the nurses station, CJ had never been so grateful to see people in scrubs her entire life. There was once a time when she was sure her stomach would churn when interacting with medical personnel. "Donna Moss. She's awake. We need a doctor."
"Cheryl page Dr. Beaker and find Officer Lewis." Nurse O'Neil said following CJ back to Donna's room. "She just wake up?"
"Yeah." CJ said walking at a fast clip. "We gave her water. Was that okay? Were we allowed to give her water?"
"Yes. Water's fine. I'm sure that she was grateful for it."
Before CJ could even register that happy thought Josh's loud voice filled the quiet wing. Snapping to attention, CJ ran after Nurse O'Neil and into Donna's dark room.
"Josh?" CJ asked running to Donna's bedside.
"What's going on?" Josh demanded moving when the nurse gently nudged him so that she could examine Donna. "She was just awake and she blacked out. What's going on? Is she okay?"
"Josh." CJ said pulling him back as a doctor and another nurse flew into the room. "Let them check her over."
His eyes never leaving Donna, Josh shook his head. "She has to be okay CJ."
"She will be." CJ said with more confidence than she felt. "She will be."
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Listening to the rhythmic ringing of his cell phone, Toby restlessly paced the dark street in front of G.W while keeping an eye on Sam. "You should go back up."
"Not yet." Sam sighed rubbing his tired eyes. "I can't…can't go back in just yet."
"Okay." Toby shrugged pacing the well worn asphalt, as the ringing stopped. "Okay."
"Hello?"
"Leo. It's Toby."
"It's 4 in the morning Toby. What could you possibly want?" Leo growled still half asleep.
"I'm at G.W."
"What?" Leo asked snapping to attention.
"We're at G.W." Toby clarified.
"Define 'we'. And what the hell are you doing at G.W at 4 in the morning?"
"It's Donna." Toby sighed pacing faster and faster. "She was mugged and brought in with a head wound."
"Jesus." Leo spit out sitting up, "Is she all right?"
"I don't know." Toby frowned. He hated not knowing. He hated waiting. And most of all, he hated being afraid. "We don't know."
"Josh okay?" Leo asked thinking about his deputy.
"What do you think?" Toby asked laughing bitterly. "Being in G.W is probably bad enough. Add in the fact that something's wrong with Donna."
"You need me?"
"No." Toby replied, "I'm just calling to give you a heads up. I…Leo…I didn't want you to hear from someone else."
"Okay." Leo said grabbing some clothes. "Okay."
"I'll call you once we know something." Toby said nudging Sam to scoot over a little on the cold bench. "Leo?"
"Yeah?"
"There was blood all over her White House badge." Toby whispered feeling a wave of nausea wash over him. "Donna needs a new one. The police took it as evidence."
"I'll get her another one." Leo promised catching his reflection in the mirror. When did he start to look so much older? "Toby?"
"Yeah?"
"Did he…" swallowing down the lump in his throat, Leo sat down tiredly. "Was Donna…"
"No." Toby said clutching his phone and sitting down heavily beside Sam.. "No. Donna wasn't raped."
"Okay." Leo sighed, "Okay. Call me again in an hour."
"What if we don't know anything in an…"
"Call me anyway." Leo said cutting Toby off. "Just check in every hour."
"Okay." Toby said snapping his cell phone shut.
"Leo okay?" Sam asked starring up at the night sky.
"No. I'd be worried if he was."
"We should probably go back up but…" Sam said trailing off.
"I'm not ready either." Toby admitted following Sam's gaze. "I'm not ready either."
"But Josh needs us." Sam pointed out feeling guilt eat away at him.
"CJ's probably pacing the halls again." Toby replied rising and leading Sam back into the hospital.
"Donna's going to be okay…right?" Sam asked resembling a small child with his big blue eyes.
"I…I don't know Sam." Toby said holding the elevator door open for him, "But I sure hope so."