Stumbling Towards Contentment 2/?
By Ginny K.
See part one for notes and stuff.
The following week flew by. Josh was wrapping up his classes. Donna was
busy at work, getting things ready so they could all enjoy their winter
break. The boys were looking forward to vacation.
The family, and Ben, managed to all eat dinner together the following
Thursday before Josh's class.
As was usual on Thursday, Josh dragged himself in the door after class. He
didn't even bother to stop for a snack when he got home. He just headed
straight for bed. Donna just rolled her eyes at him and went into the
kitchen.
Josh slept soundly for the first time in a few nights. Donna let him sleep
in, taking the boys to school herself.
Ben knocked on the door to Josh and Donna's room a little after 10:00. He
loathed waking Josh up the same way Charlie loathed having to wake Jed.
"Josh, you up? You have office hours in an hour. It's snowing, we need to
leave early." No response. "Josh," he tried a little louder.
That was enough to get Josh moving.
"Yeah, I'm up. I'll be ready in half an hour."
Exactly 29 minutes later Josh and Ben stepped out the front door and into the
first snowfall of the season. I was also the first snowfall where Josh had
to rely on the cane and Ben was keeping a close eye on him to see how he was
doing.
"Benjamin Weaver, I am fine. I'm not going to fall." said Josh as he tried
to whack Ben in the knees with the cane.
"OK," chuckled Ben as he hit the remote to unlock the door.
Josh really shouldn't have spoken so soon about not falling.
His office hours were over and he was supposed to meet Ben in the courtyard.
He had just stepped down off the bottom step of his building and the cane hit
a patch of ice. He tried to grab onto the railing and would have made it if
it hadn't been for his backpack. It slid down his arm and the sheer weight
of it pushed his arm down and he wasn't able to catch himself. Ben saw the
whole thing happened from where he was waiting, not 20 yards away. He was at
Josh's side in an instant. By that time Josh was sitting up with a gloved
hand pressed against the back of his head.
"Let me see." said Ben as he carefully moved Josh's hand out of the way to
reveal a gash. It wasn't very long but it was deep enough that it would need
a few stitches to close. Josh reached into his pocket with his other hand
and produced his handkerchief. By now a small crowd was gathered around them.
Much to Josh's annoyance. Ben grabbed Josh's glasses that were sitting next
to him on the ground. He held them up in front of him and determined that
they were still in one piece. He carefully put them back on Josh.
By now Jerry Blake had wandered out to see what the commotion was. He helped
Ben get Josh on his feet and they walked slowly over to the university's
infirmary so they could have someone take a look at Josh's head.
"You want me to call Donna yet?" asked Ben as he helped Josh up onto the
table in the exam room.
"Nah, let's see what they say. Who knows, maybe I just need a Band-Aid."
Ben just shook his head and rolled his eyes as he took a good look at the
blood soaked wad of gauze Josh was pressing against the back of his head.
Ten minutes later the doctor had cleaned up the cut. He would have had no
problem stitching it up for Josh but he wanted Ben to take Josh to the
emergency room. The doctor wasn't impressed with how Josh's eyes reacted
when he shined the light into them. He was worried about a possible
concussion and wanted someone else to take a look at him.
"Now can I call Donna?" sighed Ben.
"Sure."
Donna was in Billy's office; they had just finished up a late lunch and were
going over what needed to be wrapped up before the break. Donna's assistant
Megan knocked softly and poked her head in, informing Donna that Ben was on
the phone. Donna excused herself and quickly went into her office to take
the call.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Don't panic. It's probably nothing major..."
"Ben." she said in a tone that told him to get to the point, and fast.
"Josh slipped on the ice and hit the back of his head. The doctor here at
the infirmary said it'll need a few stitches. He's not impressed with how
Josh's eyes reacted to the light so we're heading over to GW so they can
check for a concussion. We'll be there in about 20 minutes."
"I'll meet you there."
Donna grabbed her things, told Megan what happened and asked her to tell
Billy. She was out the door and on the cell phone getting someone to meet
the boys after school in case Ben didn't get home in time to meet them.
Josh had just been taken into a room when Donna got there. A shudder ran
through her as she stepped into the Emergency Room. She brushed aside the
memories and went to the desk to ask where Josh had been taken.
She pushed the door open. Ben was pacing around the room nervously; Josh was
sitting on the exam table, looking down, trying to rub the blood off his
hands. The annoyed and pissed off feelings she had been hanging on to over
the past week melted away at the sight of Josh. No matter how pissed she was
or how big a pain in the ass he was being, the sight of Josh in pain was
enough to break her heart. It always had been and unfortunately for her,
Josh knew that.
"Josh." sighed Donna trying to hold back the tears she was surprised to find
in her eyes.
"I'll just...." Ben trailed off as he stepped out of the room.
The doctor came in a few minutes later. He stitched Josh up and did a quick
neurological exam. His findings were the same as the doctor at the
university and he sent Josh for a CAT scan.
Donna went to give Ben an update and to send him home to meet the boys. The
doctor came out to get her when Josh was back in the room.
"How is he?" she asked nervously.
"Let's go in a see him. I'll explain our findings."
Donna got a look of panic on her face.
"Mrs. Lyman, he's going to be fine. Don't worry."
Josh was curled up on the bed when they got into the room.
"Hey." he whispered, "Well, am I going to live?" he smirked.
"Yeah, I think you have another few years left." chuckled the doctor.
"Seriously..."
"Based on your recollections and those of your friend plus the findings from
my exam and the tests I'd say you've got yourself a nice concussion. You'll
be fine in a couple of days..."
"Great. Donna let's go."
"Whoa, Josh, slow down." said Dr. Baines as he put his hand on Josh's arm.
"Given your history I'd like you to stick around for a little while. We'll
observe you for a few hours and if you're not having any problems we'll let
you go. Deal?"
"Fine." sighed Josh.
"I'll arrange for another room. Things are a little nuts here in the ER this
afternoon. Lots of weather related accidents." he said with a grin.
"Funny." snorted Josh.
Half an hour later Josh was settled into a private room. The headache that
had been building since the accident was out in full force. The nurse gave
him some Tylenol and Donna turned the light off in the room so he could try
and get some rest.
"You'll stay?" he asked Donna.
"Of course."
Donna pulled up a chair and gently brushed back his hair and caressed his
cheek until he fell asleep. Two hours later the nurse was back to see if she
could wake Josh easily. He woke up easily but unfortunately he also woke up
sick to his stomach and puked on the nurse's shoes. She took it in stride
and helped Donna get Josh cleaned up before she went to change her scrub
pants and her shoes.
After settling Josh down Donna went to get some ginger ale for him and to
check the messages on her cell phone. Sam had called the house and Ben had
relayed the latest news so he called to check up on the situation. Donna was
going to step outside and call him back but she knew Josh would start to
panic if she left him alone too long. Between the shooting and the stroke
Josh didn't do well in a hospital at all.
Josh was curled up on the bed, facing away from the door when Donna got back
to the room.
"Hey. Feel any better?" she asked as she nudged him over a little so she
could sit on the bed.
"Not really."
"Here try some of this." she said as she handed the soda to him. "Sam called
the house. Ben filled him in."
"Don't tell me, he hopped on the next flight out here." snorted Josh.
"No. I didn't call him back. I'll call him after we're home." said Donna as
calmly as she could. "And he didn't hop on the first flight out when you had
the stroke. He waited for a few days. And let's not forget he was a huge
help when we finally got home."
"I know." whispered Josh. "It's just...I don't know...I feel..."
"Sshh, honey, it's ok. Close your eyes and get some more sleep before they
come to wake you up again." suggested Donna as she rubbed his shoulder. At
the moment she was feeling it would be a lot easier to get him to sleep than
it would be to talk to him.
Josh chuckled a little and closed his eyes. He slept peacefully until the
nurse came to wake him again. After repeating the scenario one more time the
doctor released him.
A little before midnight Josh and Donna returned home, completely worn out.
"Josh you hungry?" she asked as she headed into the kitchen.
"I don't think I'm ready to eat yet."
"Then why don't you just go to bed." she said flatly.
Her tone surprised both of them. Josh just stared at her for a minute, not
quite sure what to make of it.
"I'm sorry, it's just been a long day." she sighed. "Go get into bed, I'll
bring in some ginger ale."
"Thanks." replied Josh as he turned slowly down the hallway.
Donna hunted in the fridge for the soda. Josh was asleep by the time she got
to the bedroom. She put the soda on the night table and pulled the covers up
around him. She watched him for a minute, trying to figure out where her
attitude had come from all of the sudden.
And she realized, it hadn't happened all of the sudden. It had been building
for about 7 months.
For the first few months after the stroke Josh had wallowed in a pity party
of his own. And Donna had let him. Looking back that probably wasn't the
best thing she could have done. But it was the summer, the boys were off and
it was just easier to take them out, do stuff with them and leave Josh home
to brood.
Physically, by the middle of July, Josh had come back as far as he could.
Using the cane full time, suffering some from residual swallowing
difficulties. He still had pain and stiffness on his right side from the
shooting. Those things Donna had no problem handling. But the "poor me"
attitude grated on her nerves like nothing she had ever known.
Things came to blows when Josh had decided, thankfully on his own, that he
could no longer drive. The house had not been a fun place that week.
Fortunately that particular week the boys were at sleep away camp for the
first time.
TBC
By Ginny K.
See part one for notes and stuff.
The following week flew by. Josh was wrapping up his classes. Donna was
busy at work, getting things ready so they could all enjoy their winter
break. The boys were looking forward to vacation.
The family, and Ben, managed to all eat dinner together the following
Thursday before Josh's class.
As was usual on Thursday, Josh dragged himself in the door after class. He
didn't even bother to stop for a snack when he got home. He just headed
straight for bed. Donna just rolled her eyes at him and went into the
kitchen.
Josh slept soundly for the first time in a few nights. Donna let him sleep
in, taking the boys to school herself.
Ben knocked on the door to Josh and Donna's room a little after 10:00. He
loathed waking Josh up the same way Charlie loathed having to wake Jed.
"Josh, you up? You have office hours in an hour. It's snowing, we need to
leave early." No response. "Josh," he tried a little louder.
That was enough to get Josh moving.
"Yeah, I'm up. I'll be ready in half an hour."
Exactly 29 minutes later Josh and Ben stepped out the front door and into the
first snowfall of the season. I was also the first snowfall where Josh had
to rely on the cane and Ben was keeping a close eye on him to see how he was
doing.
"Benjamin Weaver, I am fine. I'm not going to fall." said Josh as he tried
to whack Ben in the knees with the cane.
"OK," chuckled Ben as he hit the remote to unlock the door.
Josh really shouldn't have spoken so soon about not falling.
His office hours were over and he was supposed to meet Ben in the courtyard.
He had just stepped down off the bottom step of his building and the cane hit
a patch of ice. He tried to grab onto the railing and would have made it if
it hadn't been for his backpack. It slid down his arm and the sheer weight
of it pushed his arm down and he wasn't able to catch himself. Ben saw the
whole thing happened from where he was waiting, not 20 yards away. He was at
Josh's side in an instant. By that time Josh was sitting up with a gloved
hand pressed against the back of his head.
"Let me see." said Ben as he carefully moved Josh's hand out of the way to
reveal a gash. It wasn't very long but it was deep enough that it would need
a few stitches to close. Josh reached into his pocket with his other hand
and produced his handkerchief. By now a small crowd was gathered around them.
Much to Josh's annoyance. Ben grabbed Josh's glasses that were sitting next
to him on the ground. He held them up in front of him and determined that
they were still in one piece. He carefully put them back on Josh.
By now Jerry Blake had wandered out to see what the commotion was. He helped
Ben get Josh on his feet and they walked slowly over to the university's
infirmary so they could have someone take a look at Josh's head.
"You want me to call Donna yet?" asked Ben as he helped Josh up onto the
table in the exam room.
"Nah, let's see what they say. Who knows, maybe I just need a Band-Aid."
Ben just shook his head and rolled his eyes as he took a good look at the
blood soaked wad of gauze Josh was pressing against the back of his head.
Ten minutes later the doctor had cleaned up the cut. He would have had no
problem stitching it up for Josh but he wanted Ben to take Josh to the
emergency room. The doctor wasn't impressed with how Josh's eyes reacted
when he shined the light into them. He was worried about a possible
concussion and wanted someone else to take a look at him.
"Now can I call Donna?" sighed Ben.
"Sure."
Donna was in Billy's office; they had just finished up a late lunch and were
going over what needed to be wrapped up before the break. Donna's assistant
Megan knocked softly and poked her head in, informing Donna that Ben was on
the phone. Donna excused herself and quickly went into her office to take
the call.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Don't panic. It's probably nothing major..."
"Ben." she said in a tone that told him to get to the point, and fast.
"Josh slipped on the ice and hit the back of his head. The doctor here at
the infirmary said it'll need a few stitches. He's not impressed with how
Josh's eyes reacted to the light so we're heading over to GW so they can
check for a concussion. We'll be there in about 20 minutes."
"I'll meet you there."
Donna grabbed her things, told Megan what happened and asked her to tell
Billy. She was out the door and on the cell phone getting someone to meet
the boys after school in case Ben didn't get home in time to meet them.
Josh had just been taken into a room when Donna got there. A shudder ran
through her as she stepped into the Emergency Room. She brushed aside the
memories and went to the desk to ask where Josh had been taken.
She pushed the door open. Ben was pacing around the room nervously; Josh was
sitting on the exam table, looking down, trying to rub the blood off his
hands. The annoyed and pissed off feelings she had been hanging on to over
the past week melted away at the sight of Josh. No matter how pissed she was
or how big a pain in the ass he was being, the sight of Josh in pain was
enough to break her heart. It always had been and unfortunately for her,
Josh knew that.
"Josh." sighed Donna trying to hold back the tears she was surprised to find
in her eyes.
"I'll just...." Ben trailed off as he stepped out of the room.
The doctor came in a few minutes later. He stitched Josh up and did a quick
neurological exam. His findings were the same as the doctor at the
university and he sent Josh for a CAT scan.
Donna went to give Ben an update and to send him home to meet the boys. The
doctor came out to get her when Josh was back in the room.
"How is he?" she asked nervously.
"Let's go in a see him. I'll explain our findings."
Donna got a look of panic on her face.
"Mrs. Lyman, he's going to be fine. Don't worry."
Josh was curled up on the bed when they got into the room.
"Hey." he whispered, "Well, am I going to live?" he smirked.
"Yeah, I think you have another few years left." chuckled the doctor.
"Seriously..."
"Based on your recollections and those of your friend plus the findings from
my exam and the tests I'd say you've got yourself a nice concussion. You'll
be fine in a couple of days..."
"Great. Donna let's go."
"Whoa, Josh, slow down." said Dr. Baines as he put his hand on Josh's arm.
"Given your history I'd like you to stick around for a little while. We'll
observe you for a few hours and if you're not having any problems we'll let
you go. Deal?"
"Fine." sighed Josh.
"I'll arrange for another room. Things are a little nuts here in the ER this
afternoon. Lots of weather related accidents." he said with a grin.
"Funny." snorted Josh.
Half an hour later Josh was settled into a private room. The headache that
had been building since the accident was out in full force. The nurse gave
him some Tylenol and Donna turned the light off in the room so he could try
and get some rest.
"You'll stay?" he asked Donna.
"Of course."
Donna pulled up a chair and gently brushed back his hair and caressed his
cheek until he fell asleep. Two hours later the nurse was back to see if she
could wake Josh easily. He woke up easily but unfortunately he also woke up
sick to his stomach and puked on the nurse's shoes. She took it in stride
and helped Donna get Josh cleaned up before she went to change her scrub
pants and her shoes.
After settling Josh down Donna went to get some ginger ale for him and to
check the messages on her cell phone. Sam had called the house and Ben had
relayed the latest news so he called to check up on the situation. Donna was
going to step outside and call him back but she knew Josh would start to
panic if she left him alone too long. Between the shooting and the stroke
Josh didn't do well in a hospital at all.
Josh was curled up on the bed, facing away from the door when Donna got back
to the room.
"Hey. Feel any better?" she asked as she nudged him over a little so she
could sit on the bed.
"Not really."
"Here try some of this." she said as she handed the soda to him. "Sam called
the house. Ben filled him in."
"Don't tell me, he hopped on the next flight out here." snorted Josh.
"No. I didn't call him back. I'll call him after we're home." said Donna as
calmly as she could. "And he didn't hop on the first flight out when you had
the stroke. He waited for a few days. And let's not forget he was a huge
help when we finally got home."
"I know." whispered Josh. "It's just...I don't know...I feel..."
"Sshh, honey, it's ok. Close your eyes and get some more sleep before they
come to wake you up again." suggested Donna as she rubbed his shoulder. At
the moment she was feeling it would be a lot easier to get him to sleep than
it would be to talk to him.
Josh chuckled a little and closed his eyes. He slept peacefully until the
nurse came to wake him again. After repeating the scenario one more time the
doctor released him.
A little before midnight Josh and Donna returned home, completely worn out.
"Josh you hungry?" she asked as she headed into the kitchen.
"I don't think I'm ready to eat yet."
"Then why don't you just go to bed." she said flatly.
Her tone surprised both of them. Josh just stared at her for a minute, not
quite sure what to make of it.
"I'm sorry, it's just been a long day." she sighed. "Go get into bed, I'll
bring in some ginger ale."
"Thanks." replied Josh as he turned slowly down the hallway.
Donna hunted in the fridge for the soda. Josh was asleep by the time she got
to the bedroom. She put the soda on the night table and pulled the covers up
around him. She watched him for a minute, trying to figure out where her
attitude had come from all of the sudden.
And she realized, it hadn't happened all of the sudden. It had been building
for about 7 months.
For the first few months after the stroke Josh had wallowed in a pity party
of his own. And Donna had let him. Looking back that probably wasn't the
best thing she could have done. But it was the summer, the boys were off and
it was just easier to take them out, do stuff with them and leave Josh home
to brood.
Physically, by the middle of July, Josh had come back as far as he could.
Using the cane full time, suffering some from residual swallowing
difficulties. He still had pain and stiffness on his right side from the
shooting. Those things Donna had no problem handling. But the "poor me"
attitude grated on her nerves like nothing she had ever known.
Things came to blows when Josh had decided, thankfully on his own, that he
could no longer drive. The house had not been a fun place that week.
Fortunately that particular week the boys were at sleep away camp for the
first time.
TBC