Title: Four Nights
Author: Willow
Summary: Josh has been home from hospital for two weeks and he's not a well as he says he is.
Spoilers/Episode: Up to season 2, Midterms.
Characters: Ensemble
Rating: PG

Part III - Tuesday Night

CJ was snoozing on the couch when she heard a door open and close again. She lay in the darkness and listened in case he needed anything. When she heard Josh throwing up, she sat up, but decided he needed his privacy and waited for him to emerge. Five minutes later she stood up, walked to the bathroom and knocked gently on the door. "Josh, are you alright?"

"Yeah," Josh replied unconvincingly.

"Can I come in?" CJ asked, but Josh didn't reply. "Josh? If you don't answer I'm coming in anyway." She heard the light turn off and the bathroom door opened. Josh walked, slowly and not very steadily, past her and back to his room without saying a word. CJ followed him in and turned the bedside light on. "You need anything?"

"Darkness," Josh replied, but he didn't have the strength to turn the light back off. He sighed and then winced as the slight movement increased the pain that throwing up caused. "You could pass me a couple of painkillers out of the top drawer," he whispered.

CJ opened the drawer. There's a pill bottle and three blister packs of different kinds of medication. "Which ones?" she asked.

"The bottle," Josh replied. CJ looked worriedly at Josh, who was lying with his eyes closed, obviously in considerable pain. She handed him the pills and the glass of water off the night stand. "Thanks," Josh said. He tried to sit up but a stabbing pain took his breath away and made him lie straight back down again. CJ put her hand behind his head and helped him sit a little, while he took the painkillers.

"You need anything else?"

"Just turn the light out and leave me alone." He could feel tears in his eyes and the last thing he wanted was for CJ to see him crying on top of everything else. Tonight had been his worse night for a week. He woke up from a nightmare, but he couldn't really remember what it was about. The pain from tossing and turning in his sleep made him throw up. The pain from that was almost unbearable. He really didn't need pity on top of that. It was too late though, a tear escapes down his cheek as he turned his head away.

CJ could feel tears welling in her own eyes. She swallowed the lump in her throat and turned the light out, to give Josh the privacy he obviously needed. She walked back in to the lounge, turned the TV on and lay back on the couch. She was determined not to fall asleep and was surprised when she opened her eyes to find the room was light. She looked at her watch, 5.30, she'd been asleep for 5 hours. She looked toward Josh's bedroom and saw the door was open. She sat up quickly, too quickly, and fell off the couch.

"Careful," said an amused voice from above her.

"It's not funny, that hurt," she groaned. "How are you?" she asked as she sat back on the couch.

"Fine," Josh replied, putting a coffee on the table.

"Thanks," CJ said. She watched Josh as he sat down in the chair. He did look okay, if a little pale. "You sleep okay?"

"Yeah."

"Josh, don't lie to me!"

"Why bother asking the question when you know the answer?" he asked a little grumpily.

"Sorry," CJ said quietly. She had no idea how to handle Josh in this mood. She wasn't even sure what mood he was in.

"No, I'm sorry. Thanks for last night," Josh smiled slightly.

"I didn't do anything."

"Yeah you did. You were there"

"Is it always that bad?" she asked.

When Sam asked that question Josh had lied, because Monday night was a good night for him. Today though there was no need to lie to CJ. "No. Last night was pretty bad." He'd got up twice more, but was careful not to wake her. And he hadn't actually slept at all. As soon as daylight had come through the curtains, he'd got up. He can see that CJ needed more. "I had PT yesterday. It takes it out of me," which was a massive understatement.

"Is that where Donna was yesterday afternoon?" CJ asked and Josh nodded. "It almost took a presidential order to keep her away last night," CJ smiled. "You should have told me."

"I know, but it wasn't that bad until I went to bed."

"How are you now then, really?" CJ asked.

Josh smiled sheepishly. "Sore," he said. "I'll be alright in a couple of hours." He smiled, "I have to alright by lunch or Donna'll tell my mom and she'll be on the first flight back."

"Mom's worry, it's what they do," CJ smiled. "When is she back?"

"Friday," he replied. "She's had a shit few weeks. First me getting shot and now Jack dying."

"Were they close?"

"She's known his wife, Maggie, for over 25 years. Maggie married Jack about 10 years ago. Her first husband beat her, there was nowhere for her to go, to get away from him. She stayed with us and eventually he gave up and moved on. She decided that something needed to be done to help women in her situation. My mom and our neighbor helped her set up a shelter. It took them quite some time to get permission from the relevant authorities and to raise the money, but my mom doesn't give up on something she believes strongly in."

"Now I know who you take after," CJ smiled.

Part Four.....