A/N Ok. Meant to be just that one bit, but due to the urgings of my reviewers (thankyou thankyou thankyou : ) I'm gonna try to continue the idea. Problem is, I have no idea what that idea actually is, so I'll just run on until I encounter a point. Please, any ideas for direction, tell me!! I love to write this I just don't know where I'm going.... That said, enjoy and please please please comment : )

'Merry Christmas.' Donna's eyes fluttered open at the sound of Josh's voice, soft, very close to her face and surprisingly cheerful.

'Merry Christmas to you to.' She replied, happy to see him both inches from her face and in such a decent mood. She had thought last night, as had Josh, that things would probably be a little awkward this morning. But such a good nights sleep for the both of them was worth it. Neither of them said anything for a while and a comfortable silence developed, they were both running through last night's events in their minds and trying to wake up and say something productive.

'How are you feeling?' Donna asked, the question carrying a little more weight than usual. Her brow furrowed with the memory of how much turmoil Josh had been going through lately.

He bit back a glib response, deciding it was probably better not to toy with Donna's emotions at precisely this moment. 'I feel,' he hesitated, unsure of exactly how he did feel, 'better. And yet worse. Weird. But mostly better'. The hint of a dimpled smile invoked some genuine relief in Donna.

'Have you realized yet how stupidly you've been behaving for the past couple of weeks?' she gently teased.

He laughed a little and ventured a small smile, slightly abashed, 'Yes. That I can admit. I know...' he left it hanging.

'Yeah.' She finished and smiled. She got it.

'Well then,' Josh started, 'What were you going to do today?'

'I figured you'd sit around the office working for a couple of hours and trying to give me a holiday until your head imploded and you had to call me.' Donna answered teasingly.

'Sounds good,' full dimples. 'Come on,' he jerked his head towards the door of the bedroom, 'lets get up. We can have a couple hours off for Christmas morning, get a nice leisurely breakfast, then we can go to work.'

'Best Christmas I've ever had,' Donna rolled her eyes and smirked at him, 'Now be a gentleman and close your eyes while I get up and go take a shower.' She started to get up.

'Yes Ma'am.' You didn't have to tell him twice. As Donna gently retrieved yesterday's clothes from the floor and worked her way to the shower, Josh closed his eyes and nestled back into the bed. He savoured the remnants of warmth and scent from her side of his bed. It had been far too long since someone had occupied that half of the bed, or any part of his bed for that matter, other than him. He breathed in Donna's warmth and thought about the previous day, trying to think about it without mentally collapsing under the strain.

Josh understood what had happened yesterday; and for the first time he understood what had been happening to him these past weeks. What he didn't understand, was what happens now. He wanted to talk to Donna, to tell her everything he thought and felt and let her in to re-organize his messed up brain. And yet, he didn't want to jeopardize the gentle friendship they had. He knew that their particular relationship wasn't covered by the boss/assistant dynamic and there came a point where even 'friends' failed them, but he didn't want to scare her by saying too much, too quick. So while a part of him just wanted to let pour and let her help him, another part of him wanted to protect Donna, protect her from something he himself didn't even understand.

He listened to the sound of the water running in the shower in the next room. Pull yourself together, Josh, he thought to himself. She's been through enough, this is not the time to be dumping all of your shit on her. She's worried enough about you, without hearing the gory details. He just wanted a little comfort. Was that so wrong?

Oh well. Put on a happy face. He genuinely felt better and wanted to take advantage of this to reassure Donna that no, her boss had not completely lost it. Josh roused himself from the bed and pulled on some jeans, determined to appear legitimately healthier today. 'Damage control', Stanley had said. That sounded good right about now. He knew what he was doing to himself now so the time had come to help his friends. He could dump all his problems on some therapist, later. Now he had to fix what he'd started.

Just as he heard the water turn off, Josh moseyed on over to the CD player and slapped on The Kinks, 'Everybody's Gonna Be Happy', for added pep. He turned up the volume and moved into the kitchen, attempting to find the makings of coffee.

A/N Well there you go... ok I have kind of an idea in my head so there should definitely be at least one more chapter, maybe more if inspiration strikes! Keep reading...