A/N: This is more of a filler chapter before the action begins.
They were still staring at each other in absolute silence when Josh's phone rang again.
"Hello," he somehow managed to choke out. Taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly, he said, "Yes, I'll inform her family. Thank you. Ok. Bye."
He didn't look up at C.J. but muttered, "That was the hospital again. I apparently hung up before they could ask me to tell her parents. How on earth am I supposed to do that?"
C.J. forced her words out as well. "Well if you want me to, I could call them. I wouldn't mind." In the back of her mind, she knew that she was offering to do something possible, so she was relieved when Josh shook his head.
"No. I should be the one to do it. I was her… I was her boss."
Here he choked on his words again and continued staring at the surface of his desk. He didn't look up when he heard C.J. sniffle, and he didn't look up when Toby walked in, took one look at them, and slumped against the doorframe.
"No," he whispered, but all he needed to do was look into C.J.'s eyes to know that the answer was very much yes. The three of them stayed there in a silence that was unbroken until Leo walked in, looking for news of Donna.
He, too, didn't even need to ask. All it took was one step into a room so steeped with misery that he had to force himself to go all the way in. Once he did, though, he found himself, suddenly, at a loss for words. He looked at Josh, but he was still staring at the desk, and it was clear that he wasn't planning on looking up any time soon, so he turned to C.J.
Feeling his eyes on her, she looked up, and Leo felt his heart break when he saw the haunted look in her eyes. "In your office?" he asked gently, and she nodded and stood up. Her movement released Toby as well, and he fled back to the safety of his own office. He needed to call Andi just to hear her voice, to reassure himself once again that she really was ok.
They all left Josh alone, which was fine with him. The only person he wanted to have there was the only person he would never see again. He couldn't imagine that there was anyone in the world who could make him feel better.