A/N: This is going to be the final chapter! Thank you to all who have read and followed this story. And now without further ado, the conclusion to "And The Army Goes Rolling Along". Please read and review!
Chapter 16: Moving On (Together)
After CJ left her hospital room that day, Donna tossed and turned for a while, thinking about what she had said. Some of the things she told her hit really close to home. The truth was, she had been shutting Josh out, and her PTSD was doing nothing to help matters. She really needed to talk to Josh, and they both needed to begin the healing process. Preferably alone. As much as she loved having her mother there, it was going to be her and Josh for the next part. Little did she know that Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, in their impeccable timing, was about to make that easier than it ever could've been.
That afternoon, her mother and Josh had returned to her room. She had offered Josh a worn smile when he returned, and almost cried when she saw the look of delight in his eyes. She realized he was more than ready for her to reach out to him.
Donna was laying in bed, watching TV, when Col. Leahy knocked on her door. "Knock, knock. How are we feeling this evening, Captain?"
"Better." she answered truthfully. "Tired, but I feel...stronger, somehow. Like I'm better able to cope."
"That's because your other injuries are healing." he explained. "In fact, aside from the amputation, you're recovering beautifully."
"That's really good to hear." Josh said, relieved.
Then, the doctor smiled. "Would you like some good news?"
"Please." Donna replied.
"How would you like to go home tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow?" Donna was flabbergasted. "That soon?"
"Well, you'll go into an inpatient rehab first, but you are strong enough to fly back to Texas."
Josh grinned. "That's great, baby."
"That's wonderful news!" Roberta chimed in.
"Good." Donna said halfheartedly. Part of her didn't feel ready to go home and face the reality of what her new life would look like.
"I know it seems daunting leaving the cocoon of the military hospital." Col. Leahy pressed on. "But the truth is, going home really is the next logical step for you."
Donna nodded slowly. She knew the doctor was right. As he left, promising to bring by the discharge paperwork the next day, she turned to Josh and Roberta.
"So, I guess I'm going home."
"Isn't it great news?" Roberta asked her. "Aren't you excited?"
"Well...part of me is, and part of me isn't, I guess."
"What do you mean part of you isn't?" Josh said.
Donna hesitated.
"Donna?" Josh was a little concerned. He realized she had some emotions built up inside, and that they needed to have this out sooner rather than later.
"It's nothing, it's just...it's not that I'm not glad to be leaving Germany, but things are only just beginning."
"What do you mean?"
Donna paused, trying to gather her thoughts. Thankfully, Josh realized that maybe this was a conversation they needed to have without an audience.
"Roberta, why don't you head back to the hotel for the night? I'll call you if anything changes or when we have a time for departure tomorrow."
Luckily, Roberta took the hint. "All right, that's probably a good idea. Good night, you two."
"Good night, Mom." Donna called after her. The second the door had clicked behind Roberta, Josh came over and sat next to her. He took her hand, and for the first time in a week, she didn't pull away.
"I'm scared." Donna finally admitted. She took a shaky breath, and Josh could see the tears glistening in her eyes. He reached over and brushed the tears from her eyes, being careful of the cuts and bruises on her face, and waited for her to elaborate.
"I'm not ready for this to sink in yet." Donna continued quietly. "At least in the hospital, there's so much else going on that I barely have time to think about my leg being gone or about leaving the Army. But, now that I'll be back in Texas, I'll have nothing but time to focus on both things. And I'm not ready for that to hit me yet."
"Oh, baby." Josh murmured. He squeezed her hand and leaned over to gently kiss her. It was the first time they had kissed in a week. He moved to sit next to her on the bed; Donna smiled softly and scooted over to make room for him. He put an arm around her shoulder and kissed her temple.
"What you're feeling right now, honey, that's totally normal. It's okay for you to be scared. Heck, I'm scared. I have no idea how this is going to work out. I don't know what our lives are going to be like in the future. But you know what?"
"What?"
"Every time I start to feel overwhelmed, I just remind myself that we have a future. You survived, Donna. You came back to me, just like you said you would all those months ago in that hangar. I love you so much and I'm ready to get on with our lives. Because as long as we're together, baby, we can handle anything."
Donna nodded, but she still seemed to be contemplating something. Finally, it spilled out: "How do I know you're not going to be overwhelmed? How do I know you're not going to leave me?"
Josh's mouth dropped open slightly. In some ways, he could see where she may have gotten that idea. But he couldn't believe she doubted him like that.
"Donna, look at me." His voice was firm. She turned, her bloodshot eyes meeting his. Suddenly, she saw tears filling his own eyes.
'I will never, ever leave you. You're the most important thing to me, and I will never stop making you think that. When I first saw you here, the first thing I was reminded of were our wedding vows. 'In sickness and in health.'"
"This goes far beyond that, Josh…"
"In sickness and in health, Donna. That's what I promised you, and I intend to live up to my end of the bargain."
Donna looked up. "You mean that?"
"More than I've ever meant anything in my life." Josh told her seriously. Donna only had to look into his eyes and see the sincerity of his words.
"I love you." she told him.
"I love you too." Josh replied, pulling her close and kissing her.
"I'm so sorry." Donna whispered.
"For what?"
"For pushing you away."
"Don't be sorry for that. You needed time to process this, and I just needed to respect that."
Donna nodded. She leaned into her husband, and found herself relaxing into his embrace. Josh just sat there and watched her drift off to sleep on his shoulder. He thanked God that she was still alive, and that they were back to talking again.
…
The next day, Donna was flown home to Fort Hood on the med-flight. Josh and Roberta flew back with her. Much to their relief, Roberta flew back to Wisconsin after a couple days in spite of her initial hesitation. She was checked into the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, and continued the rehabilitation process that began overseas. At first, she just worked on strengthening her residual limb and learning how to use crutches as an above-knee amputee. Then, her long-awaited prosthetic limb arrived, and what had once been an abstract concept was about to become a reality.
"Okay, Donna." Her physical therapist said, scooting back from the parallel bars where Donna now stood. "Just keep both hands on the bars, put one foot in front of the other, and let's see what happens."
Donna nodded and bit her lip in concentration. She had been working with the therapist on gait training for weeks, but this was the first time they would try with the prosthetic. She stared down at the aluminum gadget that would now act as her right leg. The prosthetist said that in a year or so, they could look into getting her a prosthetic limb that looked more life-like, but for now this was what she was stuck with.
Josh stood just outside the parallel bars, within her sightline. "You got this, baby."
With Josh and the therapist's encouragement, Donna closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and took a step. And then she took another, holding onto the parallel bars with a death grip. One foot in front of the other, she kept telling herself. And suddenly, she reached one end. She turned around ever so gently.
"Be careful turning." the therapist warned. "It's not as easy as it looks."
Donna turned around, and began to slip, but caught herself by grabbing onto the bars. Josh held his breath until Donna managed to get her bearings, then watched in amazement as she walked the length of the bars to where she had begun.
"Donna, don't look now, but you're walking!" Josh cried out.
Donna laughed in astonished delight. "I did it."
"You certainly did." The therapist said. "This is only the beginning."
After that, Donna got stronger every day. Eventually, she graduated from the parallel bars to a cane, and quickly mastered that. Josh couldn't believe how much progress she was making in such a short amount of time. And then came the day when Donna was released from the rehabilitation hospital to the apartment she and Josh had moved into right before she deployed.
Josh held the door open for her as she maneuvered her way inside, carefully treading a path. She knew she had to be careful on unfamiliar terrain in case the prosthetic got caught on something. Josh held his breath slightly until she got to the couch and sat down.
He dropped down next to her. She smiled and snuggled into him.
"Welcome home, baby." Josh said.
"It's good to be home." Donna replied quietly.
Two days later, Donna was called to the main administrative office. Donna knew this was it. This was where she would find out whether she would stay in-or be asked to leave. Josh offered to go with her, but she told him she needed to do this on her own. Besides, Josh had already missed far too much work.
Three hours after her meeting was due to begin, Josh was sitting at his desk, hard at work on the language of a local environmental legislation.
"Hey, babe." he heard a quiet voice say. Josh looked up to find Donna smiling at him.
"Hey!" Josh replied, coming around to kiss her. "Why don't you grab a seat? Your leg must be killing you."
"It's not really, but thanks." Donna told him, gratefully sliding into the chair in front of the desk. "I have some news to tell you."
"What's up?" Josh asked nonchalantly. He couldn't tell from Donna's expression whether the CO on duty had given her good or bad news.
"He said that he got a good report from the medical board. There's no reason, medically, why I shouldn't be able to do my job."
"But?" Josh prompted.
"He asked me if physically, I could hold up on long deployments or on long missions. He's worried that my prosthetic might not be able to withstand it, which I understand."
Josh's heart sunk. He knew exactly where this was leading, and his heart broke for his wife. "So…"
"Medical discharge, most likely. It'll be an honorable discharge, though."
Josh didn't know what to say. "I'm really sorry, baby."
"Don't worry. I've accepted it. In fact, I've already started looking for another job."
"Yeah?" Josh asked, interested. "What are you thinking about?"
"How does right here sound?"
"Here?" Josh was surprised, but then again, she had always wanted to work her way up in politics.
"It's just a research position, but the personnel office seems to think that with my degree, I can work my way up. And there's another thing I've been thinking about."
"That's awesome! What else are you thinking about?"
She took a breath. "I think I might want to go to law school, Josh."
"Law school?"
"I really think I could be good at it."
Josh's lips curled into a smile. He stood up, walked over and kissed her forehead. "Donnatella Moss-Lyman, I think you could do whatever you set your mind to. And I'll support you all the way."
"Really?"
"Really."
Donna smiled brightly. Josh's heart grew light: it was the first real smile he had seen since her leg had been amputated.
"Oh! And I also have some big news."
"What's that?"
"You are looking at the latest recipient of the Silver Star conduct medal for my work overseas in Iraq."
Josh's mouth dropped open. After a few seconds in shock, he said, "For real?"
"For real." Donna confirmed.
Josh let out a whoop, and swept Donna up in his arms. He kissed her.
"I'm so proud of you." he whispered in her ear.
…
Three weeks later, Donna officially signed the paperwork that gave her an honorable medical discharge from the Army. She and Josh had prepared for the move, and bought an apartment in nearby Killeen. That way, they could both still work at the legislative office and further their careers. Donna had also applied and been accepted to Baylor Law School. Both Josh and Donna were ready and prepared for what the next stage of their lives would bring.
However, there was still one more loose end to tie up. Three days before her formal discharge, on a Sunday afternoon, Donna stood in her dress uniform for the final time to prepare to receive the Silver Star medal.
General Baker, home from Iraq, gave a speech detailing Donna's service to her country, and how she had sacrificed her leg for the lives of her fellow soldiers. Donna thought that was stretching things just a little, but she did admit it was a life-altering mission. As the General continued on, she began to look around the room at the people who had come to watch her receive her award.
Her parents, Daniel and Roberta, who had accepted and embraced their daughter's calling to fight for their country.
The Bartlets, newly retired from the Army, who had meant so much to her at West Point.
Charlie and Zoey, who had left the Army after their contracts were up, married, and were now expecting their first child.
Her friends from Fort Belvoir: Sam (who had tracked down Ainsley Hayes after his contract was up, as promised: they were now dating), Will, CJ, Toby, and Carol all took up one row. She thought about what they must have given up to be there that day, and she was eternally grateful.
Finally, she looked at Josh. The man she had fallen in love with so many years earlier, who had fought for her with every fiber of his being. Her best friend, her partner, and the love of her life.
She was jerked from her thoughts as General Baker read, "It is my great honor to present the Silver Star Medal to Captain Donnatella Moss!"
Applause broke out in the room as Donna stood, with the help of her cane, and walked on her prosthetic leg towards the General. She saluted him, and stood proudly as General Baker pinned on the medal.
Donna faced the audience, looking around at her family, and the people she had come to see as family as they all stood and applauded. She was honored and proud to have served her country, and she found that she no longer worried about what would come next. Because whatever hurdles she faced, she had a village to face it with.
THE END
A/N: Well, that's a good place to end it! I hope you've all enjoyed this story. I know it was a little different, but I wanted to try it. Thank you all for reading!