Title: Gravitation is Not Responsible (3?)
Author: Aerial312
Rating: PG-13
Category: Humor/Fluff/Angst/Romance (a little of everything)
Spoiler Info: Post Rosslyn.
Disclaimer: I own nothing…I just borrow.
Feedback: Greatly appreciated. Sure. Just let me know where its going.

A/N: Okay, sequel it is.

"He still asleep?"

"Yeah…"

Kendra strode over to Josh's bedside. "He really sleeping, or pretending?"

"I'm pretty sure he's really out."

"The coughing's tough on them, but we gotta do it. Today's the toughest. It'll get easier, as he exercises his lung capacity."

"Are they usually as…"

"Obstinate?"

"Right."

"Usually. You have some who are really determined, and others who don't do well with pain, and well, biology. He's squeamish, so he's freaking out and giving up."

"What happens if he continues to give up?"

"It slows his recovery. Usually they get sick of the pain of not being able to take a full breath, and give in."

Kendra took some readings off the various monitors, and recorded them in Josh's chart.

"I'll be back in 10 minutes. If he's not up then, I'm going to wake him. If he wakes up and for some reason," she looks at Donna pointedly, "wants to try again, he can. Just follow the same procedure we were using."

Donna nodded, and Kendra left the room. Donna stood from her chair, and moved closer to Josh's bed, running her hands through his hair.

"Stubborn, stubborn, stubborn. I know you don't want to go through that again, but you know, you know that Kendra's not going to give up on you about this. And I'm not either. You're going to do your coughing, and your breathing exercises. You just have to get through today's. After today, its not as hard. Unless you refuse to do it. Then it's gonna be tough until you finally do, Josh. And I don't want to see you in pain."

She took his hand in hers, and squeezed tightly. Josh opened his eyes and looked at her.

"This…sucks." His voice was raspier than it had been the night before, after his exertion earlier.

Donna smiled softly. "It'll get easier."

"That's…what…you're…both…say…ing."

"So you were awake?"

"Only…little…while."

"Your voice is getting worse."

"Yeah."

"Was…better…before..cough…ing."

"You got the crap half way up, it got stuck there when you gave up."

"You…think?"

"You're coughing to clear your lungs. You were coughing for a while, before you quit—"

"Before…I…threw up…second…time."

"I know that was hard, but Josh, please. Please try again without giving us a hard time. You don't want to slow down your recovery."

Josh looked at her pleading eyes, and gave a sort of sigh. He couldn't take in much of a breath, so it was just a short exhale. "Okay…get…Kendra?"

"She said we could start without her."

"Good."

"Good?"

"She…was…mean."

"It's her job to make you do things you don't want to."

"Your…job…too. You're…not…mean."

Donna laughed. "Oh no? I'll have to write that down, to bring it out as proof next time you say I am."

Josh smiled halfway, just enough to show a dimple. "What…first?"

"First, we're going to raise your bed up, so you can sit up straight."

"Slow."

"Right. Slowly, so you don't get dizzy again."

Josh pushed slowly on the button to raise the head of his bed. " 'Kay"

"Now, here's the extra pillow, hold it…here."

Donna placed the pillow over his wound.

"This's…silly."

"It provides support. Now you're going to take a breath in through your nose, hug the pillow, and cough twice."

"You…should…have…the…basin…ready."

"Getting it."

She grabbed the new pink plastic basin, and placed it on his lap

"Can…you…hold it…closer?."

Donna nodded and lifted the basin to his chest level. "Ready?"

Josh nodded tentatively.

"Breathe in…hug…cough."

Josh did as he was told, wincing as he began to cough.

"You can do it. Come on. Good job."

Josh spit into the basin, and leaned back against the bed.

"Good start."

Josh scoffed. "Nauseous…already."

"I know, I know. Get it over with?"

Josh nodded, and sat up again.

"Breathe…hug…cough."

Josh coughed violently, and spit out a large chunk of phlegm.

"Good!"

Josh heaved slightly, but Donna was almost certain that there was nothing left in his stomach to expel. She rubbed his back with her free hand.

"There you go!"

"Ugh…"

"You're doing great."

"New basin?"

"Yeah?"

"I can't look…at that."

Donna nodded, and grabbed the other, littler basin. "One more good cough. Just like that one."

Josh scrubbed his face with his hand, and sat straight up again.

"Breathe….hug…cough."

Josh complied and delivered two strong coughs, spitting into the basin. He leaned forward, head bowed, and took a deep breath.

"Those last few breaths were much better," Donna complimented, as she whisked away the basin. She dumped it in the other one, and rinsed it out, bringing it back.

"I feel like shit."

"I know, honey." Donna had been resisting calling him that, even though his current state led it to the tip of her tongue repeatedly. She couldn't help herself this time. He remained curled over, leaning on his extra pillow, and she stroked his back. She steadied one hand on his back. "Take a deep breath."

He did, inhaling deeply against her hand. "Rub again."

She smiled, and did as he asked. "You're breathing a lot better, it seems. How does that feel?"

"Better. I can take a full breath."

"Good. Excellent, Josh. The sick feeling is going to go away."

He sat up slowly. "I hope so."

"Thank you for trying."

Josh reached out and grabbed her hand, squeezing hard. She leaned forward and kissed his forehead.

Kendra broke the moment, striding into the room. "How are we doing?"

"Three coughs, two were really good."

"Where's the basin?"

"Over there."

"Good. We just like to monitor how much he gets out."

"I'm tired."

"I know, darling," Kendra smiled. "One more task first. Meet your new friend."

She produced a large plastic device.

"Looks like a bong."

"Well, you pretend its anything you want it to be, as long as you use it."

"What is it?" Donna asked.

"This, kids, is called the incentive spirometer. Using this is what's gonna keep you from having to cough bad like that. 10 times, every hour."

"What!"

"You don't even know what you have to do yet, Mr. Lyman."

Donna laughed. "How does it work?"

"I see how it is. I explain it to your lady. She makes you do it."

"Pretty much," Josh grinned.

"You have dimples. I hope to see more of that smile. Now, the incentive spirometer. See this little yellow piece?"

Josh and Donna both nodded.

"That's your goal. Let's do it all together. Put the mouthpiece in your mouth. You're gonna take a deep breath, hold it while I count to five, then exhale, slowly. The yellow is the goal. Don't be too disappointed if you can't get it at first."

Josh nodded, and inhaled deeply.

"One…two…three…four…five. Good, exhale."

Kendra recorded the number, Josh got the device to.

"That's not so bad."

"I'm glad you think so. Nine more times, then cough—"

"More coughing?"

"If you'd let me finish, I was going to say that these shouldn't be phlegmy coughs if you finished it right the last time."

"Okay…"

"Now, Donna, if you could write down the number like I just did when he finishes this. I'm gonna go check on Mr. Martin next door. Liquids for lunch?"

"I'm not hungry."

"Liquids then."

"I—"

"It'll be here in an hour."

Josh sighed as Kendra left the room.

"Stop scowling."

"She doesn't listen to me."

"Josh…you know you sound silly, right?"

"Why?"

"You have to get a lunch, whether you want it or not. And by then, you might feel up to eating some."

"Ugh."

"Come on, lets finish this, so you can sleep."

Josh took the device in his hands, and repeated the actions as Kendra had instructed. Donna led him through it the proscribed nine times.

"Time to cough."

Donna held the basin for Josh, who coughed deeply, but didn't need to spit anything.

"See? That wasn't that bad."

"I'm so tired."

"You've been doing some hard work. Lay back."

He did as she instructed, while she pressed the button to lower the bed again. She kissed his foreheard.

"Stay till I fall asleep."

"I'm not going anywhere."

"You should eat."

"I—"

"You need to eat. I'll be asleep."

"You're sure you don't need me?"

"Donna—I need you to take care of yourself…so that when I really need you…you're here."

Donna smiled, and brushed his hair away from his forehead as he closed his eyes.