Title: Gravitation is Not Responsible (7?)
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: I created an archive of all of my stories, including the full version of "Path". Find it at: http/aerial312. Lyman, what's wrong?" You sound upset."

"I—"

"Is everything all right?"

"It's…okay. It's okay. When are you coming back?"

"I—I was going to clean a little while longer, but if you need me to come back ear—"

"Do you mind?"

"No, no. Of course not."

"I just think…I should be the one there cleaning…he's better off with you here."

"Rough morning?"

"He's miserable, and I—I have a hard time with him in pain, and he sees it, and stops trying anything that might hurt."

"Which is everything."

"Right. And as much as I have a hard time watching…I know…I know that he needs to do those exercises, and—"

"It's okay, Mrs. Lyman. It's okay."

She took a deep breath. "So, he's asleep now—"

"I'll be there in 10 minutes…"

"Thank you, honey."

"Bye." Donna hung up, and put a stack of newspapers on the coffee table. She went quickly into the kitchen, and crossed off a few items on her to-do list. She grabbed her keys, and headed for the door.

Less than 10 minutes later, she arrived at the hospital. Mrs. Lyman was sitting in the dim room, in the visitor's chair, reading a book.

"You're gonna hurt your eyes."

"Oh—Donna!" She jumped to her feet. "Thank you so much."

"How long's he been out?"

"It's been over an hour now."

"He needs it. He didn't sleep well last night."

"Have you slept?"

"Some."

"Honey, try to get some rest while he's out…I hate leaving, but…I think I'm in the way—"

"You're not—"

"I can't steel myself like you can."

Donna took her hand, and squeezed it. "It's hard."

"Now, what can I do to help you out?"

"Well, there a list on the kitchen table—don't do any of the prep on his bedroom. I still have to move the bed out of the way—they said he'll need to have a hospital bed moved in at first."

"You shouldn't move it by yourself."

"It's fine."

"I'll call Leo, see if he can find some strong…people."

Donna smiled. "That would be nice. Now, do you know his address?"

"I do. Is it nice out?"

"Very."

"I think I might walk."

"Yeah? I walked. It's beautiful. Good for clearing your head. Do you know the way?"

"I do, as soon as I'm into Georgetown. From here, I'm not—"

"You want to walk up to the circle, and take a left. Not onto K street, which'll be first, but onto Pennsylvania Ave. Cross the bridge and you're in Georgetown."

"Sounds easy," Rita smiled, and crossed over to her sleeping son, kissing his cheek. She walked to the door. "If you need me to bring you anything, just call."

"I will."

"I'll come back with dinner. I'll phone before I come back to see what you're in the mood for."

"Thank you."

Donna watched the older woman leave, then took Josh's hand, and kissed his forehead.

"Sleep, sweetie. Sleep."

Usually in sleep was the only time Josh looked peaceful, but not today. Even in sleep, his face was lined with pain. With her free hand, Donna stroked his cheek. His expression softened slightly at her touch, but he didn't wake.

"There…there…calm…dream happy dreams…you're warm, I hope you don't have a fever…" she pressed the back of her hand to his forehead.

"I can't tell…I'll have to ask Kendra…But that can wait…I'm not going anywhere…I'll be right here till you wake up…god, this is hard, Josh…your mom thinks I'm so much stronger…I'm not…I just hide it better…" Donna took a deep breath.

"Cause really, its not that I don't cry…I just don't cry while you're awake…or anyone's here…I need to….god…I need to help you!...And I don't know how…I'm doing my best...trying not to break….to make you think I'm brave, and strong, and all those things…and make you want to try hard…I …I don't know…it sounds silly…it's a lot of work, and its only the third day…and---I just want…you don't know how scared I was when I first…oh! Who the hell I am kidding, of course you do…Now you're scared, and I'm here…I'm here…" Donna wiped at the tears that were streaming down her face.

"Oh, I hope can't hear me! I sound like a babbling idiot…you like to hear me talk, I don't know why…" she kissed his cheek, and pressed her head into the nook between his neck and shoulder.

"I probably should be doing this…no, I know I shouldn't…I don't know anymore, Josh…it's like…that part of my brain that usually stops me…yes, stops me…isn't listening right now…and I'm glad it's not…I really hope you're not listening either…to what I'm saying, or…right now…now…I just need to be close…feel you're really still there…it reassuring…to…to just feel…your heartbeat…your steady breathing…" She sobbed softly.

"I'm gonna wake you," she sighed and stood up, wiping her eyes again. For a moment she stood watching him.

"You look peaceful now…I should shut up—"

"Don't" He didn't open his eyes.

"How long have you been awake?"

"When you…moved." He opened his eyes.

"I've been rambling—"

"You've been…crying."

Donna took a deep breath and nodded. "I'm fine now…just needed to work through some thoughts."

"Mom cried…all morning."

"She's having a hard time."

"Where'd…she go?"

"To your apartment. To clean."

"To clean?"

"Yeah, that's what I was doing, getting it cleaned up, so its ready for you when you come home. She asked me to come back early. This is more than she can handle sometimes…"

"Not you?"

"You missed that explanation."

"Huh?"

"While you were sleeping. That's what I was rambling about."

"I didn't hear."

"I know."

"Tell me?"

"Pretty much, it's that I'm pretending to be strong, than she is."

"Don't…hold it in."

"I'm not…I just… control it. I obviously just let it all out."

"Yeah."

"I just want to help you get better, Josh. If that means steeling myself, to get you through something…that's what I'm gonna do."

Josh squeezed Donna's hand. "Thank…you."

Donna leaned in and kissed him gently on the lips. As she pulled away, Josh tried to grab her with his right hand to keep her close, but got tangled on his IV, and got a handful of blonde hair.

"Sorry…"

Donna smiled.

"Stay close…for a…minute."

She leaned back in, and laid her head just past his wound, on the center of his chest, looking up at him. "This what you wanted?"

"Even better."

"You sound all congested."

"Thanks, Nurse Donna."

"That's what you get for letting me lay my ear on your chest."

"I suppose…its worth it."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

Josh ran his tethered hand through Donna's hair.

"Mmm…"

"Nice?"

"Nice."

"Good."

"You sound really congested. Have you done your breathing exercises at all?"

"Today? Yes."

"Since I left?"

"No."

"Didn't think so."

"I will."

"I know you will."

"How about lunch?"

"Haven't seen it."

"We should get you—"

"I'm not…hungry."

"No?"

"No."

"Did you—?"

"Throw up…breakfast? Yes."

"You've gotta try."

"I hate—"

"I know. Just a little."

Josh groaned in protest.

"I should get up."

"Yeah?"

"We've got a lot to do."

The door opened. "I see Sleeping Beauty's awake now," Kendra laughed, walking in.

Donna stood up slowly. "He is."

"And in a better mood?"

"I think so."

"We all know you listen to her, but you don't listen to your mama."

"I—"

"Your mama is having a rough time, and she doesn't know how to get you to do something she can't bear to watch. And, you're being a jerk."

"I wasn't…trying…to be."

"You sound terrible. You been doing your breathing exercises?"

"Not while mom was here."

"You're just holding up your recovery—"

"I know…Donna and I…are gonna…do them…we'll make up…for the one…I missed."

"And then lunch," Donna added.

"No lunch."

"Lunch."

"No."

"Okay, kids. I'll bring lunch. You two can fight about it after. Though, Josh, I have to say, I'm in your girlfriend's camp. You really need to give it a try."

"I've tried…I can't…keep it down."

"You'll start doing better. This afternoon, we also need to do leg exercises. The physical therapist will be coming later, and depending on how you're doing, might let you stand."

"Let me?"

"Make you."

"I…I don't know."

"So, unless you want to pass out, I suggest eating lunch. I'll be back in a minute."

She finished writing in his chart, and left the room.

"I'm not ready…to stand."

"Sure you are."

"But—"

"You have to think that you can do it, or you never will."

"You'll be here?"

"Of course."

Josh slowly began to raise the bed. "Where's the…thing?"

"The basin?"

"That too…I guess. The other…thing."

Donna grabbed basin and the spirometer, and handed them to Josh. He caught her hand, and pulled her towards him, kissing her cheek.

"Ready?"

"Ready."

"You can do this. Say it."

Josh smirked. "I can do this. Here we go."

Donna smiled and rubbed his back as he set himself up.