Title: Gravitation is Not Responsible (10?)
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:

"This nurse is mean."

"She's just busy."

"She tried to kick you out!"

"I cleared that up."

"How exactly?"

"I had Kendra give her a call."

"And let her know that on my own I'm incorrigible?"

Donna smiled. "Something like that."

"It's quieter down here. Less monitors."

"Does that bother you?"

"No…"

"You don't sound convinced."

"It's just different. My hospital experience so far has included lots of beeping and hissing and noise in general."

"As you get better, it gets quieter."

"It's a shame I didn't get to leave these damn things in the ICU. These are so annoying. Can you take them off of me for a while?" Josh asked, pulling on the edge of his compression stocking.

"Sorry."

"Come on."

"No, they're on for a reason."

"And what reason is that?"

"Because you need them."

"That's as crappy an answer as I told you so"

"It'll have to do."

"It's not fair."

"You've been losing annoying things one by one."

"That tube wasn't annoying. It hurt. A lot."

"And now its gone. Which would you prefer go next?" she laughed. "That tube, or the stockings?"

"You know what'll be next?"

"I do."

"Are you going to tell me?"

"The tube. Probably tomorrow, if you do well with the physical therapy."

"When do the stockings go?"

"When you start walking a good amount each day."

"Great, considering I haven't even started walking yet," Josh growled.

"You will tomorrow. You've been taking a few steps."

"As we sway back and forth?"

"Kendra said we looked like two kids at a dance."

Josh laughed, and scooted closer to her. He took her hand in his, and squeezed it tightly. Donna lay her head onto his shoulder.

"On Monday, I need to start going back to work."

"You do?"

"Yeah."

"But I'm still here."

"Josh, you know there's still tons going on."

"Yeah…"

"I have a lot of organizing, farming out—"

"Will it be all day?"

"I was thinking half day."

"That sounds better."

"Ease into it."

"Half a normal person's day, or half our—"

"Half a normal person's day."

"What hours?"

"I was thinking 8:30 to 1:00."

"Noon."

"Twelve-thirty."

"Noon."

"You're stubborn."

"Noon."

"Twelve-thirty"

"Who's stubborn now?"

"Twelve-thirty is only 4 hours."

"And noon is three and a half."

"Twelve-thirty, and if you're lucky, you'll see me before that."

"Donna!"

"Josh, I have a lot to do. You should be pleased with my dedication to my job."

Josh paused. "I am…I am. Will you bring me things to read?"

"I will bring a few things."

"I'll think about what I want, and make a list—"

"I pick."

"No! There are things that—"

"—other people can take care of—"

" But—"

"Leo's coming by tomorrow. You two can determine what is most important, and I will bring things back in that order—"

"Good—"

"Unless—"

"Unless?"

"Unless there are things that are especially stressful—"

"Stress is part of the job."

"Stress can wait."

"I—"

"You have plenty that you can work on, and give your opinion on, Josh. I don't want you to compromise your recovery. Josh, its important! Please don't argue with me about this. I just…you'll get the stuff you want, but in moderation…you need rest. You still have a lot of recovery…"

She took a deep breath, and curled closer into him, laying her head against is chest."

"You okay?"

"Fine."

"You don't sound fine."

"I'm just—"

"I'm sorry. I know that you…you care…I know that, Donna…I…Sorry." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "We'll figure it out."

She nodded into him, and closed her eyes.

"You're tired. Sleep, sweetheart. Sleep."

He kissed the top of her head, and closed his own eyes.

Leo smiled as he walked down the hallway to Josh's new room. He had expected to find him still in intensive care. It eased his heart a little, a good start to the morning. He walked through the open door, and paused. This, he also hadn't expected. Donna was sitting beside Josh on his bed, curled into his side. Josh's arm was snaked around her waist, and his cheek was resting on the top of her head.

This could be a problem, but for now, Leo wasn't going to get in the middle of it. He'd wait and see what happened when Josh had recovered and was back to work. For now, he certainly wasn't going to begrudge him any comfort he had coming to him.

Leo pulled crossed to the visitor's chair, and sat down. Josh looked a lot better than he expected him to. It had been a few days, and his progress in the elapsed time had been astounding. There were far fewer tubes sticking out of him, and his room was quiet. No creepy beeping. And most incredibly, Josh looked calm. Leo had a good feeling that this was partially do to the pretty young woman in his arms.

Leo looked at his watch. He could spare another 15 minutes. As much as he had wanted to talk to Josh this morning, he was loathe to wake him. He pulled the newspaper out of his briefcase and flipped to the crossword puzzle.

"Hey."

"Kid, how are you?"

Josh nodded. "Getting there. Getting there."

"You look great. Huge difference in three days."

Josh looked down at Donna's sleeping form, and then awkwardly back to Leo. "She, uh…she's really tired. Can--?"

"Let the kid sleep."

"Great."

"Has she been staying here?"

Josh hesitated. Leo's tone was calm and friendly, but he was still his boss. "Yeah…"

"Have you let her go home and get any sleep?"

"She's slept…this…uh…this is the first time that she's fallen asleep right here…we were watching TV."

Leo nodded. "I'm not saying anything. You're going through a tough time. Let's leave it at that."

"Yes, sir."

"So. You're feeling better?"

Josh nodded.

"Walking yet?"

"Today. I've been standing for the last two days. Gradually longer and longer. Today I start real physical therapy."

"You eating yet?"

"I've been eating. Now that I can handle liquids without any problem, usually, I'm starting solids. Well, actually, I'm starting mushes."

"Mushes?"

"Oatmeal. Applesauce. Potatoes. Mashed Carrots. Things like that. Mom is bringing us breakfast. I can't eat the crap they have here, but I have no problem with mom's food."

"That's all mental."

Josh laughed. "So what if it is? I get the better food."

"How is Rita doing?'

"She's doing a lot better now, too."

"You were being awful tough on her at first. I know it wasn't on purpose, but just so you know."

"I know."

"Have you been talking to her?"

"Daily. I'm taking her to dinner tonight."

"Good. I'm glad you're reaching out. This is really hard on her."

"What about this one? You being hard on her too?"

"I'm trying not to be...it's different though, you know? I get frustrated doing something and give mom a hard time, she cries, and I give up. I give Donna a hard time, she give its right back, and I keep trying. I need that."

"Why don't I find that surprising? That kid has always been able to stand up to you. That's why she's lasted."

"That and she's incredibly good at what she does."

"That too."

"So, you're going to start bringing me back into the loop, right?"

"On a limited basis."

"Has Donna gotten to you already?"

"No, but I'm glad to see we're still on the same page."

Josh sighed.

"Josh, you were shot five days ago. We're gonna take it slow. I'll talk to Donna on Monday when she comes in, and she'll come back with some stuff for you to work on. Low key stuff, Josh. I mean it. We want you back, in top shape as soon as possible. Which means obeying doctor's orders now.

"Yeah, yeah."

"All right. I've got a meeting in half an hour so I've gotta go. Now that you're down here, we'll all be in to see you kid. Get some rest."

Leo nodded to Josh, and left the room. Josh looked down at Donna. She was still out cold. He kissed her hair softly, and clicked his TV back on.