Title: Gravitation is Not Responsible (12?)
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: The last chapter was numbered wrong in some spots. It should have been chapter 11 in all places.

"You look tired."

"Where did you go?"

"Leo called. I needed to take it."

"You couldn't tell me first?"

"Your mom was there."

"She didn't know where you went."

"You were working with Dr. Campbell."

"You could have stuck you head in for—"

"Josh! I was waiting outside because I was expecting that call. You knew that."

"You could have told—"

"You're being silly."

"I'm not! You could have told—"

"Josh!"

"I got out of therapy, and they brought me up here, and I had no idea where you went."

"Where did your mom go?"

"Home. Before therapy was over."

"Why?"

"I told her to."

"Why?"

"Because she wasn't helping."

"Josh!"

"She wasn't," Josh took a deep breath, and continued. "I stumbled during therapy. It was nothing, just a misstep. But mom freaked out. And it was distracting. Dr. Campbell asked her to step out, and she said no. So I asked her to leave."

"How'd she take that?

"She understood. I was nice about it."

"I'm sure."

"I was. I told her I needed to concentrate, and she should get out and do something. Then I noticed that you were gone, and she didn't know where you went."

"I had to go outside."

"Yeah…"

"What happened then?"

"I…my concentration was shot."

"I can't be there every second—"

"I just…I wish you'd told me."

"I'm sorry about that."

"I know you're going back to work on Monday…I know that…I just---this was hard today. I…was expecting you to be there…I forgot that you might get a call, because I was busting my ass in there—"

"Honey, I know that. You did a great job during the parts I was there for."

Josh flopped back against his pillow, frowning.

"You should take a nap."

Josh glowered at her. The door opened and the nurse came in with the dinner tray. She put it down on the tray table, and asked, "How was therapy, Mr. Lyman?"

"Fine." He didn't look at her.

The nurse cocked an eyebrow at Donna, who shook her head. "Anything you need, sir?"

Josh shook his head.

"Just press that button if you do," she called as she left the room.

"Dinner then nap?"

"Not hungry."

"It'll get cold."

"I'm not hungry!"

"Okay, then. I'm going to sit over here, and read. When you want to talk to me again, you'll let me know."

Donna flopped into the chair, and fished around in her bag. Finding the elastic, she pulled her hair into a ponytail, and settled back against her pillow. She reached out and grabbed her book from the table, looking up at Josh. He quickly looked away. Donna slumped in the chair, and put her feet on the rail of his bed, turning to her book. Josh turned back to watch her. Her gaze stayed on the book, but she was twirling a piece of her ponytail in her hand.

Josh lay back against his pillow, and pulled the tray table closer to him. He grabbed his applesauce, and began to eat. Donna looked up for a moment, then rapidly back to her book as Josh peeked over his bowl. He placed the empty bowl on the tray, and dipped his finger into the mashed carrots. Grimacing, he quickly lifted the juice cup, poked a hole in the foil top with his spoon, and finished it off. He slid the carrots to the back of the tray, and dipped his finger into the mashed potatoes. His nose curled up, and he leaned forward to search the tray for something. Donna looked up at the commotion, but Josh didn't acknowledge her. Instead, he pressed the button to call the nurse.

"Yes, sir?"

"This whole plate is so bland. Could I get some salt or something?"

"No salt. Sorry, Mr. Lyman. Dr. Melvin's got you on a low sodium diet. How about pepper? I can get you a pepper packet."

Josh nodded. "I guess it's better than nothing. Could I get another juice, too?"

"Sure thing."

She left, and Josh picked up his chicken. It was thoroughly processed mash. He studied it for a moment, and put it down. The nurse returned, and gave him his juice and pepper. After sprinkling some onto each the potatoes and the chicken, Josh loaded a little of each onto his spoon. Donna watched as he put the spoon in his mouth, and swallowed the mush. He grimaced, but lifted the dish with the chicken and poured it into his potatoes, stirring it together. He took a few more bites, sneaking a look at Donna, whose gaze snapped back to her book.

Josh finished the mixture, and pushed his tray table away. He raked his fingers through his hair, and clicked on the TV. He flipped through the channels, settling on the baseball game.

Donna looked up at the TV. The Mets were getting whopped. Josh sighed loudly, and frowned at the TV. Donna laughed softly to herself, and Josh's eyes snapped over to her.

She pursed her lips, and looked back down at her book. He needed to be the one to restart the conversation. Josh watched her, squirming in his bed.

"Donna—"

She looked up. He was kicking his blanket off of his feet, and scooting to the side of his bed.

"I have to pee."

"Oh."

"Help me up."

"Uh…you should call the nurse."

"Help me, Donna."

"There's a bedpan—"

"Help me get up!"

"You can ask the nurse to bring in a commode."

"I'm using the bathroom."

"Josh."

"I can do it."

"I—"

"I just need help getting steady when I first stand."

"They didn't hook your IV back up?"

Josh shook his head. "Don't need it. They left the port."

"That makes things easier."

Josh shrugged, and swung his feet over the edge of the bed, slowly scooting down to the floor. Donna grabbed his arm, and he took a deep breath, gaining his bearings.

"You're sure you can walk without the thing?"

"I did some without it. You missed it."

Donna bit her lip. "Nice and slow."

Her hand remained on his arm as he slowly trod across the cold linoleum floor. Josh stopped for a moment. "Give me a second."

"Do you want to sit."

"I'm fine."

"Josh—"

"Let's keep going."

They reached the bathroom. Josh stood in front of the toilet, and gripped the steel bar on the wall tightly. He took a deep breath.

"I need to sit for a second first."

"Okay…"

Donna took his hand as he turned around and sat, fully clothed, on the toilet. Donna grabbed a paper towel from the dispenser, and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Nice job."

"I haven't done the hard part yet."

"You've, uh…managed to…uh…earlier, though?"

"During therapy. Twice. Hurts like hell."

"You're sure you don't want me to get the nurse?"

"Yeah…"

"Josh, there's nothing wrong with needing help."

"I'm not refusing help! I--

"Right…" Donna sighed. "I'm here, Josh. I'm just not sure how much help I can be."

Josh looked up at her. "Just keep me standing." He slowly stood and turned around.

"I'm gonna stand behind you here."

Josh nodded, and fiddled with the waistband of his pants. He exhaled forcefully.

"I can't…undo the tie."

Donna walked back around to face him. "Umm…"

Josh leaned back against the wall for support. "If you want to get the nurse…go ahead. I know that this is weird."

"Do you want me to get the nurse?"

"I just want to get this over with."

"I can do it…"

"Only if you're…okay…"

Donna nodded, and took the closure of the pants in her hands and pulled upwards, thankful that the pants were too big for him, as it allowed her to work on the knot in a slightly more comfortable area.

"All set." She released it, and helped him stand straight again.

"Thanks."

Josh slid the scrubs down a bit and took a deep breath. Behind him, Donna's hands were on his waist, and she was studying his writing on the back of his T-shirt.

"This is really hard to do."

"Pain?"

"No. Peeing with someone else in the room."

"Don't guys pee in front of other people—"

"Other guys, and we all mind our own business."

"Ah ha."

"This…is something completely new."

Donna laughed. "Do you want me to step out?"

"No…I…don't want to be standing here alone…yet."

"Okay. Would it help if I took my hands off your waist?"

"I think so…"

Donna stepped back, and leaned against the far wall, just close enough to help if he needed it. She stared at the ceiling, soon hearing the trickle of liquid, accompanied by Josh wincing. He pulled his pants back up, and turned slowly, sitting on the toilet again.

"Can you get that?"

He nodded. "I just need to sit first."

Donna mopped his forehead with a paper towel again.

"I'm ready." Josh stood slowly and made his way over to the sink. When he had finished washing his hands, they slowly made their way back to his bed.

Josh lay back against his pillows, and closed his eyes.

"You're beat."

"That took a lot more effort than I thought it would."

"Yeah?"

"I didn't realize just how many breaks I got during my session today."

Donna smiled. "If you're deadest against the bedpan, will you let me ask the nurse to bring in a commode, at least for over night?"

Josh nodded, and Donna briefly left the room. She returned a minute later, with the commode.

"Do you have to empty that thing?"

"Don't worry about it."

She placed it beside his bed, and started to cross back to the chair.

"Come sit with me."

"Yeah?"

"We'll watch the Mets lose."

Donna laughed, and climbed up beside him. "And you'll nap."

"Probably," he smiled. "What did Leo have to say?"

"Sleep first. I'll get into it later, when you've rested."

"Okay."

Josh wrapped his arm around Donna's shoulder, and she slid down to lay her head on his. He rest his cheek on the top of her head, and drifted off to sleep.