Title: Gravitation is Not Responsible (13?)
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

"You're looking well."

"CJ!"

"And Sam!"

"Hey man!"

"Sam…its so nice to be allowed more visitors."

"Going a little stir crazy?" Sam asked, plopping in the visitor's chair.

"No, Sam, I don't want the chair, but thank you."

"Do you want the chair, CJ?"

"No, thank you."

"Okay, then. How you feeling?"

"Pretty good. A little tired. I've been walking more today."

"They've got you up and going?"

"I had physical therapy this morning, but Donna's been walking with me, and we went as far as the nurse's station."

"Across the hall?"

"Sam! He's just recovering. That's probably a long distance," CJ smacked him upside the head.

"Ow!"

Josh laughed. "Shhh!"

"How long's she been out?" CJ asked.

Donna was sitting beside Josh on his bed, her forehead leaning on his shoulder. He held her hand in his, but was pretty sure that Sam and CJ couldn't see that, at the same time pretty thankful that they hadn't been sitting there long enough to get really tangled.

"Fifteen minutes, maybe?"

"Does she always sit up there with you?"

"Yeah."

Sam looked to CJ, who was still looking at Donna.

"You gonna say something, or are you just gonna exchange looks?"

"I, uh…" CJ sputtered.

"We're not…"

"You are."

"It's just…"

"Sam, you're sitting in that chair. How comfortable is it?"

"Not very."

"Exactly."

"Sorry."

"She's been awesome."

"Has she left at all?" CJ asked. "She took the week off."

"I know. She'll be back tomorrow. For some of the day."

"Some?"

"Half."

"So does that mean 4 hours or does that mean 8 hours?" CJ laughed.

"I asked the same thing. She said 4."

"Which four?"

"Morning."

"And Leo said she'll be bringing you things?--" Sam began

"Yeah, but—"

"But it goes through his office."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. What were you gonna say?"

"I was gonna say it goes through Donna."

"Is she going to further vet our stuff before it gets to you?" CJ questioned.

"She's limiting my stress."

"Great," CJ sighed. "Is there anything you'll be able to work on?"

Josh laughed. "She spoke with Leo yesterday. They've worked something out." Josh turned to face Donna, and a smile crept across his face. "She's got a plan in place. Keep the West Wing fairly happy, but give my doctors what they want."

"Has she shared this plan with you?"

"I'm not that concerned yet. Guys, they've got me in lots of physical therapy now, and when I get back I'm pretty fried, so its going to be slow going at first."

"You're admitting that?" Sam snickered. "Donna's brainwashing you."

"Sam!" CJ hit him again.

"Keep your hands to yourself."

"I was joking."

"As much as we would love to have him back as soon as possible, we want him to actually recover. We should be glad that he's admitting it."

"But he'll get bored quickly—"

"I'm right here."

"We want—"

"Guys!"

"It's a good thing if she has you brainwashed," CJ decided.

"Is it?" Sam questioned.

"I heard that." Donna didn't look up immediately.

Josh smiled. "Hey. How long have you been up?" He squeezed her hand.

"I woke up to CJ squealing."

"Squealing?" CJ managed, through laughter.

"When you hit Sam."

"He deserved it."

"Sounds like he did."

"Hey!"

Donna laughed. "How's work?"

"Crazy as always."

"Not working today?"

"It's Sunday," Sam protested. "Most of us skip Sundays whenever possible."

"Yeah, yeah," Josh sighed.

"I take it your dinner didn't come yet?"

"Nope."

"What do you eat, Donna?" CJ asked.

"Some of the nice nurse will bring me something, but usually I go down to the cafeteria."

"I don't suppose I could persuade you to come to dinner with us?"

Josh squeezed her hand possessively. Her eyes darted up at him. He squeezed her hand again.

"I think I'll pass on a sit down meal, but if you want to walk with me to get some take out..."

"Sounds like a plan. You need to see the outdoors."

"I do."

"Where are you going?" Josh asked.

"Thai place."

"Can you get—"

"Tom Yum soup?"

"Yeah. And maybe some rice? I think I can handle rice."

"You'll be on full solids tomorrow."

"Full solids?" Sam asked.

"I'm on mush right now."

Sam laughed.

"What do you want, Samuel?"

"Pad See Ew."

"Good choice. That's what's I'd be getting if my system were up to it."

CJ nodded, and the two women left the room.

"Does she smuggle in food for you all the time?"

"My mom does, usually."

"How is your mom?"

"Day to day, it varies."

"She's not taking it well?"

"New things that cause me pain are hard for her. She sees me in pain, and begs me to rest, to stop. Which isn't going to help me recover."

"How's Donna with that?"

"She pushes me. Half the time, I don't want to do something because it hurts, but Donna insists because its something I need to do."

"Does it upset her?"

"It does, but she doesn't let me see that usually."

"No?"

"I caught her crying the other night, and we talked a little about it…"

"But she still hides it?"

"She thinks she needs to be the strong one, and truthfully, I'm really glad she is."

"Do you really think it's good for her to be here all the time?"

Josh shrugged, and turned away.

"Josh, she hasn't left in days, right?"

"It hasn't been that long…has it? I—"

"What day was it?"

"The day I stood for the first time."

"You don't know which day?"

"No…I only know today is Sunday because she reminded me that she's going back to work tomorrow."

"But it wasn't yesterday."

"No."

"Or the day before?"

"I don't think so."

"Josh."

"She's going to be getting out, going back to work. I…I'll talk to her…see how she's holding up." Josh's brow crinkled as he thought about it. "Sam, I…I need her right now…I…"

"I know…I know."

At that moment, the ladies came back bearing dinner.

"A feast!" CJ proclaimed.

Josh smiled slightly. Donna crossed over to him, as CJ and Sam tore into the food.

"What's wrong?" she whispered.

"I'll tell you when they leave."

Later, Donna sat on Josh's bed, as he dozed, his untouched tray on his table. The nurse came in to retrieve it, and scowled.

"He didn't eat?"

"We, uh…we had some take out."

"Did he eat?"

Donna nodded. "Soup and rice."

"Okay. Probably way too much sodium, but at least the boy's eating."

Donna smiled as the nurse left.

"She giving you a hard time?"

"Nah."

"They wore me out."

"You had fun…at least at first."

"I got tired."

"What were you and Sam talking about that put you in a sour mood?"

"It…it was nothing."

"You said you'd tell me when they left."

"It was nothing." Josh looked down at the bed.

She grabbed his chin, and made him look at her. "Josh."

"How are you holding up?"

"Nice try at a change of subject—"

"No—that was the subject!"

Josh tried to pull away, but Donna refused. "I'm the subject?" she asked quietly.

"Are you doing okay? Being here so much?" Josh took a deep breath.

"I…I'm—"

"Truthfully."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"It was nice to be outside just now—"

"I was worri—"

"Josh—I'm here because I want to be, because its helping you—"

"It's not good for you."

"Do you want me to leave?"

Josh inhaled sharply, and turned away. "No…"

"Then I'm here for you, Josh. But I do think it's going to be good for both of us that I'll be back at work part time tomorrow."

"Yeah…"

"It'll be good for you too."

"I know. It's just going to take some getting used to."

"Keep doing as well as you're doing, and you'll be out of here in no time."

"If you—if you change your mind, and this is too much…"

"Josh, I'm fine. I swear. But, yes, to calm your mind, I will let you know."

"Thank you."

"I'm going to have a chat with Sam tomorrow, just so he knows that I'm okay with this."

Josh nodded.

"You can look at me now."

Josh turned back to face her slowly. "Sorry."

She reached up and slowly stroked his cheek with her thumb, lingering on his chin. Her fingers were in the same position as before, but her touch much gentler. "You're doing so well, Josh. So well."

Not breaking eye contact with her, Josh grasped her hand in his and drew it to his mouth, kissing her fingers softly. He held it there for a moment, and then reached out and ran the back of his fingers down her cheek, slowly moving closer to her until their lips met. The kiss was sweet and gentle, but lingering. Finally they broke apart. Josh opened his mouth to speak, but Donna pressed her forefinger to his lips.

"Another time."

He kissed her finger, and she pulled it away, smiling. Donna slid into the crook of his arm, and lay her cheek against his chest. He squeezed her shoulder affectionately, and clicked on the TV.