Title: Gravitation is Not Responsible (19?)
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: Visit my site: http/aerial312. he doing?"

Donna looked up from her book to see Rita Lyman hesitating in the doorway.

"He's asleep, finally."

"How's the fever?" she asked, walking closer and putting her purse down on the tray table.

"A little better. It's still higher than we'd like it to be."

"What was it?"

"When Olivia came in an hour ago at the end of her shift, it was 100.7."

"From a high of?"

"102.5 this morning."

Rita nodded. "Spirits?"

"Were fine until they had to clean and re-suture the outer layer of his wound."

"He was in a particularly vile mood when he called me."

"That must have been while I was getting dinner."

"Yeah, he mentioned something about your abandoning him, which of course I took with a grain of salt."

"He's in a lot of pain. They had to start him on the IV pain meds again because he can't keep the pills down."

"That bad?"

"He hasn't kept anything down. They finally gave him that Phenergan again around 5, and it settled his stomach, but he still categorically refused to eat anything for dinner."

"Did they sedate him?"

Donna shook her head. "He conked out before they had to. They may sedate him overnight though, depending on how well he sleeps now. He's doing well…"

"How are you doing?"

"He called me at 10:30 this morning, so I left work early—"

"You've been here since?"

"Yes—"

"Why don't you go get some rest? You look exhausted."

"If he wakes up and I'm not here—"

"I'll be here…for what good that's worth."

"I'll pass tonight, Mrs. Lyman. I want to be here for him."

"I don't blame you for not wanting to incur his silent treatment."

"It's not just that…but, god that's hard. I know you understand."

"I've been on the receiving end, several times in the last few weeks."

"So have I."

"I've been able to do a lot of thinking in the last few days. Sometimes you've just got to do what you need to do to get by."

"It hurts too much to not be here. I don't know…he seems to need me so much…"

"He certainly does. And while I doubt he shows it much, he appreciates your presence. He does."

"I know…"

"But honey, you've got to take care of yourself. It's not healthy for you to be all the time. Take some breaks. Enjoy the daylight. I'll work out something with you so you can get out a little—"

"Whenever I leave I feel guilty."

"Honey, we love him, and it's hard to leave him when he's in rough shape, but we're just at the beginning of this. If you burn out now, you'll come to resent it when he really needs you when he gets home."

"Yeah…"

"So, go to work tomorrow. Get those 4 hours. If he's still not up to physical therapy, I'll come and keep him company. I'll make sure he understands."

"That hasn't gone so well—"

"This time I'll make it abundantly clear. He needs to understand he can't be an…asshole…to you to get his way all the time. You've been very good to him, and he needs to start appreciating that."

Donna sighed, and put her book down on the table. "Do you want the chair?"

"Thank you. How come you're not up there with him in your usual perch?"

"He couldn't get comfortable. I climbed in and out about 6 times before he finally found a position that didn't hurt. It just happened to be with me out here."

The evening nurse came into the room. "He still sleeping?"

"Yeah."

"He needs it. I'll try to do this without waking him this time. Next time I have to though."

"Okay."

"O2 sat's better." She read the thermometer. "100.9. Up a little. "We're going to need to take more blood."

"Oh, he's going to be thrilled," Donna sighed.

"I can draw it off his IV now, but I might wake him up."

Mrs. Lyman looked to Donna and nodded.

"If he wakes up he's gonna freak out," Donna informed.

"I'll be quick,"

She pulled the blood work cart in from the hallway, and grabbed what she needed.

'Miss," Rita began, "What is the concern now, that his fever has gone up?"

"Right. Because his temperature has stabilized, but isn't going down, we want to make sure that he's still responding to the antibiotic."

She quickly drew off of his IV port. Josh began to stir slightly.

"Almost done…there."

"What's…going on?" Josh rasped.

"Just checking your vitals, sweetie."

"Mom…" he turned his head to face her, grimacing in pain. His eyes caught on the vial in the nurse's hands. "What's that? What…is…that?"

"She just…" Rita struggled to explain.

"They drew a little blood, Josh," as she spoke, Donna grabbed the basin from behind her on the tray table with her left hand, while stroking his shoulder with her right.

"Blood?" Color drained from his cheeks and he closed his eyes.

Donna placed the basin on this lap and raked the heel of her hand up and down his back. "Just a little. All done. Deep breath."

"Can't."

"As deep a breath as you can."

He tried, and ended up coughing violently.

"It's okay…it's okay."

Josh groaned, and leaned forward over the basin, dry heaving. Rita had retreated toward the door with the nurse, as Donna continued to rhythmically stroke his back.

"You've got nothing left, Josh. Nothing left. It's gonna pass…shhh…sit back. Good." She wiped his hair back from his now sweaty forehead.

Josh closed his eyes, leaning into Donna's hand. By the door, Rita took a deep breath, and blinked rapidly.

"Ma'am, why don't you come with me?" the nurse asked, "I'll get you a cup of tea, help calm—"

"That would be nice. Donna, would you like tea?"

Donna nodded, and mouthed "Thank you" in her direction, as the two women left the room.

"Let's get you cleaned up a little," she grabbed a kleenex and dabbed his forehead gently.

"I'm…all…sweaty."

"You are."

"And warm."

"That happens with exertion."

"How's…my fever?"

"Up a little. A very little, don't worry. But they want to test it again to make sure they're giving you the right antibiotic."

"What if…its not?"

"Then they'll give you a new one. A stronger one."

"Great…make me…even more…nauseous."

"They'll keep giving you the phenergan, and you'll take it," she cut in as he started to protest. "It'll get you through these next few days where you feel like shit, and then once you're through the worst of it, you can be all strong again."

Josh closed his eyes. "I don't…like…to be weak."

Donna leaned in and kissed his forehead. "Then fight this thing, but fight it with all the tools they give you too, and you won't be as miserable."

Josh sighed, nodding his head. "This hurts…like hell." He gestured his wound. "Back to square one."

"It'll feel better tomorrow probably."

"I hope so."

"You up for anything to drink?"

"I'm really…thirsty. But I …don't know…"

"Just a little. We'll see how you do. I don't want you to get dehydrated."

"Okay…wait, Donna."

"Yeah?"

"Can I try…the breathing…thing first? This…is driving…me nuts."

"Of course."

She grabbed the spirometer and the basin. He readied the pillow.

"This is…gonna hurt…like hell."

"But then you'll be able to get a full breath."

Josh took a first attempt, leaving him coughing.

"Come on, cough it up. There's obviously something in there. Come on…"

Josh spit into the basin, and continued to cough. He spit again, and sat back. Donna quickly took the basin into the bathroom and rinsed it out, nodding to Josh as she returned. He tried again, nearly reaching the mark before launching into a coughing fit. After a moment of effort, he spit into the basin again, and Donna repeated her part of the procedure. On the next try, Josh hit his mark, holding it for a few seconds, then releasing.

"There you go."

He nodded, and completed the exercise seven more times.

"I'll go get you a drink now."

She returned quickly with an apple juice, and poked a straw through the foil top.

"Small sips."

She brought it to his lips, and he took the cup from her. "Thanks."

Slowly, he drained the juice.

"Still doing okay?"

"Yeah…"

"That good for now?"

"I want to see how it sits first."

Donna nodded.

"Sit with me."

"You should sleep."

"I can sleep with you here."

"Yeah?"

"I hope I can, at least."

Donna smiled, then hesitated.

"What?"

"I'm going to tell you something right now, and it might piss you off—"

"Okay…"

"Tomorrow—"

"You're going to work?"

"Yeah."

"Four hours?"

"Yup, as planned."

"Okay…"

Donna climbed up beside him. "That went better than I thought it would."

"I'm not thrilled about it. But I don't want to make you cry again."

"Thank you."

"Did I have anything to read tonight?"

"Tonight, you are resting—"

"Sitting and reading is rest—"

"Josh, I left so quickly this morning that I didn't have time to get anything."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah…I was worried, Josh."

"Yeah." He took her hand in his and squeezed it tightly.

"You're looking a lot better," Rita Lyman announced, walking into the room bearing three teas. "I thought you might be up for some tea. Donna, honey, here's yours."

"Thanks."

Josh took his and blew on it. "Any sugar in this?"

"One."

He blew on it again, and took a sip. "Thanks, mom."

"Now, what are we watching tonight?" she settled into the visitor's chair.

"Well, since I'll probably be out in ten minutes, I'm sure I can find you a Law & Order…"

Rita smiled, as Josh fumbled with the remote.

"You staying long, mom?"

"Till you fall asleep."

"Make sure you take a cab. I don't want you walking—"

"I'll take a cab."

"Thanks."

"She's out cold."

"Wasting the tea."

"I'm sure she wouldn't mind if you drank it."

"One is plenty."

"Did Donna tell you--?"

"About working tomorrow?"

"I'll come keep you company while she's gone."

"That would be nice," Josh yawned, leaning back. "Ah, here we go. Here's your show."

"Get some sleep, sweetie."