Title: Gravitation is Not Responsible (21?)
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. just saying, that's only time you've ever seen me get that drunk."

"I've never even seen you get close to that drunk since."

"It was a rough day."

"Yeah?"

"You knew that."

"In the vaguest terms."

"I never told you?"

"I was still up to my eyes in paperwork when Sam and CJ whisked you away to the bar down the street, upset. All I knew was that something had upset you, and I had to finish what I was working on or Leo would have my ass. By the time I got down there, you were practically passed out."

"The drinks just kept coming."

"What—what did happen? To upset you…"

"It was the first time that Roy…called me. We had a terrible fight and…"

"And?"

"I just kind of lost it. And I didn't want you to see that."

"I would have understood."

"Somehow I doubt that. You can't deal with me crying."

Josh sighed, and shook his head against the pillow. "No, I really can't."

"Of course, in retrospect, I'd rather you have seen me upset than that drunk."

"You remember how drunk—"

"I don't remember anything, and that's the problem."

Josh smiled.

"It's not funny."

"It was very funny."

"So tell me."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." Donna rolled onto her side, leaning her head on her arm on the raised headboard.

"So, I finally finished that goddamn policy plan at 1:30, and I go down to the bar, and everyone else it seems is already there. Toby's studying his Scotch, Sam's resting his head on the table, and you're slumped over on CJ, who was chatting with Danny Concannon. CJ tells me that you got a little drunk, which was majorly an understatement, then she goes right back to flirting with Danny. I sit down, and you switch to leaning on me, while I down my only beer, cause it was already last call. The ugly lights come on—"

Donna chuckled.

"That's what they are—"

"I know, I know. Just sounds funny. Continue."

"So the lights come on, and everyone starts to stagger out, all run down because it really had been a hell of a day, and we're the only two left. They got you trashed, and then forgot about you. I drag you to your feet—thankfully, you can still stand, just barely—wrap my arm around your shoulder to steady you, but I had no idea where the hell you were staying—"

"That would have been the bus."

"As I learned later on, but at that point, I didn't know that. So I did the only thing I could think of: I took you back to my room. You were in no condition to be left alone anyways. We get up there, you sit down on the bed, and pass out. I pushed you onto your side, so you didn't like choke or anything, and covered you with the blanket, fully clothed—"

"You could have at least taken off my shoes."

"Yeah…"

"What?"

"I had no idea what to do. I just got you settled, and made sure that you didn't choke or stop breathing or anything."

"Did you sleep in the bed too?"

Josh shook his head. "I didn't sleep."

"Really?"

"You woke up and found me at the desk. That's where I'd been all night—well, all 4 hours…"

"I was so sick the next day."

"And I think you'll remember I didn't give you much slack about it."

"You were…very good."

"You like to forget those incidents."

"Yeah, yeah."

"I can be—"

"What can you be, buddy?"

They looked up to see CJ standing in the doorway.

"Nice. I can be nice."

"I highly doubt that."

"Josh was just telling me about how nice he was to me that night you guys got me really drunk in South Dakota."

"So nice he took you up to his hotel room—"

"Where I promptly passed out."

CJ laughed. "You ready?"

"We're leaving already?"

"Sam, Margaret, Carol, Ginger, Bonnie are at the bar already. It's just down the street."

"Oh."

"And Leo's just stopped in the cafeteria to get coffees."

"But he can't have—"

"He promised decaf."

"Okay."

Donna slowly sat up and climbed off the bed, hunting for her shoes.

"I though you guys were going to come up and visit for a while."

"So many people ended up coming, that it was just easier for us to meet them there."

"Oh." Donna slipped into her shoes, and trudged across the room. "Do you need anything before I leave?"

"Donna, Leo's gonna be up any minute. He's fine."

Donna sighed, and looked to Josh. He nodded at her.

"Go have a good time. I'll be fine."

She nodded weakly and followed CJ.

"Look who's finally here!" Bonnie exclaimed. "We've got your drink waiting already," she pushed the whiskey sour across the table to the chair Donna had settled into.

"Where's mine?" CJ demanded.

""Didn't know what you were up for," Sam explained. "You like to mix it up. Donna's pretty predictable. It's either whiskey sour or rusty nail."

"I'll go grab you one CJ," Carol announced, jumping up. "Mine's gone already."

"You've been here for like 15 minutes."

"It was a rough day. Now, what the hell are you drinking?"

"Get me a Scotch."

"Turning into Toby?"

"Ha Ha."

"So, Donna, we hardly see you at work," Ginger commented. "How are things going? How's Josh doing? I heard he had a fever yesterday."

"His wound got infected. They caught it early, and put him on antibiotics, so he's doing a lot better today."

"Good."

"He getting restless?" Bonnie asked.

"Yeah…he doesn't like to be…limited."

"How many times a day does he call you at work?"

Donna shrugged.

"Donna called him," CJ offered.

"So, he doesn't call you up, but you call to check in on him?" Bonnie questioned.

"Sometimes."

"Girl, enjoy your time free from him."

"I—"

"You've gotta get out more."

"I will eventually."

"He's getting too needy."

"He's not—"

"Then you are."

"So, I came out here for pick-on-Donna night?"

"No, honey, we're just worried about you, is all."

"But I'm the only one worried about Josh." Donna crossed her arms and stared down into her half full drink.

"We care about Josh, Donna," Sam reasoned.

"Which is why you all came straight here, and didn't come up."

"There's five of us," Sam cut in. "If we'd all come up, you'd have had a fit about that."

"I—"

"Sweetie, calm down," Margaret placed her hand on Donna's shoulder.

Donna sat back and finished her drink. Sam caught Carol's eye at the bar, and pointed to Donna. She nodded, and he turned back to Donna. She wouldn't look at him.

CJ broke the silence. "We were also running late. Leo had that meeting with him, and I doubt he would have taken kindly to a lengthy delay."

"No, I guess not."

Sam took a deep breath. "The last time one of us did go to visit him, you ended up pissed off at that person, and imposed a lengthy set of rules."

"Toby snuck in a—"

"I know, I know. But Donna, we're gonna need to talk about work—"

"It was before I'd even brought anything back to him. He was going to be getting that stuff that night!"

"So he read all day."

"And he pushed himself too hard to make up for getting caught, and he didn't take good care of himself, and he ended up with a fever!"

Margaret lay her hand on Donna's shoulder again. "Deep breath. Again. Again."

Carol arrived back at the table, and distributed the drinks. Sensing the tension, she sat down quickly.

"I didn't want another drink."

"It'll do you some good. Relax you," Carol offered.

"I was doing perfectly fine until I got dragged out."

"It'll do you some good," Sam seconded.

"Just because you don't like to spend time with him, doesn't mean I don't."

"Donna…I…it's awkward. I will admit, I don't know what to say. Which is why I said that we're gonna need to talk about work some. I mean, I'm worried about him, he's my friend, but…I don't know…it's a weird situation."

Donna looked up at him.

"It's not that I don't wanna visit. I just don't know if I can hide my discomfort, and I don't want him to see that. Do you understand that?"

She nodded.

"Donna, if we visit, will you take some time to do something for yourself from time to time?" CJ asked.

"You're bribing me?"

"Donna…we just want you to be able to clear your head."

"He sleeps a lot. I can get things done for me then. Please don't push it…please."

Sam nodded.

Margaret jumped in, "Did anyone see the article about the inaccurate calorie—"

Everyone groaned, as she continued her story.

Donna peeked through the door of Josh's room. He was sitting with his tray table covered in files, reading. Leo was gone. Slowly she opened the door, and entered the room.

"Leo been gone long?"

"Only like 20 minutes."

"Sorry."

"Nah, I've been reading. Have a good time?"

She shrugged, and crawled up beside him.

"You can let yourself have a good time, you know."

"Why does everyone find it so hard to believe that I can't have a good time here with you?"

"It is a hospital."

"They all act like there's something wrong with my enjoying spending time with you here."

"You actually enjoy this?"

"I don't enjoy seeing you like this, no, if that's what you're asking. But Josh, I don't think that it automatically precludes my enjoying your company."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"You enjoy my company?"

"I—"

"I enjoy your company."

Donna looked up. "Good."

"You really don't mind this?"

"Not at all."

Josh took her hand in his. "It means a lot, you know."

His thumb played with hers. Slowly, he leaned in, and kissed her softly on the lips. She deepened the kiss, stroking his cheek. After a moment, Josh pulled away, catching his breath.

"Are you okay?"

He nodded. "Fine. Fine..."

"What?"

"Something tells me that that's what they're afraid of."