Title: Gravitation is Not Responsible (22?)
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. long's he been out?" Rita Lyman asked, striding into her son's room.

"Almost an hour. He was exhausted when he got back from his afternoon physical therapy."

"How'd that go?"

Donna shrugged, "He lost a little ground. It pissed him off."

"I bet he was in a wonderful mood."

"You don't even know."

"Getting the silent treatment again?"

"No…no, the opposite actually…he's—I don't even know how to describe it—he's just…off."

"Off?"

"He was really clingy. I mean you can see how he's laying. He couldn't relax or get comfortable until I held him tightly."

"Does this make you uncomfortable?"

"No…not really…"

"That doesn't sound so convincing."

"I'm not uncomfortable holding him—that's not it…"

"No, honey, I know."

"It's just…things have gotten…weird…I don't know. I spend so much time here with him, and I really don't mind it, but everyone thinks I should."

"Do you think you should?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, do you think that you shouldn't enjoy spending time here with him?"

"I don't know."

"He appreciates it you know. He won't admit that he needs the help, and because you're here offering it so freely, he doesn't need to ask. He appreciates it probably much more than you realize."

Donna sighed. "You don't think we've got this weird co-dependent thing going?"

"Do you think it's a co-dependent thing?"

"I'm not sure…"

"Don't question it too much at this point, honey. It's been a little over a week, don't fret. You care about him, Donna. It doesn't have to be some twisted thing."

"Everyone else seems to think it does."

"Don't listen to them. They're not here. They don't see what he's going through."

"Exactly!"

Josh stirred slightly, and Donna stroked his hair. He settled back down.

"What do they want you to do?"

"I don't even know. Just not be here it seems. They make it seem like I'm crazy to be here."

"We've already established that that's not it."

"Do you think I need to cut back on my time with him?"

"I think you need to be careful not to run yourself down too much. It's getting to you, whet—"

"I—"

"—whether it's due to being here so much or just because of the other's opinions. He's going to need you—really need you---when he goes home. I just want to make sure you're ready for that. I'll do what I can, but it's you he listens to, tries his best for…you know what I mean."

"Yeah."

"So take care of yourself."

She smiled. "I will."

There was a soft knock on the door, and Sam came in.

"Samuel."

"Mrs. Lyman!"

"Shhh…" Donna called, from her position pinned beneath Josh.

"Oooh, sorry."

"No, honey, don't worry. He needs to wake up soon."

"How are you Mrs. Lyman?"

"I'm doing well, Sam. How are you? Are you seeing anyone?"

"I'm…I'm fine. I'm not seeing anyone, but I'm doing well."

"I'm glad to hear that."

"Donna, is it okay if I talk work with Josh for a little while tonight?"

"Stuff that's on the approved list?"

"Of course. About my friend Tom."

"Yup, Leo gave me that stuff today. I don't think he's had a chance to look at it yet."

"I'll brief him on it."

"Go ahead."

"Donna, honey," Rita began. "Why don't we go get some dinner while Sam is here. Get some fresh air, and take a walk."

Hesitantly, Donna nodded as she looked down at Josh. "That would be nice."

"I guess we should wake him," Rita declared.

"He's awake," Donna smiled softly.

"He is?"

"He is," she stroked his hair. "Aren't you?"

"Mmmhmmm…" Josh mumbled, not opening his eyes.

"Sam's here to talk work."

"And you're letting him?"

"I am."

"Where're you gonna go for dinner?"

"I don't know. We'll find somewhere."

"Mmmhmm."

"You need to get up now, dear," Mrs Lyman laughed.

"Comfortable."

Donna chuckled, and ran her fingers through Josh's hair. "Come on, sleepy."

"I suppose you want to go now," Josh teased.

"You don't want to keep Sam waiting."

Sam stood quietly watching this interaction.

"Are you coming back?" Josh asked.

"I was planning on it."

"Yeah?"

"Do you think I shouldn't?"

Josh shrugged, holding his position. "If Sam's gonna be here late, maybe it would be good for you to get some sleep in your—in a bed again."

"Okay…"

"Sam, you'll stay a while, right?" Josh sat up slowly, and looked at his friend.

"Yeah. I've got lots to talk about."

Josh squeezed Donna's hand. "Go have a good time."

Donna nodded half-heartedly, drawing her knees up and over the side of the bed. She stood, but didn't release Josh's hand.

"You'll call if you need anything?"

"I will." He squeezed her hand, and released it, then whispered, "You too."

Donna nodded, and crossed to grab her purse from the tray table. "Don't get him too worked up."

"I won't. I promise."

"Goodbye, honey," Rita kissed her son on the forehead. "Sam, always nice to see you."

"Nice to see you too," Sam smiled broadly.

"Ready dear?"

Donna exchanged a quick look with Josh, who nodded at her. "Let's go."

Josh raised his bed further up, as he watched the women leave. "What's up?"

"How're you feeling/"

"A little tired today. Physical therapy kicked my ass."

Sam laughed. "How's that going?"

"Today was the first day back to it after my fever."

"A little harder than before?"

"I'm still weaker than I'd like to be. But I'm determined to be able to walk to the bathroom again tomorrow. I hate the bedpan."

"Ugh."

"Exactly. I was doing so good, too. Donna says it will come back once I get going with the therapy again, but today was rough. I did a lot of standing—I like standing—but I was only walking when I had to."

"Why do you like standing?"

"I can hold on to Donna."

Sam cocked an eyebrow at Josh.

"It makes it easier. It does!"

"And the holding her close has nothing to do with enjoying it?"

Josh shrugged. "It's just nice to be held sometimes, you know?"

"Yeah."

"Especially when you're in pain."

"So you get your comfort, and practice your physical therapy.?"

"Exactly."

Sam shook his head and chuckled. "How are you two getting along?"

Josh ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. "I don't know what I'd do without her, Sam. She just keeps me sane. I give up on things, she pushes me. Like, she knows what I'm capable of better than I do."

"Well you two have spent the better part of everyday together for two years now."

"I don't know that I can read her that well."

"Does that upset you?"

"A little."

"What are you worried about?"

"Do you think I'm asking too much of her?"

"It takes both of you."

"Yeah."

"She's a strong girl, Josh. She wants to be here. I didn't really get that until yesterday. It's important for her to make sure you're okay."

"I'm just worried she won't tell me if it becomes too much."

"You need to remind her it's okay to do things for herself every now and then. She's starting to get that, but I think you're the only one who can help her find that balance. You've gotta let her know it's okay. And at the same time, make it clear when you do need her."

Josh nodded. "I need to teach myself that first."

"Yeah?"

"I'd always like her company. I don't always need it."

"Right."

"But we're doing okay?"

"Seems to be. I realized yesterday that her resolve about staying here, all that…its just part of that weird dynamic you two have."

"We're close."

"That you are."

"All the nurses think she's my girlfriend."

"And I bet you're not doing much to dispel that," Sam joked.

Josh laughed. "No, not really. But…it's…it's not…it give her better standing with the nurses, you know? They think we're closer, and she gets to stay for things they'd send someone else out of the room for—"

"Has she seen you naked?"

"Sam!"

"Has she?"

"Not entirely."

"What does that mean?"

"That she hasn't seen my entire naked body!"

"But she has seen all parts that form the composite?" Sam snickered

"There's not much privacy in the hospital."

"Did this make you uncomfortable?"

"At first, yeah. But, you know, there's been so much I can't do by myself, awkward stuff—you have no idea—that it kind of needs to happen because I'm more comfortable with her than the nurses…we don't talk about it."

"Is that a good idea?"

"No, no…we've talked about it, and we've decided not to talk about it."

"You realize how silly that sounds?"

Josh shrugged. "It works for us."

"That could be applied to many parts of your relationship."

Donna lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling. She'd had a very nice time out a dinner with Rita Lyman, got home and made herself some tea, then tried to go to bed. It just wasn't happening. She looked at the alarm clock. 1:30am.

She sighed. She couldn't call him now. She promised she would if she needed to, but did she really need to just because she couldn't sleep? She could get through one night. She closed her eyes, and sighed.

She wondered how his chat with Sam had gone. They were still talking when she'd checked in right after dinner. Maybe she could call him for just a second. The nurses would be waking him up periodically anyways. She turned her cell phone over and over in her hand. Slowly she dialed then hesitated over the send button. Might as well. She pushed the button, and held it to her ear. He picked up on the first ring.

"I was wondering how long it was going to take you to call?"

"Are you saying that you didn't think I'd be able to get through one night?"

"I'm saying that I didn't think you'd think I would be able to get through one night?"

"And how's it going?"

"Enh. I was about to call you."

"Can't sleep?"

"It just seems weird tonight."

"Same here."

"Sam and I had a good time."

"I had a really nice dinner with your mom."

"I'm glad she took you out. You two need to have some fun sometimes."

"Yeah."

"Are you mad I suggested you go home tonight?"

"Mad? No. I don't know what I am…I just can't sleep and neither can you."

"Yeah…do you think you could…no never mind."

"I can't come back, its too late—"

"That's not—"

"Then what?"

"Could you just talk to me till I fall asleep?"

"Yeah?"

"Tell me more stories from your childhood."

"Okay…I went into my senior year of high school ranked 5th in my class…"