Title: Gravitation is Not Responsible (24/?)
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 archive: http://aerial312. .

"Did you bring me any jeans?"

"No."

"I asked for jeans."

"I brought your nice sweat pants, the ones your mom brought you."

"Why can't I wear jeans?"

"Because you have a hard enough time putting on sweat pants."

"I don't want to look foolish."

"Josh, you'll look fine. You've got a nice, clean T-shirt, new sweat pants, those ancient sandals of yours—"

"Not sneakers?"

"Sandals are easier… and its really hot out today."

"Okay…"

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You'll look comfortable, and as healthy as we can make you look."

"Yeah…"

"You will. Josh, the right outfit isn't going to trick people into thinking you're completely healthy."

"Gee, thanks."

"You're going to be outside, most of it in a car, for all of 10 minutes. And you wouldn't be comfortable in jeans."

"I know…"

"What is it?" Donna perched beside him, running her fingers into his hair.

"I don't know, I really don't…it's just…I don't know. Josh lay his hand on Donna's thigh.

"The bag's almost empty."

He looked up at his IV. "Can I start to get dressed?"

"We just have to wait on changing your shirt until your IV is out. Olivia said that they're gonna change the bandage one more time too."

"I'll just wait then. Might as well do it all at once."

"Okay."

Josh stared off into space.

"What do you need?"

"Hmmm?"

"You're kind of out of it. What do you need?"

Josh shrugged. Donna walked around the bed, and climbed into her usual position, careful to not bang into the IV. Josh grabbed her hand, but didn't say anything. They sat in silence for a while until Dr. Melvin and Olivia appeared in the doorway.

"I expected you to be fully dressed and chomping at the bit," the doctor laughed, crossing to the IV pole.

Josh shrugged. "We were waiting for the IV to be done."

"Well, it's done now. Gauze, Olivia. You might want to look away, Mr. Lyman." He buried his face into Donna's shoulder.

"Should I move?" she asked.

"This'll be quick."

The doctor swiftly removed the IV tube and its port, pressing down the piece of gauze, and taping it down. "All set, let's just take a look at this wound." He crossed around the foot of the bed.

Josh didn't look up, but Donna strained around his head to watch what the doctor was doing.

"Are you feeling confident to do this bandage change, Donna?"

"Yes, sir."

"She has a full page of notes," Josh teased.

"Do you want to do it?"

"She's not moving."

The doctor chuckled, and quickly finished the process.

"Mr. Lyman, do you have any questions before we spring you?"

"I got my info sheets and prescriptions, and the other stuff from Olivia earlier."

"The prescriptions I wrote for you include your new pain pill, which you shouldn't hesitate to take if you need it. I'll go sign your release form, while Olivia gets the wheelchair." They left the room.

"I expected a fight about that."

"The wheelchair?"

"Yeah."

"I know I can't walk that far…"

Donna stroked his hand tenderly.

Josh smiled faintly. "Not and still expect to be able to climb the stairs at my apartment."

Donna squeezed his hand, and stood up. "Let's get you ready to go."

"If you need to sit, sit."

"I can make it."

"You're struggling."

"There are four stairs left! Just let me get into my apartment."

Donna nodded, and increased the pressure of the hand she had on the small of his back. A hand that wasn't going to do a hell of a lot of good if he did lose his balance. Finally, they reached the top, and Josh leaned back against the wall while Donna opened the door. Josh entered the living room, and paused.

"My house has never been this clean."

"Your mom made herself busy here."

"Wow." Josh took a deep breath, crossing slowly for the couch.

"Why don't you go to your bed?"

"I want to…stay out here…for a little while."

"You need to catch your breath," Donna agreed, as Josh started to sit.

"You're gonna sink in, be careful."

Josh sat awkwardly.

"I'm gonna go get you some water."

Donna quickly went into the kitchen. When she returned with a glass, Josh was leaning back against the sofa with his eyes closed. She sat beside him on his right and gently lay her hand on his shoulder.

"Here, take a sip."

She brought the glass to Josh's lips, and held it steady while he drank.

"I'm exhausted."

"Nap then."

Josh curled over onto her lap. "Just a rest."

"Why don't sleep on the bed. You've got a hospital bed here. It'll be easier."

"Couch is comfortable."

"You're gonna have a hard time getting up."

"Enh."

"Josh…"

"I'm just gonna rest here for a minute. Put the TV on."

They sat for a while, watching the TV, before Donna looked up at Donna.

"I have to pee."

"Okay."

Josh tried to push himself upright, and failed at first.

"Try again," Donna instructed, placing her hands on his shoulders and assisting.

"Woah, I'm dizzy…"

Donna stroked his back. "Deep breath. Again. Again. Better?"

"Yeah…" he started to move to get up.

"Give it a second. You're still pretty pale."

Josh took another deep breath. Donna stood and offered her hand.

"I don't want to pull on your left arm too hard."

Josh nodded, and scooted to the edge of the sofa, pulling on Donna's hands and trying to get to his feet. He faltered, pulling hard on Donna's hands, and pitching her into his lap. She ended up with one knee on either side of his right leg.

"Godammit!"

"I didn't hurt you, did I?"

Josh shook his head, burying it in her shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her waist, and pulled her against him, and sat back again.

"I…can't…do…it…"

"It's okay…it's okay…" Donna shifted her right knee to the other side of his left, so that she was now straddling him. She held on tightly.

"We'll figure it out."

"I can't…pull…myself up."

"We'll get it…" Donna rubbed his back.

They sat like this for a few minutes.

"Okay, I really have to pee."

"Hmmm…." Donna pondered, as she climbed off of him, looking around. "Scoot to the edge."

Josh did as he was told. Donna grabbed a chair from the kitchen, and positioned it so Josh could grab the back.

"I'm going to sit in the chair to weigh it down. Use it to pull yourself up."

Slowly, Josh struggled to his feet. "Okay."

Donna got out of the chair and crossed in front of h im. He held onto her for a moment.

"Ready?"

"Yeah…can you…?"

"Of course." She held on to his arm, and they slowly made their way to the door of the bathroom.

"How are you doing?"

"Will you…?"

They moved into bathroom, and Donna positioned herself behind him, staring into his shoulder blades while he did his thing.

"Are you dizzy?"

"I'm…I'm not dizzy…I'm a little unsteady."

"Over exertion."

"Yeah."

"Will you please take a real nap?"

"I'll try…I'm a little wound up."

Josh crossed to the sink and washed his hands, drying them before grabbing hold of Donna's hand again.

"Come lay with me?"

Josh paused as they got to the door of his bedroom.

"Looks so weird with the hospital bed."

"Your own bed is in storage. This'll be easier at first."

"Yeah, I never would be able to get out of my bed."

They settled into the new hospital bed.

"My own pillows," Josh smiled.

"And that nasty comforter."

"Yeah." Josh lay down. "Come on."

Donna climbed onto the bed beside him. They sat in silence as Josh looked around.

"This is kind of weird."

"Yeah? Your mom didn't reorganize too much."

"No, just being home."

"You were excited to come home."

"I am…its just…really quiet."

"The same way the regular room was so different from the ICU?"

"Yeah, and empty."

"Are you nervous?"

"A little."

"You're doing great. It's gonna be tough…but I'm here for you."

"I know…" Josh pulled her closer to him. "Thank you."