Title: Gravitation is Not Responsible (26/?)
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: My apologies for the long delay on this chapter. Between work and my upcoming virtual season episode, I've been really busy. Visit my archive: http://aerial312. .

"What are they?"

"Pajamas!"

"For me?"

"Who else would they be for?"

"Someone twice my size?"

"If you weren't recovering from a gunshot wound, I'd smack you right now."

"They're….nice."

"They really are way too big, huh?"

"They look comfy."

"Now you're just patronizing me."

"I don't have much in terms of pajamas…they'll do the job."

"What's taking them so long?"

"We're coming!" Donna shouted from the kitchen.

"Would you be more comfortable if we ate in the living room," CJ asked. "These dining room chairs aren't that comfortable. You could sit on the couch."

"I can't sit on the couch."

"You can't?"

"I can't get up off the couch."

"Oh…"

"Today at least."

"You sank into it?"

"It took us 15 minutes to get me up, and we were both exhausted at the end of it."

Donna carried a big Tupperware bowl full of soup into the dining room, and laid it on a trivet. Sam followed carrying a plate of chicken, and a bottle of wine.

"Sam had a slight mishap with the wine."

"I did not."

"He bragged about his prowess opening wine, and then proceeded to lose the cork—"

"No!" CJ exclaimed.

"In the bottle."

"You didn't."

"Oh, he did."

"We're going to drink the whole thing anyways…"

"Pour it," Josh ordered.

"You know you can't have any, right?" Donna sighed.

"Sip?"

"No."

"Please?"

"Not a chance."

Sam poured three glasses of wine, while Donna went into the kitchen and poured Josh a glass of juice.

"Where did all the fabulous food come from?" CJ asked.

"My mom."

"I love your mom's food."

"Rita has filled the freezer with things so that Josh can eat healthy food for the next few weeks," Donna explained.

"What are these in the soup?" CJ poked at the dumpling on her spoon.

"Matzo balls," Josh answered, matter-of-factly.

"Are…are they good?"

"You've never had matzo balls?"

"No…"

"They're good," Sam and Donna said at the same time, then cracked up laughing.

"Jinx," Sam countered.

"What are you, ten?" CJ snickered.

"Try it," Josh demanded.

Eyeing it cautiously, CJ cut a matzo ball in half with her spoon, and ate it.

"Mmm…" she managed, through her full mouth.

Josh laughed and scooped a little more soup into his bowl. He noticed Donna watching him, smiling, and winked at her. They finished the meal in comfortable silence, mouths too full to think about talking.

"Tom's already beginning to gain interest in his district."

"Yeah?" Josh asked.

"No work."

"I'm just making conversation," Sam challenged.

"Forbidden conversation."

"Oh, come on."

"When I said no work, I was serious."

"Josh, you're going to let her tell you what you can and can't talk about?"

"You guys want to watch a movie?"

"Josh!"

"Yes, Sam."

"I asked—"

"And I answered you."

"Oh…but—"

"I think you've seen and agreed to the rules."

"Yeah, but we're usually allowed to talk about work—"

"Not today."

"But why?"

"Because I just got out of the damn hospital. Donna's allowed to amend the rules on occasion."

"Yeah?"

"I think she knows what I'm up for a little better than I do sometimes."

Sam smiled awkwardly. "What did you have in mind for a movie?"

Josh shrugged. "Take a look at the collection."

Sam nodded, and set off for the entertainment center.

"What are you going to sit on in the living room?" CJ asked, as she helped Donna load the dishwasher.

Josh scowled. "I'd sink into the chair too, wouldn't I?"

"I think so…"

Donna screwed up her face in thought. Josh smiled. It was adorable.

"Probably the best you're gonna get is one of these chairs. We could put an extra pillow down."

Josh nodded.

"I'll take it," CJ offered, and quickly carried a chair to the living room.

"Do you get the impression they have no idea what to say again?"

"Yeah…"

"Work's all they've got that feels safe."

"If you wanted to talk about work, you could have followed Sam into the living room."

Josh smiled. "Just following the rules."

"You must be really exhausted then."

He shrugged, and stood up with some effort.

"If you want to sit more comfortably, I can get Sam to help me get you off the couch before he leaves."

"Do you think he would?"

"Of course he would, Josh! He's helped you up and to your room when you've been drunk, he can do the same thing now."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

Josh trudged into the living room. Donna watched him go, then quickly went into the bedroom before joining them. When she emerged, Josh was sitting in the middle of the couch scowling, with CJ and Sam on either side.

"We saved the big chair for you."

"Great…"

Donna crossed to the couch with the blanket she had grabbed, and lay it out on Josh's lap.

"Thank you."

Sam had selected The Empire Strikes, as something they could all agree on. They watched the movie in a comfortable silence, and Donna came to see why Josh had suggested it. It left them all comfortable in the same room without having to make idle conversation. Before the next time they came over, she'd have to come up with some good things for them all to talk about. By the end of the movie, Josh was dozing, but on his sides of him Sam and CJ were out cold. He snapped awake as the credits ran, and looked around him, his eyes settling on Donna, who was still wide awake.

"I guess I'm not the only one who's tired."

Donna smiled. "I should wake them up."

"I can try to get up—"

"No, you can wait a second."

Josh nodded, as Donna rose from the chair and shook Sam awake.

"Huh? Oh…I must have drifted off."

"Right about the time Luke sliced open the—"

"No!"

"Yes."

"I slept through the whole movie?"

"Yeah."

"But I remember—"

"Sam, you've seen this movie, what…20 times?"

He laughed and nodded, cocking his head at CJ. "Glad to see I'm not the only one." He went over to her side of the sofa and prodded her.

"Stop it."

"Movie's over."

"Bed time."

Sam nodded. "Need a hand, man?"

"Thanks."

Sam pulled Josh to his feet, as Donna watched anxiously to make sure he was steady.

"Well, thanks guys, for coming over to visit."

Josh headed towards the bedroom. CJ and Sam watched him, confused.

"He's tired."

"Yeah…" CJ agreed, quickly. "Are you coming to work tomorrow?"

"No…I'm gonna stay here one day with him."

"Yeah?"

"He's nervous."

"His mom's gonna be here, right?"

"Still."

"Okay. G'night."

They left, and Donna turned off the lights in the living room, then headed into the bedroom. Josh was sitting in the bed.

"Did you pee first?"

Josh nodded.

"Do you need anything else?"

"Where are you going?"

"Huh?"

"You look like you're going somewhere."

"Guest room?"

"Oh."

"Josh?"

"G'night."

"Josh."

"What!?"

"Do you want me to stay in here tonight?"

He didn't say anything, but looked down at his lap. Donna flicked off the main light, and crossed to the bed.

"You don't want to ask, I can see that."

"I guess I just assumed, after the last two weeks…"

"Yeah…"

"You don't have to."

"No, I will. I will..."

"But?"

"We can't get used to this. Can we?"

"We've got several months to get used to not getting used to this."