tTitle: Gravitation is Not Responsible (34/36?)
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. .

Josh finished his sandwich, crumbling up the paper wrapping, and shooting it like a basketball toward the trashcan. It missed. He sighed, and stood, meandering over to the litter he had created. Slowly, Josh bent toward the sidewalk. The piece of paper seemed so far away. Finally, he reached it and pulled himself back upright, using the garbage can itself for leverage. As he made his way back to his table, as a familiar little blue Corolla zipped by on the road.

Shit. He'd hoped he'd reassured her enough that she let the issue go. Josh tossed his cell phone onto the table, as he flipped open a file from Toby. The last thing he wanted was to worry her more by missing her call when she inevitably called him again.

Donna drove around the block twice before finding a spot just outside Josh's apartment. She quickly parallel parked her car, and scurried up the front steps, hoping that he'd returned inside from what ever little journey he had taken. Pushing the door open, Donna was startled by the crunching noise beneath her feet. She bent to discover the pieces of the remote control. The TV was still on.

"Josh?"

Donna peeked into the kitchen, then ran down the hall to his room.

"Josh!"

Where the hell was he? She sat on his bed, and flipped through the files scattered there. She wished that she hadn't stormed out the night before. His phone rang. She reached back and answered it.

"Josh's…"

"Hey."

"Where the hell are you?"

"On my way back."

"Where the hell were you?"

"I see your anger has not diminished."

"Joshua. Where. The. Hell. Are. You?"

"I am walking up Wisconsin Ave—"

"You—"

"I went to get lunch."

"Josh, that's a long walk!"

"It's not that far."

"But its uphill on the way back."

"So?" Truth be told, Josh had already discovered this error of his ways. The walk was already more exertion than the walk down had been, and he was barely a block away from the deli.

"Where are you? I'll come pick you up."

"Donna…I'm fine."

"You're not supposed to—"

"So what…I'm going…to…be going back…to work soon…anyways."

"You have to see what your doctor says first—"

"He's going…to clear me…to."

"You sound like you're out of breath."

"I—"

"I'm gonna hang up now, and come down to meet you—"

"Donna…"

But she was gone. Josh looked up the hill ahead of him. His street seemed a mile away. Josh paused to lean against a parking sign. There was a Starbucks across the street. He could wait for Donna there. But that would mean giving in.

"Josh!"

Donna was running down the hill towards him. He took a deep breath, and turned to face her. She greeted him with a smack to the arm.

"What the hell were you thinking?"

"I was bored."

"Josh! You're supposed to be resting in your apartment."

"I'm supposed to…be resting. You made up in the…in my apartment part."

Donna took a deep breath and pursed her lips. "I—"

"The doctor said I could get out some."

"Within reason."

"Your definition of within…reason…is never."

They had begun to climb the hill together.

"Josh, you never rest on your own."

"I'm…going crazy…inside."

"I know…" Donna turned ahead, focusing on their destination.

"Donna…"

"I just wanted you to—"

"I know…I know," Josh stopped, grabbing her arm to stop her. "Please don't cry."

"I—I just---"

"Shhh…" he squeezed her hand. "I know you're trying to help me recover…I know that."

Josh reached up and wiped the tears from her cheek.

"Can you make it the rest of the way?"

Josh nodded. They continued, slowly.

"But you will admit that this was more difficult than you thought it would be?"

"Yeah…"

"Josh, I have a pretty good gauge of how you're doing."

"I know."

"You're getting there. You just have to accept the speed your body is dictating."

"I hate it."

"You're almost there."

"Literally. My street!"

Donna grinned, as Josh's pace quickened on the now-flat sidewalk.

"Will you take a nap for me when you get back?"

"Are you going back to work?"

"I…I was planning on it."

"Okay…"

"I'll stay tonight if you'd like."

"I would."

"Huh?"

"Like."

"Oh."

"Get a good night's sleep."

They reached his house, and went into the living room.

"Hey, what happened to your remote control?"

Josh shrugged, and trudged down the hall to his room, settling onto the bed.

Donna sighed, but followed, and sat beside him. "The remote?"

"It fell."

"After…?"

"I threw it at the door."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"No elaboration?"

"Not much else to tell."

"This was after I left?"

"I don't really want to get this again."

"Josh…"

"Please…"

Donna lay back against the pillow, facing him. He was staring off blankly at the TV.

"My roommate got a new cat."

"Huh?"

"A new cat. A kitten, really."

"Another cat?"

"Yup."

"Two weren't enough?"

"This one's a kitten."

"It'll become a cat."

Donna shrugged.

"Where did that story come from?"

"The new cat kept me company while I watched TV all night."

"If you didn't want to, why did you go home?"

"I have to Josh."

"But—"

"I have to."

"Not every night."

"Eventually every night."

"Yeah…"

They lay in silence for a while.

"I should…" Donna began.

"Have you been reading this hate crimes stuff Toby's been giving me?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

"Yeah?"

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"What do you think of it?"

"I think he's going to have a tough time—"

"Even in the face of the President being shot—"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"No balance."

"Do think there should be balance? After everything?"

"The Republicans really don't have a sentimental attachment to this."

"Yeah."

"Not that its not a good cause."

"Right."

"Just that Toby's idea is a little too harsh."

"Why shouldn't we be harsh--?"

"I'm not saying—"

"You seem to be—"

"I'm not."

"How have my messages been?"

"Do you not listen when I read them to you?"

"I do."

"Then why--?"

"How—?"

"People are skeptical—"

"What?!"

"Josh…"

"What the fuck--?"

"You've been hearing those reactions all along."

"I—"

"You don't want to hear them."

"It just pisses me off that they know I'm not there to give them hell, but the second I'm back they'll cave, if only because of the pity factor—"

"Josh—"

"They will."

"Maybe you're right."

"I know I'm right."

"Fine then."

Josh raked his hand through his hair.

"Get some sleep."

"Yeah…"

"We can cook something tonight."

Josh nodded. Donna reached out and grabbed his chin.

"I know you're frustrated. You're almost done with this house arrest."

"I'm bored."

Donna kissed his forehead. He leaned in, resting his head against her neck. Donna wrapped her arm around his back, rubbing softly.

"Mmm…" He reached out, and pulled her closer to him.

"Sleep."

"Mmmhmm…"

His grip around her tightened. She squeezed him back. He slid his leg between hers. It was clear he wasn't letting her go anywhere. Donna kissed the top of his head, and kicked her heels off, continuing to stroke his back.

"Okay, you win."

But he didn't hear this. He was already asleep.