tTitle: Gravitation is Not Responsible (35/36)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. .

"Hey…"

"Morning sleepyhead…"

"I thought you weren't coming till lunch—it's not--?"

"No…it's early. I changed my mind."

"Oh…I fell asleep talking to you, didn't I?"

"Yeah."

"Shit."

"You were tired."

"My phone's been off the hook all night."

"You needed the sleep."

"Yeah."

Donna stacked a pile of folders to go into the office. "Hey, what's this post-it mean. 'Call CERN'—No."

"Oh, come on."

"What could you possible need to talk to—the announcement came out in the paper 5 days ago."

"But I want to know more."

"Then read the article that's being published in Science."

"That's not going to be out till next week. I'll be back at work by then!"

"If you want to talk to someone at CERN, call Geneva yourself."

"But I—"

"Have no idea how to do that."

"You're being mean."

"I actually have things to do at work."

"You wanna take me now?"

"You're not ready."

"I can be in 10 minutes."

"Lunch is fine."

"I kinda wanna go now."

"Yeah?"

"I wasn't home for election day last time, obviously, but—"

"You like to go in person."

"Yeah. Thanks for not pressing the absentee ballot thing."

"You're up for a fifteen minute trip down the street to the polling place."

"Being forced to stay at home really makes you appreciate the outdoors."

"Yeah?"

"I may have a new found love for the outdoors. Maybe I'll take up hiking or something."

"Put on your coat, outdoorsman."

Josh laughed, and slid his arms into the proffered coat. "I like the sounds of that. Outdoorsman."

"Come on."

"We should go hiking sometime."

"Let's focus on getting you to be able to walk to your apartment first."

"The details."

"Yeah."

"I could be an outdoorsman."

"In all your free time?"

"I could."

Donna chuckled. "Is this going to be the new obsession, to replace the physics thing?"

"I still wanna talk to—"

"How bout this? How about if you stop hounding me about the physics, and the outdoorsman thing, we hang out on your stoop with everyone later?"

"Bribery, huh?"

"Whatever works."

"Yeah, huh?" Josh wiggled his eyebrows at her.

"That's not…" Donna smiled, blushing deeply.

"No?" He stepped closer.

"No…"

"Does bribery work for me too?"

"What are you offering?" Josh swallowed hard. This was dangerous territory. They were standing inches apart and he had an overwhelming urge to kiss her again. He took a deep breath, and pulled her into a hug, kissing her neck softly. They held onto each other for a few moments, then finally Donna pulled away.

"Ready?"

"Can we walk to the polling place?"

"Now you're pushing it."

"It's 3 blocks up the street."

"Up the hill."

"I can make it."

"Josh."

"You know, maybe we should do this on lunch."

"So you can make the walk up there while I'm gone? No way. If you're walking one way or another, I'm coming with you."

He grabbed her hand, and pulled her toward the door.

"We still on for tonight?" CJ asked, as Donna walked into her office bearing files.

"We are."

"I'm bringing pizza. Any preferences?"

"Make sure you get plain cheese for Josh."

"Of course."

"He likes it plain."

"What do you like?"

"I like it all, you know?"

"Your favorite? We're probably gonna get 3 total?"

"Pineapple."

"Really?"

"I've always liked pineapple."

"Well, I think. Sam'll eat that too, so, you're in luck."

"I've tried to get Josh to eat it."

"I bet that was fun."

"Well, when it's just the two of us, and 1 pizza, he lets me sometimes."

"And he eats it?"

"But complains the whole time."

"He's called me six times this afternoon. The latest was about how he's going to take up—"

"Hiking."

"Exactly."

"You're probably ready for his to be back at work—"

"He certainly is."

"Driving you nuts?"

"It's not bad."

"Are you still staying there all the time?"

"A night here and there."

"Yeah?"

"We're trying to get him used to being on his own…slowly."

"He's not letting go?"

"He just likes the company…"

"And you?"

"I worry about him, CJ," Donna admitted, pausing. "But he's getting used to it, and sleeping better, and so I'm less worried."

"Okay."

"I needed to drop off these briefs for you. Josh says they'll come up this afternoon."

"Leave them in the stack."

"We're expecting you all at 9?"

"At the earliest."

Donna nodded, and headed back to her desk.

"You were dressed all day, your visitors will be here any minute, and now you're in your PJs."

"Putting on a show for CJ."

"The ones she gave you?"

"Five sizes too big."

"They're adorable."

"Hmph."

"You look like something out of Peter Pan."

"I do, do I?"

Josh grabbed her waist, tickling her. She squirmed against him.

"Stop it."

"Can't take it?"

"Don't…want…to…hurt you."

"I'm fine."

She spun so her back was to him, and he pulled her against him, losing his balance so that he ended up sitting on the couch with her on his lap. He winced.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine…fine. The jolt, hurt a little, but I did that on purpose, you know?"

"Be careful."

"Yeah…"

"Your mobility is almost back to normal, Josh. You just can't roughhouse like that."

"Works out well for you."

"No tickling."

Josh sat back against the cushion, continuing to hold onto Donna. They sat in comfortable silence for a while.

"Donnnnaaaaa…."

She shifted slightly on his lap, and he tightened his grasp.

"Wake up…"

She groaned.

"Have you been sleeping okay?"

"Mmmhmmm."

"Yeah?"

"Okay, not great," she didn't open her eyes.

"You gonna stay tonight?"

"We'll see."

"Yeah?"

"I just want to, uh, feel out CJ and Sam and Toby."

"They giving you a hard time again?"

"CJ asked a few questions earlier."

"Don't let her bother you—"

"I don't, but—"

"I know."

"Yeah."

"We should get up. They'll be here soon."

Donna climbed off him, and helped him to his feet.

"Well, anyone else ready to go home and get some sleep?" Sam sighed.

A silence had fallen over the group since the news of the poor results of the midterm elections.

"I am," Toby shook his head. "It's not gonna be a fun staff meeting tomorrow."

"We did our best."

"We didn't accomplish anything." He stood, and picked up all of the scattered beer bottles, retreating into the house.

"Give me a call in the morning, let me know what's up," Josh instructed.

CJ nodded, fighting her way to her feet. "She's asleep." CJ pointed toward Donna, who was leaning back against the rail.

"Yeah. She's not sleeping as well as she says."

"I'll drive her home," Sam offered.

"Uh…"

"She can sleep the whole way."

"Something tells me she won't go for that."

"She's too tired to drive herself home."

"She can stay."

"She still staying…a lot?"

"Sometimes."

"Josh, you that this…" CJ paused, looking for the right words. "this has to stop…"

"When I come back to work."

"Which is next week, right?" Sam asked.

Josh nodded. "Half days."

"I thought--"

"Well, full normal-person days."

"Nine to five?"

"More like seven to—well seven till whenever Donna makes me go home."

Sam chuckled.

CJ turned to Josh. "This isn't going to be a problem?"

"It isn't going to be a problem. She's been just an incredible friend these last few months."

CJ nodded, as Toby came down the stairs.

"We ready to get out of here?"

CJ and Sam, walk toward the car.

"She staying?" Toby asked.

"She is," Josh answered.

"Let the girl sleep."

"I will."

"I know."

"Just felt the need to remind me?"

"Just checking."

Toby nodded a terse goodbye, and climbed into the passenger seat of Sam's car. Josh watched them leave, then climbed up a few stairs, to stand beside Donna.

"Hey…"

"Hmm?"

"You fell asleep on the stairs."

"That's why my ass is cold."

Josh laughed, and offered his hand, pulling her up to her feet.

"It's nice to be able to do that."

"What?"

"Help you up for a change."

Donna grinned. "Yeah…When did everyone leave?"

"Just a second ago. Come on, let's go to bed."

"I should go home."

"You're exhausted."

"But everyone—"

"Thinks you're staying anyways."

"Yeah…"

"Come on."

"How come you didn't wake me before they left?"

"Sam was about to put you in the car asleep."

"But my car—"

"I know."

"We—"

"Come on," he grabbed her hand, and led her back into his apartment.

"I'm gonna get changed."

Josh nodded, and stripped down to his boxers, rooting around his in drawer for a t-shirt. He was still struggling into it when Donna emerged from the bathroom in a nearly identical outfit.

"You take off the pajamas to go to bed?" she grinned, climbing into the bed.

"They're itchy."

"Well CJ appreciated you wearing them."

Josh pulled back the blanket, and sat on the bed.

"I'm tired."

"I noticed."

"That's twice I nodded off—"

"Sleep."

Josh held out his arm, inviting her to lay against his chest. Donna hesitated.

"I…"

"Okay, that's okay."

"Yeah?"

"I just wanna make sure you sleep."

"I will."

Donna curled on her side, facing Josh, and closed her eyes. Josh watched her steady breathing, resisting the urge to pull her close to him.