Unwelcomed Changes Part 15

Unwelcomed Changes

By Mer

Part 15

Georgetown Hospital-Josh's Room (the next day)

Josh woke up to darkness for the second straight morning. He didn't figure that today would be any different. A nurse cheerily brought in his breakfast and said that they might have the rest of his test results later that morning. His appetite followed her out of the room.

Just the smell of his food made him nauseous. He didn't know how much more waiting he could take. He had slept restlessly the night before because he was trying to imagine the exact phrase the doctor would say to him. It was either something about cancer or being blind for life.

"Hey Josh you up for a visitor?" C.J. called from the doorway, interrupting his thoughts.

"Yeah come on in C.J." Josh gestured with his good arm.

"You are a hard man to find. I went to the other hospital first and they sent me here and then it took awhile for the receptionist to find your name." C.J. explained as she sat down.

"I'm sorry about that." Josh said quietly.

C.J. studied the room for a moment. An un-eaten breakfast tray sat at the table in front of him. It appeared that Josh had made no motion to eat any of it. His body posture seemed to be a bit tense, and he wasn't really looking at her. It was like he was looking past her.

"Not hungry, I take it?" C.J. asked.

"They say it will be awhile before I develop a taste for food again, since I had to be tube fed when I was in a coma. Besides, hospital food historically sucks." Josh stated absently.

"So you aren't even going to try and eat it? " C.J. asked.

"Too much is on my mind." Josh replied as he gave her a small smile.

"Josh what's wrong?" C.J. questioned softly.

"Many, many things." Josh muttered, though not intending for her to hear it.

"Like what?" C.J. prodded.

"I would rather not talk about them right now." Josh stated quietly.

C.J. cocked her head at his wording. Last fall he always said that he would rather not talk about it. But this was different; he wasn't shutting the door completely. C.J. had to accept that he would tell her when he was ready.

"Okay, I'll stop pushing. So why are you here anyway?" C.J. asked as she saw Josh sharply intake his breath.

"Just for some tests." He managed to somewhat convincingly reply.

"Have you started rehab on your arm yet?" C.J. questioned.

"I guess they did some while I was in the coma, but no not yet." Josh replied in an emotionless voice.

"So you are just here for some routine tests then?" C.J. asked.

"I guess." Josh said as he completely turned his head away from her.

"Josh please look at me." C.J. begged.

"I can't C.J." Josh replied softly.

"What have I suddenly turned freakish looking while you were asleep all that time?" C.J. joked which made him laugh.

C.J. just savored the sound of his laughter for a moment. And then she noticed that the wrinkles of his brow tensed up. He was hiding something from her and she tried to think of a way that she could bring it out of him without forcing it out.

"You know I could always start singing The Jackal, I'm sure that would get you to look at me." C.J. threatened.

"It's not that I don't want to look at you." Josh replied quietly.

"What is it mi amour?" C.J. asked gently.

"C.J. I was blinded by the poison." Josh replied slowly as he turned his head back in her direction.

Josh listened closely for any sort of reaction from her. But if she had a negative one he couldn't tell. All she did was pull him into as close of a hug she could, mindful of his injured arm. He was grateful for that hug.

"We are all here to help you through this. Hey maybe you'll even get a guide dog. That would make Toby happy you know? He's be complaining about the dog hair left on Air Force One." C.J. joked.

"Yeah and the dog might actually consider Toby a threat and keep me away from him." Josh laughed.

"As long as the dog definitely considers Mandy a threat." C.J. stated, and to that they both laughed.

Sam's Office

"Mandy can I please get the McMahon file for Casey?" Donna asked from the doorway.

"Oh so you do speak to me." Mandy replied sweetly.

"Only when I have too." Donna replied through a tight smile.

"So why was Josh moved back to Georgetown Hospital?" Mandy asked as she searched for the file Donna requested.

"What are you talking about?" Donna asked.

"C.J. said that she was going to see Josh and that he had been moved to Georgetown." Mandy replied, speaking slowly as if Donna were a five year old.

"He had to get some tests run on him and it probably was too late to send him back over." Donna hastily came up with an excuse.

"Really. There wouldn't be anything that you are hiding from me is there?" Mandy asked.

"Nope." Donna said as she gave Mandy a huge smile.

"I'm glad that he's okay and is not acting like a nutcase like Sam is." Mandy replied, bending her head down to check a bottom desk drawer

"Yeah me too." Donna replied tersely, making a face at Mandy's back.

Donna shuddered at the memory of the angry Sam. She also wondered if Sam had gotten a lovely visit from Mandy. That probably went while, she mused, since Sam hated Mandy with a passion now.

"So tell me has Josh professed his undying love to you yet?" Mandy asked pulling Donna out of her train of thought.

"Huh?" Donna asked, taken off guard by the question.

"Has Josh told you that he loves you?" Mandy clarified.

"No, why would he?" Donna asked nervously.

"Because the man has got the hots for you." Mandy replied.

"Yeah right." Donna said rolling her eyes.

"Why do you think the two of us broke up?" Mandy asked.

"Because he found out that you are a self-centered bitch who was just using him to get a position in the White House." Donna answered through a sugary-sweet voice.

"Oh Donna I expected a much harsher insult from you." Mandy replied as she held out the file that Donna needed.

"You did put me on the spot." Donna replied as she tried to grab the folder from her.

"One of these days people are going to find out how much of a sniveling little bitch you are." Mandy threatened.

"That didn't stop them from hiring you back." Donna replied yanking on the folder.

"Cute." Mandy replied as she tightened her grip on the folder causing Donna to try and pull harder.

"Josh broke up with you once he realized how many senators you were having an affair with. It's a wonder that he didn't get any STD's from you." Donna stated.

"Oh trust me Josh ain't all that and a bag of chips." Mandy replied as she loosened her grip on the folder, causing Donna to go flying back against the door.

"What in the hell is going on here? Donna re you okay?" Toby asked after he came rushing over.

"I'm fine really." Donna smiled at Toby.

"Are you sure?" Toby asked checking her for bruises.

"She said she's fine Toby." Mandy replied from her position at the desk.

"Why do I get the feeling that this was something you caused?" Toby asked as he glared at Mandy.

"I'm truly innocent." Mandy replied sweetly, causing Donna to choke back her laughter.

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