A/N: Ok, here's fic #2! This will probably be at least three chapters, probably more. I want to involve as many of the characters as possible, because I love them all! Also, just a quick note: this story assumes that Daniel is still around, and has named Louis as his newest senior partner.
Louis Litt gazed silently through his office windows at the busy streets below. The sky was dark, save for the persistent hazy glow of the city, which was positively pulsing with light and color and life. Louis couldn't even remember the last time he had seen stars.
He shifted his focus to his reflection in the glass pane. The man staring back at him seemed cold and unfamiliar. Had it really come to this? Had he really come to this? Tomorrow he would cast the deciding vote. He, Louis Litt, would determine the very future of Pearson-Hardman. And he didn't even know who he was anymore.
Immediately his mind was flooded with words. Neutral descriptors—such as lawyer, supervisor, senior partner—gave way to a myriad of other, less desirable adjectives. Devious. Conniving. Greedy. Pathetic. Incompetent. Traitorous. Louis shivered. He was a traitor. Or at least, he would have been. If it hadn't been for Harold.
But that hardly mattered now. Louis was at a crossroads, and he had already chosen what path he would take. The problem was, he had already burned so many bridges that choosing the right path made little difference for him personally. Jessica? Daniel? It just didn't matter. For Louis Litt, both paths spelled loneliness.
Louis straightened his tie and took a deep breath, eyes still fixed on his reflection. Maybe there was still hope for him.
He checked his watch. Donna would be leaving soon. Time to move.
He padded silently down the hallway toward Donna's desk. She hadn't so much as looked at him since her return—and that, he thought, was one thing that he could fix.
"Go away, Louis." He stopped in his tracks. She hadn't even turned around.
Louis cleared his throat. "How'd you know it was me?" he asked softly.
"I didn't. But somebody tripped my jackass alarm and well, I just assumed."
Louis bit his lip. Hands in his pockets, he stepped back to create a solid three-foot buffer zone between himself and the fiery redhead before him.
"Ok, I deserved that. Listen, Donna, I just—"
"Wow, Louis. Either you have bigger balls than I thought, or you're even more of an idiot. What makes you think I want to see your face? Like, ever again?"
Inside, Louis winced. He had heard those words before, spit straight from the mouth of a grieving widow. They had hurt then, and they didn't hurt any less now. He paused.
"I don't know. You know, sometimes I can't stand the sight of it myself," he said truthfully. "But unlike you, I don't have the luxury of telling myself to go away."
"Did you come here for pity, Louis? Because you're sure as hell not going to get it from me. In fact, look here, it's the world's tiniest violin, playing a song called 'I Don't Give a Shit'." Donna grabbed her purse and stood up.
"Wait, will you just give me a second, Donna? I'm trying to apologize."
"Apologize? You humiliated me!" Donna hissed. Her expression had softened, however, and Louis had noticed. He did his best to seize the moment.
"I know! I did...I did that. And I'm not here to make excuses." Louis held up his hands in a gesture of peace. Donna rolled her eyes. He continued. "I just...I just wanted to return this ok?" He reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a stunning diamond necklace. "It was on the floor underneath your desk. It must have fallen out when you...when you packed up your things."
Donna stared stupidly at the necklace. It must have cost at least $10,000. She looked reluctantly from the necklace to Louis. "Um. That's...not mine."
"Isn't it?"
"Are you seriously trying to buy my forgiveness?"
Louis scoffed. "Of course not! ...unless it's working. Is it working?"
"Little bit. Keep talking."
"Gladly. How about over drinks? On me." At the look of disgust on Donna's face, he added, "Just friends." Her eyes narrowed. "Ok, colleagues. Just two people having a good time. Whaddya say?"
Donna sighed. "I don't know, Louis..."
"C'mon Donna, please? Just humor me will you? You know you want to. Come on. Wait, is that a smile? I think that's a smile." Louis clapped his hands together. "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, that is definitely a smile!"
Donna couldn't help it. He was such a dope! And at the end of the day, it was certainly hard to to believe that there was anything dark and sinister about Louis Litt. Maybe she still hated his guts, maybe not, but either way, she wasn't about to pass on free drinks.
"Oh alright!" she finally blurted.
"Yeah? YEAH! Ok. Uh...great. I'll just...I'll just go lock up my office and you can, you can..."
"I'll shut my computer off."
"Yes! Great. Thank you Donna, I promise you'll have a good time." He turned to walk back to his office.
"Louis?"
He stopped. "Yes?"
"Can I just ask you one thing?"
"Yeah, anything Donna. Shoot."
"Are you wearing underwear?"
Louis snorted. "Of course. Why would you—"
"Ok great! See you in a minute." Donna waved him off.
"Alright! Somebody's about to get Litt up!"
"No. Don't ever say that again."
"Right. Be right back." Louis grinned and strode off.
Donna finished shutting down her computer and turned to face Harvey's office. He was sitting with his back to her, looking out at the night sky. She was pretty sure one of his father's records was playing. She watched as he absent-mindedly traced the edge of his Scotch glass. She hated to interrupt whatever reverie he had lost himself in, but she had never left without saying goodbye.
She slowly pressed the intercom button on her phone. "Night Harv," she said.
He didn't turn around, but merely waved his hand in response. Silently, she wondered if this might be an act of God. Maybe she would be the one to persuade Louis to vote for Jessica. To win the game in overtime, so to speak. (Gosh, she was terrible at sports metaphors.) Perhaps this was her chance to truly redeem herself in the eyes of the firm. Just the eyes of the firm? The question hung in her conscience. She quickly dismissed it.
Finally Louis returned, freshly bathed in cologne. He stopped to clasp the sparkling diamond necklace around her neck before offering her his arm. Donna threw one last glance in Harvey's direction as they made their way to the elevators.
Moments later, Harvey sauntered into the hallway just in time to see them pass through the elevator doors. Immediately he felt his throat tighten. His chest felt like it was on fire.
He turned slowly back into his office. Despite all of his mind's brilliant rationalizations, he knew that what he was feeling had nothing to do with the hotdog he ate earlier that day. He was having emotions, and he hated it. Even worse, he was suddenly overwhelmed by the unfamiliar desire to talk to someone about it.
Thus, it was with an ugly combination of anger, frustration and defeat that Harvey Specter hit the streets of New York City. Hailing a cab, he gave the driver the address of the first person that came to his mind. Oh boy, he thought sarcastically. This ought to be fun.
Across town, Donna found herself actually liking Louis. Not romantically, of course. But as she watched him try way too hard to be charming and funny, it hit her: if Louis Litt would just stop trying so damn hard, he might actually be charming and funny.
She motioned to the bartender for more drinks. If—no, when—their discussion turned serious, she wanted to be prepared. And it seemed as if that time was upon them. Louis's stupid grin had given way to another familiar look, one of quiet resignation.
"Donna, I'm so sorry," he began.
"I know."
"I crossed the line."
"You kinda did."
"Can I ask you something though? When you were holding that memo in your hands, that memo with your date stamp on it...you were at a crossroads. How did you decide that destroying it was the right thing to do?"
Donna was visibly surprised. "I had no idea what to do. I guess I just went with my first instinct."
"To protect Harvey."
Donna shook her head. She thought that was why she did it. But after days of reflection, she had finally unearthed the real, naked truth. And it wasn't pretty.
"To protect myself." Her eyes dropped to the empty glass in front of her. "That's how I know it was the wrong decision. I was only looking out for myself."
Louis nodded. He understood more than she could possibly know.
"But you do love him, don't you?" He just couldn't help himself. Even after all that had happened, he still needed to know.
Donna slowly tore her gaze from the table. Louis's face was patient, undemanding. He was finally giving her a chance to explain.
And explain she would.
To be continued...
