Okay, so while I think about the next chapter of my first story, an idea came in to my head about the madness that is where season 7 has started. I think this story will be my way of making sense of it! Please let me know what you think in the comments and thanks for all the lovely support since I started writing! :)

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Love & War

Chapter One

It was already a long week and Donna was longing for it to be over. How is it still only Thursday? she thought.

The world of PSL hadn't felt the same in weeks now and she had started to reconsider her decision to demand a partnership. It had been impulsive, she knew that, but the combination of being seen as more than just Harvey's secretary and the opportunity to forge achievements of her own, at the place she knew so well, rather than having to go somewhere new, had felt right. She didn't want to think about how much her confused feelings for Harvey had played a part in her snap decision; especially now he was dating Dr Paula Agard.

She shook her head as she packed up her handbag for the night. For all her skills at reading people, she had not seen that coming. I mean how ethical even is that? Her mind went back to her own chat with Dr Agard when she'd been so grateful she'd helped him. She also recalled her obvious reference to her confused feelings for Harvey on that day and felt a wave of humiliation rolled over her. I'm sure she thinks that's very funny, she couldn't help but think.

It had been three weeks since the day she'd staked her claim on this position and this office and a fortnight since she'd discovered Harvey's new romantic attachment. She hadn't been proud of her actions that day, but she'd felt a little adrift and a bit of a fool, so she'd reached out to the last man who had actually made her feel valued and, more than that, respected. She'd picked up the phone and called Stu and taken him up on his veiled offer of a date. She'd intended it to be a distraction for a night, but she'd found herself having a wonderful time.

Unlike Mitchell, he had the city confident quality that she'd accepted was part of what attracted her to any man, but he was also funny, smart and kind; a real gentleman, who truly seemed to believe that she could achieve anything she wanted.

Wind the clock forward and here she was, looking forward to the week to end so she could get away for the weekend with Stu! The only person who knew was Rachel. She'd been surprised, but was ultimately happy that there was a man more than ready to give her friend all the happiness she deserved.

Her phone rang then. "You nearly ready to go Donna? My taglietelle masterpiece won't eat itself and I have to say, it's one of my crowning culinary achievements!"

She laughed. Confident, flirty, thoughtful and fun; he'd truly come as a big surprise in her life, just when she needed it. "I'll hold off the praise until I've tasted this supposed Michelin masterpiece!"

"Yeah, yeah Red. I know you're hard to impress but, as you know, I'm more than up for the challenge, and not just in the kitchen!" She could tell he was smirked from just his voice.

"I'll be at your place in 30 minutes."

…..

She was shutting off her lights on her way out, when she bumped in to Harvey on his way to see her. They may both be part of the senior management of the firm now, along with Louis, but they didn't have much to do with each other these days. He knew they were growing apart.

"Oh, you're on your way out?" He seemed surprised. Does he think he's the only one with a life away from here, she thought. "Yes Harvey, is it anything important?"

"No. I was just coming to talk about the resourcing needs that we have to approve, but it can wait until tomorrow."

She moved past him through her office door in to the corridor. "Okay, well in that case, if you just leave it on my desk. I'll see you Harvey," she said simply, as she walked off towards the elevators.

"Fun night planned?" he called curiously after her. She stopped and looked back at him. "Yes. Yes I have," she replied, before walking away.

Harvey had left the file on her desk as requested and headed out to meet Mike for a drink. They hadn't been getting along too well as the corporate and clinic work began to conflict and he hoped maybe a couple of drinks would help smooth things over between them. He was still on the phone to Paula, confirming he'd see her tomorrow night, as he took a seat across from his friend.

On hanging up the phone and taking the offered scotch from him, he caught Mike's expression; eyebrows raised in a questioning smirk. "What?" he asked defensively, swallowing a gulp of his drink.

"What are you doing Harvey? I mean, seriously?"

He knew what Mike was getting at, but he wasn't going to bite without being pushed. He shrugged his shoulders and looked at Mike with a puzzled "what do you mean?" expression. The younger lawyer took the bait.

"Dating your therapist? I mean the old you, I'd have maybe understood, but I thought you'd moved past such clichés."

He huffed, frustrated by the pointedness of the questions. "Paula is not my therapist Mike and hasn't been for quite a while now. And I'm not playing around!"

"It's just, you've never spoken of her. Had you even seen her since before I was arrested? I'm just surprised it's never come up and for the record, it really isn't that long ago that she was your doctor. It's your life Harvey, but it just seems out of character for you."

Harvey sighed. He was not going to justify his relationship to Mike. Why should he? He was having fun after all. Yes, maybe he couldn't really explain it to himself, but it was no one else's business. He also had an idea what else Mike was thinking too.

"I know what you're thinking Mike and before you go there – don't. This is meant to be a pleasant drink."

"Fine. I'm not going to pretend I understand this particular choice, but I admit, she would not have been the person I'd be expecting you to be wanting to share more of your life with right now!"

Mike's face challenged Harvey to respond, but they both knee he wouldn't. "Pussy" Mike thought. He adored Donna and had really started to sense a shift between them recently. Hell, he'd even joked about it when he'd asked Harvey about hosting the wedding! "Harvey could do with talking to a therapist about this," he couldn't help thinking.

On arriving the next morning, Harvey found the file he'd left for Donna back on his desk, a post-it note on the front. "Comments added – D"

He found himself irritated. He knew he'd handled her initial request for partnership badly. She'd always been there for his big moments in life and he'd handled hers terribly. He was too ashamed to admit it, but he knew it was true and they hadn't been the same since. As a result, he'd started avoiding her. Even Louis had made a comment about feeling like a go-between.

He also knew things had become awkward since he'd started dating Paula. When Donna had found out about it, he knew she was surprised and she'd openly told him that maybe he was moving too fast. "I'm being decisive," had been his response and he stood by that. He'd made a decision. Ironically, part of his own mind started to sound like the Paula from his therapy sessions at moments like this: "But is it about being decisive, or running away from someone else Harvey? What about your dreams about Donna Harvey? What about what you told your mother Harvey? We both know that someone special was Donna, don't we Harvey?"

He threw the file down on his desk, his dark mood now set for the day. Snatching it up again moments later, he headed to Donna's office.

Stepping in without knocking, he held up the file. "I thought we were going to discuss this. Like Professionals."

"You weren't in your office when I arrived this morning and I had other things to do, or do you expect me to still be at your beck and call Harvey?" Her glare could have put down armies.

He felt his temper flare. "You wanted to have a seat at the table Donna. Well, you got it, but guess what? It's MY table! You have a problem with something, how about you just say it!"

Louis hovered in the doorway, shocked by the scene unfolding before him. "And people think I'm the crazy one around here," he thought.

"Well, it would be nice if you acted as if you respect my place at the table, especially since I helped you get to where you are! Or have you forgotten about that?!"

Harvey had spotted Louis from the corner of his eye. "What is it Louis?!"

"We need to prep for our meeting with Briars this afternoon, seeing as we know what a delight he'll be." Briars Technologies could potentially be a huge coup for them, but its CEO had a formidable reputation.

In a fit of childishness, Harvey turned to Louis. "You know what Louis? Donna doesn't think that I respect her position, so you can handle it with her."

"Harvey….." Louis tried to cut in, to point out that this was business and not a game in whatever war had broken out between him and Donna, but Donna stood up.

"That sounds fine to me Louis. We can discuss it now." He eyes challenged Harvey to comment further.

He'd regretted the attack as soon as it had left his mouth and the blaze of anger in her eyes terrified him. What the hell are you doing? his mind screamed at him. He stepped back from Donna's desk. "I have things to take care of." With that he left.

Louis gingerly stepped further in to Donna's office. He still didn't fully accept the idea of her being a partner. Manager or Head of HR, sure, but partner? Having said that, he was proud that she was finally standing up to Harvey. He'd always thought she'd let him take advantage of her. Not anymore it seemed.

"You okay?"

She shook her head and exhaled, as if clearing the emotions running through her, before giving him a smile. "I'm fine Louis. Shall we see what I can add to the Briars meeting?"

He nodded. "Absolutely."

…..