Disclaimer: I don't own Suits.

Author's Note: Soooo...this was intended to be kind of short, but...I think it had a serious growth spurt. It's now going to be a multi-chapter fic. So far, it has four chapters written out, and it's really only just begun. Oh my. I don't know how this happened, I really don't. I just hope that it's a pleasant read. So, I decided to post the first chapter, since it's done anyway. Read on and enjoy. Please review, I'd love to hear from you guys.

1. Donna, Clear My Schedule for the Flu

Harvey sat in his office chair, facing the window of his office. The clouds had decided to weep that day, splattering their tears on his window in rapid succession. Rumor had it that Mike had come into work with a wet and speckled suit, which was embarrassing but not surprising. Luckily, Donna volunteered to take care of it, since Harvey didn't have the energy to care.

At first, he had supposed it was because of the rain. He woke up that morning with a sore throat he attributed to the cold outdoors, but the ache never went away, it just seemed to worsen and tighten in his neck. What was even more unusual was that as soon as he had gotten out of bed that morning, he wanted to crawl right back in. That rarely happened. He usually woke up with an immediate desire to kick ass. Well, today he wasn't that into it. Normally he'd blame the gloomy weather, but he knew it wasn't the case.

He was sick. That's all there was to it.

And as the minutes ticked by, it was only getting worse. A fever had grown in the very marrow of his bones, sizzling in his muscle to an uncomfortable degree; it made him shiver as the surrounding air drifted coldly across his neck. His head pounded angrily and his body was now afflicted with aches that were getting sharper and more prevalent. But he could easily disguise those symptoms. It was the cough that was irritating him. It was the only thing keeping him from pure secrecy. Well, maybe not pure secrecy. Donna would find out sooner or later, since she "knew all". Convincing her that he was fine would be difficult, but not impossible. He could probably pull it off. But with this cough, she'd make him go home. Ray would most definitely be in on it. And yet, for some reason, he needed to be here. He couldn't quite remember why, but he needed to be here.

"Hey, I've got those briefs you asked for."

Harvey slowly turned in his seat to face Mike, his legs suddenly softened to noodles. He stopped halfway, too tired to go the last ninety degrees. Harvey decided to roll with it.

"Good. Now start on that pile." he rasped, giving a curt nod towards a stack of paper. Mike sighed irritably and glared at his mentor and then at the stack. As he stared at the neat tower of paper, he narrowed his eyes with…something.

Suspicion.

Mike was narrowing his eyes with suspicion. Harvey didn't like the looks of it. He squeezed his eyes shut, rubbing a finger and thumb across the lids. This day was getting steadily worse.

"You okay?"

Harvey opened his eyes, oddly surprised to find Mike staring at him. Inspecting him. Being suspicious.

"What?" he croaked, taken off guard. Harvey fought to recover himself. "Yeah, of course." Well, that was certainly a lie. His head felt like it was full of extremely dense cotton. It seemed to function the same way; the mental clockwork was a little slow in processing. Tack on the rest of the stupid inconveniences and he was well on his way to a hearty case of misery.

Harvey kept his gaze on Mike.

The kid was looking at him with his brow furrowed and his mouth slightly open, as if attempting to figure his mentor out. Harvey didn't approve.

"No, you're not." Mike reasoned, keeping that ridiculous expression on his face. "What's wrong?"

Harvey did his best to look menacing, but his powers were dampened by the raging aches bouncing around his body. Just when he'd suppressed a twitch from a rather painful ache, something decided to crawl up his throat, tickling and poking the whole way up. A cough. At just the wrong time. Harvey couldn't fight it and that was the most frustrating thing of all. He liked having control, but this illness was overpowering him. Harvey was almost ashamed by this loss.

At this most imperfect time, he coughed. Right in front of Mike. Granted, it was a small cough, but it was a cough that seemed to give Mike permission to ask more questions.

"Are you sick?" he inquired, raising an eyebrow. Harvey pulled a perfect look of incredibility.

"Just because I coughed? Really?" he replied with a chuckle. "Some coffee went down the wrong way a little while ago. No big deal." Harvey did his best to push his seat back towards the window, willing Mike to go away. No such luck.

"You look a little flushed. Are you sure you're feeling okay?"

Harvey sighed. Which was stupid. As the breath scraped up his airway, a couple more coughs slipped out, dancing away on a golden field of success. Harvey watched them escape with a dark feeling of hate.

"I'm fine." he rasped, slowly losing hope. He wasn't the type to give up, but he felt crappy enough that he wasn't even sure if he cared anymore. Hell, the coughs were starting to win. Next would be fatigue. Or maybe the aches. Either way, he wouldn't be happy about it. This was a losing battle. He was being manipulated by a personal, biological invader. Sickness. The evil of all evils. In close second came Mike's sprouting concern over his health. Usually, he would encourage the associate's attention to detail; it was a fantastic asset. Now, it was just a nuisance and a roadblock in the way of fooling Donna...or whoever else didn't need to know he was sick. Like Mike.

A freezing hand was practically slapped across his forehead, startling Harvey into gasping deeply. Needless to say, a family of coughs accompanied the breath out of his lungs, bringing a few friends and their pooch.

"You're fine, huh?" Mike murmured, removing his hand from his mentor's forehead and moving into Harvey's view. "Feels like a fever to me. And you're whole coffee excuse is not going to cover your coughs."

"Don't be ridiculous. I'm fine." Harvey mumbled. "I just have good circulation and coffee sticks in the airway for a little while."

Mike tilted his head as he gave Harvey a look. Harvey pursed his lips and glared back.

"Fine, believe whatever you want, but don't dump your delusions on Donna." Harvey growled, nearly holding his breath in an attempt to suppress a cough. Mike gave him a knowing smirk.

"You're just afraid she'll force you to go home." the associate chuckled, finding humor in the fact that his mentor was secretly intimidated by Donna's manipulative tactics. Although, Mike couldn't blame him.

"Not afraid. Just looking to avoid such a…situation." Harvey corrected, looking very serious. He was rather entertained by watching Donna in all her manipulative glory, but less pleased when she used her tactics on him. They were unbelievably effective. Resistance was futile as soon as she sunk her teeth into her prey and, today, he did not want to be that prey.

"Well, if you don't want her to find out, then I suggest you wipe the sweat off your face." Mike muttered, glancing out of the office. Harvey rolled his eyes, pulling a handkerchief from within his suit jacket and quickly swiping it over his face.

"What've you got anyway?" Mike asked nonchalantly, watching his mentor with a casual interest.

"How the hell should I know?" Harvey grumbled, tucking the handkerchief back in his jacket. "And I honestly don't care." Mike observed the senior partner with interest, wondering how sick the man really was. He certainly didn't look well. To add, his voice was getting more gravelly with each minute, no thanks to the coughs that escaped the hold of Harvey's lungs. It didn't take a genius to see he was ill. Mike guessed that he was probably quite ill, but unwilling to admit it to anyone. As expected.

Harvey's arm suddenly twitched with a rather harsh flicker. Mike narrowed his eyes in concern.

"What?" Harvey snapped, attempting to disguise the twitch with excessive fidgeting. Mike was unconvinced.

"What was that?"

"What was what?"

"That."

"What?"

Mike stopped, glaring at his mentor. Harvey still held his powerful voice and demeanor, but it was a bit weakened by his scratchy voice and sickly features.

"You know what."

Harvey sunk comfortably into his chair, giving Mike his best fake smile.

"Why are you still in my office?"

Mike's shoulders slumped in irritation as his face formed a look of exasperation. He didn't want to do this to Harvey, but he was beginning to worry about his mentor. If Mike couldn't get past the man's defenses, he'd have to provide someone who could.

"I'll tell Donna." he threatened. "That's assuming she hasn't been listening in already. Which I kind of doubt, or else you'd already be under house arrest."

Harvey gave him a dark expression.

"Not fair."

Mike shrugged.

"Never said it was."

Harvey stared at him for a long while, hoping the kid would crumble. Luck just wasn't on his side today.

"What do you want?" he mumbled, scowling heartily. This sickness deal sucked. He was losing every battle of the day, and that was just shameful.

"What was that…twitch thing?" Mike asked, pointing at Harvey's arm. Harvey sighed slowly, only coughing a couple times in the process.

"It was just an ache. It happens." Harvey murmured. Mike furrowed his brow, quickly reaching out to touch Harvey's forehead.

"What're you doing?" Harvey demanded, swatting his associate's hand away.

"Do you have a thermometer?"

Harvey gave Mike a look of irritated confusion.

"Why would I have a thermometer in my office?" he growled, reaching for his handkerchief a second time.

"Well, I don't know." Mike replied with annoyance. "I don't know why you have razors in your office either, but you whipped one out like it was a normal office supply."

"You should be happy I had one. You desperately needed a shave." Harvey mumbled, wiping the fabric square across his face as he blinked heavily.

"Look, Harvey, maybe you should go home and get some rest." Mike muttered, scratching his head nervously. He didn't usually make a habit of telling Harvey what to do, but the guy looked pretty bad. Plus, that fever seemed to be getting slightly out of hand for an office environment. A disposable razor was not going to get rid of a fever. Neither would Harvey's handkerchief.

"No, I'm not going home. I'm fine." Harvey replied angrily, spinning his chair towards his desk. He was getting a little lightheaded, but he didn't think it was anything to have a fit about. Harvey tried to focus on the briefs, but he was so tired. His eyes seemed to pulse with the pain of his headache, rippling with fatigue and a hefty desire to drift to sleep. No, he had work to do. This was ridiculous.

"I hate being sick." he grumbled, squinting as he put all his effort into reading.

"So, you admit you're sick." Mike said with a touch of victory, only annoying Harvey more. Harvey looked up at him, resisting the sudden dizzy feeling in his head.

"Go away." he muttered, the heat of irritation fresh on his lips. Mike stood there like a startled child, but quickly collected himself and began to move towards the door. Harvey blinked against the dizzying buzz in his skull, trying to chase away the uncomfortable urge to pass out on his desk. He stopped trying to read and put the briefs down, leaning back in his chair as he breathed deeper to chase away the faint feeling in his head. This was bad. The sickness was winning. But, for the moment, he was very content with slumping in his chair and basically being a huffing pile of mush.

"Harvey?"

He looked up to see Mike. The kid looked concerned.

"What?" he breathed, flinching as an ache flitted across his cheekbone. He didn't like the aches. He didn't like coughing either. He also didn't like headaches, chills and dizziness, but that's what he had and it was all extremely irritating. Damn fevers and coughs.

"Frankly, you look like you're going to pass out." Mike replied, pursing his lips as he watched his mentor.

Harvey certainly felt like he was going to pass out. But that wasn't the point here.

"I stayed up late." he supplied swiftly, struggling to sit up properly in his chair.

"Come on, Harvey. Now you're just being stubborn. This isn't a case to win, this is your health. You should go home." Mike hissed, putting his hands on Harvey's desk as he leaned forward. "With one look in here, Donna's going to know what's up. It's only a matter of time. Go home. You look like a dead guy." Harvey mulled the thought slowly in his mind. Very slowly. It seemed his cerebral pathways were stuffed with molasses. Out of mere lack of proper activity, he was distracted by another ache in his hip and a growing pulse in his head. Eventually all the thoughts came together and he made a decision.

"Fine." Harvey grumbled. He struggled to get the next words out of his mouth. "But I'll need some help downstairs." His voice was nearly a whisper, extremely embarrassed by his moment of weakness. Apparently, he was due for another lesson in humility.

Mike was at a complete lack for words. Harvey wasn't sure if it was because the kid was shocked by his easy submission, or if it was because Harvey actually admitted he needed help. Harvey could hardly believe it himself.

"I'll talk to Donna." Mike finally said, practically power walking towards the redhead's desk. Harvey watched with hazy eyes, suddenly finding himself extremely miserable. Now he actually wanted to go home. He was sick. He was really, really sick. Harvey could scarcely find the energy to be sitting upright in his office chair.

He blinked, willing to chase away the fog in his eyes, but he didn't need high definition to see Donna's red hair. She was approaching…at a somewhat intimidating speed.

"Harvey, how sick are you?" she demanded, the question flattened and lacking proper inflection. He grimaced and rubbed at his eyes, trying to focus on her as much as he could. She raised her eyebrows menacingly.

"Harvey." she growled. He sighed…and coughed.

"Sick, alright?" he croaked, swallowing down another cough. Donna wasn't satisfied.

"How sick, Harvey?"

He was quiet for a moment, looking at Mike behind her. Mike shook his head, indicating that he shouldn't resist.

"Maybe really sick. Is it really a big deal?" he mumbled, putting his elbows on his desk and leaning forward.

"Yes, Harvey. It's a big deal. When you're sick, I'd like to be the first to know about it. Not Mike. Because then it gives me more time to reschedule all your appointments and rearrange your agenda." she replied, clearly frustrated.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you'd be a little more concerned by the news." Harvey murmured. She was probably just angry because she wasn't the first to know.

"I am concerned, Harvey. In fact, I am so concerned, I'm sending Mike home with you to make sure you get better."

Mike looked shocked by this information, wondering when and how he had been assigned such a gruesome task.

"What? I don't need—"

"Harvey. Let's face it. You need help. And since I'll be busy rescheduling and rearranging, Mike will see to all your needs." Donna explained, her polite—yet menacing—smile peeking out towards the end. "I'll call Ray." She turned on her heel and headed back to her desk, a shimmering sparkle of terror in her wake.

Harvey looked at Mike.

Mike looked at Harvey.

"I'm only letting you come with me because Donna said so." Harvey mumbled.

"And I'm only following you because Donna said so."

Harvey narrowed his eyes.

"Good, I'm glad that's established."

There was an awkward silence as Donna chattered into the phone.

"But, if you need anything just ask." Mike offered. Harvey glared.

"I'm fine. It's just a bug, I'll get over it."

There was another bout of silence as Mike fidgeted where he stood. Certainly, he had never been prepared for this situation, nor had he even expected it. He was pretty sure "taking care of a sick Harvey" hadn't been in the job description. Not that he really knew what it said. He kind of skipped that process after all.

He watched Harvey with a nervous eye.

Author's Note: Hm. First chapter. Good start, I hope. Please review, I'd like to see what you think.