His blood was at boiling point to the degree that it was sloshing viciously like a wave against his eardrums. His expensive suit creased uncharacteristically under the jerkiness of his irate movements. The elite Italian leather shoes twisted this way and that as he marched around his office, muttering furiously and incoherently under his breath. Books were opened with a snarl and shut with a slam. Papers, inoffensive and inanimate, were cursed to the deepest darkest depths of hell. Donna, even Donna, didn't know what to do or say to placate him. Looking up at the approach of delicately tapping high heels, she smiled slightly at Jessica as she came to a graceful halt at her cubicle. The firm leader took one look at her unusually frenzied protégé and sighed.

"No improvement?"

Donna winced. "I think it's actually getting worse. He's been practically incomprehensible for the last hour. I don't even know what he's saying. He just keeps checking his cell and pacing. You're going to need to lay a new carpet at this rate." Jessica sighed, Harvey's worked up states were rare, but they were legendary. And she knew that nothing she or anyone could do or say would bring him down from his agitated high. The only thing that would calm him, would be to give him what he wanted. And…frankly, she didn't have Mike Ross to give. To Harvey or to anyone. The kid was off the grid, had been for just a day, and Harvey was acting like he was dead. He was carrying on as if the genius had been brutally murdered and no one gave a damn.

Except for him.

"Still no word from Mike then?"

Donna turned around with a paler than usual expression and Jessica raised a perfectly lined brow.

"There has been word?"

The redhead nodded with the now familiar sense of third party dread.

"Oh there's been word alright…Mike called. He got caught up at a party and didn't realise Harvey might have needed him over the weekend. He's been out of town with some old friends. Everything is fine with him. No need for concern." She glanced at Harvey. "Or maniacal pacing."

Jessica frowned in confusion.

"Then what's the problem? The kid is healthy and well, and he is entitled to do what he likes and go where he likes on the weekend. We don't actually own the associates. Any work to be done here this weekend was partner work, not associate. What's Harvey's problem?"

Donna knew, but also knew better than to appear to know.

"No idea," she lied smoothly, protecting her men, "You know how funny he can be about things." Jessica stared for a moment, flickering her gaze between Donna and Harvey before rolling her eyes. "Uh huh," she murmured dryly, "I do know how funny he can be, I half raised him. That lets me know there's something more than meets the eye going on around here." She glanced at Donna and thought quickly. "Do I even want to know?"

The auburn hair swept from side to side.

Jessica hesitated, but just for a moment.

"Well alrighty then, have at it. Anything gets out of hand though, and you call me. I don't need the blood of a fraud splattered on my walls, it would draw unwanted attention that I can do without. Do we have an agreement?" Donna considered briefly, before nodding. "We have an agreement." Smiling slightly, Jessica retuned the nod before striding down the hall. She didn't know whether or not to feel guilty about the humour she felt in Mike causing Harvey as much grief as he'd caused her. On the whole, she decided not.

Watching Jessica stalk down the corridor, Mike ducked out from behind the pillar he was ensconced behind. Donna, seeing the movement, glanced at him in shock before glaring at him in anger. She scurried over to throw him back behind his hiding spot. "What are you doing here?" she half hollered, "Go! He is furious and you don't want him to see you now. What the hell were you thinking? How could you have been so stupid?" She stole a glance at Harvey, who was still striding around like a man possessed, muttering furiously all the while. "Leave, go now. He needs time to calm down before he sees you. Do not let anyone else in this building see you, you were never here. Leave, now."

Mike glanced at the glass panelled office and paled a deathly white.

"Donna, I need to explain. I can explain. I have about a hundred voicemails from him, if I put it off any longer he's going to kill me." The long term secretary come life coach shook her head in agitation. "Listen to me Mike," she urged, her strong protective streak for the kid shining through. "You cannot be seen right now, I don't care if you have a thousand voicemails. He is doing his nut in there and you know why. I don't even know why I'm trying to protect you, you deserve whatever you're…" she trailed off and took a collecting breath. "Give him time to let off some steam. Call him tomorrow, just whatever you do, do not be seen right now because-"

"MIKE?"

"Oh sweet suffering Lord," Donna murmured in horror as the jig was officially up. Mike stiffened beside her, his messenger back askew around his neck. "Alright," she sighed in horrified defeat, twisting around to see Harvey wrenching open the office door. The normally suave, collected and downright closed off lawyer was practically frothing at the mouth. She had about five seconds to advise Mike before he landed in front of the two of them. Taking a deep breath, she put her years of extensive Harvey training to use. "We'll go in together, and I'll do as much of the talking as I can. Because honestly, you seem to have lost your mind Mike…Mike?"

She turned back to her left, but the kid was gone.

One look at Harvey's face and he'd bolted.

…..

Two-Shot.

…..