a/n: This is my first Suits fic. Please be nice.

Disclaimer: I own nothing and no one.

Just Another Day

Chapter 1

Today is going to be a crappy day.

Harvey Specter couldn't explain how he knew it. He just knew. His instinct rarely failed him before and it would not betray him now. He knew it the moment he stepped out the limo and saw his one and only associate coming to work in a cab instead of riding his death mechanism.

"At last…someone stole your bike for your own good?"

Mike hunched over the cab's passenger window to pay for his ride and turned to give Harvey a bewildered look. "Huh? What?"

That was another sign that told Harvey they were going to have a hell of a day. Mike was always quick with witty responses to every sarcastic remark shot his way. Now he was looking at Harvey as if the Pearson Hardman's senior partner had grown two heads.

Harvey dismissed the look with a wave. After giving the young man a quick round up – checking for physical injuries which would explain why he had arrived in a cab instead of riding his bike and quietly sighing with relief when he hadn't found any – Harvey looked at his watch and winced.

Mike was early.

Three. He had already spotted three signs that were worth worrying about. Three signs were enough. He didn't want to go through another crappy day because of a certain associate who decided to come to work after getting involved in a bike accident.

"So…spill it," Harvey instructed in his lawyer voice, firm and pushing. "How did it happen? Who is the poor old lady you rammed into?"

Mike frowned and gave him another puzzled look. "What are you talking about?"

"You tell me Mike." He waited for the kid to stop feigning innocence but it never came. He really didn't get what Harvey was trying to say. Harvey pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head tiredly. "I'm talking about your bike Mike. What the hell happened to your bike?"

Snorting, the puzzled look on Mike's face dissolved and was replaced with amusement. "You don't care about me but you cared a lot for the bike?" Mike scoffed and grinned devilishly.

Harvey rolled his eyes. The sarcastic reply along with the annoying grin fended off his earlier thoughts. Maybe there was nothing wrong. Maybe it was just his mind playing tricks. He turned around and made his way to the building – Mike following close.

"Don't worry Harvey…the bike's safe and sound. It just needs a change of routine today," came out the faint explanation from the man behind.

Harvey halted in front of the elevator, waiting for Mike to catch up before pushing the button. The kid was walking at a slow gait, too slow compared to his infamous skip and run manner that he had displayed every day since he started working with Harvey. "Well…it's a good thing the bike is more intelligent than you. At least her doing caused you to show up earlier than the usual."

They stepped into the elevator as it opened with a 'ding'.

"I couldn't sleep…might as well just come to work." Mike filled in.

Harvey looked over his shoulder towards the younger man. He studied Mike's features and noticed the dark circle around the latter's eyes. The kid looked he hadn't slept in days.

"And you just called my bike 'her'!" Mike smirked.

"Shut up." Harvey responded flatly. He punched the button to Pearson Hardman's floor and turned around at hearing a sickening groan as the elevator started moving up. Mike was swaying on his feet and had one hand on the wall for support. He looked about ready to make a face plant. "You okay? You look like shit."

Mike steadied himself and cleared his throat before answering "Everyone's a critic."

Harvey grunted with annoyance. He was worrying for no reason.

The rest of the ride continued in silence though then and again Harvey would shoot occasional glance over his shoulder to check on Mike. There was something wrong with his associate but he couldn't put his finger on it. Maybe the kid was just tired from the lack of sleep. After all he did a tremendous job researching the Cullen's case through previous three nights; catching a shut eye for barely thirty minutes each night. Even Harvey was feeling quite exhausted himself.

The elevator opened to the quiet Pearson and Hardman's office. The quietness was eerie yet soothing – something Harvey hadn't feel since he recruited his one and only associate. Mike was always loud and annoying; and his antics were highly and hazardously infectious.

Harvey stepped out and headed for his office.

Harvey had always been early to work but he came in earlier since Mike started working just to lavish himself in the silence again. But today Mike came in early and Harvey was anticipating for the loss of that silence; it remained.

Mike was quiet.

Harvey turned to see Mike still hadn't exited the elevator. "Are you coming?" Harvey called out impatiently, almost annoyed. They still had something to discuss about the case and they could as well just do it now while walking to his office.

Hearing no response Harvey made his way back to the elevator only to find the kid looking slightly dazed as he stared out the elevator's open door with an empty gaze. "Mike?" Harvey's voice was demanding.

"Huh?" Mike blinked and walked out the elevator just the moment its door started to close. He yelped with surprise as the door pinned him.

"Shit!" Harvey desperately punched the button and pulled Mike out the elevator when the door reopened. He grabbed Mike's arm and swung the kid around so he would look him in the eyes. "What the hell is wrong with you?" Harvey asked in a surprisingly high pitched tone.

The response he got caught him unprepared.

Mike groaned painfully and squeezed his eyes shut. His face lost all colors and it turned awfully white apart from the flush on his cheeks. It was stark against his pale features. He recoiled from Harvey's grip and kneaded his eyes with the heel of his palms. "Damn it Harvey!" His voice shook as he whispered.

Harvey's blood boiled and he could feel the heat burning his face. He could only think of one explanation of why the kid was acting strange and was out of focus. It all made sense now. "You're high, aren't you?" he hissed menacingly to Mike's face.

Mike let down his hands and stared at Harvey. His look was disbelieving. "NO!" He shouted it out loud and later winced regretfully when the pounding at the back of his head escalated tenfold. "No, I'm not…high." Thankfully they were nowhere within others' earshot or Mike's rebuke would have sent the wrong impression or worse, cause people – especially Louise – to discover the truth about him.

"Mike…I swear if you…" Harvey pointed a finger to Mike's face; trying to stress his point.

"Get off me Harvey!" Mike irritably swatted Harvey's hand and sent his boss what supposed to be a deadly glare; which he spoiled by blinking rapidly. He rubbed the side of his head and grimaced with pain before looking at Harvey again. "For once, you might want to consider that I too can get sick." Mike snapped and walked away from the senior partner - his hand still massaging his temple.

Harvey stood dumbfounded. He didn't expect Mike to be so blatant on revealing the current state of his health. He must be feeling so sick that he hadn't made any attempt to cover the ministrations for his pain – the massaging – and that he had taken offense in Harvey's words instead of feeling guilty.

"The kid must be feeling like hell."

Harvey turned to Donna who had been standing next to him and huffed. Donna had spoken whatever his mind was contemplating. She had arrived in the other elevator and was standing right behind Mike all the time they were talking. She wore her strongest perfume today yet Mike couldn't sense her scent. Mike always sensed Donna like he could sense Harvey. You could expect that much from a puppy.

"Was it too harsh?"

Donna tilted her head to one side and gave him the 'you think?' look. "I'll go and have a look." She was always the one to repair the damage done by Harvey on everything, including his associate. When she was assigned to Harvey she never expected this to be a part of her job but as time passed she grew to like the addition.

Harvey smiled at her and said nothing else.

That was enough.

"What will you do without me?" Donna flipped back her hair for a dramatic effect and made her way to Mike's cubicle. Her scent drifted off with her.

Harvey asked himself the same question as he walked towards his office.

"So kiddo,"

Mike jumped at the sudden interruption. He bolted to his feet and swayed dangerously to one side before a gentle cool hand gripped his bicep and made him sit. He swallowed the bitter bile threatening to make its way into his mouth.

"Geez Mike!" Donna was relieved that she was standing behind Mike when the kid started swaying or he would have fallen to the floor in a heap. Donna perched on one edge of Mike's table and asked "What was that all about?"

Hearing no response from him, she turned Mike's chair so he would sit facing her and studied his face intently.

Mike's face was flushed and his lips were dry and chapped. His bloodshot eyes were fluttering uncontrollably. His breathe came out in wheezes and he looked as if he was breathing through his mouth. His dishevelled hair made him look younger than his age. There was no use in asking if he was okay because he definitely was not.

"Tell me how you're feeling Mike," Donna ordered and finished her sentence with a warning "and don't even think of lying."

"Contrary to what you think…I'm not going to lie, Donna." Mike's voice was hoarse and it seemed like talking took a toll on him. He panted for air and continued "I feel like crap." Enough with the façade, he was feeling very poorly and he couldn't help feeling sorry for himself.

"What's wrong?" Donna's mother hen mode went into an overdrive.

"I don't know…" Mike swallowed when he heard how dry his voice had sounded. When he tried to continue explaining it had barely came out. He was parched and was denied of the freedom to speak. Donna gave him a bottle of mineral water that she had obviously brought with her. Mike accepted it with a whispery 'thank you' but he couldn't help thinking that Donna was a Goddess. She knew everything.

Mike continued when he got back his voice. "I awoke at 5 in the morning with a headache…as you can see it's still here." Mike tapped his head before leaving his hand there. "And now, I just feel like crap." He flexed his other hand and spread his fingers wide in front of him. It was shaking terribly.

Donna took Mike's hand into hers and flinched. It was as cold as ice and as she looked into his palm she noticed how blue it was. Donna put her hand on Mike's forehead and grimaced at the blistering heat emitting from the kid. "God Mike!"

"Last time I checked I was not God." Mike grinned mischievously.

Donna ignored Mike's attempt for a joke and glared at him. The kid's mischievous grin disappeared at instant. "When you woke up this morning…did you have the fever too?"

"No." Mike croaked. "It hadn't been there until now."

Donna didn't like what she heard. Mike's fever was too high for such a short time. He was not even supposed to be here in the first place. He should have stayed at home resting or go to a hospital for a quick check-up. "Mike, you should have called in sick." She crossed her arms in an authoritative manner.

"It's just a fever Donna." Mike waved a hand dismissively. "How bad can it be?"

Donna rolled her eyes and sighed. "Says the man who had just admitted he's feeling like crap a moment ago."

Mike chuckled. "It'll pass."

"Have you taken anything for your headache or the fever?"

Mike grinned sheepishly and Donna knew the answer straight away. Again she sent the death stare down Mike's way.

"What?" the stare sent shivers down Mike's spine.

Donna got up and went out from Mike's cubicle. Then she turned around and said "I'm going to get you some meds and help me God I'll make you take them all even if I have to force it down your throat."

Mike gulped. Donna seemed to have black aura revolving around her as she stood over him. Her fiery hair and red blouse added to the evil atmosphere her tone had evoked. He found himself unconsciously reaching for his throat; fearing the damage Donna would inflict while forcing the meds down.

Donna was about to return to her desk when she abruptly turned around and bent over Mike, grabbing him by the collar. She smirked seeing Mike staring at him with horror. "Better yet…I'll make you come with me so you can down all those meds right in front of me."

"But…Wait! Donna!"

Donna's decision held no argument. She hauled Mike to his feet; made sure he doesn't fall on his knees and dragged him towards her desk. The awkward glances thrown their way as she was pulling Mike were staved off with a menacing glare. Nobody dared lift their head for the second time after their eyes engaged with Donna's. She was the second most powerful and influential woman in the company after Jessica. No one messes with Donna and her puppies; that was number two rule if ones wanted to stay alive at the firm.

By the time they reached Donna's desk, Mike was panting for air and was furiously flushed with fever. His chest felt laden as his lungs constricted due to the lack of air. He bent forward; supporting his body with his hands on the knees and breathed in deep. The feeling of oxygen filling his lungs made him shiver with relief.

Mike looked at Donna, half mortified half terrified with what Donna had practiced on him. But it was Donna. She could do anything beyond the imagination of the common men and nobody dared to argue.

So when Donna for the second time pulled his arm, Mike felt the strong urge to run and save himself. But Donna was quick. She sat him down on her seat and began rummaging her drawers looking for something.

"I know I have it here somewhere." Donna's voice was muffled as she bent over her desk, looking into the drawer.

If Mike wasn't so sick, he wouldn't miss the chance to check her over. However, giving it a second thought he decided he wouldn't dare do it anyway. He respected Donna too much to be sexually attracted to her.

"It's okay Donna…I'll go and check from other associates." Mike attempted to sit up and was abruptly stopped when Donna pointed her slim finger; motioning him to sit down again. Mike relinquished and sagged into the chair. He watched as Donna kept on searching.

The time Donna had spent looking for the meds seemed like forever to Mike. Before long his vision started to swim; drowsiness was fast overtaking him. It was becoming harder to stay awake.

Donna resumed to her search and almost yelled in triumph when she finally found the bottle of Tylenol. It was there all along. She was just too panicked seeing how Mike had turned much paler than a moment ago.

She shoved two of the pills into Mike's palm; wincing a bit at how much colder Mike's hand now than it had been before. Mike's eyes were droopy and he looked like he was about to fall asleep right immediately. Donna tapped on Mike's cheek and was rewarded with a disgruntle look thrown her way through slivers of bloodshot eyes.

"Stay with me Mike! I need you to take the meds."

"Uh… 'kay." Mike nodded and straightened himself up on the chair. He stared at the pills; not really knowing what to do with it. Donna shook her head. Mike's condition was deteriorating at a shocking pace.

"Take it Mike."

Mike looked at her like she was crazy.

No. "Don't tell me…you need water to wash them down?" Donna guessed.

Mike raised a brow and rolled his eyes; giving her the 'duh' look.

Donna smiled and ruffled the kid's hair. "Awwww Mike…you're such a baby."

Now, water to down the pills with…Donna hissed irately when she realized she had just given Mike the last of her mineral water stock and they had left it at Mike's cubicle. With her hands on her hips Donna contemplated on either to go back to Mike's cubicle or to go the senior partners' pantry to get some water. Then she decided against both and headed to Harvey Specter's room instead.

"Harvey!" Donna didn't even knock and that caught her boss by surprise. "I need water."

Harvey looked up from the newspaper he was reading and was bewildered when Donna pushed him away from the table and ransacked his drawers looking for what she demanded. He cleared his throat; gaining her attention, and jutted his chin towards the upper right hand drawer where he kept his energy drink. "It's in there."

Donna wasted no more time and retrieved the drink. Energy drink would do the work. She was about to run out the room when she remembered something. Donna threw a glance over her shoulder and said "…in case you're wondering, your puppy IS sick," before disappearing into her cubicle.

The newsflash punched Harvey right in the gut. Sighing heavily, Harvey pushed himself away from the chair and straightened his tie before making his way out to Donna's cubicle. In his mind he was trying to come up with various ways to make it up to Mike without actually saying 'I'm sorry' for accusing him of being high on drugs.

The Great Harvey Specter never apologized to anyone…well, except Donna, or Jessica.

Harvey's racing thoughts were cut short when he reached Donna's desk. She was desperately trying to get Mike to focus on her. The kid on the other hand was seated on Donna's chair, heavy with perspiration and out to the world as he gazed emptily at the secretary's partition.

Mike looked like hell.

"Mike?" Donna called softly - almost mother-like. She reached out a hand and cupped Mike's face. She focused his gaze on her and called again. "Mike?"

The kid didn't respond to her and that scared Donna completely. She looked up to Harvey saying 'please do something' with her eyes.

Harvey gave a try. Tapping the young associate's face he called "Mike." Mike's skin was too hot to Harvey's liking. The kid was definitely running on a high fever; in such a short time too. Mike didn't look this sick when he arrived for work just now.

"Mike. Look at me." There was a change in Harvey's tone. Assumptions were playing at the back of his mind and he was anxious. Not that he cared but he needed Mike to obey to his orders. He was his boss Goddammit!

"Mike!"

TBC

What do you think? Did I pass the Suits test? Shall I continue?