Summary: AU. Mike is Harvey's estranged younger brother, and after the death of their father, the two brothers reconnect, as they try to deal with their loss. Mike: age 15, Harvey, age 21. Marcus, who is a year younger than Harvey will also make a few brief appearances, and so will Donna, who will be Harvey's high school sweetheart.

Family ties

Chapter one: Prologue

Harvey Specter was happy. He was at the top of his class in Harvard Law, he was dating Dana Scott, the smartest girl on campus, and he was also about to clerk in one of the most prestigious firms in New York – Pearson Hardman. Life couldn't be better for him.

But one phone call in the middle of the night changed it all. It was three in the morning when his cell phone woke him and his girlfriend up. Harvey reached to his counter and frowned when he saw the caller ID: "Marcus". That was never a good sign, especially at 3 in the morning.. Usually Marcus only called when there was an emergency.

"Hey, do you know what time it is?" asked Harvey ,after he picked up the phone.

"Harvey… there's been an accident! Dad…..he died on impact….and Mike is in a hospital."

Harvey sat up immediately and started getting dressed.

"What? What hospital is he in?"

"What is going on, Harvey?" asked Scottie, who was just waking up. Harvey just ignored her and started writing down the address of the hospital.

"Okay, I will be there as soon as I can, okay. Call me if anything changes." Said Harvey and hung up and turned to Scottie.

"My family has been in an accident. My parents are dead and my brother is in a hospital…I need to go there."

"What? You have a brother?!" asked Scottie.

"Yes, I do. Two of them actually. My youngest brother is in the hospital. His is name is Mike, he is a real pain in the ass, he is 15 years old and he needs me right now." Said Harvey.

"How come you never told me about him or about anyone from your family for that matter?"

"It is a long story. I will tell you later, I promise, but now, I have to get to New York." Said Harvey and kissed his girlfriend goodbye.

Afterwards he took his car keys and started driving towards New York.

While he was driving he started reminiscing about what really happened between him and his father.

Harvey sighed, as he remembered the days when his father did show his affection towards his children and it was obvious that he loved all of his children and wanted what was best for them. He remembered when his mother Lily, was alive and everything was well in his family. He remembered, how happy his parents were when they found out that they were going to have third child, especially since his mother was told that she couldn't have more children. He remembered how his parents talked about names and stuff, and he and his brother Marcus would listen in on their conversations, and their parents would come upstairs and scold them for eavesdropping instead of sleeping, or doing their homework.

But after Lily passed away, while giving birth to his youngest brother Michael, it all started to go downhill. His father started drinking, and ignoring all of them. Harvey and Marcus, who were only children themselves, were left to care for themselves and their baby brother and they would rely very often on their grandmother Edith, who lived in Queens. Their grandmother helped them a lot, when Mike was younger, and the two of them had a very strong bond. However, as years went by, Edith's health began to deteriorate and she was in and out of the hospital, so she couldn't come over anymore. Of course, Harvey would drop Mike over before he went to school and after Mike started to go to school, he had very strict instructions to go straight to his grandmother's house and finish his homework.

Even though, his grandmother did help a lot with Mike, Harvey was still forced to grow up quickly, and started taking care of Marcus, Mike and himself at the same time. He developed a strong bond with his brothers and was the one who protected both of them from the occasional wrath of their father, which was especially worse towards Mike. When they were younger, both Harvey and Marcus taught Mike how to fight and would always take the blame for him no matter what he had done, because they knew that if their father was angry with them, he'd go easy on them, while if it was Mike, well, let's just say, that Harvey always warned Mike to stay off his father's bad side and to stay clear of their father when he was drunk or angry.

Harvey had theory, that along with Lily, something inside his father died too and some unconscious part of his father blamed Michael for Lily's death.

Their father owned a grocery shop, and when he wasn't too drunk, he would go there and he would make Harvey and Marcus go and help him there, after school and he didn't care whether they had homework or not. However, Harvey worked out schedule, so that all three of them could do their homework and help their father in the same time.

As the years went by, their father only got worse. He would stay at home all day drinking and rely on his sons to take care of the shop and of him. Harvey and Marcus both started juggling school and the store. Mike helped out too, of course, after he was done with his homework. Harvey was adamant that he was not to come into the store until he was finished with his assignments, something which Mike did faster than most of the kids his age did. Harvey had always been amazed with the kid's ability to finish all his homework and all of his assignments in the matter of two hours.

Out of the three of them, Mike was the smartest. He had this magnificent memory, that allowed him to remember every single detail. He loved to read, and he was one of the few kids, who actually enjoyed going to school, and Harvey liked that about him. He always said that Mike was destined for greatness, something that his father never seemed to see.

Their father never saw absolutely anything. It was like he was living in his own imaginary world, and whenever someone would snap him out of it, he would lash out on them.

Eventually, Marcus got sick of his father's demands, and when he was 15 and got emancipated and went to live with his girlfriend in Brooklyn, leaving Harvey alone with Mike and their father.

So, at the age of 16, Harvey was already responsible for his 10 year old brother and for his father and the store. However, after the money that they made from the store weren't enough, he had to take a second job at a mail room in a law firm. He remembered the first time he saw Jessica Pearson and developed a relationship with her. She was the only one, who ever saw him as anything more. He remembered the last night he spent in his old house with his father and his brother, like it was yesterday.

3 years ago.

"So, this Jessica Pearson offered to pay for your education and you are going to take advantage of that! Is that it? Do you think I can't support you anymore?" Said the angry voice of Gordon Specter."

"No, Dad, it's just…she thinks I have potential and she said that she wants to invest in me…" said 18 years old Harvey.

"So, you are her charity case, huh? The boy from the mail room can suddenly become a lawyer, is that it?" said Gordon.

"Dad, she thinks I have the potential to be a great lawyer…."

"Did you think about the example you are setting to your little brother? He is only 12 years old.'

"Yes, Dad, I did think about that and yes, if someone offers him an opportunity to change his life, I would want him to take it. The kid is already smarter than both of us together."

"Change your life? What exactly is wrong with your life? You have a roof over your head, you have a father that loves you, a brother, who adores you. And you are willing to throw all that away, because some rich lawyer has dangled some money in front of you…."

"You think this is about the money?! Dad, this isn't about the money! This is about getting a better life. I mean, think about Mike. If I become a lawyer, he could go to a private college, expand his horizons, he could fulfill his true potential….."

"His true potential? His potential is whatever I say it is. The kid may be smart, but he ain't no Albert Einstein. He is gonna work with me in the shop, and so are you."

"Dad, do you even know him at all? If you trap him inside of the shop he will suffocate! He loves to read, he loves to go to school….As for me, I have already decided, I am leaving."

"Okay, you don't get to teach me how to raise my own kid." said Gordon.

"You know what? This is why Marcus left! You suffocated him, just like you are suffocating me and Mike."

"That's bullshit! Your brother left because of that whore Clarissa!"

"He was 15 years old and you drove him crazy! You have been driving me crazy for years! The only reason I stayed here is because of Mike. Because I am worried what will happen to him if I leave him here with you!"

"Watch it, boy! Don't you ever talk to me like that."

"Like what? Like I just told you the truth! You have been a terrible parent, ever since Mom died, and you constantly bully him!"

"What do you want from me, Harvey? You want me to let you go? You are 19, you can go."

"I don't want anything from you, Dad! I have given up, trying to get through to you. And as you pointed out, I don't really need your permission for anything. Mike needs you to be his father, because for some reason, that kid still has a light inside of him. A light, that makes him want to see good in you. Even though, you constantly bully him and insult him, he still has your back and he still needs your approval. So, here is the deal, Dad! You get a third chance with him, but I am warning you….if you do something, anything to make this light go away, I will bury you!" said Harvey, threateningly and headed towards the room that he shared with Mike.

As he opened the door he saw his brother lying on his bed, pretending to be asleep. It was an old trick, that Harvey and Marcus had taught him in case he heard his father come home angry. Harvey rolled his eyes, shook his head and said:

"Shouldn't you be asleep? Like for real?"

Mike chuckled sadly and sat in his bed.

"How did you know that I was awake?"

"How do I always know you are awake? You are a terrible actor. So, how much did you hear, you little rug rat?"

"Hey, you know I hate it when you call me that, you jerk! Are you really leaving?" whispered Mike and looked at his brother.

"Ohh , so you did hear everything. Yes, Mike. I am afraid I have to go!"

"Can you take me with you?"

"Believe me, Mike, I wish I could, but I am just a phone call away if you need me! If it gets bad, you know where to go, right?"

"To Granny Edith! Or to Marcus." said Mike.

"Yes, she would love for you to go and visit her. It has been weeks." Said Harvey. "Now go to sleep. It's late."

"Harvey, I am going to miss you. Please don't go!"

"I am going to miss you too, buddy. But I have to go! Besides you don't need me. You have Marcus, who is in the city and you have Granny."

"I love you, Harvey! Please don't go!" said Mike , hugging his brother tightly.

Harvey sighed and closed his eyes.

"Ohh, I love you too, buddy. We will see each other again, I promise.¨

Present day

That was the last time he saw his father and his brother. Harvey regretted leaving his family like that, especially his brother, but his father didn't leave him with a choice. It was either that or live the rest of his life sorting mail in a law firm and selling groceries to the neighbors, in his father's shop. He hated that life. He wanted something better and he wanted something better for Mike too.

He always told himself, there would be time to fix his relationship with his father, to apologize, but there was make peace with him. His father was dead and his last words towards him were: "I hate you." That's right, Harvey couldn't fix his relationship with his father, he could most certainly fix his relationship with his brother.

Three hours later he was in the Presbyterian hospital. He went to the reception.

"Hi, I am looking for Michael Ross Specter."

"Just a moment, sir." Said the nurse and typed something on her computer. "What's your relation to him?"

"I am his brother." said Harvey. They looked at him and nodded.

"He is currently in surgery. You can wait over in the waiting here over there and they will update you, when he is out of surgery."

Harvey nodded and went to the waiting room, where he was greeted by Marcus, whose eyes were red from crying. The second he saw him, he went and hugged him tightly.

"Harvey…you are here."

"Of course, I am here…what happened?"

"I don't know….the hospital called me at 3 am and told me that…there's been an accident. Dad is dead and that Mike….they won't tell me anything about him. It's been three hours, Harvey…"

"He will be fine!" said Harvey, more to himself that to Marcus. "Did they say what caused the accident?"

"The police are still investigating...but they have a theory that Dad might have been drunk while he was driving."

"What?"

"I already lost Mom and Dad….I can't lose you or him…I just can't!"

"You won't! We won't lose him! Do you remember, when he was 8 and he fell off the tree and he cracked his skull? The doctors said that he might not survive the night, but he did! He is a fighter!"

The doors of the operation room opened and a doctor emerged from there.

"Family of Michael Specter?"

"Yes, we are his brothers. How is he?"

"Hello, Mr. Specter. I am doctor Neal Jamison and I have been treating your brother. I am not going to lie to you, when he was first brought in, he was in almost critical condition. We had to remove his spleen, because it was ruptured in the crash, so his immune system will be weaker than before. He lost a lot of blood and that caused his heart to stop beating twice during surgery, but fortunately we were able to revive him. In addition to that, he suffered a mild concussion, and a few minor cuts, which have sustained a few infections, so he has a slight fever, which is expected to go down soon. He is expected to make a full recovery." Said the doctor.

"Why do I get the feeling there is more to it? I am a law student…I am pretty much trained to read people." Said Harvey.

"When your brother was admitted, there were traces of alcohol, marijuana and some painkillers in his system, which could compromise his recovery. Are you aware that he might have drug problem?"

"What do you mean? He is underage!" said Harvey, and looked to his brother, who didn't look very surprised.

"Underage or not, he was definitely drunk and high at the time of the car accident. He is going to be a little irritable, when he wakes up, because he may suffer from withdrawal symptoms. But now, that his spleen is removed, he should stay away from those things, because it may actually kill him. So, I am going to keep him here for a week for observation. He is going to have to take antibiotics for the next two weeks and I am going to prescribe something for the fever and Tylenol for the pain. I also recommend rest for at least a week."

"Can we see him? "

"Of course. A nurse will show you to his room. He will be a little out of it at first, because of the fever. Now if you excuse me, it is time for my rounds." Said the doctor and left.

5 minutes later a nurse showed up and led the way to room 308.

Harvey sighed, at the sight at his little brother lying on the bed hooked to a heart monitor and an IV attached to his left arm. Mike was a little flushed, and his face was covered in cuts and bruises and there was a small cut on his forehead.

Harvey felt guilty, as he realized that this was the first time he has seen his brother in 3 years. He had definitely been a selfish brother and a selfish son and now his father was dead and his brother was in a hospital.

As if she was reading his mind, Marcus said:

"This wasn't your fault."

"What exactly wasn't my fault? I just found out that my father is dead and our brother is a drug addict…and you are seriously going to stand here and tell me that this isn't my fault! I shouldn't have left."

"Harvey, listen to me…."

"You knew about this, didn't you?" asked Harvey, and glared at his brother.

"Yes, Mike has been acting out for the last three months, he has been cutting school, drinking, smoking, and doing drugs."

"And why didn't you call me? Mike starts acting out and you don't tell me?"

"Because I knew you'd ditch everything and come back for him. And I didn't want you to ruin your future because of him!"

"Because of him? He is our brother! If you had called me, I would have knocked some sense into him."

"Harvey, he has been struggling with drugs for the last three months. Ever since, Granny died.

"Granny died? When?"

"Grandma died from a heart attack three months ago. Mike was the one who found her.¨

¨Why didn´t he call me? She was my grandmother too."

"Harvey…you've sacrificed everything for us. We just didn't want you to worry and to drop everything. You were finally living your life. We both agreed that we wouldn't call you."

"Ohh, you agreed? Did you also agree to keep me in the dark, while our 16 years old brother was destroying his life?"

"Harvey, I didn't even know about it, until three weeks ago, when one of Mike's friends, Rachel, sought me out and told me. I confronted him about it, we had conversation, he said he was never going to do drugs again."

"And you believed him? Damn it, Marcus! You should have been looking after him and you should have called me. And what about Dad, huh? Did he know about that?"

"I swear, I haven't seen Dad since Granny's funeral….but it didn't look like he cared."

Before his brother could answer, they both heard moan from the bed, which suggested that Mike was waking up.

"Mike?" said Harvey.

"Harvey? Marcus?" said Mike quietly sounding surprised. "What are you doing here? What happened?"

"There was an accident…"

Mike sat up quickly, as he remembered the accident.

"Oh my God! Is Dad okay?"

"No, he is dead!"

'What? No…he…couldn't be. It should have been me! I screwed up again! He should have never been in that car." Said Mike.

"What are you talking about?"

"What do you care? You left to become a hot shot lawyer! You should just go." Said Mike quietly.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means, that you should go back to your law school, hang out with your friends and just leave! It's what you are good at doing!"

"Mike…you are out of line!" said Marcus. "What do you mean you screwed up again?"

"Am I out of line? What is he even doing here anyway?"

"Michael….he is here, because I called him, after the accident." said Marcus. "Now you will be nice to him, because you have no idea how terrified he was while you were in surgery."

"Why would you do that, Marcus? You had no right to call him! We agreed that we wouldn't call him."

"I had every right, Mike! I didn't call him when Grandma died, and I agreed with you. I didn't call him, when I found out that you were using, because you asked me not to, and you said you would quit! Something that I see that you haven't done!"

"Ohh, why don't you just go see your girlfriend. You left us for her, remember?"

For a second, Harvey wondered what was going on with the kid. And then, he was reminded, that this was sick Mike, that he was dealing with and his irritability had nothing to do with withdrawal. Mike always got irritable when he was sick, it was one of his trademarks, but then again there was always a bit of reason behind his outbursts and while Harvey knew that Marcus knew that Mike didn't mean the things he said, he also knew that he was the only one, who could get the kid to calm down and open up.

"Marcus, could you leave us alone for a few minutes. I need to talk to Mike alone."

"But…"

"Marcus…please…"

"Okay, I will be in the cafeteria." Said Marcus and left the room.

Harvey closed the door and turned towards his brother.

"What is wrong with you? Why are you lashing out on us?"

"Ohh, don't pretend you care! You left me! You left! Why don't you just go ahead and leave to Boston again?"

"I get that you are mad at us…."

"I am not mad at you. I hate you! There is a big difference."

"Really? Do you hate yourself too? What's with the drugs?"

"What are you implying? That I am an addict? You don't even know me! You don't know what I have been through during the past few years. How could you? You know what, you should just go. As you can see I am fine, so just leave! It's what you do best isn't it?"

"Oh, yeah, you really are fine! You are a picture of health. And you could blame me all you want for your misery, but you could have picked up the phone and called me if you needed me!"

"Just…leave." Said Mike, tears appearing in his eyes. "Leave! You know you want to!"

"Oh, so that you can call your buddies and get high the second you are out of the hospital? No! Forget about it! I am not leaving, Mike!"

"Fine, then I will go." Said Mike and removed the IV from his arm and stood up. "Where are my clothes?"

"Mike….I really don't think, that you should…." Said Harvey, seeing as his brother had just undergone surgery and he had a fever and he didn't look like he should move so much.

"Where are my clothes and my cellphone?" asked Mike, ignoring the sudden pain in his abdomen, the dizziness and the nausea, that suddenly ambushed him the second he stood up from his bed.

"Mike! Get back into bed!" said Harvey, now very worried. "You have a fever and you just had a surgery, so I don't think..…."

Before he could finish his sentence, Mike's knees buckled and Harvey ran to his brother's side helping him up and hugging him tightly. Mike fought him at first, but then he hugged him back and started crying.

"What are you doing, Mike? Why are you acting like this?"

"Why can't you go? You had no problem before!" said Mike between sobs.

"I am not leaving you, Mike!"

"I want you to go! Everyone, who gets involved with me dies, but for some reason, I survive! First, Mom, than, Granny, now, Dad! It is only a matter of time, before you or Marcus suffer the same faith. So, you are better off, without me."

Harvey sighed. So that's what this was about.

"Is that what you think, Mike? That this is all your fault?!"

"Well isn't it? If it wasn't for me, Mom would still be alive….

"It isn't true, Mike!"

"Yes, it is! Mom died, because of me. Dad told me…"

Of course. That definitely sounded something that their deadbeat father would say. At this moment Harvey wished he could bring his father back to life, so that he could kill him again.

"No, Mike, no! I thought we had settled this, years ago. This wasn't your fault! Listen to me, Mom was sick long before she was pregnant with you. The doctors told her that she couldn't have more kids and when she got pregnant with you….it was the happiest day of her life. She knew the risks, Mike, she and Dad, they both did. But they both loved you too much to let you die. And the complications during her pregnancy could have killed you too. You are not to blame, Mike."

"Well, Dad said…"

"Dad was an asshole, Mike! But he did love you…..he just had a funny way of showing it! Now, lie back down and I never want to hear you say that what happened to Mom was your fault. It was an accident…just like this car accident."

"But…" said Mike as he lied back down on the bed.

"No, "buts", Mike! We've been over this! Mom's death was not your fault!"

After a moment of silence, Mike spoke again:

"Harvey, I think I may have caused the accident."

Harvey did not see that coming.

"What? No, Mike, what caused the accident was the fact that Dad was an alcoholic that decided to drive his 15 years old son, while he was under the influence and he crashed into a tree."

"He wouldn't have been driving if me and my friend Trevor, hadn't been busted for possession and for underage drinking and they hadn't called him."

"Did I hear you right? Are you actually blaming yourself for the one fatherly thing that Dad did for you? It was his goddamn job to come and get you. Heck, he should have been there for you after Grandma died, instead of you trying to deal with this shit, all on your own. Now, that you have a shitty way of dealing with stuff, that's another thing. So now, that we've established that I am not going anywhere, I am asking you again, what's with the drugs, Mike?" said Harvey.

Mike looked at him tiredly and said: .

"To tell you the truth, I don't know. A few days after Granny died…it was like…a switch flipped. At first it was innocent….me and Trevor started smoking pot once or twice a week. It was just pot, I didn't think it would escalate. But then, one day, while I was cleaning up Granny's house, I found the pain killers that she used to take for her back. And I started taking them. And then nothing mattered anymore. I started to cut school with Trevor. When Rachel and Marcus confronted me about it, I tried to quit! And I did….I relapsed last night at a party with Trevor."

"Why do I hear a recurring name here? Who is Trevor? Do I know him?"

"Yes, you do! He was our neighbor, remember?"

"The kid? The one, I explicitly told you not to hang out with, because his parents were drug dealers? That Trevor?"

"Yeah, he was there for me, Harvey. He helped me out, after one of Dad's little episodes."

"God damn it , Mike, you should have called me. Why didn't you call me?"

"I…don't know, Harvey! I just wanted you to live your life without having to worry constantly about me…."

"Mike…I am your big brother. It's my job to worry about you."

"No, it isn't. Not anymore. I can take care of myself."

"Well, great job, kid! Drugs, alcohol, skipping school? Is that your idea of taking care of yourself? Aren't you supposed to be the genius in the family?" said Harvey.

Mike smiled sadly.

"Okay, I admit, that I have made a few bad choices, and mixing drugs with alcohol probably wasn't the best idea….Listen Harvey, about earlier…. I'm sorry for lashing out like that. I didn't mean those things."

"I know you didn't. You get grumpy when you have a fever, so I've learned a long time ago not to take anything to heart, when you are sick. But I am going to need you to promise me something….no more drugs, and no more Trevor!"

"But Trevor is my friend…"

"No, he is an anchor. He appeared in your life and you suddenly started using and you think that the two aren't connected?"

"Harvey…Trevor is…."

"I don't give a shit, who Trevor is, Mike! Cut him loose. You don't call him anymore, and you don't answer, you got that?"

"But Harvey…."

"No, buts, Mike! I mean it!"

Mike nodded. It was funny how, even though he hadn't seen his brother in over 3 years, Harvey could still convince him to do anything.

"So, when am I getting out of here? You know I hate hospitals and that I have spent my fair share of my life in them, so I want to get out as quickly as possible."

"Well, that depends. If you manage to stay put for more than 10 minutes and not rip your stitches, maybe they will discharge you in a few days."

"And then what? I am still a minor….am I going to a foster home?" asked Mike, as he suddenly realized that with his father's death, he was officially an orphan.

"Mike…do you seriously believe after the stint you just pulled I am ever going to let you out of my sight again?"

Mike burst out laughing.

"What are you gonna do, Harvey? You are a 21 year old student, who has no income. There is no way anyone will grant you custody of me. I am not a law student and I know that!"

"You let me and my friends at Pearson Hardman worry about it. The only thing, I want you to do right now, is to calm down and stay out of trouble. Do you think you can manage that?"

Mike glared at his brother and said:

"I'll try, but no promises."

After that Mike suddenly felt tired, but he wanted to keep talking to his brother so he blinked once in order to stay awake.

"Mike, go to sleep...You need it. Besides, I'd hate to point out the obvious, but you do look like shit." Said Harvey.

"I am not tired." Said Mike, while covering up a yawn.

"Still a shitty actor, kid." said Harvey and place a hand on Mike's forehead. "Besides, I think your fever is a bit higher and you could really use the rest. Don't want you getting sicker, right? Then you'd really be insufferable..." said Harvey half joking.

"I'm not insufferable..." said Mike slightly offended.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever..." said Harvey. After that Mike fell asleep and Harvey sat back on the hospital chair. As much as he hated to admit it, the kid did have a point. Taking custody of a 16 year old sibling was difficult and he really needed to discuss this with Jessica, but he couldn't leave Mike alone.

A knock on the door showed him that Marcus was back.

"How is our little ray of sunshine?" said Marcus, pointing to Mike's sleeping form.

"Well, he has been better...his fever got higher. He is asleep." said Harvey and sighed.

"Listen, I called Donna. I know you and Donna aren't exactly on the best of terms, but she can stay here while the social services come, so we can go back to our lives...She will be here in fifteen minutes, so unless, you want to have another fight with her, you should head back to campus." said Marcus, as if this was the most normal thing in the entire world. That made Harvey's blood boil. How could Marcus be so selfish? He stood up and pushed Marcus against the wall and dragged him out of the room, so that they wouldn't wake Mike up.

"Social sevices?! Are you insane? Don't you get that the reason Mike is in this mess is because we abandoned him?"

"He was never our responsibility. He only became one, because Dad refused to take care of him. He was Dad's responsibility, not ours."

"You know, Dad didn't give a damn about him. He didn't give a damn about neither of us, Marcus! We always had to look out for each other."

"You are right! Listen, I love him too, Harvey. I do! He is my brother too! But I want to have a life too. I spent my entire childhood, worrying about whether Mike was going fall, whether Mike was going to get into a fight, whether Mike slept or ate enough...I decided had had enough, Harvey...and so did you, you just don't want to admit it!"

"Marcus..."

"What would you have us do? Take custody of him? Harvey, neither one of us is capable of providing him stability and god, he needs it!"

"I don't care whether, I'd have to drop out of law school to take care of him, but I am not leaving him again, Marcus!" said Harvey.

"Uhum…guys! What are you two fighting about?" asked a voice next to them. Harvey turned around and he saw that Donna had just arrived in the hospital.

"Donna….nice to see you…." said Harvey. "We were just discussing a family matter. Nothing that concerns you."

"Nothing that concerns me, huh? I guess my boyfriend leaving for law school wasn't my concern either, huh?" said Donna and rolled her eyes at Harvey.

"You are still mad about that, huh?" said Harvey. Donna just glared at him and turned her attention to Marcus.

"How's Mike?"

"Well, actually we were discussing where he was going to live, when you came in. Harvey actually offered to ditch law school for him. I want him to go with social services, where he would be looked after…"

"So basically you want to bail on him…." started Harvey.

"STOP IT!"

The two men, were interrupted by Donna, who practically had to shout to get their attention.

"Where the hell is Mike?" asked Donna.

"What do you mean where the hell is Mike? He is sleeping in the room!" said Harvey, but as he an Marcus walked in the room they realized that it was empty and there was a note on the table by the bed.

Harvey felt his heart stop as he was reading the note, written in Mike's handwriting:

"Dear Harvey and Marcus,

I appreciate everything that you've done for me and I know that you both care about me, but I cannot be your burden anymore. I know you both want to help me and I appreciate it, but I cannot let you put your lives on hold for me anymore and there is no way I am going in the system. I think it's time for me to start living on my own. Harvey, don't worry, I will do my best to stay out of trouble and away from Trevor. Marcus, say hi to your wife for me. Tell her, that I am sorry for pulling you away like that.

I promise I will write to you the second I get settled down. I love you both so much.

Love,

Mike."

Harvey dropped the piece of paper that he was holding. His sick 15 years old brother was out there on his own…He felt it difficult to breathe. He needed to sit down for a bit.

"Oh my God, Harvey, are you okay?" asked a distorted version of Marcus's voice. "What happened?"

"Mike ran away." said Harvey and placed a hand on his head.

So that was chapter one. Sorry for the cliffhanger. I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts. See you soon.