The idea for this story came after reading a recent interview with Gabriel, which mentioned Harvey's brother getting divorced this season. I caused me to wonder how this could impact Harvey and of course, Darvey. I don't expect it to be a long one, but hopefully you'll enjoy it. As always, please do leave a review to let me know what you think, as constructive input is always very welcome!
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Chapter One
Harvey ended the call with a heavy sigh, the shock still running through him. On hearing the tone of his brother's voice on the phone, he'd immediately leapt to the worst possible conclusion – he was sick again. All the possibilities started running through his mind; all the ways he could support his family that he hadn't done in the past, springing in to his head.
The true reason for Marcus's call had been the last news he'd expected; his brother was getting divorced. He knew he hadn't been as present over the last few years as he could have been, but Harvey had always seen theirs as a strong marriage. They always seemed happy.
- Nothing lasts forever.
The statement rang in his head and he felt guilt that his first thought was for himself, how the fear of losing the people he cared about sometimes kept him up at night. People was a lie, person was more accurate.
Opening the door the next afternoon to his brother's lonely figure, hold-all in his hand, shoulders slumped and a sadness in his eyes that seemed to be physically weighing him down, Harvey wasn't sure what he could say.
It wasn't a time for nicknames, no matter how heartfelt they were, so instead Harvey gave him a hug and took his bag.
"Gee, no banter. You really must feel sorry for me."
Harvey shrugged. This was new territory for him. As he'd recently proven, he just made a mess of relationships, so offering any form of advice on the subject was way beyond him.
"I'm sorry, Marcus. You want to talk about it?"
His brother sank down on to the couch. "Not much to say." Harvey joined him, sitting across from him in one of his chairs. "Is it definitely over? Maybe if you talk with Katie some more?"
"You think we haven't done that?! We've tried Harvey, but it just became too hard. After I got sick, it really strained everything and I guess we never properly recovered. We've been trying to pretend everything was fine when it wasn't."
Harvey offered him a sad smile. "I'm sorry Marcus. I really am. What can I do?"
His brother was quiet for several moments, before he let out a sigh. "Let me stay for a while? Katie took the kids to her parents yesterday for the school holidays and the idea of being alone in the house….."
"You can stay as long as you need Marcus." Harvey would never admit it, but the idea of spending more time with his brother and having someone else in his apartment, was quite a pleasant one.
"Thanks Harvey."
Marcus paused again, looking to the floor, before looking across to the drinks trolley. "Aren't you going to offer me some of your good scotch?"
With a chuckle, Harvey stood up and walked over to the drinks. "I thought it was too early for you. If you're sure you can take the pace!"
….
Donna could tell Harvey was out of sorts the moment she saw him arrive that Monday morning. She was coming from the file room and watched him appear in the corridor and walk relatively slowly down towards his office.
It was strange to see him back in his old home and yet, oddly comfortingly at the same time. It was where he belonged, even though she felt a little sad at losing him from the office next door to her.
"Rough night, Harvey?"
He looked up at her, leaning against his open office doorway, with an irritated look on his face. "I've had worse."
"Not for a while by the looks of you. Out of practice?"
Her teasing hid the underlying question filling her mind, as to who had kept him up all night, while at the same time, she hated that it bothered her.
"My brother's in town. He needed to blow off some steam."
Before Donna could form the question, Harvey answered it for her. "He's getting divorced."
She sighed and perched on one of the chairs in front of his desk, the revelation taking her somewhat by surprise. "That's so sad. I always assumed he and Katie were really happy."
Harvey leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes. "Apparently not."
Donna took in the man before her, for whom family was everything and knew all the thoughts this latest event would be causing – about relationships and abandonment and it struck a part of her heart that she'd been having trouble ignoring over the last few weeks in particular.
"How long's he staying?"
Harvey's eyes met hers and he shrugged. "I have no idea. As long as he needs to."
"Well, in that case, you better pace yourself before you burn out!" It was said with a playful smile as she rose from the chair and moved to the door. "He's lucky to have you, Harvey," she added with sincerity.
Looking at her standing in his old doorway once again, with a caring look on her face, made Harvey's heart ache in a way that terrified him. "Thanks Donna," he murmured before looking away, as she disappeared along the corridor, reminding him yet again that she was no longer right outside the door.
…
It had been a long week at Zane Specter Litt and Donna was counting down to leaving and having two entire days to herself. She couldn't remember the last time she'd taken and entire weekend off work. It seemed almost lazy.
However, it was days like this when she felt Rachel's absence more acutely, when perhaps they'd have grabbed a drink after work, or brunch on Sunday. Seattle wasn't that far away, but she knew they were still settling in to their new lives and it wouldn't be fair to descend on them just yet.
As she walked back in to the lobby of their building after a quick solo lunch, she was caught up in her own thoughts, as a hand caught the doors of the elevator, before someone stepped inside. Being the only two people in the small space, they exchanged pleasant smiles, before she noticed his hand hover over the buttons before returning to his pocket on seeing the 50thfloor already lit up.
The moment she realised who he was seemed to coincide with his own realisation that the red-headed stunner before him was someone he'd heard a lot about and a broad smile appeared on his face. They each started to speak at the same time, which resulted in laughter filling the space.
"Donna, right?"
She nodded and smiled wider, as she took in the man next to her. "It's nice to finally meet you Marcus."
Harvey's brother was somewhat of a mystery to Donna. Through her many phone calls to Harvey's father, she'd grown to know him, at least a little and had certainly heard stories about both of his boys, but other than that she knew very little about Marcus; he'd had a gambling problem, one which Harvey felt responsible for causing, had been unknowingly caught up in Forstman's scheme, had been sick with cancer and ran a restaurant.
She could see the same smile ran in the family; perhaps not a Cheshire Cat grin like his brother, but it was already evident that he had the Specter charm and he seemed to have heard about her, at least enough to recognise her.
"I hear you're staying with Harvey for a while," she replied, careful not to mention the reality of his situation, but Marcus simply gave an embarrassed smile. "I'm guessing he's told you why?"
Donna offered a sympathetic, apologetic smile. "He did. I'm so sorry Marcus."
"Thanks and it's okay. I heard he tells you everything anyway!"
The comment surprised Donna and the confusion shone through on her face, causing Marcus to elaborate. "Dad…..He may have mentioned you once or twice."
That information made her smile wider. "He was a wonderful man. I wish I'd known him better."
Before any more could be said, the elevator arrived at the 50thfloor and they stepped out together. Noticing the lettering on the wall, Marcus turned to Donna. "Seriously, how many names has this place had now?! I'm amazed you can all keep track!"
At that moment, Harvey appeared by the reception desk, on his way to see Robert Zane and was surprised to see Donna laughing, especially as the person who'd clearly caused the laughter was his brother.
He stopped, his head tilting to the side, as he studied the scene before him, seeing two people so important to him seemingly getting along so well. Taking a step forward, he addressed Donna.
"Is this guy bothering you, Donna?"
Marcus rolled his eyes at his brother. "That's rich, when she puts up with you every day!"
Donna held back a laugh, watching the interaction between the two men in front of her.
"What do you need, Marcus? Everything okay?" Harvey asked, pointedly ignoring his brother's jibe and gesturing that they walk, as he was already late for his meeting with Zane.
"I wanted to check we were still on for tonight."
Harvey smiled. "Why? You think I'd stand you up?"
"I'd hope, in the circumstances, you wouldn't be that big of a dick, Harvey!"
They'd reached Donna's office by this point and she smiled to herself, as she stepped inside, leaving them to their brotherly banter. "We're good, Marcus. I'll meet you for a bite to eat first at 8."
His brother nodded. "Sounds good."
Harvey was about to disappear in to Robert Zane's office when a thought crossed Marcus's mind, as his eyes watched Donna taking a seat behind her desk and opening up her tablet computer. "Hey, why don't we invite Donna along too?"
Marcus saw a surprised look cross Harvey's face, perhaps mixed with something else that peaked his interest. "It seems crazy I've never been properly introduced to her after all these years and she can help advise me on how to navigate living with you!"
Harvey narrowed his eyes a little. "I can recommend a good hotel, Marcus. Believe me, you're not top of my list of people to be spending my evenings with."
"I'll bet," Marcus murmured under his breath, before glancing from Donna back to his brother, raising his hands a little, as if in surrender. "Your call, Harvey. I just thought it might be fun. You remember what fun is, right?"
With that, he slapped Harvey's shoulder affectionately and turned to leave, calling goodbye to Donna as he did, earning him a smile and a small wave in return.
…..
It was after his meeting with Zane that Harvey hovered outside Donna's office door, considering his brother's suggestion. He felt conflicted. Their relationship in recent weeks had been through so many ups and downs and they finally seemed to have found even ground again. Was it worth upsetting that rhythm? Then again, the idea of spending more time with her away from the office and their day-to-day professional lives was incredibly attractive, frighteningly so.
His feet seemed to decide for him, as he crossed the threshold of her office, tapping lightly on the glass as he did so, causing her to look up and smile.
"Hey. How did it go with Robert?"
"Good. It seems we were on the same page for a change."
"That's good, Harvey."
Still lingering in the doorway, he glanced around the office, before focussing his gaze back on Donna.
"Marcus and I are heading across town tonight to hear some of dad's old friends play and he thought you might like to come?"
The words took Donna by surprise and she stopped working, her attention fixing on Harvey, as a curious look crossed her face. "Marcus wanted me to come?"
Suddenly feeling a little awkward, Harvey slid his hands in to his pockets. "He thought it'd be good to get to know you…."
Donna's eyebrow arched slightly and before she could say anything further, he clarified his comment. "We both did….."
She couldn't deny, this was the last thing she'd been expecting on a Friday afternoon, but the warmth it caused in her stomach gave her her answer. "That'd be nice, Harvey. What time?"
"I'm meeting him at 8 to grab a bite to eat first. We could leave from here?" He felt ridiculously self-conscious and mentally told himself to get a grip. It was Donna, after all.
"I have a couple of interviews this afternoon, so I may run over but, if I need to, I could meet you both there. Just let me know the details just in case?"
Harvey smiled, becoming suddenly aware that he was far happier with her answer than he wanted to admit. "Sounds good. I'll…leave you to it."
As she watched him disappear down the corridor, Donna leaned back in her chair. A night out with the Specter brothers; it certainly wasn't the Friday night she'd been expecting; it was far better than that and she smiled to herself, as she returned to the paperwork in front of her on her desk.
….
That's all for chapter one, but chapter two isn't too far away! Looking forward to hearing what you think!