Sorry about the delay, it's been a crazy month.

Anyway, here it is...

Chapter II

In Sickness and In Health

Louis sprinted into the private waiting room of the hospital towards Rachel. His heart was beating so hard and fast, it felt like it would burst out of his chest.

He couldn't allow himself to have another g*ddamn heart attack. It was out of question.

"How is she?" Louis was deeply concerned about Donna.

"They took her in for surgery half an hour ago," Rachel let out a broken sigh. The whole situation was hard to process. "She was stable enough."

"What about Harvey?" Louis was so impatient.

"Mike is with the doctor," Rachel rubbed her eyes hoping to release the tension. "Harvey isn't waking up."

Louis pressed his lips together into a thin line. His distress became evident.

"They're alive," Rachel tried to reassure him. "They're here because of you. We were able to get them out in time because of you."

Rachel's expression of gratitude made Louis swallow hard. It made him feel better, but it wasn't enough to take the anxiety away.

Louis did what he had to do in order to get them all out of the firm. While he was kneeling on the floor ―pretending to fear for his life, Louis recognized the kind of firearm Quelling had, and counted the number of shots made. The moment he realized there couldn't be any more bullets left in the gun, he became Louis G*ddamn Marlowe Litt: in a swift movement, he jumped in the air, knocking Quelling down. Louis couldn't remember those seconds very well, except the moment when he landed on Quelling, and Mike kicked the gun away from them.

The police broke a second later, taking their attacker under arrest.

Louis protected his family.

He was the hero.

However, the image of Harvey and Donna lying unconscious on the floor in a mess of glasses and blood, dampened it all.

Hell, he thought they were dead.

It hurt.

"The police want to take my statement." Louis ducked his lips, feeling a wave of emotion coming up his throat. "I'll be right back."

He rushed out of the room before Rachel could respond.

She saw him leave knowing well that Louis needed some space to deal with everything. Rachel needed it too.

She walked across the waiting room to look through a window. The lights of the city and the dark sky announced the arrival of the night. Exhausted, Rachel closed her eyes, wishing for Donna and Harvey to get better. The sole idea of losing her friends and mentors made her shudder.

It seemed like only yesterday they had gathered together in Harvey's condo to celebrate the future.

A future filled with exciting projects.

"I want it to be perfect," Rachel placed a tray of canapés on Harvey's kitchenette counter.

"Of course it's going to be perfect; I'm going to be there." Harvey approached with a bottle of wine and his signature smile plastered on the face.

"Plus, you're marrying me." Mike added, joining her at the counter. "What could be better than that?" He slipped an arm around her waist.

Rachel cocked an eyebrow. The lack of modesty in the room was overwhelmingly funny.

"Okay, boys tone down those egos." Donna pulled four wine glasses from a cabinet, and placed them one by one on the counter. "It's your wedding, Rachel. It's going to be perfect no matter what."

"I know. It's just―" Rachel brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, before looking at Donna with puppy eyes. "Can you try these and tell me if they're wedding material?"

Donna rolled her eyes. Rachel was a foodie, she knew well what delicatessen to serve in every particular occasion, but ever since she and Mike announced their engagement, Donna had involuntarily turned into their wedding planner. Rachel was constantly asking for her opinion.

"I've got a very important question," Harvey opened the bottle of wine with a slight pop. "As the best man," he paused to fill the glasses with gentle hand. "Do I get to do the maid of honor?"

He lifted his unapologetic gaze, looking for approval.

Mike snorted.

"That depends on the maid of honor," Rachel shook her head, smiling.

It was luck that the maid of honor was there to answer.

Suddenly, everyone's eyes were on Donna.

"You're obvious," Donna told Harvey all sassy and set to banter.

"Your dress is kind of unzipped," he was so ready to banter too.

"No it isn't," Donna was so aware about it.

"But it was earlier today," Harvey's eyes were bright and mischievous.

Donna lifted an eyebrow at him.

"Did you see who unzip it?" A winner smile spread on her face.

Mike and Rachel shared smiles of amusement.

"I might concede you a dance, Harvey." She picked up an empty glass, waiting for him to fill it. "This is, if you're lucky enough to―"

"I should warn you," Harvey acknowledged the innuendo in that gesture. "That I'm a very lucky man." He poured a little bit of wine in her glass.

Their gazes locked with delight, as if Rachel and Mike weren't there.

"So, are you guys doing it?" Rachel interrupted before Mike could start faking a casual coughing.

"What?" Harvey and Donna's shocked gazes landed on her.

"What I meant to ask is, are you going to pick us?" Rachel leaned her head on Mike's shoulder, and they both looked at Harvey and Donna like a couple of kids begging for candy.

Harvey and Donna immediately knew what she was talking about.

Their expressions remained immutable, though.

"I don't know," Harvey finally narrowed his gaze at them. "It's too much responsibility. Donna?"

Donna swirled the wine in her glass, taking her time to torture them with silence.

"I think we should choose them," she answered.

"Me too," Harvey agreed the way he did whenever Donna approved of something. They were going to pick Mike and Rachel anyway.

"Are you serious?" Mike almost choked on his drink. He looked from Harvey to Donna in disbelief.

"As serious as you, having a panic attack," Harvey remarked.

Rachel was thrilled.

"We promise you won't regret it," she said very serious. "Not that you'd be here to regret it―" Rachel paused before speaking. She was beginning to ramble. "You get the idea."

"You should know that we take this very seriously." Mike's bore an emotive expression. "Thank you."

Harvey assented, knowing well that Mike and Rachel were aware of the importance of the matter.

"So, if something happens to us―" Donna pressed her lips together at the thought.

"We'll take over the family business," Mike joked.

"Here's to the future," Harvey tilted his glass ready to clink it with his friends; his family.

"Wait. Do you guys know what you're getting into? Once you go ahead, you can't go back, you know," Mike teased.

"You're the one getting married," Harvey lifted his eyebrows. "Do you know what you're getting into?"

xox

"Rachel?" Mike embraced her. Rachel was so absorbed in her recollection, that she hadn't seen him coming up to her.

"How is she?" He spoke softly.

"Donna is still in surgery," Rachel pulled away to look at Mike. "Harvey?"

Mike paused before speaking.

"No change yet."

Rachel's eyes filled with sadness.

"Mike, what if―" she embraced him back, resting her head on his shoulder. "We promised them."

"They're going to be fine, they'll get better." Mike's heart shrunk with pain at the possibility of a negative outcome. It couldn't happen, it would be surreal.

"What if they don't?" Rachel's eyes glistened with sadness.

Mike paused for a short moment, angst threatened to build up in his throat, "Then we fulfill our promise."

What do you think Harvey and Donna chose Mike and Rachel for? Will Harvey and Donna make it?

Stay tuned!

Thanks a lot for reading. Your support means the world to me. Have a great weekend!