A/N: Thanks for all the reviews! You guys rock!

Disclaimer: I own nothing but extremely good procrastination skills.

The Second

Harvey swirled the dark amber liquid around in its glass tumbler, staring morosely at the whirlpool he'd created. He felt like he was in the whirlpool – his world was spinning around him. Or maybe that was the alcohol finally kicking in. He tossed his head back and skulled the expensive scotch. Slamming in down on the oak wood counter, he gestured to the barman to pour him another one.

"I've seen that look before," The elderly barman commented as he carefully measured out another fifth for the night's highest paying customer. "That's the look of a man with a problem."

"More like 200 million problems," Harvey corrected, the alcohol loosening his tongue. "But that's nothing new."

"You got the weight of the world on your shoulders, do you son?" The barman deposited the glass of scotch in front of Harvey.

"Something like that," Harvey replied, picking up the tumbler and holding it to his aching head. The ice in the glass soothed the tension headache the alcohol was halfway to completely numbing.

"Two more and I'm cutting you off," The barman warned and walked away, leaving Harvey alone at the dimly lit bar. Yellow light filtered in from the streetlights, giving the old bar an ethereal feel. Harvey could hear the traffic outside, the blares of horns and squeal of tires pulling at the bitumen. But he felt so far away. It wasn't the alcohol – he'd felt this was since this morning when the unthinkable happened. He shook his head; it wouldn't help anyone to dwell on that.

Harvey took a small sip, savouring the taste of what was probably the most expensive scotch available. There was some good in being a thousand dollar an hour lawyer, even if, on nights like this, he hated it.

"I knew you'd be here."

He didn't bother to turn around, smirking into his glass, "I knew you'd know."

"Harvey," Donna slid onto the barstool next to him, putting her white clutch purse on the counter. "It's not you're fault."

"I know," The lawyer replied. "I know."

"You're drunk," The redhead deadpanned, "You only get this hammered when you feel guilty or screw up."

"So I should be getting doubly hammered tonight then?" He raised an eyebrow, challenging her. Or he would have he was still coordinated enough.

"In that case," Donna waved over the barman, "An apple martini and another scotch for my idiot."

"I object," Harvey frowned at her.

"Harvey, we both know you're not going to remember anything you say, so please don't start an argument you can't win when you're sober."

"Are you saying I'm dumb sober and drunk?"

"Compared to certain people, yes."

"Certain people being you?"

She tossed her red hair over her shoulder, "Naturally."

"One apple martini and one scotch," The barman appeared and gave them their drinks. "Enjoy."

"Thanks," Donna smiled brightly at him. "Say thank you Harvey,"

"Don't talk to me like I'm a child."

"You are the one sulking."

"I do not sulk!"

She raised an eyebrow.

"I brood intensely."

"Oh boy, it's one of those nights, is it?" Donna groaned, resting her head on her propped up arm.

"Those nights?"

"Where you go all dark and twisty and mope until you've drunk enough to pass out and wake up with –and I quote –'the worst hang over ever'".

Harvey opened his mouth to retort but he couldn't. She was spot on. "Stalker."

She shrugged, "I know you."

He closed his eyes and thought for a moment. "12 year, 4 months and 21 days."

"And 47 minutes."

"Are you serious?" Harvey looked at her. He knew she had a memory for incessant details he always forgot but that was ridiculous.

Donna held her most innocent expression for a moment longer then burst into laughter, "No."

"Good," He tossed back his scotch.

"You know, if you drink that any faster, you'll be seeing double in a minute."

"Who says I'm not now?" He tossed her a lopsided grin. "One of you is good but two of you..."

"Sorry Harvey," Donna smiled at her boss, "you can't make perfection twice."

"Touché," He saluted her with his empty glass. "Barman, another please."

The barman glanced at Donna, who nodded, before retrieving the bottle from the shelf.

"Why did you look at her? I'm the boss," Harvey declared.

She patted his arm, "You keep thinking that."

The barman chuckled as he collected the empty glass and put down the full one. "Take it from someone who's been married for 39 years, the woman is always in charge."

"Ha," Harvey scoffed. "You haven't met me. No one tells me what to do."

Donna rolled her eyes, "That's what you think."

"Name one person who's managed to get me to do something I don't want to do," He challenged, forgetting about his drink.

"Jessica," Donna smirked as his face fell.

"Another," He demanded.

"Me," Her smirk grew larger.

"Another. Court will disallow that evidence." His speech was slowing now, words becoming harder to decipher.

"Your father-"

"Is a hateful and hypocritical-"

"-and very sweet man."

Harvey glared at her, "And that's the reason my father prefers you over me."

"It wouldn't kill you to be nice to him, would it?"

"Yes, it would." He nodded affirmatively.

"Why do I bother with you?" She groaned. Sometimes, even though she knew better, he had the emotional range of a teaspoon.

"Because you love me." His words were almost incoherent but after years of practice, she could understand him even if he was speaking to her from the bottom of the ocean.

"Okay," Donna slid his drink away from him. "I think you've had enough."

"No," He grabbed at the glass, but missed, snatching only air. "We can go when the glass is empty."

She gave him a doubtful look as she passed him the tumbler, "You promise? No arguing, making my life difficult?"

"Not after the glass is empty," Harvey nodded, taking a small sip.

"Good," She yanked the glass out of his hands and downed it in one go. "Alright, up you get."

"But-"

"You said when the glass was empty, not after you drank it," Donna pointed out.

He glared at her but couldn't help the pride that swelled in his chest. She was using his own tricks against him. "Fine," He grumbled and patted himself down, trying to find his wallet.

Her fingers deftly delved into his right trouser's pocket and took out his wallet, dropping a few bills on the counter for the barman. "I'm going to go call Ray. You'll be okay here for a minute?" The glower he gave her could've saved the dinosaurs from the ice age but she ignored him and looked to the barman, "Can you make sure he stays upright until I get back?"

"Yes Ma'am," The barman nodded and walked over to stand near Harvey.

"You know if she was a kidnapper, you'd be aiding and abetting." He stumbled over his words but his meaning was clear.

"If a woman like that was kidnapping a man like you, they normally wouldn't complain," The barman retorted, picking up the money off the counter.

"I might not even know her."

"Don't listen to my husband; he seems to have selective amnesia. It's getting worse in his old age," Donna walked back in, holding her phone.

"No problem. I have the same problem with the wife," The barman smiled good naturedly.

"Come on," Donna put an arm around Harvey and helped him up, stumbling on her high heels as she adjusted to the extra weight. "Let's get you home."

They stumbled out of the bar and onto the street where the sudden rush of cold air sobered Harvey slightly. "Why'd you call me your husband?"

"Because," Donna craned her neck to look at him, ignoring the smell of alcohol pouring out of his breath, "Any other PA in New York who comes to pick her boss up off the barroom floor at 2 am on their day would probably throw them off the Brooklyn Bridge."

"But I have you," Harvey grinned. He was the lucky one.

"But you have me."