Chapter 2
Mike?
Mike woke up with a pounding in his head, which was made worse by a loud banging at the door. Mike groaned and grabbed the pillow that was under his head, he placed over his head and covered his ears.
"GO AWAY!" Mike shouted as the door burst open and someone came in
~~SUITS~~
Harvey had tossed and turned most of the night, he couldn't shake this worrying feeling about Mike. He didn't know why but he just knew something was wrong.
Now he was in his car on the way over to pick up Mike for work He had tried to call him a few times with no answer. Then when he reached Mike's apartment the damn kid wouldn't answer, so he had to break the door down.
"Mike?" Harvey glanced round the apartment
"GO AWAY!" Harvey heard a muffled yell and turned towards it, it was coming from the bathroom
Harvey stepped in the doorway to see Mike laying in the tub, covering his head
"Mike?"
"HMM, not so loud" Mike groaned and shifted
"Why are you in the bathtub?" Harvey was baffled as he'd never seen anyone asleep in a tub before.
"Why do you care?" Mike mumbled, but honestly he couldn't even remember getting in the tub last night
Harvey grabbed the pillow off Mike's head and hit him with it. Mike yelled
"Come on get up, we have to get to work. You can't be that hung over considering you barely drunk anything last night." Harvey rolled his eyes trying to hide his worry
Mike sat up and rubbed his eyes as he tried to focus them, he was still in his clothes from the night before
"Last night? Did we go out last night?"
Harvey just looked at him; "Yeah we met a new client remember; Mr. Fordburm?" Harvey's worry was rising
"The tech guy? I didn't know he was our client" Mike asked as he got out the tub and wobbled to his closet to get a fresh suit
Harvey looked concerned; "Mike what's the last thing you remember before waking up?"
"Erm, I remember being at the office. I had just pulled an all-nighter and caught a few hours of sleep in the file room, then I-" Mike realised he had just confessed to an all-nighter, he glanced at Harvey who was frowning; "Carry on Mike."
"I changed into a new suit that I kept spare at the office and got to work on some files, then I think Louis gave me some work to do." Mike scratched his head.
"After that? Nothing." Mike frowned
"It's odd for me seeing as how I never forget anything."
"Well after pulling an all-nighter which I explicitly told you not to do, I'm not surprised it messed with your head."
Mike rolled his eyes
"I'll meet you down in the car in 5 minutes." Harvey said as he left Mike to change
~~~SUITS~~
Once Mike met Harvey in the car they went straight to the office. The car ride was mostly silent as Mike was trying to force his brain to remember yesterday, only causing it to hurt more, and Harvey was deeply concerned about Mike. He kept glancing sideways at the kid, trying to gauge how he was.
Once they reached Pearson Hardman Mike stepped out the car and swayed slightly causing Harvey to grab him. Nausea swept over Mike again as there was another pain in his head causing him to grip it and groan.
"Mike?" Harvey had a death grip on his arm
The pain subsided a bit and Mike steadied himself; he looked at Harvey; "I'm fine, just a headache." Mike walked into the building and got onto the elevator, followed by Harvey who was near a heart attack after what just happened.
Once they got off the elevator Mike went to go to the right, the wrong direction so Harvey grabbed his arm and pulled him to follow him.
"This way?" Harvey gestured
"Hm oh yeah" Mike nodded and followed Harvey
Mike felt like he was spinning, like his brain was shutting down, but he ignored it as he didn't want Harvey to think he was high or something.
Mike went into Harvey's office and sat on the couch waiting for Harvey to come in. Harvey stopped at Donnas' desk first; "Donna there's something wrong with Mike. I need you to do a little investigating, can you check with the bar we went to last night and get me a name of the waiter on staff." Donna looked shocked but merely nodded as Harvey went into his office
Mike jumped up as Harvey walked in; "So what case are we working today?" Harvey sat at his desk and stared at Mike
"What?" Mike shifted uncomfortably under Harvey's gaze
"Mike do you remember last night?" Harvey had to be sure about Mike's memory
"Yeah sure I do, we went out for drinks with Mr Forburm, but honestly Harvey why did I need to go, you both basically ignored me the entire night." Mike looked like a child sulking
Harvey smiled, his worry lifting; "Here" Harvey threw Mike a case file which Mike caught in one hand. "Read through this, I want you to know it word for word. Then I want a plan of action on my desk before lunch." Mike just smiled and saluted Harvey; "Aye aye." Mike said as he left
Maybe the kid was alright, but Harvey had to be sure.
~~~SUITS~~~
Mike made it back to his cubicle and got to work. He was about an hour into reading and highlighting the file, when he realised he had read the same paragraph about 5 times, yet each time he had forgotten what it said. Maybe Mike was more tired than he thought, so he went to get a cup of coffee; when he got into the break room there was Rachel getting herself a cup of coffee.
"Morning Rachel" Mike smirked at her
"Hi Mike"
They were silent for a minute, as they both didn't know what to say. Rachel was just about to leave when Mike spoke; "Rachel do you want to go out for dinner sometime." Mike knew she would probably decline, but her response shocked him
"Sure Mike, I'd love to. I'm free tonight actually." She said as she walked out, Mike was so happy, that nothing could ruin his day.
When he got back to his cubicle he got back to reading the file, when he had to start from the beginning as he couldn't remember anything he had read. Mike knew something was wrong, he ran his hand through his hair as he read the file again and again but still he couldn't remember what he had written. He decided to do a test on himself so he got out a post it note and wrote down a number then he waited a few minutes and tried to recall what it was, but he couldn't. Mike was getting scared now, he had an eidetic memory but it wasn't working, was it broken?
Mike glanced at the clock it was 12 o'clock, Harvey wanted Mike to have a plan of action in an hour and he couldn't even remember what the case was about and it was right in front of him. Frustrated Mike slammed the folder shut and his head fell into his hands
"You better not be sleeping Ross" Louis said as he came over, only Mike couldn't place his name, he recognised him but couldn't remember. He was getting frustrated and was scared he had never forgotten anything before or anyone; only little things never a person!
"Hello Mike" Louis waved a hand in his face
"What do you want" Mike decided to pretend he knew him
"Well I want you to fix your attitude and get these files done before 3" Then he stormed off, Mike may not have remembered him but he knew he hated him
Mike decided he had to talk to the one person who would understand him Grammy, he had this feeling he hadn't seen her in a while and felt guilt so he called the nursing home as he left the associates office, he went to a conference room that was empty
"Hello St Raymonds nursing home"
"Yeah it's Mike Ross, I'd like to speak to my grandmother please"
"I'm sorry Mr Ross I don't understand"
"My Grandmother Edith Ross, I'd like to talk to her. Room 368" Mike waited expectantly while the nurse was talking to someone else, they were hushed voice, then another voice answered the phone
"Hello I'm the manager of this care home, and I would ask you not to call again or I'll call the police for this prank call."
"Police? LOOK MY NAME IS MIKE ROSS I JUST WANT TO SPEAK WITH MY GRANDMOTHER!" Mike yelled and the people walking past stopped and stared at him, he only glared at them.
Mike pinched the bridge of his nose, his head was killing him and he felt like he should have remembered something important
"Mr. Ross you're grandmother is dead. She died 3 months ago, I assumed you knew. My condolences." The phone slipped out of Mike's hand and hit the glass conference table making a loud crash
Images flooded Mike's mind of his Grammy as he tried to remember the last time he'd seen her. It couldn't have been that long ago, she couldn't be gone, no Mike would have remembered. Or would he? He suddenly saw a flash in his mind of his Grammy's room, it was empty with only a cardboard box in the centre and someone telling him they were sorry. No!
Mike's whole body felt weak and he fell against the wall and held his hands against his ears and closed his eyes, trying to get the memory to stop. It was too painful. It switched to him being at a funeral and people shaking his hands telling him they were sorry. NO! Mike yelled. This couldn't be real it had to be a dream, right?
~~~SUITS~~~
Harvey was sitting in his office trying to focus on work, but his mind kept shifting to Mike. Harvey prided himself on his instinct of knowing people, and this instinct told him something was wrong with Mike.
Shortly after Donna walked into his office and just stood there; "Harvey" Harvey looked up to meet her eyes and they were filled with fear
"What is it Donna" Harvey stood up
"I called the bar you went to and they said they had no waiters on staff." Harvey frowned; "No but-"
"That's not all Harvey."
"I got a call from Mr Fordburm's assistant, he died last night, they said it was a hit and run" Harvey collapsed into his chair shocked; "That was no accident" Harvey stated
"You think someone was after him?"
"Maybe, a rival company. I dunno" Harvey ran a hand down his face
"So this waiter could be involved? You think he was going to kill Fordburm last night?" Suddenly something clicked; "The waiter was pouring out glasses of scotch and when Mike picked up one of the glasses and drunk it the waiter looked worried and he ran out of the bar."
Donna gasped; "You think he wanted to drug Mike?"
"No not Mike, Fordburm, but Mike must have taken the wrong glass."
They both were silent for a second until they both yelled; "MIKE!" Then they ran out of the office, but before they could head towards Mike's cubicle they heard a shout which made them stop
"That sounded like Mike" Donna said and they ran towards the conference room
"There was small crowd outside and Harvey pushed them out the way, when he did he saw Mike hunched on the floor, he was holding his head with his eyes closed and mumbling.
Donna removed the people who were hovering and Harvey knelt next to Mike, Harvey had never seen him like this
"Mike" Harvey gently touched Mike's arm
Mike flinched but then he relaxed a little and opened his eyes at Harvey
"Tell me this isn't real Harvey" Harvey could hear the kid was scared
"Mike what is it"
"My grammy, the care home, they said-" Mike stopped and snapped his eyes shut again
"They said she died, 3 months ago! They're lying"
Harvey glanced at Donna who mirrored his concern, as they knew that Mike's Grandmother had passed away 3 months ago, as did Mike
"Mike look at me" Harvey's tone was soft
Mike's eyes met Harvey's; "Kid it's true your Grandmother did die. Don't you remember?"
"I- no it's not, oh god. Harvey how could I forget?" Mike eyes were near tears
"Come on buddy." Harvey helped him up and led him to his office, they were halfway there when Rachel ran over, saw Mike and hugged him, then stepped back; "Mike are you ok? You look like you've been crying"
Mike looked at Rachel and frowned, then he looked at Harvey. Then back at Rachel; "Who are you?" Mike said. Donna and Harvey's eyes widened and they exchanged glances, then Harvey mouthed call an ambulance to Donna
Rachel looked confused then frowned; "Mike it's me Rachel. You're friend"
Mike merely glanced from her to Harvey; "I'm sorry I've never seen you before in my life." Mike was terrified, as the girl did look familiar and he was sure he knew her, he felt like they were really close, but he couldn't lie.
Rachel looked so hurt, Harvey didn't know what to say to her. She looked at Mike then she slapped him; "This is some sick joke. I hate you" Then she ran off. Harvey glanced at Donna who mouthed I'll explain to her later
Harvey led Mike into his office and sat him on the couch, he just stared into space
"Why did she slap me" Mike asked Harvey
"I'll explain later Mike" Harvey ran a hand down his face and paced the office.
Mike seemed fine physically but mentally his mind was all over the place, he had so many memories running through his head that it felt like his brain was overheating and it hurt. Another wave of nausea passed over him;
"I think I'm going to be sick" Mike yelled
Harvey shoved a trash can at him, then Mike threw up
Donna ran in; "The ambulance will be in 5 minutes" She sat next to Mike and rubbed his back
"Ambulance for who" Mike said after he regained his breath
"You"
"Me why"
"You're sick Mike, I think someone may have poisoned you last night when we went out for drinks"
"What. That's a nice story mister, but I haven't met you before today." Harvey stopped pacing and collapsed into the chair next to him
"What;" Donna said "Of course you know Harvey, he's your boss"
Mike frowned; "I think I would remember that"
Mike got up to leave but Donna stopped him; Mike you can't leave"
"Look I don't know who you both think you are, both this isn't funny. I bet Trevor set you up to this didn't he. Well you can tell him nice try." Mike turned to leave but he felt a sharp pain in his head and his legs gave up from under him into something soft. He closed his eyes trying to push through the pain. When he reopened them again he saw he was in Harvey's lap.
"Harvey?"
"Yeah kid I'm here"
"I'm scared. What's happening to me?" Mike was shaking in Harvey's arms and he held him close
"I don't know Mike, but I promise you I am going to fix it"
Mike plastered a fake smile; "I know Harvey I trust you with my life. Batman and Robin remember." Mike mumbled as his eyes closed
"NO. Mike stay awake." Harvey shook him but he wouldn't wake up
"Come on Mike don't do this to me" Harvey could barely feel a pulse
"Mike?"