Chapter 2

Mike chained his bike up, although didn't really see the point as by looking at it now; the handles were bent and the wheel was out of shape. It wasn't like anyone was going to steal it.

Then he got into the elevator, which was thankfully empty and he slumped against the sides. He could feel his legs buckling, and he knew he should have gone to the hospital, but he couldn't afford any more medical bills, and plus Harvey would probably just drag him out of there then fire him.

Mike stepped off the elevator as the doors opened and straightened his suit with his right arm. He got some funny looks as he walked to Harvey's office, likely because he was limping and using one arm.

As he reached Harvey's office he got the files out he wanted and walked right in and slammed them on Harvey's desk

"Here. All done." Mike said before turning and walking out

He heard Harvey shout after him, but he didn't care, he walked right into the break room and grabbed a bag of frozen peas from the freezer (which he thought was rather odd, for a law firm) then went into the toilet and locked the door.

He checked himself over and found both his sides all bruised and purple, then his leg and his arm he was sure were sprained. His arm maybe even broken. He started to switch the bag of peas form each side until the pain began to subside a bit. Mike sighed with relief, and then realised the bag had melted. So he threw it in the bin and decided he had better get back to work, he knew Harvey would come looking for him to yell at him.

Mike limped back to his desk and sat down extremely slowly, gripping his side. Then he closed his eyes as he waited for a wave of nausea to pass.

~~~SUITS~~~

Harvey was stunned at the kid just walking out before he had a chance to yell at him. This was not the same Mike, Harvey knew; he could tell something was wrong.

He had glanced at Donna as he was yelling at Mike who had ignored him, and she too had a look of confusion and concern. So Harvey got up and decided to go find Mike himself.

~~~SUITS~~~

The nausea was fading, then someone shook him and yelled at him;

"Ross what the hell do you think you're doing?"

Mike opened his and eyes and groaned as the shaking caused the pain and nausea to come back. He looked up to see Louis standing in front of his cubicle with a hand full of files

"Oh no." Mike hadn't meant to say that out loud

Louis only smirked as he slammed the files down on his desk; "We don't pay you to sleep Mike so get these done before 3, and don't even think of going to Harvey." Then he walked off before Mike could object.

Mike doubled over in pain and hit his head on the files Louis had just put on his desk.

Harvey had just walked into the associates part of the office to see Mike slumped over his desk gripping his side and mumbling.

"Late night drinking? Is that it?" Harvey said as he sat on the edge of Mike's desk, he got no response which made Harvey frown

"Hey kid, you better not be sleeping." Harvey said as he lightly hit Mike's left arm, Mike jumped and yelled at the pain

"Alright Mike what's wrong with you?" Harvey genuinely looked concern

Mike just wanted to get rid of Harvey, he did not want pity from his boss, he was not a charity case. Mike pulled sat normally and plastered a fake smirk on his face;

"Nothing. I'm fine" Harvey didn't buy it for a second, but Mike had already started opening Louis' files and got to work, so he dropped it

"You better get my files done first; I want them in my office in one hour, or remember..."

"Yeah it will be my ass. I know." Harvey was saddened that Mike didn't do his usual banter, he needed Donna to do a bit of snooping, something must have happened this morning, as Mike looked in pain.

He walked up to Donnas' desk and lent over it; "I need a favour"

Donna didn't even look up; "Already covered I've got a friend whose a nurse at St John's hospital, she's going to call me back if anyone with Mike's description was mentioned in an accident."

"You have friends everywhere, how do you do it." Harvey said walking back to his desk

"Because I'm so lovable." Harvey smirked, more likely it's because she had dirt on them, that's the kind of person Donna was and that's why Harvey relied on her so much.

~~~SUITS~~~

Mike had gotten most of Harvey's work done, which surprised him considering how much pain he was in. He had made himself a few cups of coffee as he kept feeling like he was going to pass out, and he couldn't, he had to finish the work. Only the words on the page were becoming jumbled. Mike ran his usable hand down his face as he tried to focus. He could just feel the other associates watching him and whispering, it was like they were vultures circling; knowing he was near death.

He needed some air, so decided to go to the file room, which was his safe haven from everyone as no one ever went in there. Mike pushed himself up and held onto the other cubicle walls as he left the associates office, not before he could hear someone shout his name, though he did not turn;

"Hey Mike how much did you have to drink last night?" Then he heard laughter

"I hope Harvey finds out and fires your ass."

Mike really wanted to punch whoever said that, probably Kyle he suspect who was always a dick towards Mike; Mike chalked it up to jealously that he was working for Harvey and Kyle had to work for Louis.

Once he made it to the file room he closed the door and slumped against it, getting his breath back. Then he pushed himself up and walked between the stacks of files on the shelves, even though he wanted to get away from the associates, he had actually needed a file for Harvey.

He scanned all the shelves until he found the box he wanted, typical; Mike thought, it had to be the top shelf!

Mike glanced around looking for assistance, as he only had one working arm and leg, which was hurting like crazy. Then he spotted a step ladder. he looked at it and assumed it was relatively stable so he propped it up in front of the shelf and reached for the box. He had pulled it to the edge and was pulling it down when a sharp pain erupted in his leg, causing him to shift the weight off it. This in turn caused the step ladder to wobble, and Mike fell backwards.

~~~SUITS~~~

Harvey had carried on working, assuming the situation with Mike this morning was nothing. Only a feeling in the back of his mind knew it was more that than, the kid looked awful today all pale, and he was limping.

He had been pretending to read a file that he didn't notice Donna walk in;

"Harvey." Harvey looked up to see Donna standing right in front of his desk, her expression sent worry flooding back in his mind. He jumped up from his chair and came round the desk to stand in front of Donna

"What is it Donna? What's happened?"

"It's Mike, he er, my friend called and-" Donna looked near tears

Harvey guided her to the sofa and sat her down; "Donna tell me what's wrong with Mike?" Harvey didn't want to push her, but he had to know.

Donna took a deep breath; "My friend from the hospital called back, she said that there was a call this morning about a kid matching Mike's description get hit by a car and knocked off his bike. Apparently his had been unconscious for a minute or so before they called an ambulance but the kid was gone before the ambulance got there. They said by the look of the scene the kid was lucky to be alive and that he must be really hurt." Donna was practically crying now

"He could have been killed!"

Harvey was angry and a little concerned; "He certainly will when I'm done with him"

Harvey went to leave but Donna grabbed his arm as she got up "Harvey he's hurt he needs to get to a hospital, he doesn't need any more injuries from you." Harvey just nodded and left in search of Mike

He walked into the associates office and saw all the associates gathered round Mike's desk and smirking.

"What's going on?" Harvey yelled

They all jumped and dispersed; "Where's Mike?"

They wouldn't meet his eyes and they got back to work; "He's in the file room I think." One of them said, Harvey thought he was called Harold, from what Mike had said.

Harvey walked into the file room just in time, he saw Mike wobbling on top of a step ladder, then he fell backwards. Harvey rushed forward and grabbed Mike under the arms as he fell. The box of files and the step ladder fell to the floor in a clatter

"Damn kid do you have a death wish or something?" Harvey said as he helped Mike stand, but held onto his arm just in case

Mike was in shock, his mind was still processing the fall, and everything hurt. He didn't even notice Harvey had saved him and was there until Harvey slapped his face; "What?" Mike finally looked at him

"What the hell were you doing?" Mike looked to where Harvey gestured, at the mess of files on the floor

"Oh great how am I supposed to find the file now." Mike had said as he went to try and pick the files up but something stopped him, he looked to see Harvey's hand on his arm

"Mike I want to see you in my office now."

"But the files-"

"NOW!" Harvey walked out expecting Mike to follow

Mike walked back through the associates office, only the associates weren't meeting his eyes and they were no longer whispering about him. Then he looked at his desk; hmm that's strange where's my bag. Mike glanced to Harvey who continued walking to his office, Mike would catch up in a minute, he walked round to his cubicle and looked under the desk behind his computer, everywhere for the bag that was his fathers.

He was starting to panic now, where was it?

Then he heard a snicker and swung his head up to meet Kyle's gaze who then quickly turned away.

Mike marched right up to Kyle and stood right in front of him, blocking him from escaping;

"Where is it?" Mike was seriously angry, that was all he had left of his parents

"I don't know what you're talking about." Kyle pretended to look at his phone, so Mike snatched it and threw it at the wall and it smashed; nearly hitting Louis as he walked in, but then he quickly ran back out again likely to Harvey's office.

Kyle jumped up; "What the hell man?"

"I'll only ask one last time. Where is my bag, I know you took it." Kyle only smirked again, this pushed Mike over the edge and he punched Kyle right in the nose with his good hand and he could swear he broke it. Kyle gripped his nose and collapsed onto the floor screaming

"MIKE ROSS. MY OFFICE NOW." Mike turned to see Harvey and Louis standing there, likely they had seen the encounter

Mike gave one last look at Kyle then marched to Harvey's office. He barged straight past Donna and sat right on Harvey's sofa, just waiting for the lecture.

Harvey was utterly shocked and embarrassed at Mike's behaviour today. He knew the kid was hit by a car, but that didn't give him free reign to do whatever he liked.

~~~SUITS~~~

He had walked into his office after saving Mike and turned to yell at him, only to find he wasn't there. He was about to go back after him when Louis came running up to him frantic that Mike tried to kill him; he just rolled his eyes, Louis always was melodramatic. Only when he followed Louis into the associates office and saw Mike hit Kyle it was damning evidence.

Once Mike had gone to Harvey's office he turned to Louis, "Deal with your associate, I bet he provoked Mike. I'll be speaking to him later." Louis only nodded as Harvey left

Harvey watched Mike from the doorway for a minute as he saw the kid just sitting there his hand all blooded and shaking and his was holding his left arm to his side. Harvey gave Donna a reassuring look then marched in and sat on the sofa next to Mike. Only he didn't say or look at him.

It was silent for a few minutes then Mike spoke causing Harvey to look at him; "I guess I'm fired." The kid sounded so defeated and his breathing sounded strained.

Mike ignored the pain that was all over, and he didn't care if he was fired. He just wanted his bag back!

"That depends." Mike looked up at him confused

"On what?"

"On why you didn't tell me that you got hit by a frickin car this morning?" Harvey yelled

"Or perhaps why you punched Kyle? And maybe even how you nearly got yourself killed in the file room. You nearly died twice today kid, so tell me what's going on with you."

Harvey looked really concerned which shocked Mike.

"Mike?"

Mike closed his eyes and took a breath; "Alright you want to know everything fine. I've been working stupid long hours to earn enough to pay for my Grandmother's medical bills, which are overdue by the way. On top of which you keep hounding me with more and more work; now I know that's my job but god Harvey I'm not a bloody machine;" Mike was up now and pacing

"I just feel like the walls are closing in you know, it's just the same thing over and over. I work, pay the bills, I work, pay the bills. That's it Harvey. That's what my life has come to, worrying about work and paying for my Grandmothers care. You know every day I worry that I've forgot to pay the bills and that I'm gonna get kicked out of my place, or not have enough food, or that my Grandmother won't get her meds, then she might get kicked out, and if something happens to her-" Harvey was shocked as the kid hadn't stopped pacing or talking, his breathing also seemed panicky, if he kept going he was going to have a panic attack.

Harvey glanced at Donna her equally had a worried expression; "I have no one to help me Harvey I don't have any other relatives to ask, I have no savings. On top of that Kyle stole my bag that belonged to my father and that's why I punched him, I-"

Harvey jumped up then, "What?"

Mike had kept talking, not noticed Harvey's outburst; "It's the only thing I left of my parents, I know it was stupid to punch him, but he deserved it, and I think it just pushed me over the edge you know. I've been keeping this bottled up and you know he just, he just.." Mike's breathing was getting worse and he stopped pacing now

"Harvy" Mike was swaying now, breathing fast

"I- don-t feel go-d"

"Donna!" Harvey shouted as he grabbed Mike and set him down on the couch

Donna ran in with a paper bag, Harvey had no idea where she got it from, she handed it to Mike; "Here breath into this."

Mike took it and grasp the edges as he breathed into it trying to calm down, the kid was bloody shaking. Harvey grabbed Mike's hand; "Mike breath slower or you're gonna pass out. Alright in and out. Like this." Mike copied Harvey's breathing until he had gone back to normal

"Damn kid why didn't you come to me?" Harvey said not looking at Mike

Mike removed the bag and looked at Harvey; "Why it's not like you would have cared, you always say you don't want to hear my stupid soap opera drama."

"I meant like girlfriend stuff, not money problems or work problems. I am your boss, you have to come to me with stuff like this."

Mike only nodded; "Now how much do you need?" Harvey got up and went to his desk

"Why?"

Harvey got out his check book; "So I can write a cheque" He had the pen poised, then he looked at Mike

"No"

"No what?"

"No Harvey, I won't take your money, I'm not some charity case." Mike stood up now and went to leave, only Donna; who was back at her desk, had locked the door so when Mike tried to open it, it wouldn't budge.

"Donna!" Mike yelled

"Mike if it makes you feel better call it a loan."

"A loan? That I can't pay back, no thanks. I've handled the payments this far, I'll find a way."

"Mike come on"

"HARVEY DROP IT!" Mike yelled and tried to raise his left arm, which he forgot was probably broken and a sharp pain erupted all over, which caused his legs to give out and he collapsed to the floor. He heard shouts and someone shaking him, but it faded away and he gave it to the darkness.