Chapter 2
Harvey Wants Answers
Mike didn't look back as he exited Harvey's office but he could feel Harvey's shocked stare on the back of his head. He could still feel his heart racing, but it was like a sudden weight was lifted of his shoulders.
He laughed to himself at thinking about Mia's tactic of getting him down there by using the Monkey. She really was a smart kid. He gripped the Monkey tighter in his hand as he looked down at it and remembered that Mia's mother got it for Mia and he felt a small smile go on his face.
"Mike?" Mike walked straight into Louis, he stumbled and took a few steps back
"Sorry Louis" Mike took a few steps towards the elevator when Louis spoke again
"What's that?" Mike followed his gaze to the Monkey in his right hand
"A Monkey"
Louis rolled his eyes; "I know but I meant why do you have it?"
"I like Monkeys" Mike shrugged and smirked at Louis as he turned and walked into the elevator, letting out a relieved sigh as the doors closed.
He sent a quick text to Donna saying to tell Harvey he'd been back within the hour. Then he got outside and took a cab to Mia's school
~~~SUITS~~~
Harvey just sat there frozen staring at Mike's retreating back;
"Harvey you ok?" Harvey blinked and turned to Donna
"He has a daughter?" Harvey asked
"Yeah she's called Mia and she's so cute" Donna seemed to be gushing
"Mia" Harvey nodded still processing everything
"Mike's a father" Harvey stated it more to himself but he caught Donna rolling her eyes
"He wanted to tell you"
"So why didn't he?"
"It's complicated Harvey, but he has his reasons"
Harvey stared at her for a few moments;
"You knew. For how long?"
Donna just raised her eyebrow; that said it all
"Right because you're Donna" Harvey said as he stared down at the cat drawing in the file
"Harvey he was going to tell you." Donna stopped as she went to her desk and got an envelope and came back with it; "Here"
"What's this?" Harvey said as he took it from Donnas' hand and opened it, inside was a ticket for some school play tonight
"Mia has a play tonight and Mike got tickets for me, Jessica and you."
"Jessica knows!" Harvey yelled
"Yes Harvey"
Harvey stared at the ticket
"He got you a ticket weeks ago Harvey so he was intending to tell you. I guess he was too scared of how you would react."
Harvey scoffed and threw the ticket on his desk; "He left it a bit late I have plans tonight"
"Harvey. Look I know you're angry and I understand that but you have to understand Mia is all Mike has and he loves her so much. He's extremely protective of her and the fact he wants you to meet her is a big step for him. He'll be back in an hour and please give him a chance to explain before you yell at him. " Donna didn't wait for a reply as she walked out like Mike had
Harvey sighed as he rubbed a hand back over his face and stared at the ticket for the play tonight. He couldn't believe Mike was a father and he had a daughter. Mike is a kid himself; a puppy, and here he was with his own kid. Guess he wasn't a puppy anymore. What did Donna mean 'it's complicated'? It made Harvey even more curious to find out Mike's past.
He picked up the phone and went to dial his private detective when Donna yelled over the intercom;
"No Harvey"
"What?" Harvey frowned
"I know what you're doing and don't. Let Mike tell you on his own" Donna glared at him until he reluctantly put the phone down. He sighed as he rested his chin on his knuckles.
Then an idea hit him, he would go see Jessica. He left his office and walked past Donnas' desk;
"She won't tell you anything. Mike swore her to secrecy" Donna yelled after him and he swore. It didn't mean he couldn't try
"Jessica" Harvey smiled as he walked in and Jessica narrowed her eyes at him as he walked over to her sitting on her sofa
"What do you want Harvey?" She asked as she leant back and crossed her legs
Harvey held up the school play ticket and Jessica smiled; "So he told you"
"Not really, he was on the phone to Mia and I overheard so he kind of had to tell me. Then he walked out"
"Walked out?"
"He said his daughter needed him and he had to bring her, her toy "
"The monkey?" Jessica asked as she frowned; "Mia is inseparable with that thing why did Mike have it if Mia's at school?"
"Apparently she put it in his bag to get him down there"
"Smart kid" Jessica chuckled
"Like father like daughter" Harvey imitated Donna bitterly
"Harvey" Jessica said it sternly and Harvey sighed
"I just don't get how you could all keep this from me! All of you lied to me"
"Harvey it wasn't mine or Donnas' secret to tell. Mike has his reasons"
"That's what Donna said but I think there's more to it than that" Harvey narrowed his eyes at her and she only smiled
"Harvey if you think I'm going to cave and tell you everything then I think you've forgotten who I am. If you want answers then get them from Mike" Harvey huffed as he turned to leave
"Harvey wait." She sighed as she stood up and walked over to him; "Look all I can say is that there is a reason Mike is so protective of Mia, he's been through hell and back for her. So don't go after him guns blazing. He's been through enough. They both have"
Harvey stared at her more puzzled and concerned that he'd even been. He just nodded and walked out; back to his office, back to work. He was determined to get answers but after warnings from both Donna and Jessica he knew he'd have to approach this differently.
~~~SUITS~~~
Mike took a few deep breathes as he walked into the school and into Mia's class. He smiled at Maria who approached him;
"Maria. Where is she?" The women smiled and pointed in the corner where Mike saw his daughter sitting at a table in tears. Mike felt his heart breaking again at seeing Mia so sad; sitting in a corner on her own. He walked over and slowly knelt down next to her, she didn't notice, she was too busy crying.
"Oh Monkey don't cry" Mike said as he gently move the hair to the side, she gasped and ran at him and hugged his neck, he smiled and hugger her back.
"You came" Mia whispered into his shoulder
Mike pulled away but ruffled her hair; "Of course I came. My daughter needed me." Mia beamed at her father
"Now I thought I told you not to go through my bag or go in my office." Mike raised an eyebrow at her and she looked away
"Mia I'm not mad, but you have to promise me you won't do it again." Mia nodded
"Sorry daddy"
"It's ok. Now I found something in my bag this morning at work and I think it belongs to you." Mike brought the monkey out from behind his back and waved it at her, he laughed when she hugged it tight and buried her face in it.
"Pretty clever putting it in my bag to make me come here" Mike muttered and Mia blushed.
"I thought after our talk this morning you were ok about the play tonight." Mike waited whilst she rubbed at her eyes
"I missed you" Mike felt his chest tighten at hearing how sad she felt. He picked her up and hugged her again
"I missed you too Monkey"
Mike set her back down and sat down crossed legged on the floor opposite her; "You know I spent a lot of time making that costume for you and I'm looking forward to seeing you wearing it; as is Auntie Donna and Jessica. But you know if I stay here I won't get any work done and you won't be able to practice your part; with me here, and then you won't be ready for tonight. Then we'll all be sad that we didn't get to see you perform. I guess I'll just have to tell Harvey not to come tonight" Mike shrugged and made a sad face
"Mr Harvey's coming?"
"Did I forget to mention that?" Mike said acting shocked; "He's really excited to meet you"
"He is?" Mia beamed and Mike nodded
"So what do you say? Want to go practice your part and I'll see you later with Harvey, Donna and Jessica" Mike saw Mia considering the offer and then she finally nodded and hugged him one last time before running off back to the other kids
Mike sighed as he stood up and watched her with the other kids; he smiled.
As soon as he got outside and into a cab Mike called Donna;
"Mike how'd it go?"
"I am the worst father on the planet" Mike groaned and the cab driver gave him a look
"What?! What happened?"
"I lied to her Donna! I lied right to my daughter's face!"
"Calm down Mike tell me what exactly did you say"
Mike recounted his conversation with Mia word for word
"I told her Harvey was coming, I manipulated her. What have I done?" Mike felt himself getting hysterical
"Um buddy we're here" Mike threw the cash at the driver and exited the cab as he walked into Pearson Hardmann, still on the phone to Donna
"Mike you didn't manipulate her it was the truth. If you'd stayed there with her she wouldn't have been able to rehearse and she wouldn't be ready for tonight."
"Yeah what about the part about Harvey coming!" Mike yelled pacing the small space of the elevator
"Calm down" Donna hissed as the doors opened and there Donna was waiting the other side. They both hung up their phones
"How can I calm down when I sat there and lied right to her face!" Mike waved his hands in the air as Donna escorted him to Harvey's office.
"It's not a lie if it's the truth"
"What?" Donna turned to face him; "Harvey's going to come! How did he even-"
Mike stared at her; "You didn't? You did? You gave him the ticket?" Mike hissed; "Why would you do that?"
"Mike you got him the ticket so you were going to ask him anyway. What's the problem?"
"What did he say?"
"Why don't you ask him yourself?" Donna stopped and Mike realised he was standing outside Harvey's office. Mike gulped as he saw Harvey typing on his laptop, he took a couple steps back and felt Donna grab his shoulders and push his forward. He stumbled into Harvey's office and Harvey looked up at him expressionless. They stared at each other for a moment, both waiting for the other to speak first
"Mike-"
"Harvey look-"
They both stopped as they spoke at the same time;
"You go first" Mike said
"No that's ok, you go" Harvey replied
"Oh for pity sake" Donna yelled over the intercom; "Mike you start!" Mike jumped and froze
"Ok. Look Harvey I-" Mike stopped when his phone starting ringing
"Uh maybe I should-" Harvey rolled his eyes as Mike answered his phone
"Hello?"
"No this is not Wong's Palace, but I have to say the 53 is better than the 67." Mike caught Harvey trying to hide a smirk as he hung up
"Sorry" Mike muttered; "So um-"
"Mike" Mike and Donna groaned as Louis barged in and Harvey frowned;
"LOUIS!" They all shouted and Louis pivoted mid step and walked right back out
Mike sighed; "Right Harvey as I was-"
"Harvey"
"Oh I give up" Mike muttered as Jessica walked in and interrupted them. Mike threw up his hands and slumped down into the couch. Harvey couldn't help but chuckle and Mike rolled his eyes and smirked
"Well I'm glad to see you two have talked it out;"
"Hardly" Donna muttered
"We have a new client" Jessica handed Harvey a file; "You have a meeting with him in 10 minutes " Jessica turned to Mike and smiled at him
"I trust Mia was happy to get her Monkey back?"
Harvey saw Mike smile, it was a big smile that made his eyes sparkle. It was one he rarely had a chance to see before, and he wanted to see it more often.
"Yes she was" Mike chuckled
"Good." Jessica nodded and walked out
"Duty calls" Harvey said throwing the folder at Mike, who stood up and caught it one handed
"So I guess we'll-" Harvey gave Mike a look "Right ok, yeah good talk." Mike nodded as he walked over to Harvey's desk whilst flipping through the file.
He heard Harvey chuckle again and Mike grabbed one of Harvey's baseball's off his desk and threw it at him. Harvey caught it just before it hit his face
"Hey what did I say about touching my baseballs?!" Harvey said glaring at him
"Er nothing. You said don't touch your basketballs, you said nothing about your baseballs" Mike gave him a lopsided grin as he picked up Harvey's other baseball off his desk.
Harvey got up, walked over to him and slapped the back of his head as he snatched the baseball. Mike only chuckled as he sat back on the couch and they both started discussing their new case
Mike felt relieved that Harvey was still treating him as normal, he was scared Harvey would treat him differently or worse fire him for lying. He could feel Harvey's gaze on him though every now and then, and he knew he had to talk to Harvey and soon. But for now, he was relieved that everything was ok, he couldn't handle it if he lost Harvey as well.
