A/N: Hello again! Thanks so much for reading! I know that's kinda weird to say at the beginning of a chapter but I never realized how exciting it would be to read reviews and see your story being followed. So thanks to all who followed, reviewed and read. Hope I don't disappoint. Here's the next chapter.
Oh and I forgot to say before but...
Disclaimer: I do not own Suits or its characters. All I own are the words to this story.
Read on!
Chapter 2: In Which Rachel Realizes Some Things
Rachel POV
Something woke Rachel in the middle of the night. She stared into the dark wondering what it was. Had it been Mike? That's when she realized her arm was stretched out over his place but instead of her hand feeling his body it was only met by an empty mattress. She got up with a bit of a start and her eyes adjusted to the dark enough for her to see his side of the bed was indeed empty.
"Mike?" she called switching on her lamp. As sleep faded from her brain, she remembered she'd been worried about him because he'd been feverish. She got up to check if he was in the bathroom, half expecting him to be throwing up her Beef Bourguignon. But it was empty and she let out a sigh of relief.
That is until she heard a loud hoarse cough echoing throughout the apartment coming from the direction of the living room. She found Mike curled up on the couch wrapped in a thick blanket violently jerking with each wracking cough.
"Mike?" she called gently and realized he was still mostly asleep.
She rubbed his back both to try and wake him and to soothe his coughing. The coughs subsided but he still hadn't woken up. She shook him harder.
"Mike," she said louder this time. Finally he stirred and slowly his eyes drifted open.
"Rachel?" he said confused and sleep addled. She noted with a sinking feeling that his eyes looked a bit glazed.
"What are you doing out here?" she asked. His eyes seemed to focus a bit more and he seemed to remember he was not in bed anymore.
"Oh, don't—" he cut himself off with a cough, took a deep breath and tried again. "You shouldn't stay out here with me," he slurred. "I got up because I was starting to cough and I didn't wanna wake you and risk you catching this bug."
Though he was more awake now his eyes were still glazed and unfocused and even as he'd explained himself to her he'd been slightly out of breath like he'd just been running and not sleeping. He didn't shut his mouth all the way either even after he was finished speaking because he seemed to be breathing through his mouth too. He sniffed loudly confirming Rachel's suspicions that his nose was stuffy. He also felt warmer to the touch than he had earlier that evening.
"Oh Mike," she said touched by his selflessness but no less worried for his health. Her fiancé was too selfless sometimes. She knew most of the trouble he'd gotten himself into wasn't just because of the bad influence of his ex-best friend. He did things for the ones he loved even to the extreme or at his own risk. His grandmother's medical bills was the reason he'd walked into a job interview with a briefcase full of pot after all.
"Come back to bed, you can't stay out here while you're sick," she tried to sound stern but it came out really just worried. He started coughing again but got himself under control quicker this time; though he was still panting for breath when it was over.
"I'm fine Rachel," he said. Though he quickly amended that when she glared at him and raised her eyebrow. "Ok maybe not fine fine. But I don't think I can get any sicker out here. Besides we still have work tomorrow and you have school too and…" he trailed off as he rubbed his head, clearly suffering from a headache along with his other symptoms.
"Ugh," he began again. "I might have to call in sick though. But if one of us is gonna miss work there's no point in both of us having to miss it. I mean think of poor Harvey." He cracked a weak grin mischievously.
"Ok, A: I think Harvey can survive one day without us. He'll have to do at least a week without us when we go on our honeymoon anyway. B: Are you really gonna pull this "I may be dying but you can still save yourself" speech? And C: It's warmer in our bedroom and if you do get sicker I may have to stay home to make sure your fever doesn't spike to dangerous levels anyway."
"Umm…that was a lot of points. If you cared so much about me you wouldn't make so many points while my brain's all…sick" he finished lamely. Rachel rolled her eyes. "But are we really gonna take a week off for our honeymoon?"
"I think you're focusing on the wrong thing here." She was amazed by how pedantic he could be even while he was sick. "If you can nitpick my arguments I think it's safe to say you won't infect me with your virus."
"Fine, you win this time," he said, moving to get up. Rachel helped him push himself up off the couch. She draped his arm around her shoulder as he trudged to their bedroom, the edge of his blanket trailing behind.
"Where you going?" he asked after she'd tucked him in but started to move away from the bed instead of to the other side of it.
"I just want to take your temperature. I'll be right back," she replied. She returned shortly with the thermometer, asking him to open his mouth before he dozed off. After a few minutes and a beep, the thermometer read 101.7
It wasn't low but it wasn't dangerously high yet. Still, when they'd gone to bed earlier that night she'd hoped the medicine he took after dinner would have helped. She was fairly positive his fever had been only a slight one then. She'd attributed it to his exhaustion but now she knew it was something more. She sighed frustrated with her lack of foresight. She really should have seen this coming especially after their weekend.
The week before she'd been more tired than Mike because she'd had a ton of work to do for law school. In fact the whole week he'd gotten home before her. Granted she'd been home pretty late so he still could have left the office long after business hours and still beaten her home. She knew he'd definitely come home late at least a couple times that week judging by little telltale signs of his clutter. It was funny how one could become so Sherlockian with their nest mates after a time. But it was simple really: the longer he'd been home, the more of his things would be lying around: his phone, a mug here, a glass there, some papers or books he'd been reading, the remote control out of place etc. Even in her exhausted state she'd noticed not much of the apartment had been disturbed by the time she'd gotten there, meaning he must have come home only a short time before she had.
Still, she knew his immune system wouldn't have taken a beating from a few late nights at the office. Mike had been going through a lot of grunt work that week but there were no stressful cases on his plate. Rachel could pinpoint the undoing of his health, however to the weekend.
On Saturday they'd realized they had hardly any food in their pantry and fridge and about a ton of laundry in their hamper. Rachel also had a few things she had to take care of for the wedding. But since she'd been working hard that past week, Mike told her to stay in and take a day, he'd take care of everything. It was so sweet and she didn't feel the least bit guilty about letting him do everything. It was both cute and sexy when he took charge, she'd told him. He'd left on his errand run and she'd decided she could at least clean the apartment a bit.
She'd been vacuuming when he came home sneezing. When she'd asked what was wrong, he'd said there had been some flowers he was allergic to at the florist's he'd gone to when he went to pick up her samples for the wedding. The niggling sense of guilt had begun to set in then. But he'd brushed it off and said it was fine before downing some antihistamine.
She knew from experience an allergy attack usually made his immune system a bit weaker (though he'd never admit that). Still when they needed to pick up some wine to bring for dinner with her parents on Sunday, along with their dry cleaning, she'd let him bike to the store and laundry shop to get it. He had insisted, saying he needed the exercise. He hadn't been riding his bike to work lately but he still did use it every now and then especially for short errand trips. She still shouldn't have let him do it though. And her regret was cemented when he came home less than an hour later soaking wet from a sudden downpour of rain.
Now looking at her flushed feverish fiancé Rachel kicked herself for not being sharp enough to have seen this coming. To top it all off she hadn't insisted he go home early with her on Monday when he'd said he needed to finish something at the office. She knew he didn't have any urgent cases to work on, just that he was minimizing his pile of grunt work. She should have at least offered to help. Grunt work was more an associate's territory after all and not a junior partner's. But she still had a paper due for school so she had left the office without him.
Trying her best to quell her guilt—it wasn't like she'd made him sick—Rachel gets into bed but notes down his temperature and sets her alarm early so she can check it again in a few hours. She drifts off into uneasy sleep.
Rachel wakes a few hours later to her alarm buzzing. It's still quite early. 5am to be exact. Still dark outside. But this time she's less disoriented. She takes the thermometer from her night stand and turns to face her sleeping fiancé.
She feels a sinking in her stomach as she sees he's still breathing through his mouth, his jaw hanging slightly open. Meaning his nose is still stuffy. She can also hear his ragged breaths. But she tries to use this to her advantage anyway. She tries putting the thermometer in his mouth without waking him. She gets it a little bit in when he shifts and moans slightly.
"Hey," she coos soothingly. His eyes open slightly at the sound of her voice. "I just need to check your temperature again, ok?" she whispers. "Can you open your mouth for me?"
Mike's still pretty out of it but he opens his mouth obediently. After a few minutes the thermometer beeps and Rachel's heart sinks with what she reads. His fever has gotten higher. It's at 103.2 now. What alarms her though is how quickly it had gotten higher, when she'd last taken his temperature it was less than three hours ago. That meant the medicine still wasn't working. She hadn't given him another pill after she'd found him sleeping on the couch because he'd already had one after dinner and it should have still been working then and she didn't want to mess with the dosage. She supposed she could make him take one now since the effects of the last one would have worn off by then. But she was still debating whether this was serious enough to take him to the hospital yet. She knew he'd flat out refuse. In the end she decided she'd give him medicine now and wait an hour. If his fever continued to climb then she'd drag him to the hospital even if she had to call Harvey, Donna, Louis and whoever else to help her do it.
"Mike," she said a few minutes later, gently shaking him awake. "I really hate to wake you, sweetie. But I need you to take this." She holds out a pill and a glass of water to him. He sits up partially and looks at her confused. His eyes are glazed and unfocused and he squints as if trying to understand what's happening.
"What time is it?" he asks, "Time for work yet?" Rachel can't help a small bark of laughter, though it sounds more like a bitter guffaw than a happy or amused laugh.
"Mike, you're not going to work today ok? I won't let you. You're sick and you need to take this medicine," she declares firmly but slowly to him like she were talking to a child.
He swallows the pill and takes a drink of water. But just when she thinks he's going back to sleep he suddenly starts speaking again and says, "Tell Donna to tell Harvey the files on his desk are filled with peanut butter." At least that's what she thinks he's said. It came out quite slurred. This fever must be worse than she thought if he's spouting nonsense she can hardly understand. But she reminds herself to stick to her guns. No use rushing things if this turns out to be just a common cold. He may be hallucinating now but she'll still wait for the medicine to take effect before looking to do more.
With a sigh she checks the time. The clock on her nightstand reads 5:21. It's still too early to be getting ready to go to work. That is if she is going and not taking Mike to the hospital instead. But she also doesn't think she can sleep anymore anyway. She quietly slips from the room and goes to the kitchen.
Thirty minutes later she's made herself a cup of coffee and some breakfast and eats it on the kitchen island while proofreading a paper she's written for law school. She had also made some oatmeal for Mike and would bring it in later when she checked his temperature again. He usually hates the stuff but she's discovered it's all he'll eat for breakfast when he's sick since he can't taste anything anyway and its texture is more soothing on the throat than toast.
She's correcting a few minor mistakes on her last paragraph when she suddenly hears Mike coughing from the bedroom. She quickly rushes to check on him, her concern rising because this fit sounds a lot worse than before.
"Hey, hey," she soothes while rubbing his back. "Deep breaths," she adds because he's also gasping for air between coughs. Unlike before the force of his coughs had woken him and he pants with his eyes wide open in panic. She can tell it's because he can hardly get any air in. After a few minutes the coughs finally seem to be dying down and his breathing gets a bit easier, though it still sounds more like wheezing. He's half sitting up in bed and leaning into her by the time they're completely gone.
"I'm gonna get you some water ok?" she pulls away letting him lean on his pillow. She comes back with a glass of water and the thermometer. "Listen Mike I wanna check your temperature again ok?"
She frowns because he's practically unresponsive. But he takes the glass and starts to drink it when, half way through, he coughs into it. His coughing fit sounds worse this time, probably because some of the water had gone down the wrong pipe too. She takes the glass before he can drop it and tries to help him as best as she can, repeating her actions from earlier. This time however, instead of easing up, the force of his coughs gets even stronger until he gags.
He clamps a hand over his mouth instantly and quickly gets out of bed making a beeline for the bathroom. He doesn't even shut the door all the way behind him and she hears him retch violently. She opens the door wider and comes up behind him, gently patting his back until he finishes. When he's done he sways slightly and she leads him over to the sink before flushing the toilet. Mike splashes some water on his face and rinses his mouth out.
"You ok?" Rachel asks after a moment. He nods but doesn't say anything. "Mike," this time the tone she uses is slow and calm much like she were negotiating with a five-year old for his candy. "I think it's time I take you to the hospital, or at least to see a doctor."
He instantly refuses, as she'd expected. But he still can't seem to get any words out, he just shakes his head violently and makes to leave.
"Mike, I'm serious. You can't even talk! Explain to me in no less than one coherent sentence why I shouldn't take you and then I won't."
To his credit Mike tries to stand up straighter and look her in the eye. The effect isn't as intimidating though since his gaze is still unfocused and his eyes glazed with fever. He takes a deep breath, about to say something but all that comes out is a groan. His hand comes up to rub at his head.
"Rachel," he tries again hoarsely. But that's all he can get out before swaying dangerously and leaning on the door. He screws his eyes shut and takes deep breaths like he's trying to ward off a fainting spell.
This only makes Rachel more worried but at the same time strengthens her resolve. "That's it Mister, we are going to the doctor whether you like it or not. She grabs his arm draping it over her shoulder and half supports him as she opens the bathroom door. He lets out a weak whine of protest but isn't able to do much of anything as she drags him back to the bedroom. She lets him sit on the bed and starts for the closets.
"Rachel," Mike says as she's getting dressed. "I don't need the hospital." It comes out a bit slurred but it's still the clearest he's been able to speak since she checked his temperature an hour ago.
"Yes you do," she argues. "Now come on put this on." She tosses him his jeans and a thicker shirt. Honestly her whole morning has felt like she'd suddenly acquired a new big baby. Not that she resents taking care of her fiancé of course. When she'd told him she wanted him in her life she'd meant this too. She smiles when she sees he's finally doing as she asked.
It takes a while but they're both finally ready to leave. Rachel sees on the clock it's almost seven and realizes she'll have to call in sick for both of them. As If in answer to her thoughts her phone suddenly starts ringing. With a quick glance at the caller ID she picks up the call.
"Hey Harvey, listen I was just about to call the office and tell Gretchen Mike and I won't be able to make it in today," she says this as quickly as possible before Harvey can get a word in. She figured she'd rip the bandage off quickly on that one before he could dump work on her and she'd feel more guilty about turning it down. She's slightly surprised with his response though.
"Why? What's wrong? Something happen to Mike?" he doesn't even bother to hide his concerned tone.
"He's sick, actually. And his fever keeps getting higher even though he's already taken medicine. I'm just bringing him in for a check-up. He seems to have trouble breathing too. Anyway, did you need something? I just have to make sure he's taken care off then I can probably swing by the office—"
"No, no Rachel. Put that out of your mind, it wasn't important anyway. Just take care of Mike."
"Really? You sure? Umm, thanks Harvey."
"And let me know what the doctor says too. Actually, when you get to the hospital ask for Dr. Rosenthal. Tell him I sent you. Have you left your place yet? I can have Ray pick you up so you don't have to take a cab."
"We were just leaving but you don't have to do that Harvey, I can get a cab easily."
"Nonsense, it's not a big deal. Besides cabs are unhygienic, you might end up making him sicker if you take one."
Rachel knew when she was beat, she was after all talking to New York's best closer. "Ok, fine. Thanks a lot Harvey. But if there is something urgent you need from me or Mike, just let me know. I know where all his files are anyway."
Harvey chuckles, amused at her bargain. "Don't worry I'm sure we can hold down the fort here, Rachel. But I will let you know. Thanks," he hangs up.
They arrive at the hospital in record time and undoubtedly in a more comfortable manner. Rachel can't help but smile at Harvey's kindness. She isn't too surprised though. Anyone in their circle of friends at Pearson Specter Litt can see how much Harvey actually cares for Mike. No matter how little he actually says it. But it's more than that though, Rachel realizes. In the years she'd known Harvey, she'd known that despite him being a hard ass, especially about work, he was actually very caring and protective of his loved ones. She'd seen it with him and Donna and even Jessica; but she'd also heard from Donna about Harvey and his brother and dad.
As they got into Dr. Rosenthal's office without having to wait any longer than five minutes, Rachel realizes just how much Mike and by extension Rachel, means to Harvey. They weren't just two of his closest and most reliable associates, they weren't even just trusted friends. They were part of what Harvey considered his family. It was rare to find oneself on the side of someone like Harvey. He was the type of guy you wouldn't want to make your enemy. But as a friend and more importantly, as someone considered his family, it was a rare and valuable thing.
It was funny when one thought about the circumstance that brought about this dynamic between Rachel's fiancé and his boss. Because it was a secret that either of them could have used to bring the other down. Yet here it had made their bond stronger, tested their loyalty to one another, bringing it out of the fire much more durable than before. Rachel was glad for Mike. She was glad that though he no longer had a family, he had Harvey. She considered herself lucky that she could count on someone like Harvey to take care of Mike when she couldn't.
A/N: There you have it, chapter 2. Again, THIS IS NOT THE END. Since my aim is to feed the fandom before the season returns, I will upload rather quickly...at least until chapter 10 which I haven't finished. So if you have a suggestion for the way you think this story should go just let me know before I move on to the next chapter. Will probably leave more or less a 12 hour window between chapters so reviews, comments suggestions are very much welcome.
I'm open to Betas or even unofficial Betas who can just shoot me suggestions and corrections. Of course if you like the story as it is that's fine by me. I also have another Suits fic I'm writing but it delves into Mike's childhood. (His parents are there!) But I'll say more about that in the next chapter. I'm also looking for a Beta or just suggestions for that story btw. But will let you guys know more later.
See you at chapter 3! Next stop, Harvey's POV ;)
