Haunted.
The next morning, Harvey Specter's eyes snapped open with a start. What time is it? Did I sleep in? His head spun, still foggy with drowsiness. Without looking, he reached for his phone, squinting at the screen as the bright light stung his tired eyes. Nine am, Sunday. Thank God. He thought to himself, allowing his eyes to close once more, feeling himself slip off once again, succumbing to the fatigue that washed over him. Suddenly, a small, high pitched cry pulled him back to earth. He sat up quickly onto his elbows, his eyes darting in the direction of the small yet powerful cry.
Donna.
Her face was screwed up and creased in discomfort, her hands gripped the sheets tightly, causing her knuckles to turn an icy white, as she tossed and turned, her lips parted, tiny whines and whispers escaping her, just as they had the previous night at the hospital. Harvey was almost sure he heard a small 'no' fall from her lips, but the sound was barely there.
He reached out a hand, resting it on her shoulder, hoping to pull her from what he presumed to be a nightmare, but as soon as his gentle touch connected with her skin, she flinched, recoiling into herself, gasping. He pulled back, confused and admittedly, slightly offended by her harsh reaction.
"Donna," he called, his voice still hoarse from sleeping, "Donna, wake up," He tried again, clearer this time, as he tentatively placed his hand over her bandaged one, trying not to frighten her again, "Donna!"
She woke with a start, retracting her hand from his touch, inhaling deeply as her eyes widened, her pupils darting around as she took in her surroundings. A tear escaped her eye as she swallowed, her gaze finally finding his, as her expression softened in what appeared to be relief.
"I-" she stammered, still slightly disorientated, "sorry-" she sighed, sitting up slowly, bringing her right, unbandaged hand to her face, briskly wiping the stray tear that marked her pale cheek.
"It's okay," said Harvey, carefully placing a hand on her back, glad she didn't flinch at the gesture this time, "are you alright?" He titled his head downwards, trying to catch her eye, a situation she was clearly attempting to avoid.
"I'm fine," she breathed, closing her eyes and biting her lip, giving the game away.
"No," he replied, moving so that he was kneeling opposite her in the bed, taking both her hands in his, gently coaxing her to look at him, "you're not fine. What happened?"
"I- nothing, it was nothing," she replied, quickly, "just a night mare."
"What about?" He pressed, "about last night-?"
"No." She shook her head, "I-" she hesitated, "I just can't remember what it was about, I just-"
"You just? What?"
"I just can't remember ok!" She snapped, another tear falling.
He grimaced, "It's okay, you're going to be okay." He wrapped his arms around her bringing her small form close to his own. But something seemed different, she didn't mould into him the way she usually would, she seemed stiff, reluctant, even. He frowned, putting it down to the pain she must be feeling from the bruises which Harvey knew covered her skin.
"You want breakfast?" He asked, placing a small kiss on her forehead, just above the small gash, which was already beginning to heal up.
She simply nodded, allowing Harvey to help her out of bed and into the kitchen, where the Sunday morning rain pattered steadily against the open plan windows. She sat on a stool at the work top, watching as each rain drop collided with a tiny explosion against the glass, trying to distract herself from the growing pain in her head.
Harvey watched her closely as he busied himself in the kitchen, making coffee while the waffles cooked. She looked distant, her eyes seemed haunted, her fair complexion was paler than usual, the stark blue bruising standing out against her white skin, giving her a somewhat ghostly appearance.
He removed the waffles from the toaster oven, swirling just the right amount of whipped cream on each of their helpings. She jumped slightly when he placed her plate and mug in front of her, giving her a small smile as he sat down across from her.
Donna drank the coffee gladly, feeling the caffeine running through her veins, returning some energy to her tired body. She looked up, catching Harvey's eye, "Thanks."
"You have an appointment with Dr Lind today, at 12pm I think." He reminded her, taking another bite of his waffle.
"Oh, yeah," she replied absent-mindedly, "do you have any more of those pain killers?" She asked, bringing her hand to her head as the pain grew steadily more unbearable.
He jumped to his feet, fetching the small container and handing her the tiny blue pill, along with a glass of water.
"What time is it?" She asked, after swallowing the pill, downing the rest of her coffee and ignoring the icy glass of water.
"Around ten I think," he replied, still studying her face, trying but failing to decode her defeated demeanour, "Donna is everything ok-?"
"I'm going to have a shower," she interrupted, expertly dodging his question, "I smell like hospital." She stood up quickly from her seat, Harvey didn't miss the way she wobbled on her feet, or the way she attempted to disguise it, shooting him a weak smile, before, slowly, making her way towards the bathroom.
"Do you need any help? I don't mean – I mean – I'll get you some towels-"
"No, no," she cut in, "I can manage, thanks." And with that she disappeared into the bedroom.
Harvey sighed deeply, he was confused, worried, and maybe even a little hurt by Donna's treatment this morning. What had changed?
He wanted to put it down to the pain and confusion she must be feeling herself, but that didn't explain her reaction to his attempts to help or comfort her. They had always been there for each other, no matter what the circumstances, so why, why now, when she needed him most was she blocking him out at every turn?
Harvey shook his head, busying himself with cleaning up the kitchen. He picked up their mugs and plates, noticing for the first time, that Donna hadn't touched her food. He clenched his jaw, his stomach knotting in that familiar way.
Something isn't right.
XXX
The visit with Doctor Lind that afternoon was short, she cleared Donna almost completely, saying that all her injuries seemed to be healing up nicely, however, she suggested she take at least another day before returning to work. Doctor Lind also asked the pair to contact her, should Donna regain any memories.
"Other than that, I think you're good to go Donna," said the doctor, smiling warmly at her from behind her desk, "unless you have any questions for me?"
"No I-"
"Actually," Harvey interrupted, catching both Donna and doctor Lind off guard, "I'm a little concerned, Donna had a nightmare last night, she was very distressed when she woke up, the same thing happened yesterday in the hospital I was just wonder-"
"Harvey," said Donna sternly, she had tensed up again, her eyes burning holes in the wall as she avoided his gaze yet again, "you're exaggerating, it was nothing, really" she spoke directly to the Doctor, painting on a smile he knew to be fake.
"Nightmares aren't unusual after someone has suffered a certain trauma," said Doctor Lind, glancing between the pair, "however if it keeps up, let me know." She said, speaking directly to Harvey this time.
XXX
"Why would you bring that up?" She hissed, they were sitting in the back of Ray's car, you could have cut the tension with a knife, both holding their breath, until Donna finally cracked.
"Because I was worried about you," he retorted, turning to face her, though she still averted her eyes from his, "I care about you Donna, surely you know that by now?"
She closed her eyes, hands fiddling with the hem of her dress, "I know." She whispered.
"So why won't you let me help you? Did I do something-"
"No." She answered, almost too quickly, "no, you didn't, it's just," she bit the inside of her cheek, eye brows creased, as if she was deciding what to say, "I'm just tired and confused. I'm sorry."
He took her hand gingerly, noticing the way it shook slightly, "you don't have to be sorry," he reassured her, still trying but failing to catch her eye, "I just want you to let me in."
XXX
Harvey placed the files for Cline Ltd back inside the blue plastic folder, he turned his chair around, watching as the sun began to set on another grim Monday at Specter Litt. His minded ticked and spun with the events of the day. How he had woken, yet again to Donna, twisting and turning in their bed, her refusal, once again to let him comfort her. To make matters worse, they had hit a dead end in terms of finding out who this mysterious revenge seeker was. The police had not been able to find any evidence to suggest that what happened to Donna was anything more than an accident. The CCTV footage from the night of Donna's, accident, had come up blank. If some one had attacked her that night, they had been clever enough to avoid all camera points.
Harvey made a mental note to install more security in the firm.
On the upside, however, as a result of the combined efforts of Harvey, Mike, Rachel and Alex, the four lawyers had managed to get four out of the five impending lawsuits on Harvey's clients called off, arguing on the grounds of utter fabrication.
He glanced down at the picture frame that rested on his windowsill, Harvey and Donna were pictured, arm in arm, beaming at each other candidly, both wrapped up warm in winter coats, as the magical New York snow fell around them, the snow flakes sprinkled on her fiery red her, with the beautiful, twinkling lights of Broadway in the background. Their first Christmas together, he smiled fondly at the memory.
"This night" she breathed out, nuzzling her head against his shoulder as they exited the theatre, "its been perfect."
"You're perfect," he replied, as they turned to face each other, the rest of the world melting away in that moment, "and this," he reached into his pocket, removing a small, navy, velvet box, "is for you."
She smiled playfully, accepting the gift and opening the delicate clasp carefully. Inside, a small, shining emerald rested on a silver chain. Donna gasped, her eyes glistening as she admired the beautiful jewel.
"I have no words." She whispered, biting her lip as she closed the box, keeping the precious item safe, "thank you Harvey."
At that very moment, sparkling drops of snow began to fall from the Christmas Eve sky, adding a certain element of fairy tale magic to the evening.
"Excuse me sir," Harvey called to a passerby, "would you mind taking a picture of us, please?"
The man nodded, accepting Harvey's phone, and standing back.
Donna turned her eyes towards Harvey, looking up at him through her snowflake covered eyelashes, "I love you Harvey, Merry Christmas." She whispered, her pink cheeks raised in a smile.
"Merry Christmas Donna, I love you more."
Tumbling back down to earth, Harvey jumped into action, he was determined to fix things, to get back to being them.
XXX
When he arrived at his apartment, an hour later, he heard the familiar hum of the shower echoing around the hollow walls of their home. 'Perfect' he thought to himself, as he set straight to work.
He placed the shopping bags on the work top, taking the blooming bunch of pink peonies and white roses and arranging them in a vase on the dining table, the flowers blending beautifully with the colours of dusk that were reflected around his glass living room. Next, he rummaged through the cupboards, finding and array of candles, lighting each one as he placed them around the room. He removed his Grey silk tie and Tom Ford suit jacket, rolling up his sleeves as he began to lay out the food. Thai of course.
He searched the shelves for Donna's favourite record, placing it on the player at a low pitch, just as he heard the click, indicating that the shower had been switched off. As he waited for her to emerge, he poured two glasses of her first choice of red wine.
"What's all this?" He heard her voice, melodic as always. He followed the sound, turning on the spot. She was standing in the doorway of their bedroom, the icy blue night dress bringing out the warm tones in her hair, the light, white cover up she wore almost matched her porcelain skin, highlighting every freckle, even at a distance, for a moment, he was able to look past the bruises, look past the tension of the past few days, and see his Donna. His beautiful, happy, bright Donna.
"Hi," he whispered, still recovering from the beautiful sight before his eyes, "you look... amazing."
She dropped her eyes, shaking her head, "What's going on?" She asked again, a small smile playing on her lips for the first time in the last two days.
"I thought you deserved a treat," he replied, meeting her half way and reaching out his hand for hers, after a moments hesitation she took it, "and I just felt like reminding you how much I love you."
She closed her eyes, still smiling slightly, squeezing his hand, "I love you too."
After they had eaten, Harvey stood up, exchanging the record for another one, the smooth voice of Otis Redding filled the space, "I've been loving you.. to long..."
He reached out his hand yet again, "May I have this dance?"
She stood, allowing him to wrap his arms around her, as she placed her hands on his chest, "always the gentlemen."she breathed, resting her chin on his chiseled shoulder.
They swayed to the music, lost in each other's loving touch, all thoughts of the last two days, the threats, the incident, the nightmares, the tension, they all dissolved as held one another, connected eternally by the beating of their hearts in unison. Time stood still, yet the minutes ran away from them at the same time, and Donna was reminded of that familiar sensation, that the rest of the world was melting away, a silent promise that they were the only two people who mattered in the world.
Out of no where, the warmly lit walls of their apartment melted away before Donna's eyes, greenish white light blinded her, she stumbled away from his touch, dread rising in her throat, she saw a blur of light brown lined around her, as she fell backwards, her back hitting something solid, preventing her from falling. She didn't know where she was, her head was spinning furiously, familiar tones flying past her line of vision, suddenly a set piercing green eyes locked with her's sending chills down her spine and making her stomach churn.
Everything was becoming clearer now, the blurs of colour turning to shapes, the feeling of hands gripping her wrists, she became aware that she was lying down, on what she thought to be a bed. Some one was standing over her, no, not someone, him. She knew those eyes, eyes that seemed to burn holes in her skin. Something was crushing her, she couldn't breath, she need to get away from him but she couldn't move.
Harvey was frozen in shock, Donna had backed herself up against the wall, she was barely breathing, clutching at her chest as her eyes darted around the room, searching for something that Harvey couldn't see. Then, almost as suddenly, her eyes fell closed, she dropped to the ground like a rag doll, her back sliding down the wall as a strangled cry escaped her lips. He lunged forwards, holding her shoulders and gently shaking her, "Donna?" He called, his heart beating so fast he thought it might burst, "Donna? It's okay, please, you're okay!" He pleaded with her, shaking her a little more firmly now.
"Nnn-"she mumbled, her eyebrows knitting together, "n-no, no"
"Donna!" He yelled this time, his own fear getting the better of him, she jolted awake, inhaling sharply, immediately resisting his touch, she twisted, trying to loosen his grip, until finally her red rimmed hazel eyes landed on his chestnut brown orbs, causing her features to soften.
"Harv- I-" she stammered.
"What happened? Did you remember something?" He asked, his voice full of concern, as he wiped a few tears from her cheek.
"I- I don't know-" she choked, "I saw-" but she stopped, screwing her eyes shut again.
"What Donna? What did you see?"
"I- I can't-" she started to cry, her hands shaking as he held them.
"Please," he begged, his voice breaking as his own emotions overwhelmed him, "please, let me in Donna, I know something's not right, let me help you."
The pain in his voice hit a nerve with her, she crumbled under his worried gaze, "It was a long time ago," she began, swallowing hard, "Something bad happened to me."