My last contribution to Darvey Week! Thanks again so much for the reviews and support. It's made having a go at writing my first ever fanfic even more enjoyable! Do keep the comments comment, as other writers are right, they really help motivate you to keep writing. Hopefully you enjoy this chapter. It was one I had a rough idea for, but some of the scenes in it have even surprised me. I guess writers are right when they say sometimes the characters dictate the story to the writer!

Enjoy the season 7 premiere tonight (or tomorrow morning if, like me, you're a non-US fan hoping to watch it)! :)

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Chapter 3

Gretchen had taken her seat at the PSL reception desk following Louis's emotional call. She hadn't been at the firm as long as the others, but she'd quickly been struck by the close-knit family dynamic they had. They supported each other, fought with each other and had a bond unlike anywhere else she had worked. Norma certainly hadn't been exaggerating.

The police forensic team continued their work down the corridor, working quietly and methodically. She'd watched them for a few minutes, before returning to her post. Seeing the scene at the end of the corridor was too sad to stay there for long. She had a lot of respect for Donna, especially her ability to keep both Harvey and Louis in line. Having worked for both of them, Gretchen was aware of what different characters they were! She also knew that the terrible events of that night would have a significant emotional impact on both of these men and she would need to step up to help the firm weather this latest storm.

The phone started to ring, her own extension flashing, rather than Louis's or Harvey's line. She knew who it would be. "How is she Louis?" He seemed surprised she knew it would be him, before updating her that, as yet, there was no news.

"What do you need?" She nodded as he talked her through what needed to be put in place. "Can you also call Katrina? I know it's late, but she needs to know what's happened. Have the police said anything to you at all?"

"Not to me. They are still photographing the scene." Louis thanked her, before ending the call to return to the others. Gretchen immediately picked up the phone's receiver again and dialled Katrina's number.

….

Rachel walked back in to the waiting area of the surgical floor, carrying coffees. She hadn't wanted one herself, but the waiting had become too much. She'd needed a few minutes to catch her breath.

The evening had started out so well. After the revelations about Mike, his relationship with her parents had been understandably strained and so the fact they'd even agreed to come round for dinner had been a step forward. She'd just started to relax, as the mood over the dinner table had lightened, when Louis had called. She'd known something was terribly wrong immediately by the look on her fiance's face, but she automatically assumed it would be about Harvey. Hearing it was her best friend who was being rushed to hospital had come as a huge shock.

As she re-entered the space, her eyes went to Harvey. He was always a man of few words, but since emerging from the bathroom he'd barely said anything at all. His relationship with Donna had always fascinated Rachel, but ever since she'd learnt of their intimate personal history, she'd began to pick up on the signs that Harvey loved Donna more than he was able to admit, perhaps even to himself. She thought back to him standing in their hallway, laying down the law to Mike about dropping the Liberty Rail case because Donna was now in trouble. She'd recognised the fierce emotions on his face – they were the same ones she'd seen on Mike's face more than once. She knew love when she saw it.

"Are you alright?" Mike interrupted her thoughts. Nodding, she handed him one of the cups and then crossed the room to pass one to Harvey. Taking the coffee from her, he'd said thanks, but made no move to drink it. She wondered when he last ate something.

…...

A surgeon appeared then and Harvey braced himself for news. Was this too early? She's only been in surgery a couple of hours. Does that mean I've already lost her?

He watched the doctor walk to the other corner of the waiting area, to the young man and older woman sitting there. He hadn't come about Donna and Harvey gave a small prayer of thanks that that meant she was still fighting. He continued to watch as the doctor took a seat, his back to Harvey and although he couldn't see the man's face, it was clear the news being delivered, as he watched the young man's face collapse in grief, as the older woman, perhaps his mother, tried to comfort him. Harvey dropped his head to the floor and closed his eyes. He realised he wanted to call his own mother, a need he hadn't let himself feel for years, but it was late and he didn't think he'd be able to get the words out to explain what had happened.

Louis had returned and he could hear him telling the others that Gretchen had no updates from the office, but he zoned them out. Nothing else really mattered to him tonight.

….

Louis motioned for Mike and Rachel to move with him a small way away from Harvey. "What is it Louis?"

"Mike, we need to talk about what happens in a few hours time when Pearson Specter Litt is expected to be a fully functioning law firm."

"We have time to think about that," Mike replied, a little frustrated. Louis sighed, but remained resolute. "I know how hard this is right now, believe me. I love her like a sister and nothing else seems important in comparison, but someone needs to think about it. Jessica isn't here anymore and Harvey may have taken her position, but we all know he can't do it right now, nor would I expect him to. We need to keep things going so he doesn't have to think about it. I've learnt enough in recent months to know I can' do everything myself." He looked at the two of them. "We need to work together."

"You're right," Mike admitted, looking across at the vacant expression on Harvey's face. "What do you suggest?"

"First of all, we need to let the rest of the firm know what's happened as quickly as possible, before rumour and speculation starts. Gretchen is sending out a firm-wide email informing everyone that I'll be making an important announcement at 9 a.m. That way we can give everyone the facts."

Both Mike and Rachel nodded. "We'll need to contact the sub-tenants too," Mike added. Louis explained Gretchen would also be sending out an email on behalf of the firm to them as well, once he'd drafted it. "We won't give specifics or refer to Donna by name."

They spent a few more minutes discussing the immediate priorities and who was best to handle them. Louis had already decided Katrina would work with him on the Hooper proposal. The strategy had already been agreed at the meeting, so they would work to bring the final document to completion in order to meet the potential new client's deadline. Mike and Rachel agreed to take on Harvey's active matters and ensure his clients were aware he would be away for a while. They had both worked with Harvey and knew most of his clients well, including which they could be more open with about what had happened to keep Harvey away from the work he was doing for them. As Mike walked off to call Katrina so they were all aligned, Louis turned back to Rachel.

"I have something else I need you to help me with Rachel." She nodded, reiterating her willingness to take on whatever was needed. "I need you to take over the associates for a while."

Rachel was taken aback by this request. "Louis, are you sure? You love doing that and I am only just an associate myself."

He smiled at her and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I'd already discussed with Harvey you taking a more active mentoring role with the associates and he'd agreed. Yes, you are still one of them, but you've worked here a long time and have valuable skills and knowledge that would be a huge benefit to them. For the moment, I'm going to be too busy handling everything Harvey usually would, so at least for a while, I'll need you to help me supervise them as well. I think it's a role you'll be perfect for."

Rachel smiled. She felt incredibly proud that Louis was offering her this level of responsibility and she was determined not to let him down. It occurred to her she hadn't asked him if he was okay after what he'd seen that night, on top of his own recent loss of Tara. She couldn't have beared it herself. "How are you Louis? I know how much Donna means to you."

He swallowed and brushed a tear from his eye. "I'm hanging by a thread I think. I just don't understand how someone could do this to her." He shook his head, as if trying to shake off the pain he was feeling. "She wouldn't want the firm to falter because of this Rachel. I know that."

"Well then we do everything we can to make sure it doesn't," she replied.

….

Louis recognised the detectives the moment they appeared in the waiting area, which at nearing 2 a.m. was much quieter. He was sitting next to Harvey and gently nudged him. "The police are here."

The detectives crossed the room and took seats opposite them. "Mr Litt." They nodded to Louis, before turning to Harvey. "Mr Specter?" He confirmed his name and described the events of the evening as best he could. Rachel and Mike looked on; Harvey's reliving of the last few hours was incredibly upsetting for them to hear, having not witnessed the scene. The detectives silently made notes, occasionally asking him a further question on his responses.

On being asked if Donna had spoken of her attacker, Harvey recalled what she had said to him that night. "She said it was a man and she mentioned the clinic." He looked across at Mike, his face full of questions for which the young lawyer had no answers.

"The clinic? What type of clinic? Was she seeking medical treatment of some kind?"

"I think she was referring to a legal clinic we have ties with." Harvey nodded in Mike's direction. "Mike used to work there full time and is going to continue to work from our offices on some of its cases."

This came as a surprise to Mike. He had not expected the clinic to become a part of this tragedy. "Donna isn't involved in any of my clinic work, so no one there, nor any of the clients, would be familiar with her. It doesn't make sense."

The detectives made clear to Mike that they would need details of those he worked with at the clinic and his active cases there.

"We may also be able to narrow the search down further, as we're looking at the CCTV from your building's entrance. We hope the man you told us about earlier Mr Litt will be on the footage. If there's a link between him, or anyone else on the footage and this legal clinic, then we will put out an arrest warrant."

Harvey looked at Louis. "What man?"

"He barged in to me as he came out of the elevators. He could have been coming from any floor, but he seemed agitated. It may be nothing Harvey."

As one of the detectives disappeared to answer his phone, the other continued to update them on the investigation. "The forensic team is collecting as much evidence as they can from the crime scene and officers are going to the other floors in the building to see if anyone saw or heard anything, or indeed if there is anything suspicious."

"You think he could still be in the building? Gretchen, one of our PAs is still at our office." Rachel was horrified at the thought that someone could still be hiding there.

"It's unlikely, but we are not taking any chances. We will also be keeping an officer on your main floor and a patrol car outside the building. Is there anyone else who you can think of who we should speak to? Does Ms Paulsen have a boyfriend or a relationship that ended on bad terms?"

Harvey realised at that moment that he had no idea about Donna's current personal life. Wasn't she still with that Mitchell guy? He realised that maybe the guy should be told about what had happened. Louis's words therefore came as a surprise to him. "She ended her last relationship a few months ago. I don't think there was any hostility there. I didn't get that sense from her when she mentioned it."

Harvey couldn't help the wave of jealousy that he felt on knowing Donna confided in Louis rather than him, before contemplating the knowledge that Donna had chosen to end things with Mitchell and wondering why. It then came back to him where he was and why and he chastised himself for focussing on something that was so unimportant in comparison.

The other detective returned at that moment. "We may have the weapon. The building security next door to your office witnessed a man in a hurry dropping what he thought was a large knife down a grate. It's being retrieved now and will be taken for testing." He looked to his partner. "Do we have everything we need for now?"

Addressing Harvey and Louis, the detective said that he thought so, but it would be useful if they could start compiling a list of people with potential grudges against the firm. Harvey gave a small, ironic, laugh. "That list will take quite a while Detective."

As the detectives left, he looked at the others. "If someone has a grudge against me, maybe they would hurt Donna as payback. I hadn't even thought about that."

"Don't Harvey," Louis responded tiredly. "It could be someone who has nothing to do with you and even if it is, you can't take responsibility for this."

"She really mentioned the clinic?" Mike whispered, the beginnings of guilt in his tone. Louis sighed. These two were so alike; it was pointless to try and make them see sense right now.

Rachel squeezed Mike's hand. "The police have some leads. This early on that can only be a good sign, but there's no point trying to understand the whys of this. It's beyond any understanding. Let's just make the clinic list for them and take it a step at a time okay?"

He gave her a small nod, but she could see the thoughts racing through his head as he took a seat once again. Harvey took the seat next to him, the two of them, side by side, lost in their own guilt.

….

Harvey hadn't realised he'd fallen asleep until he was jolted upright by Louis's gentle shake of his shoulder. Blinking a few times, he looked up at his friend. "I fell asleep? How long was I out?"

"Not long, about an hour. I wouldn't have woken you, but Donna's father called me back and he asked to speak to you."

He held his phone out to Harvey, apologetic and visibly conflicted as o whether he'd done the right thing. As much as Harvey dreaded this conversation, he knew he couldn't avoid it forever. He took the phone and walked away down the corridor, but ensuring the doors to the surgical wing were always in sight. He took a deep breath before speaking. "Hello Jim."

"Harvey," he paused, sounding so tired. Harvey felt for him. "I'm still trying to get to New York. They think they've finally been able to bump me on to the next flight. There's really still no news?"

"Not yet Jim. We've heard nothing since she was taken in to surgery. That was four hours ago. Maybe the longer it is, the better the news will be." He felt he had to try and give this man something to cling to, especially when he was so far away. He did wonder why Louis hadn't given him this news. Surely he would have updated him on answering the phone?

As if reading his mind, Jim Paulsen sighed, his voice cracking with emotion. "Louis said the same thing to me, but I suppose I wanted to talk to someone who really understands how I'm feeling right now. You do, don't you Harvey?"

Harvey considered his slightly strained relationship with Donna's father; after all, the first time they met he'd threatened to ruin his business deal if he involved Donna and their most recent meeting was during Anita Gibbs's attempt to use Jim to put pressure on Donna to turn on him. There had been no small amount of tension between them in that small interview room at the DA's office after Donna had left.

Despite all of that, Harvey knew what Jim was really saying. He was acknowledging that Harvey was likely the only man who could possibly comprehend his current pain. If this wasn't such a dreadful situation and the context was more every day, he could imagine Jim Paulsen coming straight out and asking him how he really felt about his daughter.

"I know Jim," he murmured, swallowing back a wave of emotion, only made more potent by him still being half asleep.

"Yes…I thought you would."

He said nothing more. They both knew nothing more needed to be said in that moment. Jim's voice cracked again. "Her mother is organising a flight to New York. If I'm flying I'll be out of reach. Can I give her your number…in case….in case anything happens?"

Harvey closed his eyes at Jim's avoidance of what could happen. He still couldn't bear to imagine it. "That's fine Jim. I'll give you my personal number."

After providing Jim with the information, Harvey said to let him know his flight, as he'd arrange for his driver to pick him up from the airport. "Thank you. I'll see you in a few hours Harvey." As he hung up the phone, Harvey prayed that he wouldn't find himself having to break the man's heart when he arrived.

….

Night had become morning as Harvey gazed out of the hospital window at the sparkling Manhattan skyline; a part of New York that had shaped so much of his life and brought Donna in to it.

He reached back in to his memories then, as if he could somehow hide in them. He remembered that first night they met – how bold she'd been, causing her to immediately stand out from most women who simply chose to throw themselves at him. He could hear her parting words to him as they left the bar, as if it were yesterday.

"Well, thanks for an interesting night Donna. I'll give it some thought and maybe you'll hear from me."

"Oh, I will. You need me. You just don't know it yet."

He could still see her walking off, a knowing smile on her face and a strut in her step. She'd pulled him in from the start and he knew it.

His eyes fell on the noticeboard. There were the usual leaflets and counselling information, as well as general hospital information and fundraising events. One in particular caught his attention; an amateur reading of A Midsummer Night's Dream to raise money for the hospital's children's ward. He wondered if Donna had ever been in that play. He didn't think so, but couldn't be sure what shows she's been a part of before working for him.

He smiled at the thought of her on stage. He'd been to more of her performances than she realised. He'd felt self conscious at first, so said nothing to her of his return trips to whatever show she'd been in during their early years working together and then he'd been worried it may lead to difficult emotional questions he wasn't ready for.

She hadn't even told him about her last show, simply saying she'd needed to leave on time that week. He'd only learnt the truth when he'd overheard her reciting lines with Louis in the file room. He could hear her in his head saying the lines and over reacting that she wasn't ready. She'd sounded better than any one else to him. He'd considered teasing her about her secret evening plans, but didn't have the heart to make her more nervous than she clearly already was. He'd simply bought a ticket for closing night. The flowers had been an impulse, a throwback to those early years, when she used to take part in more theatre than she did now.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the show Harvey. You just seemed to have more important matters to focus on at the moment." Her voice was so clear in his mind, as he closed his eyes at the memory of the ride to the theatre that night.

"More important that supporting you? There was me thinking you knew everything Donna!"

She'd smiled at that, as yet another of those unspoken moments passed between them, holding each other's gaze for just a few seconds longer than was necessary, before she'd deflected it with humour.

"You'll be sorry you missed Louis' performance. He made quite an impression on the Off-Broadway scene on opening night. The outfit alone would have given you ammunition for moths!"

He'd played along, holding up his phone. "I have photos. I'm covered on that front!" They'd laughed and that night he'd watched her dazzle everyone in the small theatre.

He made a promise to himself to encourage her to do more stage work if she wanted to. If she comes through this, his mind reminded him.

He wandered back in to the waiting area, where no one remained other than the four of them. He glanced at the clock on the wall – 6 a.m. He'd done plenty of all-nighters in his life, both personal and professional, but this was, without a doubt, the longest night of his life.

He observed the people who'd become family to him. Louis was sleeping in a chair, while Mike had his arms around Rachel, who was sleeping with her head in his lap, curled up on a row of seats against the wall. Harvey watched him, as he stroked a hand up and down Rachel's back, regretting that such a connection was still missing from his own personal life.

Mike caught his eye. "I wish I could say something to make this easier Harvey. I'm sorry."

"I know Mike. Thanks for staying with me. God knows how much longer this night would have felt alone."

He took a seat again, close to Louis, but had no sooner sat down, when the double doors to the operating rooms opened and a man in blue scrubs approached him. There was no one else waiting but them now. Harvey knew this was the moment he'd been longing for and dreading at the same time all night.

"Hello, are you the family waiting for news on Ms Paulsen?"

...

That's it for now! I'll try and update again soon. Thanks again for all the support. As someone having a go at writing their first ever fanfic, it's been truly lovely to read all your comments! :)

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