Chapter 4
Disclaimer: I don't own Suits
Notes: This chapter is triggery because it does contain discussion about male rape. Some indicators of pre-slash are in this chapter, if you look very hard. The topic of rape is such a strong one. I hope I do it justice. If I offend anyone in the way I portray Mike, I apologize. Lastly there will be some cursing. If you don't like, don't read. You've been warned.
Notes 2: In this chapter Harvey may seem a little out of character. I did that on purpose. Since this fic will become slash, the reason why Harvey is acting somewhat unlike the Harvey we all know, will be explained in later chapters. Anyways, on to the fic.
The steady beeping of Mike's heart monitor and his shallow breathing are the only sounds that can be heard in Mike's hospital room, as Harvey walks in. The silence is just fine with Harvey. Things like, "You're going to be fine, Mike, we'll get the fuckers who did this, and I promise come hell and high water, no one messes with my puppy, all ran through Harvey's mind the first couple of minutes after he saw Mike.
However, soon these words were quickly replaced with others. Others, that Harvey does not want to think about, but can't help it. The words that Dr. Lewis said fill Harvey's head. Words like, penetration, tearing, and antibiotics to combat any infections play havoc with Harvey's inner musings. Harvey's afraid to even touch Mike, he looks so broken. His right cheek is grotesquely swollen and discolored. His face is littered with cuts and bruises. Mike's left arm is in a sling. Harvey wants to touch Mike, needs to touch Mike, to make sure that he's really alive. Harvey decides to take a chance and runs his fingers over the splinted fingers of Mike's right hand, stopping at the swollen, bruised knuckles. The kid put up a fight, even with GHB in his system. "Jesus, kid. I tell you to get information for the case, and you land yourself in the hospital, battered and bruised. You can never do things half way, can ya?" Mike's shallow breathing serves as a silent answer.
The attorney is in deep in thought. There was GHB in Mike's system, but not a lot. Does he want Mike to remember what happened to him? That way Harvey won't be the bearer of bad news. Or, would he rather prefer Mike to remember on his own? To save Harvey from having to tell Mike the devastating news. Harvey feels like complete shit for even thinking this. He's worrying about whether or not he's going to have to be the one to tell Mike, but Mike is the one who has to live with this for the rest of his life. Harvey shakes his head to try and clear his mind of these thoughts. Nevertheless, no one knows what scenario will play out until Mike regains consciousness.
Harvey's thoughts are interrupted when he hears, "Ohhhh my God, Mike!" Harvey turns his head to see Donna in the doorway.
Donna moves closer to Mike and Harvey. "What the hell happened, Harvey?" Donna demands.
"Well, Donna. What the hell does it look like? He got the shit beat out of him!" Harvey angrily, retorts. He's angry. He's angry at himself because he's the reason why Mike got the crap beat out of him. And now he's waiting to see how much of the attack Mike remembers. Waiting to see if he's going to have to blow Mike's world apart.
The look of disbelief on Donna's face, tells Harvey that he went too far. "I'm sorry, Donna. I'm just a little stressed."
"I can see that. I know I rushed in here, like a banshee. But, you left me at the office to go to the hospital. I don't hear a word from you about Mike, and the when I get here….I see him like this."
"Believe me, Donna, I know. I was shocked when I first saw him too." Harvey can tell that Donna wants answers, but Harvey doesn't want to discuss what's going on here in Mike's room. He knows how heated Donna can get and doesn't want to get into a heated conversation by Mike's bed side. "Hey, let's go outside to talk."
"Is it okay to leave him?" Donna asks.
"Yeah, his nurse and doctor said that he took a good hit to the head. He'll be out for awhile."
The news that Mike took a good hit to the hit doesn't sit well with Donna, but it does serve as a reassurance that the kid probably wouldn't even notice if they stepped out into the hallway. Donna leans over Mike's bed, and gives his unbattered cheek a gentle kiss. "Take it easy, kid. We'll be right outside if you need us." Donna turns around and leaves, with Harvey right behind here.
Once they reach the hallway, Donna turns quickly and looks at Harvey, "what the happened? Does this have to do with 'the thing' that he had to do last night for the Sterling case?"
Even though Donna's words were the truth, hearing them was still tough. "Last night, he went to the Drunken Sailor to see what he could get from some MacAvoy employees about the Sterling Industries case. That's where he was found this morning."Harvey stops for a second, telling himself that it's not his fault. Sure, he told the kid to do what he had to get the job done, but he was not the one who beat the shit out of him, and r…assaulted him. He still can't say the word.
Collecting himself, Harvey continues, "He has a severe concussion, broken cheekbone, wrist, and fingers, and lots of cuts and bruises." He stops there. Should he tell Donna, about the...rape? She's probably going to figure it out on her own anyway, but Harvey can't be the one to tell her about Mike's rape. Hell, he doesn't even know if the kid knows about it himself.
Luckily, Donna prevents him from having to cross that bridge in that instant when she asks, "Do you think someone at the bar knew he worked for us? Knew that he's part of the legal team representing Sterling against them?"
Harvey doesn't answer her, right away. Donna continues with her interrogation, "Was it a robbery? Did they take his wallet?"
"No, Donna. It wasn't a robbery. Remember, the police found his wallet and Pearson Hardman ID. That's how they knew to come to the office to tell us."
"So, if the police found his Pearson Hardman ID, then people at the bar probably saw it too. They probably put two and two together. For as smart as the kid can be, he can be so oblivious sometimes. He should have put the damn thing in his wallet. Even if people from MacAvoy figured it out, why would they do something so drastic?"
Harvey couldn't answer that question. He didn't know why those puck asses did this to his associate?
"I still have contacts with the NYPD from when you worked in the District Attorney's Office, I'll see if there's any DNA evidence. With those knuckles I say that our boy put up a fight, and there should be some."
The words DNA evidence wakes Harvey from the daze he's been in since he set foot in the hallway, letting Donna take control of the conversation. Donna does know people in the NYPD and with her tenacity, they wouldn't stand a chance. They would be divulging Mike's deepest secret quicker than most people can blink. He doesn't want a forensic tech or detective telling Donna about Mike's rape. It's not right.
"There's more, "Harvey quietly says.'
"More? How? Getting the crap beat out of you isn't enou-"Donna stops. Harvey sees the wheels turning in Donna's head. She's probably put the pieces together already. The fact that Mike fought back and it wasn't a robbery. The brutality of the injuries. The fact that the besides the basics of where the attack happened, and Mike's injuries, Harvey remained quiet until Donna mentioned her contacts in the NYPD and DNA.
The shattered look on Donna's face is all Harvey needs to see that Donna has put the pieces together. She can't say it. But, Harvey knows that he needs to, to make it real. "He was raped, Donna."
SUITS
Harvey looks at his watch. Three o'clock. That's it. It feels like it should be a hell of a lot later. Has it really been less than a day since this nightmare started? There still has been no sign of Mike waking. The nurses that keep coming up in and out of Mike's room try to reassure him that this is normal with the Injuries that Mike has sustained in his attack. The quiet is unnerving.
Harvey slumps in his chair, he is emotionally drained. After Donna's suspicions about the extent of Mike's attack were confirmed, Donna crumpled. For as long as Harvey has known Donna, she has never showed such raw emotion. Sure, Harvey has seen Donna cried before. She cried to get out of parking tickets. She cried to get Harvey to give her a day off. Not to mention, her crying is always the talk of any good mock trial at Pearson Hardman. Still, Harvey was unprepared for Donna to collapse in his arms, crying. But, Donna's resilient. And as quickly as she fell into Harvey's room, she regained her composure. She wiped her tears and vowed, "We'll get them Harvey." Harvey has no doubt they will. Whoever did this was in deep shit the moment they laid their hands on his associate. Now, with Donna on the warpath for their heads, they don't stand a chance.
Donna took control of the situation. Which is good because he was virtually useless at the moment. He wasn't going anywhere until Mike woke up. When Mike did regain consciousness, Harvey will be on a mission. Until then Donna will have to handle it.
He listened to the heart wrenching phone call when Donna called Mike's grandmother. Harvey would be forever grateful that Donna did that. Donna relayed the information of Mike's attack in a gentle manner. She left out the part of the rape. She didn't know Mike's grandmother and didn't know how strong the lady is. It was difficult for her to comprehend what happened to Mike. She couldn't even fathom how a grandmother will handle the news about her only surviving family member. Regardless, Donna was a pro. She handled it very well and by the end of the call she promised Mike's s grandmother that she will keep her updated.
After Donna ended the phone call, she left the hospital. She was heading over to the precinct that was heading Mike's case to see how the case was going, leaving Harvey alone once again with an unconscious Mike.
He knows that it's going to be tough when Mike wakes up, looking into those eyes, finding out if he truly knows the extent of the damage done to his body and mind. Part of Harvey thinks that Mike will be better off he stays unconscious for awhile, that will save Harvey from dealing with the emotional fallout of the situation. But, the selfish part of Harvey wants the kid to wake up, so Harvey can see that the kid is okay.
Harvey's contemplations end when he hears a rustling sound. He turns to see Mike's head moving back and forth on the pillow. The eye that is not swollen shut, squints, but still makes eye contact with Harvey, "Har…vey?" Mike asks.
Harvey moves closer to the bed, so Mike can see him better. "Yeah, kid. It's me."
The kid moves restlessly. He then stops, a pained moan is uttered out of his swollen, stitched lip. "What hap…pened?"
Harvey carefully avoids answering Mike's question, "Easy, kid. Let me get a nurse." Harvey makes a move to get a nurse when Mike once again tries to move and moans again.
"Oh….God." The words don't say much, but when Harvey turns around to see the look on Mike's face, the expression on his associate's face does. It was the same face that he saw when he worked in the DA's office and prosecuted a rape case. The look of fear, shame, and hurt. Shit! The kid remembers…
I know it's been awhile. But, I hit a bit of a block of where to go after last chapter. I think I'm good now. I hope you enjoyed it.
Sneak peak: Mike is home. He tries to put on a good face, but all Is not what it seems.
