A/N: Wow, so this is the end, I don't think I like somewhere in the middle of it but it's staying as it is - for now at least - because I just want to have a completed story up! I actually quite like most of it too! Anyway shutting up now...
Mike trudged to the door, resigned to the fact that Harvey would just keep bothering him until the younger man finally caved and had a proper conversation with him. That wasn't to say that Mike was looking forward to it though, he had decided that he couldn't go back to Pearson Hardman and wasn't looking forward to having that discussion with Harvey again. Honestly, he wondered why that man couldn't just take no for an answer. Opening the door he was faced with a balding, middle-aged man with a large pizza box in his hand and a crate of beer in the other with a rather subdued Harvey behind him. He took the pizza and beer, turned and went back into his apartment, leaving the two men at the door as he set the pizza down on the coffee table and settled onto the sofa. Harvey took this as his cue that he was allowed in and gave the delivery guy a tip before shutting the door and joining him on the sofa, each of them grabbing a beer and slice of pizza silently.
"So, we need to talk about when you're coming back to work." Harvey finally took the plunge and started the conversation after deciding that he was going to get Mike back to work - he was the best closer in New York, he could definitely convince one employee back to work.
"How many times do I have to tell you before it sinks in? I'm not coming back. Besides, I couldn't even if I wanted to, I'm going back to college." So what wasn't entirely true, Mike was looking into seeing if anywhere would take him but he hadn't actually applied to any colleges yet.
"Oh." Harvey had no idea what to say to that, "Going to get that law degree from Harvard so you can really come work for me?"
"I'm not coming back to the firm Harvey. But no, I'm not going to Harvard, I'm not even going to law school, I don't know where I'm going yet."
The two of them went back to eating in an awkward silence, the reality dawning on Harvey that this time, he might not get to win. When they had finished eating, the atmosphere of the room could be cut through with a knife. Harvey downed the second half of his latest beer and took a deep breath before turning to Mike and decided that he'd have to just blurt out what he wanted to say without thinking about it too much, knowing he'd back out if he did.
"Mike, you have to come back to work. The firm needs you. Donna needs you." They just looked at each other, the younger man's eyebrows raised at the absurdity of that last statement and waiting to see if Harvey was actually going to say what he thought he was going to, apparently he was because Harvey huffed and reluctantly added "I need you."
Mike just sat staring at him, unable to believe his own ears that Harvey Specter had just admitted to needing anyone beyond Donna, but he didn't have too long to think about it because Harvey was still talking and damn, if he didn't just keep talking once he started.
"Now can you please just come back to work?" - was that a please Mike thought he heard? - "You're a good worker and a decent enough attorney," - wow, Mike supposed he should quit more often - "I want you to be my associate because you're good and I want you to be more than just good, I want you to be great, the best because... I care, okay."
Mike was sat with his mouth hanging open whilst Harvey grabbed another beer, suddenly deciding that a new associate would be better than having to have either of them remember any of that, but of course Mike's eidetic memory meant he couldn't forget any of it. Just Harvey's luck, verbal diarrhoea around someone who can't forget.
Mike uttered a few incoherent noises before being able to articulate his thoughts, "Wow," what else was there to say, "Just, wow. Harvey I've never heard you say so many positive things at once." He chuckled whilst the other man just looked at him stone faced, determined not to embarrass himself anymore. "But that doesn't mean I can come back. I'm not actually a lawyer and when everyone finds out we'll both be fired and you don't do emotions and, and..." Mike trailed off, having no more valid excuses after Harvey's confession of caring but it still didn't mean he could go back.
Noticing Mike had finally run himself into the ground, Harvey decided that he was going to use all his skills as the best closer in New York, "What makes you think I'd be fired? I'm claiming no knowledge of this what so ever, but if anyone were to find out that you aren't a real lawyer, it won't matter because by then you'll be a great attorney sat in an office while a group of Harvard drones work for you and Louis will be lower in the food chain. You'll have nothing to worry about, but you have to come back to work and earn it first."
"Harvey, I can..."
"Stop saying that." Harvey cut him off sternly, "I'm offering you a way back in. Right here, right now. No one even knows why you've not been in. If you don't want to come back then say so. Stop with the 'I can't' crap."
"Fine. Harvey, I don't want to work all hours of the day and night for you when you don't value what I do." Harvey's face had dropped and he realised Mike really couldn't do it anymore, "I want a little bit of recognition every once in a while, I want you to notice that I want to do well, for you, because I don't want to let you down and I feel like that's all you ever see me as doing."
"No, Mike I couldn't do what I do without you doing what you do, every time I win, you've won too. I know that, even if I don't say it. But we can work on it, just come back, it's been quiet without you."
"You mean you've had some other associate working for you and they've worked slower." The two of them started laughing as Harvey confirmed that fact. "Okay." The slightly hopeful, questioning look that Mike received made sure that he knew he'd have to say it, "I'll come back to work!"
Mike shook his head and chuckled as Harvey just clapped a hand on his shoulder, both of them able to breathe easier, "But, you have to find a way to stop Louis using me at every opportunity, his pony obsession is getting out of hand - and I can't work above him if I work for him."
"Deal."
Mike got them both more beer and put a film on, Harvey complaining within the first five minutes that it boring and that they should pick a different one. Ever one to get his own way, Mike went through five films before finally giving up and making Harvey go pick one. While Mike was watching, no doubt trying not to be bored at already knowing what happens in Top Gun - predictable Harvey - the older man sent a text to Donna 'still the best closer in New York'.
A/N: There you go, I hope you liked the endind. Leave a review telling me what you thought maybe? Please?