Author Notes:-

Thanks for the reviews and follows. I appreciate any kind of review. Good, bad or indifferent. I hope you are enjoying it.

Disclaimer:- I don't own any of the characters from Suits. They are all the property of Aaron Korsch and USA network. I'm just borrowing them!

AU - multi chaper fic. Pre season 1 up to season 8 and perhaps beyond. Lots of flashbacks which jump back and forth

Timeline - Season 5 after Mike was arrested

/\\\\

The courtroom began to fill up as people took their places. Most of the people were spectators. Tyre kickers Harvey called them. Not interested in the real human story behind the trial. They just want to see someone go down for a crime. A bit like Anita Gibbs.

"Are you sure you want to do this way?" Mike asked Harvey as they both waited for the court session to begin. Harvey glanced behind him and saw that Celia was having a conversation with Jessica and Donna..

"Yeah. It's the only way," he replied .

"She's gonna be pissed with you."

"I know Mike. She's gonna be pissed either way but it has to be done this way. "

"All Rise," the bailiff said as Judge Ralls came into the courtroom. She glanced around the room and over at Anita Gibbs. "Is the prosecution ready for the next witness?"

"The prosecution calls Celia Laurence to the stand ."

Celia looked at Jessica who gave her an encouraging nod and she stood up. She could feel everyone's eyes on her as she made her way to the top of the room. Harvey and Mike watched as she was sworn in. They glanced at each other.

"Please state your name and occupation for the record."

"Celia Catherine Laurence. Acting Supervising Justice for the Manhattan District in New York. "

Gibbs stood up. "Ms Laurence. Harvey Specter came to see you a couple of weeks ago. Could you please tell the court what this was in connection with. "

"Yes. It was to hire me as a consultant."

"A consultant? "

"Yes Ms Gibbs. I do a lot of trial consulting work.""

"That seems very convenient."

"Not really. As a public servant I am sure you are aware of what a judge salary is. So I do trial consulting on the side. It's nothing unusual. Some judges do it. "

Harvey stood up. "Submitting Employment contract into evidence. " He handed the documents to the balliff who handed them to Judge Ralls. "These seem in order."

"Ms Laurence, so when Harvey Specter came to see you was it to have Judge Ralls thrown off this case?"

"We discussed numerous options in relation to the case. "

"But did you discuss having Judge Ralls recusing herself."

"We discussed it but we came to the conclusion that that was not the best course of action."

"Ms Laurence. You presided over Rivscoff V Dorchester a few months ago where Mike Ross was co counsel. Where you aware that he was a fraud? "

Celia shook her head. "As far as I am aware Mike Ross is not a fraud."

"But you are a judge. You must have an idea? "

"No Ms Gibbs. I had no idea. I only learned of these charges when everyone else did. "

Anita smiled at her. "No further questions your honor."

Celia glanced over at Harvey who had no expression on his face.

"Your witness Mr Specter,"

Harvey stood up. "Ms Laurence. You are a judge in the state of California correct?"

"Yes I was mentored by Justice Colin Macht."

"The state of California has a law where a person doesn't need to go to Law School to be an attorney. Correct?"

"Yes. There are currently 4 states which allow this. It's called Reading The Law. They can do their internships with a qualified attorney or law firm. "

"And have you come across any one who took this route? "

"I did when I was a senior partner at Lyod and Associates in San Francisco. And he turned out to be better than any other attorney that I know. "

"Better?"

"Yes." Celia said with a raised eyebrow.

Harvey nodded. "No further questions, your honor."

"If the prosecution has no further questions I think it might be a good idea to break for lunch. "

As Celia started to get up Anita Gibbs stood. "I have some further questions. If it pleases the court I just want another 5 minutes. I guess I must have forgotten to ask these questions, " Gibbs said with a small laugh.

Judge Ralls looked over at Gibbs. " have 5 minutes."

"Shit," muttered Harvey to Mike.

"Thank you your honor. Ms Laurence. You testified just now about the reading the law statute in California. Did you ever work with anyone who claimed to be a lawyer when they actually weren't? "

"No Ms Gibbs I never have," replied Celia.

Gibbs nodded and shuffled some papers on the desk. "You were a senior associate at Pearson Hardman? How long did you work there for? "

"4 years," replied Celia

"And when you worked there you were in a relationship with Mr Specter? "

"Objection. Irrelevant. Ms Laurence 's personal relationships have no bearing in this case," Harvey objected. He glanced up at Celia who had opened her mouth slightly as if to say something but closed it again. He gave her a small smile as if to apologise.

"Sustained," replied Judge Ralls.

"Ms Laurence. I have here your performance reviews. They indicate that poor performance.."

"Objection. Those reviews were fabricated. I have a sworn affidavit from Jessica Pearson to that affect." Harvey handed the affidavit and the other documents to the balliff. Judge Ralls glanced at them. "Objection sustained."

"When you worked at Pearson Hardman was there an incident where you locked your colleague, Louis Litt, into a store room? "

"Shit. How did she know about that?" muttered Harvey. He looked back at Louis who was seated in the courtroom next to Jessica.

"That was a prank," replied Celia looking down to Louis who had lowered his head as if he was embarrassed.

"A prank? Your colleague Louis Litt nearly ended up in the hospital."

"But he didn't. He was fine. "

Anita nodded and then picked up another document.

"Ms Laurence. Why did you leave Pearson Hardman?"

Celia shifted in her seat when she realized where the line of questioning was going. Her mouth went dry and she took a sip of water from the glass in front of her. "I was offered a senior partnership with Lyod and Associates in San Francisco. It was a good opportunity for me."

"A good opportunity? So good that you left Mr Specter to work with your ex fiance? "

"Objection. Speculative."

"Sustained. "

"Ms Laurence. isn't it true that the reason why you left Pearson Hardman was that you were fired for making a huge mistake on a case. "

Celia took another sip of water. "I resigned to take up another position."

"I have here a document that was signed by you admitting to your mistake on this case. And when this mistake came to light it could have meant your old firm being sued for malpractice."

Celia was silent for a moment. Her heart was rapidly beating and she took a deep breath.

"Ms Laurence. Is it true that you made a crucial error on this case which effectively ended your tenure at Pearson Hardman? "

"I wish to assert my rights under the 5th amendment, " replied Celia.

"Because you can't answer because you are bound by a confidentiality agreement? "

"I decline to answer."

"And what would happen if you broke that confidentiality agreement? "

"I decline to answer."

Anita handed her the document. "Ms Laurence. Do you recognize this document?"

Celia glanced over at Harvey and then down at the document. "I decline to answer. "

Anita nodded and turned to look at the jury. "So the opposing counsel who are defending their star attorney who happens to be a fraud... have hired as their consultant, their expert, a below average lawyer, a fact laid out in performance reviews, who locked a colleague into a store room to stop him from taking the lead in a deposition, who left one man and moved across the country to work with her ex fiance who gave her a job which allowed her to become a judge and is bound by a confidentiality agreement that forbids her to discuss the case that she made a crucial.. "

" You're twisting things !" "Objection, Testifying." Celia and Harvey spoke at the same time. He glanced at her on the stand. She shifted in her seat and folded her arms. Her jaw tensed and she pushed her lips together as she let out a long breath and looked down at the floor.

"Sustained. Ms Gibbs. All of this is speculative. If you have any further questions I suggest we break for lunch. "

"No further questions your honor. The witness is excused."

Harvey watched as Celia walked out of the court room. She refused to look at him as she walked past him.

"That went well," Mike said with a sarcastic tone to his voice.

"I know."

The rest of the courtroom stood as Judge Ralls left the bench. "Donna is up after lunch." Mike said. Harvey nodded as he left the courtroom and headed in the direction of Celia's office.

"She asked not to be disturbed, " her secretary said when she saw Harvey approaching her.

"I just need 5 minutes Gloria. Please ."

"I can't let you in Mr Specter. She specifically said that I wasn't to let you in. "

"The hell she did," muttered Harvey as he barged in through the door. Celia turned around at the sound of the door banging open.

"Who the fuck do you think you are barging in like that? " She demanded.

"Celia, I know you are angry..." Harvey started to say.

"ANGRY? You have no idea how I am feeling right now! That woman eviscerated me up there, she destroyed my credibility and YOU waited till the last second to object! YOU were supposed to ask those questions not her! That's why you had Mike prepare me!"

"Mike and I came to the conclusion that if we asked those questions it would look to the jury that we were attacking our own witness but we had over ruled most of her line of questioning. I didn't think she would come out with that!"

"You didn't think? Did you not think to fill me in on your plan? You're supposed to be the best lawyer the city has ever seen! You are supposed to anticipate these things! You should have objected earlier! Now it's all on record. And while we are on the subject of making objections. Our relationship was irrelevant? Now I know I made the right decision to leave."

Harvey raised his eyes to the ceiling. "Irrelevant in terms of the argument. Of course I didn't think our relationship was irrelevant. "

"It sure as hell felt like that's what it meant."

"Cece. I have a job to do and that is to get Mike acquitted. I'm sorry you are feeling this way but you know better than anyone that lawyers will do or say anything to make their case."

She folded her arms and the two stared at each other for a moment without saying anything. "I have to go. Donna is up next."

"I'm sure Donna will be better prepared than I was. "

"What 's that supposed to mean?" asked Harvey.

Celia let out a sigh. "Nothing. Just go."

Harvey nodded but walked over to the door. He stopped with his hand on the door handle and turned around. "Just one thing Cece. If you want to move on with your life you have to let go of the past. That confidentiality agreement can be broken and you know there is only one way to that."

Celia shook her head. "I can't."

"Why? ...Because you're afraid?"

She felt tears welling up in her eyes but she wiped them away with the back of her hands. "I can't."

Harvey sighed and shook his head. "If you don't... this is going to keep coming back to you. You have to let it go." He opened the door. "I'm right about this Celia. "

She stood in the middle of the room staring at the door as it shut. She knew he was right and she also knew what she had to.

/\\\

Celia glanced up and down the corridor as she stood outside the men's room. She had seen Louis go in 10 minutes before. She checked her watch. "Jesus. What's taking him so long in there? " she asked herself. She took a deep breath and entered the men's bathroom.

She saw him washing his hands at the sink. "Louis."

He looked at her. "Cece. What are you doing here?"

"I need a favour."

Louis looked a bit concerned. "You're not going to lock me in the janitor closet again are you?"

Celia laughed. "No but I might take away your prunies."

Louis eyed her with irritation.

/!\\\\

She stood outside the office door and knocked but without waiting for an answer she walked right in.

"Hello Daniel."

Hardman looked taken aback when he saw her but he remained seated. "Well if it isn't Miss Celia Laurence. What can I do for you? I heard you are a judge now. I am glad I was able to assist you in achieving your dream."

"I'm here to ask you to waive the NDA. I am tired of having that shit hanging over my head."

Daniel looked at her closely. "I won't be doing that Celia."

Celia glanced around the room and noticed the bonsais. "I see you still have your bonsai trees. I heard Louis jerked off on them one time."

Hardman looked over at the trees with a look of disgust on his face. "I won't be waiving the NDA."

She leaned across the desk in front of him. "That's where you are wrong. You will waive it. I know that you embezzled from the firm. I know that you planted the Coastal Motors memo to have Harvey fired. I know you planted the Boylston memo too. I know you gave Anita Gibbs those documents which means you broke that agreement too! "

Hardman stared at her for a moment. "You have no proof."

"If you did it with Coastal Motors then you did it with Boylston.

He glanced at her. "Pretty active imagination you have there."

Celia scoffed. "Waive the NDA."

Hardman looked at her and then smirked. He stood up and made his way to her on the opposite side of the desk. His eyes traveled up from her legs to her ass and up to her breasts. She folded her arms and and moved back from him.

"You're a beautiful woman Celia. I am sure we can come to an arrangement."

Celia 's mouth opened in shock as she realized what he was implicating. "Excuse me?"

Hardman reached out and stroked her arm. "We can go somewhere a bit more private. I'm sure this will be worth both our whiles."

Her eyes widened. "Is that how you got Monica Eaton into bed?"

"That's none of your concern. So do we have a deal? "

Celia gave him a look of contempt. "You are a disgusting little man." Before she could stop herself her hand flew up and slapped his face. She ignored the stinging sensation in her hand as she moved closer to his desk and placed her briefcase on it. She pulled out a folder and placed it in his hands. "Wrongful Termination suit."

A red mark was beginning to form on Hardman's cheek. "Statute of limitations has expired on that. You should know that."

Celia sighed and pulled out another document from her briefcase. "I know which is why I am giving you another special gift...from me to you. " She glanced over at him and gave him a coy smile. "Sexual Harassment, Intimidation of a sitting judge, bribery..." She pulled out more documents and threw them on the desk. "Need.. I...go... on?"

Hardman glared at her. "You won't have any proof. "

Celia smiled. "That's where you are wrong Daniel. I took a leaf out of the Louis Litt playbook." She pulled out the dictaphone she had borrowed from Louis earlier from her briefcase. "Recognize this?"

She watched as Hardman's face fall. "I haven't filed those yet." She pointed to the documents on the table. "Waive the NDA... otherwise I will be straight back to the courthouse after this and I WILL file them...and YOUR career will be over...you smug piece of shit. "

Hardman swallowed. "I'll waive the NDA." His voice was like a strangled whisper.

She pulled another document out. "Now sign it. I have a pen if you need one. It's a pretty pen don't you think? I got it at Pearson Hardman. Oh...and that document is legal. I drew it up myself."

He grabbed the pen from her and she waited as he signed it. When he finished he shoved the paper into her hand and sat down heavily on his chair.

She glanced at it and then placed it in her briefcase and walked towards the door without looking back at him. "Karma really is a bitch isn't it Daniel?"

When she was out of the office she stood with her back against the door and breathed out a big sigh of relief. She rubbed her stinging hand as she took the document out of her briefcase and took a long look at it. A small laugh escaped her as she smiled to herself and walked out of the building.

/\\\

You look tired."

Harvey looked up from his laptop to see Celia standing at the door of his office. He looked at his watch and realized how late it was. He got caught up preparing evidence for the trial that he lost track of time.

"Lost track of time. Where did you go? I couldn't find you after court adjourned for the day. Louis said something about you going on a mission."

"I was on a mission," replied Celia with a smile.

"You went to see Hardman." Harvey stood up and walked over to his couch and poured two scotches. Celia took the glass from him and sat down on the couch. Harvey sat himself on the chair beside her.

"I did. Did you know he still has those goddamn bonsais?

Harvey chuckled. "Yeah. I told him one time that Mike pissed in them."

Celia laughed. "Well I told him that Louis jerked off on them... Anyway it's done.*

"What's done? You didn't sleep with him did you?"

Celia glared at him in mock horror.. "Oh Jesus no! I do have my standards you know!"

Harvey grinned at her. "So what did you do? "

"I went over there to get him to waive the NDA."

"And he wouldn't. "

"Nope. He said the only way he would would was if I...went to bed with him."

"That son of a bitch!"

"So I slapped him ...literally."

"You slapped him? " he asked looking quite impressed.

Celia nodded. "Yep. It felt so good!"

"Open palm?"

" Uhuh. My hand still smarts. " she rubbed the palm of her hand.

"You know Donna slapped Hardman before?"

Celia bit on her bottom lip. "Did she?"

"Yeah. So what did you do then?

"So I slapped him with a wrongful termination suit... "

"Statute of Limitations would no longer be valid..."

"I know that. That's what he said. Then I slapped him with a sexual harassment and intimidation of a sitting judge suit. And then he dropped the NDA. "

"So it's done."

Celia nodded. "It's done."

Harvey smiled. "How do you feel?"

She let out a huge sigh. "Relieved. Like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I feel like I can finally move on with my life. And I just wanted to say thank you for making me go over there. "

"I didn't make you do anything. I just told you what you needed to hear," replied Harvey with a smile.

"When did you become so wise?"

"I was always wise. I'm like Yoda."

Celia giggled. "Well if it wasn't for you I wouldn't have found the courage to."

Harvey rolled the scotch glass in his hand but said nothing.

Celia inhaled sharply. "Anyway...I'm going home. I'm going to run a hot bubble bath and open a bottle of wine."

Harvey sat back in his chair and looked at her. "Good plan. I can call Ray to give you a ride home."

She smiled. "Thanks Harvey. I'm going to walk home. Nite."

Harvey nodded and watched her walk towards the door. "Cece?"

She stopped and turned to look at him.

"If you ever want to go for a run let me know?"

"Running?"

"You've turned me down for dinner twice already. I thought maybe you would want to go for a run instead. "

She nodded in understanding. "See you in court Counselor."

To be continued