"Harvey didn't come in to work today" She responded in a hushed tone. Turning around to grasp the metal handle of the door. She looks through the glass at people passing by before closing the door.
"Gretchen said he sent her a text early this morning saying he's taken the day off and she must reschedule his appointments." She spoke as Mike pulled out his cell phone. Rachel inched closer so her ear was on the other side of the phone. With each passing ring her heart grew with worry. He hardly ever took a day off; even rarer was him ignoring Mike's calls.
Mike ended the call just as the 'You've reached Harvey's...' voicemail started. Mike went around his desk and sat down in a humph. The wheels turning in his head like he's trying to read into every single word Harvey has said to him as of late for any clues.
"It doesn't makes sense" Mike started, unsure if Mike was talking to her or just thinking out loud Rachel sat across from him awaiting her soon to be husbands plan of action.
"He's just come up from being under fire from Louis and the partners, there's no way he backs away after just proving he's the champion of this place." He states now fiddling with a pen as he taps it against the table repetitively.
"And he seems to be getting much better with handling his emotions, he hasn't had an attack in over a week!" Rachel finished Mike's thought.
1 hour later Rachel has chewed the back of Mikes pen to the edge of no return as Mike hangs up the phone after trying to reach Harvey for the fourth time. He had just got back from Harvey's apartment with no success. He knocked on the door for 15 minutes and no response. Mike looks over at Rachel with a determined look on his face, he will find Harvey, he can't hide from everyone. He might be his boss but, Harvey is his best friend and he knows that this might not look like a massive deal to most of the firm but Mike knows this is definitely a big deal! Scrunching up his face with disgust, he snatches his pen back from her. Looking down at the disheveled pen in his hand he looks up at a shamefaced Rachel.
"You had to?" he knew when Rachel got nervous she became fidgety and picked up habits like eating pens! Like for this instance, only this time the victim was his favorite pen.
Throwing it in the bin he stands up announcing his plan. "We will casually ask Jessica if she has heard from Harvey"
"Then we'll take it from there" Rachel finished as they high fived each other before leaving his office.
"Mike, Rachel, what can I do for you two? If you're here to ask me to ordain your wedding, just know there's a long waiting list." Jessica sits at her desk reading a document as if she's uninterested in their presence.
"You wouldn't make an exception for your favorite couple at your firm?" Mike asks weakly, emphasizing 'your' to try butter her up.
"Firstly, No and secondly, you're not my favorite."
Rachel looks over to Mike who tips his head in the direction of Jessica, motioning for her to ask. Rolling her eyes at Mike she steps forward nervously. She doesn't know what about Jessica gets everyone so nervous, she's an amazing woman, one of the most genuine people she's ever met, but she is just so intimidating.
"We were wondering if you have heard from Harvey. We can't get hold of him" Rachel asked now playing with her fingers as she looked back at Mike.
Without looking up Jessica responded nonchalantly to their question "have you spoken to Gretchen?"
Have they spoken to Gretchen? They aren't idiots! Mike thought as he frustratedly moves closer,
"She said he took the day off" He replied upping his tone as if he wanted to raise panic in Jessica. How can she be so calm? She knows Harvey doesn't just choose to take days off especially after these recent events.
"Mhmm and you don't know where he is, Gretchen is too new and probably too busy to know to worry and you decided to come bother me when the person who knows him best of all and probably has the best idea of where he might be is sitting across the corridor." Jessica looks up at them as if to say 'get the fuck out of my office'.
"Donna…" Rachel whispers looking at Mike. They both turn to retreat as they hear Jessica mutter,
"I'm glad I didn't hire complete idiots" as she gets back to her document.
"Between the two of us she likes you more and tells you things, intimate things…..plus she can always read me like a book!" Mike whines from behind the wall him and Rachel are both hiding behind, both too chicken to bring up the Harvey subject to Donna. You never bring up Harvey to Donna unless she plans for it. Rachel peeks around the wall trying to locate Donna. Her eyes grow wide when she finds the redhead, leaning over Louis's desk placing papers and a glass of water.
"Shit!" Rachel turns to Mike on her left, her face implying this situation is bad. Real bad.
"What?" Mike tries to move past Rachel to look around the wall, but Rachel shoves him back quickly.
"We have a problem." Looking back to Donna then Mike, she closes her eyes as she continues.
"A big problem" visibly agitated Mike huffs as to insinuate for Rachel to actually tell him what she saw!
Rachel looks up at Mike with fear in her eyes, like this will be their last day on earth.
"She's wearing all black Mike" As the words left Rachel's lips his face went from shock to completely confused. Oh my ….Wait what? He was expecting something drastic like Donna was crying or passed out on the floor, what does her wearing black have to do with anything?
Rachel remembering that despite his genius brain he doesn't take note of these things.
Rachel crossed her arms over her chest and she now has to explain to him something he should have taken notice of these past years. "Mike how many times you have seen Donna wear all black?" she questioned.
Tilting his head to the roof his eyes searching the ceiling while he thought.
"Uhhhh….. A couple times? I don't know just get to it woman!" Mike didn't like not knowing what was going on.
"A couple times, and those couple times what had happened or should I say the common denominator each of those times?" Mike opened his hands, palms facing upwards as he donned a dumbfounded look on his face gesturing he had no idea.
"Harvey Mike, Harvey! Something always relating to Harvey every time she's worn black!"
Mike lifted his finger stopping her right there.
"But she was working for Harvey every time she wore black so obviously you can relate it to him."
Rachel sighed; she has given up explaining this. Men are so oblivious she thought as she looked back at Donna now sitting at her desk. She knows Donna, as much as Donna likes to think she shows people what she wants them to see, Rachel knows her play. She only wears black when she needs that extra boost of confidence, either a big day is coming up or she had a tiff with Harvey and wants him to think no one can touch her not even him.
"Break a leg "Mike whispers to her as he pushes her out into the open area, she turns quickly gasping at him. She mouths traitor to him as she casually walks over to Donna. Mike watching her every move from a safe distance away, eyeing every motion and facial gesture. He can't help but think this is what being a stalker feels like, being there for everything but not actually being there.
"Rachel" Donna smiles at her friend a little surprised but very happy by her visit. She looked to her computer screen, scanning the time.
It's not coffee break yet, something must be up, she thought.
"Donna" Rachel smiles back, quickly glancing around her to see if anyone was in ear shot. Donna following her eyes understanding what she's thinking. Ooooh somethings definitely up! Did someone kick her copier again? That bastard! Or did Suzie and Hector get into another break room fight over the strawberry yogurt? Which most of the time Donna hid just to see it play out.
Leaning closer Donna waits for Rachel to spill the gossip.
"So you know being new and all, Gretchen is still learning things about Harvey, his habits, where he goes on his days off etc." Rachel starts, noticing how Donna perks up at this. Rachel's heart is beating out her chest. Who is she kidding she can't fool Donna into saying anything!
"Right..." Donna responds waiting for Rachel to continue.
"Mike and I have a case and need some advice from Harvey, but he is, unavailable, at the moment and, you know Gretchen still new and all..."
"Can't help you?" Donna finishes.
With a nervously quick nod Rachel squeezes her lips together hoping Donna might actually tell her what she needs.
"Any chance you might know where we can find him?" Rachel asks. Donna looks her friend over. She's too precious she thought as she watches Rachel's innocent face fill with hope that she will spill where Harvey goes. To say Donna isn't worried would be the lie of the century. Normally she would say she has no idea where he is, and the second she can sneak out she would go find him and console him. Truth is, the only day he ever willingly takes off is his dad's birthday. She knows for a fact today isn't that day.
Running through everything that happened last night she feels her body swell with fear that maybe he had an attack and no one was there! He could be in the hospital or worse unconscious on his bedroom floor. All she wants to do is run out the door to find him, but this is her moving on, passing the responsibility to someone else. She can keep an eye on him indirectly through Mike and Rachel.
Rachel watches as Donna bends painfully slowly to the side of her desk, leaning over to reach for her bag. A loud thud comes from behind Rachel, turning around she sees Mike jump up off the floor straightening himself out. She laughs to herself realizing Mike probably wanted to see what Donna was reaching for and toppled over in the process.
Donna retrieves the item from her bag and looks up and smiles at an approaching Mike.
"Mike! Good of you to join us up close and personal." She eyed him like she knew where he had been the whole time.
"Harvey's apartment key" Donna says as Mike is about to object.
"He ignores the knocks" Donna adds as she hands the key over to Mike.
Just before Rachel is about to thank her, Donna has a look of plea before she continues.
"You might want to bring Dr Agard along". Her face echoing the events of last night.
Rachel turns to Mike a bit shocked that Donna knows about Dr Agard but also concerned as to why they would need her.
"Was it that bad?" Rachel asks Donna referring to the situation that must have ensued between her and Harvey
The lack of response from Donna was more than enough for Mike and Rachel to catch on that it was really that bad.
With a quick thank you Mike and Rachel scurried away unscathed.
"All black …" Mike stated.
"All black" Rachel nodded in agreement.
Harvey rolled over in his bed at the sound of what seemed like two people loudly talking at his front door.
Obviously Mike hadn't given up. His attempts earlier were quite feeble Harvey thought as he pulled his extra grey pillow closer to him. He just needed peace. Why couldn't anyone understand that?
He turned his phone off after the second ring from Mike hoping the young man got the point. By the sound of it. He didn't.
"Harvey!" Came Mike's voice echoing in his ears. Why did that sound so much louder?
"Harvey you in here?" that was too loud! Harvey thought.
With a loud groan coming from Harvey's bedroom, Mike assumed Harvey just became very aware that his hide out spot had been jeopardized.
Throwing on a hoodie, Harvey stepped out of his room, in the track pants he slept in and his form fitting signature Harvard hoodie. Making his way into the lounge he expected his annoying partner-associate to be sitting with a worried look on his face. Instead sat Dr Agard relaxed on his single seater like she was ready for his next therapy session.
"I sent Mike back to the office to call the search squad off" she said as she adjusted her position to face him fully. Harvey ignored her statement and grabbed a banana from the fruit bowl on top his kitchen table. Standing back he leaned against the counter and noted her attire. She had on a white blouse that hung loosely around her shoulders, with the end neatly placed into her high waisted purple skirt. She wore black heels that most women couldn't wear to work, but seeing as all she does is sit on a couch all day he guesses walking in them is never an issue.
"If I knew we had a session today I would have at least dressed up." He spoke trying to make a joke of the fact his Psychiatrist came to rescue him.
"If we had a session would you have left the house?" she returned knowing fully well he would have just scrapped their session and stayed home anyway.
Acknowledging her serious tone he padded bare foot along his cold white floors to sit at the opposite couch, figuring he might as well be comfortable as she rips his heart open.
"I'm surprised Mark gave you the key. I remember telling him to never hand it over to anyone, not even to the police. And no matter how beautiful the woman. I guess the last part he crumbled at." Harvey referring to the Maintenance man that carries the entire buildings keys for emergencies. And the odd leak.
"Actually, I got it from Donna." Dr Agard observed his reactions as she spoke of the woman he so obviously cannot come to terms with leaving him, no matter how much he pretended.
Harvey's heart dropped at the sound of her name. A wave of nausea flowing through his body ready to crash. Self-pity and anger prickling to be released off his tongue.
"Remind me to take it from you." He said, Donna having no reason to keep it anymore.
"Are you ready to open up about her Harvey?" Dr Agard tested the waters. He had slowly opened more and more about her,sharing with her their good times and some of their fights. But that was all superficial to what he really needed to talk about.
Contemplating her question Harvey couldn't help but wonder if maybe it was time. That this is what he actually needs. His previous self would give him a firm bitch slap at this thought.
"Will it help me get over her? For good" he responded. Leaning forward on the couch, both elbows resting on his knees.
"It will help you accept and move on with all these feelings, yes" she replied gently knowing how hard it must be for him to get to this point.
"Then what are we waiting for?" Harvey looked up at Dr Agard with bulging bags holding up his bloodshot eyes. Evident that the great, tough, indestructible Harvey Specter had finally hit rock bottom.
