For a moment he thinks the slight twitch he feels against his hand is just a figment of his imagination; a way in which his mind is taunting him that she's still not awake. But then he hears a small groan and feels a stronger pull against his hand. He is quick to his feet, abandoning the chair he's spent the most part of the last week in, all in a rush to get closer to her.

"Donna?" He's using the palm of his hand to flatten her unruly hair before tucking the loose strands back behind her ear. It's been a week now and he knows she'll throw a fit at the lack of vibrancy and volume in it once she sees it for herself.

Her eyelids flutter slowly and he takes a moment to catch himself, unable to believe this was happening. He quickly reaches over and presses the button to alert the nurse before returning back to Donna.

"You can do it Donna, wake up for me." He's pleading with her now and it's answered when her hazel eyes meet his light brown ones and he swears he's never seen anything more beautiful. "Hey there honey, welcome back." She blinks, a sign of recognition and a greeting all in one as the nurse enters the room. Informing Donna that she'll be back soon to give her something for the pain and updating her charts she leaves, leaving Donna and Harvey alone again.

She wants to speak but finds that her lips are cracked and her throat is painfully dry. His perceptive skills are impeccable when it comes to her and without being told he's reaching for the glass of water at her bedside and extending her the straw before running some water droplets across her lips.

"Honey?" She teases and Harvey shrugs shyly with a small smile, "it slipped out."

"Are you okay?"

Harvey lets out a small laugh, "You're the one in the hospital bed and you're asking me if I'm okay?" He speaks again before she can. "You scared the crap out of me Donna, don't you dare ever do anything like that again." The raw emotion in his voice tugs away at her heartstrings and she swallows as she briskly blinks away her own set of tears.

"Harvey." She breathes out slowly trying to get him to understand why she did what she did.

He shakes his head vehemently in a refusal to accept otherwise, "NO Donna, promise me you'll never do something like that again."

She shakes her head, "you know I'll always protect you Harvey."

"You're too stubborn for your own good."

"Said the pot to the kettle."

The room falls quiet for a couple minutes before Harvey breaks the silence. "You know...when the Doctor came out from the surgery room I thought I'd lost you...he had this...this look of regret and pity painted across his face and I thought that was it…" She's seen him vulnerable before but never quite like this and she feels her heart break and her stomach drop. Wanting nothing more than to anchor herself to him, she curses inwardly at the bullet wound which prevents her from doing so. So she gently tugs against his hand wordlessly willing him closer.

He tenderly but awkwardly wraps himself around her, allowing himself to relax as he breathes her in, "I missed you so much Donna." She rests her head inside the crook of his neck as she places a light kiss against his collarbone, "you're stuck with me Harvey, you'll never lose me." Harvey lifts his head and cradles her head in his hands before slowly drawing in for a kiss. He feels her lean in slightly and his stomach flutters. It's felt like forever since he was last able to do that and on that thought he realises that he doesn't ever want to let her go. But he feels her shift slightly and grimace in pain and he slowly leans back and settles back into his chair. Instead he places his hand around hers, his fingers drawing smooth circles against her wrist.

"I should go and call your parents and tell them you're awake, they were worried sick so they'll want to see you." He says as he begins to rise from his chair and go outside to place the call. But before he can move any further, he feels her hand grip tightly around his wrist.

"It's late Harvey. They are most likely exhausted and asleep. You can call them in the morning, it's not like I'm going anywhere." He gives her a look that tells her he's not convinced that that's such a good idea. He knows they'll be pissed that they weren't informed and he's already not in Jim's good books. He's against doing anything that's sure to cause a scene.

"I just want to stay with you tonight. Please?" He's reluctant but he's never been able to say no to her and so he concedes and perches down on the side of the bed beside her.

"You're not going to make me go home?" He questions with a small tone of playfulness.

Her voice is soft and tender when she speaks, "there's nobody that could drag me away from you if the tables were turned." Harvey forces a smiles and nods his head. It's because she knows him that she knows his smile is fictitious because it's not the same Cheshire cat grin that reaches the corner of his eyes that's she's grown so fond of. She reaches out her hand and lightly strokes his cheek with the pad of her thumb. They both break the silence in sync.

"I'm sorry Donna. I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault Harvey."

She watches him choke against his own tears as his eyes are trained down, fixed against a spot on the hospital floor. She hooks her fingers under his jaw and slowly turns his head towards her. "Hey. Harvey, look at me." He turns hesitantly, the redness and rawness behind his eyes pierce through her, sending a ice cold jab straight through her heart. "It's not your fault Harvey."

She's the only one he believes.

"I love you." He whispers as a teardrop escapes.

She brushes it away, "I know, I love you too Harvey."

"You should get some rest. I'll be here when you wake up." He kisses her forehead and whispers a soft goodnight against her ear.

Decided that I've got 2 more chapters left because it seemed like a good place to end it here. Stay tuned!