Harvey managed to keep up the impression that everything was normal in the office for almost a week.
For all Mike knew he hadn't told anyone about his illness, and the next two chemo sessions were so late in the evening that even Donna didn't notice them as gaps in his schedule. The treatment was draining him more and more though and one day he had to lie down in a client meeting.
Ellen Lagard just had been talking to them when Harvey had pushed himself from his seat just to tumble right to the ground.
"I'm fine," Harvey had muttered as soon as Mike had knelt down next to him even though his eyes were closed and his breaths came in short puffs. "Just tired…"
"It's okay," Mike assured, gently running his fingers through Harvey's hair.
"Do you want me to call an ambulance?"
Harvey shook his head.
"Go home?"
At that Harvey nodded. "Just give me a minute…"
It had been five but at last Harvey had staggered to his feet with Mike's help.
Mike remembered everyone staring at them as they had slowly walked to the elevators, associates stopping dead in their tracks, partners stepping out of their offices.
"What's going on here?" Jessica's voice had echoed through the floor as she noticed the crowd.
No one replied.
„It's Mr Specter," one of the first year associates managed at last pointing to Harvey and Mike with a shaking finger.
„And what's there to see?" Jessica asked, hardly sparing them a glance. "Everyone back to work."
Her order was reluctantly followed and only then Mike noticed Donna standing frozen in the hallway. She seemed to just have returned from her lunch break, as she was holding a bagel and a cup of coffee.
"Harvey?" she gasped as they approached her, the coffee slipping out of her fingers. "What's wrong with him?"
Jessica scoffed. "He's having chemotherapy, how chirpy do you expect him to look?"
"Chemotherapy?" Donna echoed and Mike could feel Harvey freeze in his arms. So he hadn't told her.
"I'm sorry, Donna," Harvey managed, slowly raising his head. Then his legs buckled under him and Mike had to dive downwards to keep him from falling.
"Now might not be the time to explain," he panted.
"Chemotherapy?" Donna repeated once more, still thunderstruck as they stumbled past her.
"I should have told her," Harvey muttered as they were in the elevator, Harvey leaning heavily against the wall.
Mike just nodded. Of course Harvey should have told her but there was little to be done about it now. "How bad is it?"
Harvey gave a weak shrug. „I don't know… I just want to lie down. Have been tired all day…" Mike noticed his eyes falling shut again as they reached the ground floor.
"Come on," he said encouragingly, slipping under Harvey's arm. "Just a little cab ride and you'll be in your king size bed."
Harvey did not return to work after that day. He was too tired to focus on any files and spend most of the day in bed. The nausea had returned too, even though Harvey hardly threw up since he was on his two week break between the sessions.
"How are you feeling today?" Mike asked quietly as he came into Harvey's bedroom. It was only eight o'clock but the lights were already turned off and he didn't want to wake him.
"Been better," Harvey muttered and Mike could hear him shift in the covers as he sat up.
"Throat still bad?"
Harvey had developed throat sores a few days ago and it had become increasingly hard to get him to eat.
"Yeah," Harvey admitted, searching for the light switch.
Mike gave a sympathetic sigh and turned on the light.
"Have you gotten up yet?" he asked, noticing Harvey was still in the same pyjamas as the day before.
"I went to get some water around noon…" Harvey glanced to the clock. "God, 8 o'clock already."
"How much did you drink today?" Mike asked, pouring a glass of water for Harvey.
"You're worse than my mother ever was," Harvey muttered but still took the water.
"Well done," Mike praised ironically as Harvey drank. "And now you go to have a nice little shower, and then we'll have dinner."
"I guess I can't object?"
"Overruled," Mike pointed out with a smile.
With a sigh Harvey skirted to the edge of the bed. "What's for dinner?"
"Sushi."
Harvey gave an approving nod and pushed himself to his feet. As he did, his shirt slipped up for a second and Mike gasped.
"What's this?" he asked, leaping forward to pull the shirt up again.
"A bruise," Harvey said curtly, trying to shake Mike off. "I bruise more easily, it's another awesome side effect of the leukaemia."
The bruise was black and spanning almost all of Harvey's hip.
§Does it hurt?" Mike enquired, gently prodding the blackened skin.
Harvey winced. "As a matter of fact it does," he snapped, decisively pulling the shirt back down.
"How did you get it?" Mike asked.
"I told you I bruise easily." Harvey started to walk towards the bathroom, but Mike reached for his arm to hold him back.
"How did you get the bruise, Harvey?"
For a moment they were locking gazes, fighting a silent battle of will. It was Harvey who gave in at last. "I slipped in the shower."
"Slipped or fainted?"
"Slipped. Now, can I go into said shower?"
Mike hesitated, still holding on to Harvey's arm. "What if you slip again?"
"I'll probably get another bruise," Harvey snapped, tearing loose his arm. "I told you I don't appreciate being fussed over!"
He walked off angrily, and Mike resisted the urge to call him back. He knew very well Harvey wouldn't listen and part of him was glad to see Harvey back to his normal self.
While Harvey showered, Mike changed the sheets and set the dinner table.
"No new bruises?" he asked when Harvey stepped in the living room clad only in a bathrobe.
"No new bruises," Harvey confirmed, sitting down at the table."„So sushi?" he asked reaching for one of the boxes. "Did Rachel pick?"
"Yep," Mike confirmed. "You bought some for her too by the way."
"Ah, yes, you guys still have my credit card… Is there anything else I should know I have been paying for?"
"Just food, which has been for you too. Oh and a coffee machine. Same as yours so I can practise at home."
"So you did like the coffee."
"Might have," Mike admitted with a small smile.
„I brought you some sage drops," Mike said reaching for his bag as they had finished their dinner. "They're supposed to be good for your throat."
„Thanks," Harvey said taking one of the drops. He leaned back on his chair, eyes half-closed but Mike felt it was more out of content than fatigue.
"Wanna watch a movie?" Harvey suggested. "Or do you want to go back to Rachel?"
"Movie is fine. Rachel's probably still at work anyway."
Harvey's expression darkened slightly. "Making up for me not being there?"
"The great Harvey Specter thinks he's replaceable with a paralegal?" Mike asked with a risen eyebrow.
"Fine I rephrase. Making up for you not being there?"
"You know she's working at one of Manhattan's biggest law firms, pulling all nighters isn't that uncommon."
"Good, movie it is then." He looked at Mike with sudden interest. "Do you ever rewatch movies?"
Mike shrugged. "Mostly I don't. It's fine though. I'll fight off the urge to say everything along with the actors."
But Harvey shook his head. "No, let's watch something new."
