So, yeah, like I said, this one's weird XD It's not a normal chapter; as you will see, but I just had such an adorable image in my head, and I knew I wouldn't have time to make it a whole other story, so I decided to incorporate it in this. Take it as a crack!chapter if you wish, as I'm not even going to attempt to explain how this happened, so it's going to sound as if it's completely normal :P And I don't know if that made ANY sense, I've had quite a few jager bombs...
WARNING: contains oddness (Cute oddness, but oddness nevertheless) and no attempt to explain why the oddness is occuring. Anyone wanting to take this idea and use it for a whole other story is welcome to it, because otherwise it will be stuck in my head forever.
It had been some decidedly odd few days, Harvey decided, sitting down at his place in the meeting, with his associate sat next to him. For one, the reason Mike was in the meeting with him was that Donna was out for the day and he had no one to watch him. Secondly, Mike was sat on a few large law dictionaries.
Harvey wasn't sure if he'd ever had to think to bring toys to keep his associate quiet in a meeting.
After a whole lot of oddness regarding a previous client, Mike was now roughly 3 years old, and would be for another week until whatever that crackpot bitch scientist did wore off. The clothes he was wearing; courtesy of Donna, were just a little on the large side, and even though she had badly wanted to buy him a suit, she had to surrender to the fact that they were way too expensive to buy for only 2 weeks of use. So now he was sat in jeans and a blue sweatshirt, tiny velcro-laced shoes on his feet.
"Bored," he muttered to Harvey, pouting as yet another partner filed in and patted his head condescendingly.
Harvey shot him a sharp glare. "I'm sure I was told you're an adult in your mind," he said softly so as to not disturb everyone else. "I must have been mistaken."
Mike glared back. "My mind needs constant stimulation," he whispered feverishly, his small tongue unable to wrap it's way around the word 'stimulation' and he was stuck with it for a few seconds until finally saying it correctly. "And you said that you would bring something to 'keep me quiet'. You said," his voice was getting slightly louder in pitch and Harvey; although having barely any experience with children, could tell that - adult mind or no - his associate was about to have a full-blown tantrum.
"You can take the minutes," Harvey said to him jokingly, quickly trying to think if Donna had left any toys at her desk or in his office that Mike could use. Mike's scowl grew darker and he opened his mouth wide, threatening to either start screaming or hold his breath until he either got what he wanted or passed out - whichever came first.
Harvey hoped it was the latter.
"You do that and I will not only give you a bath tonight, I will ask Louis to come and babysit," Harvey hissed as the last few partners filed into the large room, Louis being one of them. Mike's mouth quickly snapped shut and he gazed up at Harvey, large blue eyes showing every emotion he was feeling. "Better," Harvey said crisply, smoothing out imaginary creases in his suit.
"But Harvey," he whined, pulling the older man's name out into long syllables.
"Oh for God's sakes," Harvey muttered, standing up and leaving a bewildered looking Mike sat on the stack of law books. Everyone looked over as he stood.
"Harvey?" Mike asked in a small voice, his toddler mind scared that Harvey was sick of him and leaving.
Jessica also questioned him. "Harvey, where are you going? The meeting's about to start."
"I'll be one minute," he promised her, before looking over at Mike. "Stay here," he said, pointing at the ground for a second. "And behave," he added as an afterthought. Mike blushed as everyone else in the room looked at him, although Jessica had a soft, amused expression on her face and was smiling lightly. Whereas Louis was looking at Mike as if he was something festering in the back of a fridge. Thankfully, Harvey was back in about half a minute and nodded at Jessica to start.
He gently rolled some crayons onto the table in front of Mike and gave him a peice of paper. "There you go," he said quietly, sounding pleased with himself. "How about you draw some nice pictures for Daddy to look at when he's finished with his meeting?" He suggested with a patronising tone, resulting in him getting a small slap on the arm from a tiny hand.
For a few moments Harvey almost believed that Mike would be quiet throughout, or at least not keep him from hearing what Jessica had to say. He was wrong.
He felt Mike pat his elbow and looked down to find a note scribbled in crayon.
Is it just me, or have you noticed Louis staring at me?
Harvey read this and looked over to see the Junior Partner quickly look away. Harvey snatched up his fountain pen.
Maybe he thinks you're just too adorable. Or, more than likely, he's freaked out by a 3 year old who can beat him in a game of Trivial Pursuit.
I am too adorable - who knew I was this blonde when I was younger? And hey, is it my fault that I'm too awesome for him?
Right, yeah. Too awesome. At least he doesn't need help going to the toilet. Well... I severely hope he doesn't.
It's hardly my fault! But, uh... Harvey?
What?
I think I need to pee.
Harvey rubbed his face and put his pen down, standing up and grabbing his associate's small, chubby hand. "Harvey?" Jessica questioned, again.
"We'll be back in a second, keep going," he told her over his shoulder, dragging Mike more quickly than the small boy could walk.
"Slow down!" He whined, tripping over his own feet.
"I am not going to be held responsible by Donna if you have an accident," he warned grimly, practically throwing Mike into the bathroom.
"Better?" Jessica asked calmly as they both came back in.
"Yup," Harvey replied, grabbing Mike by the armpits and lifting him back on his stack of books. He too sat down and picked up his fountain pen in an effort to make notes. Proper notes.
What's the meeting about?
Harvey groaned.
Shouldn't you have been listening, Mr. Eidetic-Memory?
Hey, it's not my meeting. I'm only here because Donna's sick of me.
That's true.
Oh.
For goodness sake, she's visiting her sister for the day. I had to bribe her NOT to take you with her.
Why? Getting attached? Ooh - do you care?
No, I just didn't think I should subject her to a two hour car ride with you. You really think I'm not regretting bringing you into this meeting?
I thought you enjoyed spending time with me...
When have I ever said that?
I just assumed it seeing as we've been sleeping in the same bed for a few...
I only have one bed, where else were you supposed to sleep?
Couch?
And let Donna find out and kill me slowly? No thank you.
The notes were stopped passing for a while as Mike's crayon was quickly whittling down. He pushed on the tip too much, and he now had to swap from the blue one to a green one. To be honest, he was amazed that his writing skills were as co-ordinated as they were. If he wasn't careful, Harvey would have him going through briefs. He slid another note towards Harvey.
I'm thirsty.
Harvey wanted to slap a palm to his face. Of course the kid was thirsty. While Donna was there she had a habit of coming in with a juice box every half hour. He wasn't really prepared to keep the kid alive for a whole day on his own. He stood up once more and grabbed Mike by the hand, pulling him out into the corridor, just pausing to say; "Back in a minute," to Jessica.
He quickly found a watering fountain and had to hold Mike up so he could reach it. When he'd finally had his fill, he clamoured to be set down again. "My pleasure," Harvey grumbled to him, trying to dry off the splashes of water that had gotten on his jacket sleeves. Mike rubbed at his mouth to get rid of any moisture and gazed up at Harvey expectantly. Harvey's lips twitched. Wild horses couldn't drag it out of him, but he found three year old Mike adorable. His normal dark blonde hair was tufty and out of control, and properly, almost white blonde. His eyes seemed too big for his face, causing the blue in them to be more pronounced.
"Harvey?"
The older man shook himself. "Right, come on," he grabbed Mike's hand and brought him back, again picking him up to sit on the stack of books. This time, Jessica didn't even comment, but did glance up in their direction.
In the interests of staying quiet throughout the remainder of the meeting, Harvey decided to pass another note.
That was the last time, kid - no more needing to go out. You won't die of hunger if you're hungry and there's no way you'll need to go to the bathroom again yet. You're. Staying. Here.
It's not my fault! Anyway, Donna usually has everything ready; kinda like how she runs your life.
She doesn't run my life.
Does too!
I am not getting into a childish argument with you. But for the record, she doesn't run my life.
Does too! What about those times she's had to remind you to do something? Like see a client, or pick up your dry cleaning, or... or... or to feed me.
She's my assistant, it's her JOB to remind me to see a client, and she gets paid extra for reminding me to pick up my dry cleaning. And I can't remember her ever telling me to feed you.
The other day! She did! She said not to forget about me when you go home, because she doesn't like making meetings to find new associates - so you have to feed me if you don't want me to die.
In the time it took you to write that, I had remembered. And I don't care. Let me finish my meeting.
I don't think you know how boring drawing with crayons can be :(
Pushing the paper at Harvey's elbow multiple times and not getting a reply, he looked down at the page, feeling whole heartedly dejected. He pouted and laid his arms on the table, crossing them and placing his head on top to rest. He let out a small puff of air to showcase his boredom, hoping Harvey would take notice. He was well and truly bored. He didn't know how long this meeting would last, and was starting to get tired. He glanced up at Harvey, who seemed to be engrossed in what Jessica had to say.
He was actually really tired now... He felt tears pricking in his eyes as he felt completely frustrated with his situation. He huffed again and brushed his eyes with one hand, sitting back and drumming his small heels into the books he was sat on.
A piece of paper was shoved in his direction.
Stop with the melodramticism, kid - this meeting is going to end in about a minute. Okay? Just sit there and don't speak.
I'm bored, Harvey! I'm bored, and I'm tired and I feel like I'm about scream and I don't know why, so don't tell me to stop with the drama, Harvey, because any minute now, I...
Harvey had been watching the little hand scrawl over the page as he wrote a reply, but suddenly a hand reached out from behind them and took the crayon that Mike was writing with. They both looked up to see Louis - apparently the meeting had just that second finished and everyone was packing up to go - who smiled at them before snapping the crayon in two.
Harvey had no idea what was going on, and apparently Jessica had been watching, because she stood up, her hands on her hips, about to ask the same as Harvey, when:
"Why'd you do that?" Mike small voice seemed to echo through the room, as it wavered, the tears that had been threatening to spill throughout the meeting finally falling down his face. Harvey winced as Mike decided that now would be a good idea to start bawling. Even Louis looked stunned, and backed away.
All of the partners in the room were quickly filing out, not wanting to hear the wails anymore. Soon, it was just Harvey, Jessica and Louis. Seeing Jessica looking at him expectantly, Harvey grasped Mike by the armpits and raised him off his seat, standing up to keep a firmer grip on his associate. He held him slightly awkwardly at first, but was soon holding him comfortably, only wincing slightly as Mike sobbed into his suit, getting tears all over it.
"Louis, what the hell did you think that would accomplish?" Harvey asked sharply, wishing he'd left Mike on the chair so that he could kick Louis' ass.
"Jessica, every time we have a meeting you complain that Harvey doesn't listen," he quickly ratted to Jessica, ignoring Harvey rolling his eyes. "They were still writing notes to each other, and - "
"I... was ... drawing... pictures!" Mike bawled through heaving breaths, gripping his hands tightly behind Harvey's neck, who was trying to soothe the boy by rubbing his back.
"Louis, I think you need to be less paranoid," Jessica told him, pointing at the door. Louis threw the world's dirtiest look at both partner and associate before leaving. Harvey raised an eyebrow at Jessica before quickly and smoothly picking the papers up and holding them at an angle that Jessica wouldn't see, as well as still keeping a firm hold of Mike. "Harvey, if you were writing notes..."
"Jessica, give the kid a break, he was only drawing," Harvey lied smoothly. "He was bored," he was pleased that Mike's cries were tapering off now, and tried to remember what Donna had said about calming him down. "If you'll excuse us," he said to her, nodding and quickly leaving; heading for his office.
"Sure fooled them," Mike whispered, sniffing.
"Yep, how could that have possibly been an act?" Harvey asked, rolling his eyes as he got into his office. Mike's lower lip trembled again, as tears still clung to his eyelashes. "Alright, alright - I'm sorry, kid - dammit what would Donna do?" He asked, half to himself.
"Harvey!" The man in question jumped slightly and looked down to Mike, who was holding out his hands and trying to get down to the floor.
"What?" He asked, deciding to just let the child spill from his arms.
"Not you!" Mike replied, running out of the room and crawling under Donna's desk, only to pop up a second later clutching the toy bear that Donna had bought for him. He came back into the room, hugging it slightly. Harvey raised an eyebrow and looked at him.
"You called that thing Harvey?" He asked.
Mike nodded and yawned, clutching the teddy to him like a pillow. "He looks grumpy. Like you."
Harvey snorted. "Thanks. Look, lie down on here for a while," he picked Mike up and deposited him on the couch, covering him in the pale blue blanket that Mike had grown attached to in the few days he had been in this state. "I'm going to go talk with Louis."
He heard Mike give a small giggle, and when he looked back, he saw that his associate was curled up under the blanket, holding 'Harvey' with one hand and sucking his thumb with the other.
He waited until he was away from anyone living before he let a fond smile grace his lips.
A/N So I kind've really wish I hadn't been hit by this adorableness, because I really want to write so much more regarding wee!Mike and Harvey (And Donna, of course) and a possible Louis as the babysitter... But alas, my time has been taken up - PLEASE SOMEONE TAKE THIS OFF MY HANDS AND TURN IT INTO EPICNESS FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD TO WITNESS D: I seriously can only think of sweet toddler Mike in the office now XD So if anyone fancies themselves a writer; please go forth and make an amazing, cute story involving it ;)
Also: I really wish you'd either logged in or made an account (Whichever) but to the person who called themselves cindaf*ckinrella - thank you for the amazing graphic, I don't know if I'm supposed to be able to read the small post-its at the bottom; if I am then I need a bigger view or something :P But to everyone else: Behold the amazingness (Delete spaces):
http:/ 28 . media .tumblr . com/tumblr_lqsxq2Ya3s1qdeh74o1_500 . jpg
