Chapter 12

After ten minutes of pouting Mike was bored, "Is there something to do?" he asked. Jessica had left a little bit ago so it was up to Harvey to keep the kid busy.

"Here, Donna packed you some games" Harvey said holding out the backpack.

Mike took the bag and started looking through it. Inside was his Gameboy and about ten games, a few puzzles (all a thousand pieces or more), a rubix cube, and a few books (the first three in the chronicles of Narnia series, the fourth Harry Potter book and the first five books in the 39 clues series) there was also a battle ship game and a travel guess who game. Mike pulled out the battle ship game and held it up, "Want to play?" he asked.

Harvey looked over at him, Mike looked hopeful and young sitting on the bed surrounded by toys and he couldn't help but give into the kid especially after they'd told him that he couldn't continue to hang out with his only friend so he did owe the kid. "Alright, I'll play" he agreed.

Mike's smile was a mile wide as he grabbed both the boards and brought them over. He sat down right next to Harvey and held them out to him. Harvey took one and started to set up his board but Mike kept looking over. "Mike, set up your own board" Harvey instructed. Mike opened his board and started to mimic what Harvey was doing, Harvey stopped putting his pieces on and looked over at Mike, "You're not supposed to copy me Mike" Harvey said.

"Oh" Mike said, "Well….. then…. What…" Mike started.

Harvey watched the kid, he looked genuinely confused and Harvey had to wonder, "Have you ever played battleship before?" he asked.

"No" Mike answered.

"Ah, well, the way the game works is that each of us places our five boats anywhere we want on the board. They can go horizontal or vertical but they cannot go diagonal." Mike nodded his head at this and paid complete attention, "You do not tell or show me where the boats are, once we both have our boats in place we then take turns calling out squares such as A1 you would then go to column A and check row 1. If part of one of your boats is there then you say hit and I place a red" Harvey holds up a red marker, "on the upper board on A1 and you would put a red on your boat. If it is not a hit then I put a white marker and it's your turn. We continue that way until one of us has sunk all of the others boats" Harvey stopped then and waited for Mike to either ask questions or start.

"Thanks" Mike said. He then moved over to his bed and kept his board hidden from Harvey as they both placed their boats. The game continued on from there and then a few more. In the end Mike won three games and Harvey won two.

Jessica entered the room to Harvey saying that Mike cheated and Mike laughing his head off and both of them had battle ship boards in front of them. "Looks like the two of you are having fun" she said.

Mike smiled at her, "I beat Harvey three times" he declared proudly.

"I beat you a couple times as well" Harvey said.

"A couple means two Harvey. You beat me twice I beat you three times, guess who wins" Mike said cockily with his grin still on his face.

Harvey couldn't help but smile back, "Alright smart ass, you win." Harvey gave in.

"Well I'm glad that's settled, now, it's time to head down to dinner" Jessica said.

"What?" Mike asked. He suddenly jumped up and looked around for the briefs from earlier but he couldn't find them, "Oh, no" he said.

"What's wrong?" Harvey asked.

"The briefs are gone" Mike said sorting through the mess he'd made with his 'toys'.

"Mike calm down, I took them back to Nash and Patricks earlier" Jessica said to calmly, "They were very happy with your work"

Mike stopped what he was doing and looked up at her, "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked.

"She was just trying to help" Harvey admonished.

"Sorry" Mike said to Jessica.

Jessica nodded her head then looked around the room. Harvey's bed, the desk and the middle of the room were all clean however Mike's bed and the area surrounding it were a complete mess. "Well, we'll head down to eat as soon as you" she pointed at Mike, "clean up your mess"

"Oh" Mike said. He quickly started putting the items back into the backpack. It took no more than five minutes before Mike was done and had his bed made.

"You're a lot better at this than most boys your age" Harvey said somewhat impressed. From his experience, which admittedly is next to none, teenagers weren't the neatest people and they also weren't that good at cleaning but Mike had not only put all of the items back into the bag the same as he'd found them but he'd also made the bed.

Mike shrugged, "Got used to it when I moved in with Grammy, she liked a neat home but she was too old to really do it herself so I took over for her" he explained.

Both Harvey and Jessica nodded in understanding and then let the subject drop, Mike was very protective of his grandmother and it wasn't a topic he discussed lightly. "Well, let's head down to supper" Harvey said breaking the silence.

Mike nodded and started to follow them out. "Do you want a larger portion tonight or your usual size?" Jessica asked. She had been happy that Mike had asked for more at lunch but she also figured it had something to do with the fact that they'd been out playing baseball right before. She had already let the kitchen know to give Mike more at lunch but she was uncertain if he'd be just as hungry at dinner especially since he'd been cooped up in a room all day.

Mike thought about it honestly for a moment, "There'll be a desert right?" he asked.

"Yes" Harvey answered.

"Then no. If I'm still hungry then I'll just eat a bigger desert" Mike concluded.

Harvey smiled at this, it was his kind of answer. Jessica however had a different opinion. "I don't think so. More sugar so late at night isn't healthy. I tell you what, I'll have a larger portion served and you need to eat two thirds of it at least. It is the same amount as you would get and then if you're still hungry you will have more to eat" Jessica offered.

"Fine, I still say my idea is better though" Mike said and he sulked the rest of the way to the dining room.

Harvey had to work really hard not to laugh, he was such a kid, Jessica on the other hand wasn't all that amused. She had to admit that it was a typical teenage response but still, she wanted Mike to eat more real food not junk and she wasn't about to encourage unhealthy habits.

They all sat down to eat and the meal did go well. Mike, surprisingly, ate all of the food put in front of him, which pleased Harvey and Jessica immensely. He took his antibiotic before desert came. Desert was apple pie and ice cream so that, naturally, was eaten quickly, not even crumbs were left.

Once supper was over everyone filed out and then gathered in different groups in the lobby area. Mike was debating as to whether he should go and join the associates, who at this point probably hated him seeing as how he has been kept with the senior partners for the entire trip, or if he should stay with Harvey and Jessica. If he stayed with Harvey and Jessica he would also be with the senior partners who would either expect him to stand their quietly or give him work. He eventually made up his mind and slipped away from Harvey and Jessica and made his way over to the other associates.

He stood next to the group listening to their conversations and trying to stay out of the way but he was noticed quickly. "Well Golden Boy, get tired of hanging around with big dogs or did they just get tired of hanging out with you?" Gregory asked snidely.

"Just thought I'd see what you were up to" Mike answered.

The other associates were shooting him questioning looks but Gregory and his little group had smirks plastered on their faces, "So they got sick of you? About time" Gregory said.

"And why's that?" Harvey asked coming up behind them. He hadn't noticed that Mike had wondered off until a few minutes ago and then he'd panicked slightly hoping that the kid was still in the room and hadn't gone looking for something to do that could get him into trouble. He had been releaved to see Mike with the other associates but he still didn't trust any of them and had gone over to check on how things were going. If it had been a pleasant conversation he would have just left but the tone they were using said it all even if the words had been nice, which of course they weren't.

Gregory floundered and most of the group leaned in to watch, "Mr. Specter" Gregory said politely, "Is there anything I can do for you sir?" he asked.

"No, my associate has already completed the work however if you go over to the other partners I'm sure one of them can find you something" Harvey said politely but with a dangerous gleam to his eye.

"Right, of course, I will do that immediately" Gregory said and then hurried away. The rest of the group dispersed soon after not wanting to be around the obviously annoyed senior partner.

"I can handle them on my own you know" Mike said annoyed.

"I know, but you shouldn't have to" Harvey answered.

"You stepping in like that will only make things worse in the long run" Mike said.

"We'll see" Harvey responded shrugging, "Now, why don't you head down to the game room for a little while" he suggested.

"But everyone's going to work" Mike argued.

"Mike, you've already done over two thirds of the work available, you have to leave some for the other associates. As it is they will receive one brief apiece and then all of the work will be handed out. You're free for the rest of the retreat" Harvey said.

"What?" Mike asked a little dejectedly, "But then what am I supposed to do?" he complained.

"Relax and have fun" Harvey answered. "Now, go down to the game room and have a good time" Harvey said pushing Mike slightly in the direction. Mike huffed but started walking off, "Oh and Mike" Harvey called. Mike turned to face him, "Don't take any of the games apart" Harvey said.

"Really Harvey?" Mike said rolling his eyes and then he turned and walked off.

Harvey chuckled and then joined Jessica and the other partners and waited patiently as all of the associates came by looking for work, as Harvey had predicted there was roughly one brief per associate left with only three of them receiving two. Once all of the associates had work the partners headed down to the bar.

Jessica left the bar at 9:30 to go and collect Mike. She found him in the game room alone and up against the wall with the intercom panel off and he was fiddling around with the wires. "What are you doing?" she asked.

Mike jumped, "I was just… just taking a look…" he started to answer.

Jessica put her hands on her hips and stared Mike down, "I believe Harvey told you not to take anything apart" she said.

"He said not to take the games apart, the intercom isn't a game" Mike tried. He knew it wasn't going to work but he wouldn't go down without a fight.

Jessica didn't go for it and made Mike put the intercom system back together lecturing him the entire time. When he was done she walked him back up to his room and then put him in the corner for twenty minutes. By the time he was let out Mike really wished he hadn't taken the intercom apart, the five minutes of entertainment it had offered wasn't worth the half hour plus of boredom he'd just had to suffer through.

"I'm sorry" Mike said as soon as he was let out, "I promise I won't take the intercom apart again"

"That's good however I don't want you to take anything apart unless you're given expressed permission by either Harvey or myself to do so. Understood?" Jessica ordered.

"Yes" Mike said dejectedly, he had phrased his apology purposefully but Jessica was the managing partner of a prominent law firm for a reason.

"Good, now go shower" she instructed.

Mike did as told and then let Jessica wrap his arm before getting into bed. He was too tired to argue the fact that he was being made to go to sleep hours before everyone else had to be in the hallway so the door could be locked. The day had been fun but exhausting and he dropped off to sleep quickly.