Donna has noticed that Jules and Will have not been spending much time together this evening which she finds to be strikingly odd. Jules has been spending most of her time with Sean and Marcus. Donna knows she is not one to talk since she has been bridging the gap between Harvey and Josh. As the party winds down, Donna heads straight for Jules to avoid any awkward moments with either potential suitor. Donna bumps Jules with her arm as she plops down next to her on the rather divine leather couch in front of the fireplace. "Ok, I totally get why you have been parked here for the last hour." The couch envelopes you like a good leather glove and the warm of the fire is just right. "Very Goldilocks."
Jules laughs at her motivation being discovered. "I know, right."
"So you going to have a visitor tonight?" Donna lays her head on Jules' shoulder.
Jules knows Donna's not so subtle reference is to one Will Rush. She has never told Donna that Rush is like a little brother to her. She loves him as much as she could love anyone but its not "that" kind of love. "Honey, I love him but there are not enough antibiotics available on the market for me to sleep with him." Jules appears to be growing a bit tired which has removed her "filter".
As Murphy's law prevails, Will is in earshot as that statement rolls off of Jules tongue and before Donna can question its content.
Will mocks offense. "That is not fair." Jules rolls her head back to looks him in the eye.
"Really? Darling, two weekends ago, in Santa Barbara, who were you with?" She bats her eyes at him. "That's not fair."
"You not remembering… not my problem." Jules taps the couch for Will to join them. "I still love you. Flaws and all."
"Darling, the flaws are what hold the rest together. They are kind of my personal duct tape." Will plops between them. Jules knows that she is under the very watchful eye of Charles, Marcus and the brothers Cahill.
Harvey is also watching them from a distance. He is enjoying a conversation with Pepper and Offie. The conversation takes a turn towards the how do you know so and so topic. The so and so falls to Donna. Harvey tells them about the DAs office and how he met Donna. Offie regales how he met Donna through Jules. He met Donna on his wedding day... to Jules. Harvey is caught a little off guard Offie's statement. "You were married to Jules?"
Offie was expecting a little shock and awe on the delivery of that news. He is, after all, quite openly out of the closet. He tells Harvey the story of how he met Jules and how she saved his military career by marrying him. It all happened back in the days before "Don't ask, Don't tell."
Jules was an officer, a combat surgeon and in the Army, she was the perfect fit. The time apart due to deployment gave them validation in the eyes of Uncle Sam. The separations seemed natural due to being in different branches of the service. The marriage saved his Navy career. It provided explanations for a lot of things that he would not otherwise be able to explain. Harvey now understands the level of loyalty that Offie has displayed towards Jules. She gave up 7 years of her life in service to a friend, that is an incredible thing to do for someone.
While on the topic of Jules in the military, Harvey learns from Offie about the things that Jules did and saw during her tenure. Offie apparently was keeper of Jules sanity along with Donna. He still laughs at the fact that the Captain and Major that he was so jealous of... were in fact... Jules. He is a little curious why Donna would not come out and tell him that her soldier boy was her best friend.
After a short while Jules announces her departure with kisses to the men in her life which apparently is numbering enough for her to start her own soccer team. Donna decides to stay and bond with Offie and company. Charles, Marcus, the Cahills and Will all follow suit and head out a short time later.
Jules decides to enjoy the solitude. She knows that it has been a long while since Donna has been with Pepper and Offie and that conversation will go all night given the presence of Harvey. Jules starts a fire and makes herself comfortable in a chair. She is drifting off into slumber when she realizes that there is someone sitting on the ottoman in front of her.
She knows the form in front of her without a second glance. She had a feeling she was due for a visit.
Charles rises and tends to the fire for a moment before returning to the ottoman. "So Kitten, what has he done this time?"
Jules straightens up in the chair. Will has quite obviously not told his father why he is here. "I don't know."
Charles gives her a smile and brushes the hair from her eyes. "Yes you do, but I respect that you don't want to tell me. I like loyalty." He takes Jules hand into his own. "I have missed you, Kitten." He can hear a fumble at the door, Donna is arriving home. He leans down and kisses Jules. She traces his movements with her eyes as Charles turns to leave out the French Doors.
Within moments, Jules can hear Donna and Harvey enter the room. Harvey walked Donna over from the other chalet. As they join her, Jules excuses herself to bed to give them some time alone.
The pair settle into the chairs next to the fire with Donna firing the first volley. "Why did you ask Jules to vouch for you?" Harvey knew this question was coming. he just did not expect it to be the first question out of her mouth. "You knew about 20 of the people there today, anyone of whom could vouch for you... yet you went to Jules.. Why?"
"Donna, Jules was a better fit, a closer connection. You know how much I enjoy this." Harvey is attempting to be both nonchalant and non confrontational. He knows that redheaded fury is not all over the decision to ask Jules to vouch for him. It is related to the elephant in the room that starts with I and ends with you.