Skyfall
Chapter Twenty-Eight
"Alright Harvey…You win. I'll go to rehab. I'll work the program and I'll do everything you tell me to do to try and get out of this in one piece." Marcus sighed as they sat together at the table and waited for Marcus's bail hearing to start the next day.
"Really? You were so gung-ho about not listening to me yesterday. What changed your mind?" Harvey asked, looking over at his younger brother.
"Staying in jail overnight gave me a lot of time to think." Marcus admitted.
"I can only imagine." He chuckled.
"Look, I need you to do me a favor and it is non-negotiable."
He scoffed. "Marcus I'm already doing you a favor by representing you in this. Now you want another Goddamm favor?"
"Yeah." Marcus nodded. "I do and I know you'll do it."
"You're right. I probably will." He sighed. "Well what is it?"
"I need someone to stay with mom and help her with the kids while I am gone because I can't guarantee she can do it by herself. Don't ask me why. I just don't think she can."
"I don't have to ask why because I already know why." He nodded.
"You know?"
"Yeah. I know about her cancer coming back. She told Rebecca and Rebecca told me." He explained.
"So then you know that she isn't in any condition to take care of the kids by herself?" Marcus pointed out.
"I agree." He nodded. "And you don't have to worry about it. We talked about it and Rebecca has agreed to stay here with mom and help out with the kids."
"No. That's not happening." Marcus interrupted. "You know I love Rebecca and I think the world of her. She is great with the kids and they love her too. But this time it has to be you. You have to be the one to stay here."
"No it doesn't." He argued, looking at his brother like he had grown a second head. "I can't stay here with mom for eight weeks. Besides, I'm not nearly as good with the kids as Rebecca is. They will be much better off with Rebecca here."
"Harvey, the kids love you just as much as they love Rebecca…but the truth is you have been missing from this family for twenty years. You've missed both the big and little moments that have made up our lives. All I'm asking is that you help me take care of my kids while I'm gone and you spend some time with mom. Who knows how long she has left. Don't you want a chance to get some closure before it's too late?"
"I don't need closure." He shrugged, knowing that wasn't entirely true. The news of his mom's cancer had definitely shaken him up. But he wasn't about to admit that while sitting in a courtroom and he definitely wasn't going to admit it to Marcus.
"Bullshit. C'mon Harvey. You're telling me finding out about mom's cancer hasn't made you reevaluate things?"
"It doesn't matter if I've reevaluated things or not." He pointed out. "You're asking me to take two months off from work."
"I'm sure if Rebecca can make that sacrifice, you can also find a way to take the time off. You are a name partner after all, just like she is."
"It doesn't work like that." He argued. It was a lame argument because he could easily take the time off instead of Rebecca.
Marcus chuckled. "Well time is running out. It's either you agree to this or I don't go to rehab and your precious plan to help me goes down the drain."
"You really are willing to sabotage yourself like that?"
"Oh yeah." Marcus smirked. "Because I know there's no real risk. You'll call my bluff."
"Dammit. Fine." He sighed, knowing he had no other choice if he wanted Marcus to agree to the plan of rehab.
"Thank you." Marcus smiled.
"You're a pain the ass, you know that, right?" Harvey chuckled.
"I'm well aware of that, yes." Marcus answered.
"All rise!" The bailiff announced.
The judge entered the courtroom and sat down. "We are here for the State of Massachusetts vs. Marcus Specter. Who do we have here today?"
"Tara Holiday for the prosecution, your Honor."
"Harvey Specter for the defense, your Honor." He looked over at the prosecutor and saw that she looked like she was barely out of law school. That could either work for or against them because she could be willing to do whatever it took to get cases settled like he did when he worked for the prosecutor's office, or she could be looking to make a name for herself by being extra hard on crime, something he also did when he worked for the prosecutor's office.
"I understand the issue at hand today is bail." The judge said, looking over his paperwork. "I'm ready to hear arguments for and against. Ms. Holiday?"
"The State doesn't have any objection to granting Mr. Specter bail, as long as he is willing to agree to the following conditions. First he hands over his driver's license. Second, he undergoes alcohol counseling and third he undergoes random blood alcohol testing while awaiting trial." She explained.
"Mr. Specter, does your client agree to those terms?" The judge asked.
"Your honor, my client is willing to agree to those terms. He is actually scheduled to start rehab later today, assuming he makes bail. He will be there for two months, so he will already be receiving alcohol counseling. I'm sure if the court mandates it, the rehab facility can facilitate random testing." He said.
"Where is this rehab?" She asked.
He looked over at Ms. Holiday. "It is right outside Boston, maybe 25 miles from here."
"Would your client be willing to wear an ankle monitor?" She asked.
He looked over at Marcus, who simply shrugged. "He would if that is going to be a requirement for bail, but to be honest he has no reason to run away. He has two young children and two restaurants in Boston. He has roots and a sense of community here. He isn't a flight risk."
"I'm going to set bail at $500,000 on the conditions that he completes his stay in rehab and gets random testing. He will surrender his drivers' license and receive random alcohol testing in rehab. As for the ankle monitor, I'm not convinced that is necessary." The judge explained, banging the gavel. "Court is adjourned."
Harvey turned to Marcus and smiled. "Let's get your bail paid so you can get to rehab."
"Is rehab your magical answer to make his problems go away?"
He turned to see Ms. Holiday at their table. "I don't think we have been properly introduced. I'm Harvey Specter."
"Tara Holiday." She stuck out her hand for him to shake. "Your client is being accused of a felony DUI and child endangerment. It's going to take a lot more than just rehab to push that all away."
"That's not what we are doing." He claimed, knowing it was a lie.
"Ok." She nodded. "I guess we'll see about that. Have a good day gentlemen."
He shook his head and turned his attention back to Marcus.
"She's going to be trouble." Marcus said.
He saw the look of concern on Marcus' face. "I can handle her."
"Ok." Marcus nodded.
He knew Marcus wasn't convinced but didn't have the time to reassure him. "I'll go pay your bail and then we can get out of here. I already have a bag packed for you in the car."
"Can I see the kids before we go?" Marcus asked.
"Are you sure that is a good idea?" He asked.
"I need to see Olivia, make sure she actually is ok. And I need to see Ethan too."
"Wouldn't that just confuse them?"
"I bet they are already pretty confused." Marcus pointed out. "Please Harvey?"
"Ok." He nodded. "We can stop there before going to rehab."
"Thank you."
Harvey stopped the car in the driveway and looked over at his brother. "We can't stay long. They are expecting us at the rehab center."
"Ok." Marcus nodded. "I just need to talk to them for a moment."
"Alright." He sighed, getting out of the car. He followed Marcus into the house. The first person they saw was their mom.
"Marcus!" Lily ran over and hugged him.
"It's ok." Marcus told her. "I'll be ok. Where are the kids?"
"In the backyard with Rebecca." Lily replied, breaking apart from him.
He didn't want to intrude on Marcus' time with his kids so he stayed behind as Marcus went towards the back door. It was awkward to be in the same room as his mom. He had done a good job of avoiding her since Rebecca told her about the cancer. But now they were standing in the same room and he couldn't avoid her anymore.
"I'm sorry for what I said the other day." He apologized softly.
"It's ok." She told him, turning her back on him and going back to doing dishes.
He wasn't sure what else to say so he stayed quiet.
Rebecca blew more bubbles, watching as Olivia ran around and tried to pop them. She looked over at the swings and saw Ethan sitting in one while he read a book.
"More!" Olivia cried out happily.
"Ok." She laughed. "Awesome! You got one!"
"I did!" Olivia cheered.
She looked over and saw Marcus so she went over and gave him a quick hug.
"I'm just here to say goodbye before I go to rehab." He whispered.
"I'll give you some time alone with them." She said as she pulled away from the hug.
"You don't have to." He shrugged. "You can stay."
"Daddy!" Olivia ran over to him.
"Oh Livvie-bug…" He used his nickname for her and gave her a gentle hug. "I'm so sorry about your arm."
"It's ok." She shrugged.
"Does it hurt much?" He asked.
"Not much anymore." She smiled. "Wanna come play bubbles with me?"
"I wish I could, but I need to talk to you and your brother." He told her, grabbing her hand and walking over to the swings. He put Olivia in the other swing. "Ethan, can you put the book down for a moment?"
"What now?" Ethan sighed.
"We need to talk."
"Fine." Ethan put down the book.
"I love you guys so much. You know that, right?" He looked at both of them.
"Yeah." Ethan nodded.
"Of course." Olivia smiled.
"I'm not going to be around for the next two months." He said. "I have to go away somewhere else to get better."
"You're sick?" Olivia asked. "You look fine."
"He's an addict, Olivia." Ethan sighed. "His sickness is addiction."
"How do you know that?" Marcus asked.
"It's called the internet." Ethan replied.
"What's an addiction?" Olivia asked.
Marcus sighed. "It's something that you are too young to know about. Both of you are. You shouldn't have to deal with this."
"But we are." Ethan pointed out.
He looked over at Ethan. "Buddy, I know I've made some mistakes lately and I'm sorry. You two have had to pay a pretty heavy price for my mistakes and that isn't fair. But you know I love you, right?"
"I know." Ethan replied, giving him a hug.
"And I love you." Marcus made room for Olivia and hugged her too.
"I love you Daddy." She told him.
"I love you too, Dad." Ethan echoed.
"I'm going to miss you but you are going to be taken care of very well by your grandma and Uncle Harvey." He kept the hug going for another moment before disentangling himself. "I have to go now."
"Can't you stay longer?" Olivia asked.
"No. But I really wish I could." He told her, kissing her forehead. Then he kissed Ethan's forehead. "I love you guys more than anything in this world. Please don't ever forget that."
He walked past her after leaving the swing set, putting his hand on her shoulder. "I know you guys will take good care of them."
"Of course." She nodded. "You just focus on taking care of yourself and don't worry. We've got things covered here."
"Thanks Rebecca." He gave her a small smile.
Harvey watched Marcus come back inside, catching Rebecca's eye for a moment. She gave him a small smile before going back over to the kids. "You ready?"
"Yeah." He nodded.
"I love you." Lily told him, giving him another hug.
"Love you too mom." He then pulled away from the hug and followed Harvey out of the house.
Rebecca went over to the swings. "Hey Olivia, why don't you go inside and get a popsicle for you and your brother?"
"Ok!" She smiled and ran inside.
"I don't want a popsicle." Ethan told her.
"It's ok if you don't." She shrugged. "I'll eat it if you truly don't want it. I just wanted to talk to you alone for a second. You ok?"
"Just great." He sighed. "Everything is great and wonderful."
"You know you're too young to be this sassy and sarcastic, right?" She grinned.
"I'm a Specter." He looked over at her and smiled. "Uncle Harvey says that is in my blood."
"Oh Lord. Well he is technically right about that." She laughed. "But seriously, are you ok?"
"I just want things to settle down." He admitted. "I'm tired of things changing all the time."
"I know." She nodded. "It sucks, doesn't it?"
"It does."
"I can't promise that things will settle down immediately. I don't know what going to happen tomorrow or the day after that. But I can promise you that no matter what happens you and your sister are always going to be loved and taken care of."
"You promise?" He asked.
"I promise." She smiled.
Without warning, he closed the gap between them and gave her a big hug. She was caught off guard at first.
"Thanks." He said softly.
"Anytime." She told him.
