Season 8b- Pre-Thomas.
I don't live in NYC so I may have taken some creative license when it comes to shelter in place.
Our lockdown is quite different at the moment.
Amid the mergers, acquisitions and pending trials, it was easy to ignore at first. But as the news became increasingly dire and the overwhelming chatter around the water cooler became about one thing and one thing only. When the partners met later that week and voted to close the office down by the end of business that day, the offices were a ghost town by noon. Even Harvey had his desk packed up by early afternoon, taking what he needed to work from home.
She was on his mind the whole way home. Not that it was much of a change for him. Donna had been on his mind a lot lately. After spending most of the night at their best friend's wedding with her in his arms, adjusting to life without them as they settled on the other side of the country and easily acknowledging (at least to himself) that drinks after work with her, was the highlight of his day.
Harvey had stopped by Donna's office on his way home. She was on the phone hurriedly packing her own things into one of her oversized tote bags. But she knew he was there, just like she always does. Looking at each other through the glass, their smiles weak but their eye contact doesn't waver. Harvey waves at her while Donna completely forgets she's on the phone. Only jolted back to reality when he reluctantly turns away.
They both know this will be the longest time they've ever been away from each other. A week here or there over the years was the most they'd been separated but they were now entering a period of extreme uncertainty. They would both miss each other. More than they were willing to admit. So when Harvey emerged from the chaotic supermarket later that day with the last few items he thought could be useful in the coming days only to have her literally run into him. Well, it seemed like fate had intervened. As his groceries spilled across the sidewalk and she frantically picked them up, apologising profusely, Harvey realised Donna hadn't worked out that it was him.
"Donna. Donna, it's okay. It's me" he says gently, his hand covering hers. Everyone knew they were meant to be keeping their distance from each other but as they both stood up with Harvey's groceries in each of their arms, they both knew the rules didn't apply with each other.
Looking up to see the face almost as familiar as her own. "Harvey! I'm sorry I was in another world"
"I kinda get it given the situation, but what's wrong? And why are you at a market so far away from your place?" he says with interest knowing this was the closest one to Harvey's apartment but certainly not Donna's
"I may have left the whole shelter in place preparation thing a little late. This is the fourth one I've gone to since finishing work. Everywhere I go everything is cleared out, it's crazy. I guess I was just getting a bit panicky"
"The markets aren't shutting, you'll be fine," Harvey says reassuringly "Besides, I'm sure you've got enough at home to last you a few days…"
The sheepish look she gives him says otherwise and he can't help but laugh at her.
"Stop it" Donna implores playfully smacking his arm. "We work 60 hours a week- at least! You can't tell me you've got always got a house full of food"
"Normally I don't, but this week I have. Come on I'll make you dinner at my place and then I'll walk you home" he says softly with a nudge to her shoulder. Twisting her mouth around in a way that Harvey finds utterly adorable. He knows she's making up her mind and her decision is clear when she turns in the direction of Harvey's apartment.
….
With the quiet chatter of the news in the background, Donna sits on a barstool at the kitchen bench quietly running a finger around the top of her wine glass and Harvey can't help but think of how right it felt to see her there, work attire completely absent while he pottered around the kitchen finishing up dinner.
Looking into his pantry, Donna shakes her head, "I can't believe how organised you are".
He continues cooking at the stove, the smile on his face emanating through his voice. "It's like you're constantly surprised that I'm a functioning adult, Donna. Could I maybe get a little credit from the woman that had her head in the sand for a week?"
"It just seemed to creep up on us so quickly. Like all of a sudden it was here and everything changed so quickly". Harvey could tell Donna was trying to appear calm but she was definitely unnerved about it all but Harvey knew better, knew her better.
Attempting to lift her spirits, Harvey turns to her and gives a reassuring grin.
"Hey, we'll be fine. All we have to do is hang out at home for a few weeks. We've got what? 12 years of vacations to catch up on? Think of it as putting a dint in that"
Hopping off her seat to help set the table, Donna walks around to helps herself to knives and forks. Stopping next to Harvey, she leans against the bench next to him as he plates up their food.
"Staring at my reflection and my own four walls is hardly the way I wanted to put a dent in my vacation time"
Making their way to the dining table they continue the friendly banter all through dinner.
With the plates cleared and Donna sufficiently impressed with Harvey's culinary skills, she pauses to look at Harvey.
"What?" he asks when he catches her inquisitive stare.
The playful smile that appears on her face automatically has Havey smiling back "Nothin', just… Thank you… for tonight. Dinner, it was, really… sweet".
"Anytime," he says with a warmth that is reserved only for her.
Staring down at her feet, Donna pushes some hair behind her ear before biting the bullet, knowing their night couldn't last forever.
"I guess I should get going"
As he shut the door of the dishwasher, Harvey closes the gap between them and attempts to mask his disappointment. Not sure what he was expecting to happen, he knew Donna had to leave at some point.
"Oh… sure, okay. Just let me get my jacket -"
Donna's smile lights up her face, she looks at him with a tilt of her head before replying softly "You don't need to walk me home Harvey, I'll be fine".
Rebuffing her immediately, Harvey is determined to see her home safe. "Donna it's nearly 10 o'clock there's no way I'm letting you walk -"
A loud knock of the door interrupts their discussion. Certainly not expecting anyone at this time of night, Harvey walks past Donna, his hand brushing against hers. Opening the door, Harvey is surprised to see two police officers.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your evening sir, we're doing spot checks at the moment. Just making sure that people are staying in their homes and enquiring how many people are staying in each residence. That way if or when we do another spot check, we know how many people to expect"
While the police officer had been speaking to Harvey, Donna had walked down the hallway, standing just behind him.
"Is it just you and your wife?" one officer asks, gesturing to Donna, not realising the assumption certainly wasn't the first but it never failed to make Harvey's heart somersault.
The question seemed to echo down the hall but as the offices waited for the answer, Donna and Harvey looked at each other, silently wondering if the other was just as reluctant to separate. They'd had such a nice evening that neither was looking forward to it ending. Who knows when they would see each other next? What if one of them got sick? How would they know? Would they be allowed to visit them? The questions that began to circle their minds before they were interrupted.
"Sir? Ma'am?" the officer prompted.
Without a word their hands joined. Clearing his throat, Harvey replies "Yeah it's just us" as Donna thanks the police officers leaving Harvey to close the door behind them. As they looked at each other, smiling bashfully and slightly stunned at what they had silently agreed to do.
"It's probably not such a bad idea, right? Harvey questions as he rubs a hand through his hair.
Crossing her arms, Donna looks down to the empty living room before smiling back at Harvey. "No, it makes sense… I guess. If you're gonna go stir crazy it may as well be with a friend, right?
The smile Harvey sends her way stirs up the butterflies in a way that Donna once again refuses to acknowledge.