Had to leave. Didn't want to wake you, thought you needed the rest.
I'll be by tomorrow (or today, depends on when you see this).
Call me when you need anything? Or if anything happens?
I love you – Harvey.
Donna couldn't deny the twinge of disappointment when she woke up without Harvey, but his note made her smile a little. She tries to reach for her phone to check in with him, but pain tears through her when she props herself up. A soft whimper escapes her and she sinks back into the pillows. With eyes tightly shut she breathes through, making sure to keep her breaths shallow, afraid of hurting herself any more. Just as the pain fades a little, she hears the door open and she lift her eyelids again.
"Hey," Mike tried to slip in silently, but seeing as Donna opened her eyes, that failed. Now he smiles carefully at her while taking in her pale complexion and tired eyes. She still doesn't look good – maybe she looks even worse than the day before, but he doesn't comment on it as he sinks down in the chair next to her bed. She looks at him and lifts one eyebrow, "shouldn't you be at the firm?"
"It's Saturday," Mike looks at Donna innocently, "don't you think I deserve the weekend off?" His comment makes her chuckle softly, but after just a second the tight lines reappear. "No but seriously, Mike, you should be working… You have court on Monday." He reaches for her hand and opens his mouth, but she interrupts him before he gets a chance, "and don't say I'm more important, Harvey gets me enough of that and I don't buy it."
Mike can't help but smile at her words, "glad you're back to knowing what people think before they know themselves." He softly squeezes her hand, "I needed Harvey to finish something before our first meeting today, so he couldn't come in. Rach is having a breakfast meeting with a friend who might have some inside info. And Harvey looked like he would physically fight me if I didn't get my ass in here and checked up on you." He sees a smile on her face but something else in her eyes. He frowns lightly, "and I don't mind being there," he adds, "we have all been so worried, I'm glad to see you and spend some time with you."
Donna softens at Mike's comment. She's still not a fan of everybody worrying about her, but she is able to sense the honesty and good intentions behind his words, so she smiles at him lightly. Then she redirects the conversation towards the case itself. Mike hesitates, but starts telling her about quickly. She is genuinely interested, as a friend, as the COO of the firm and because she knows the progress of the case will influence Harvey's already unstable mental state.
Mike sits with Donna for almost an hour before she sends him away. He wouldn't have minded staying longer, but he's also glad to get back to the firm because she was right; they have court in two days and there is a lot of work left to be done. She smiles at him, but when he's at the door she has already sunk back in bed and her eyes are closed again. He looks at her for a second – a worried frown appearing on his face – before he shuts the door as quietly as he can.
Donna doesn't even hear the door anymore; she has already drifted back to sleep. The next thing she knows is the legs of the chair next to her bed scraping over the floor as someone moves it. With a tired sigh she opens her eyes again, finding Rachel sitting next to her bed. "Hey," she swallows, her throat feeling weirdly dry, "I thought you had a meeting."
Rachel nods, "yeah, this morning… But it's almost two now." She answers, looking at Donna with a concerned frown on her forehead. The redhead is a little less pale than the day before, but Rachel is quite certain her rosy cheeks do not imply her getting better but instead her fever rising. That observation, paired with the exhaustion and confusion on Donna's face make Rachels test tighten a little, the fear of two nights ago still etched in her body.
"Are you okay?" Rachel asks, before backtracking on her words, "well, you're clearly not okay. But… How are you? You don't look so good." Donna musters a smile and then takes a few moments to wake up a little more, "I've seen you look better too," she quips, "you seem tired." Rachel opens her mouth to protest and Donna almost thinks she got away with the distraction, but then her friend fixes her with a stern glare, "this isn't about me. You're in the hospital." She deadpans.
"I'm exhausted," Donna admits. It's true, although it's not the full truth; she doesn't say a word about the pain and the nausea that have reappeared, the feverish chills running over her spine or her aching limbs. Rachel places a hand on her forearm and gives a soft squeeze, "you've been through a lot," she remarks with worried eyes, "it's not weird that you're tired. Just give in to it." Donna nods, but instead of allowing her eyes to close, she keeps her attention on her friend, "I will," she promises, "but not before you tell me how you're doing."
Rachel can't help but smile at the question – it's so Donna to worry about others, even when she's in the hospital herself. They lightly chat for a while and Rachels concern slowly fades a little; Donna is warmly interested, manages the occasional sharp and witty comeback and seems to see right through Rachel when she downplays her tiredness and concern. However, Donna also seems to tire quickly and after not too long, Rachel decides it's been enough. "I'll let you rest now," she smiles. Donna wants to protest, her mouth already opened when Rachel cuts her off, "no," she shakes her head, "just get better. Then we can have a girl's night soon." A tired smile creeps up on Donna's face, "deal." She agrees, as her eyes are falling shut again.
When Harvey comes in and takes the seat next to her bed, Donna doesn't even wake up. He looks at her, worry lining his face. They hadn't had much contact during the day, every time he reached out, she had been asleep. Mike and Rachel had told him she didn't seem to be getting better, but he had not wanted to believe it. Now, however, he can't deny what they said. He sighs softly when he looks at her pale face. Rachel mentioned something about looking less pale but not better and he didn't really understand, but now he can see what she meant; her cheeks are a color they normally only get when he whispers inappropriate suggestions to her at the office. It's clear her fever is rising; besides her pale complexion not being as pale anymore, her red locks are also sticking to her hot, damp skin.
Harvey sits quietly for a while. He is not planning on waking Donna, although he does wish she would awaken soon. A wish that is granted when a nurse walks in. She nods at Harvey and then proceeds to carefully wake Donna, "I'm sorry," she apologetically smiles, "I have to get your temperature again." Donna nods, but to Harvey it looks like more of an automatic response than real consent. She seems dazed, letting the nurse do her job without really responding. Her eyes travel through the room until they eventually land on him. She reaches her hand out and he grabs it, softly squeezing it while watching the nurse with narrowed eyes as she scribbles something in Donna's file and moves to exit the room. Harvey catches her eye before she closes the door and he doesn't have to ask, he can read it on her face; it's not good.
"Hey," Donna's soft voice pulls Harveys attention back to her, "you look worried." He nods, after a short pause, "I am," he admits, "you don't seem to be getting better. That worries me." She bites down on her bottom lip and lets out a soft breath, "I'm a little worried too." She entrusts him. He squeezes her hand and moves to sit on the edge of the bed. They look at each other and he can see tears forming in her eyes. "Hey, hey," he mumbles, leaning forward. He rests his right hand against her face, brushing over her cheek with his thumb, "you'll be okay. They are monitoring you closely, it'll be okay." He tries to soothe her. She manages to blink back the tears, but she doesn't seem to be reassured. For the first time since they landed in the hospital, he sees fear in her eyes.
Harvey looks at Donna, feeling utterly powerless. "It'll be okay," he murmurs again, but his voice misses the usual power and confidence. He sighs, and then squeezes himself next to her on the hospital bed. The past few days she asked him to hold her, and he hopes it can offer her some comfort now. She doesn't scoot over this time, but he suspects that her lack of motion has more to do with feeling weak than with not wanting to be held. He manages to fit just beside her, his left arm slipping underneath her shoulders. With his right hand he brushes over her cheek and he wipes some strands of hair out of her face before carefully wrapping his arm around her waist.
Donna rests her head against Harveys shoulder. She is glad that he understood what she needed. Her whole body feels so heavy. She lets herself sink against him and closes her eyes. Exhaustion is pulling at her, but she doesn't want to succumb to it again. Not after she has been sleeping all day. She feels Harveys lip brush against her temple, "just sleep, Donna," he whispers, his breath against her skin, "it's okay. I'll stay here until you sleep." He pulls her a little closer against his chest. "And I'll be back tomorrow morning before heading to the firm." He presses his lips against her temple again, "I love you. I'm with you." He soothes her, and slowly she lets herself relax.