DA's Office - Pt V
A ruptured ovarian cyst.
Those are the words that Donna wakes up to, her mind groggy and disoriented as the doctor leaves. She remembers feeling a pain whilst on her way into work—then nothing. Just a giant gaping black hole where her memory should be, and she definitely doesn't recall Harvey being present. But he's here now, his eyes tired and his expression wound with concern, and she fights through her confusion. "What time is it?"
He thinks it's an odd question to ask, but he breathes out slowly, glancing at his watch. "Just gone two." The surgical procedure was relatively quick, and she was in and out within a couple of hours, but no matter how many people threw the term 'routine' at him, this is the first time he's relaxed since finding out she listed him as one of her emergency contacts.
"You have court today." Her brows pinch with worry. His trial isn't until four, but he should be in the office preparing, and she pulls herself up with a wince. "What are you doing here?"
He wants to ask her the same thing. Not that he isn't beyond relieved he got the call from the hospital. True, he was more frustrated than worried this morning, annoyed she was leaving him high and dry, but when he found out the reason, he told Cameron where he was going, grabbed his coat and left. The District Attorney can be harsh, but he isn't heartless. Although Harvey had refrained from telling him who he was going to see in the hospital. Donna's not family, but he is down as a legal representative on her papers, and he's curious about the reason, answering her question honestly. "The nurse called me… I'm one of your emergency contacts."
She blinks at him, confused, until a memory of updating her details surfaces. She'd added him because it made sense. If something were ever to happen, he would be the first person to notice her absence. They start early together, put in ten hour days, and he lives nearby, unlike her parents. She never meant to imply anything, and attempts to put his mind at ease. "I just figured, we work closely together, you're my boss… you should know if I wasn't in the office for any reason."
The word 'boss' stings when it shouldn't. She's right after all. They do put in time above and beyond, and he was annoyed when he couldn't locate her, making him feel like an even bigger asshole now.
"I can change—"
"No." He clasps his hands together with a quick shake of his head. "I'm glad… not that you're here obviously." He lifts his gaze, taking in her pale features. "How are you feeling, anyway?"
"Like I got hit by a bus." She relaxes back into the pillows with a soft smile. "You should go, Harvey... I'll be fine."
He nods, but is hesitant to leave. A ruptured ovarian cyst had sounded terrifying when he first heard the diagnosis, and he doesn't want to steer them back into awkward territory, but he can see she's still half out of it. She glazed over the doctor's explanation more than once, and he fumbles with his reassurance. "You will be. I mean... I checked a couple of things while I was waiting, there's nothing to worry about."
The assurance is sweet, although she knows there's a low chance of complications. The problem is marked as heredity in her family history, but the fact he's here, that he was worried enough to look it up, tugs inside her chest. "You're not supposed to use your phone in the waiting room," she teases, not wanting to make him more uncomfortable.
"What are they going to do—" he finds her gaze with a soft smirk "—sue me?"
"They could try." Her grin widens, both of them knowing he'd wipe the floor with anyone who dared take him on.
"Speaking of court…" She reminds him, motioning toward the door.
He sighs, fixing her with a more serious look. "You sure you're going to be okay?" There are few people he'd skip trial for, but she's one of them, and the fact she's adamant he go kick some ass is just one of the reasons.
"Text me when you win." She winks, already feeling the thrawl exhaustion creeping back in.
He pushes himself up, hit by the sudden urge to comfort her in some way, brush her hand or his lips against her forward—prove to himself that she's not going anywhere, but he swallows the need. He's here as her boss, also her friend, but that's not why the hospital called, and leaves her to get some rest, stopping by the nurses' station on his way out.
His has his father, Jessica and Marcus listed as his three emergency contacts, but he updates the details, switching his brother for Donna, because she's right—if something were to happen to him, she's the first person he'd want to know, as his secretary, a friend… but also the person he relies on the most. He trusts her more than anyone, and he signs the dotted line, pulling out his phone.
As soon as he's free of the large emergency doors, he messages her to organize some flowers for his favorite secretary.
...
Hours later, when Harvey appears back in her room with a handful of trashy magazines, Donna doesn't question why he's there and not out celebrating his win.
Instead, she lets the details of how he won wash over her.
When her pen flew over her medical details a few weeks ago, she didn't expect he would drop everything, but she's grateful he's here. And she drifts off, letting the sound of his voice lull her into a peaceful sleep.