Touchstone
Author's Note: Inspired by a BTS photograph of Gabriel and his son on the set of Suits, where it looks like Harvey holding their son at court and my own headcanon.
twitter CarolPrince82 / status / 1381180820598128644
Written for Cassie, Sanjukta, and Nathalie who requested it, because I love them all to bits.
Humungous thanks once again to Nathalie and Nannalyn who are my sisters from another mother, my best friends and my excellent betas. This couldn't happen without you.
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It's been a hell of a week and Harvey feels drawn out and tired. He sneaks a glance at Rachel in the chair next to him and she looks just as exhausted as he does.
"This shouldn't be this hard," he says, running his hand angrily through his hair.
Rachel's weary gaze meets his, and she shakes her head, "There isn't a shred of doubt that they cut corners on their waste disposal practices and these parents - our clients - are paying the price. Every day. We can't let them win this, Harvey."
"I know," he growls. "I know, Rachel."
She flinches, and he sighs.
"I'm sorry," he says. "It's been a long day."
She looks over his shoulder and Harvey follows her gaze to the table across the aisle from him, and he feels his stomach clench in anger at the smug countenance of the defense counsel.
Bastards, he thinks, and he feels his jaw tighten as the lawyer's eye catches his. She reminds him a lot of Anita Gibbs, with her straight blonde hair and a cold blue gaze that takes him back to a time when he'd felt a similar sense of despair - despair that had led him to Donna's doorstep.
The night is burned into his memory. The realization of what he was about to do dawning on her beautiful face. Her eyes welling up as she pleaded with him to not fall on his sword. The break in her voice when she told him she didn't want to lose him. And finally, her conviction that she had faith in him. In them.
He needs that again, he realizes. He needs to hear her voice.
He needs her.
He stands up and pulls out his phone.
Rachel looks at him knowingly and nods, "I'll be here."
He turns around, his fingers intent on calling his wife, before he stops dead in his tracks. He feels his heart leap in his chest as his gaze lands on a sight that makes him feel like he's swallowed a mouthful of rich, vanilla-flavored coffee.
In the last row of benches is Donna, her face painted with a soft, knowing smile and then her eyes slide down to the little person on her lap. And for the first time that day, Harvey feels the weight on his shoulders ease when he sees his son's toothy grin.
With light blonde hair much like his own was as a child and hazel eyes like his mother's, Liam Michael Specter bounces excitedly in his mother's arms and lets out an squeal when he sees his father.
From the corner of his eye, Harvey sees Rachel turn in her seat and let out a soft laugh. "Of course," he hears her say, before she waves at Donna, who returns it before looking at him again.
Harvey moves quickly then, reaching his family in a few steps.
"Hi," he says, gratitude and surprise making his voice sound breathy.
"Da," the boy lets out, his arms stretched out towards his father, and Harvey obliges, pulling him out of his mother's arms into his own. He bends his head, burying his nose into his son's downy hair. The soft smell washes over him, settling his roiling insides.
He takes another deep breath, and then raises his head to look over his son at his wife, who's watching them quietly.
Donna scooches over in her seat and Harvey settles next to her, setting their son on his lap, before reaching his free arm to pull his wife closer to him. He presses a short but firm kiss on her lips, even as Donna briefly swipes her tongue against his before they part.
"What are you doing here?" he asks, as Liam settles into his chest and Harvey sets his palm on his back, securing him in his embrace.
Donna shrugs, a sly smile lifting her lips, as her own hand slips into the crook of his arm, "I was getting antsy back at home, and someone just wasn't willing to go down for his afternoon nap because he's so used to his daddy doing that during his lunch hour. And you know, babies need routine, Harvey. And see, it's working already."
Harvey looks down and sees Liam had indeed begun to doze, his small fist curled into his father's vest. He lets out a soft chuckle, and looks back at Donna. "Touché. But that's not why you're here."
"It's not?" Donna's eyes go wide. "Why else would I be here?"
"Donna."
She smiles gently, "Harvey, this case has been eating at you for the past few days."
He looks at her, and she looks steadily back at him.
"It was going so well."
"What happened?"
"All it took was for one of those cases - which turned out to be a milder and curable form of the disease which is killing the rest of the kids - for these assholes to cast reasonable doubt on our testimony. And suddenly, the jury seems to have checked their collective humanity at the door."
He pauses and looks down at his son, now slumbering deeply, a bubble of drool slipping out of his open mouth onto Harvey's vest. Harvey reaches his thumb to gently swipe at it.
"They're children, Donna," he says, wearily. "Children who will need constant medical care for the rest of their lives because a bunch of miserly bureaucrats decided that poisoning the ground water with their sludge was no big deal. And somehow, they're making the case that the parents are the negligent ones."
Donna nods, her own frustration evident in the way her grip tightens on his arm.
"I know," she says, as she watches two more lawyers - junior associates from the look of them - join the lead counsel in front. She rolls her eyes at the look of suppressed glee one of them seems to have.
The assholes really think they've got this in the bag, she thinks, and lets out a snort. Not if she had anything to do with it.
Harvey looks at her questioningly and she returns her attention to her husband. "I know," she says, again. "But, this isn't your first time dealing with a case like this."
He frowns, "It is. None of the previous cases here have been of this mag…"
Donna cuts him off, "I'm not talking about Seattle."
And it dawns on him, "My first case against Tanner."
She smiles. "Yes. You kicked his butt and you won. But that wasn't my point."
"No?"
"No," she says. "Things are different now."
"Are you saying I might not win?" he asks, a sliver of fear coating his voice.
She glares at him.
"Sorry."
"Apology accepted. I said things are different now," she repeats.
Harvey stares uncomprehendingly at his wife for a while, before he feels Liam stir slightly against him, a small whimper escaping him.
And then it hits him.
Things are different now.
He's a father.
He's a parent.
He knows exactly how he'd feel if Liam were one of those children.
He's certain that most of the people on the jury are parents.
He looks at his wife, who simply smiles and settles back in her seat.
You know what to do.
It's unspoken, but he hears it. Loud and clear.
"I love you," he says, hoarsely.
"Love you, too," she whispers. "Go get 'em, Harvey."
He stands up with Liam in his arms and walks towards the side of the court, his eyes still fixed on the people in front.
A few years ago, he'd won a similar case against Tanner - but that had been on a technicality based on highly calculated risk that could have backfired heavily on him. It had paid off, because he played the man, not the odds. But the stakes weren't personal then.
They are now.
"Liam," he says, even though he knows his son won't hear him. "You do know Daddy'd do anything - anything - to keep you safe and happy, right?"
Liam lets out a light snuffle and Harvey smiles.
"Good," he whispers. "Now, let's see how many people in that jury are willing to do the same for their children, OK? And then, let's wipe the smug smiles off those silly faces in front, shall we?"
Another snuffle answers him, and Harvey's face breaks into a full grin and he catches Rachel looking at him from across the room, and her face transforms into one of hope when she sees him. His gaze shifts to the lawyers in front and he sees the smile slip off the face of one of the associates who'd been watching him.
A light clicking noise draws his attention and he sees Donna lowering her phone and placing it on the seat next to her. He looks questioningly at her, but she merely smiles beatifically and continues to watch them.
He doesn't think much of it until later that night when they're out with Mike and Rachel to celebrate their victory. That's when Donna whips her phone out and shows it to him.
It's a photograph from earlier that afternoon, of him with Liam in his arms, staring down the opposition with his trademark grin.
"I just wanted to capture the moment," she says, softly. "The next time you feel hopeless, maybe this will help."
Mike and Rachel clamor to sneak a look at it, as well, but Harvey ignores them and smiles at his wife.
"It will."
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Author's notes: Hope you liked this. Please let me know what you thought.
xoxo, Caroline