For the first time in days, Harvey feels like he can breathe again. He doesn't listen to anything else Arthur says. He isn't interested in details, he just needs to know where Donna is. After Arthur gives him the address, he disconnects the call, promises to keep Mike and Rachel updated and rushes out of the station. He ignores all speed limits, grateful for the relatively quiet traffic in Seattle.

Harvey had expected an abandoned place. Maybe a warehouse. A dark building. But reality is nothing like that. The address Arthur gave him is in a residential area. Large houses with well-kept gardens and white picket fences. He is confused for a second, but police cars and an ambulance with flashing lights tell him he is definitely in a right place. He stops his car just in front of the barrier tape, not bothering to find a parking spot.

A cop stops Harvey when he wants to get closer, "sir, you can't just-" "it's okay, Matt," Arthur suddenly appears, motioning for Harvey to follow him. They round a police cruiser and then Harvey sees Donna. She's sitting in the back of an ambulance, a blanket around her shoulders, a medic sitting next to her and a cop opposite her.

Harvey doesn't even realize he's calling out for Donna until her head shoots up. She immediately stands, the blanket falling off her shoulders. His feet carry him forward, towards her. She is moving too. In the back of his mind, Harvey registers her condition. Still in that dress, the soft pink now stained with dirt and blood. A bruise on her left jaw and another on her right shoulder. A bloody graze over her right temple. Bandages around both her wrists and ankles. But the only thing Harvey really sees is her eyes. The soft hazel that he missed so much over the last few days.

Donna and Harvey crash into each other. She clings onto him as if her life depends on it, he's more careful, afraid to hurt her. "Hold me," she pleads, her voice hoarse. He immediately obeys, tightening his grip, pulling her into him. He presses her against his chest, rubbing one hand over her back and letting his fingers thread through her hair. "You're safe," he whispers, "you're safe. You're okay." He doesn't know if he's repeating the words for her benefit or for his own.

Slowly, Donna pulls away. Harvey brings one hand up to her face, gently brushing loose strands of hair behind her ear. He can barely believe she is standing in front of him again. "Donna?" Their moment is interrupted by a cop – the same one that was sitting with her in the ambulance, "you can go home now. For your statement, you could-" "-I want to finish it now," she interrupts the man, rolling back her shoulders. Harvey can feel the tension still radiating off of her, but he doesn't protest her words. She leans in and tilts her head up, pressing a soft kiss to his lips, "I'll be right back."

Harvey wants to follow her, but a hand on his arm holds him back. When he turns, he comes to face Arthur once again. "Let her," he tells Harvey, "she'll tell you when you've taken her home. When she has had a chance to let it all sink it. Give her that time." Harvey nods begrudgingly, his eyes still trained on Donna. He is not letting her out of his sight any time in the near future.

"What happens now?" Harvey asks Arthur. "We've caught the guy who was holding her," the cop explains, "and she is giving her statement, which will be enough for us to hold him. We'll question him and proceed with the case. But don't concern yourself with that, Harvey. Focus on Donna." He has seen enough victims to know that even the ones who seem as strong and held together as the redhead need a safe place and someone they trust to deal with trauma like this.

"Will she be okay?" Harvey's question is soft, almost afraid. Arthur looks at him, and follows his gaze to Donna. "She was checked out by the paramedics. She's got bruises and scrapes that will heal by themselves and a mild concussion. They wanted to take her to the hospital for a few checks, but she refused. Which is usually a good sign." Harvey nods, exhaling slowly.

Before Harvey can ask any more questions, he sees Donna pushing herself up from the stretcher. Immediately, his attention is on her. He takes a quick sprint towards her, steadying her as she steps out of the back of the ambulance. Her fingers curl around his arm. She holds on to him, even when she is standing safely next to him. He looks at her, "ready to go home?" He asks her softly. She nods, blowing out a long breath. Her shoulders drop a little, making her look even more exhausted and deflated than she already did.

With a hand on the small of Donna's back, Harvey leads her to the car. He opens the door and waits for her to ease down before rounding the car and getting behind the wheel. While he drives, his free hand rests on Donna's thigh. She is silent, leaning back with her eyes closed. But he knows she's not sleeping; every other minute she takes a deep breath that she then holds for a few seconds before releasing it again. But she doesn't say anything. He's quiet too. For days, all he wanted was to have her back, but now that she's right next to him, he doesn't know what to say to her. Nothing seems good enough.

Still in silence, Harvey helps Donna out of the car. His hand rests on her back again as they enter the apartment building and step into the elevator. As the doors open, he feels Donna shifting a little closer to him. When he looks at her, she seems even more tense than before, her eyes fixated on their front door. He realizes that the last time she was here was the time she was taken. His hand moves around her waist, resting on her hip and gently pulling her against him, "it's okay," he tries to reassure her, leaning in to press a kiss into her hair, "I changed the locks, and I'm with you. You're safe." She takes a shuddering breath, but then she steels herself and she nods.

Inside, Donna makes her way to the couch, all but collapsing on there. She buries her face in her hands, her elbows resting on her knees. Harvey slowly lowers himself next to her, his hand rubbing slow circles on her back. He almost asks if she's okay, but stops himself. Of course she's not. "What can I do?" He asks instead, "is there anything you want? Tea? Wine? Something to eat?" She just shakes her head, keeps shaking it. Her breathing is irregular, sharp gasps in and out. Harvey shifts a little closer to her, his one hand still rubbing circles, the other gently wrapping around her forearm, his thumb stroking back and forth over her soft skin.

They sit like that for a while. Harvey offering what little comfort he can while Donna tries to keep herself together. Until she can't anymore. The tears burning behind her eyes start falling, and when that happens, she breaks. Within seconds, her body is shaking with sobs. She feels Harvey wrapping his arms around her and pulling her against his chest. She buries her face against his neck, her hands trying to get a hold of something, fingers digging into the fabric of his shirt.

Harvey holds Donna close against him. He has never seen her cry like this. So desperate and deeply hurt. Before, while she was trying to finish her statement, to make it home, he saw the pain behind her eyes. But now she has entirely fallen apart. And he can't do anything but hold her. He rubs her back, presses kisses into her hair and whispers soothing words to her.

It takes a long time, but eventually Donna's sobs subside. Her breathing is still irregular, but she's silent now. Harvey slowly releases his hold on her, just a little. He leans his head back, and then gently places his index finger under her chin, lifting her head up. Her bloodshot eyes meet his, and for a moment he is at a loss for words again. He presses his lips to her forehead, lingering close, "what do you want now?" He softly asks. She shrugs lightly, involuntarily wincing in pain at even the slight movement. He lifts one hand, brushing his fingers over her cheek. "Do you want to talk? Take a shower?" He suggests softly. She shakes her head, her gaze dropping. "I'm so tired," she breathes.

Wordlessly, Harvey releases his hold on Donna and instead takes her hand. He pulls her up and leads her to the bedroom. She lowers herself on the edge of the bed, completely exhausted. He digs around in drawers, eventually taking out her favorite pair of silky pajamas. He places the set on the bed and takes a seat next to her, his hand her back once again. "Can I?" He asks, his fingers trailing over the zipper. She nods, too tired and her body aching too much to do anything anymore.

Harvey pulls down the zipper and then helps Donna out of the tight dress. On her ribs and abdomen, he sees angry red and purple bruises. Bruises that can be added to the ones on her jaw and shoulder, to the graze on her temple and the bandages around her wrists and ankles – bandages that Harvey suspects cover marks caused by the tie-wraps that bound her to the chair. His heart aches for her and uncertainty about what exactly happened makes him worry even more, but now is not the time to push her to talk. Instead, he softly kisses her forehead and helps her into her pajamas.

Donna feels tension radiating off Harvey. A mix of anger, worry and concern, if she had to guess. But she can't bring herself to comfort him, she feels too broken for that. She can't do anything. If she was feeling the tiniest bit better, she would probably be embarrassed by the way Harvey has to help her get dressed. But now the cool, silky fabric just feels like a relief on her battered body. He pulls back the covers and she sinks down, her eyes never leaving him until he lies down next to her. She curls herself into him, twisting and turning until she finds a position that doesn't hurt. Then she closes her eyes, finally safe in Harveys arms. "It's gonna be okay, I've got you. You'll be okay," Harvey softly murmurs to her, his fingers threading through her hair. It's the last thing she consciously registers before giving herself over to the heavy pull of exhaustion.

- THE END -

Soooo, that was it. (I'm sorry it took me ages to post this, just wasn't in the right mindset for writing I guess)

I miiiight do a sequel to this at some point. Donna dealing with what happened. Harvey dealing with what happened. Hurt. Anger. Things like that.

For now, I've got a few other ideas in my head that I'm trying to put on paper (or microsoft word, whatever), so keep an eye out for new stories! :)