I'm back! First of all, I'm really sorry how long it's taken to update this story (and my other unfinished ones - I'll finish them all, I promise). It's been a strange year and I've just not been in the writing frame of mind. I also can't ever publish a chapter until I'm completely happy with it, so this has taken far longer than I expected. The good news though is that I know where the story is going and I'm determined to keep writing, so for the few still interested, thank you for reading and the support! I'd also like to say a big thank you to anyone who has taken the time to leave a review. It really is appreciated and certainly helps give me an extra boost.
As it's been a while, we're in an alternative post Intent world, where Donna is still in Danbury and Harvey is determined to make a deal to get her out, involving the father of her cellmate Marie, who is wanted for multiple crimes. He's also struck a potential deal with Sean Cahill that not only would Donna get out, but have her criminal record cleared too, but for that to happen he needs to help Cahill track down the pay off they are certain Eric Woodall received for his illegal activities.
Okay, on to chapter seven. If you have time to leave a review, I'd love to hear what you think! And thank you for reading. It means the world to be a part of the Darvey fandom.
...
Chapter Seven
"Mike I'm not sure this is a good idea."
Rachel's hesitant tone caused Mike to pause mid-stride in the corridor, taking her arm gently and guiding her in to the empty conference room C.
"Rach, we've gone over this. We're not coming up with any answers on the money. We'll keep looking, but we wouldn't be doing our jobs properly if we didn't raise this with him."
Rachel sighed. Their search for where Woodall had hidden his dirty money was proving harder than either had imagined. Mike's revelation that Harvey had first-hand experience of Forstman's tactics had surprised her and although she knew they needed to raise the topic, all her instincts were telling her it wouldn't end well, not when Donna's situation was putting so much strain on Harvey.
"It might be better coming from just you. I shouldn't even know about Harvey's links to Forstman."
Mike offered her a reassuring smile. "We've both been working damn hard on this and I told you because we all need to be honest with each other right now. This isn't just about a case anymore. It's about Donna and all options need to be on the table."
With a nod of her head, she followed Mike along the corridor to Harvey's office. He was poring over documents on his desk and, from the look of him, Rachel wouldn't be surprised if he'd been there all night.
"Harvey, we need to talk to you. It's about Woodall's money."
"Where is it?" He barely looked up from what he was doing; only interested in the answer to his question.
"We don't know. We can't find any trace of it. Not yet."
Harvey's head shot up and he fixed his gaze on the two individuals in front of him. He could feel what little patience he still had draining away.
"You're not looking hard enough. It can't just disappear!"
"Harvey…"
"Damn it, Mike! Try Harder! We don't have time for this!" His voice rose as his frustration flared up.
"No, we don't Harvey, so maybe it's time to get Cahill what he wants another way."
"Meaning what?" Harvey suspected he knew exactly what Mike was alluding to, even as he asked the question.
"Sean wants Forstman. We all know that. Woodall's just the route to get there. If we can't use Woodall, then…"
"No."
The sentence was left hanging in the air and Rachel glanced quickly from Mike to Harvey. Now was the time to get out and she knew it, as the atmosphere in the room grew more charged with every moment. Yet, she also knew Mike was too stubborn to admit defeat. Still, she had to try, before the situation grew out of hand.
"Mike, we should go."
At her voice Harvey's eyes settled on her and then back to Mike.
"You told her?"
"Of course I told her. We're all on the same team here, Harvey. If you tell Sean about what happened with Marcus…"
Harvey was out of his chair at the mere mention of his brother, rounding his desk to be inches away from Mike. He should have known Mike would work out who had been involved in his own run-in with Forstman. It wasn't as if there were many candidates in his life for whom he'd be prepared to risk prosecution by keeping quiet about criminal activity.
"Enough Mike."
"He did give Marcus the money, didn't he? To make sure you kept quiet? Cahill would understand that. It's not about Marcus."
"NO. It isn't about him! And it isn't going to become about him!"
Harvey's voice grew louder and angrier with every word, as his composure started to crumble. Desperate to try and bring the room back under control, Rachel bravely spoke up again.
"Harvey, we understand that. It's just a suggestion. We're trying to help you. And Donna."
The last words were the mistake - one step too far down Harvey's short list of emotional buttons.
"I SAID NO!
STOP WASTING MY TIME AND DO YOUR DAMN JOBS!
HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU NEED TO HEAR IT?!"
Even with the office door closed, those passing in the corridor glanced in their direction, as the thin glass of the office wall seemed to shake slightly. Harvey was known to have a temper at times, but the explosive, emotional outbursts at Pearson Specter Litt were usually coming from the office of Louis Litt.
The three stood frozen in the office, before Harvey turned away, resting his hands against the surface of his desk, drawing in much needed breaths, the room blurring briefly before his eyes. If there'd been something to throw, he felt sure he would have used it.
Mike moved to speak, but Rachel caught his shoulder and shook her head. She knew this had been a mistake, but even she hadn't expected Harvey to explode quite so spectacularly. Without another word, they left, closing the door behind them.
Harvey continued to breathe slowly and deeply, closing his eyes. He felt dizzy and nauseous and reached for his shirt collar, unbuttoning the first button and loosening his tie, bowing his head forward, as he tried to regain his composure. He'd already let Donna down; he wasn't about to drag Marcus in to this mess too.
Outside the office, people went back to their business, the outburst just another incident for the office gossip circuit, which was flourishing in recent weeks, due to all the drama that was taking place within the firm's walls.
From his position directly across from Harvey's door, Louis stood in silence, taking in what he'd just seen and heard.
Harvey was starting to completely fall apart and someone needed to step in. Quickly.
Walking back to his office, he knew exactly who he needed to call.
…..
The office was quiet, so Harvey knew it must be late.
As he'd emphasised to Mike on the day he had met him, during those tedious interviews he hadn't even wanted to carry out, the firm required hard work and long hours, meaning the floors of the firm were usually filled with activity long in to the night. He and every other senior partner would worry if that ever changed. So the deafening silence surrounding his glass-walled office told him it was late without him having to check the time.
He didn't really care what time it was anymore. The hours, days and weeks had blended in to one another. There was simply the time before Donna went to prison and the time after it, although today had felt particularly exhausting, after his blow up at Mike and Rachel.
With a sigh he stood up from his chair and walked around his office. He should go home, get some sleep and get ready for the next round of the fight to get Donna home, but instead he'd been doing this for hours; sitting, pacing and thinking – thoughts about the damn Liberty Rail case and how he should have shut it down before all of this began; thoughts about her trial and what he'd done wrong; how he'd let her down so badly and thoughts about what she might be doing. Was she asleep right now? Could she sleep in there? Then there were the thoughts of Marcus and how he was unknowingly caught up in Forstman's mess; a mess that he might have to tell the SEC about.
Such thoughts and questions kept him up at night. So instead of trying to sleep, he chose to stay at the office. He'd leave when he was so tired that sleep would find him the moment his head hit the pillow, for a few hours at least.
"You should go home Harvey. It's late, even for us."
So caught up in his thoughts, he didn't even hear Louis enter the office and the sudden voice in the room startled him. With a sigh, he turned to face his friend. Their relationship may be complicated, but Harvey had always known they were friends.
"Shouldn't you be following your own wisdom, Louis?"
"I'm on my way out, but I wanted to see how you were doing."
Harvey met his gaze for a moment, before diverting his eyes to the wall, where his mother's painting offered a comforting sense of normalcy.
"I'm fine, Louis. I'm just trying to put the pieces together. Now Marie is willing to help….it needs to be watertight. No mistakes. No risk. And we need to find Woodall's money, before Cahill walks away."
Louis nodded, slowly walking further in to the room, before sitting down tentatively on the couch. He'd thought long and hard about whether he should have this conversation with Harvey, but he trusted his instincts and so here he was.
"I understand, but…..I don't think you're fine."
Harvey, who was leaning against the window ledge, glanced back at him, caught off guard by the comment.
"Louis, I don't need a pep talk, or a hug. I'm fine."
His tone was edged with the defensiveness Louis knew so well and had the circumstances been different, he may have given up. Their relationship had been strained to say the least since he'd discovered the truth about Mike and although they'd worked through most of the anger and bitterness he'd felt, those recent events still lingered in the air.
Yet, what had happened to Donna had changed their priorities and if they were all going to get through it, Louis knew someone needed to have this conversation with Harvey and he was certain he was the best person for the job.
"I saw you in the kitchen earlier today Harvey."
Harvey frowned in confusion. "I don't know what…"
"The coffee mug, Harvey."
Harvey threw his hands up in frustration. "I broke a damn mug Louis. So what?"
He was certain if Louis announced some attachment to the object, he might not be able to contain himself.
"You threw it across the room, Harvey." There was no judgment in Louis's voice. His tone remained deliberately calm and neutral, a fact Harvey found to be more irritating than if his friend had chosen to be irrationally emotional about the inanimate object in question.
"And I talked to Mike after I saw what happened in here this morning."
"Louis, you're right. It's late."
With another sigh, Louis clasped his hands together on his knees. They were both as stubborn as each other and he could feel his patience being tested.
"I know you don't want to talk to me about any of this Harvey, but at the risk of you throwing anything at me right now, you need to talk to someone and it's time you hear that."
"What are you saying?"
Louis chewed his lip, as he tried to find the right words.
"I think you should go and see Stan."
Seeing the bewildered look on his friend's face, he clarified. "Doctor Lipschitz."
Harvey's eyes went wide. Of all the things he'd expected Louis to say, he'd have never thought of that.
"Your therapist? You think I should see your therapist?!"
"Honestly Harvey, I'd rather keep the man to myself. He's a god among mere men and he's my god, but you need to talk to someone, before yelling at Mike and Rachel and using our office china as a baseball are the least of our problems."
Harvey had no idea what to say in response, so instead he walked across the room and took a seat on the couch as well. Louis glanced across at him, waiting for a reaction.
"He really helps you, doesn't he Louis?"
"You may find it hard to believe Harvey, but yes, he does."
"You think we'd have killed each other by now if you hadn't been seeing him?"
There was a playful tone to Harvey's words, which made Louis smile. "I don't need to think about it. I know I'd have killed you."
A small smile crossed Harvey's lips, but it was enough for Louis to continue.
"I know things haven't been easy between us these past few months, but none of that matters now. Donna needs us all to be a team and…and I think you need help Harvey and I know she'd think so too."
There was silence. Louis let out a breath, relieved that he'd been able to say what he'd needed to without an explosion and Harvey simply let his friend's words settle. Would it even make any difference? He was sceptical about therapy, but maybe he could at least get something to help him sleep.
"You're his client Louis. I'm not sure he'd be comfortable with the idea."
The fact the suggestion hadn't been completely shot down was the best Louis could hope for.
"He's fine with it, provided we both are."
"You've spoken to him?" There was a slight edge to Harvey's tone, so Louis was quick to clarify.
"I said I might be passing on his number, which I am." With that, he placed a business card on the coffee table. Harvey simply nodded.
There didn't seem to be much more he could say that night, so with a final concerned look at the man next to him, Louis stood up.
"Goodnight Harvey. I'll see you tomorrow."
He'd just taken a step out of the door, when the quiet response came.
"Night Louis."
Louis hesitated for a moment, wondering if he should stay and try to get Harvey to talk to him, but he knew it wasn't what he needed. What he needed was to call the number on the card in front of him. So, with a final quick nod, Louis disappeared down the corridor.
…
"Why don't you sit down Harvey."
Harvey's eyes moved around the room, taking in the decor of this unfamiliar space. It didn't have the clinical feel he'd been expecting. He instead found himself in what could be someone's living room. He could picture Louis in here and the thought made him shake his head a little, the surreal nature of the moment coming over him. He was certain he'd never felt quite so out of his element as he did taking a seat on Dr Lipschtiz's couch. Shifting in his seat to try and feel more comfortable, he met the doctor's calm and frighteningly expression-free face. Harvey prided himself on his ability to read people, but so far he found Lipschitz to be a mystery.
"It's good to meet you, Harvey."
"Honestly I don't know what I'm dong here."
The doctor tilted his head slightly, considering the statement and Harvey understood he wasn't the only one trying to read someone.
"You don't think it would be helpful to you?"
"I…..It's not that…. I…"
His words trailed off, the end of the thought deserting him, as he let out an exhausted sigh.
"You're here. That's a start."
With a small shrug, Harvey leaned back in to the couch.
"Is this where people start pouring out their problems?"
Dr. Lipschitz smiled. "I'm here to listen to whatever you would like to talk about, Harvey."
"Talking won't change things."
"What things?"
It seemed clear to him that there were quite a few things that the man opposite him needed to address, but he also knew from his sessions with Louis that one recent event in particular had affected both him and his colleagues, no one more than Harvey Specter.
"Louis must have covered it all by now."
"We're not here to talk about Louis, Harvey. I'd like to hear how you're feeling."
A quiet ironic chuckle left Harvey's lips.
"How I'm feeing? Like shit."
Dr. Lipschitz remained infuriatingly quiet, his expression neutral and his posture relaxed. Harvey closed his eyes, before dipping his head, to avoid meeting the other man's gaze.
"It's what I deserve."
The statement was barely above a whisper. Dr. Lipschitz frowned at the declaration. He'd never met Harvey before, only hearing about him through his sessions with Louis and although he'd never judge anyone through the prism of another's viewpoint, Harvey's demeanour took him by surprise. This was a man who clearly carried a great deal of emotional history on his shoulders.
"What do you believe you deserve, Harvey?"
"To lose her."
This time it was a whisper, causing Dr. Lipschitz to lean forward slightly in his seat to catch it and although he had a good idea who was being referred to from what Louis had recently been so upset about, his years of experience told him that for Harvey it was likely not that simple; the response carried a depth to it that seemed weighted over years, rather than weeks. Yet, for the moment, he chose to focus on the immediate issue.
"You mean Donna?"
Harvey looked up at her name, but didn't speak, simply giving a small nod.
"And you think her being in prison is your fault?"
"It IS my fault!"
The raised tone came out before Harvey could stop it. Leaning forward on the couch, he rested his head against his hand propped up on the arm rest, rubbing his eyes. Perhaps coming here had been a mistake. He was too tired for this. How Louis did this regularly, he had no idea.
"Why do you say that, Harvey?"
"Because I should've stopped it."
Stan Lipschitz paused before responding, trying to decide how best to approach what was clearly much more complicated than he'd initially expected.
"You represented her, didn't you?"
"Yes."
"And you gave the case your best?"
"Yes, but….."
"But what?"
"It wasn't enough. I should've found another way. I always find another way."
Interweaving his fingers atop his open notebook, Dr Lipschitz nodded, more to himself and his thoughts than to Harvey.
"Do you think Donna thinks you didn't do enough for her?"
The question took Harvey by surprise. He assumed these sessions were all about the person in the room. Being asked to think about Donna thoughts seemed to come out of left field to him.
"I…No."
"Yet that's still how you feel?"
"She's never let me down. Not in 12 years. And I failed her."
"It seems that the only person who thinks that, is you Harvey. You need to forgive yourself."
"I don't know if I can."
"Because you think that means you've given up"
Harvey met the older man's gaze. He was starting to understand why Louis kept coming here. He felt calmer than he had in a long time.
"I need to get her out of there."
There was so much woven through those words, that much was clear to Dr. Lipschitz. This was about so much more than helping secure Donna's freedom. Harvey didn't just need to do it for her, he needed it desperately for himself. In that moment he knew that he had to make sure the exhausted man sitting across from him left his office with another appointment.
….
"It's getting cold up here."
Louis turned his gaze from the vast carpet of twinkling lights of the city in the direction of the voice, grateful for the company of a good friend.
"I must have been up here longer than I thought. Do you need me for something, Rachel."
"No. I just wanted to see if you're okay."
Moving forward, she came to a stop beside him, taking in the view.
"I'm fine. Just thinking. It's a good place to think."
Rachel nodded, leaning her hands against the ledge.
"Mike and I were going to go and have dinner somewhere, to have a few hours off the Woodall search and I thought it would be nice if you joined us."
Louis smiled. "Is this your way of making sure I'm eating, Rachel?"
"No. It's my way of trying to still enjoy spending time with those I care about. If the last few weeks have taught me anything, it's not to take that for granted."
Louis turned towards her, his eyes a little watery from the gesture.
"Well then, I'd like that. Thank you, Rachel."
"You're welcome, Louis."
They were silent for a few moments, letting the evening sounds of the city envelop them in their reassuring normalcy; the car horns, the sirens and the distant sounds of what seemed to Louis to be a saxophone, perhaps from a street performer nearby, hoping to capitalise on the dinner and theatre crowd.
"Have you seen Harvey?"
Rachel turned, resting her back against the roof's ledge. "Not since this afternoon. Why?"
"He must have gone straight home."
Rachel nodded.
"Mike told me you'd arranged for Harvey to see Dr. Lipschitz. That was very good of you."
He needed it," he responded with a slight shrug.
"I agree, but I know how sacred that relationship is to you Louis, so I also know sharing it with someone else is no small thing."
Louis smiled, looking upwards. "I almost didn't. Even when I was speaking on the phone to Stan to suggest it, but he needs it, whether he realises it or not. And if things don't change, one of us might strangle him."
"One of us?"
The teasing tone of Rachel's question made him smile again.
"Fine. Me."
"Well, it was kind of you."
With a nod, he turned back towards the rooftop's doorway.
"Let's go. Thinking about food has made me hungry."
Pushing herself forward, Rachel followed him towards the door that led back inside the building.
"Stan better not like him more than me," he muttered.
Unsure if it was a comment for her, or himself, Rachel simply smiled, but said nothing.
…..
"It's hard to imagine not having to worry about being safe. It's all I've known for years. Do you really think it's possible, Donna?"
Donna looked across the small cell at Marie. This young woman had been through so much and the last thing she wanted to do was lift her hopes too much. The truth was, there were still many pieces of the plan up in the air. Getting Marie on board with the idea of luring her dad out of hiding so that he could be apprehended was only the beginning. They still needed a guaranteed way to protect her mother, who would ultimately face the most risk and Marie too once she completed her sentence. If there was even the slightest chance they could be harmed, then Donna wouldn't even consider it. Finding a solution was the priority and her and Marie had been talking long after dinner about her father, his contacts, his motivations and anything else that could help give them even a spark of an idea. Being able to read people was one of Donna's greatest skills and it seemed the best way she could try and help from Danbury. She knew her friends were working tirelessly at the firm and she was determined to play her part. Yet, despite wanting to be positive, she knew she still needed to be realistic in her answer to Marie.
"I hope it's possible Marie. You and your Mom deserve better."
"It must be nice to have so many people who care about you enough to fight for you the way your friends are doing."
Donna smiled, thinking of them all in that moment, picturing what they were all doing.
"It is. We're family."
"I hope I get to meet them one day."
"I'm sure you will."
If this plan didn't work, she'd get to meet them while Donna remained in this very space, with a new woman in the bed across from her; a stranger she'd have to learn to trust. The idea made her shiver and she did her best to push it out of her mind.
"Who do you miss most?"
The question took Donna by surprise. She rarely discussed the self-made family she'd created with other people outside of their bubble. It made her realise how she'd lost touch with too many people over the last few years, especially those from her theatre days and she made a promise to herself to change that once this nightmare was over. Whenever that would be.
"I don't know Marie. They are all important to me in different ways."
There was a quiet chuckle in response.
"No one comes to mind first? I don't think I believe you Donna!"
They both knew who Marie was referring to, but neither one said his name aloud. Had she really reached the stage where even people who barely knew her and had never even met Harvey, could sense the complexities of their relationship?
"Your friend Harvey will make this work, Donna. Just from the way you talk about him, I know he won't give up until he gets you out of here."
Donna didn't reply. She'd always had faith in Harvey and she still did, but that didn't change how scared she felt and not just for herself. If she had to spend years here, she'd eventually adjust; she wasn't so sure the same could be said for Harvey.
The clatter of plastic chairs and raised voices from the communal area outside of their cell abruptly interrupted their conversation, with Donna getting up to stand just within their doorway.
"What's going on out there?"
In her short time at Danbury, she'd come to notice that the time just before the cells were locked down for the night could be a time when simmering tensions might explode, whether a misunderstanding in the lunch hall earlier, or a more deep rooted grudge; sometimes frustrations were vented just before the day ended and she'd learnt to stay as unnoticed as humanly possible. Looking out across the open space ahead of her, Donna saw that it was a new girl causing a scene, kicking chairs across the room and shouting in no obvious direction. At least she wasn't the new face anymore, she thought to herself.
"Some people come in here and think they can become the big scary bitch they've watched on some prison series. She'll get a dose of reality soon. They always do."
Marie sounded bored, as if she'd witnessed similar displays by many women over the years.
"You need someone to shut you up, little girl?"
"And here we go," sighed Marie, lying down on her bed and closing her eyes, completely uninterested in what was happening outside the room, while Donna felt her chest tighten.
The voice came from the same woman who'd unnerved Donna not long after her arrival, who'd offered to arrange a "welcome" for her. She'd since learnt that she was Jamie Daniels and Donna had so far successfully avoided any further encounters with her which, in their relatively small block, was something she was quite proud of. Getting on the wrong side of a crime family's daughter was not on her to-do list, here or anywhere.
The newcomer turned, as if about to take things further, but the shouts for everyone to get in their cells shut things down, at least for the day.
"And there you were missing the theatre Donna. You're bound to get to see a show in here before too long."
Trying to force a smile to her worried face, Donna sat down again on her bed. She was more than happy to wait until she was back in a Broadway audience.
…..
"This seat taken?"
Jessica glanced to her side, as Harvey slid on to the bar stool next to her. He always seemed to know when she was low and in need of a friend, without her having to ask. For someone who wasn't widely known for his caring side, she'd seen it often enough over the years to know it was there. They'd had many conversations in this very spot, whether professional frustrations, or personal struggles, including after she'd heard that her ex-husband had died and tonight she was grateful for Harvey's perceptiveness.
"Are you ever going to tell me how you know when I'm here?"
Harvey smiled, as he waved to the barman that he was in need of a drink and another for Jessica.
"Probably when you tell me how you get in to my locked apartment."
She chuckled. "Touche."
"Have you heard from him?"
There he was again with that perceptiveness. Straight to the point too.
"No."
"You could call him."
"I think that ship has sailed, Harvey."
With everything currently going on with Donna's case and subsequent efforts to secure her release, it felt an age ago that her relationship with Jeff had fallen to pieces. The irony wasn't lost on her that, just when she'd decided to share the truth with him about Louis and indeed the deeper secret about Mike, he'd learnt about some of her deceptions. She understood his anger; being made to feel a fool was not something Jeff had ever taken well, but she still didn't regret them. Burdening him with the truth about Mike remained something she felt certain he wouldn't wish to know. Some truths weren't for everyone.
"His loss."
There was nothing else he could really say. Ordering a drink, Harvey let out a sigh. God, he was so tired. Endless all nighters as a junior associate were nothing compared to how he felt now. Yet, he had to admit, seeing Dr. Lipchitz had helped. He'd been sceptical and perhaps still was to some extent, but he'd still willingly scheduled in a series of regular sessions over the coming weeks. If it helped his ability to focus on Donna, it was worth it.
"How you doing Harvey?"
He shook his head, a smile pulling at the corners of his mouth.
"I came to check on you Jessica. Don't go shifting the conversation on to me."
Reaching for her drink, she took a long sip. "Maybe I'm as bad at talking about myself as you are."
"I'd offer to talk about work instead, but right now, if it isn't Donna's case, it doesn't really matter to me."
Jessica turned her head in his direction. "I'd noticed that."
He couldn't tell from her tone if she was annoyed, sympathetic, or more likely a combination of the two. He'd been letting normal business slide and he knew that wasn't fair on the woman who'd helped him get to where he was. She deserved better.
Lowering his eyes to his glass, he sighed. "I just need some more time. I can't give up."
"I'm not asking you to Harvey. No one is, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried about you."
"I'll be fine, Jessica."
"I heard Mike and Rachel still haven't traced Woodall's pay off."
Swirling his scotch around his glass, Harvey simply nodded.
"And you're thinking about using your own history with Forstman instead?"
"Maybe."
He shook his head ruefully.
"You warned me about him and I didn't listen."
"Was that the first time you thought you knew better than me?"
He could hear the humour in her tone, so smiled. "We both know the answer to that, Jessica."
"He used you. It's what he's always done."
"I should've seen it coming."
Jessica raised an eyebrow. "Maybe today you would have, but you were young and he offered you what he knew you wanted and what you didn't think I was offering quickly enough. Most people in your shoes would've done the same, sensible or not."
Harvey let out another sigh. "I know. Doesn't mean it doesn't make me sick to know I let my brother get drawn in to my mess."
"You're right to keep him out of this, Harvey. His brother helped him start what is now a successful restaurant. He doesn't need to know any more than that. And he did nothing wrong, so there's no risk to him."
"I know."
There was a pause, both sipping their drinks, lost in their own thoughts.
"You eaten today?"
Harvey smiled, half tempted to make a Mom joke, but he decided against it. Truth be told, he'd always found Jessica's concern touching and he wasn't about to spoil it now.
"I honestly can't remember, so that's probably a no."
Jessica downed her drink in response, before turning her bar stool in his direction.
"Well then, you get to buy me dinner Harvey."
He smiled. No-one argued with Jessica Pearson.
...
That's all for this chapter, but the next one is already started and I promise it won't be as long a wait for it! Thanks again for reading and for any reviews.