Hi Folks! Finally, this chapter is the fight between Travis and Harvey. There seems to be a lot more on the line than just Harvey's vendetta against Travis. I hope I have written it so the reader can understand. Thomas will be a little different than he was in the series as we want to make sure that eventually we all have the outcome we want. Let me know what you think. I would love to hear from you. Thanks for sticking with me. Love - Carebearmaxi.
The Boxer Guy
Chapter 16
Donna scooted along the bleachers in the gym area where the boxing ring stood. She was amazed at the amount of spectators for this amateur match. If Donna really thought about it, the match was more like a properly organized street fight between two rivals.
"Donna!" Samantha called upon seeing her. She waved and pointed down to a place next to her.
Donna signaled back to Samantha letting her know that she saw her and that she was on her way. Donna would now have to maneuver her way through even more people. Apparently, Samantha had arrived at the gym before her. She probably had accompanied Travis back to the dressing room before finding a seat out here. Donna laboriously fought her way through the expectant crowd. Finally at the front row of the small square metal bleachers at the row where Samantha pointed, Donna scooted down the row and with a heavy exhale plopped herself next to Samantha.
"I see you weren't successful in persuading Harvey not to fight Travis."
Donna smiled and said, "Well, I could say the same for you about Travis."
"They're men. They think we women don't know that they are ruled by testosterone," Samantha laughed.
Donna caught Harvey's eye as he proceeded to his corner which was the one closest to her. He winked at her before he turned his back to accept last minute instructions from Mike as he rubbed his shoulders and loosened him up before the match. She smiled and gave him the thumbs up to let him know she was rooting for him.
As she watched Harvey working through his preparation for the match, she could not help but observe Harvey's somewhat muscled upper body and muscular legs peeking out from his blue with silver trimmed trunks. The few nights they had spent together were not the type that afforded her the pleasure of observing his body and or he hers. As much as she was captivated and desired him physically (and she did), Donna was still reeling from her breakup with Mark. Plus Donna always had to remember, Harvey was still a musician, but a friend and now musical partner.
Harvey peeked around his shoulder a couple of times before he sat on his stool waiting for the match to start. She's here! I know I couldn't do this without her here. I know my brother had to work so I know he's not here and dad doesn't know about it. Goddamn, she is beautiful! The blonde sitting next to her must be Samantha. Travis' girl. She is a looker, but I am not one for blondes. Give me a redhead anytime.
"Harvey! The bell!" Mike exclaimed pushing him forward.
Harvey heard the bell but was temporarily distracted by a tall dark-haired, broad-shouldered man wearing a dark green wool suit jacket who came to sit down next to Donna. Harvey joined Travis in the middle of the ring while the referee swiftly read down the rules making them shake hands and then come out fighting.
After the bell sounded to start the first round of 12, Harvey jogged lightly to the center with gloves raised for protection eyeing Travis. They both estimated each other while they danced around the ring. Each combatant attempting a jab here and there teasing the other before a real punch was thrown.
Harvey and Travis continued to eye each other and started trying to do more than jab. Travis threw a left cross which caught Harvey in the jaw bringing his mind back to the matter at hand. Harvey pushed Travis into a corner and pummeled him with first his left hand and then finishing him off with his stronger right hand in an upper cut.
Travis bear hugged Harvey out of the corner. The first round was coming to a close shortly. Harvey was able to throw one more punch before the bell. The punch caught Travis in his strong, but weakened jaw and laid him out.
"Is that all you got, Harv?" Travis taunted still lying on his back and shaking his head. "Get you next round."
"Go ahead you son of a bitch!" Harvey growled back and landed on top of Travis until the referee and Mike pulled Harvey from Travis' prone body.
"Harvey!" Mike shouted. "Harvey! Leave it here!"
Harvey turned and examined Mike as if he had suddenly come back to reality. Saying nothing he returned to his corner.
Meanwhile back in the bleachers, Thomas Kessler leaned next to Donna speaking directly into her ear enjoying the faint perfume of her lavender scented skin.
"Which one is your Harvey?"
"He's not my Harvey, but he's the one in the nearest corner with his back to us," Donna said. She turned her head to look him in the face. She was surprised to see Thomas here and wondered how he got the information about Harvey's fight. She certainly had not told him on their extremely late dinner the previous week's Friday night into Saturday morning. She did, however, negotiate and confirm that Thomas would produce their album not just hers. She made it clear that she and Harvey were an act and that she was not a solo act. At least she was not at this time.
"Hey, how did you know about this?" She asked waving a finger indicating the gym and the fight.
"I went to the club to see you this morning and they said you had a short rehearsal earlier in the day. I wanted to tell you in person that I have a studio and musicians lined up for the music I think should be on this first album. I also wanted to meet Harvey since I haven't yet."
"At the bistro, who told you about the fight? Marcus?"
"Yes, Pierre apparently asked Marcus why you cut short your rehearsal. Marcus told him and I happened to be standing next to Pierre when Marcus notified him."
"Ah-aha," Donna nodded in acknowledgment. "Thomas, you are a man who sees what he wants and nothing stops you from getting it, aren't you?"
"Proudly, I have to say yes. Something wrong with that?"
Donna did not answer him but turned her attention back to the fight in the ring. She found Thomas sitting this close to her was a bit distracting. She had to face the fact after spending many hours with him that he was a very attractive, confident man whose want of her was rather transparent. Donna was attracted to him, too, but did not want to mix business with pleasure. So she applied the same rules to Thomas that she had with Harvey.
He, on the other hand, felt that sudden pull to Donna Paulsen. He wanted her in more ways than one; especially, after he spent the night with her just not in the way that he had wanted upon meeting her the first time. He respected her wishes and would bide his time. He watched her face turn away from him and thought to himself: I am a man who gets what I want. What I want is Donna Paulsen-alone.
By the sixth round (halfway point), Harvey possessed a swollen eye making seeing difficult. Now he really knew what a punching bag felt like. Harvey knew he had been a good boxer; but he had forgotten that Travis was a brawler, and Travis did play dirty at a couple of points. Travis kicked Harvey after he had laid him out two rounds previous. Harvey hoped Travis had not broken one of his ribs. He had been no small matter for Harvey to breathe after that incident although the ref did his best to stop Travis.
Guarding his side with the hurt rib, Harvey retaliated the next round by punching Travis below the belt into his groin which for a moment incapacitated Travis. Harvey watched as Travis doubled over in pain and breathed heavily. Travis then responded by another bear hug to Harvey which the ref swiftly descended upon them and separated them.
Harvey had to contribute to the referee's pay as Travis had to insure that there was no illegal behavior causing permanent damage on either side of their slugfest. Harvey was glad that he and Travis had at least agreed on that issue.
On the other side of the ring, Travis sat on his stool while his trainer stopped the bleeding on his swollen lip as best he could.
"Well, at least, he hasn't broken your nose yet," Harold Gunderson mentioned making a pained expression. "You'll be lucky if he doesn't break your ribs. He's a good hitter and doesn't miss much."
"Whose side are you on, anyway, dickhead?" Travis sputtered through an upper swollen lip and loose jaw.
"Yours, of course, but I gotta tell you. I think you underestimated his vendetta against you. He not only whipped your ass in court, he's literally whipping your ass!"
"Just get the fuck out of here," Travis yelled at Harold.
Harold had no intention of leaving his buddy here without someone to help him. Harold a tall blonde, wavy-haired man with round eyes, long nose, and soft mouth was one of the official boxing trainers employed by this gym. Harold's past included several boxing champions. After suffering some client losses by either the client's firing or his own decision, Harold became an employee. Samantha Wheeler, Harold's other trainee had introduced him to Travis and had explained his plight on the challenge Travis had accepted from Harvey. Harold reluctantly said yes and now was in the midst of attempts to not only keep the fight alive but his client from not getting killed in the interim.
Speaking of Samantha, she stood up and gave Travis the thumbs up when he happened to catch her eye. He looked over to see how she felt witnessing this blood feud between he and the man whom he once considered his best friend and fellow musician. Travis responded smiling painfully and then gave her a nod and a slow wink. From his own swollen eye it was a tad difficult to manage, but Samantha smilingly understood.
After giving Travis the high sign, she resumed her seat and spoke to Donna eyeing the dark haired man who seem to be so free with her.
"So, you're the guy that's gonna make my friend, Donna here the star she deserves to be?" Samantha asked speculatively with a question in her eye.
"And Harvey," Donna nodded. "He's with me. Right Thomas?"
Thomas nodded and said, "Of course."
"In answer to your question, yes, I am. You must be?"
"Samantha Wheeler. Harvey's opponent is my boyfriend. Donna is my best friend," Samantha said sizing up Thomas Kessler to see if he measured up to her expectations of him. Well, physically, so far, so good thought Samantha. But looks aren't everything. I know that for sure.
Suddenly, there was a gasp from the crowd which pulled Donna, Thomas, and Samantha's attention away from their own conversation.
Donna stood up frantically praying that she would not see Harvey lying prone on the ground passed out or worse dead from the hand of his once best friend.
"Harvey!"
At the sight she hoped she had not seen, Donna hastily tripped down the bleachers stepping on people and not caring if they were hurt or not. She finally reached the bottom and went immediately to Harvey's corner where Mike and the referee had managed to get Harvey into a sitting position. Mike was waving the smelling salts under Harvey's nose trying to revive him.
"Harvey! Mike is he ok?" Donna asked frantic.
"Harvey!" Mike sternly called slapping his cheek with one hand and waving the smelling salts under Harvey's nose with the other. "Harvey!"
Harvey's eyes flickered and opened. Seemingly, Harvey's head wavered from side to side barely supported by his neck.
"Wha...?" Harvey asked squinting at the lights.
"Nice to have you back, buddy," Mike said crouching in front of him. "I'm stopping this thing. You probably have a concussion and I'm not taking any chances that a next shot will either kill you or permanently damage you."
"I don't back down," Harvey challenged.
"No, Harvey," Donna quietly protested behind him. "I don't want you to do that. You have nothing to prove."
"Harvey, if I could get Travis to admit to you and sign an affidavit that he will never again touch your band's or your father's music again, would that settle this nonsense?," Mike asked in all seriousness. He did not want his friend to be hurt any more than he already may have been.
"Harvey?" Donna asked echoing Mike's need with just the question of his name.
Harvey looked away from Donna and Mike for just a second and took a look at Travis. It was more than just the band's music and his father's writing that Travis had stolen. Travis had spread horrible exaggerations of his mother's behavior around making Harvey feel inferior in all his interests. Travis had to pay for that. The win in court was not enough. Harvey wanted to make Travis feel inferior-for once.
Actually, Harvey observed Travis from his point across the ring. Travis did not look all that well either. Half his face was swollen and his lip was split. He was wobbly, too, when he stood up.
Harvey, Mike, and Donna watched as Travis and Samantha approached the corner where Harvey sat.
"Hey man, how about we call a truce? You beat me in court and I really don't want to hurt you any more," Travis said carefully to Harvey.
Harvey looked up at Travis and then tried his legs and stood up. With his swollen eye almost closed and a pronounced lump on the side of Harvey's head matting his hair with blood, Harvey poked his onetime friend with his glove.
"Get your ass back over there! This isn't over!" Harvey roared lowly. Every pore from Harvey oozed that Harvey would fight until Travis was the one lying on the ground prostrate.
There was a cough interrupting the tense scene in the corner.
"I'm sorry, son, but even if you want to continue, I am bound to call this fight if I see that there may be a fatal blow given out. So I am calling this fight-a draw."
Harvey and Travis both looked at the older man with menacing protest in their eyes. They resembled enemies that would now join forces against a third outward enemy. Talk, rather yelling, erupted between the three with Travis and Harvey trying to push the ref into the opposite corner so they could continue the fight.
Mike tried to hold Harvey back physically by holding his upper arms as Harold did the same to Travis. Mike and Harold looked at one another and nodded.
"Come on guys! You heard the man. It's a draw," Mike toned placatingly. Mike knew, of course, that Harvey would not be placated and would complain that he was not satisfied until Travis was either dead or left in shame.
"Travis. You live to fight another day. You have enough issues with him. Let it go!" Harold tried to soothe Travis as he pulled him back from joint terrorizing of the older referee.
As the fighters, their trainers, and the referee all moved to the other side of the ring, Thomas stepped up and under the ropes gaining access.
"I suggest you both do as the ref says. If you look over at your respective ladies, I think you've put them through enough stress for one day," Thomas said with his hands on his hips and gesturing toward Donna and Samantha.
Harvey looked at Travis and then they both turned on Thomas.
"By the way, who the fuck are you?" Harvey asked. He surmised but he wanted to be sure before he punched the asshole in the face for interrupting something that was none of his business.
"I'm Thomas Kessler, Mr. Specter and I would like to consider myself Donna's friend and yours."
Travis looked at him and then recognition lit up his face with a smirk.
"You're that music producer who's been stalking the industry looking for a new person to back. So you want to help Harvey become this famous rock star?" Travis asked almost impressed.
"Not exactly. I want to produce an album for Donna Paulsen and make her a star but she won't sign with me unless I can convince the pugilist here (pointing with his thumb at Harvey) to sign as well."
"Well, I will not stand in your way, Harv. You deserve a break, I guess. I'm done," Travis said and removed his glove urging his opponent to remove his to shake his hand.
The referee visibly exhaled.
Harvey looked from Thomas and then at Travis warily. He looked back at Mike and then his eyes darted to Donna. He knew she was worried about him. Thomas did not give a shit about him and, as far as Harvey himself and Donna as an act was concerned, Thomas could pound sand. Harvey told the truth to his brother last week. He did not want to impede any progress in Donna's future career. She had been waiting long enough. As for himself, well, he had his job in the Pearson Hardman mailroom and his music. Harvey had no wish to become famous for himself. He was happy being a frequent studio musician for now. If someone just left him alone with his guitar in a room, he would be content.
Harvey removed his glove and shook Travis' hand and smiled.
"Yeah, we're done," he said.
Then turning to the taller Thomas, Harvey threatened, "Look, you show business phony piece of shit, I will sign with you for her sake. However, if you hurt her or her career, your ass will be in a sling so fast that your head won't have time to catch up."
Thomas raised his hands in mock mercy.
"No problem. I'll drop your ass so fast that your head will spin if I catch a whiff of you trying to take over as boss. You don't seem the type that likes to give up control, so mark my words."
He gestured behind him to Donna.
"Look for some strange reason that beautiful woman cares for you so much so that she won't go record without you as equal partner. However, if I catch you trying to mark her as your territory and control your act, I will sue you for breach of contract and tie you up in legalities that no lawyer can get you out of. Got it?" Thomas finished menacingly.
Harvey, defiance in his dark brown eyes, said, "Bring it on asshole."
After a few more glaring looks at one another, they turned around and smiled pleasantly shaking hands as if a congenial agreement was finalized.
Arriving back at the corner where Donna still waited now alone as Samantha had left when she noticed Travis walking off, Harvey and Thomas were all smiles. Harvey knew that Donna had an uncanny perception when it came to people; so he hoped she would not realize that he saw Thomas Kessler for what he truly was. No matter how ridiculous it was since he just agreed to sign with him and that they just met.
"So, I see that All's Well That Ends Well?" Donna quoted.
"Something like that," Harvey responded and jumped down from the ring.
"I'm going to prepare the shower for you and then I will get Mertz to work out that kink in your shoulder I noticed while you were punching Travis to Kingdom Come," Mike said.
"Well, I have to get going," Thomas said. "Harvey tell Donna what we discussed and I will call you two when I have some songs on approval for the album."
Harvey turned his head trying not to allow his sudden acrimonious feelings show outwardly. He smiled thinly and shook Thomas' hand again as the dark haired producer turned on his heel and walked swiftly from the arena.
"So...it looks like you and Thomas came to an agreement?" Donna asked eager to change the subject from Travis as they slowly made progress towards the dressing room.
"Sort of. It impressed Travis so much that he and I called a truce," Harvey volunteered.
They stopped at the door to the showers. Donna experimentally put a hand on Harvey's muscular forearm. Through the hot sweat still lying on his skin, she could not help but feel a bolt of electricity that ran through her at the contact. She could have sworn that her hair was on fire. Not knowing if she imagined the spark or it was real, she knew she ran on dangerous ground with Harvey. The attraction and need so strong a pull when she was around him. She looked up into Harvey's face and Donna blew out a breath she did not realize she had been holding. He felt it, too! Oh my God! What does this mean?
"Donna," Harvey said lowering his eyes and focusing on the place where her fingers had left goosebumps in their wake.
"Yes?"
Harvey raised his eyes to her eager face and then shook his head, "Nothing. I'll call you later and you can tell me more about this deal with Kessler. Ok?"
"Sure. I'll go now so you can get showered and changed. That lump doesn't look good. If you want I can accompany you to the hospital to have it looked at?"
Harvey smiled and blew out a soft laugh. "That's ok. Mike will do it, but I will call you when I get done."
"I have the show tonight. Why don't you come by when you're all cleaned up. I'm not sure if Thomas will be joining tonight. He's been to three of my shows since last weekend and helped himself to the piano bar as well. I could do with a change of scenery."
Harvey clasped her hand in his. Stepping forward he became intoxicated with her lavender scented skin. He placed a sweet kiss on her cheek and smiled lowering his eyes some.
"I apologize for doing that when I am sweating like a pig but I had to do it."
Stepping closer to her, Donna could feel the heat rising from his body and smell his not totally unpleasant unadorned body scent. She fervently hoped that her skin would not betray the pleasure his gentle kiss gave her.
In a barely audible voice that she would never recognize as her own, she said, "Nothing to apologize for."