Chapter 2
It is the first time he's actually ever contemplated calling in sick. Mike lies on his stomach, face buried deep into his pillow as he ignores the constant chirping of his alarm clock. For some time, Pearson Hardman was the only thing he ever wanted to get up for. And regardless of how he got it, he'd finally found some purpose.
Though he would scarcely admit it, Harvey Specter was the kind of lawyer that Mike aspired to be. Now he was simply another fledging in the associates' pool, editing briefs, filing subpoenas and answering to Louis.
Mike supposed that he should be grateful to still have a job, but he can't help feel anything except bitterness toward Jessica. He'd been so sure that he wanted to stay at Pearson Hardman (currently Darby), but now he wondered if it was even worth it if he wasn't working alongside Harvey.
For the past three weeks, Mike had steered clear of the fiftieth floor, avoiding any possible repeat of that first day.
He had been subjected to numerous barbs and snide comments from the other associates (namely Kyle of course), all of whom were harassing him more than usual since 'Harvey wasn't around to protect him anymore'. During such times, he'd kind of wished that Harold was still around. With his parents and grandmother gone, the people at the firm had, at one crucial point, been like family to Mike. Nowadays he found himself quietly desperate to regain that sense of belonging.
Harvey still wasn't speaking to him, and from what he'd heard from others in the office, he wasn't really speaking to anyone. Like Mike, Harvey's pride had taken a giant hit.
He had tried to speak to Rachel though, only to be rebuffed each time. He'd begun to realise that she was making it a point never to be alone in the same room with him.
She had been cruelly professional since they'd slept together and he'd been an apologetic mess. The single time she spoke to him about something other than work was two weeks ago, when she quietly murmured that his secret was safe with her. He guessed that would have to be enough for a while.
When Mike finally crawls out of bed and drags himself into the office, there's a small stack of files on his desk. He groans at the thought of obediently following Louis' orders when he notices a pink post-it note set atop the files.
The handwriting is cursive and impossibly neat; if you're willing, we could really use your help on this.
He's slightly furious, and tempted to hurl the files through an open window. But Mike's never really been able to say no to Donna and he suspects that she might be one of the few people left at the firm who genuinely cares about him.
So he plops down at his desk, puts his headphones in and begins diligently reviewing the files.
At around noon, Mike's eyes are starting to glaze over from the sea of numbers and letters and he almost believes that he hallucinates a flash of red hair.
"Hey," Donna says when she gently removes his headphones from his ears.
She has a soft smile on her face that Mike warmly returns.
"I think I may have cracked this case wide open," he says proudly, though the knowledge isn't half as rewarding as it once was. He goes on to explain that the settlement Harvey's client had been offered is complete bullshit because he's actually being cheated out of millions. He notes how Donna smiles at him with a kind of motherly affection that she rarely allows.
"Are you going to tell Harvey?" he asks hesitantly.
"Of course, you just saved both his ass and the client's."
Mike shakes his head, "Donna, he won't want to hear anything that came from me."
"Mike, take the credit," she insists.
"Will it get me my job back?" he asks with a sad sarcasm. Donna doesn't say anything, just cocks her head to the side in that patronisingly sympathetic way that people have been doing a lot lately.
"Didn't think so."
Donna gives him sombre smile and takes the files her hands her. She offers a brisk, but grateful thank you and disappears down the hall.
She bursts into Harvey's office and drops the files on his desk. He doesn't look up when he sardonically says, "Donna, come in."
"You might want to drop the cold shoulder act because Mike just saved our client a hell of a lot of money and your sorry ass."
Harvey pushes the files aside and continues to write, irking Donna. She's quickly nearing the end of her rope because when he isn't ignoring her, he's acting like a jackass. She's tolerated his adolescent mood swings for days, knowing when to challenge him right back and when to leave him alone.
She stands by his desk, unmoving with her hands clasped casually in front of her. "I'm sorry, should I repeat myself?"
"You know, you used to be better at taking a hint."
She indicates to the files, "When you read those, be sure to thank him." She rolls her eyes and exits his office.
He's being a dick and he knows it, knows he's been that way since the merger. Apparently his work over the last few weeks has been fine. Jessica's words, not his, because Harvey has never once used a term so banal to describe anything about himself. He does things in excess, to the extreme; his appearance, his apartment, his ability to command a court room or any other room for that matter. And he recognises that he's faltering. He's been handling twice the amount of cases since the merger and the workload is visibly weighing on him.
The stray thought that he might have taken Mike for granted occurs to him on more than one occasion. But absently thinking it is one thing, having the thought voiced by Donna is quite another.
The files she thrust into his face hours ago are untouched and he doesn't miss the moment her eyes wander over to his office to confirm as much. But he's pissed off and still not quite done being a dick so when she comes back to chew him out again he snaps.
"Get out."
She's momentarily startled by the way he barks the order at her, but continues toward his desk, stubborn as ever. "Have you looked at the files?"
"What part of 'get out' do you find unclear?"
"Is this temper tantrum of yours ever going to end?" she asks exasperatedly.
He stands up from his desk, his eyes meeting hers in a hard glare. "I don't think you understand what he did," he says.
She scoffs in his face, "Don't you think it would have been wise to hear his side of the story?"
"I think the fact that he betrayed me after everything I did for him says enough."
"I'm sure he had reason," she defends.
"Oh, you mean like you did? Maybe you guys should compare notes."
Donna's jaw slams shut and any retort she prepares melts away. Harvey waits and waits for her to say something, anything. He isn't prepared for the quiver of her lip and the soft splutter that escapes her mouth as she fights to hold back tears.
He rounds his desk and reaches out to touch her but she recoils from him like she's about to be burned. When she leaves his office, she slams the door so hard that the glass threatens to shatter. There's a finality to it that terrifies him.
Authors Note: For some reason my writing is all angsty but I promise things will get a little lighter :)