Prompt #10 by holesandall: "Slightly AU pre DA office days. Young actress Donna is volunteering in a hospital during christmas time (like making crafts, reading to people, showing her acting talent as an angel/xmas fairy etc). Harvey (working in the mailroom at Gordon Schmidt & Van Dyck.) comes into the ER one day after an accident and is oc the Grinch. Can Donna give him some Christmas spirit?"
Donna leans against the nurses' station, cookie in hand as she takes in the scene around her. It's not peaceful, anything but, the sound of various pages and devices beeping, the sound of the odd child crying, the yelling from those already drunk before sunset. Whether it's two days before Christmas, or a hundred days after, a hospital waiting room—and hospital—isn't exactly anyone's first choice.
Snapping a piece of the cookie and popping it into her mouth, Donna's eyes scan the room as she takes in the other volunteers, like her donating their time, to make those who didn't have a choice to seek out emergency help, to make their stay a little more comfortable. It's like a metaphor for the larger world, that despite the chaos and darkness, good and light can be found in all places, if one only chooses to look for it.
She watches a group of children in the corner, all quietly and happily colouring at the station a few other volunteers had set up. She looks over to the far corner, where a quartet has set up out of the way of the hustle and bustle, playing the occasional tune, softly so it doesn't disturb the true heroes—the medical professionals. Volunteering in her free time is the least she can do, and Donna hopes that her, and the other volunteers' presence, are making days just a bit easier for everyone.
Donna jumps when she feels a hand on her shoulder.
"Busy day?" The hand's owner, a friendly nurse whom she's known for some time. "Donna?"
Regaining her composure, Donna plasters a smile on her face when she sees the warm smile of one of her favourite nurses.
"I don't know how you do it…" Her eyes dart towards her craft box on the floor beside her. She's only been at the hospital for half a day today and has refilled her box countless times and it's already nearly depleted again. Well, save for a couple dozen cards she needs to get signed for some of the longer term patients, those whose families either can't or don't want to make the journeys out to see them this time of year.
"Oh sure," the nurse laughs as they flip through the file before them. "This time of the year is just…"
"Woah, stop right there...I did not take you to be a Grinch."
"Honey, believe me, I love the holidays, one of the biggest champions but this time of the year, in here? You know in two days time we'll have families screaming and yelling…"
Donna nods and hums in response.
"But if you want to avoid a real Grinch, then a word of advice. Avoid 206."
"That's one of the private rooms, right?"
"Mhm," The nurse nods, "Bigshot lawyer-type in there. He's fine but my, is he a grump. I wouldn't go anywhere near his room with that box of yours."
Donna gasps, exaggerated, as she places a hand to her chest. "Well, you know me well enough to know I won't back away from a challenge."
"Mhm, well not even a Christmas miracle will bring a smile to that man's face." The nurse calls after her, "Though, when he sees your face, that might just do it."
Donna's already halfway down the corridor, nearing the private patients rooms. She pauses just before the room, lingering far enough back that the male patient inside doesn't see her. She studies the man through the window of the room before she enters, taking in his defined features, the tie pulled loose around his neck, the look of pure disdain in his eyes as he glares up at the tinsel adorning the room's walls as if trying to burn it all down with his stare.
Yup, a Grinch indeed.
She pushes open the door after her first knock, "Can I interest you in some…"
"Look lady, whatever you're selling I ain't interested." The man says, cutting her off before his eyes roam up and down her form, "Well, maybe I spoke too soon."
Donna eyes his arm, immobilised on a pillow resting on his lap. "Looks like crafts are out of the question…"
"Don't feel too bad, I wouldn't have done them even with two functioning hands."
She doesn't really know why, but something compels her to close the door and sit down in the chair next to him.
"Well, you're too old to be read a story and it's too late to send a letter to Santa."
"About twenty years too late for that." The man scoffs.
Not one to back down from a challenge, as she'd told the nurse outside, Donna continues unperturbed. "I have a few greeting cards here for some of the more longer term patients, maybe you could-"
"I'm not interested in anything Christmas-related so if you could just get out then…" He stops voluntarily because there's something about the way this strange woman is looking at him that is making him want to invent a time machine and start this encounter all over. He's feeling something as she gazes at him, the disappointment gleaming in her eyes.
"There's no need to be rude…"
"Sorry." He mumbles. But she doesn't seem to be too offended as she settles down on the hard-backed hospital chair, falling quiet again.
Donna looks down to her box on the floor, "You sure you can't just sign one card…"
The man doesn't say anything in response, just rolls his eyes and looks anywhere but her.
"Or maybe…" Donna continues, rummaging through the box.
"Believe me, you don't have anything that would interest me." He wiggles his eyebrows, "Not in that box anyway…"
"This again? In a hospital?" It's Donna's turn to roll her eyes now, cocking an eyebrow for added effect.
"It's not like we're in a church…" He grumbles.
"Somehow I don't think even that would stop you," Donna snorts. "Aside from a serious case of bah-humbug, what's the matter with you?"
"Bah-humbug? Seriously? What are you, 12?"
"Well, you'd know." She snaps back, eyes narrowed. "How'd you hurt your arm? Trip on your ego?"
"Ha, funny. The assholes I work with decided to get a tree. Fine, whatever. It's as fake as our pretend enjoyment of working with each other…"
Donna rolls her eyes again, "Yeah yeah, you hate your colleagues."
"Well one of them, let the baubles run amok. I tripped and luckily managed to catch myself, probably breaking my wrist in the process."
"I doubt you'd be able to handle the pain if it were broken."
"Oh believe me, I can handle a lot."
"Sure." And then adds. "Considering how much time we spend at work, it's only nice to want to make it feel more homely, especially around the holidays."
Her tone makes it sound like she was talking to a child and having to explain why it's good to be nice to other people.
Harvey can only snort in response, largely at her tone, because he can't say that she's wrong. He spends more time in the mailroom of Gordon Schmidt & Van Dyck than he does his own home that he sometimes forgets what either look like.
Maybe it's the painkillers finally kicking in, or maybe it's the presence of this stranger comforting him after he's waited for hours alone in the hospital room, but Harvey's starting to feel bad about his standoffish behaviour with her.
"So…?" He says softly, realising he hasn't even asked her name.
"Donna."
"Donna." He tests out the name, liking the way it sounds coming from his mouth. "Harvey."
"Nice to meet you Harvey."
Their two hands meet as they stare at each other, neither knowing what to say next. Neither letting go of the other's hand.
Donna has a shy smile on her face as she bites her lip, gently tugging on her hand and requesting he loosen it from his grip.
"Oh, uh. Sorry." Harvey stutters as he releases her hand, "Must have zoned out...So Donna, when you're not here, what is it that you do?"
"I'm an actress." she narrows her eyes at him, daring him to say something. To his credit, he does not and she suspects that there's more to him than meets the eye. She eyes the sharp suit that looks nice enough to be expensive but she knows it's not; how despite the resistance he's put up to all things Christmas, she's seen how his eyes have darted to the box on the floor.
She continues, "In plays, not television or movies. But I'm still kind of new, so when I don't have to be at the theatre, I volunteer here...my roommates drive me crazy…"
Harvey nods, knowing all too well what it's like to live with absolutely neurotic roommates. "How many do you live with?"
"There's four of us in total, only one bathroom though. We've known each other for years but that sometimes makes it worse..."
"Yikes."
Donna leans back in the chair. "Tell me about it...sometimes I prefer being here, surrounded by strangers, than them, it's easier…"
Harvey nods and they lapse into a silence as he studies the woman sitting beside him, recognising that there's just something about her that's so compelling, something that makes him want to be better.
"Listen," he breaks the ice and Donna looks up at him. "Sorry about before, with your box…"
"Believe me, you're not even the worst…" Donna runs a hand through her hair and sighs, "I just...love this time of the year, the lights, the activities, the music...but I do get it, not everyone feels the same. I just want to bring some happiness, hopefully make the nurses' jobs a bit easier, they're definitely not paid enough to deal with people over the holidays…"
"The holidays can bring out the worst in people…"
"Yeah."
Harvey's about to reply when the door swings open, a frantic-looking nurse who Donna hasn't seen before telling them there's a situation and the two of them need to remain in the room until someone comes to get them.
"It won't be too long, I hope." The nurse disappears as quickly as they'd entered, leaving Donna and Harvey alone once again.
"Great." Donna slumps back in the chair as the door closes.
"It could be worse…"
"How could this possibly be worse?" She groans.
"Well, you could be the one with the injured wrist instead of me…"
She smiles, it's small because she knows with this latest development, he won't be getting seen any time soon and he must be in pain.
"Did they give you anything for the pain?" She spies the ice pack, hoping they won't be in here for too long.
Harvey nods, "They did...a few hours ago when I arrived."
"It was just as crazy during Thanksgiving, I can't imagine what it'll be like in a few days time…"
"I bet."
"Just...people get mean," She sounds like a child but it's true, it's mainly the adults who yell, their breaths reeking of alcohol saying things they won't remember but she always will.
"Why'd you keep coming back here then? Especially over the holidays…"
"People deserve second chances, don't you think?" She shrugs her shoulders like it's the most obvious answer.
"Well, I'll have to disagree with you there." Harvey snorts, lifting the ice pack to inspect his wrist.
"Hm...is that why you're going to be spending the holidays alone?"
The question causes Harvey's head to snap up, his eyes meeting hers as he drops the ice pack on the floor.
"How did you know that?" His mind starts racing at the possibility that this is a former one night stand, who'd someone tracked him down somehow and has come to torment him when he's at his weakest. He watches Donna as she leans down and forward, picking up his ice pack from the floor and repositioning it on his wrist.
No, Harvey thinks, this isn't a former one night stand for this woman seems unforgettable, from the way she seems to be able to read him to her obvious and natural beauty. He's sure if he'd spent the night with her, it would be ingrained in his memory for the rest of his life.
"I'm Donna." She says simply, giving the ice pack a light tap, silently indicating he should hold onto it this time, before she sits back down in her seat.
Harvey's sure his mouth is gaping like a fish, with him being baffled and confused, and slightly unnerved, but also intrigued by this strange woman who's known him for all of five minutes but can read him like she's known him a lifetime.
"And what do you do?"
"I do?" He asks, mind suddenly blank of the details of his life.
"Your job?"
Oh right, what they were talking about before. He thinks. "I work at a law firm…"
"But not as a lawyer?"
He looks confused, usually people just assume he is a lawyer and he never corrects them. "No, but one day I will be."
"Will you be working throughout the weekend then?"
He shakes his head, "Nope, the building is shut. Though I'll probably arrive early on Monday, there'll be so much to sort out after being closed for two days and it's not likely I'll be able to work as efficiently with this…"
Harvey points again to his wrist.
"So you'll be staying in the city?"
"Yeah, just like any regular weekend except I can't go to a bar…" He thinks about making a joke about how he can't pick up a woman to spend the night with but there's something about being in Donna's presence that makes him not want to joke about that.
"Well...I hope we're not trapped in here too long. I need to finish packing, my train back to Connecticut is early tomorrow."
"Is that where you're from?"
"Not originally but that's where my parents have settled." She begins and Harvey can tell from the smile on her face, that reaches her eyes and is brighter than any lights he'd seen on a Christmas tree, that she really loves this time of the year. "We won't do anything grand, just the four of us. My parents, me, and my crazy sister."
She's captivating, Harvey thinks, as he can't help but take in her features, from her smile to the eye roll when she mentions her sister. It almost makes him resent her, her and her happy family.
"We don't really get along but for the holidays, we always make it work."
And then she says that. Rationally, Harvey knows that as much as Donna does seem to know about him, she doesn't know why he despises the season so much. Doesn't know why that particular statement about dysfunctional families strikes such a cord with him.
"Well, I'm glad you have such a happy family." He snaps and then immediately feels guilty when that recognisable flash of pain dances across her face.
To her credit, Donna doesn't admonish him but simply explains. "Everyone has a story, Harvey. My family… we're not perfect, we never have been. My dad… I had to give up a lot as a kid, my dad gambled. A lot."
"And you still…"
"He's my dad," Donna says simply, "I love him. I forgave him a long time ago."
"Not everyone deserves second chances."
"That's the second time you've said that, do you really think that?" She says after some time, her piercing eyes meeting his.
"I…" Harvey's voice breaks the silence and he's surprised with himself that it's so shaky. "I wasn't originally going to spend the holidays alone. My dad and I usually do something."
"Oh, I'm so sorry...had I-" Donna's eyes go wide and she leans forward.
"No, no, no." Harvey shakes his head furiously, "Nothing like that. He's not dead or anything. He's a saxophone player, a really great one at that."
Harvey lets himself smile as he thinks about his dad, and the woman in the room can't help but smile as well.
"He got this offer to play on a cruise and I couldn't let him turn it down, not for me."
Donna looks at him sadly, nodding. "And...there's no one else?"
"My brother, Marcus, and his wife Katie. They have a toddler, another one on the way…"
"Ah, they just wanted to have the holidays to themselves?"
Harvey lets out a sad little laugh which to Donna sounds like a choked sob.
"No...they spend it with our mom. Marcus has done pretty much every year."
Donna stays quiet, letting him continue his story in his own time.
"My mom and I...we're not on the best of terms. We haven't been for some time. When I was a kid, let's just say I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus but the 'Santa' wasn't my dad."
"She cheated on your dad and you found out…" She doesn't ask it as a question, rather just confirming the information he'd just told her, but he nods and says 'yes' nevertheless.
"But why continue to make yourself miserable?"
"It's more like making her miserable…" He retorts.
"But," Donna tilts her head to the side and Harvey already knows that whatever she's about to say, she'll win this discussion between them. "Aren't you also hurting you here?"
Harvey clenches his jaw because feelings aren't something he likes acknowledging yet alone talking about.
"You work in the mailroom of a law firm, right?"
"Right." It's Harvey's turn to tilt his head, his eyebrows meeting in confusion as he stares at her, asking her to continue without words.
"But you really want to be a lawyer?"
"I will be a lawyer." He says with conviction.
"Okay then, Mr.-not-quite-a-lawyer-but-will-be-soon...you found your mom guilty of cheating—which, I'm sorry about Harvey, really. No kid should have to have their childhood taken away like that...but, hasn't she been punished enough?"
"What do you mean?"
Donna purses her lips together before continuing.
"Let's say what your mom did was a crime," She holds up a hand and raises an eyebrow when she sees his mouth open. "A crime in the eyes of the law. Let's say, worse than a DUI but it's not exactly manslaughter, or murder...you've shut her out for how long?"
Harvey mumbles the figure, eyes downcast.
"Isn't that sentence long enough? Haven't you both suffered enough?"
Harvey's quiet for a moment, analysing and mulling over what she'd just said because she does have a point, he can't say that the last several years without his family hadn't been hard on him either. He's just never wanted to let himself acknowledge that pain before, not until now.
"You're not just a pretty face, are you?"
Donna smiles and opens her mouth to reply when the door to the room opens, a nurse appearing with various bandages and all smiles.
"Oh Donna, I didn't think you'd still be here? The other volunteers are nearly all wrapped up."
"I...uh...a nurse told us we had to stay put?" Donna asks in confusion.
The nurse laughs as he starts wrapping Harvey's wrist, his eyes darting between the pair. "Sorry about that Donna, seems like Sandy got the holiday traditions a bit mixed up. Silly thinking Christmas and Valentine's Day are interchangeable and we can just force people together like this…"
Donna's eyes narrow as she watches the nurse avoid her gaze and instead focuses on inspecting Harvey's hand. She'll have to have a word with the nurses after the holidays if they tried to set her up like this. But, she thinks, being trapped in the room alone with Harvey wasn't a bad thing after all, this Nurse Sandy may have done her a favour.
"Donna, this one hasn't been giving you too much grief, I hope?"
"No, no, it's been fine. Thank you for your concern." Donna says quickly.
The nurse nods, giving them both a once over before continuing to bandage Harvey's wrist.
"Well," Donna gets up after a moment, biting her lip as she gathers her box of crafts. "I should go, more patients to see, these crafts won't craft themselves…"
Harvey watches in silence as she collects her things, eyes sneaking glances at his direction before she realises his eyes won't be leaving her any time soon. When she's almost out of the door, he blurts out her name, surprising both her and himself.
"Donna?!"
"Yes Harvey?" She turns her head, a slight twinkle in her eye.
"Uh...thanks for the...chat."
"Sure, it was nice to meet you Harvey. Happy...I mean, I hope you feel better."
And with that, she's gone.
Harvey stares at the chair she'd once occupied, internally kicking himself that he hadn't even asked for her number.
"Want me to get Sandy in here so you can thank her?" The jovial nurse asks with a glint in his eyes.
"No. I've got a call to make…"
.
.
Harvey checks out not long later, making sure to pass by the foyer he'd passed through earlier, the one where the red-headed Christmas lover who'd spent the better part of two hours making him reevaluate the last several years of his life should be. But she's nowhere in sight so Harvey exits the hospital, fumbling with the phone in his hands. Once he's clear of the building, he slowly walks away, pressing the small device to his ear. After it rings and rings and rings, he's starting to think it was a mistake and he's just about to hang up when he hears his name.
"Harvey?" It's asked quietly, full of uncertainty like his is the last name the owner had thought she'd be saying that evening.
His mouth goes dry, just as the first snowflake starts to fall and he looks up, watching the snow fall onto the large tree at the front of the hospital. It really is beautiful, he thinks.
"Mom, hey."
"Harvey." The voice says again, this time more sure like he's actually called her and it's not a dream.
"I...uh...it's snowing." He feels like he's a kid again, unsure of what to say, being enchanted by the snowflakes falling. He hears a chuckle on the other end of the phone and for some reason, it brings a smile to his face.
"It's snowing here too Harvey, has been all day. Marcus will be driving down tomorrow, hopefully the snowploughs will be out early so it's not too dangerous."
Both mother and son go quiet, one content to just be hearing the other's voice, the other still unsure of why he'd even called.
"Did you..not to sound ungrateful, did you call me to talk about the weather?"
Harvey chuckles, "No, mom. I just…I was just wondering…"
"Yes, Harvey?"
"I was just wondering if…"
.
.
"Harvey?"
After he'd hung up, in a daze at the realisation that after all this time, he'd be spending Christmas with his mom and brother, he had started walking aimlessly. That is until he heard the faint sounds of someone calling his name. Turning around, he slows down when he sees Donna walking quickly towards him.
"Donna...I didn't think I'd see you again…"
"It's a Christmas miracle, huh…" Her eyes are mischievous as she sticks out her tongue at him and he can't help but laugh as she finally reaches him.
"Something like that…" Harvey's never been particularly religious nor has he ever believed in Christmas miracles (or any miracles) but he has a feeling that the longer he spends around Donna, the more he'll start to believe in everything.
He offers her his arm, "Wouldn't want you to slip and injure yourself like me, I don't have a box of crafts to entertain you if we go back in there…"
Donna loops her arm through his proffered one as the two begin to walk towards the subway station in a comfortable silence, the sound of the snow beneath their feet and the drag of wheels on the road providing the perfect white noise.
"I called my mom…" Harvey says as they pass a brightly decorated storefront, Christmas music blaring out from inside, "I..uh... I think I'm going to spend Christmas there, I mean, I am. I booked a flight for tomorrow."
He glances in her direction when she doesn't respond, feeling something when he sees the wide smile on her face.
"I'm glad Harvey, you don't deserve to be alone at Christmas…"
They continue to walk, passing by late-night shoppers, groups of inebriated friends laughing on the sidewalk and families with young kids shrieking in excitement at the various displays in the store windows.
"Shit…" Harvey exclaims, stopping suddenly and forcing Donna to stumble back into him.
"What's wrong?" Donna looks at the man beside her, full of concern as her eyes roam over his body, trying to check for any injuries. "Is it your wrist?"
"No.." Harvey shakes his head, eyes transfixed on a family before him. "I don't have any gifts…"
"Well, it's still early," She glances down at her watch, well, "Early-ish. I can't say it'll be pretty in there, or we'll leave with our sanity, but I'll have you know I'm an excellent gift-giver and I'm sure that between us, we can get everything you need."
Donna doesn't give him time to argue, turning on her heels and striding forward toward the toy store she'd spotted out of the corner of her eye.
"Donna!" Harvey exclaims and she pauses, turning around to face him with a mild look of irritation on her face.
"Harvey, we don't have time to stand around here." She gestures with her head and turns around, continuing her beeline to the toy store. She doesn't have to turn around to know he's following her.
"Hey, hey...hey…" Harvey calls, finally catching up with her and tugging on her arm gently to stop her from the mission she seems to have given herself. "I can't ask you to spend your evening shopping with me for people you don't even know…"
"Well, Harvey, lucky for you, you're not asking. Now come on, after the toy store we need to hit Starbucks." She turns again, this time gently intertwining their fingers and dragging him forward.
"Donna…"
"Harvey?"
They're at the entrance of the store and Harvey almost takes a step back as he takes in the almost chaotic scene inside, with distraught parents racing between shelves to pick a plush toy for their child, to the children inside the store themselves, the "I want that one!" being yelled by multiple small (but loud) voices.
"Are you sure?"
"You need me Harvey…" That twinkle is back in her eyes and Harvey gulps as she steps closer.
"I need you do I?" He asks, eyes locked with hers as she stands impossibly closer.
"Uh-huh…" She nods slowly and Harvey doesn't miss the way her eyes drop down to his lips and back up to his eyes.
"How'd...how'd you figure that?"
Harvey almost regrets asking when he feels her hand take his good one in hers and give it a squeeze.
"Well, you may be skilled at using one hand for...other things...but, I don't even think you could carry all the gifts we'll be buying tonight yourself…"
For the final time, Donna turns on her heels and enters the store. Harvey, too stunned to do anything else, simply follows her in, weaving in and out of the various stands to begin the hunt for the perfect Christmas gift.
.
.
It's late on Christmas Eve and Harvey's sitting by the fire clutching a Bailey's to his chest as he watches his brother and sister-in-law attend to their young child, trying to distract them from the piles of presents under the tree.
"So Harvey…"
"Yes mom?" He asks softly, head turned to look at the woman beside him.
"Not that I'm not grateful but your call was so unexpected...may I ask what changed your mind?" Lily watches her son carefully, watches him look back to his brother and Katie, eyes lingering on the latter. "I know I have no right to ask but…"
"I met someone, she...uh…we're not anything," Not yet, Harvey adds in his mind. "Basically strangers but…"
"This stranger must be pretty special if she can make you speechless…" Lily says warmly and Harvey can't deny that she's wrong, there was something pretty remarkable about Donna and he knows he's just scratched the surface.
"I-"
A ding from his phone interrupts his line of thought and his smile grows impossibly wider, "Speak of the devil...it's her."
Merry Christmas, Harvey. I'm glad you gave yourself a second chance. See you when you're back in NYC. Donna x
"Hey mom, can we take a selfie?" He asks, leaning across to snap a photo before replying to Donna and sending the photo too.
Merry Christmas, Donna. Thank you.
.
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
From now on
Our troubles will be out of sight
