Chapter 16.

Mike spent two and a half days at the hospital. He got a couple visits from both Harvey and Donna. Donna both hugged and hit him when she came. He had been sleeping and she woke him up by whispering his name. He confusedly looked at her and she smiled dangerously, he tried to defend himself but she told him everything that she wanted and he just had to take it. But she hugged him after and told him how worried she had been, and how worried Harvey had been.

"Really?"

"Off course, he refused to leave your side."

Harvey had obviously not told her about their little fight or whatever he should call it. He didn't either.

He was kind of drugged up at the hospital, he had a treatment session and chest pains after that. The drugged helped him sleep. He was well taken care of, nurses helped him when he vomited and they changed his sheets when he was sweating too much. He wished he wasn't at the hospital though. He felt lonely. It was okay when Harvey or Donna was there, but he felt like he was alone in the world as soon as they left.

He called Harvey on day after lunch, and they actually talked for about twenty minutes. Harvey updated him on the details of the case.

"So that you are prepared when you come back." He said.

"There have been some other improvements here as well." Harvey said cryptically. He wouldn't say anything else, no matter how much Mike asked him about it.

Other than that, it was boring at the hospital. There was nothing to do there. He was moved to an open ward where five other people were laying. He was the youngest. He talked a bit with the old man that was in the bed next to him. Mike found out that the man had far gone lung cancer, he was on his last treatment period now, and told Mike that if it didn't work he would stop getting them. He said that he rather would move to Florida to be close to his grandchildren his last time. Mike didn't tell him much about his own illness, and the man didn't ask.

Harvey did not like the open ward when he came to visit.

"We need to get you out of here." He whispered. "What if you get what he has?" He looked over to the coughing old man.

"It's not likely Harvey. It's not so bad." Mike didn't mind to share a room. It meant that he had company at all times. He was comforted by the other's presence. Not that he would ever tell Harvey that.

Harvey gave him a ride home when he was discharged. Harvey suggested that he came and stayed with him, but Mike declined. He was feeling pretty okay for now. He decided to come to the office the day after. Harvey thought it was time to tell Jessica, and Mike was onboard with that. Jessica had apparently asked for him, if he was okay or not. Mike was a bit touched by that, that she had asked.

When Mike got in to the office, he had only been at his desk for about ten minutes when Donna came.

"Good morning Mike."

"Hi Donna. You look nice today."

"Unlike when?"

"Ehh…"

"Follow me." She said. He stood and followed her. To his surprise she took him towards the breakroom, but they didn't step in.

"You see this?" Donna pointed to the wall.

"Yeah. I do. It's a defibrillator."

"Yes, it is." Donna smiled proudly at him.

"What's this Donna?"

"I have done some arrangements around here." She announced and started to lead him towards Harvey's office. Mike remembered what Harvey had said earlier, so this what was he had been talking about.

"Hi kid." Harvey greeted him, when they stepped into his office. Donna stopped in front of the wall next to the book shelf. Another heart starter was mounted on it.

"Oh." Mike said.

"It's not all." Donna assured him. "This is also for you." She walked over to Harvey's cabinets with his basket balls. She opened it, and showed him. The whole cupboard was stacked with things. Donna bent down and took out a black box.

"This is for your meds." She explained. A few of the bottles were already neatly stacked inside of it. It was divided in four different parts. Mike had no idea how she knew what type of medication he was taking, but he should probably not be surprised that she knew. "Here is for that daily pills, just extra if you forget them. This part is pain killers. I though this might be good as well" she showed him another bottle.

"I have also put some other useful things in here. Pillows, blankets, bandages, some salve, disinfectants." She pointed on the other shelfs.

"Bandages?" He asked.

"You never know with you." She said seriously.

"Don't look at me." Harvey said when he did. "She is right."

"Of course I am. Let's see what else we got."

"There is more?"

"Of course it is. Oh, the fridge over there. It got some water bottles, juices, fruit and some candy bars if your blood sugar gets low." There was a small stylish refrigerator on the wall close to the door.

Mike felt conflicted, both a little embarrassed but the same time he was moved. She had done all this just for him.

"Thank you Donna." He told her, and didn't quell the urge he got to hug her. "This is great."

"Of course sweetie." She hugged him back. "Let me know if there is anything else I can get you."

"No, I think you have thought of everything."

"I'm going back to work then. Be good."

Mike looked around the office. He sat down in front of Harvey.

"You okay with this?" He asked. Everything was in Harvey's office after all.

"Of course. I brought the fridge over."

"Oh. That's nice. Thanks."

"Sure." Harvey said and stood up. "Are you ready?"

"Eh…for what?" Did they have a new case?

"Telling Jessica, you idiot. I told her we would stop by when you got in."

"What, now?"

"She has probably been waiting for an hour now."

"I'm not that late."

Harvey just looked at him and walked out of his office, expecting Mike to follow. Which he did. Apparently he didn't have a choice in the matter. But they might as well get it over with, before Jessica got tired of him and fired him for his recently poor job performance. He felt really nervous all of a sudden. What is she wouldn't believe him, what if she didn't want him at the office anymore. He was pretty sure she wouldn't approve of his candy bars in Harvey's new fridge.

He followed behind Harvey, and when they stepped into Jessica's office Mike found himself almost hiding behind Harvey. She was sitting at her desk and nodded towards the two chairs in front of her desk.

"Hey Jessica." Harvey said. "Nice of you to take the time. Mike and I need to talk to you."

"What are you doing?" He whispered to Mike, and pushed him towards a chair. He sat down and Harvey did the same.

"How are you doing Mike?" she asked him. "You were not good the last time I saw you."

"I'm better now." Mike felt his face turning red.

"Actually that's the reason we are here Jessica." Harvey said.

"Yes, I figured that much."

She kept her gaze on Mike, who had to force himself to meet hers. He couldn't read her expression. It got quiet for a long time, until Harvey cleared his throat. Mike realized that they were waiting for him to say something.

"Eh…I have…I been…I" He glanced at Harvey.

"Mike is sick." He told her then.

Jessica nodded. "I figured that much as well." She said. "You want to tell me what's going on with you?" She turned to Mike again.

Mike found himself nodding, but didn't say anything else. Harvey sighed next to him. He turned to Mike. "Should I tell her?" He asked, and Mike nodded again. He stared down at Jessica's desk until Harvey said it.

"Mike has heart cancer."

Jessica's hard expression changed then. She looked Mike straight in the eyes. "Heart cancer." She quietly repeated, and Mike nodded again.

"He got diagnosed a couple of weeks ago now. That's what has been going on. I have been helping him out. It gets pretty bad." Harvey continued.

"I understand." Jessica said. "What's the prognosis?" She asked, and Mike jerked a bit. What was wrong with him? Jessica was going to think he was a total wimp. He was just sitting there letting Harvey do all the talking for him.

Harvey hesitated a bit as well. "It's not looking so good." He said eventually.

Jessica nodded. "Okay." She turned to him again. "Mike, I'm so sorry to hear this. I never thought it was this serious. This must be extremely difficult for you."

"Yeah." He said.

"Thank you for telling me." She paused. "Mike I know that we have had our differences, but you are a part of this firm. Pearson Hardman will support you in any way you need, Mike."

They locked eyes and Mike could see something he had never seen in her before. He felt his eyes burn and bit his lip. "Thank you." He whispered. Jessica stood up.

"Thank you for letting me know," she repeated "I know how hard cancer can be." Something glistened in her eyes and Mike believed her. She did know. "Keep me updated." she said, directed to Harvey.

"Yes, we will. Thank you Jessica." He pulled Mike up from the chair, and pushed him gently out of the office. They walked side by side back to Harvey's office.

"That went quick. She took it well, better than I expected." Harvey said. He looked at Mike. "You okay?"

Was he? Yeah, he was. It hadn't been that bad telling her. Mostly because Harvey had done all the talking. He took a deep breath.

"Yeah, I'm good. Thanks."

Harvey stopped walking and grabbed Mike and turned him so that they were facing each other.

"You know that it is going to be okay right?" he asked. "I got your back in this."

"Thank you, Harvey." Was all Mike could think of saying. He wanted to believe him.

"No problem kid. You want to work in my office? I kind of want to try the candy bars, but Donna will be pissed if I do it without you there."

– SUITS –

Mike had disappeared to his cubicle a while ago when Jessica stepped into his office.

"Harvey." She said and sat down.

"Jessica."

"How is Mike doing?"

"He is working. He is okay."

"I had no idea that is was that bad, Harvey."

"Yeah, I know. He is in for a really tough time."

"He didn't look so good when we spoke earlier. He looked scared, I haven't seen him like that before."

"He has something where he thinks it's really hard to tell people that he is sick. He knew for about a week before he told me, let me chew him out for being distracted."

Jessica nodded. "And he is getting treated?"

"Yeah."

"And you are helping him?"

"I told him I'm in this with him, Jessica. I intend to get him through this."

"What is his prognosis?"

"They have given him less than a year."

"Oh my god."

"But he is going to be fine. There is still a change."

"Harvey…"

"He is not going to die!"

They looked at each other. Harvey knew what her expression was saying. She didn't think that Mike was going to survive. He briefly thought that she was going to express her condolences.

"He isn't." He repeated.

She nodded to him and then asked a few more questions about Mike's condition.

"So you are helping him out then?"

"I am."

She stood up to leave. "That's good Harvey. I hope he pulls through."

"Thank you."

She hesitated for a moment. "Let me know if there is anything I can do." She said before walking out of the door, before giving Harvey a change to reply. He was a bit surprised about that last comment. He knew what she thought of Mike working there, but apparently she cared about him in some level. Well, it was good to know that she didn't want the kid to die.

Mike decided that he wanted to go to his own place again. Harvey secretly wanted to stop him. He was kind of worried. What if Mike collapsed again? But Mike was persistent. Harvey didn't think he gave a good enough reason to want to go there, his place was so much nicer. Mike practically lived in a dump. Mike however got annoyed, and didn't agree when he told him that.

"It's my home. Don't insult it! I happen to like it, it has charm unlike your place."

"Charm? Who want's charm when you can have class?"

He at least dropped the kid off and stayed until he saw that Mike got inside. He didn't know what was going on in the kid's head.

The next day was pretty normal. It was almost like it had been before. Almost. Mike downed a bunch of pills with his lunch and after that he decided to hang out in Harvey's office. Harvey watched him as he worked with a bunch of files. He had then in his lap where he was on the couch. He was leaning over them looking like he was in deep concentration, that was until his head jerked downwards, when he fell asleep. He jerked it quickly back up again though. That process repeated itself a few times. Harvey caught Donna's eyes and she raised her eyebrows at him, and then looked at Mike.

"Mike!" he said, causing Mike to sit up straight again.

"What?"

"Don't fall asleep in my office."

"I'm not falling asleep!"

"Yes you are."

"No, I'm not."

Harvey raised an eyebrow himself. Mike sighed and rubbed his eyes with both hands making him look like a three year old.

"Fine." He said. "I couldn't sleep yesterday."

"Why not?"

Mike suddenly blushed, causing Harvey to become more alert.

"I don't know." Was Mike's answer though, and he didn't leave any room for elaboration.

"Well, don't fall asleep here. It's not really professional."

Mike nodded and turned back to his files. Donna looked pissed when Harvey looked at her. She probably wanted him to tuck Mike in under the new blanket in his cupboard.

Mike went home to his place that night as well. Harvey headed home to his condo. He stayed up late, and was about to go to bed when the phone rang. He looked at the screen and saw that it was Mike. It was almost one a clock, so it caused him to draw a deeper breath. What was going on now?

"Hey Mike!"

"Hi, Harvey."

"What's up?"

"Nothing really. What's up with you?"

"What? Why are you calling Mike?"

"It's nothing. It's just that you said, that I could call you. And I just thought that I would call and see if you were up."

"What's wrong Mike?"

"I told you, nothing is wrong."

"Why the hell did you call then, if nothing is wrong?"

"But you said…" Mike interrupted himself, and then started over. "I just felt like talking a bit that's all. But I guess you are not interested, so we can hang up if you want."

Harvey hesitated. Clearly hanging up in this state wasn't an option. Something was definitely up. "No it's fine. I was just…"

"I didn't meant to bother you if you are busy."

"I'm not. I was just going to bed."

"Okay."

"Anything you want to talk about then?"

"Not really."

"All right."

Mike got quiet after that for so long that Harvey suspected that he had hang up after all.

"Mike, are you still there?"

"Yeah, I am."

"Okay…" Harvey waited. He figured the kid had something on his mind, and if he was quiet long enough he would spill. But Mike didn't, and it only lead to an awkward silence. However he could hear the kid breathing on the other side.

"Do you have something you want to talk about then?" He tried.

"I don't know." Mike said quietly.

"So you want us to sit here quietly not talking for a while then? Come on Mike, what's up?"

"Why does it have to be anything? I just felt like talking for a second, okay!"

"But you are not talking. This is ridiculous."

He could hear Mike inhale and then exhale shakily. Then suddenly it hit him. The kid was upset for some reason, but he didn't want to tell Harvey what is was, maybe he was embarrassed about it. And to feel better he had called Harvey. That must be it. He could hear Mike breathing deeply again, and got an image of Mike alone at his place clutching the phone to his ear, while Harvey was calling him ridiculous.

"Well…" He hurried to continue sparing Mike from answering "Did I tell you about the time when me and Donna took on a case involving a prince?"

"No…"

"It was early in my career at Pearson Hardman and I was just about to…"

He told the story as detailed as he could, and after that he told Mike about another memorable case and another. After that the kid seemed okay with hanging up, so they did. Harvey himself had trouble falling asleep after that. He just hoped that Mike had better luck.

The next day at the office neither of them mention their late night phone call. Mike pretended that it never happened and Harvey did the same. However when evening came he asked Mike if he wanted to crash at his couch again. For a moment Mike looked excited, but then hesitant and he declined.

"No, thanks Harvey. I think I'm just going to head home. I can take care of myself Harvey."

"Are you sure? I don't mind having you over you know."

"Yeah, really? You don't?"

"No Mike, if I did I would tell you."

"No you wouldn't." Mike smiled. "Maybe tomorrow? I have to go to the hospital again."

"Sure."

Mike didn't call that night, and Harvey debated whether he should call the kid himself or not. In the end he didn't. If Mike needed him he would call. At least that was what Harvey thought.

The next day at the office started slow. Mike hadn't arrived yet. He was about thirty minutes late and Harvey didn't know whether he needed to worry or not. He checked his phone again. No message from Mike. Harvey had already called him and texted him, but he didn't pick up and hadn't replied yet. He had this strange feeling in his stomach, but he didn't know what to make of it.

"Harvey? What's up with you? You seem distracted. You are checking your phone every minute. Is it Mike?" Donna stepped into his office.

"Yeah, of course it is Mike. He is not answering his damn phone and he is supposed to be here by now."

"When was the last time you talked to him?"

"Yesterday evening at the office."

"What if something has happened then? Harvey, what if he collapsed again?"

"Yeah, I know. That's why I'm checking my phone Donna."

"You should head over there now Harvey, or I will do it."

"Okay, I'm going. But I am going to be pissed if he just overslept."

"But you don't think he did?"

"No, I don't." Harvey sighed. "Cancel my morning meetings."

"It's done. Go, look after him!"

"I knew that this would happen. I let him go home and be by himself. Of course something will happen, he really can't look after himself."

"Harvey, come on. It's not his fault. Now, go!"

And Harvey did. Mike didn't open his door when Harvey rang the doorbell. Mike had given him a key two weeks ago though. You know, if something were to happen he had said. Harvey figured that this counted as that something.

He had tried to call Mike two more times in the car on the way to the kid. But Mike didn't answer, and Harvey's concern grew. Something was wrong.

He unlocked the door and called out for Mike. No one responded and he stepped in and looked around in the cramped apartment. At first he didn't see Mike, it was dim since no lights were on. But then he saw him and his heart froze. For a second he just stood there, staring, but then he rushed forward and fell down on his knees next to Mike. Mike was laying on his stomach, with his head turned against the door. What shocked Harvey so much when he saw him was that there was a pool of blood around his whole face. It had saturated the carpet underneath Mike and dried across his nose and mouth. His eyes were closed.

The first thing Harvey did was to check is Mike had a pulse, and if he was breathing. Thankfully he was, as he pressed two fingers hard against the other man's throat he could feel a steady pulse. Mike didn't react at all though, even when Harvey called his name. What had happened? And where did all the blood come from. He didn't dare to move Mike yet because what if something was seriously wrong. He could make it worse. Harvey hauled out his phone from his pocket and hastily dialed 911. He explained as much as he needed and could and was promised help within a few minutes. When he hang up he didn't know what to do. He had told them about the blood, and they had agreed that it was best not to move him too much if it wasn't necessary.

Too often now a days Harvey felt at a loss of what to do. It was something that he wasn't used to. But on the other hand it was all new situations for him to deal with. He wondered how it was for Mike. Everything was new to him as well. Mike had barely asked him for anything. He hadn't really asked for help, except that time when Harvey failed to show up at the hospital. He still didn't like to think about that.

"Mike, can you hear me? Mike!" He tried, but in wain. The kid wouldn't wake up. He was so pale. Harvey had no idea of what was going on. It was so much blood too. That couldn't be good. Had he fallen somehow and hit himself on something. He was lying next to his couch, but it wasn't much nearby that he could have hurt himself on. Maybe he hit the floor? Harvey went to opened the door for the paramedics, so that they would know where to go, then he went back to the kid.

He had knew that something was wrong. Why hadn't he acted sooner? He should have called Mike last night. What if he had been like this yesterday? And what if Harvey hadn't decided to come and check on him. He stopped himself, it was no point in going there.

The paramedics arrived a while later and after a quick assessment, they carefully turned Mike around on his back and placed him on a gurney. Harvey got to ride with them in the ambulance. He kept out of the way, and was pretty quiet. He was assured that there was not that serious, Mike however didn't wake.

He called Donna from the waiting room at the hospital, and she arrived there twenty minutes later.

"Harvey! What happened? How is he?" Was the first thing she said as soon as she saw him.

"I don't know Donna. They haven't said anything yet."

"Is that blood?" She pointed on his hands. He hadn't had time to wash them yet. "Is it?" She asked when he didn't answer straight away.

"Yeah, it is Donna." She gasped. "But I don't think it is that bad."

"How can you say that? You have Mike's blood all over you."

"Donna, please…" He said tiredly. "I think most of it came from his nose. It was a nosebleed."

"Most of it?"

"I don't know Donna. I found him on the floor unconscious and I called an ambulance. We came here and I called you."

They waited another hour before a physician came out and spoke to them. It turned out that all the blood had been from a nosebleed, and the most likely reason as to that Mike was unresponsive had been caused by the blood loss. He wasn't sure yet, on what was causing the nosebleed. They would look into it. Mike still wasn't awake, but they were welcome to sit with him.

"When can he leave?" Harvey asked.

"Not yet. That's all I can say for now. His physician, Anton Lundin is on his way, and he will know more about that. Mister Ross is going to be moved to the cancer ward later."

Harvey nodded and Donna thanked him. They were lead to Mike's room by a nurse. Donna gasped at the sight of him. He was pale and looked small on the bed in front of them.

"Oh my god, Harvey. Look at him!" She stepped closer while Harvey lingered back. "Oh sweetie." She whispered and stroke his cheek. Mike had padding inserted in both of his nostrils. Even from his distance Harvey could see a few blood stains on the kid's hospital gown. Why hadn't they changed that? He was also attached to several machines and a couple of tubes disappeared from site under his gown. He was breathing steadily and it looked like he was just sleeping.

Mike didn't wake up for a couple of more hours. Harvey sent Donna back to the office, even though she protested a lot, but he told her that he needed someone he trusted there to keep things under control and she agreed with that. He knew that she didn't want to leave Mike, but he promised to call her as soon as the kid woke up.

When Mike did wake up he was groggy and seemed to be tired. He only opened his eyes halfway and groaned when Harvey tried to get him to wake up more.

"I'm tired Harvey. Leave me alone." He groaned and put a hand over his eyes to block out the light of the room.

"You have been sleeping way too long now. On office hours as well I'll remind you." Harvey said.

"Come on… I don't even know why I'm here again. What happened?" He was a bit more alert now.

"You didn't come in for work so I went and found you on the floor. You are so stupid."

"What? Why?"

"I can't leave you alone for a day, kid."

"I…I was…What?"

"Your doctor thinks that you started a nosebleed that lead you to pass out."

"Yeah…I remember bleeding. It wouldn't stop Harvey." Mike looked up at him. "I couldn't get it to stop. I tried everything."

"You are okay now. They stopped it for you." Harvey stood up. "Your doctor wants to talk to you, and I have to give Donna a call and let her know that you are okay."

"Okay."

– SUITS –

Mike watched as Harvey left his room. He felt so tired and confused. The last thing he remembered was that his nose had been bleeding. When it first started he hadn't thought much about it. It started some time before he went to bed. He had gone and put some paper in his nose to stop it. It had worked for a while, but then he had woken up some time during the night of that his pillow was wet. He had been shocked when he turned the lights on and discovered that his white pillow now had a big dark red stain on it. His the bits of paper that he had shoved up his nose had both fallen out, and was in his bed. It was all very messy. He felt a bit faint when he stood up to go and take care of the mess. He was not prepared when the room was spinning wildly when he started walking. He must have fainted sometime after that, because that was the last thing he remembered. That was some bad nosebleed.

It was Dr. Lundin who stepped into his room a few minutes after Harvey had left. They talked a bit about what had happened, and Mike got to explain what happened and the doctor told him the probable reason for it all. It was apparently a pretty common side effect, nose bleeds.

"Mike, I have another thing I would like to discuss with you."

"Okay… What?"

They were interrupted before the doctor had time to continue. Harvey opened the door and stepped right inside.

"Mike, Donna told me to tell you that she will have your ass the next time she sees you, for causing her to worry." He looked up and noticed Dr. Lundin, watching him. "Oh, sorry. I'm I interrupting? Do you want me to step out again?"

"Well…" The doctor started. "No, it's fine." Mike said. "He can stay." If this was more bad news he wanted Harvey there.

"Okay…" The doctor started and looked at Harvey with an expression that Mike couldn't read and that caused Harvey to shift a bit on the spot.

"Mike, it is not advisable for you to continue to live alone anymore." He continued.

"What do you mean I can't live alone? I'm a grown up, I can take care of myself." Mike defensively said. Because that was true. He was and he could.

"I understand that this is difficult to hear Mike, but if you will let me continue."

"Come on, it was just a nose bleed. It was no big deal, you said so yourself."

"Mike." Harvey said suddenly. It caused him to stop talking. His boss nodded towards the doctor in a gesture that clearly said, shut up and listen. So he did.

"Thank you. This time it was just a nose bleed. But Mike, what if you suffer from a problem related to your heart when you are alone? Michael, if your heart stops and you are alone it may have much more serious consequences. Therefor you can't live alone anymore. I'm sorry to be so blunt, but that's the honest truth about your situation right now."

"What? You are serious?" Mike stared at his doctor.

"Mike, suggestion is that you move in with someone, and if that's not possible we will figure out a solution for you here."

"What, so I would have to stay here then?" Mike started to breathe faster. He had been afraid of this.

"Mike, you need to realize just how serious your situation is at this point."

"Yeah, I do. I realize that it is serious. But I don't want to live at the hospital."

"I understand that, but you also told me earlier that you don't have a family…"

Mike looked away.

"We would set you up in your own room, and if you are well enough you might be able to leave during the day…"

"No." Mike said quietly. "I don't want to live here, I don't…"

"He can live with me."

It was Harvey. He had been quiet until now, and just listened. But now he stepped closer. He had his attention focused on Dr. Lundin.

"What?!" Mike exclaimed at the same time as the doctor said "Oh!"

"Maybe you two need to talk about this first." The doctor said.

"What is there to talk about?" Harvey stated. Mike just stared at him. Was he serious?

"Harvey, he is right. This is a big deal, you can't just rush into it."

"I'm not rushing into it. You practically already live at my place, and I this way I can keep an eye on you. I don't want a repeat of yesterday. Do you, Mike?" Harvey confronted him.

"No, I don't. But I also think you should consider what this means…I mean, I will be there all the time. You can't do what you do otherwise if I'm there. And besides, I…" He paused for a moment. "I can't ask that of you." He whispered that last part. It was true. It was no way he could ask this of Harvey. He couldn't move in with Harvey, his boss!

"And what is it that you think I do when you are not there?" Harvey interrupted his thoughts.

"Eh…you know…"

"Yeah, good point." Harvey turned to the doctor again. "He will be staying with me." He said, and it was apparently decided. Mike thought he did best in not protesting. Not while the doctor was still in the room.

"Well, that is just fantastic. I suggest that we have a discussion later during the day." Dr. Lundin turned back to Mike. "If you feel up for it, Mike. You can leave later in the afternoon. Do you have any other questions?" Mike hadn't, and he and Harvey was left alone.

"Thank you Harvey."

"You are welcome, kid." Harvey said kindly smiling at him. It was a bit weird.

"You can just drop me of at my place later. I'll be fine."

Harvey stopped smiling immediately. "Are you kidding?"

"What?"

"Didn't you get what we just talked about? You are done living on your own."

"What, you were serious? I thought you just said that to bail me out just now. Harvey, you don't have to do this."

"Mike. I'm doing it. You are doing it."

"No!"

"Yes."

"I can't, I can't do that."

Harvey sat down again. "Why not Mike? Explain it to me. It's okay."

It was first then that Mike noticed that his whole body was shaking and that he was breathing rapidly. Harvey looked a bit worried. He tried to calm down. If he just could explain to Harvey.

"You don't have to take me in." He started when he felt somewhat in control again. "I can't possibly ask that of you."

"You don't have to ask kid, I'm offering."

"I can't accept."

"Yes you can. What the hell are you so afraid of?"

Mike paused. Afraid of? He wasn't afraid, was he? Or maybe he was. He didn't want to bother Harvey too much. What if Harvey got tired of him being there all the time? He knew that he was getting worse. He could feel it. And if he was honest with himself, it was nothing more he wanted then to move in with Harvey. It would be amazing to not have to worry so much, to have someone else there to help him if he needed it, to have company, to be able to feel like he wasn't alone. And also, what the doctor had said had scared him a lot. What if he actually did get some heart problem when he was alone? What if his heart stopped or something? He would die.

But what if Harvey did get tired of him? What if he did or said something to piss Harvey off? He would probably do that. What would happen then? Harvey would kick him out, and he would have nothing and no one. At least if they didn't spend that much time together it would still be okay.

"Mike, you with me?"

"Yeah…"

"So?"

He hesitated. Should he tell Harvey all this, what he just had been thinking? He then remembered the night when he had told Harvey about the cancer. You'll get through this. We will. Harvey had told him. We.

"It's too much to ask for. I mean I will only get worse from now on. I will probably need a lot more help, and…and I can't, I don't want to ask that of you."

"Mike, listen to me. I want to do this. I want to help you. Don't you get that? So what if you will need more help later, I'll do it. Or I will call Donna and have her do it." He smirked a bit. "Don't worry, would you? You do that too much already."

"You really think it would be okay?"

Harvey sighed dramatically. "Yes, I do. But you know, I'm kind of getting tired of this conversation, so I'm about to change my mind."

"Oh…that's…"

"Mike, god. I was kidding. We are doing this."

"Oh, okay…" He was getting confused.

"Don't mention it at work though. It is a bit weird, having an employee live with you might not be considered appropriate." He laughed a bit at his own joke. He sobered up when Mike didn't laugh.

"It's okay Mike." He said again. And Mike believed him. Harvey was okay with it. He felt both happy and relieved. He also felt that his eyes were starting to water. Shit, Harvey was going to laugh at that. He blinked furiously to stop it. But Harvey turned away. Mike suspected it was for his benefit.

He didn't know how this had happened. Had he really agreed to it all? Apparently so, because Harvey said that he was going to go and take care of some stuff at work and be back later to pick him up. He said that they could swing by Mike's place and pick some stuff up for him, if he was up for it. He was left alone after that. Apparently he would be moving in with Harvey.

– SUITS –

Harvey sat at his desk at the office and thought about the near future. He was going to leave soon and pick up his new roommate. He had never had a roommate before. Not that this would be a normal roommate. He was doing it because he didn't want Mike to have to stay at the hospital. It had been so depressing to think about it. Mike with his own room at the hospital, heading there after work and getting hooked up on IV-drops for the night, all alone. No, he would never let that happen. Mike was his responsibility after all. He also kind of wanted the kid close by so he could keep an eye on him. If he was at his place he wouldn't have to worry about how Mike was doing at night when they left after work. Because he did worry. A lot. Not that he would admit it of course, but he did. Of course he did, Mike had heart cancer for god sakes. It was normal to worry about something like that. He was normal.

He found himself actually looking forward to Mike living with him. It wasn't going to be all bad, with nosebleeds and side effects. The kid made good company. They would joke around or argue, watch movies. He didn't get at first why Mike was so reluctant. But then he got it, Mike didn't feel like he could ask of Harvey to be there through the other stuff, through the bad that was going to come. But Harvey intended to be. Hopefully Mike would get that soon. Or he would show him.

There were other stuff that went with the whole Mike-moving-in-with-him thing. First of all, he should probably get the kid a real bed. He couldn't be sleeping on the couch all the time. It was probably going to do him any favors.

He had stuff to take care of.

– SUITS –

The story is progressing. Mike is going to get worse from now on, but I guess he is in good hands. What do you think?
Thanks for the reviews and the followings!