Chapter 46.
Mike was having a good time at the restaurant with Harvey. He almost felt normal, except that he was wearing glasses. That was a bit unusual, but if it meant that he could read the menu he was fine with it. Harvey was a bit quiet, but was looking intently at him with some weird smile on his face, so Mike left it alone.
Things were actually looking a bit brighter, literally, at this time. He hadn't been feeling that bad lately except for the blindness that had been awful. Now when he could see again he felt like a big difference.
Donna came to see them the next day. She brought lunch with her. She just let herself in and called out a hallo for them as she walked over to the kitchen to put the food down. Harvey was working and nodded at her. Mike was on the couch watching TV.
"Nice to see you Donna!" He called, smiling. He hadn't actually seen her in about three weeks.
"Mike! Can you see?" Donna exclaimed and came up to him.
"Eh, yeah I can."
"That's really great news Mike." She said. "And I do have to say you look rather dashing in glasses."
"Yeah, I do right!" Mike exclaimed, smirking. "They are just temporary though. I might get rid of them in a week or so."
"You should keep them. It makes you look smart." She teases and they spend five minutes where Mike is claiming that he already is. Smart that is. Donna disagrees somewhat.
Mike finds that he enjoys this. Having lunch with Harvey and Donna, talking about cases, the office, and Mike's newest nurse. She was cute, but Harvey says he doesn't have a chance. "She was checking me out more than she was paying attention to you."
"Well, that's not fair I wasn't able to see her properly."
Mike didn't really agree with Harvey when he considered himself as wining the argument, but he let him believe that. He found himself just sitting there listening to Harvey and Donna as they started to discuss something work related. This was what is was like to have a family, he thought. Harvey and Donna was his family now. He could trust them to help him. Help him with everything. Harvey had proved that he was prepared to do that. It was such a relief to know that. It relieved a great amount of stress. He thought it was the same with Donna. However when it got really bad he rather have Harvey there than her. For both their sakes. He wanted to spare Donna from the worst. Harvey could handle it he knew now, even when he didn't know how to handle it himself, Harvey had known what to do.
He was so grateful to be able to see. It terrified him that it would happen again though. He had decided to really talk through the medication he was given with his doctors, he needed to make sure that this wouldn't happen again. It had been scary enough. He really hated the dark. As soon as he had been able to distinguish any type of light he had kept it on, even when he slept. He did not want to wake up in the dark. However it seemed like Harvey didn't get that, because when he woke up this morning the lights were out. It was morning, and the sun was up, so he didn't freak out, but still what if he woke up during the night?
Unfortunately he forgot to tell Harvey about that. That he preferred to have the lights on now. Of course he woke up from a nightmare the next night, only to discover that everything was pitch black. He panicked immediately. He just freaked out. He couldn't even think. He just screamed, because it was back! He was blind again. It was the only thought that took up his mind. He was blind! It was so dark.
His heart was beating so hard his chest hurt, he couldn't breathe! He was dying, this was going to kill him. He screamed again. He was barely aware of doing so, it just slipped out of him. He clawed at his eyes and squirmed around on the bed trying to get up. This couldn't be happening.
Then Harvey was there.
"Mike! Mike! Mike? What's wrong? What is it?" Harvey was saying. Mike was busy trying to just breathe to be able to answer him at first.
Harvey was there, right next to him. "What is it? Talk to me! Breathe, Mike."
Mike grasped for him, he couldn't see him. "D-d-dark!" He managed to get out.
"Shit!" Harvey swore next to him and he left. Then light! He could see, he blinked, and then wanted to sob in relief when he realized that he actually wasn't blind. Harvey sat down, fumbled with something, and then put a hand behind Mike's head to keep him still. He then proceeded with putting Mike's glasses on him.
"There you go. You can see now right Mike? You are okay. The lights were just out. You are fine." Harvey rambled next to him as Mike tried desperately to catch his breath. Harvey kept his arm around his back, he was stroking his arm, up and down. Up and down. Up and down. Mike focused only on that motion that Harvey was making on his arm. He did so until he could breathe again.
"You feel better?" Harvey asked him and he nodded.
"I thought…" Mike mumbled.
"You thought you were blind again?"
He just nodded.
"Well, you aren't. It's just nighttime." Harvey spoke to him as he was a child. He did just have a panic attack because the lights in his room were out, so he shouldn't say anything. "You scratched yourself." Harvey said quietly as he turned Mike's face against him. He still had a hand around Mike. Mike didn't want him to let go, ever.
But then as his breathing started to even out more, he started to feel embarrassed and unsure on what to do next. He did not want to go back asleep that was for sure. Harvey would want him to though. Harvey most certainly just wanted to head back to his own bed, not sit there with Mike who freaked out just because he didn't have a night light. He couldn't believe he was acting like this. Panicking, yelling and Harvey had said that he had scratched himself. He hadn't been aware he had done that.
"You feel better now? You are still shaking." Harvey eventually asked him. Mike should just answer yes and let Harvey leave. He hadn't even been aware that he was shaking. He tried to force himself to stop. This wasn't a big deal. You weren't supposed to be scared of the dark. He wasn't blind anymore either. He should be able to just let it go.
"Mike?" Harvey shook him a little. Mike nodded then.
"Good, that's good." Harvey mumbled and removed himself from Mike side. Mike felt like he was breaking in two. He didn't say a word.
"How about we leave this on? Huh?" Harvey said and turned on one of the lamps by the desk. "Lay back down Mike. We should get a few more hours of sleep."
Mike stiffly did what Harvey told him to do. What else could he do?
"You think you will be able to get back to sleep?" Harvey asked him next and held out his hand to take Mike's glasses again. He wouldn't need them now.
Mike just shrugged. He knew he wasn't going to be able to do that within the next few hours. Not in the way he was feeling right now.
"You want me to stay until you can?" Harvey quietly said. Mike didn't answer. He didn't want to say either yes or no to that question. Didn't Harvey know the answer already? Harvey didn't say anything after that, but he did stay.
– SUITS –
It took Mike about an hour to fall back asleep after the panic attack. Harvey had learnt his lesson. It had been idiotic to turn off the lights in Mike's room. He would have to by some new lamp that they could have in the corner that would be on at all times. That would probably be helpful from now on.
Harvey had gotten about five hours of sleep. He didn't want to admit it, but he was pretty exhausted. Donna had brought him some work yesterday. Although no one had said something he felt the pressure of actually accomplish some results concerning work. He had seen the e-mails he had gotten from less than happy clients. They were questioning him for being handed off to other people at the firm. He hadn't told any of them of Mike, but had given personal reasons as an explanation of his absence. Donna had handled most of his displeased clients for now, but she had mentioned yesterday that she wasn't sure of how long they would buy her carefully considered bullshit as she put it. She said that they needed him to contact them, give them proof of life or whatever. She had a point. He would have to make some sort of effort to keep his clients happy for a while longer. Not all of them complained, most where satisfied with what Louis and Jessica's work, but not all.
Harvey's plan was have Donna make some sort of list of the clients he needed to priorities and then call them, or maybe give them a visit to reassure them. He just had to wait until Mike was a bit more stable. The kid seemed to be a bit better now when he could see again. Like the return of his sight had lifted his spirit enough to affect his health. They just had to hope it lasted.
"Harvey?" Mike's voice reached him from behind his back where he was in one of the arm chairs.
"Yeah?"
"What the hell is this?" Mike asked and Harvey turned around to see what he was holding. He smirked a bit.
"What do you think?"
"It's a baby monitor?!"
Harvey just gave him a nod.
"Seriously? You put a baby monitor in my room?"
"Yes, I did. So? Sue me." Harvey said, containing himself from laughing. Mike groaned and slumped down on the couch. He hadn't changed clothes and was wearing his glasses and one of the knitted hats Donna had provided.
"I could you know," He muttered. "I have cause! Invasion of privacy."
"Would never work."
Mike huffed. "Why did you do it? It's kind of creepy."
"Why do you think?" Harvey sighed and raised an eyebrow at him. Mike glared at him a bit, but then his expression changed.
"To be able to know if I needed you. That's why you knew to come last night." He quietly stated. Harvey just looked at him.
Mike shook his head. "Fine." He said. "But it's still creepy. And why did you have to choose this one? They have to have more sophisticated monitors than this? This one is what? Baby blue?" he waved the device around.
"It works fine. And also I didn't pick it out, Donna did. She must have thought it suited you."
Mike grumbled something that Harvey couldn't hear and after a trip to the kitchen to take his meds went back to his room. Later when Harvey went to check on him he found the monitor back at its original place and Mike fast asleep on the bed. Harvey smiled. Apparently Mike had thought it was a good idea after all. Maybe he felt comforted by knowing that Harvey would be able to hear him if he needed help. They didn't speak any more of it after that and Harvey was relieved. Whenever Mike was out of his sight and in his room Harvey would have to other device close to him, just in case.
Two days later Harvey dropped Mike off at the hospital with Rachel as company and went to the office. When he sat down at his desk it almost felt strange. He wasn't used to this, being here, working. Donna had printed him a list and he got to work. He ended up calling all of them. It yielded both good and bad results, most of his clients were understanding when he promised that if they needed it he would get things done, even though he wasn't as present as he normally was. Hopefully they wouldn't need anything within the near future. Some of the calls were not that successful. One client based in Boston he talked with for almost an hour and wasn't sure he had gotten anywhere when he hung up.
There was one thing that lingered in his thoughts during almost every phone call. That was Mike, of course. Every call reminded him why he needed to do this. How insignificant all of this was compared to the work he was doing at his own apartment. Taking care of Mike, making sure he was taking all his meds, that he was eating and sleeping, that he wasn't in pain, that he got to the hospital okay, that he didn't feel scared. All of those tasks were just so much more important than what he was doing now at work. He almost wanted to scream at some of his clients. He wanted to yell at them that there were other things in life that mattered so much more than keeping a million dollar company from getting sued for some bullshit that they had brought onto themselves.
He didn't do that of course. He didn't think anyone would benefit from him doing that, except for him feeling satisfied for a minute or two. Hopefully he had prevented the worst crises among his clients now at least. If Mike kept feeling okay he could maybe bring the kid with him to work a couple of hours during the day. He didn't think Mike would mind, not if he was feeling alright.
If Mike was feeling alright it meant that he would get bored. When he wasn't at his best the kid slept a lot and didn't demand any entertainment, but if he was better, maybe coming to work would do him good.
Harvey and Mike hadn't talked much about that the treatment didn't go as they wanted. While Mike was blind they talked some of it, but not much. And that hadn't been that constructive talks either.
Mike was getting treated, another round of both chemo and radiation. It wasn't sure that it was going to work, but what else could they do? But now when Mike felt better it was like they were lulled in some sort of false sense of security. That things were in fact fine, and that Mike's heart wasn't a ticking bomb. But as long as the doctors were prepared to keep going that was what they were doing. Harvey honestly preferred not think about it, but it was there.
When Harvey got home that evening he found Mike and Rachel on the couch. The tv was on soundlessly and showed a cooking show. Mike was laying curled up, covered in a blanket with his head on a pillow in Rachel's lap. Rachel was stroking his back and there was a bucket on the floor next to them. Rachel wave at him and smiled tiredly. Harvey nodded at her and quickly went to get changed before joining her.
"So how are you two doing?" He asked.
Rachel smiled sadly. "He hasn't been feeling all that great. I think he was in quite a lot of pain, but he wouldn't tell me. He just fell asleep an hour ago."
"Thanks for staying with him today."
"Of course. He is my friend."
Harvey nodded. "You eat yet?" He asked. "I can make something for you as well."
Rachel seemed to hesitate for a moment, but then nodded. "That would be great Harvey. We didn't eat. Mike wasn't really up for it. He wasn't up for anything." She whispered when she spoke.
"I'll save some for him." Harvey said and then went to the kitchen as Rachel stayed where she was. When dinner was ready Harvey returned to her and asked if she needed help with getting up from underneath Mike.
"I don't want to wake him." She said.
"How about I lift him up and you slide out?" Rachel agreed to try that so Harvey did his best at lifting Mike as gently as possible and lower him back down on the pillow. He didn't stir. Rachel looked relieved when he met her eyes.
"You are really good with him, Harvey." She said as they sat opposite each other at the table.
"Thank you." Harvey simply said.
"I hope you know how much it means to him, having you by his side."
"I think I do." Harvey said as he looked towards Mike's sleeping form.
"We talked a lot today and he told me about him being blind, he said that he wouldn't have been able to handle it without you. That you kept him sane."
Harvey didn't really know what to say to that, so he kept quiet. It felt good to hear though, that Mike spoke like that. That what Harvey did was helping.
They hadn't finished eating before Mike woke up and weakly called out for him. Harvey cast an apologetic look at Rachel before getting to Mike's side. He crouched down so that he was in Mike's eye level.
"Hey there. You good?"
Mike blinked at him. His face showed a range of emotion from confusion to devastation. Harvey knew that he was in pain. Mike's lips twitched as if he was going to speak, but nothing came out. Harvey put a hand on his head for a moment.
"It's okay. Rachel and I were just over there having some dinner. I've saved you some if you are up for it later. How about some painkillers for now?"
Mike nodded a little and Harvey told him that he would be right back. Hopefully he would be able to keep them down.
"You think you can sit up? I need you to drink some." He asked Mike when he was back. After a moment Mike shook his head. Harvey squeezed his shoulder.
"Rachel, can you come over for a moment."
"No…" Mike moaned.
"Shut up." Harvey kindly told him. Rachel was there then. "I'm going to sit him up, and you help him drink some and take those. That good?" He told her.
"Of course."
"I can…I can do it." Mike breathed, but Harvey ignored him, and leaned down and pulled Mike up in a weird sort of hug. "Shit." He swore when Mike's head rolled listlessly to the side, before the kid managed to hold it up by himself. His breathing hitched and Harvey felt a twinge inside him. "I got you. It's okay." He said. He knew how much this must suck for Mike. He shuddered at the thought of being this helpless himself, needing help sitting up.
Mike quietly accepted the pills and glass of water from Rachel, her hand supporting his as he brought the glass to his lips. Harvey helped him to lay down again after that, asked if Mike needed something else and told him that they would be close if there was. Mike slept after that and Harvey and Rachel went to finish their meal.
Rachel kept glancing back towards Mike. She was barely eating.
"He will be okay soon Rachel." Harvey told her. "It's just rough after the treatment."
"I know." She said. "That doesn't make it okay though."
"He is hanging in there."
"I know that he is. It's just so hard to see him like this. He's so different from before."
Harvey nodded. "He is doing the best he can." He didn't know why he felt the need to defend Mike like this.
"I know that too Harvey, it's not like I'm blaming him or anything. It's just, lately you can really tell from the way he looks that he is sick."
Harvey could just agree. Mike looked like shit. Too skinny, to pale with too dark circles under his eyes.
They finished in mostly silence and Rachel left after getting Harvey to promise to tell Mike that she would see him soon. Harvey cleaned up after dinner, put Mike's food in the fridge and waited for him to wake up. Then he spent about an hour trying to convince Mike to eat just a few spoons of the meal.
"I'm not five." Mike grumbled after Harvey telling him to take just one more.
"Could have fooled me."
Mike was feeling a bit better and didn't throw up anymore even though he threatened to do so after every bite.
The next day was much better. Mike stumbled out in the kitchen and actually ate breakfast without Harvey having to nag him about it.
"I want to go with you to work." Mike stated.
"Not going to happen." Harvey countered.
Two hours later they were both sitting in Harvey's office. Harvey feeling just a little bit annoyed, wondering how that had happened.
"I have to seize the day, you know?" Mike had told him in the car.
Mike soon got bored since he couldn't concentrate on the file in front of him. He claimed that he was bored and would go and see if he forever had destroyed his luck with Rachel last night. Harvey just rolled his eyes at him.
"Let me know if you have a heart attack!" he called after him and smirked when Mike sighed something at him.
"It was just a joke, he knows that." He told Donna in self-defense when she stood in the doorway as soon as Mike was out of sight.
She ignored his comment and sat down in the chair that Mike had vacated.
"So I see that he is doing better now, if you let him bully you into coming to the office."
"How do you know it wasn't my suggestion he came." Harvey grumbled. She just gave him a look.
"I have something I want to talk to you about." She said instead.
"Okay." Harvey looked expectantly at her.
"Do you know what day it is next week?" She asked.
"Eh…"
"It's Mike's birthday."
"That's next week?"
"Yes. What are you going to do about it?"
"Well, I don't know. I'll guess we will have to celebrate somehow."
"We should Harvey. We should do something nice for him. We don't know what will happen in the future."
He knew what she meant. She meant that they didn't know if this was going to be Mike's last birthday or not. They should celebrate because what if it was? Mike deserved to celebrate his birthday even if he hadn't been sick too of course, it just felt more important now. He still didn't like that implication.
He nodded anyway. "What do you have in mind?"
– SUITS –
Rachel seemed happy to see him, but he could tell that she was busy. She just didn't want him to know. He felt a bit annoyed by that. Earlier she would have told him to leave in the door if she had been busy, now she was nice to him and made small talk, asked if he had been eating. The thing was that he didn't feel deadly ill at the moment. Except for feeling a bit shaky and unsteady on his feet he felt fine. He hadn't told Harvey that he fell on the floor when he tried to rise from his bed this morning. Harvey didn't need to know everything, and besides after a few minutes on the floor without any injuries to speak of he had managed to get up and go and have breakfast, without Harvey noticing anything.
Sometimes he just wanted them to act normal with him, but he wasn't going to tell them that because sometimes he also wanted comfort and reassurance. He was working hard on accepting that. If he could, things would be easier, he wouldn't feel so damn conflicted and unsure.
He had been weak as a kitten last night. He had fallen asleep in Rachel's lap. It felt kind of embarrassing now, but then he had really needed her. Now though, he could tell that she needed him to leave.
"Well, I think I will go and bother someone else." He announced and made to stand up, just to have his knees buckle under him.
"Mike!" Rachel dashed for him and managed to catch his arm and get him back in the chair. He had to close his eyes to stop his head from spinning. Shit. What just happened?
"Are you okay? Mike?"
He held up a hand to get her to give him a minute. She waited with a hand still on his arm. He carefully opened his eyes to see if the world was still again. It was.
"I'm fine. I just got a bit dizzy." He told Rachel.
"Are you sure? It looked like you were about to pass out."
"No, I wasn't. I just got dizzy." He repeated. "I'm fine. I promise." He smiled at her.
"Mike…" She clearly didn't believe him, because she didn't let go of him when he made another attempt at getting up. He managed to get his feet under him this time, and reassured Rachel that he was good. "See? I'm standing."
He could feel her eyes on him when he walked away. He decided to drop in on Louis for a bit. It was a while ago since he had seen him, and Louis had been pretty nice to him then. At least he thought so. Louis was deeply concentrated and didn't look up at him when Mike stepped into the older man's office.
"Hi Louis." He said.
"Mike! Oh my god! You are here!" Louis almost fell out of his chair at the sight of him. "You look like shit!" He then exclaimed. "Do you need help?" he came closer and reached out for Mike, who quickly stumbled back a few steps.
"I'm fine Louis, but thanks for the vote of confidence." He grumbled. Did he really look that bad?
"What can I do for you?" Louis said, still a bit too close.
"I was just checking in. Wanted to see what you were working on."
"Did Harvey send you?"
"What? No! I'm fine. I don't need any help Louis."
"Okay, okay. Just let me know if you do."
Mike stood there for a second, suddenly unsure on what to do now. "So…" He started.
"You want to help me go through this suit I have against this fake Lego company?" Louis interrupted him then.
"Fake what? Sure!"
Harvey called him two hours later. He had had a pretty nice time with Louis, the case he was working on was pretty exciting.
"Where the hell are you?" Harvey sounded pissed. "I've looked everywhere for you!"
"What? Where?"
"Well… Rachel's office, the bathroom and the cubicles."
"Is that your definition of everywhere?"
"Just get back here." Harvey hung up.
"Well, I better go." Mike told Louis. He carefully stood up, leaning against Louis desk, just in case.
"You okay?" Louis asked. Mike stood with his head down for a moment. He didn't know where the dizziness were coming from. It passed a while later though, but he still felt unsteady on his feet. Louis had offered to walk him back to Harvey's office. Mike felt himself blush before he managed to get out of there. He did have to pause though, and lean against the wall for a minute.
"Mike? Are you doing alright, man?" What was with people? This time it was one of his follow associates who asked.
"Sure, thanks." He walked away before the other could say anything else.
"Do I really look that bad?" Mike sighed when he stepped into Harvey's office.
"Yes you do. About time you got here. Where were you? You need to take this!" Harvey threw a bottle of pills at him. "With food." He added and pointed towards the table on his right. What looked like a healthy lunch was set up for him there.
"Okay, okay." Mike groaned. "You did this?" He smirked. "Even a fruit salad for desert."
"It was Donna. Just eat it."
He wasn't that hungry, but ate anyway since Harvey would stop glaring at him every time he put his fork down.
"You really should eat more." Harvey remarked twenty minutes after Mike had managed to sneak away from the table to the couch.
"I can't, it's cold now."
"You are going to starve to death."
"Harvey!" Donna's voice came through the intercom.
They left a while later. Mike had a hospital visit planned and Harvey went with him. Mike casually mentioned the dizziness when he was alone with his doctor and was told that it was common, but to let them know if it got worse.
It didn't really get worse during the next few days, it just forced him to sit a while longer and prepare before he stood up. If he didn't stand up too fast he was okay.
However it didn't go away because it happened when he was just walking. He was heading to the bathroom when he suddenly felt like the world suddenly tipped to its side. He stumbled into the wall before he could right himself up.
It was two days away from his birthday now and Mike felt kind of nervous about it. For the first time in a few years he actually wanted to celebrate it. He hadn't had that desire before and hadn't actually celebrated it or gotten a gift since he lived with Grammy. Sure he had taken a drink with Trevor a few times but that was about it.
It was different now because he was sick. He had to face the possibility of this being his last birthday. And if this was the last, he wanted to celebrate it. Right now he didn't know what to do about that. How to bring it up with Harvey or someone else around him. Could he? Could he be like, hey Harvey can we celebrate my birthday this year just in case I don't make it to the next?
He supposed he could, Harvey probably wouldn't say no. He was pretty sure Harvey would say yes and do something nice for him, but he didn't know what to say, how to bring it up so he didn't. He just thought he would do it the next day, but before he knew it was his birthday tomorrow.
He and Harvey was sitting on the couch and watching a movie, however all Mike could think of was tomorrow. He still hadn't brought it up and after the movie Harvey would want to go to bed. He had been obsessing this for some time now. What to say? Harvey's reaction? How it would feel to actually say it? He just wished it hadn't have to be like that. It felt pathetic to have to ask for being celebrated. It shouldn't have to be like that.
"Alright, let's go to bed." Harvey said. The movie was over. He had missed his change. He decided it was too late anyway. He tried to tell himself it didn't matter anyway. It was just a birthday. Whatever. Maybe he could mention something to Harvey tomorrow. Maybe they could at least go to a restaurant or something.
He had a hard time in bed that night. He wished that Harvey could have stayed this time. Mike had been fine lately, but not tonight. He wished Harvey was there now because he didn't want to go to sleep like this. His heart ached. He glanced at the baby monitor that still stood at the nightstand. It would be so easy to just call out to Harvey and he would come, but that would mean that he would have to explain why he was upset, why he just wanted some company. But he didn't want to talk about it, so he remained quiet.
It took him hours to fall asleep.
– SUITS –
Harvey had everything prepared. He stood for a minute and watched what he had set up on the counter. It looked good, the only thing that was missing now was Mike. He was still asleep, but Harvey decided it was time to wake him up.
He peaked into the kid's room and saw that he was indeed asleep, on his back with one arm over his chest.
"Mike?"
Nothing. Harvey rolled his eyes and tried again. And this time Mike blinked awake.
"What?" he hoarsely slurred.
"Good morning."
"Hi." Mike closed his eyes again.
"How did you sleep?"
"Okay." Was the only answer he got, Mike didn't even open his eyes. Harvey stood there feeling a bit stupid, because it was obviously clear that Mike had no desire of getting up. He also got that nervous feeling of worry that something was wrong. He decided it was time to do something different. So he walked over and sat down on the bed and put his hand on Mike's shoulder. Mike opened his eyes in surprise.
"It's time to get up Mike. I've made breakfast."
Mike stared at him. "I'm not really hungry."
"Too bad. Come on."
"Fine." Mike groaned. He sat up slowly and stayed at the edge of the bed for a few minutes before he was ready to stand up.
Harvey led Mike out into the living room and then towards the table. Mike stopped as he laid his eyes on it. Carefully placed out next to breakfast plates for both of them were four wrapped gifts.
"What is this?" Mike stared at the table.
"What do you think Mike?" Harvey smiled. "Happy birthday kid!" He patted Mike's shoulder. Mike looked at him as if he was crazy, before he looked back at the table, eyes wide.
"You… It's for me?" He then asked quietly.
"No, it's for me. What do you think? Of course it's for you." Harvey rolled his eyes.
"Harvey…" Mike mumbled as he stumbled at few steps closer.
"Yeah, also Donna is coming over after lunch, so if you are up to it you can help with dinner. We invited Rachel, Louis and Jessica so they are showing up around six."
"What?" Mike breathed. "We…we're going to celebrate my birthday?"
"Yes Mike."
"I haven't done that in years." Mike said quietly. Harvey thought that his eyes looked a bit shiny.
"It's about time then." Harvey said and put and hand on Mike shoulder and pushed him forward to a chair. Mike complied. He sat down, but didn't move. He just stared the gifts and the food.
"Mike? You okay?" Harvey asked. He wasn't sure of the expression Mike's face were showing. He had sat himself down in front of the other man. Mike shook himself a little and then looked over at Harvey with a smile on his face.
"I can't believe you did this." He let out a laugh. "Can I open them?"
"Go ahead."
It was like his whole persona changed as Mike reached out for one of the gifts. He brought it in front of him and studied it for a second before carefully starting to peeling of the paper. But he stopped himself and looked up again.
"I can't believe you knew." He said. "Was it Donna?"
Harvey pretended to be offended. "I knew!"
"You have no idea what this means to me Harvey. Thank you." Mike said quietly holding his eyes.
"Come on. You haven't opened them yet."
Mike rolled his eyes and went back to his gift.
Harvey wanted to make another comment on how slow the kid was being but he didn't. He felt kind of nervous which made him feel stupid. He didn't want to care this much about what Mike would think about the presents he'd gotten. Someone might have said that he had been obsessing about it. Someone might even had said it, that someone being Donna at the office when he went through it with her.
"Harvey, no matter what you buy him he will love it. He adores you."
"Yes, you said that Donna, but still, what should I buy him?"
He had wanted the gifts to be meaningful and useful, but he had a hard time figuring out what that would be. Donna was probably right, Mike would like whatever he got him, but what would it be? With Mike being as sick as he was Harvey didn't know what would be useful for him. So now he watched Mike with trepidation.
"Are you kidding me?" Mike exclaimed and held out the hoodie with a print in form of a shirt and a tie. "I'll look ridiculous wearing this!" he laughed.
"No, you won't. You look dashing and still be comfortable. Those are all you wear now a days. This will give you some class."
"You're crazy. Thanks."
He went for the next gift.
"Are these real? That's awesome. I can't wait!" He held up two open tickets for a basketball game. They could go any time they wanted. Harvey had gone back and forth whether to get them or not. Changes were that they never were going to be able to use them. But he couldn't think like that, he refused to think like that. They would get the chance, if not now a bit later. Mike didn't say anything else just grabbed the next gifts and ripped it open. He wasn't as careful as he was at first.
"What is this? You got me a pillow?" Mike held it up and looked questioningly at Harvey.
"Yeah, I did. It's a special pillow. Look over here." Harvey turned it over to show Mike. "You plug it to your phone and you can listen to music on it."
"You got me a music pillow. Heh. Thanks." He laid his head down on it and hugged it a little. "Comfy."
"Don't fall asleep. There is one left." Harvey pushed it towards him.
Mike opened it and held the law book up. He looked at Harvey.
"That's my first one." Harvey said. "I had it all threw Harvard. Went through a lot with that one."
Mike drew a hand over the worn cover. "I can't accept this Harvey." He calmly said.
"Of course you can. I just gave it to you. It's yours. I figured you should have something real from Harvard."
"Funny. But thank you Harvey. This is really nice."
"You are welcome Mike. Now let's eat something. I'm starving. You know I did let you sleep in, since it's your birthday and all."
"And I'm grateful for that as well."
They ate while talking. Mike seemed happy but tired.
"So, is it something you want to do today then? Before the other's gets here. Anything?" Harvey asked as he was busy with cleaning away the breakfast, throwing out Mike's half eaten sandwich.
Mike thought for a while. "I would like to go outside."
"Is that what you want to do? I tell you that you can choose whatever you want, and you want to go outside?"
"I haven't been outside in like forever, Harvey."
"Well, it's not going to happen. You can't go outside."
Mike rolled his eyes. "You said anything." He muttered. Harvey sighed.
"Fine, but you are going in a wheelchair."
"You don't have a wheelchair. You returned the one you borrowed earlier."
"Donna can get one."
"Fine."
"Really?" Harvey said, he had expected to have to fight more.
"It's not that I can walk around for long anyway right now."
Harvey nodded and reached for his phone. Mike had hunched down a bit more in the chair when Harvey was down. He was reading in the law book.
"Why don't you go and lay down for a while until Donna gets here?" Harvey asked him, and Mike did.
Harvey set out to prepare for later. He had decided to cook himself for once. He couldn't remember a time when he had hosted a dinner like this. But it was nice. He looked forward to it. Mike deserved a break and to have a good time, and Harvey was planning on making that happening.
He went over to check on the kid and couldn't help but smile. Mike had changed into the suit hoodie and was sleeping on his new pillow.
Harvey had personally done a round at the office and invited his collages. They had all accepted right then and there.
– SUITS –
Mike woke up by someone shaking him gently. He blinked up into Donna's smiling face.
"Happy birthday Mike." She said and leaned over to hug him. At first he was too out of it from sleep to react, but then hugged her back.
"Thank you Donna."
"How are you feeling? Harvey said you have been tired all morning."
"Isn't still morning?"
She had brought some gifts for him as well, and after he had opened them she kept him company on his bed for a while. He felt truly happy with her sitting there by his feet. This was the happiest he had been in a long time.
He was so amazed that he actually was going to be able to celebrate his birthday today. He felt so grateful towards both Donna and Harvey. He shouldn't have doubted them like he had. He glanced over to the book on his nightstand. It was the most meaningful gift he had ever gotten. Harvey must have treasured it, and he had given it to Mike. How great was that? Donna had gotten him a warm blanket and a stylish pajamas. Both great things.
"You ready to go?" Harvey walked in to the room a while later. And they left thirty minutes after that. Mike didn't even ask how Donna had managed to come up with a wheelchair for him just like that.
He didn't like sitting in it, but had decided to just accept it. He wanted to go outside, a change of scenery and some fresh air. At least as fresh as it could get in the city. Harvey had called the hospital too and asked if it was okay that they went out, and it was encouraged.
They went to the park close to Harvey's condo, the three of them. Harvey was pushing Mike and Donna walked next to him, talking about everything and nothing.
Except for sitting in a wheelchair Mike almost felt normal, if not a bit tired. Or actually he was exhausted, but did his best to ignore it. He had been pretty successful so far.
"You want to walk by yourself for a bit?" Harvey suddenly asked. "Your doctor said it would be good for you."
Mike agreed and took Harvey's hand as the older man dragged him up. Harvey had to steady him with both hands as Mike swayed a little. For a short while he thought he was doomed to fail, but then got his legs to work. He walked along side of the path next to Harvey, Donna was manning the wheelchair. Harvey kept close to him, they even bumped into each other a few times. Mike wanted to say something but didn't. Not even when he sensed Harvey's arm behind him as he happened to stumble a little.
"You want to sit down a little?" Harvey asked. Mike nodded so they did, on a park bench close by.
Mike adjusted his hat a little and shivered a bit. He should have worn that extra sweater that Donna wanted to put on him. He scotched a bit closer to Harvey until their shoulders were touching. Harvey felt warm.
"Okay…" Harvey muttered, but stayed where he was. Donna sat down on his other side. The wheel chair standing next to her.
Donna continued their conversation from before. Mike added something once in a while, but mostly it was Harvey and Donna who talked. Mike felt himself getting more and more tired. He was pretty sure that he was going to fall asleep any minute. Eventually he just gave in and let his head rest against Harvey shoulder.
– SUITS –
"Is he sleeping?" Harvey said where he stiffly sat, Mike was heavily leaning against him.
Donna leaned forward to check. She smiled widely before fishing out her phone, got up from the bench and snapped a photo of them, before Harvey could do anything to stop her.
"Come on, Donna!" he groaned.
"What? It's cute. I'll frame it for you." She looked at the screen.
They sat there in silence for a while, both wanting to let Mike sleep. Harvey could feel the warmth from him where he pressed against his side.
Harvey had been a bit surprised when Mike had agreed to sitting in the wheel chair just to get to go outside. But apparently he really had wanted to go outside, and now here they were, kind of waiting for the kid to wake up again so they could continue. They got some weird looks from people passing by, but Harvey just stared at them until they looked away. They probably made a sight like this, but he didn't care.
Twenty minutes later Mike was still sleeping, Donna insisting on that the air was doing him good. But they decided to wake him. He blinked around with a confused look on his face when Donna shook him.
"Where are we?" He asked and leaned away from Harvey.
"In the park. You thought it was naptime so we sat down for a minute. Are you ready to head home?"
"Sure." Mike stood up, and would have fallen if Harvey hadn't caught him and got him in the wheel chair.
Mike muttered that he was fine and could walk but was ignored.
When they got back to the condo he was put on the couch and told to stay there. He complained but was asleep a few minutes later. Harvey just shook his head when he saw him. But it was good that Mike got some sleep before the others got there. It would be a plus if the person whose birthday it was, was awake.
Harvey woke him just before the others were to arrive.
"You have basically been sleeping all day." Harvey told him as he watched Mike drunkenly sit up. "Is everything alright?"
"Yeah, I was just tired I guess."
"Why are you so tired all of a sudden?"
"I don't know. I was up all night thinking last night." Mike reluctantly admitted after Harvey stared at him.
"Thinking about what?"
Mike shrugged a bit. "About today I guess." He reveled. Harvey didn't get something else out of him.
Rachel arrived first followed by Louis and Jessica. Mike was constantly smiling, albeit though a bit shyly when he accepted a gift form Jessica, a warm sweater and a classy knitted hat that went with it. They had all gotten Mike gifts of course. A couple of books from Rachel. Protein bars and a Dictaphone from Louis. Mike laughed out loud.
"What am I supposed to do with this?" he asked as he held it up.
"What can't you do?" Louis argued and went on for five minutes. Mike patiently listened.
They all had dinner after that. Healthy and light for Mike's sake. Mike ate almost like a normal person and even had half of his desert.
Harvey was pretty sure all of them involved had a great night. Mike was happy and talkative.
After desert they moved to the couch area and talked and had some tea. Tea was the only thing that Harvey offered. He didn't want Mike to feel left out in any way, so they were all having tea. No one complained. It was actually nice, sitting like that, all of them. It was something they had never done before.
Harvey could tell that Mike was getting tired. He was curled up on the couch next to Donna, leaning his head on the back of the couch. He wasn't engaged in the other's conversation, just watching them and listening. Maybe it was time to call it a night.
Harvey discreetly nodded towards Mike when he caught Donna's eyes. She got the hint of course and she and the others left shortly after that. Mike thanked them all and even hugged Louis.
Harvey followed them to the door and thanked them himself. Then he joined Mike on the couch.
"I hope you had a nice birthday today kid." He sighed. It had been a pretty long day.
"Are you kidding me?" Mike smiled. "This was the best birthday ever! Thank you Harvey. Thank you so much."
"You're welcome, Mike." Harvey smiled back.
"You know, I went to bed last night thinking I might never get another change to celebrate my birthday again and I really wanted to ask you about it. But you knew. That was the best gift."
"I'm glad Mike."
"Me too."
Harvey put his arm out and patted Mike's shoulder. "We'll celebrate again next year." He said.
"Yeah…" Mike said quietly. They fell into silence after that. When Harvey glanced over to look at Mike he saw that he was already asleep.
– SUITS –
Sorry for the long wait! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Thank you for reading and reviewing. It's very much appreciated.