set during 4.15 (intent)

High Stakes

Harvey could feel it since the second he set foot in his office. Everything that's been happening was new to him, and he hated it because this was the kind of change that could possibly throw him off his game.

Waiting for him, earlier that week, seated on his couch, was a Donna Paulsen that he rarely had to deal with — the one that is all too vulnerable, shaken, not one step ahead of everything. Her, drawing strength from him when it was usually the other way around.

It's not that he didn't want her seeking strength and comfort from him, but Harvey knew that giving in anytime now wasn't ideal.

He cares about her.

He'd said that out loud a little too much in the span of a week. And it's exactly the reason why this isn't the time to risk being blindsided by any emotion he'd be damned if he ever had to acknowledge he had in him.

If there was one thing that remained the same, though... it was her unwavering faith in him to save the day.

It's been a few days of those ups and downs between him and Donna until she must've reached her lowest point and eventually walked to him. All just her.

Completely raw. No Donna sass. No armor. Not radiating any sense of hope nor strength that she would usually offer.

Because this time it was her who needed all of those things. It was her who needed protecting and assurance that she would be fine. Both of which he would do everything to give her, just not in the way she wanted him to right now.

"Harvey, this is my life!" Donna exclaimed, petrified, seeking nothing more but him.

And it took Harvey all his remaining resolve to not scream it back at her — his own truth and the very reason why he's just as anxious as she is with the situation they've found themselves in.

It is mine, too.