Chapter Two - 25th Hour
"Louis, could we talk for a second, please?" Jessica's voice echoed whilst she entered the office of her partner.
"Jessica, we don't have much time. Today is Mike's hearing and we need to go there." He said it in the best Louis' style.
"No, Louis. We don't have much time and we don't have a hearing to go." She could see confusion all over his face.
"What the hell are you talking about? How come we don't have a hearing to go to?" He was there, staring at her trying to understand what she was saying, waiting for her to give him an explanation.
"Because of it." he didn't notice but she was carrying an envelope which she was now hanging out to him.
"What the fuck is that?" He took the envelope .
"Open it." She ordered and he did what she asked.
"Jessica, this-" He had opened the envelope and had read its contents. She patiently waited.
"Yes, Louis." Her voice was calm. He, on the other hand, was not calm at all.
"He-" Louis still was skeptical of what he had just read.
"Yes, he agrees. Actually, it was his idea. He came to me last night and we wrote this. He asked me to be sure that his partner- " she paused. "and his friend agreed with his decision. He is waiting for my signal" She breathed.
"So you concour then?" He questioned. She nodded in affirmation.
"So am I." He put the communication back in the envelope and gave it to her.
"I need you to do one more thing for us." She added.
"Anything, Jessica" Both nodded in a no-speaking gesture of affirmation that the pair supported the move they're about to make in regards to Harvey's decision.
Mike had arrived early in the courthouse and at a later time, next to the hearing's due, others came to join him. First Rachel, then Louis and Jessica, and for last, Donna. They were waiting for Harvey to come and join them.
They were all keen. A few minutes before the hearing started, Mike was called and soon Mike was out, Rachel and Donna questioned at the same time. "What is happening?"
"We have to wait" Jessica answered none of them knew what was really happening.
"And how about Harvey? Has anyone heard from him? He is supposed to be here already" Donna's tone indicates how sorrowful she was if her boss were absent.
"He texted me. He's on his way" He was annoyed by the fact he was lying to her.
Few minutes before he had left Mike returned to join them again. "What happened?" a frightened Rachel came to him.
Mike was pale, walking slowly, like he had just seen a ghost. "It 's over" he whispered.
"What are you talking about, Mike?" Rachel put her hands on Mike's face trying to calm him, and to make him focus on the answers.
"Harvey-" And before he could finish Donna had understood what he'd say next.
She was still hearing Mike saying that Harvey made a deal, although she could barely hear him; his voice in the background in an undertone, like he wasn't there.
She froze. Her knees coming close to give in to gravity. Her entire body was hurt, she couldn't breath.
An abnormal thunderous noise in her ear, and a blurry vision as a result of all the tears cascading in her face. Tears she even hadn't noticed were there.
Her chest hurted, her stomach hurted, her forehead hurted, each part of her body was sorrowful.
She couldn't see or hear anything around her. She was engulfed in her pain. In her emotional and physical pain.
Harvey was going to jail. She was losing him.
Regardless of the fact that she knew how Rachel was desperate about the idea of Mike going to jail, hence she was afraid that the same could happen to Harvey. Now it was different.
It was not just a possibility in the future. Now she knew he was actually going to jail. It was incomparable.
He did it. He had turned himself in and now everything that she was afraid of was gonna happen. He is going to jail for god's know how long. Four? Five? Fifteen years? She had no idea.
She was having trouble breathing, her vision still blurred and the voices around her still undertone.
The feeling was like someone had stripped her heart apart from her body with no mercy, cracking every piece slowly and in a painful way.
"Donna. Donna." she was ripped from her stupor by a hysterical Louis. "Are you okay?" It was quite obvious she was not okay. She was still in a complete shock from the recent news, her mouth agape, not saying a thing.
She was recovering in baby steps. Donna knew she didn't faint but she definitely lost her own consciousness for minutes.
They were scanning her and she did the same. Trying to catch up for something different from what had put her in that state. She was in denial.
"Donna please, tell me something." Louis begged. She focused on him, her mouth opened a little bit, trying to exclaim something.
"Louis, she needs time to process all of this. Let her. Come here, Donna." Rachel was the one who had Donna's glance. She was about to lent the readhead to a bench close to them, but Harvey had arrived.
"Good, everyone is here." he was saying like nothing had happened. He examined each one of them, spotted the woman who seemed close to having an attack.
"Harvey what have you done?" Mike walked close to Harvey.
"I did what I do best: closed it. After all, I am the best closure in the city." He focused his eyes at Mike, gave him a smile, trying to relax everyone's mood. It was evident that this was not worth it.
He was back, contemplating his secretary. Their gaze crossed and beheld for a couple of seconds. She could glare fear, consternation and he could see the same.
They wouldn't admit it, but for those next to them it was crystal clear how much this situation had a deep impact on them. On how much this would affect the relationship they had built for the last 12 years. They had grown an utterly liable relationship.
Jessica had previously said to him "you are as close as two people can be without being that" and no such relationship would be immune from such a drastic change, especially when the decision had been taken unilaterally, without Harvey consulting her for his final decision.
She broke the eye's contact, wiped away the tears and walked straight to him.
"You promised me, Harvey. You promised me that you would have faith that both of you were worth it. But it seems like you don't trust me anymore."
"Donna-" She was leaving, already passing by the door and he followed her with his gaze, begging her to not go; however she didn't look back, and went away.
He urged to follow her and explain that this was the only option possible once Mike is in the equation. It was not a choice between Mike and her, it was a choice between Mike and him. He wanted to say to Donna that everything was gonna be okay, but he couldn't. At least, not now. He still had a plan to follow and everything had to be perfect. There's one last thing for him to do. He breathed deeply and turned again to the other.
"Harvey-" Mike started but Harvey interrupted him.
"Now is not the time. Louis-" he turned to the other partner.
"So Jessica talked with you, right?" he confirmed with a gesture.
"Do you have it?" Louis handed him a piece of paper, which Harve took and read its contents. "Perfect. Now I need to send this and everything is gonna be the way it should." This decision is a thing that will deeply damage Harvey's reputation to the entire city of New York, and even others.
"I would love to meet you all on my office in a couple of hours.'' He smiled at his friends and with a silent nod from them all confirmed they were going to be there.
After that, Harvey left, and Jessica, Louis, Rachel and Mike remained there, still processing the whole thing. The great Harvey Specter was going to jail and threw his own career out because of an associate. Only they knew it was not just an associate. Mike meant something more to Harvey.
From the beginning Harvey could see in Mike a reflection of himself. A young wilfill, plenty of excitement, eager to work and a passionate one, ready to do everything he could to win the case; the only difference was that Mike had his boundaries when it came to crossing some lines.
Harvey was a workaholic, he spent most of the hours at work even on the weekends. He saw those who worked close to him like family, given the fact that his biological family was cracked years ago, and since his father's death, he kept them away.
He knew he could blindly trust every and each one of them and he sure would sacrifice himself for them. Despite many fights they had, they also cared deeply about each other. Their lives were crossed at some point and they forged an intense bond based on loyalty and affection.
Harvey wouldn't admit it but he was terrified. He hasn't any idea how the things would be in prison and how would be to go through each step e how he would deal with the fact that all of those he cared the most were moving on without him during the time he would be in prison.
Would they move on? Would they forget the great Harvey Specter? Would Donna leave the firm and would be finally pursuing her dream to be a famous actress, with men and women desiring her? He wouldn't know.
He was dreaded he could be forgotten, even though he knew they would fight to get him out of jail; but still there was always this phantom of doubt.
Despite the loyalty between the six of them, Harvey's abandoned issues from his childhood were still in the air. Yet he had dealt with this trauma in therapy, being completely free wasn't effortless. Unlike before therapy now he was doing different: he was letting those thoughts away and acting. He couldn't push away the people he loved. He would finish his plan and enjoy his remaining 72 hours of liberty in company with those he'd proufandly miss.
With that in mind he took his phone and made a call. Gretchen was not his secretary once Donna came back to him, but she still worked at the firm and he couldn't reach his own former secretary. "Gretchen, I need a favor. I need you to book some tickets to Boston for tomorrow morning. It is urgent! I will be back tomorrow night too." He didn't need to say more. He knew she would do exactly what was asked.
Ray took him to his contact at the paper. "It's not gonna take much time. Wait for me, please. After that we are going to the office." Ray agreed and stayed there, waiting for his boss. Ray was an employee at the firm, he had been his personal driver for so long he was sorry for losing him, and he would even assure Jessica wouldn't fire him. The driver was always loyal to get caught in this cross fire.
As promised, he didn't take much longer at the building. The statement was already done and he just needed to sign. Louis could sign with Harvey's signature on the system of the firm, but Harvey would like to sign it by hand in front of the reporter to show him that it was not just a move in the game. He signed the statement and the reporter was the witness. "Can you be sure this will be printed tomorrow morning?" He needed this to be done in the exact way he had planned with Jessica, otherwise the damages would be much worse. After the reporter ensured him, he left and went to the car that was waiting for him.
"To the office, Ray" he ordered, as soon as he was in the car. The route from the courthouse to the paper and from paper to the firm lasted exactly what he assumed and two hours later he was in front of the building, ready to meet his friends. He took the lift to the 50th floor, he felt uneasy. This would be the last time he would walk past those corridors for the next 6 years.
His agreement with Anita Gibs gave him 6 years in jail. Six years not seeing Louis, Jessica, Rachel, Mike and Donna every single day of his life. 6 years that he wouldn't tease Louis just for pleasure. 6 years of not being night late at the office and appreciating the company of his favorite redhead and a glass of scotch.
He felt a lump in his throat. He could see Jessica's silhouette through the glass and she was standing in his office. He stopped for two seconds, took a deep breath and passed through the door, glancing at each one of them.
His gaze was looking for her, except she was not there. Everyone noticed he was looking for Donna.
"Harvey, she is not -" Mike was the one to say something about it.
"I know," he thanked him. She was not ready to see him and he could completely understand. Even though he was desperate to see her among them, assuring him that he took the best decision or just to show him she could support him and in the end everything is gonna be okay, and she remained by his side no matter what. He also knew that he couldn't push her to accept it that fast; she needed time, especially after he had promised her he wouldn't do it.
"I-" He started but the lump in his throat came back. He took a breath, putting Donna aside of your thoughts. He had only three days before going to jail, he needed to spend time with his family, including his work family at PSL. He wanted to enjoy every single moment and not regret it in the future.
"As all of you already know, I made a deal with Anita Gibs. The deal she always wanted: me. Making this decision was not easy and I talked to Jessica, and we made sure that PSL will be less damaged as we can assure," he looked at Mike "but Mike, I couldn't do all for you too, there is something else you have to deal with" he smiled at his apprentice, feeling sorry about it.
"It is okay, Harvey," Mike took somes steps into his mentor's direction. "You have already done a lot for me." He said in a choked tone.
"I haven't done enough and I am sorry for that. I am sorry for putting each one of you in the middle of this hurricane. It's all my fault, always had and it's not fair for someone to pay for it." he proceeded.
It was not easy for him to admit it so openly, but at this point there was nothing to lose. He needed to end the best way he could.
"I have less than 72 hours left before I go to prison. And I wanna spend these 72 hours with my friends and family," the lump in his throat even heavier. He lifted his finger, pressing his tempers, trying to cope. "After those hours I am gone to jail. I took 6 years."
"WHAT?" They all said in disbelief.
"It is okay, I agreed with it. I will need you to take care of yourself and especially-" he paused again.
''We will take care of her, Harvey. Don't you worry." Louis affirmed. He noticed that Harvey couldn't end the sentence without giving in at Donna's mention. He was carrying a glass of scotch he had poured for him, and gave it to Harvey.
"You have to deal with a war from now on to keep the firm straight. Starting tomorrow, you all are going to be part of Pearson Litt," he raised his glass. "We have to cheer for a new beginning for the Pearson Litt's family." The four of them raised their glasses and took a sip.
"Do you know that besides all of this you're part of our family and we wouldn't do this if it wasn't the only way possible, don't you?" The always insecure Louis tried to assure the, now, former partner of the importance he had in his personal and work life.
"I do, Louis. I do." Harvey smiled and embraced Louis in a hug.
Posterior to that, they took a seat at the sofa in Harvey's office. Harvey put one of his father's LPs to play and the group spent long hours there talking and enjoying each other's company between laughter and drinks.
It was later that night when Louis was the first to announce he would leave and one by one, others followed him through the next minutes. They needed to rest once it was just the beginning of a long war they now had to face.
With all of them gone, Harvey remained at the office. He was staring at New York's view for the last time. The city that never sleeps was outside his window with all its lights, grace and movement. He was in trance facing the window and seeing the traffic of the streets when he heard a knot.
Harvey's heart missed a beat for a moment and he hurriedly turned to the door, only to see Gretchen standing there.
"What are you still doing here?" he asked, trying to hide his disappointment. When he heard the knot a glint of hope said it was Donna, but it was not.
"You asked me something and I did. I am just passing by to hand you the tickets, boss" She answered calmly, taking some steps into the office and giving him his plane tickets to Boston.
"I booked one of the first flights. And it is time for you to rest quite a bit before the trip." He took the tickets and put them in one of his suits' pockets.
"Thanks, Gretchen," he smiled.
"Good luck, Harvey," she smiled back and left.
Harvey didn't take much longer and did the same. He indeed needed to rest for tomorrow's trip.
Author's note: First of all I want to say thank you for all the reviews. It was a surpris!. That means so much and I really got excited to read them. Please, let me know what you all are thinking about the way the story is going.
Hope you enjoy the ride.
And again, my beta: My eternal gratitude for you, Theo. My beloved friend, my favorite Alien 3