"Harvey? Are you even listening to me?" Donna looks at her husband with concern in her eyes. Usually when he doesn't listen it annoys her, but today there is something about the glassy look in his eyes that has her worried instead. His eyes meet hers, but it took a moment too long. He's not as sharp and alert as he normally is. "What?" He asks her, and despite the concern, a sigh escapes her mouth, "what is going on with you?"
"Nothing," Harvey directly replies. Donna knows he's lying, but she has too much to do to get him to admit his feelings. When he want to talk he'll come to her and if he doesn't and it's still a problem tonight, she'll figure it out then. "Fine," she quips, "here are the files for your meeting with Keller," she drops the pile on his desk, "I hope you'll listen to him better than you just did to me." Her remark is sharp, on the edge of acceptable. It's something that usually elicits a response from Harvey, but today he just pulls the pile towards him and opens the first file.
Donna hesitates, despite her earlier decision to let it be. Harvey is not himself, but she can't pinpoint the exact problem. He was fine this morning, she is sure of that. So whatever it is, it arose between the time they got to the office and now. It doesn't sit right with her and she lowers herself down in one of the chairs in front of his desk, "Harvey, what's going on?" She softly asks. He looks up at her, down at the files and then back at her. She tilts her head, looking at him questioningly.
Harvey meets Donna's eyes and blows out a soft breath. "Headache," he admits to her. Concern flares up behind her hazel eyes and he huffs softly, "it's not that bad," he assures her. She raises one eyebrow, "just bad enough to make you unfocused?" She smiles softly. He shrugs, "I'm okay, Donna," he presses, "don't worry about it."
Donna pushes up from her chair, "fine," she agrees, "I won't worry. As long as you don't screw up your meeting." She smiles sweetly at him before turning and leaving his office. When she has rounded the corner, he leans back in his chair and rubs his hand over his forehead. He allows himself to stay like that for a few moments before straightening up. He forces himself to pull himself together and gets back to work, trying to ignore the throbbing ache that only seems to get worse.
After lunch, Harvey gets back to his office to grab the files for his meeting. He finds them stacked more neatly than he left them, with a strip of painkillers on top, accompanied by a note in Donna's curly handwriting. Don't be stubborn. He smiles faintly. He doesn't know how she knew he needed this, but he is glad she did.
It's a few hours later when Donna walks into Harvey's office again. She had heard the meeting went well and she wanted to congratulate him, but she stops in her tracks as soon as she walks through the door. The door that was closed, which should have been the first clue. The blinds are half-drawn, but even with the diminished light she can see how pale his skin is.
"Hey," Donna softly closes the door behind her. Harvey looks at her and tries to smile but fails. She crosses over to his desk and leans against it, silently observing him for a moment. His skin is a ghostly white and beads of sweat have formed on his forehead. The lines on his face are tight and his eyes are a little hazy and unfocused. "I'm gonna take you home," she decides.
"No," Harvey protests, "I have to-" "Harvey!" Donna interrupts him, sounding annoyed, surprised and concerned at the same time, "you're sick… Let me help you." "No," Harvey repeats, "it's fine, I'll just take some of these," he holds up the strip of painkillers that she left for him earlier. She doesn't reply, she just narrows her eyes and slowly shakes her head. He focusses back on the file in front of him. Trying to read the words only hurts his head more, and Donna is probably right about being sick and needing to go home, but he is not about to admit that he was wrong.
"Harvey…" Donna sighs. She is worried about him, although the fact that he is still his – frustratingly – stubborn self comforts her a little. She looks at him, trying so hard to pretend he is fine, but she can see in the way his eyes swim in and out of focus that he is not managing to read a single word. Wordlessly, she presses her hand to his forehead, simultaneously feeling his temperature and wiping at the beads of sweat that slowly trickle down.
Donna's hand is cool against Harvey's skin. It feels so good that he can't help but lean into her palm, and with that almost all his resolve is gone. "It's okay," she softly tells him. He exhales a long breath and allows his eyes to fall closed. Her thumb gently rubs over his skin, "even you can get sick, Harvey," she says. He hums softly, knowing that if she presses a little harder, he'll cave and let her take him home. And he's not sure if he minds.
Slowly, Donna's hand slides from Harvey's forehead to his cheek. "Look at me," She quietly orders. He opens his eyes and meets hers. "Will you please stop being so stubborn and just go home?" She asks, making the slight flicker of irritation disappear directly by stroking her thumb over his cheek. He averts his gaze, "no," he mumbles. Now Donna uses both hands to cup his face and in that way she gently forces him to look back at her, "will you let me take you home?"
Harvey sighs softly. His brain is a little hazy from pain and painkillers and general misery. He revels in the feeling of Donna's cold hands against his cheeks and the warm, comforting sound of her voice. "Yes," he agrees, because honestly nothing sounds better than going home with Donna right now.
Mere minutes later, Harvey and Donna are in the back of a cab. They walked to the office this morning, but now Donna just wants to get Harvey home. In all the years they worked together, she can count the times she's seen him sick on one hand, and it unnerves her a little bit. The strong, independent Harvey Specter is leaning into her, his head on her shoulder. She gently runs her fingers through his hair and whispers soft reassurances to him during the short cab ride.
As soon as they get through the door, Donna ushers Harvey into the bedroom, where she lets him strip down and get under the covers. She lowers herself on the edge of the bed and softly trails her fingers up and down his arm, "get some sleep," she tells him. His eyes are closed already, light only worsening his headache. He blindly fumbles for her wrist and then softly tugs her towards him. She doesn't say anything, she just gets under the covers with him, knowing that this is as close to him asking for help as they are going to get.
Harvey nestles himself into Donna's side, his face nuzzled in the space between her neck and shoulder. He slings his arm around her waist, pulling her even tighter into his body. His leg falls over her legs, helping to lie as close against her as possible. She starts running her fingers through his hair again, the cool tips soothing against his warm scalp. He relaxes against her and it isn't long before he his pounding headache fades away as he sinks into a deep sleep.
