Chapter 3

Rachel grins at Donna, flipping open the newspaper to where her friend and the crew from Rockabye Hamlet are taking up the centre spread, several pictures adorning the two pages. She'd dragged Donna for a coffee before work to get all the gossip and gush over the devastatingly gorgeous dress in the photos. Not only does the redhead look stunning, but the hyped up review is full of praise for the production, and she couldn't be prouder of the results her friend conjured. "You were born to be a celebrity."

Donna forces a smile, trying not to wince at the brunette's enthusiasm. She'll gladly take the compliment and is silently elated over the article, but her eyes automatically dart to the spot where she and Ethan have been caught in print, singled out from the rest of the group for the world to see. He'd been answering questions and had credited her with securing his audition, hooking his arm around her waist and dragging her in for the snap. All completely innocent, but a reminder of the situation she'd arrived home to.

Rachel watches the woman's mouth dip into a frown, and she scrunches her nose at the odd reaction. The Donna she knows would never shy away from attention. She should be lapping this up, and Rachel tilts her head curiously. "Hey. What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Donna shakes off her concern, taking a large sip of coffee to counter the effects of a very late night. She's still feeling seedy and over-tired but Rachel is right. She did look good and should be celebrating. The producer had already called to shower her with compliments on what a great event she'd organized, and she wants to enjoy the success without a storm cloud hanging over her.

"Donna."

Her name sounds in warning and a hesitant sigh spills out. She could lie, brush off her lackluster attitude as simply being out too late, but after only being able to talk to her best friend through a call or video chat when they each found time, she doesn't want to take being face to face for granted. Harvey had left early this morning, barely saying two words, and she still doesn't know what to make of the situation. And there's no reason why she shouldn't seek Rachel's advice. "Harvey and I had a fight… I think."

Donna's face twists with confusion, which is a rarity to witness, and the reaction surprises Rachel. Usually, her friend has a handle on everything, including Harvey, and she purses her lips together, gently prodding the woman. "What happened?"

The truth exits her mouth as she sinks back into the booth. "He hated it, Rach." Hate might be too strong of a word, but Harvey hadn't enjoyed himself. He'd made no show of hiding his feelings towards the people they'd been surrounded by, or Ethan, and she's never known Harvey to be the jealous type. Bothered by her relationships, sure. But they're married now, and she doesn't understand why he would be feeling insecure for any reason, particularly one surrounding another man.

Rachel navigates around the admission carefully. She was thrilled when Donna revealed her new relationship with Harvey, over the moon when the pair decided to stop wasting time and tie the knot, but that doesn't mean she hasn't had quiet reservations about Donna's choice to leave law. She'd fully advocated the decision, but she'd also witnessed first-hand how Harvey had fallen apart all those years ago when Donna had gone to work for Louis. Things are different now, and she'd hoped any hiccups would be small enough to be absorbed, but if they turn out to be bigger—Donna shouldn't be the one left feeling guilty. "Last night wasn't about Harvey, it was about you."

"I know." Her smile is more genuine as she glances up from her mug. She appreciates Rachel looking out for her but it's not Harvey's support she's been left questioning. She knows they can work through the problem—whatever that really is—but it's their first attempt at trying that has her at odds. How they'd let actions speak louder than words, and her cheeks speckle pink at the memory of his mouth doing everything except talking.

"It's not that," she defends, stealing a deep breath. "He did all the right things, was charming and polite…" She furrows her brow, recalling how the evening had been going well up until his curt exchange with Grotowski. "He left early because he had a migraine, so when the night wrapped up, I went to an after-party. I thought he'd be asleep, but when I got home he was waiting up. We were both drunk, annoyed, and then… " She twirls her wrist, insinuating what she doesn't want the whole cafe to hear. "We sorted it out."

Rachel frowns at the hushed tone until what Donna's referring to clicks into place, and she narrows her gaze at the suddenly reserved language. "You mean you had sex?" she queries, watching Donna's cheeks flush a deeper shade of red. The topic is one she's never known her friend to be shy about, and there's only one reason she can think of to explain why it's a taboo issue now. "Wait, are you telling me you've never… when you were fighting?"

Her eyebrows shoot a mile high and Donna answers with a shrug. "We don't fight." The comment is a blatant lie. She and Harvey have fought plenty over the years, but their disagreements have never culminated in sex. "Last night was… different," she concedes, flicking her gaze down to the paper.

Rachel follows the movement, her mouth forming a small 'O' as she scans the picture of Donna and Ethan standing in a tight embrace. "He was jealous," she guesses, fitting the pieces together and when she receives a nod in reply, a smirk winds around her lips. She'll come back to the reason later, but right now she's more intrigued by the embarrassment flushing her friend's features. "Good, different?" Donna bites her lip, trying to conceal a grin that tells Rachel everything she needs to know. "Wow."

The brunette leans into the cushions of the booth and Donna lowers her mug, giving Rachel a clear view of 'how good' in her gleaming smile. She's not denying there's a problem that needs addressing, but she can admit that what she experienced with her husband last night was definitely a first.

"And then?" Rachel prompts, running her gaze over her friend. .

"Again, in the shower." She pauses, almost tempted to cull the story, because she's already in for a penny, she may as well go in for a pound. "And twice in the bed after that."

Rachel's eyes widen as Donna places the mug back in front of her mouth. She and Mike have had their own forays, but there has to be some physical limitation on how many times two people can get each other off, and heat crawls up her neck as the tables turn but she dares herself to ask the question, anyway. "But you didn't… I mean, not every time."

Donna hooks up an eyebrow in response and Rachel gapes at her. "Did he?"

"He did." Donna confirms her husband's abilities—and hers—figuring if nothing else, she has a right to indulge in the details.

"And this is a problem, why, exactly?" Rachel asks, forgetting why anyone would find multiple rounds of sex an issue to complain about.

The smile slowly slips from Donna's face as she considers the good natured banter. She's can't fault the sex and working out their issues physically wouldn't be a problem if she was certain they'd actually resolved something. But all they seemed to accomplish was affirming they both need each other and not what had brought about Harvey's doubt in the first place. "We didn't talk about it, and he couldn't get out of the apartment fast enough this morning."

"Maybe he needed a break before you did any more… talking."

Donna swallows a scoff but is glad she'd decided to reach out to her best friend. She loves Rachel, the way they can joke but still be there for each other when things grow more serious, and her demeanor shifts, swallowing the weight of her hesitation. "Something was just… off."

The slight pause gives Rachel insight into what's coming next, and although there isn't anything she wouldn't do for Donna, there are some scenarios—like approaching Harvey—that require some very careful consideration. "If you're about to ask me to find out what…"

"No. God, no." The last thing she wants is to put Rachel in that kind of situation or embarrass Harvey. And any questions coming from the brunette would definitely make things more awkward. But there is another option, a slightly more subtle route, and she winces over the top of her drink. "I thought, maybe, Mike could."

Rachel fingers her own mug, shooting a pointed look across the table. "You want me to tell Mike you guys were up all night, doing that, and then go on a suicide mission to ask Harvey about it?"

The plan sounds less feasible when said out loud, but Donna doesn't deny it's the angle she was aiming for. "Kinda."

"Donna."

"I know." She shuts down the lecture poised on Rachel's lips, not proud of asking, but she and Harvey moved to Seattle to be closer to their respective best friends. They took a risk, and as much as she likes to tackle everything, assuming she knows the right course of action, she's been burnt by making that mistake with her husband in the past. "This is new, for both of us…" She breathes out the fear curled in her chest. "Different cities, we don't work together anymore. I just… don't want to mess it up."

The sudden vulnerability on display sends Rachel's heart leaping into her throat as she takes in the woman across from her. Donna's always had a hard time admitting when she's feeling insecure, usually because she isn't, and even though Rachel's wary of acting as a bridge, that doesn't mean she can't help. "Okay," she relents with a sigh. "I'll ask Mike to check in."

Relief washes over Donna, knowing it's a short-cut, but she's wary of pushing too much with Harvey at once. Venturing out on a different career path was a change neither of them saw coming when he'd played his ace in the hole against Faye, and she doesn't regret the choice, but she doesn't want Harvey to end up regretting their decision either. They're a team. They just have to find a neutral middle ground that isn't a law firm. "Thank you, Rachel."

"Don't thank me yet, but you owe me," Rachel teases with a genuine smile, convinced the situation is just a blip, but grateful to be able to repay Donna for all the advice the redhead has dealt her and Mike over the years. It hasn't been easy for them all to get where they are, but this is a new era, Seattle not New York, and in amongst the changing dynamics, she knows the four of them have a place here.

She just needs to convince her husband to lend a helping hand.

...

...

Mike pushes into Harvey's office, schooling his features as he approaches his former mentor's desk, under the guise of checking up on their suit against ASYNCS. Truth is, the situation is entirely new to him, because although Rachel persuaded him to reach out on Donna's behalf, this is also the first time he's ever delegated work to New York's famed closer, and he needs to know the man isn't going to be distracted. Even though he's confident in Harvey's ability to compartmentalise, the phone call he'd received last night, coupled with the lack of communication from his friend this morning has him concerned, and he doesn't waste any time diving into the deep end. "What's going on?"

"Nothing. I'm busy." Harvey doesn't glance up, deflecting by keeping his attention focused on the pages spread out across his desk.

"Bullshit." Mike leans himself against the corner of Harvey's work-space and folds his arms tightly over his chest. "You were here before anyone else and you've barely said two words except to snap at Harper." There was a portion of his life when he would never have dreamed of being so blunt, but it's been a long time since he was a kid running around at Pearson Hardman trying to con his way into being a lawyer. And it's been even longer since he was intimidated by the scowl Harvey throws up at him. "What happened last night?

Harvey ignores the question and Mike rolls his eyes, relieved the man is at least focused on the case, but addressing his second concern, throws down the paper Rachel thrust in his hand moments before she'd shoved him down the hall.

Donna's ink-filled profile lands on the spread out papers, and although Mike catches the look of guilt on Harvey's face, he still presses the issue. "You should be happy for her."

"I am," Harvey defends, glancing at the article showcasing his wife. He couldn't be more proud of her if he tried, which just makes him even more of an asshole, because instead of congratulating her, he'd walked out of their apartment this morning, choosing to ignore the fact the paper had arrived, knowing full-well there'd be a grand review singing her praises. "Of course I am," he reiterates, throwing down his pen and taking in her bright smile. He even manages to gloss over the picture of her and wonder boy, focusing on the real reason he hasn't been able to stomach reading the words for himself. "I've never seen her that happy," he finally admits, leaning back in his chair with a heavy sigh. "All those years she was working for me, she could have been doing whatever she wanted."

The revelation is a speedier breakthrough than Mike was expecting and a small smile turns his lips. If the biggest problem they have is that Harvey is growing a conscience after all this time, then neither of them have anything to worry about. "Yeah, she could have—" he says candidly "—but she chose to stay working in law for a reason. And just between you and me, I don't think it was your sunny disposition that kept her around."

"Seattle has turned you into an ass." The quip flies out automatically, but he does relax slightly, holding onto the convincing piece of advice. He knows he screwed up. That he needs to find a way to share his fears with Donna outside of rampaging desires. She deserves the world and he wants to give it to her. He just doesn't want to get left behind while she discovers it. "That Ethan guy is still a prick."

Mike scoffs at the comment but before he can ask about the actual case, a knock interrupts them and he considers shaking his head at the associate standing at the door—not wanting to subject the younger women to Harvey's wrath, but she's wearing a look he deciphers as concerned, and he answers before Harvey can snap at her. "What is it, Katie?"

"There's something you both need to see." Her eyes dart to the new named partner shooting her daggers, but she doesn't let the reaction deter her. Mike had warned her that Harvey Specter deals out tough-love and that earning his respect would take resilience, but the dedication would pay off after time. She wants to learn from the best to be the best, and she swallows her nerves, stepping into the room and handing them each a copy of her research. "This isn't the first time ASYNCS has been threatened with a lawsuit like Sampson's."

Harvey runs his gaze over the case that was withdrawn in Chicago and the subsequent police report detailing the client's fatal accident a few days prior to the proceedings going ahead. Skimming down, he stops at the bold line where the coroner rules Michael Goulding's death accidental, and he breathes out sharply through his nose. There's no immediate reason to think there was any misconduct at play. The kid died in a motorcycle crash, which is tragic but not immediately suspicious, although the coincidence is at least worth his attention. "How did you get this?"

"ASYNCS has five headquarters across the country, Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and New York." She folds her hands behind her back, taking a breath. "All their legal records were closed, but I have a friend who works at the District Attorney's office in Charleston. They emailed this through late last night."

"And you waited until now to show me?" Harveysnaps harshly, flicking to the next page detailing Michael's personal life. She's packaged together a wealth of information, all potentially useful if he'd had it an hour ago when he'd been searching for leverage to prop up his settlement claim. Sinister or not, ASYNCS' involvement is pertinent, and he quickly goes back to the case summary, looking for anything he can use.

"Yes, sir." She squares her shoulders, taking in Mike's nod of approval urging her to continue. "I wanted to find an official record on access so their legal team couldn't contest you using it for the settlement. There was no paper trail, nothing, and the judge who dismissed the motion retired a week later—"

"So this is all useless." Harvey slaps the folder down on his desk, directing his gaze at the woman, who surprises him by standing her ground.

"I managed to track down Judge McClain." She steps forward, opening the pages back up. "He wasn't happy, but I got the sense he wanted us to have this, even though he said he'd plead the fifth if we tried to subpoena him anywhere down the line."

Mike reads the signed motion in his own grasp, circling his thoughts the same way he knows Harvey is. Everything Katie has revealed has made it sound more and more like ASYNCS tried to bury the information, and he startles when Harvey abruptly stands up, collecting together the folder. "Where are you going?"

"To see Goulding's parents." If there's one thing he's learnt, it's that sniffing around official proceedings will take twice as long to cut through the bullshit. Maybe Michael's death was an accident but the best way to find out for sure is to go straight to the people he was closest to—details Katie had laid out for him.

"You ever heard of a phone?" Mike asks incredulously, watching Harvey throw on his heavy coat. He agrees they should look into it further but Harvey racing out is an extreme reaction, more like something to do with their previous conversation. Obviously things with Donna hadn't gone well, and he doesn't want this to become an excuse for him to run away, mirroring the glare Harvey shoots him. "So what, you're just going to catch a flight out to Chicago?"

"I could, but that would be pretty stupid given his parents live in Portland," he quips back, directing a pointed look at Katie. "Maybe you could teach him to read while I'm gone."

Mike drops his attention, skipping through the page about Goulding's personal life where the information about his parents is, and he doesn't blame Katie for being thorough. She did an excellent job, he just doesn't think rushing off half-cocked is a good idea but Harvey is already out the door before he can issue another warning.

"Dammit," he mutters the curse under his breath, mentally calculating if he has time to grab his coat from his office.

Probably not.

"Tell Rachel, I'm… doing what she asked." Although his wife's exact words had been, 'check in on Harvey' not 'follow Harvey to Portland' he figures the difference is easily disputable.

Katie opens her mouth but closes it again as her boss rushes past her, and she asserts herself with a small smile. She may not have received Harvey Specter's verbal approval, but according to Mike, a tongue-lashing is an acknowledgment, and that's a step in the right direction.

...

...

In Portland for a case. Will be home late x.

Donna pours over Harvey's words again as she sips a water, the TV playing some crappy reality show in the background. He'd sent the text late in the afternoon, but after a full day planning rehearsals, she hadn't seen the message until the crew had wrapped up close to seven.

The cast all had the day off to unofficially nurse their hangovers but she hadn't been so lucky. She'd had to ride out a throbbing pain that had kicked in around midday to get everything in place for the coming weeks, and she switches the phone in her hand for the two tablets of aspirin sitting on the table.

Half of her is too tired to care why her husband is in Portland. It's close to nine already and Harvey's version of late isn't the same as regular people's. He didn't get where he is in his career by slacking off. In the early years at Pearson Hardman he'd worked harder than anyone else, put in the hours and had made a name for himself. She knows because she'd been right there beside him, helping him to achieve the goal.

Now, they're in opposite lanes racing toward the same finish line. She hadn't stopped to check her phone today, snowed under by schedules, and he'd run off to Oregon, letting her know as an afterthought. They're both trying to excel in their roles, be supportive of each other at the same time, but yesterday had been the first time in their marriage they hadn't talked something through. The fact they'd spend hours not talking is something she still can't quite figure out, and it's a first that doesn't quite hold the same comfort as all their other markers in Seattle. Not necessarily a bad sway in direction, but not a great one either, and she picks up her phone again, re-reading the response she'd sent back after finishing at the theatre.

Drive safe x

The words were hardly a literary masterpiece but she hadn't known what else to write. She hadn't lied to Rachel when she'd claimed not to know if she and Harvey were fighting. The sex would suggest they weren't, but not speaking to him since this morning has left a ball of unease pitted in her stomach. On some level she'd been expecting there would be ups and downs with both of them navigating being apart, but she hadn't expected Harvey to wage a war with jealousy and she doesn't buy the excuse either. Ethan isn't the problem. And she knows her husband better than to assume he'd come straight out with the truth. Even if he'd wanted to, his feelings have always taken time to unearth. They may be closer to the surface now, but this is new ground for both of them. They just have to make sure they're taking strides together, not forging separate paths.

Her thumb skates over the keyboard and she keeps the manifestation of her worries simple, telling him she misses him and is going to bed. He responds almost instantly, saying he wishes he was there with her, and she relaxes slightly, knowing that whatever reasons drove him to Portland, she's not far from his thoughts.

They might not broach anything tonight, but tomorrow is a new day, and she's more than ready to put these last twenty-four hours behind her.

AN: Thank you to Southsidesister (darvey_love). I said it last chapter, I'll say it again (and all of them after this), the most amazing beta ever! And (NAhavenbb) for bouncing and expanding the plot of this story. And to all the people reading and leaving reviews :) Xx