Prompt by Cassandra Ether (Cassie_Ether): Harvey enlists Donna's help to woo a potential new client at a Christmas charity ball, someone they desperately need to rebuild the firm's reputation. But the morning of the event, Donna comes down with a really bad case of food poisoning. She tries to make it through the day because she doesn't want to let Harvey/the firm down, but faints at work. Harvey convinces Mike to take Rachel and go in their place so he can get Donna home and look after her. She's worried about losing the client, but all he cares about is her, and they both finally realize how much they mean to each other

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A Christmas Companion

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"Donna, I need you!" Harvey called, entering Donna's office in the way he always did when he was stressing out but did not want anyone to know.

"Of course, Harvey. What can I do for you? It's not like I have a ton of my own work I have to do or anything!" The sarcasm seeping from my pores as she spoke, snapping a little more than she intended.

Harvey however, having not heard most of what she had said, did not miss a beat. "There's this new client that I'm trying to sign, but I'm struggling. I need your help!" He hated asking for anything; especially when it meant asking Donna because he despised looking weak. To Harvey, needing help was just that, a sign of weakness.

She was going to help; she just wanted to make him work for it first. "As I said, I have a lot of work to do. Is it urgent?" Donna could see the vein on Harvey's forehead bulging as she fiddled with the papers in front of her, trying to make herself seem busier than she actually was and sensing that what she was doing was infuriating him further.

Harvey closed the door and lowered his voice. "You know I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important!" The agitation obvious in his voice.

As he moved closer to her, Donna could feel her palms starting to sweat and her cheeks flush. So far, she had managed to keep her feelings for Harvey in check, but lately, every time he was around, she had to fight to remain in control.

Still, he edged even closer and she began, for fear of losing her cool, to slowly back away. "I know you wouldn't, Harvey, which is why I will help. Of course, I will." No longer able to think of a good excuse not to help, Donna saw him physically relax as the tension in his shoulders released. "Now tell me about the client." She said as Harvey breathed a sigh of relief and calmly lowered himself into the chair opposite her.

And she listened intently at everything Harvey said. He explained who the potential client was; The Fitzroy Theatre Group, and why he so desperately needed the help; he knew very little about the theatre industry whereas Donna knew practically everything. As he spoke, Donna found her gaze drifting down towards his mouth more than once; found herself imagining what it would be like to kiss those lips and to be with him again, but she knew that it hadn't been that long since he ended things with Paula. He had really wanted things to work out between them, but it hadn't because of her. Now, a new relationship was probably the last thing Harvey wanted to think about.

"And I am assuming we have a deadline?" Donna enquired once he had finished speaking, and because she was Donna, she knew there would be one.

Harvey looked worried. "Christmas Eve." He stated, a wobble in his voice.

"Okay. Well, it looks like we have a lot of work to do and not a lot of time to do it, but we will get it all done because you're Harvey Specter, the best closer in New York City, and I'm Donna!" Her positivity was infectious, and Harvey found himself suddenly feeling a lot more confident in their task, but Christmas Eve was less than a week away and Donna was right. It was a lot of work.

...

For the next three days Harvey and Donna worked day and night to find a way to win over Mark Fitzroy. He and The Fitzroy Theatre Group owned a total of nine theatres across six different states, and one in London; their newest being their second in New York, The Royal Court Theatre. Donna knew all about the building; both it's history and the Fitzroy's. That coupled with her extensive knowledge of Broadway, show business and everyone in it and they had their secret weapon. But Harvey still needed to figure out exactly how best to utilise Donna and her wealth of information.

They had less than 72 hours until they planned to wow Mark at his company's Annual Christmas Eve Gala and so far, they had had plenty of good ideas, but not the great one that they needed; the idea that would make everything fall into place.

"How about this?" Donna started, before thinking better of it. "Never mind."

"What about-? No. No good!" Harvey slammed the file he held in his hand onto the conference room table. "None of this is any good! I need a break!" Clearly frustrated at the lack of anything tangible, he turned to leave; to grab some air, or a coffee; anything to get him away from all of this for five minutes.

He walked out and headed towards his office. Donna was about to head to her own when something in the file she was holding caught her attention. "Wait!" She called, suddenly on her feet and chasing after Harvey. "Wait!" She yelled again, Harvey now in her sights. "Damn it, Harvey, Stop. I found it! I found what we've been looking for!"

Harvey stopped dead in his tracks at the sound of Donna's voice calling after him. When she reached him, not a hair was out of place and not a single wrinkle was there in her dress. She wasn't even out of breath. In fact, to Harvey, she looked perfect. Of course, he already knew how beautiful she was, but only recently had he began noting the smaller things. The glint in her eye when she was bragging about knowing something; the almost imperceptible dimples either side of her lips when she smiled, and the way her hair glimmered when it caught the light a certain way.

"Did you hear what I said? I found what we need!" Donna shoved the file into Harvey's hands, snapping him back to reality.

He took a few moments to skim through the folder before he returned his focus to Donna. "Shit! You did it!" He exclaimed. "This is it!" He sounded excited again, rather than just stressed and annoyed, and before he could fully comprehend what he was doing, Harvey lifted Donna into his arms and swung her around on the spot, only releasing her when his brain finally took control of his body again.

Lost for words, Donna didn't know what to do. So, she just stood there, frozen, and as Harvey walked away, she felt as though the world had been swept away from under her.

...

It was Christmas Eve; T minus five hours until The Fitzroy Gala and Donna had not stopped thinking about that moment and how the instant Harvey took her in his arms everything felt right, and she felt like she was home. He was the one person who had never let her down and the truth was that he was her safe place. She had known for quite some time but was also certain that Harvey had not yet come to the same conclusion as her; that the two of them were meant to be together.

Sitting at her desk with her head in her hands after throwing up for the fourth time that day, Donna felt like crap. The last thing she wanted to do was to have to go to the Gala, but she had put so much work into this pitch and there was no way she was going to be the reason that it all fell apart.

Rachel had seen Donna earlier that morning and had thought that he hadn't been quite herself, dismissing it as maybe being because of a lack of sleep or coffee, but as she passed her office again, she realized just how wrong she had been. "Donna?" She called from the doorway, but there was no response. "Donna, are you okay?" She asked, stepping forward into the office and closing the door behind her. "You don't look so good."

Donna remained still and when she spoke it was barely a whisper. "I don't know!" It was a simple answer yet revealed so much more. That simple statement told of how she was not really okay at all, but didn't want to admit it, knowing how much Harvey was depending on her.

"I think we both know that's a lie and that you told it because you knew I would tell you to go home and rest!" Donna was about to protest, but Rachel carried on before she could. "And don't give me any of that but what about the Fitzroy Gala, Harvey's depending on me bullshit. Yes, he is, but he would tell you to go home too; you know he would!" She was right. He would.

Part of Donna still wanted to resist; to fight, but she could barely keep her eyes open, let alone focus on anything for more than a few seconds. "I can't." was all she said. She didn't bother to come up with any more excuses because Rachel would only smash them to pieces with her logic.

"If you don't talk to Harvey then I will!" Sure, that it was not an empty threat, Donna relented, unable to see any possible way to win this argument.

Unsteady on her feet, Donna made her way to Harvey's office, almost collapsing as she seated herself on one of the chairs. He wasn't there, but she wasn't going anywhere. She had barely made it to his office, and doubted that if she were to stand, she would be able to make it more than a few steps.

She must have passed out because the next thing she knew, Harvey was knelt beside her, gently shaking her awake. "Harvey?" She managed, confused and groggy. As she gripped tightly to Harvey's hand, Donna's eyes darted around the room unsure where she was.

"I'm here!" Harvey responded in a comforting tone. "And you really don't look well. I'm going to get Ray to drive you home!" He looked her dead in the eye as he spoke, making it clear that it was more of an order than a request.

Donna was in no state to argue, so conceded, and agreed to go home, however, she was adamant that she could make it by herself. Harvey, of course, found this somewhat endearing; how stubborn she was, and how independent. They were two of the things he loved most about her.

She tried to stand, but her knees gave way beneath her and she could feel herself falling. Then the world turned black; the darkness enveloping her until she realized that someone was holding her up. Harvey. This realization: that once again he held her in his arms caused the nausea to build within her, and before she could stop it, she threw up all over him.

"I'm so sorry Harvey." Donna felt so bad and watched in horror as Harvey stood there dripping with vomit. She was mortified. Harvey picked up his office phone and called Mike and Rachel, hoping they could help. He looked down at his suit, picked off what looked to be a piece of bagel from his lapel and flung it in the trash.

Seconds later Mike appeared in the doorway, closely followed by Rachel. "Oh my God!" She gasped at the sight of Donna slumped on the chair covered in her own sick. "What happened?" The answer to her question was pretty clear.

"I think it's obvious, don't you!" Harvey snapped as Rachel rushed to the aid of her best friend. He watched as she moved a piece of hair out of Donna's face and wiped away the leftover vomit from around her mouth with a tissue. "Sorry!" He said, realizing that he shouldn't have taken his frustration out on them.

Mike was the only one who acknowledged Harvey's apology. "It's okay, but I think we better get her home as soon as possible." He gestured towards Donna, who was drifting in and out of consciousness.

All thoughts of Mark Fitzroy and the Gala vanished from Harvey's mind and all he could think about was Her. Donna was now his primary focus. "I'll call Ray and take her home." He did just that. He called his driver and asked him to pick them up. His focus remained on Donna and getting her safely back to the comfort of her own apartment; he didn't even feel the need to change. She needed him and he would be there for her. It was the least he could do after everything she had done for him over the years.

"What about the Gala?" The thought finally struck Rachel. "It's in just over three hours and there is no way that she is going to be there!" Panic began filling Rachel's voice, but Harvey already had a solution.

"You two will have to go instead of us. You know the case, and Rachel, you have a love of Ballet which is along the same lines as theatre, right?" Honestly, Harvey was clueless about all of that stuff. That was all down to Donna.

Mike and Rachel both looked a little shell shocked by what Harvey had suggested. "Are you sure?" Mike asked. "You would trust us with this?" Together they made a great team, but their confidence in themselves was lacking.

"Of course I do. Now, you better go get ready!" Harvey responded, already reaching down to lift Donna up. "But first can you give me a hand getting her down to Ray's car? I told him to park around the back." Preserving Donna's dignity was one more thing he could do for her. Harvey didn't often let anyone see his softer side, but where Donna was involved, sometimes he struggled to keep his mask from slipping.

...

Having found Donna's keys in her bag, Harvey had let them both into her apartment and settled Donna on the couch before he went and cleaned himself up a bit. She had perked up a little on the journey home, but the two of them traveled in silence with Harvey allowing her to rest her head on his shoulder. Donna leaned on him all the way up to her apartment and as he helped her, he noticed that his stomach sort of flipped and his palms had become sweaty. He knew what it meant, but he wasn't quite ready to admit it to himself just yet.

Donna groaned and Harvey rushed to her side, another cooling towel in hand which he gently placed on her forehead. "I'm here. I'm right here." He said softly whilst simultaneously stroking her hair, trying to comfort her.

"Harvey?" She croaked, semi-consciously. It was as if she knew instinctively that Harvey would be the one that was by her side, even if she couldn't see him. It wasn't because she was Donna, but something deeper made her sense his presence.

Harvey encased Donna's hand in his own, not wanting to leave her alone. He planned to stay with her until she woke up and was better enough that she could take care of herself, no matter how long it took. He sat there, on the floor, still holding Donna's hand, struggling to imagine a life without her in it. Truth was that he couldn't and so he fell asleep thinking of all of the ways in which she had made his life better.

He awoke to Donna nudging him repeatedly. "Wake up sleepy head!" She joked, as he blinked open his eyes; his sight still adjusting and took note of how chipper Donna seemed. He glanced up, noticing the time of the clock on the mantelpiece. It was 9:15pm.

"Woah, sorry. I didn't mean to doze off. I just didn't want to leave you." Harvey regretted adding that last part as soon as it was out of his mouth. "Are you feeling any better?" He asked, pulling himself to his feet and making himself busy.

He moved things from one place to another; took the damp cooling towels to the sink and boiled the kettle, doing anything not to look Donna in the eye. She remained laid on the couch, but Harvey could feel her gaze on him. If he was being honest with himself, he kind of liked it, but not because it was attention; because of who was giving it. Donna.

"I'm feeling a little better. I think it must have been the Chinese I had last night." As she spoke, her face slowly drained of color again and she dashed to the bathroom, barely making it by the sound of the retching that followed.

...

It was 9pm and Mike and Rachel had been trying to enact their friends' plan for the last hour to no avail; maybe it was because they were too worried about Donna to concentrate. Harvey had called and informed them that he had gotten Donna home okay, but they had heard nothing since.

Rachel looked up to see her fiancé marching straight towards her, frustration in his eyes. "Let me guess… it didn't work!" She needn't have said anything judging by the expression on Mike's face.

"I don't know what else we can do. I wish Harvey and Donna were here!" Mike said, but they both thought it, yet they weren't there, and this was up to them.

The two of them thought in silence for a moment, sipping their drinks, when suddenly inspiration hit Rachel. "I know we've both been thinking about Donna and I think it might be throwing us off our game. We have been going about it all wrong; trying to be Harvey and Donna when we should just be being ourselves. Mike and Rachel." Her face lit up as a new wave of confidence washed over her. She knew exactly what they had to do now.

...

Donna stumbled out of the bathroom, but instead of heading back to the couch, she went straight to her bedroom. She felt so embarrassed; first she threw up all over him and now he had had to take care of her. But knowing what tonight and that account meant to Harvey, part of her also felt a slight flutter at the realization that he was choosing to be there with her rather than at the Gala winning over a possible client.

"Are you okay in there?" He called out, as she closed her bedroom door, deciding it best to change out of the dress she had been wearing for work.

Once she had pulled a sweater over her head, Donna replied. "I'm getting changed. I'll be out in a minute!" She knew that if she didn't respond, he would just come in there to check on her himself.

Moments later, she emerged from her and was greeted by Harvey, whose arm was outstretched offering her a cup of tea. She took it, confused, unsure as to how she hadn't known that he liked to drink tea.

Tea was a relatively new thing for Harvey. He didn't use to drink it; his Mom had gotten him into it and it's not like he drank it often, usually just when he needed to relax or think clearly. He met Donna's gaze for a split second and instantly knew the message she was trying to convey to him. Thank You.

She knew he had understood what she had wanted him to, and that she meant it, even if she hadn't spoken the words aloud. She watched Harvey as he lifted his cup and took a drink of his tea, properly noticing for the first time how his shirt was still covered in her vomit. She couldn't look him in the eye; feeling guilty and knowing he had no change of clothes.

"What?" Harvey asked, registering that Donna's eyes were fixed on him. He observed a few other things too; the slight flush of pink that had returned to her cheeks, the way she held her mug covering most of her face as if she were hiding from him. He could tell that she was feeling a little better and he was glad. But part of him was hoping it would take longer for her to recuperate because that would mean that she still needed him.

Donna kept the mug in front of her mouth as she spoke. "It's just… that!" She pointed to his shirt and saw the jovial grimace on his face before they both burst out laughing. "You could have had Ray drop something off for you." Hearing her say it, Harvey realized that the thought hadn't even occurred to him.

He put down his mug and moved to sit next to Donna, taking her tea and placing it on the coffee table so he could see her face. "Honestly, I don't care. Seeing you like that; it scared the hell out of me, and I couldn't think of anywhere else I would rather be. Mike and Rachel are at the Gala taking care of Mark Fitzroy and I'm right where I am supposed to be." Feeling somewhat empowered, he decided, in that moment, to take the plunge and tell Donna how he felt. And if it backfired, he could just blame it on a lack of sleep or something.

Harvey took a deep breath and encased Donna's hands within his own. "Being here and make sure you were okay; it made me realize something. I can't imagine my life without you in it, and frankly, I would never want to. You are the one person I can always rely on. You're my rock and I don't know why it's taken me so long to figure this out, but I'm in love with you Donna! I think I have been since that moment we shook hands over a decade ago." He had barely got the words out when he felt Donna's lips press against his.

Seconds later, she pulled back again. "Harvey Specter; it's about damn time!" She joked, pulling him into another kiss.

...

The two of them had been talking for the past three hours about pretty much anything and everything. Donna made it clear to Harvey that she felt the same as he did; that she loved him too, and Harvey explained to Donna how his mother had started him on the tea drinking. Together, they drank more tea and laughed at Harvey's terrible jokes.

Donna did have to run to the bathroom a couple of times, thinking she would be sick again, but thankfully she wasn't. She did, however, find one of her dad's old shirts for Harvey, that he must have left at some point. It was a bit big and rather colorful, but since his was now starting to smell pretty bad and he had no other options, he took it.

"Much better!" He stated while she desperately tried not to laugh at how ridiculous the oversized Hawaiian shirt looked on him, but she also found it somewhat adorable.

Harvey didn't give one of his witty retorts however, instead opting to pull Donna to her feet and start waltzing her around the apartment until they both almost fell to the floor. Just as he was about to press his lips to hers once more, an unwelcome interruption came in the form of the doorbell.

"Who is it?" Donna shouted instinctively, almost immediately regretting it and wishing she had just remained quiet and pretended to be asleep. She loved the time she was getting to spend with Harvey alone and didn't want it to end.

"Donna?" A familiar voice called just as Harvey was about to open the door. He tugged on the handle and it flew open; Rachel rushing inside, ignoring him and making a beeline for her best friend. "Are you okay? How are you feeling? Is Harvey looking after you?" The questions just kept coming, so much so that Donna barely had a chance to utter a word, let alone answer them all.

Mike came to her rescue, jumping into the conversation before his fiancée could bombard Donna any further. "I'm surprised you're still here, man!" Although he really wasn't. "And what's with the shirt?" Joking was their thing and laughing at Mike's remark, Harvey gave his friend a friendly punch in the arm.

"Honestly, I fell asleep and this is all we could find to replace mine." The women then erupted in giggles upon hearing this.

"He's being modest." Donna interjected once she had regained composure and flashed Harvey a sly grin; a gesture which didn't go unnoticed by Rachel. "He's been great, and I am feeling much better. I'm pretty sure it was just a bout of food poisoning. Anyway, what about the Gala? What happened?" Now that they were all happy that Donna was well taken care of, they could turn their attention back to Mark Fitzroy and the account they had been trying to win.

Harvey's interest peaked. "Yes. How did it go?" He reiterated Donna's question, watching as Mike and Rachel exchanged a look that worried him. Donna must have picked up on it too, as they themselves exchanged anxious looks. "Well, come on. Don't leave us in suspense!"

"Okay," Mike started. "We struggled. A lot." This didn't fill Harvey and Donna with confidence.

"But once we realized that all we had to do was be ourselves, we smashed it!" Squeals of excitement rang out. "He signed the engagement letter."

Donna threw her arms around her Best Friend. "Thank you, guys, so much! I hated feeling like I had let everyone down, but you two stepped up and came through for us." As she placed her hand over Harvey's, she realized she didn't care if they saw or not and felt the urge to blurt everything out to her friends before thinking better of it, figuring that Harvey may not be ready for them to know.

In the end, the decision was taken out of her hands, when Rachel caught sight of it. "OH. MY. GOD!" She screamed.

Donna glanced down at how hers and Harvey's hands sat together, knowing exactly what Rachel was referring to. Mike and Harvey, however, were clueless as to what was going on.

"Am I missing something?" Mike asked, almost pleading for Rachel to spell it out for him.

"Okay… Harvey and I have talked about it and we have concluded that we're both sick of not being happy. So, we decided to give us a go!" Donna explained as Harvey wrapped his arms around her, enveloping her in a hug. She, in turn, leaned into him and allowed him to kiss her softly on the cheek.

"That's fantastic!" Mike and Rachel both cheered, throwing their hands into the air in celebration; clearly happy for their friends.

The clock on the mantelpiece chimed, each of them turning to face it as it struck Midnight.

"Merry Christmas!" Donna exclaimed, noting that it was now Christmas Day and that although it symbolized another year which was nearing its end, this was only the beginning of their adventures together.