Chapter 8.
Harvey watched them all closely as they walked closer to him. They were now standing in front of the van. He had only eyes for Mike. The tallest of the men was holding on to Mike's arm. It almost looked like he was holding Mike up. He recognized two of them. The tall guy and one guy with a beard. It was them. The men that had approached him and Mike outside the courthouse. He had been right all along.
Harvey tensed when suddenly all of the men, except the one holding Mike, pulled out weapons and then started to point them at him. They were all standing between himself and Mike now. He was being held at gun point and he had no idea of what to do. For a moment he just stood there, but then he felt anger rush up inside him. What the hell!
"Mike, get over here." He said and tried his best to keep his voice steady.
Harvey was breathing deeply. He would never admit it to anyone, but he was so damn nervous. The kid didn't move though, still standing behind those men. He didn't look up at Harvey, just kept his head down, but the older lawyer could see how he moved his head to glance sideways at his captors. Harvey realized that Mike was seeking some sort of permission from them. Damn it!
"You said you would let him go if I paid. I fucking did, now send him over here."
The three gun barrels were still pointed right at Harvey's chest. He couldn't do much more than to plead with them now, no matter how much he wanted to storm up to them and beat them all bloody. The situation they were in wouldn't get any better if he got himself shot.
Mike shuddered and stumbled a little to the side, and the big guy grabbed onto his arm. Mike looked to be in pretty bad shape, his arms behind his back. Harvey couldn't see all of his face, but the part he did saw was covered in bruises. His hair looked matted and he could see a darker patch in it.
One of the men with a gun turned and spoke to the guy behind him, the one holding on to Mike. Harvey couldn't hear what they were saying, but Mike took the opportunity to raise his head then and looked up searching Harvey's eyes. Harvey clenched his teeth hard together when he saw that Mike had a piece of tape over his mouth. He gave what he hoped was a reassuring nod.
The man closest to Mike suddenly yelled something directed to the rest of his men. They spoke in some foreign language Harvey didn't recognize. The guy holding Mike dragged him a bit closer, and the kid stumbled forward and remained standing where he had been directed. Harvey fought to just stand there and wait. Then they all raised their guns, that were pointed at Harvey, in the air, away from his chest. The big guy next to Mike approached his associate and Harvey saw how Mike immediately flinched away, and it hurt in him to witness that. The guy ignored Mike's reaction, just grabbed him harshly around the arm and dragged him forward. They passed the three men in front of them, and the guy then forcefully pushed Mike forward towards Harvey.
Mike stumbled with the force of the shove and was going to fall. Harvey reacted on instinct. He jumped forward and managed to catch Mike before he went down. He wrapped his arms around the kid and pulled him to his chest, at the same time as he turned his back against the men, all to shield Mike from them.
From that position he didn't see when they left, he just knew that the next time he glanced over his shoulder they were gone.
He was holding Mike's trembling body close to him, just held him there. He was so grateful for this damn moment. For a while there he had been certain that it wouldn't happen. He had thought that he never would see Mike alive again.
Harvey held on to Mike hard. Mike leaned almost all of his weight against him. He had an arm wrapped around Mike's body and the other he placed at the back of Mike's head, pressing him close. He cringed a bit when he felt that some parts of Mike's hair was a bit sticky. It must be blood. Oh god, what had happened to the kid?
"It's alright. It's alright now, you are alright." Harvey swallowed hard and moved his hand from Mike's bloody head and held around his body instead. Mike didn't hug him back, he was just shaking and breathing loudly.
"It's okay. It's over now." Harvey whispered in his ear. When he did that it was almost like he had pressed a switch. Mike started to cry then. At first it scared Harvey, because the thin body in his arms suddenly started to jerk, it took him a moment to understand that Mike was sobbing against him. He started to stroke Mike's back but was stopped by Mike's arms. Shit, he was still bound! How the hell had he forgotten that? But right now, at this moment it was not the right time to do something about that. Mike needed this moment right now, he needed to just feel that it was over, so Harvey held him pressed against himself as the kid cried.
"It's okay. It's okay Mike, it's okay." He repeated the same words over and over again. He closed his eyes with his cheek rested against Mike's head. He just allowed himself to feel the strong sense of relief to actually have the kid back. Mike was understandably upset and relieved as well. He had been held captive for four days, and now he could finally relax again. However, it pained Harvey more than he would ever admit to anyone to hear the sounds Mike was making. He had never heard another human being sound like that before. He wanted to make those sounds stop.
Mike just cried. He was so grateful towards Harvey for holding on to him like this, his legs didn't really carry him anymore. He was so tired, so sad and in so much in pain. He wished he could just pass out and then wake up somewhere soft in a white light room, with people that cared about him next to his bed greeting him. Just like it was in the movies.
But this wasn't a movie and he didn't pass out. Instead he started to get some trouble breathing and just wanted to sit down, since it felt like his legs wouldn't carry him much longer. He moaned a bit to get Harvey to understand.
Harvey jerked a bit when Mike moaned. He carefully leaned Mike away a bit from him to be able to look at him. He swallowed hard again at the sight of him.
"Oh shit, kid." He swore as he took in Mike's face. Tears, dirt and snot were smeared across his face. A piece of tape was over his mouth and half his cheeks. He had a black eye that looked a few days old now. Harvey could also see dried up blood along his neck, and on his once white shirt. Quite a lot of it.
Mike tried to say something behind the tape and Harvey realized that they needed to sit down if he was going to help Mike with this. Mike seemed to realize it too because he started to fold his legs, forcing Harvey down with him. He somehow managed to get Mike in a good position with Harvey on the ground in front of him. The first thing he needed to do was to get Mike lose.
"I'm going to take this off you." Harvey mentioned for the piece of tape, he waited until Mike's tear-filled eyes met his, and he nodded. With one hand on Mike's shoulder keeping him upright, he reached for the tape. It was stuck hard to Mike's skin, and Harvey felt so bad as Mike screwed his eyes shut in pain, as he pulled at it. Mike moaned as the last piece of tape came off him. But he didn't say anything. He just pulled in a few deep breaths.
Harvey squeezed his shoulder as he waited for Mike to get himself together a bit. The younger man was panting, and fresh tears appeared again.
"Harvey…" He breathed out.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm here."
Mike leaned forward then and pressed his head towards Harvey's chest. He drew harsh breaths.
"Thank you." He then said quietly. Harvey held on to him.
"Don't thank me Mike. I'm sorry I didn't come sooner. I'm sorry." He didn't specify then what he was so sorry about. He didn't know if Mike knew why he had been taken. Whose fault it was.
A couple of minutes later Mike sat up again.
"Harvey? My arms." Mike looked at him pleadingly. He really wanted to get lose now. His arms were killing him, and he knew that Harvey would help him. Harvey would take them off.
"Yes, shit! Of course." Harvey was saying. Mike was grateful for the hand Harvey still kept on his shoulder as Harvey moved to be able to see his back. He would fall if Harvey let him go now. He just hung there now and tried to remain calm, he tried to quell the panic he still was feeling. It felt almost like it was about to rush up in him at any moment. He wanted that feeling gone. He wanted his arms free.
"Oh, damn it Mike! This looks rough." Harvey exclaimed behind him.
"Just take it off." Mike said. Everything went blurry as new tears came to his eyes. He couldn't help but start to cry again.
"I'm going to try Mike. It's looks really painful."
Mike didn't know what he was talking about. It was extremely painful, but he didn't know how Harvey could know that it was.
Harvey's heart was beating hard in his chest. He honestly didn't know if this was doable. Thick rope was wrapped tight around Mike's arms, keeping his wrist tight together. The rope dug into his skin and Harvey could see that blood had stained the arms of his shirt. It looked like Mike had been like this for days.
Harvey clenched his teeth together hard. He didn't know how to do this. The knots were tided on the side of Mike's arms, closest to his back. Removing the rope would mean that he needed to lift Mike's arm outwards and then somehow loosen the knot good enough to get the ropes off the kid. Mike was yet again shaking like he was crying. Poor kid. And Harvey was going to hurt him worse.
"Alright, I'm going to try and untie you. Mike, can you sit up though? I will need both of my hands.
Mike nodded. "Yeah…" He moaned.
Harvey highly doubted that, but still let go. Mike slumped even more forward but remained sitting. Harvey hesitated but then took a hold of the ropes. Mike moaned immediately.
"Shit. Sorry. Mike, you are going to have to lift your arms a bit, kid. The knot is almost against your back."
"Yeah, I know." Mike whispered. "Just get it off. I want it off."
"Yeah, I know. I know. Okay, you ready?"
Harvey helped him by lifting a bit and then grabbing the knot. But Mike screamed out in pain and trashed so that he immediately lost his grip.
"Ow, ow, ow…" Mike said. "It's hurts, it hurts."
"Yeah, I know. I'm sorry."
They tried again but with the same results. Mike was growing more desperate and Harvey felt lost.
"Help me Harvey!" Mike whined. "Get it off me."
"I don't think I can Mike, I need something to cut with. I can't get the knot undone with just my fingers, it's just too tight."
"Get it off! It hurts." Mike was losing it. He knew he was being pathetic, and he hated that Harvey saw him like this. But Harvey was just pulling at his arms, causing the ropes to dig deeper and the ache in his arms to worsen. "Please Harvey!"
"I'm trying Mike. But like I said, I need to find something to cut it with." Then Harvey started to stand up.
"NO!" Mike screamed. "No, don't. Don't, don't, don't. Please." Harvey grabbed his shoulder again.
"Mike. Please kid, calm down. I can't get it off you without something to cut it with. I need some scissors or a knife…"
"But don't leave me here." Mike cried. He pressed his cheek against Harvey's hand on his shoulder. He couldn't stand the thought of being alone right now. He didn't know what was worse right now. Having to keep the ropes on or being alone. He just cried, hoping that he didn't have to choose.
"Okay, okay, okay." Harvey squeezed his shoulder again and didn't remove his hand. Then he spoke again.
"Yes, I need an ambulance right now. My friend was kidnapped. He's badly hurt." Harvey had called 911.
It broke Harvey's heart, the way Mike was sobbing in front of him. He felt totally useless but calling for help was the only thing he could think of right now. He should have done it sooner. If he had, maybe Mike had been spared several minutes of suffering. Now, he was promised help within ten minutes. Ten long minutes. He wanted to scream at them that they needed help now, but just gave a description on where they were and hung up.
He needed to make Mike more comfortable, if that was possible at the moment. Mike was only in a shirt; it must be the same he wore when he was taken. Harvey quickly got out of his suit jacket and then sat down on the ground.
"Mike, come here. Help is coming, we just have to wait for a bit." He pushed Mike down towards his lap. Mike complied without a word. However, he whimpered in pain at the movement. "Ow…"
Harvey felt so damn bad for him. He helped Mike to lay his head on his leg, he couldn't have the kid on the ground. Mike again said that he was hurting.
"I know. I know, it hurts. I'm so sorry Mike." Harvey told him quietly. As Mike was laying down, he grabbed his suit jacket and draped it over the kid. He didn't know if it helped or if Mike even noticed it, but it just felt like the right thing to do.
"Harvey…" Mike said. He was panting. He didn't even know what else he wanted to say.
"I'm here. I'm right here. You are going to be okay. It's over now. Help will be here soon."
Tears trailed down Mike's nose. Harvey hesitated but reached over to brush them away. He stopped when Mike almost shielded away from him. He whimpered in that awful way again.
"God, what did they do to you?" Harvey couldn't help but ask. Mike didn't answer, just pressed his head down harder into Harvey's leg.
Mike felt so damn bad now. His arms were the worst, but everything else hurt him as well, and it wasn't just the physical pain. Harvey had said that it was over. It didn't feel like it was. Not really. The panic was still there. The humiliation. He was still bound.
"I want to get it off." He said shakily.
"Yeah, I know." Harvey answered him right away. "I'm so sorry."
"Why can't you take it off? Please!" Mike begged him. Harvey found himself closing his eyes for a moment.
"I want to get it off you, but I need something sharp to do it with. I don't have that. Do you understand Mike?"
Mike panted a little and tried to push his panic further down. Harvey couldn't take it off. They had to wait for help. He thought that he managed to nod.
"Good boy." Harvey said then and stroked his head a little. It felt nice. "How long have you been bound like this, Mike?" Harvey asked.
"I…I think three days."
"Oh shit." Harvey swore. "I'm so sorry." Mike had never heard Harvey say that he was sorry this much before. He appreciated it though. He didn't say anything about it. He had gotten another thought in his mind now.
"Harvey?" He breathed.
"Yes, kid."
"Do…do you…Do you have something to drink? Or eat?"
Harvey felt worthless at that question. Why hadn't he brought something? Anything? He had come totally unprepared for this. Somehow, he hadn't thought about in which state Mike could be in. He hated the fact that he yet again had to deny Mike what he asked for.
"No, I'm sorry Mike. I don't have anything."
He felt how Mike shuttered a little at his reply. "Okay…" He whispered.
"When was the last time you ate? Did they feed you at all?"
"Once…"
"You only got something to eat once?"
"Yeah, half a sandwich."
"Shit."
"I was tied up. They threw it on the floor next to me."
Harvey swallowed and didn't know what he should say. He squeezed the kid's shoulder a bit. Wishing for help to get there faster.
Mike turned his head so that he buried his face more into Harvey's legs. He just wanted this to end. He couldn't help to feel embarrassed about this whole situation. But he couldn't do anything to stop himself from crying. It just hurt to think back. He didn't want to talk anymore. Why couldn't just Harvey help him?
"Harvey? Help me…" He found himself saying, he regretted the words as soon as he said them, but he couldn't take them back. He sounded so weak.
"I will, I will help you. It's going to be fine now, Mike. I promise." Harvey stroked his shoulder and he placed his other hand over Mike's head. It felt good that he did so. He felt a little bit calmer. Harvey was going to help him.
"They hurt your head?" Harvey quietly asked.
"Yeah…"
"Okay." Harvey kept his hand on Mike's head, lightly. Mike seemed to be a little bit calmer now, his breathing had slowed down a bit and as had the shaking. Harvey had blood on his hand now, from the wound at the back of Mike's head. He wasn't sure where the wound was, he didn't want to feel around, because it would hurt the kid more. But blood had spread around the whole back of his head. He wanted to ask Mike what had happened, but it seemed that details right now made the younger man too upset. He had started to cry when they talked about the food.
Time passed so slow. Where the hell was the ambulance? Mike needed help now. It was terrible to just sit here and wait while his associate was suffering. Because of him, Mike had been suffering severely for four days. Mike had been beaten and starved and had been bound the entire time. How was he ever going to make this alright?
Mike was now laying on his lap, curled up and shaking, like a small child. Harvey had never felt like this, the feeling of deep sympathy mixed with helplessness and guilt.
"Thank god." Harvey mumbled the next minute as they heard sirens coming towards them.
"Help is here Mike. They will help you now."
However, it wasn't an ambulance that pulled up next to them, it was a police car. Two police officers jumped out of the car and came rushing towards them.
One of them kneeled down next to Harvey and Mike, and the other remained standing, looking around.
"Is this the kidnapping victim?" He officer asked. Harvey nodded.
"Where are the kidnappers? And who are you?"
"I'm his boss. And they left after leaving him to me."
"And how long ago was this?"
"About ten minutes maybe."
"They drove? Did you see what kind of car?"
"A black van. But can we maybe do this later?" Harvey mentioned for Mike, who hadn't moved at all. He had his eyes closed. The officer nodded to his colleague who hurried back to their car. Then the man's attention turned back to Mike.
"What's his name?"
"Mike."
"Do you know the extent of his injuries?"
"He's been hit at the back of his head. He is still tied up though, can you help with that?"
The police officer nodded. "Mike." He said. "Can you hear me? I'm just going to take a look at your hand's okay?"
"Yeah." Mike said. The police removed Harvey's suit jacket and leaned closer to Mike's arms.
"How long has this been on him?"
"At least three days." Harvey answered.
"Oh shit, okay. The ambulance will be here in a couple of minutes, but we'll try to remove them now."
"Yeah, okay." Harvey said.
A moment later the other police offer came over with a bag of tools.
"Alright, Mike. Are you with us?" The first one said.
"Yeah." Mike said.
"I would like to move you a bit, so that we can access your arms better. But first can you tell me if you are hurt somewhere?"
"Not really." Mike said, Harvey noticed that Mike's breathing had started to speed up again.
"Okay, I'm afraid that this might be a bit painful, but we will be as careful as we can."
The second police officer grabbed Harvey's suit jacket and laid it out on the ground next to them. He then removed his own jacket as well and put it over Harvey's. "Ready over here." He said.
"Okay, Mike. We'll lift you over to your stomach, right here next to your friend. Do we have your permission to do so?"
"Yes..." Mike whispered.
"What's your name?" Harvey was asked and he told them.
"Okay, Harvey. You just move to the side when we lift him."
They counted to three and then lifted Mike over to the side and laid him down on his stomach. Mike couldn't help but moan. It did hurt, and when he was placed back on his stomach, he felt more uneasy. He didn't like it one bit. He was breathing faster and tensed up. He didn't want them to touch him. He couldn't see Harvey either. Where was he? Did he leave?
"Harvey? Harvey?" He called out, his voice shaking.
"Mike, you need to stay still right now. We'll work on removing the ropes around your arms." One of the policemen said.
"I'm right here Mike." Harvey came into view again and he instantly felt a huge sense of relief.
"Don't go. Don't go." Mike told him.
"I won't kid. I won't. Just focus on me, okay. Try to stay calm."
"But I don't want to…"
"Just look at me. You just have to stay still for one minute. They are getting the ropes off you right now."
Mike looked into Harvey's eyes and tried not to focus at all on the hands on his shoulder and around his wrist.
"Okay, we are done."
Hands were on his arms and started to lower them to his side. Pain exploded in his shoulders, in his arms. He screamed.
Harvey jerked back at Mike's reaction. The kid started to squirm, like he was trying to get away from something.
"What's wrong with him?!" Harvey exclaimed.
"It's the blood rushing back into his arms. It must hurt like hell. My coworker is checking the status on the ambulance as we speak."
"Shit." Harvey swallowed hard. It was like Mike wasn't really there, it was awful.
"Help me turn him on his back." The policeman said. "Hold on to his arms and let's do it quickly. It will be better for him on his back."
Harvey nodded and together they grabbed Mike and turned him. Mike screamed again and Harvey felt like he was punched in the stomach. Mike trashed around on the ground and moaned. Harvey reached out for him.
"Mike, it's okay." He tried.
"The ambulance is arriving." The police officer by the car called.
For Mike everything was too much now. His arms burned, and he didn't know what to do with himself. It was hard to breath and he just wanted it to stop. Too much was going on around him as well. His arms hurt so much. He started to cry again, this time not even caring that the people around him saw it. More people came over now. He screamed when they touched him, and he tried to get away. He didn't get far though, because he couldn't use his arms.
They lifted him over to something softer. Something was placed over his nose and mouth, and he felt how someone held onto one of his arms and he felt a pinch there. Something warm and heavy was placed over him. He was moved. He understood that he was moved into an ambulance, and he felt a bit calmer then. He was getting help. They were helping him now. He looked around for Harvey and saw him sitting next to him. Harvey was there. He closed his eyes. Opened them again. Harvey was still there. He let the exhaustion take over a few minutes later.
-SUITS-