A/N: Second day of posting this fic, second day for Donna and Harvey (and Machel who?) in the middle of nowhere, being forced to confront their feelings. Will they finally stop being stupid? Let's see :) Enjoy!
You And I Collide - Part 2
Pearls of sweat are rolling over Donna's collarbone the next day, as she's sitting on the lowest step of the Finnish sauna with Rachel by her side. With her eyes closed, she's leaning against the back of the bench behind her. The determined concentration to endure the heat that is filling the room is the only thing that has been able to shut down her brain for a period longer than a minute.
Ever since the previous night, Donna is feeling a kind of restlessness she has never experienced before. For as long as she can remember, things with Harvey had always felt like unfinished business; all the what ifs, could have beens, and should have saids culminating in a huge, black hole rooted deep inside of them that neither has ever been able to fill. And that hole seems to be expanding exponentially, ever since their moment on the couch the night before.
It felt like something had been about to change. Between them. Within them. Both so incredibly close to the ultimate truth, only to let it slip through their fingers like they always do.
It's getting harder to ignore though; the way the tension keeps sizzling and the way the truth keeps scratching at the surface. She can see it in his eyes, the same kind of emotion she is carrying in her heart. It's getting more intense, that feeling, and with it the desperation and the fear.
Something needed to happen soon because Donna knows she won't be able to keep going like this for much longer. Not when they are this close. Not when for once they both seem to want the same things.
Completely lost in thought, Donna actually startles when Rachel breaks the silence.
"Did you and Harvey have a fight?" She asks practically out of the blue, twisting her head so she could look at Donna.
"What? No! Why would you even think that?"
"Because you've barely interacted with each other all day? You didn't speak to him during breakfast and on our stroll through the city, you two walked as far apart from each other as possible. And do I even need to mention the tension between the two of you? Because I think I could cut it with a knife."
Donna's gaze wanders to her friend, eyeing her quietly for a moment. "No, Rachel," she says, shaking her head, "Harvey and I didn't have a fight."
As she studies Donna, she tries to take in what the redhead is saying; realization beginning to dawn on her. If they hadn't been fighting, then there could only be one other explanation for their even weirder than normal behavior. "Oh my god," she exclaims, immediately covering her mouth with her hands.
"What?" Donna wants to know, even though she's already hating the look on Rachel's face.
"Did it finally happen?" She squeals excitedly, clapping her hands.
They're lucky they are currently alone in the room because Donna is convinced that someone would have probably thrown them out by now if they weren't.
Without having to explain much more, Donna instantly knows what Rachel is referring to; and the thought alone is sending a shiver down her spine. "Rachel! Are you crazy? Of course not! Now, why would you even think that?"
"Well, why wouldn't I? It's you and Harvey! Anything's possible!"
"Well, most certainly not that."
"And why not?"
"You know why not! The last time I even just kissed him, it almost tore us apart. And he made it clear that he doesn't want anything to happen ever again."
Rachel contemplates for a moment if she should dare to push her, but then she remembers the main reason why they are here and throws caution into the wind. "But you do, don't you?" Rachel probes. "Want something to happen, I mean."
"It doesn't matter what I want. I promised him."
"But things were different back then," Rachel objects.
"It was a couple of weeks ago, Rach. How could things be that much different now?"
"So, you're telling me you don't see the way he's looking at you these days?"
"And what way would that be?"
All of a sudden the heat is uncomfortably pressing down on Donna, as her chest becomes too tight to hold back her accelerating heart. She's afraid of Rachel's reply; afraid of what it might do to her if someone else would say it out loud.
"Like he's going to drop down on one knee any second," Rachel replies and while she knows she is being overly dramatic, it also isn't that far from the truth.
Donna stares at Rachel blankly. "Drop down on one knee?"
"What? That was the PG-13 version. Would you rather I'd have said he's looking at you like he's gonna rip off your clothes any second? Because either way it's accurate."
"Thanks, Rachel. I'm getting the picture," Donna mumbles, closing her eyes again.
Rachel keeps looking at her, waiting for a reply that would satisfy her. "So?" Rachel asks after Donna remains silent.
"So what?"
"Are you really telling me you aren't seeing it?"
"Rachel…," Donna exhales, looking back at her again. "I told you what happened. Whatever way you think he is looking at me, it clearly doesn't mean anything."
"Are you lying to me or to yourself now, Donna?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"Look, I don't want to be insensitive or inconsiderate… but you both really need to open your eyes to what's right in front of you before it's too late."
"I can't. Even if I wanted to, I just can't. I promised him. And I'm not gonna do anything to hurt him again."
Rachel nods in understanding; her heart aching for both of her friends and their seemingly hopeless situation. "But what would happen if he opened up to you about his feelings?"
"I can't think about that. I can't allow myself to get my hopes up when he might never be ready for us."
Both women sigh simultaneously, sinking further against the seat behind them, as the heat rolls over them in waves.
"I think he will be. It's all there in his eyes, Donna, if you wanna see it or not," Rachel argues convincingly. "And it won't be that much longer until one of you breaks. I can feel it."
Donna exhales heavily, wiping the sweat off her brows while she's desperately trying to relax. Only that she can't. Because despite what she said about not wanting to get her hopes up, there is a tiny flicker deep inside of her, whispering quietly, that it was already too late for that.
~o~o~
The tension doesn't really dissolve for the rest of the day and Donna is pretty sure that by the time dinner rolls around, everyone was aware of the fact as well. She feels almost sorry, especially for Rachel and Mike, because this was probably not how they had envisioned this trip to go. And yet, every once in a while, Donna catches them looking at each other with a smug grin or a satisfied glint in their eyes, that leaves Donna empty and confused. Is all of this just in her head? Is even the tension between them considered so normal now that people just start to overlook it? Is there even tension at all?
In another situation or moment in time, Donna Paulsen would see her friends' wordless interactions for what they really are. Because even someone without her ability to read and know people could easily detect what's happening right in front of her eyes. With the chaos that is raging in Donna's head however, she's uncharacteristically oblivious to the truth.
It's just then that another one of these knowing glances transpires between Mike and Rachel, him nodding with the slightest of head movements that would go unnoticed by anyone else. A mischievous smile ghosts Rachel lips as her eyes find Donna's, seconds before those same lips begin to move.
"So, has Mark tried to contact you again lately or has he finally given up?" Rachel nonchalantly asks, as if it was the most normal thing to do.
Instantaneously, an embarrassed silence settles at the table, especially on Harvey and Donna's side of it. Donna coughs on a piece of shrimp she'd been about to swallow and Harvey's fork drops onto his plate with a clang. A little quieter, he places the knife right next to it, indicating that he had finished his meal even though at least half of his steak is still sitting next to the cutlery. His gaze wanders between Donna and Rachel, while willing himself not to look any more affected than he actually is.
Had Mark been back in the picture? Had he missed that particular memo? His stomach is churning, while an iron fist is clenching around his heart. Patiently but with a pinch of desperation, Harvey is waiting for Donna to speak; silently begging her to deliver him from that overwhelming feeling that is threatening to drown him.
Sensing Harvey freezing beside her, Donna throws a quick sideways glance at him. And while his eyes are focused on Rachel, she can still see the waves of crippling energy that are radiating off of him.
Donna wonders for a second why Rachel's question has such a visible effect on him before she finally replies to her friend. "I think he's given up," she states, shrugging her shoulders, "I've made it perfectly clear that nothing would ever happen as long as things are the way they are. And that was that."
Harvey only slightly relaxes, while his fingers fumble with the first button of his dress shirt that's covered by the collar of his pullover.
"Okay. Good. I'm glad to hear that," Rachel replies, still pretending that she is simply conducting cordial small talk instead of knowingly firing up Harvey. And it isn't like she's enjoying seeing him in so much distress but she firmly believes that if the two of them are ever to confront each other about their feelings, it would take a metaphorical hammer hitting them on their heads over and over and over again.
With her focus back on Donna, Rachel adds. "Because as I've said, you deserve only the best."
"Thanks, Rach," Donna responds, with an uneasy feeling inside of her.
Rachel, Donna, and Mike finish their dinner over more innocuous small talk afterward, while Harvey sits in silence and can't really bring himself to eat any more. It isn't long after their waiter had cleared their table that an atmosphere of departure is seizing the group.
"Should we call it a night? Doing nothing all day has been really exhausting," Rachel quips, downing the last of her Chardonnay.
"I'm right there with ya," Mike agrees, squeezing her shoulder with the hand that had been resting on the backrest of her chair, while he finishes off his beer.
Donna and Harvey follow suit and together, the four of them leave the restaurant to head for their rooms. Rachel and Mike are leading the way and are just about to walk down the hallway towards the elevator when Harvey's voice brings a sudden stop to the group.
"You know what, you guys go ahead. I'm gonna take a stroll outside. Walk off that steak before bed," he says, fully aware that they all know him well enough to know that something had to be up. Considering everything he's feeling though, he just really doesn't care.
And neither seem to do Mike or Rachel, Harvey realizes, when they simply wish him a good night without inquiring any further.
"Sure, Harvey. Have a good night," Mike says with a sympathetic smile before Rachel adds a soft 'good night' of her own.
It takes Donna a moment longer to react, unsure if she should follow her heart and him outside or her head and therefore Rachel and Mike upstairs. Harvey is eyeing her curiously but when her hesitation lasts for too long, he interprets it as disinterest as well.
Harvey nods with a halfhearted smile. "Good night. I'll see you all tomorrow."
As he leaves them standing, Donna looks after him with a sinking feeling in her stomach.
Rachel and Mike are already continuing down the hallway, while Donna is still rooted to her spot, mulling over her options again. The rational side of her is telling her that she didn't have a coat with her, which should be the main reason to opt for going upstairs. But that other half, the louder and empathetic one, is yelling at her to go after him because the look in his eyes would haunt her all night.
Being way past caring what the other two might say or think, Donna stops the couple once more. "I'm gonna go and check up on Harvey. See if he's okay," Donna informs them.
Rachel looks like she's about to blurt out something inappropriate, but the spark in her eye disappears as quickly as it came. "I think that's a good idea. Don't catch a cold though, okay?" Rachel warns her friend.
"I won't, don't worry. I'm sure we'll just be a few minutes. Night, Rachel, night, Mike," Donna replies, hugging them both goodbye.
"Have a good night, Donna," Mike says before they each head their own ways.
Donna's search for Harvey is short-lived, with him having found shelter in the half-opened hut on the far end of the property. They'd already come across the little retreat on their way into town this morning, and Donna had a feeling she would probably find him there, after he had seemed so interested in it earlier.
As it turns out, the cabin appears even more welcoming at night, as the warm ceiling light bathes the space in a cozy glow. Pillows and blankets are strewn over a handful of lounge chairs and rustic paintings, as well as other stylish decorations, give the hut an inviting and languorous feel. Two blazing fire baskets are placed outside in the snow on either corner of the building, additionally adding to the coziness that slowly but gradually pulls Donna closer.
Harvey watches her cautiously as she walks towards him, a tentative smile emerging on his lips.
"That's not a stroll you're taking," Donna states and despite the sass in her voice, she sounds a lot more affectionate than intended.
Harvey looks up at her, caution turning into amusement. "No, I'm not," he agrees with a nod.
"You wanna be alone?"
"Nah, it's okay," he replies, motioning with his hand to the chair beside him.
With a guarded smile herself, Donna takes the seat next to him, internally grateful that he had chosen the place by the fire. It wouldn't be enough to keep her warm for long, but it would be at least for a little while.
They both sit in silence for a moment, absentmindedly watching the flames as they get lost in thought. It feels a lot like the previous night; not as intimate beneath the open, starry night sky but every bit as intense with twenty-four hours of avoiding the elephant in the room.
Harvey is the first one brave enough to speak, and because it's been a long day and a long decade of not saying what he wants to say, he doesn't really feel like beating around the bush anymore.
"I didn't know Mark is in the picture again."
"Because he isn't," Donna immediately replies, a bit surprised that he would be so honest, without her having to force it out of him.
"That wasn't the impression I got from Rachel."
"That's because he was in the picture. For a few of days, a couple of weeks ago. But I was stupid and it ended before it even really began."
Harvey ponders for a second or two, the silence heavy and for once not really comfortable at all.
"Did you sleep with him?" He lets out then, trepidation in his eyes as he watches her and waits. He knows he really has no right to ask her, but the thought and images are killing him and he just needed to know; even if the truth had the power to kill him just as much.
Donna can sense and see that Harvey seems to be uncharacteristically open tonight, yet his forward question still catches her off guard and it takes her a second to reply. "Why does it matter?"
"Because." He responds, the word loaded with all the explanations they still can't say out loud.
"That's an evasive answer."
"You know why, Donna."
A weary sigh slips from her lips, as she wonders if they would ever be able to communicate as normal people do. If they would ever be able to not be evasive or equivocal. As she sits there and looks at him, resignation is expanding inside of her and she curses herself for not having gone to bed when she'd had the chance.
"No, Harvey. I really don't." There is a lot of irritation flickering inside of her and yet, the tone in her voice is almost pleading with him.
"Because," he begins again, this time with more determination in his voice after sensing the mood between them about to turn for the worse. "Because it bothers me. Because the thought of other men getting to be with you like that is killing me," Harvey expels, his jaw clenching with the power of the truth.
Another 'why' is teetering on the tip of Donna's tongue but she is paralyzed by the weight of his words. Did he realize what he'd just said? Did he mean what he'd just said? Or was it just another one of those things he blurted out and then would find a way out of because it didn't mean anything?
She wants to ask him. Feels the urge to push him for answers because she's simply too tired to play this game with him any longer. But years and years of having conversations like these have also taught her that most likely she would only get an ambiguous answer from him at best. And the way things are between them right now, she knows she wouldn't be able to handle that tonight. Her nervous system has already been strained for too long.
So, she gives in and gives him what he needs, even when he can't give her what she needs in return.
"No. I didn't sleep with him," Donna concedes, folding her hands in her lap, while she tries to fight off the emerging, aggravating memories of those painful weeks in the still not too distant past.
A breath he didn't know he'd been holding finally gets released; the pressure on his chest instantaneously easing. It feels so freeing, that for a second he even forgets what he had just admitted moments ago; the worry that he might have said too much having disappeared to the back of his mind. He is relieved to hear her words, but the restrained look in her eyes is telling him that there is still more to the story.
Would it be wise to look for more answers? Would she even be willing to talk to him? His mind quickly makes the decision for him, his next words finding their way before he can stop them.
"Then why would you say that you've been stupid?"
"Because I almost did. Even though I knew he was married," Donna admits, aware of what Harvey would probably think about it and her.
When their eyes meet silently though, she finds no judgment there. Only curiosity and concern, that make her heart beat faster in her chest. Even more so, when he doesn't look away but firmly holds her gaze instead.
"Tell me what happened?" He gently probes, not so much out of a need to still his own inquisitiveness at that point but because he can feel that something is weighing her down.
Donna knows she shouldn't say anything because she doesn't really want to go back to that particular period in their relationship. And she knows she also shouldn't say anything because she's too exhausted to be careful or hold herself back, which could only lead to disaster in an intimate moment like this.
But when she sees his caring expression, his gaze deep and warm, she somehow can't not tell him either.
So after a sigh, she explains. "I was in a horrible headspace back then and under the misguided conception that he might be able to give me what I was looking for."
"What were you looking for?"
Donna breaks their eye-contact and stares down into her hands instead, as a surge of shame rushes through her. Taking a deep breath, she looks back up again. "For someone to make me feel better. To make me feel wanted."
Pain flashes in her eyes and it breaks Harvey's heart to see her like that. To know that somehow, this incredible and confident woman had felt unwanted when he knows for a fact that she had always been wanted by him. "Why would you ever think that you aren't wanted, Donna?"
"Because at the time, I knew I wasn't."
For a short moment, there was dead silence; apart from the crackling fire and the heavy breathing of the two sole occupants in the cabin. They both realize that they are nearing the point where usually either one of them would start to run.
Already, they've spoken more openly than they have in a very long time, though judging by the unwavering look in Harvey's eyes, he isn't planning on going anywhere. And as Donna sinks back into her chair, she doesn't show any sign of running either.
The need to contradict her, to reassure her, to tell her that it isn't true nearly overwhelms him. If only his mind was able to come up with a way to comfort her without revealing what is hiding inside of him. And for a second he wonders if maybe, just maybe, it would be better to just stop hiding it anyway because he can't possibly live in this weird limbo any longer when it's so clear to him what they should be doing instead.
Her voice pulls him back before he can make a decision or say a word. Donna sounds distant all of a sudden, and so are her eyes as she stares into the flames.
"I didn't even consider doing it until…" She pauses, as the day comes rushing back in all of its excruciating clarity. "Until I ran into Paula in your office that day. I'm still not really sure what exactly happened, but something inside of me just snapped."
"Did she say something to you?" He asks, fully aware that the pain in her voice is stoking a flicker of hope in his heart that is entirely wrong but somehow he's unable to make it stop.
"No. But I behaved horribly. She didn't deserve that," Donna asserts, shaking her head at the memory. She still isn't able to recognize that version of herself, even after all these weeks that had passed since that afternoon. Nor does she understand where that overwhelming jealousy had come from so suddenly, in an intensity she didn't even know she possessed.
That flicker of hope he'd been feeling is soon replaced by dread. Just thinking about Paula and everything the memories of her entailed clouds his head in ways that disable him from comprehending where this conversation is headed.
It's been almost three months now since things had ended with her and it had only taken him a couple of days after that fateful evening to realize what he had been doing by being with her in the first place. Looking back at it now, it's so absurd even in his own mind, that he constantly wants to laugh about it, if it weren't so damn tragic. If it hadn't almost cost him everything.
Not wanting to risk getting lost in that nightmare, however, Harvey redirects his focus to Donna instead.
"What did you do?" He wants to know then, as possible scenarios are already running through his head.
"I was hurting… and then I staked a claim that wasn't mine to stake," Donna sighs, while still avoiding his gaze.
There is another silence, while those words finally register with his brain, even through all the chaos and images he doesn't want to have in there anyway. His head turns to look at her again but Donna's eyes are still firmly fixed on the flames, that continue to keep them warm.
Why wouldn't she look at him? His heart is pounding painfully in his chest. If only he was better at handling situations like these. If only he wasn't so damn scared to say or do something wrong. And if only the voices in his head weren't so goddamn loud.
'Whatever I thought might be there, wasn't.' She hadn't felt anything when she'd kissed him; she's told him as much. Then why is there so much pain in her eyes? His thoughts are running a mile a minute, as he tries to put the pieces of the puzzle together. The moment they had shared in her office must have been after her encounter with Paula, which means that whatever Paula had triggered inside of her had to have been refuted by their kiss soon after. 'I didn't feel anything when I kissed you.' In the fog in his head, Donna's face blurs into Mike's. 'You are blind if you believe that Donna doesn't have feelings for you.' Then what could Mike have possibly been talking about?
Harvey looks sideways again, trying to catch her eyes in the hopes of finding something in them. Anything that would tell him what to do. But she doesn't look back and he's never felt more lost.
Deeply inhaling some courage, before heavily exhaling some of his fear, Harvey finally begins to talk again. "I'm sure whatever you said to her, she had it coming."
That finally does the intended trick; Donna twisting her head to look back at Harvey at last. Only that the emotions he finds in her eyes are as chaotic as the ones inside of his head, and therefore aren't able to help him in the least.
"No, she didn't. No one deserves to be treated poorly."
"Donna, I know you. You could never treat anyone poorly," he replies convincingly.
A silent moment passes, as the walls between them are coming down brick by brick.
Harvey inhales deeply before he continues. "Plus, Paula should have just known better from the start."
"Should have known what better?" Donna asks surprised, as she believes to detect an ounce of anger in his voice.
"Everything. She knew what you meant to me. What you've always meant to me. She should have seen what was happening," Harvey states perseveringly. "She should have seen what I was doing."
Twisting ever so slightly in her chair to face him more properly, Donna crosses her arms in front of her body to keep herself warm. "And what were you doing?"
Harvey only hesitates for a second before he replies. "Panicking," he simply says, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Then again, it is the most obvious thing in the world, even if it had taken him a while to understand that. "When you told me that you wanted more, it was me who snapped. And it was me who did something stupid, by asking her out," Harvey sighs regretfully, while still focusing solely on Donna. "But Paula should have known."
"A relationship always takes two, Harvey," Donna objects, as some of the pain he had inflicted on her during those days is slowly abating with the help of his honesty.
"I know. And I know where I went wrong now. I know I was incapable of dealing with what I was really feeling. But Paula should have seen it. She should have known from the start. It's her damn job to fix people like me. Not to destroy them by forcing them to give up the one thing that matters the most." Harvey is still gazing at her, the steady look in his eyes leaving no doubt about what his words truly mean. Every additional word is sending shivers down her spine, and the tremble that had started inside of her is slowing showing itself on the outside as well.
Harvey takes another deep breath, wanting to get out more of his thoughts while his fears somehow seem to be kept at bay. "And I'm sorry, Donna. I'm sorry that I hurt you and that I made you believe that I wouldn't always choose you."
"Harvey…"
"Because I will. I'll always choose you, Donna," he gives her another moment to let it all sink in. Gives himself a moment, too, to keep up with the words that are pouring out of him without restraint. "And I know I never apologized to you, but I really am sorry for everything. For Paula, for what happened with Stu, for treating you the way I did."
There are so many things she wants to say to him; too many things, to even know where to begin. All she can do is stare at him, waiting for the moment when she'd wake up from this dream or where he'd stand up and leave.
Neither of these things happens though, as his gaze and her shiver intensify. She had patiently waited for a moment like this one for longer than she'd care to admit, and now that some of their unspoken truths had finally been released, it was all just too damn much to handle. Which is an incredibly overwhelming and disconcerting feeling for someone who always knows what to say.
Which, for some inexplicable reason, leads her to say one of the most mundane things she could have possibly come up with and she wants to bite her tongue as soon as the words leave her lips.
"It's okay, Harvey. You did what you thought was right at the time. There's really nothing to forgive."
"I still should have known that it wasn't right. Any of it."
"Really, Harvey, don't worry. It's in the past and that's where it should remain."
"I know… but I still feel horrible about it. Even more so now, knowing what it's done to you. I never meant to…"
"I know that. That's why you shouldn't worry. We've both done things that we aren't proud of. It's part of being human."
She wants to say more. Say something that doesn't sound so definitive. Why is she acting like she wants to end this conversation when it's the last thing she ever wants to do? Not when they are this close to revealing it all.
She can feel it, the truth, right there and almost within reach.
Harvey only hears the finality though; not able to interpret the look in her eyes for what it really is.
There is more he wants to say to her, too. Not just thinking that he should say more but actually wanting to say more, while possessing the courage to actually do so for once. But their moment seems to be fleeting already; energy and tension diluting.
"Okay," Harvey says, a low sigh chasing the word. "I promise it'll never happen again," he adds gently, feeling that it would probably be one of the last things he'd get to say.
Donna nods softly, still too overcome with everything that had just transpired between them in the last couple of minutes. The freezing temperatures are finally catching up with her, sending a different kind of shiver down her body then.
"You're cold," Harvey asserts, his gaze still resting on her.
"Yeah… it is getting a little cold out here," Donna admits, rubbing her arms.
"It is, yeah," Harvey agrees and shuffles around in his chair. "Let's get you inside. It's getting late anyway."
She hesitates, looking at him and waiting, hoping, maybe their moment of truth would return. When she realizes that it had indeed passed, Donna gets up from her seat and the two of them head inside. All the way up to their suite, not another word is exchanged.
The things they want to say are once again the things left unsaid, and all the other ones they could say seem worthless and needless after everything they've shared.
The flames in their fireplace are already dwindling when they arrive and unanimously deciding that it is too late to fire it up again, they agree that it would probably be best to call it a night, even if neither of them is really ready to do so.
It just didn't feel right to end the evening this way, with so many things finally having been said but not the one thing that has always been the root cause of it all. They're standing in front of their respective doors, both hesitating to make the final step that would end their night of honesty for good. What if they didn't get it back? How many more chances would they get?
"Donna?" Harvey says, turning around first, in a final attempt to get it right.
With question marks in her eyes, Donna spins around and finds his probing gaze.
"Never doubt again that you're wanted, okay?" He lets out in another moment of bravery. "Because you are," he states, fully turned towards her in open invitation. "Very much so."
It feels like his 'I love you' in her living room all those years ago, only now he didn't seem to want to run away but right into her instead. Donna is frozen in place; his confession so long-awaited that now that it's here, she can't think of a single thing to say. Too raw are all of her emotions and too overwhelmed her body, mind, and soul.
They gaze at each other silently, the sound of blood rushing through his ears drowning out everything else around him. Seconds feel like minutes, as they drag on without a single word being said. Harvey's heart sinks as Donna just stares at him blankly, making no move to do or say anything more. Had he made a mistake in opening up the way he had? Had he misinterpreted those flickers of hope he'd thought he'd seen in her eyes once or twice in the past half an hour? Did she really not feel anything at all, if his frankness doesn't even elicit any kind of response?
Not wanting to delay the inevitable any longer than necessary, he forces a tentative smile to his lips, hoping and praying that tomorrow, she would still be in his life.
"Good night, Donna," he murmurs before he slowly turns around and disappears in his room.
Donna stares after him, still too shocked to move a muscle.
Had Harvey just said he wanted her?
~o~o~
A/N: We're almost there now, I promise. Check back here tomorrow around the same time for the climax of this story (pun intended) ;)
Huge thank yous again to Nanna and Aimee, who help so tremendously to shape this fic into what it is! You are truly the best! XOXO
And also a huge thank you to all of you amazing readers and reviewers! They mean the world and light up my day and I couldn't be more grateful to all of you! XOXO