AN: Thank you so much for all the reviews and tweets. This chapter was especially emotional for me and I hope it gives you all the feels that it gave me to write it. Thanks to my three girls (Heather, Steph, and Blue) for all your priceless input. PLEASE KEEP REVIEWING!

Chapter 4:

Donna knocks on Thomas's door, a bundle of nerves. They had agreed to dinner at his place during their coffee this morning. At the time she had hoped to be feeling better about where things were between them, but in reality, she felt worse. After her talk with Rachel, she is even more conflicted. Her head keeps saying Thomas, but her heart keeps screaming...

"There's my beautiful date," Thomas greets her as he opens the door with a wide smile.

He gives her a soft kiss on the lips and takes her coat. Always the gentleman.

"It smells fabulous in here, and I'm starving." Donna takes in a whiff of the aroma from the kitchen and tries to keep herself in the here and now.

"I took a few culinary classes in college. I have a lot of hidden talents, you know." He wiggles his eyebrows and makes Donna laugh. He puts his arms around her waist and gives her a playful kiss on the lips.

"Oh, they aren't that hidden." She winks at him and smiles. "I think I've already discovered a few."

As they share a bottle of wine, Donna's nerves start to settle. She really does enjoy being with him. She has had so many failed relationships over the years, most of them due to her connection to Harvey and more than anything, she just wants to be happy. She truly believes Thomas can give her that. And yet...

As they are finishing up dinner Thomas excuses himself into the other room to take an important call.

Donna checks her phone to see if Harvey or Alex have messaged her. They both agreed to let her know the minute they had the situation under control. She had done her best to put it out of her mind for the evening, but seeing she has no messages causes her concern to resurface. She wants to trust that Harvey will fix it. It's what he does. What he's always done. But if he doesn't... If he can't... Then Thomas will be the one to pay and she will feel responsible.

When Thomas returns from his call, he is noticeably agitated. He sits on the sofa but doesn't say anything. Instead, he is wringing his hands and furrowing his brow.

"What is it? Is everything okay?" Donna says as she sits down beside him, the nervousness she was just feeling bubbling up into her throat.

"Did Harvey or Alex say anything to you about my deal being in trouble?" He turns to face her and looks her right in the eyes. It's not as though he's accusing her of anything, but she can tell he's expecting an honest reply. His eyes pleading with her.

A feeling of dread spreads through Donna's gut and she prays it's not visible on her face. All those years of acting classes are hopefully paying off. He knows something and he's looking for her to confirm it or put his worries to rest. She knows she can't do either.

Trying to avoid a direct lie, she answers his question with a question of her own.

"What do you mean in trouble? Who was that on the phone?" She places her hand on his knee and rubs it gently, knowingly overcompensating for the guilt creeping up her spine. If she can't offer real support, maybe she could give the superficial kind.

"A colleague of mine. He said he didn't want to alarm me, but that he heard rumblings that Pierrepont Malls were back at the table with Restoration. I called Alex and he assured me things were on track, but something doesn't feel right." He gets up from the couch and stares out his window.

"Maybe you could call Harvey?" he says turning toward her, his voice slightly desperate.

"Oh, Thomas," Donna responds, unable to hide the shock of his suggestion. " I don't think—"

"I mean if something had happened he'd have told you, right? So things must be fine?" Thomas is pacing now and Donna feels terrible.

"Thomas. Harvey represents Simon. Discussing anything about your deal would be conflict, or worse, breaking privilege." Donna tries to reason with him, without giving away too much.

Thomas stops and looks directly at Donna. He sits down and takes both her hands in his.

"This company is my life's work, Donna. If this deal falls through after I walked away from my other offer, I'm finished." The fear in his eyes stirs something deep inside Donna. She cares deeply for this man and he's asking for help. For honesty.

Donna's eyes well up with tears as her heart breaks once again. She knows what she has to do, and she hates herself for it.

"Thomas. There is something I need to tell you."

…

Harvey has been working tirelessly behind the scenes trying to find a way to get Restoration to back out. Ever since his conversation with Donna he has been even more determined to make this work. Her accusation had cut deep and he was dead set on fixing it. She had doubted him, his character, and now, more than anything, he wanted to prove her wrong.

Alex was furious when Harvey confessed to telling Donna what was going on.

"You did what? Are you out of your goddamn mind?" Alex raises his voice which is out of character for him. "You know the two of them are a thing, right?" He spits that part at Harvey knowing it's a cheap shot.

Harvey flinches briefly and then regains his control. Ignoring the pain that comment brought on.

"Don't give me that shit, Alex. She only came to me because she read it on your damn face! And it doesn't matter what the two of them are! I trust Donna!" Harvey shouts back, wishing he was as confident in Donna's loyalty as he's making it appear.

"Okay. Okay, listen." Alex regains his control, a little guilty from the look on Havey's face. Not intending to make this personal. "The two of us having it out isn't going to get us anywhere. I just want to make sure you know, that if she tells Thomas—"

"I know, Alex," Harvey huffs, throwing his arms in the air. "Trust me. I know." Harvey rubs both hands over his face. "That's why the two of us have to fix this. And we have to do it tonight."

…

It's late. Really late. Alex had left about an hour earlier to meet a friend who works with the company who had offered Thomas his original deal. He told Harvey the two of them were close, and he could trust him. He was confident he could get them to reinstate the offer.

Harvey had a call into a contact at Restoration, and it looked like everything might work out after all. The only problem is, he won't know for sure until the morning. He just needs Donna to have faith in him until then.

That isn't really the thing making it hard for him to keep the scotch down that he'd been sipping on for hours. It's the fact that he knows she is with Thomas right now. And while he sits here alone in his office, a little drunk, and a lot exhausted, he can admit to himself that it is tearing him apart.

…

The following morning Harvey is operating on just a few hour's sleep, and it shows. He looks like shit, and when Alex storms in, the volume of his voice makes Harvey's head pound.

"All that hard work we did, didn't do shit! I just got fired and I'm pretty sure you're going to be next!"

Harvey rests his face in his hands before exerting the energy to look up at Alex.

"Take it easy, Alex. What do you mean you got fired?" he asks in a softer tone, hoping Alex can take a hint.

"I mean that Thomas Kessler just called and said he wouldn't be needing my services any longer. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's fired, right?"

"Shit!" Harvey gets up from his chair. "What happened? Did he say why?"

"Nope. Just, Hey Alex, you're fired. Thanks. Typical polite Kessler." Alex snorts.

"Son of a bitch." Harvey runs his hand through his hair.

"Harvey, you don't think—"

"No. No way, Alex. She gave me her word." He shuts down Alex from saying it. But his mind went there just as quickly. His resolve is slipping.

Harvey's phone starts to buzz on his desk and they both look directly at it before Harvey picks it up.

"Simon," he moans.

Harvey hits the speakerphone button and puts his fingers to lips to signal Alex to keep quiet.

"Simon. What can I do for you?" Calm as ever.

"You can pull your head out of your ass, for starters! Kessler just signed with my competitor. What the fuck are you guys doing over there?" he yells.

"I'm trying to close the deal you said you wanted and it wasn't with Kessler, so I'm not sure what the issue is here Simon." Harvey keeps his tone indifferent.

"The issue, Harvey," he answers condescendingly, "is that Kessler was my Plan B, and the only reason he backs out is if you sold me out!"

"Simon, I can assure that I did not say a thing to Kessler. I've been too busy handling Restoration, which is what you asked me to do. I have no idea what's up with Kessler, but it just saves us the headache of explaining your change of heart." Harvey rolls his eyes at Alex.

"Well, you better get this thing done. Or the 'Best closer in New York' is getting fucking fired!"

Harvey thinks Simon is done but as he goes to the end the call Simon adds one more thing.

"And Harvey, if I find out you tipped Kessler off, I'll bring you and that whole firm of yours down."

The call ends with a loud click and Harvey looks up to Alex. He feels his hands start to shake as his heart starts pounding in his chest. Maybe Donna had told Kessler, after all.

"Mother- Fucker!" Harvey hurls the empty glass from last night against the wall and watches it smash into tiny shards. Harvey balls his hands into fists trying to stop the shaking.

Alex swallows and takes a step backward. He knows this situation is bad, but he has a feeling Harvey's furry isn't really directed at Simon.

"Harvey," he says in a calm voice, "you set a plan in motion last night to get Restoration to back out." pointing out the obvious.

"I'm aware of that, Alex," he says, putting on his coat. "So I guess I better put a new plan in motion."

As Harvey heads out of his office he shouts, "And where the hell is Donna?"

…

Donna was in no hurry to get to work this morning. She hadn't slept well at all and she was not looking forward to going to work and finding out the repercussions of her actions.

Thomas had told her he was going to call Alex this morning and tell him he would be taking his business elsewhere. She couldn't blame him, really. And even though she knew Alex was going to be pissed, it wasn't his reaction that had kept her up all night. She had no idea how she was going to explain this to either of them, but the damage had been done, and it was time to pay the piper.

In the cab on her way to the firm she gets a call from Alex. She doesn't want to discuss the situation over the phone and even though Thomas was Alex's client, she feels she should explain herself to Harvey first. She lets the call go to voicemail and listens to it as she is being dropped at the curb.

"Donna, what the hell is going on? Thomas fired me. Simon just flipped the fuck out on Harvey, and we are in some serious shit. Please tell me you didn't do what I think you did. Oh, and Donna, Harvey's looking for you."

A chill runs down Donna's spine at those last four words.

She manages to get to her office without running into anyone, but before she's even able to fire up her computer, Alex walks in and shuts the door.

"Donna?" He tilts his head. "Did you get my message?"

"I did, Alex. I'm very sorry about Thomas, but I have no control over his business decisions." She doesn't even look up at him for fear he will see right through her.

"Don't give me that Donna. I think you had a lot of influence over this particular decision. I know Harvey told you Simon was using him. I also know that if you told Thomas that, then you broke privilege, and you broke it for Harvey right along with you, and we are all in a world of hurt here Donna!" Alex doesn't raise his voice, exactly, but he is visibly upset.

His words shake her more than she lets on, but she digs deep to keep her composure. She knows what she did was right, and even if it's difficult, with time, Alex will understand.

"Alex, I know how this looks and that you are upset about losing a client, but I need you to trust me. Thomas dropping the firm was for the best and I'm sure everything will work out fine. Simon didn't even want the deal with Thomas. Harvey will close Restoration and Simon will be happy."

"That's just it, Donna. Harvey worked all night to save Thomas's deal, and now it may be too late for him to save Simon's."

Donna makes eye contact with Alex for the first time as all the blood drains from her face.

…

It's after 8:00 when Harvey gets back to the office. He had done it. It had been a complete pain in his ass, and he had to swallow his pride, which he never does, but it had worked. Restoration signed the deal with Pierrepont and Simon had shaken his hand and patted his back. Asshole.

He was so exhausted his eyes burned. He should be feeling great about closing this deal. It was the fourth quarter, down by two and he had hit the game-winning three-pointer as the clock expired.

Instead, he felt like shit. Donna had betrayed him. There was no other explanation. She had broken her word and told Thomas. She had lost faith in him.

He steps out of the elevator and walks right past her office. He can see she's in there but he has nothing to say to her now. He's too tired and he just doesn't see the point. She had saved Thomas, and he had saved the firm. Guess that's all that matters now.

Donna sees Harvey walking down the hall and her heart stops. She's sure he's going to storm into her office and let her have it, but he walks right by. He doesn't even glance in her direction.

She had been prepared for anger. For shouting and accusations, but she was not prepared for this.

Almost in a trance, Donna pushes her chair away from the desk and walks down the hall. She doesn't overthink it, for fear she would run and hide. She had made a choice that affected so many people, especially the man on the other side of this glass. He has every right to know the truth.

She inhales sharply and walks in. Just as she turns to shut the door behind her, Harvey freezes her with his steely tone.

"I have nothing to say to you, Donna." He clenches his jaw so tightly he thinks he'll shatter his molars. It's the only defense he has against the stinging in his eyes.

Donna's eyes well up at his tone more than the actual words. She expected this. She can do this. She takes in a shaky breath and turns toward him. His eyes are cast down at a file in his hand.

"Harvey. I need you to let me explain." Her legs are threatening to buckle beneath her.

He doesn't respond or look up. It's as if she isn't even there.

Donna absently wipes her hands on her dress and takes a few steps closer to his desk.

"Harvey. Please." Her voice cracks with emotion and Harvey can't stop himself from lifting his chin.

"You betrayed me." His voice is thick. Like it's hard for him to form the words. "I trusted you and you let me down." His eyes are glossy as he turns and looks away from her.

"It's not what you think, Harvey. He got a call from someone who knew something was wrong with the deal. He started questioning me and said we should call you and I—"

"You lost faith in me!" Harvey's voice escalates as he stands up, his chair crashing into the window behind him. "In all the years we've been together, that's never happened." He chokes on the last phrase. His face and voice full of agony.

Donna shakes her head as tears spill from her eyes. "Harvey. If there is anyone in this world I have faith in, it's you."

"You told him about the deal, Donna! You chose him!" Hearing the words out loud makes Harvey want to cover his own ears.

"No, Harvey! I didn't tell him about the deal." She takes a deep breath. Willing herself to continue. "I told him about you!" Donna sobs and covers her mouth with her hand as if those words escaped without her approval.

Harvey freezes. He stops breathing as his mind frantically struggles to comprehend what Donna has just said. She can't possibly mean… He tries to swallow the giant lump forming in his throat.

"What do you mean, about me?" His voice is softer now. That special tone he only uses with her. Only in moments like this.

When she doesn't answer, he asks again.

"Donna?"

A part of him is suddenly drawn to her. There is this tiny flicker of hope, like a candle just barely keeping its flame alive, but it's there. He feels it. Harvey takes a small step forward.

"I told him that I couldn't tell him anything about the deal. That even if I had known something... That my loyalty belonged to you." She doesn't look up. Her eyes never leave the floor and Harvey sees tears fall from her face.

Harvey wants to move closer to her. Like a magnet, his body is drawn to her. He wants so badly to believe the words he is hearing. To fan that small flame and let it fill the room with its warmth. But his feet won't budge. The only movement he can manage is a twitch of his fingers.

Donna sniffles and continues, "He asked me what I was really saying. If I meant my loyalty was to the firm, or to you?" She stops to take in a shaky breath. Then she lifts her head and looks Harvey in the eyes. "I told him that as wonderful as it was to be with him, that… as much as I wanted things with him to work out, I knew they couldn't." She sobs and wipes her face again.

Harvey finally finds the nerve to slowly move around his desk. He stops just a few feet in front of her as though getting any closer is more than his heart can take.

"Why?" It comes out barely above a whisper.

Donna stares into his eyes and sees something there she has never seen before. It's as if the veil he uses to carefully cover his feelings has been lifted. And for one beautiful moment, she felt at peace with what she was about to say.

"Because he isn't you."