Hello Suitors,
THANK YOU for all the nice reviews! I appreciate all your comments and it boosts you as an author when you know the people like your story.
I know I said that this story will just have 2 or 3 chapters but I am nowhere near the end, so I guess there will be at least 2 more chapters.
Enjoy chapter 3 and leave your thoughts afterwards!
….
To say the situation was awkward, was probably the biggest understatement ever.
Harvey rummaged through his closet to find something Donna could wear to sleep. This never happened before, although they were close friends, unnaturally close considering he was her boss. It was not normal for them to hang out at each other's places. And sleepovers didn't happen either.
But he knew that he couldn't send her home like that. Although this came very close to line they had drawn between them all those years ago.
His hand fell on one of his sweaters and he couldn't help but smile because of the memories that flooded his mind. Harvey got the sweater at a baseball game. It was probably the best game he had ever seen and that wasn't because of the game alone but it had something to do with his company. Harvey went there with his dad and Donna.
Gordon adored the redhead and the connection between them was something he didn't quite understand but it always warmed his heart that his old man and Donna got along so well. He remembered how happy he was that day. He still remembered Donna's outfit. She wore a baseball shirt and shorts. Very short shorts which exposed her long, pale legs. Her auburn locks were in a messy bun and Harvey had never seen her so casual. But he liked it.
Without searching further, he grabbed the baseball sweater and the smallest pair of sweatpants he owned.
Donna stood in the middle of the bedroom and fidgeted with her fingers. She didn't look up from the floor as Harvey approached her and he was kind of relieved that this wasn't only awkward for him.
"Here." Harvey handed her the clothes and took once more her appearance in.
She shivered more than before, her teeth chattered and her skin was so pale as if she would collapse the next minute.
"You can have a hot shower to warm you up. Fresh towels are under the sink." The lawyer mumbled and Donna brushed past him and made a beeline to the bathroom without saying a word or looking at him.
Harvey closed his eyes and sighed.
He screwed up.
…
Harvey threw some pillows and a blanket on his leather couch. He knew that his back is going to kill him tomorrow, but he won't let Donna sleep here. Thinking of Donna, he looked at the clock at wall. Donna has been in the bathroom for more than half an hour and Harvey started to worry.
Donna was a strong and independent woman and was very capable of managing things on her own but probably not today. And Harvey knew that part of this was his fault and his fault alone.
After preparing the couch for the night, he tidied his coffee table because files and papers were scattered everywhere. Harvey felt once more sharp pain in his chest as he held the paper with the lawsuit against Donna in his hands.
He had to win this goddamn case or else he would lose her. This would be the end of him.
Harvey looked up from his task when he heard Donna exit the bathroom. He tucked the paper quickly away and went to his bedroom once again.
Donna stood next to his bed facing the big window. His clothes were ridiculously big on her frame although these were the smallest he possessed. She had her arms wrapped protectively around herself but at least the shivering and quivering stopped. Harvey wouldn't be surprised if she would come down with something. She walked to his condo from Joe's without a coat in the pouring rain after all.
He felt another pang of guilt in his chest because this would be his fault again. He was the reason she came her late at night. And that all because he couldn't give her what she was looking for so desperately.
Harvey Specter didn't do comfort.
Although he had to admit it was different with Donna. Hell, everything was different with her but he didn't dare to say that out loud. He didn't do feelings too.
"You can take the bed. I will crash on the couch although my back will probably kill me tomorrow." Harvey said and tried to be funny to lighten up the awkward situation. His words echoed through his bedroom and remained unanswered.
"I hope the clothes are okay?" He knew the question was goddamn stupid but he wanted to fill the heavy silence that filled the room. This silence wasn't normal for them.
Harvey sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Okay, Donna, I get it. You are pissed that I can't give you what you want to have and I hope you didn't expect me to behave otherwise because I don't do that with clients. And while this case is still on the table you are my client too."
His words were harsh, he knew that. But Harvey was pissed.
Pissed that she made this mistake although he knew that she didn't do it on purpose because she just wanted to help.
Pissed that she suggested that Louis should take over because this statement hurt him more than he wanted to admit out loud.
Pissed that she made him say those hard words in his office.
Pissed that she showed up at his place drunk and made him reject her again.
And pissed that she didn't seem to get how difficult it was for him to reject her, to say no to her.
Donna still ignored him. And now he was really angry.
Harvey was by her side in two quick strides and he opened his mouth to vent his anger but the moment he saw her face he stopped with his mouth open.
Donna's pale cheeks were stained with tears and her bottom lip quivered slightly.
He made her cry. Again.
"I'm…I'm s-sorry, Harvey." She whispered hoarsely.
Harvey wanted to tear his gaze from her but he simply couldn't. Not when she looked utterly broken.
"But I'm just…just so s-scared." Donna sobbed quietly.
Something snapped inside of him.
The sight before him broke his heart and Harvey did something he had never done before. He touched her. Well, of course he had touched her before but not like that. Not since the other time. Harvey's broad palms laid on her fragile shoulders and the movement made her look at him.
"Donna, you don't have to be afraid. You won't go to prison, because I will fix that shit." His voice was gentle and soft and lost the hard edge which was something that didn't happen normally. But Harvey simply couldn't help himself, not when it came to her.
Her beautiful brown eyes were puffy and red rimmed while tears still streamed down her face.
"I won't let anything happen to you, Donna." Harvey said and pressed her with one final movement against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and remembered instantly why they don't touch each other apart from Donna fixing his tie or the occasional brush of her fingertips against his when they exchange files.
His fingertips tingled and his heart started beating faster as his blood rushed faster through his veins. The feeling of her in his arms after such a long time was overwhelming although Donna stiffened awkwardly in the beginning. After some seconds she relaxed into his embrace and sobbed into his chest.
"Never ever." Harvey whispered and he suppressed a shudder as he felt her arms sneak around his waist. One moment later her fingertips dug into his back and she continued to cry.
And Harvey let her.
It didn't matter to him that she soaked his shirt. He just held her close and rubbed her back soothingly. His cheek laid against the side of her head and didn't mind that her hair was wet. Her body was so warm against his and it felt so good. Harvey had had to fight back the urge to hug her when she cried in his office hours ago. It was kind of relief to him now to give into the temptation.
Harvey lost completely track of time. And it didn't matter to him, because this was Donna. He needed her to be okay. To feel better.
The sobs which shook her body violently ended after some time and Harvey just heard and felt her breath against his broad chest. Her body sagged more against his and Harvey realized that her eyes were closed. Donna was nearly asleep.
Without another thought Harvey decided to swoop her into his arms as gentle as he could. He carried her over to his bed and lowered her carefully onto the mattress. Her eyes were half open as he focused on her face again.
"Stay with me?" She whispered. Her voice was still hoarse and a little bit whiny.
Her question caught him slightly off guard and he didn't know how to answer. He knew that they were threading through dangerous water and what that meant for their professional relationship as he thought about her rule.
One the other hand he wanted nothing more than to hold her longer in his arms.
Her soft brown eyes looked pleadingly into his and he made his decision quickly. Harvey couldn't and wouldn't deny her that.
"Okay." He answered gently and went to turn off the lights in his kitchen and living area before he headed back to the bedroom and did the same thing here.
It was completely dark besides the soft lights of the city that shone through the massive windows as Harvey slid under the covers next to Donna.
She scooted closer and laid her head on his chest. Harvey's reaction was to wrap his arms around her instantly and he couldn't resist to press a kiss against her head.
Harvey felt guilty and was ashamed that he had said those things to her because he should have known that they would hurt her. Donna was so miserable because of his words and actions. Because of his inability to show and to handle emotions.
-Why don't you care?-
Her question from before flashed through his mind and he tightened his grip on her unconsciously.
"I care, Donna. I care so much about you it hurts." Harvey mumbled.
He knew that Donna was probably asleep already, but he just wanted to say that out loud once.
After all, Harvey Specter did do comfort and emotions. It was clear to him that this was just because of her.
Because she was different.