Chapter 5

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

AN1: Thank you so much for the support. PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW. So here it is, the chapter everyone has been waiting for, the chapter where Harvey and Mike officially meet.


September 2011

After walking away from Trevor Mike completed the rest of his undergraduate studies in two years, and Harvard Law School in the usual three. After completing his study Mike got a job at the DA's office, with Camron Dennis, where he has been working for two years, as he wants to help people and he figures that it would be the best place to do so.

Even though Mike knows that his mother is rather disappointed that he decided to work at the DA's office rather than joining Pearson Hardman she has respected his decision and has supported him. Just like she has always done, except when Mike does something involving Trevor, who he hasn't managed to completely cut himself away from. Though, Mike doesn't see his former best friend often, usually when Trevor is in trouble or when he wants Mike to do something, or just wants to use him for something, and it's been a while since they have seen each other as last time they did Trevor did something that crossed a line, but Mike didn't tell anyone.

For a long time, Mike has been wondering why Cameron has been keeping him away from his cases, but as he works the first case with the DA directly in over a year, a case that is hitting a bit too close to home, for several reasons, Mike suspects he knows exactly the reason, and he knows what he has to do, and so getting a letter out of the printer, and signing it, Mike makes his way into the DA's office.

"Cameron, can I have a word?" Mike asks from the doorway.

"Of course." Cameron responds and Mike walks in and over to the DA, "What can I do for you?" he asks.

"Accept this." Mike tells Cameron, handing over what he just printed, "It's my letter of resignation. I don't know exactly what you're doing, but I know you're doing something dirty, and I want no part in it." Mike says angrily.

"They're pretty big accusation to be making." Cameron says angrily.

"I guess they are, and if I had any proof them I wouldn't be here talking to right now. I would be turning you in, but you're good, and I'm done." Mike tells him, dropping the letter on his desk, "Goodbye Cameron." Mike says, turning and walking to the door.

"What are you going to do now, huh?" Cameron asks, "Go running back to Mommy?"

"I don't know; I just know that I want to be as far away from you as possible." Mike admits before walking out.

After walking away from Cameron Mike makes his way to his office where he collects his personal things and then once he does he heads to the office next door to him where there is a blond woman working at her computer.

"Katrina." Mike says, knocking on the doorway to speak to the person he met during his first year at Law School, when she was in her third, and he accidently went into the wrong class, Katrina Bennett, the person who has become his best friend, even though they didn't start out under the best of circumstances.

"Give me a minute, Mike. I just want to get this done." Katrina responds and Mike just stands in the doorway while Katrina hurriedly types, "What's going on?" she asks, looking up at Mike and as she does she notices what's in Mike's hand, "Did you quit?" she asks shocked.

"Yeah."

"Why?" Katrina asks shocked, "I know this case has been hitting you hard, but quitting Mike, really?" Katrina asks shocked as she knows Mike better than anyone else at the DA's office which means she knows why the case Mike has been working on has been affecting Mike so much, "I've never known you to run from a fight."

"I'm not running." Mike tells her, "I just can't do this anymore." He admits, and it's the fact that he admitted that which makes Katrina realise how serious he is.

"Okay." Katrina says, looking at him suspiciously, being pretty sure there is something that he isn't saying, "I can't tonight, but tomorrow night we're going out for drinks and you're telling me the real story." Katrina informs Mike, it being clear that he has no choice in the matter.

"Deal." Mike responds, not entirely sure what he is going to tell her, before leaving Katrina's office.


Even though Mike got his own apartment when he came back to the city after Law School Mike doesn't head there once he leaves the DA's office, instead he goes to his mother's house.

When he gets their Mike isn't at all surprised to find that Jessica isn't home, and so he puts his box of stuff in his old room, that is still the same as it was when he lived at the house full time, before returning down to the living room where he sits on the couch.

As he sits on the couch in the dark Mike starts to think about what he is going to do next and honestly he isn't completely sure about what it is that he wants to do next and so he just sits and thinks about everything that has happened.

Mike isn't sure how long he has been sitting in silence when he hears the door open and Jessica walks in.

"Mom, I'm in the living room." Mike says, doing so because she doesn't want to scare her mother.

"Mike, what are you doing here?" Jessica asks, walking into the living room.

"Long story. I just really felt like being home tonight." Mike admits, as Jessica walks over to him.

"Are you okay?" Jessica asks concerned, as she sits down next to her son.

"Yeah, maybe, I don't know." Mike admits as between the case hitting too close to home and what he suspects Cameron is up to everything just seems like way too much.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Jessica asks curious, having watched her son in the last two years so she knows that cases have been hitting Mike hard, that he has been getting personally invested because that is who he is, but whatever has happened seems to have hit him even harder.

"Not really." Mike admits, "How was work?" Mike asks, purposely wanting to change the subject.

"Good." Jessica tells her son, "I named Harvey Senior Partner."

"Wow, that's been a long time coming." Mike comments, being pretty sure that Harvey being senior partner is going to give his mother more than one headache.

"It has." Jessica confirms, "He's interviewing associates tomorrow at the Chilton and I'm pretty sure that that is going to go either really well or I'm going to regret it for years." Jessica admits.

"Wouldn't surprise me." Mike says, looking amused, though he can't help an idea coming to his mind.

"Yeah." Jessica says, moving and putting an arm around her son, who rests his head on her shoulder, "You staying here tonight?"

"Yeah." Mike confirms, "If that's okay?"

"Of course it is, this is always your home." Jessica assures her son.

"Good." Mike says and the two of them drift into silence.


Hours later Mike and Jessica have both headed up to their rooms, but instead of sleeping Mike is at his laptop, with his resume open as if he is going to do what he is thinking about then he is to have to change one thing, and that's make a few simple changes to his resume, the first of which is changing Michael James Pearson-Ross to Michael James P.-Ross. Once he changes that Mike stares at it for a moment, but then he realises that it would be too suspicious and so he gets rid of the P. altogether, knowing that he will have to sign his real name even if he doesn't have it on his resume.


As he didn't go to sleep until early Mike isn't surprised that he didn't wake up when his mother left, though he is glad that he set an alarm so that he could get up, have a shower, and get changed into one of the suits he leaves at his mother's house, before heading out to the Chilton, knowing that what he is going to do is either going to end very well, or very badly.

Once he is at the Chilton Mike makes his way up to where the Pearson Hardman interviews are going to be, knowing that the even though he's spent a long time thinking about it, what he has to do isn't going to be as easy as he is thinking.

Walking into the hotel suit Mike walks past other people, all of whom are clearly Harvard Graduates, but he just walks past them.

"Rick Sorkin." A voice that Mike recognizes, a voice that Mike knows belongs to Harvey's assistant asks, and Mike just rounds the corner and walks towards the desk.

"You are not Rick Sorkin." Donna says, sounding surprised as she recognizes who Mike is immediately.

"No, I'm not, but you know exactly who I am, don't you?" Mike asks, being sure of that fact.

"I do." Donna confirms, "But I don't know why you're here. Last I knew you had a job."

"I quit yesterday, but I haven't told Mom, and I couldn't sign up to the interviews." Mike admits, lowering his voice.

"Why are you here?" Donna asks, "You could just ask and get a job." Donna says, looking Mike up and down, trying to figure out what he is up to.

"That's exactly why I'm here." Mike reveals, "I don't want a job because of who I am. I want to prove, to the best, which is Harvey, that I deserve it without him knowing who I am." Mike explains, "I know what your job is Donna, and I'm not asking for anything other than you letting me in that room so that I can prove that I'm more than my last name, because If I can prove that to him, then I can prove it to anyone." Mike tells Donna, having spoken only loud enough for Donna to hear.

"Oh look, there's suddenly an opening." Donna says with a small smirk, "What name can I put down?"

"Mike Ross."

"Mr Specter will be right with you." Donna says, and as Mike walks several steps away she turns to Harvey who is in the doorway and gives a wink, Mike being the first person she has seen, all day, that is even remotely close to being anything like Harvey.

Knowing that he's taken the first step Mike takes a deep breath, after all the years he's heard his mom talk he knows that getting passed Donna is a big deal, but that getting Harvey to hire him is going to be even more difficult.

"You can go in." Donna tells Mike, giving him a look which say, 'good luck.', and Mike just nods and walks into the other room.

"Harvey Specter, it's nice to meet you." Harvey tells him, sticking out his hand for Mike to shake.

"Mike Ross." Mike says, returning the handshake, and as he does Mike's first thought about Harvey is that he is extremely attractive, even more so than he was expecting, and the two of them head over to the table, it feeling incredible odd for Mike to not say Pearson first as it's been a while since he hasn't.

"Take a seat." Harvey says as he looks over his desk, "I don't seem to have a resume for you." He notes.

"I didn't sign up, I missed my chance, but I have one with me." Mike says, handing his resume, or his one that doesn't include his real name or some of his experience as it would be too hard to explain, over.

"Let's see. Two years at the DA's office, first in your class at Harvard Law." Harvey notes, feeling a little impressed, not that he would admit that, "College in three years, two of which were at Harvard." Harvey reads, "And you're only twenty-five, interesting." Harvey comments, saying that instead of what he is thinking, "But why should I hire someone who couldn't even manage to sign up to interviews in time?" Harvey asks, looking up at Mike and reading him.

"Because I'm like no one you've ever met." Mike says, knowing that Harvey responds to confidence, just like his mother, so that's what he has to be

"Cocky." Harvey comments, a little amused by the kid.

"It's not being cocky when it's the truth." Mike says, "Look, I could tell you all about how I graduated college and law school by twenty-three, I could tell you all about the cases I've won at the DA's office, or I could just prove what I'm saying." Mike reveals, knowing that if he is going to be able to get Harvey to give him a chance then there is only one thing to do.

"How you going to do that?" Harvey asks, actually being very intrigued by Mike.

"Pick up that BarBri Legal Handbook, read something." Mike requests, knowing that proving how good his memory is going to be the best way to get Harvey to see what he can do.

"Okay." Harvey says, wondering what the kid is up to as he flips to a page and starts to read, "Civil liability associated with agency is based on several factors, including…"

"Including the deviation of the agent from his path, the reasonable inferene of agency on behalf of the plaintiff, and the nature of the damages themselves." Mike says, and Harvey looks slightly impressed at that, "You could pick any page in that book and I could recite it, word for word." Mike reveals, "I'm not your typical Harvard Graduate, Mr Specter." Mike reveals, "Once I read something I understand it, and once I understand it I never forget." Mike explains.

"Huh." Harvey notes, "You might think that that makes you different from other graduates, but it doesn't." Harvey says, standing up, "Fire up that computer. I'm going to show you what I can do." Harvey says and so Mike moves over to other side, being pretty sure that Harvey is going to try and beat him, and he can't let him do that, he has to beat Harvey so that he can see just what he can do.

"Pick a topic." Harvey tells Mike and opens a game of hearts,

"Stock option backdating." Mike says, picking the first topic he can think off.

"Although backdating options is legal, violations arose related to disclosures under RIC section 409A." Harvey says.

"You forgot about Sarbanes-Oxley." Mike comments.

"The statute of limitations renders Sarbanes-Oxley mute post 2007." Harvey comments.

"Well, not if you can find actions to cover up the violation as established in the Sixth Circuit May 2008." Mike informs Harvey.

"That's impressive." Harvey admits, doing that against his better judgement, "But you're sitting at a computer."

Hearing that Mike turns the laptop around, "Playing hearts. Sorry, if you want to beat me, you're gonna have to do it at something else." Mike says, closing the laptop.

"Why do you want to leave the DA's office?" Harvey asks, not being able to help but wonder if it is for the same reason he did.

Hearing the question, the fact that Harvey used to work for the DA's office comes back to Mike and he realises that this question he has to tell the truth.

"There is a couple of reasons." Mike admits, "But one of them is that Cameron Dennis has been keeping me away from his cases for the last year, and I couldn't figure out why when I'm the best lawyer he has." Mike explains and as he does Harvey realises that Mike is speaking like it is a fact, an irrefutable one, "We just worked a case together and there were things that didn't add up, but I couldn't prove it." Mike admits, "I don't want to have anything to do with what I suspect he's doing, but he gave me my start, so I can't just turn him in, especially without proof." Mike reveals, and as he watches Harvey closely he suspects that Harvey knows exactly what Dennis was up to.

"You've been in the DA office for two years, you take this job you'll be a Rookie again, you'll be starting at the bottom." Harvey tells Mike, wanting him to understand that.

"When you start at the bottom the only way is up." Mike tells Harvey Specter, "And I always go up." He tells Harvey, who can't help but smirk at that, or more specifically he is smirking at the matter of fact tone Mike is using.

"Move over, I'm emailing the firm to tell them that I've just found our newest associate." Harvey says and Mike feels a weight lift off his shoulders, as he moves from the computer, "You start a week from Monday that should cover the notice you have to give at the DA office." Harvey tells Mike, honestly he is very much looking forward to working with Mike, but once more that is something he'd never admit.

"Okay." Mike says with a nod, knowing that now he's gotten Harvey to give him a chance, he has to convince his mother to keep who he is a secret long enough for him to really prove to Harvey just what he can do.


At Pearson Hardman Jessica is sitting in her office when she gets an email from Harvey, wanting to know who is good enough for Harvey to hire Jessica opens the email and when she sees the name she is completely shocked.

"You've got to be kidding me." Jessica says shocked, before picking up her phone and calling the number for the hotel suite that Harvey is at.

"Donna Paulsen."

"Donna, I want to know what is going on, why Harvey's just hired my son, and I want to know now." Jessica says, sounding annoyed.

"You need to talk to Mike." Donna responds, "Harvey doesn't know who he really is. Mike told me that he wanted a chance to prove to Harvey that he deserves the job without Harvey knowing who he is."

"Which is why Harvey wrote that Mike Ross got the job." Jessica says, realising that the Pearson is missing from her son's name.

"Yes." Donna confirms, "You need to talk to your son before you talk to Harvey."

"That's exactly what I plan on doing." Jessica says, "Don't tell Harvey I called." Jessica says before hanging up.


As she needed to finish a few things before she could leave the firm it has been a few hours since Jessica talked to Donna, and she is walking towards her son's apartment, a studio apartment in a pretty good neighbourhood.

Getting to the door Jessica knock sand seconds later Mike answers, having changed out of his suit and into jeans and a shirt.

"You know." Mike says, upon seeing his mother, there being no question in his voice.

"You got a job at my firm, did you really think you could keep it from me?" Jessica asks as she walks past her son and into his apartment. The apartment that Jessica thinks is way too small for her son, but he seems to loves, as it is a studio with green walls that doesn't have a whole lot of space, most of which is taken up by her son's book collection.

"No." Mike admits, closing the door behind them.

"You quit last night, didn't you?" Jessica asks her son, as she walks over to his couch.

"Yeah." Mike says with a nod as he walks over and sits next to her.

"Why?" Jessica asks her son.

"My last case, I just can't do it anymore." Mike admits, telling the truth, just not all the details.

"Why didn't you tell me last night?" Jessica asks her son in a kind voice.

"I wasn't ready to, but then you told me about Harvey hiring an associate, and I realised what I wanted to do." Mike explains to her mother.

"You should have just told me you needed a new job. I would have hired you." Jessica tells her son.

"If I did that then all everyone would ever say is that I only got the job because I'm your son." Mike explains to his mother, "You taught me that if you're going to learn you need to learn from the best, and that's Harvey." Mike tells her, "I didn't tell Harvey who I am because I needed to prove that I deserve a chance, that I can earn this job on my own." Mike tells his mother.

"Mike you graduated first in your class at Harvard Law, and have you two years' experience at the DA's office, that alone is enough to prove that you deserve this job." Jessica tells her son, being extremely proud of what he has achieved.

"Maybe, but none of that will matter to anyone once people learn I'm your son." Mike explains, "Mom, I know that you won't want to but I need you to keep the truth from Harvey for just one case. I need just one case to prove what I can do before he knows, and after that I'll tell him the truth, and if after that he doesn't want me to be his associate then I need you to not hold it against him, I need you to let me go." Mike explains to his mother.

"Mike…" Jessica starts to say.

"Please Mom, please just let me do this." Mike tells his mother, "Please."

"Okay." Jessica says with a nod, not liking the idea, but being willing to do this for her son, "I'll give you one case, but then we have to tell Harvey the truth. We've kept this from him for too long." She says, "I've kept this from him for too long." She adds.

"Okay." Mike says with a nod.

"I know Harvey told you, but you start a week from Monday." Jessica tells her son, "And between now and then you have to buy better suits."

"Mom…." Mike starts to say.

"Mike you cannot wear suits like the ones you've been wearing at the DA's office at the firm. You need to get better ones and I guarantee that if you don't Harvey will make you." Jessica tells him.

"Fine." Mike says, resisting the urge to roll her eyes, "But I'm keeping my skinny ties." He informs his mother.

"I figured." Jessica says, looking amused, "After Harvey knows do you want the rest of the firm to know?"

"Mom, I'm proud to be your son, I always have been." Mike reveals, "But If people know then it's just going to make things harder on both of us, it might be better to keep it a secret, at least for a little while."

"I'm proud of you too." Jessica tells her son, "And I think it might be for the best to keep this a secret." Jessica says and the two of them drift into silence, "I have to get back to the firm." Jessica says after a while, "What about you? What are you going to do for the rest of the day?"

"I'm meeting Katrina for drinks later, but apart from that I don't know." Mike admits.

"Okay, I'll talk to you later." Jessica says, knowing from previous experience of Mike and Katrina going out drinking together that she is likely to get a drunken phone call from her son later, placing a kiss on her son's cheek, "I love you."

"Love you too." Mike responds before Jessica gets up and walks out of the apartment, Mike knowing that it's going to be hard to pretend that he doesn't know his mother while at work, but he'll make it work.


A few hours after Jessica walked out of his apartment Mike walks into a bar and looking around he sees Katrina sitting at a bar stool and so Mike walks over and sits next to her.

"Hey." Mike says as he sits down next to her, giving her a side hug and placing a kiss on her cheek as she does.

"Hey." Katrina says, sliding a beer and shot over to Mike.

"Thanks." Mike says, doing the shot.

"So, what the hell is going on with you?" Katrina asks her friend, the second he has finished his drink, "Why'd you quit?" she asks and honestly Mike has spent the last few hours thinking about what answer to give Katrina.

"I just couldn't do it anymore." Mike answers, deciding that it is the best answer to give, especially considering Katrina is still at the DA's office.

"I know that with your memory every case we do have been effecting you more and more, and that you're having a harder time keeping the images from overwhelming you, but are you sure that you want to do this? I know how much helping people means to you." Katrina says to her friend, looking worried.

"I'm sure." Mike assure her, smiling a little as while most people see Katrina as cold he's seen another side, he knows another side, something which he is truly thankful for.

"What are you going to do now?" Katrina asks curious.

"I got a job today." Mike reveals and Katrina gives him a look, "I'm Harvey Specter's new associate at Pearson Hardman."

"Bullshit." Katrina says shocked.

"It's the truth." Mike assures her.

"What happened to Mr-I'll-never-be-a-Corporate-Lawyer?" Katrina asks, having heard Mike say that more than once.

"I changed my mind." Mike says, with a shrug, "Harvey doesn't know who I am."

"Because you want a chance to prove how good you are without him knowing." Katrina realises, and Mike nods, "How long is your Mom giving you before telling him?" she asks curious.

"One case." Mike answers.

"Guess you better blow him away then." Katrina says with a smirk.

"Don't I always?" Mike asks and Katrina just laughs.

"So, we drinking tonight or am I going to be your wing woman for the guy who's be staring at you since you walked in?" Katrina asks curious.

"I think I just want to drink with my best friend tonight." Mike admits, glancing across the bar to see the guy Katrina is talking about and even though he is tempted he would prefer to just sit with his friend.

"Then you're buying." Katrina informs him.

"Deal, considering the favour I'm going to ask Its fair." Mike admits.

"What do you need?" Katrina asks, turning to look at Mike, wondering what he needs as it's not often that Mike asks for favours.

"Mom said I need new suits…" Mike starts to say.

"And you really don't want to go shopping alone, plus with your lack of taste you need help from someone who actually knows what they're doing." Katrina realises.

"Not the exact words I would use, but yeah." Mike tells her, "Will you help?"

"Sure." Katrina says with a nod, "I take it I have no chance of you buying actual adult ties?"

"There is nothing wrong with my skinny ties!" Mike says, sounding annoyed.

"There really is." Katrina tells him, causing Mike to just roll his eyes.

"You in court tomorrow?" Mike asks curious.

"No."

"Then we're doing shots." Mike informs his friend as he calls a bartender over.

"We always do." Katrina respond as the two of them exchange smiles and the two friends start to enjoy what might be there last night out together for a while, as they both know that once Mike starts at Pearson Hardman he's not going to have a whole lot of time.