Chapter 17
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
AN1: Here you are. Chapter 2 of my double update. Hope you enjoy.
It has been almost two weeks since Hardman announced he was coming back, since he revealed Mike's secret to the entire firm, and ever since the other associates have been giving Mike a hard time about who he is, though they have been subtle about it, and Hardman has been putting everything in motion to come back, though his actions look a lot like bribery.
It has also been almost two weeks since Mike sent a letter to Trevor, a letter which he has told no one about, and honestly he can't even be sure that Trevor got it as, as far as he knows, the address he has could be an old one.
Even though it is Sunday Mike has spent all day at the office working and is only just arriving home at ten thirty at night. Walking up to his apartment Mike is surprised when he finds his landlord in the hallway right outside his open door apartment, with a police office.
"James, what's going on?" Mike ask confused.
"Mike, I was just about to call you." James, Mike's landlord says.
"Why?" Mike asks.
"Mr Pearson-Ross, your apartment was broken into early tonight." The police officer explains, "I've had a look and the place is a mess, but it doesn't seem like anything is missing as your TV is still there."
"Really? That would be the first thing burglars would take." Mike comments, sounding a little surprised, as he heads to his apartment so that he can have a look, as he passes over the threshold the first thing Mike realises it that the door was kicked open.
Just like the office told him Mike sees that his apartment is a complete mess, but as far as he can tell nothing is missing, in fact it almost looks like someone was looking for something, which is odd as considering he doesn't leave files at his apartment when he's not there, Mike can't think of anything people would want.
"Does it seem like anything is missing?" The Police officer asks Mike.
"No." Mike says, looking around, "But I can't be sure until I take a proper look." He admits.
"Okay. Here is my card, if you realise anything is missing call me." The Police office says handing Mike his card.
"I will." Mike says, taking the card.
"I'll get a lock smith in first thing in the morning to change the locks." James informs Mike, "But for tonight…." He starts to say.
"I'll stay somewhere else." Mike assures him.
"Good, when you get home tomorrow night just come to my apartment and I'll give you your new keys." James explains.
"Thanks James." Mike says gratefully and James heads out, as he does mike heads into his apartment and decides to clear up a bit before heading to Katrina's.
About an hour and a half later Mike has cleaned up a lot of the mess in his apartment and has made his way to Katrina's place with a suit in a bag to wear the next day, and a duffle bag of the personal stuff that he doesn't want to leave in an apartment that can't be locked.
Really hoping that he doesn't wake his best friend up Mike knocks on the door, knowing that if she doesn't answer then he'll just go to the office and sleep on his mother's couch. About thirty seconds after Mike knocked the door opens to reveal Katrina, and because Mike knows that Katrina can sleep through someone knocking at her door he realises that she must not have been asleep.
"Mike, it's midnight. What are you doing here?" Katrina asks, surprised to see him.
"My apartment was broken into. The locks can't be replaced until tomorrow." Mike explains to his best friend, "I need somewhere to stay."
"Get in here." Katrina tells him and the two of them head in, "What was taken?" Katrina asks curious as she closes and locks the door behind Mike.
"Nothing." Mike reveals, "It was ransacked." He admits.
"That's strange." Katrina says with a frown.
"Yeah, I know." Mike admits, "Can I leave this bag here? It's just things I didn't want to leave in an apartment that can't be locked." Mike admits.
"Of course you can." Katrina tells him as they head over to the couch, "Are you sure nothing's missing?"
"I don't think so, but I could be wrong." Mike admits.
"So someone broke into your apartment just to trash it?" Katrina asks, wanting to make sure she understands everything that is going on.
"Yeah, it looks like it." Mike says and Katrina can't help but frown as that is very odd, as the two of them drift into silence.
"So, Hardman's first day back is tomorrow." Katrina comments, after a few minutes of silence, "Or today technically."
"Yep, it's going to be fun." Mike says, sarcastically.
"What do you think his first move is going to be?" Katrina asks curious.
"Probably doing something to undermine Mom." Mike says, "All I know is that I want to be there early." He admits.
"I agree with you there. Which means we should both get some sleep." Katrina realises.
"Yep, I'm really glad your couch is comfortable." Mike comments with an amused look on his face.
"Yep." Katrina realises, "Night Mike." She tells her friend, placing a kiss on her cheek.
"Night." Mike responds and after Katrina heads to bed Mike heads to the bathroom to get changed before collecting what he needs to turn the couch into a bed before heading to bed himself.
Just like he and Katrina talked about Mike and Katrina headed into the office early and Mike has been working at his desk ever since, though because he spent hours trying to figure out why someone would trash his apartment and not steal anything Mike didn't get much sleep and because of that he is practically falling asleep at his desk.
Suddenly Mike hears files drop on his desk, causing him to jump awake.
"It's a can open. What?" Mike asks in confusion as he turns and sees Harvey sitting on his desk.
"Paying for your sins of last night?" Harvey asks curious, ignoring the feeling that is rising up inside of him at that, the feeling that he is trying desperately to ignore.
"I wish." Mike admits, "When I got home I found that my apartment was broken into. I ended up staying at Katrina's." Mike explains.
"Was much taken?" Harvey asks, there being an undertone of concern to his voice, though Mike can't hear that.
"No, that's the strange part." Mike admits, "The entire place was trashed, but as far as I can tell nothing's missing."
"Odd." Harvey admits with a frown, "Could whoever it is have been after files?"
"I don't leave files home when I'm not there." Mike admits, "I spent a lot of time lying on Katrina's couch trying to figure out what happened."
"What'd you come up with?" Harvey asks curious as no one would just break into Mike's apartment and trash it for no reason.
"They were looking for something, I just can't think of what." Mike admits, "But enough about that. What do you need me to do?"
"Prescott Hospital. I need a complete summary of their nurses' union negotiation." Harvey reveals.
"Who from?"
"Rachel." Harvey answers.
"I'll get right on it." Mike tells him.
"Good." Harvey says, standing up then he realises something, "Oh. And I need four bullshit pro bono cases right now." Harvey informs Mike, turning to look at him.
"I don't have any pro bono files. I'm a corporate lawyer. That's what we do here." Mike reveals and Harvey just gives him a look and so Mike opens one of his draws and pulls out the files, "I do it on my own time." Mike reveals, and Harvey just takes the files and starts to walk away, "Oh, Harvey?" Mike asks and he turns back around, "Can you not mention to Mom that my apartment was broken into. I don't want her to worry over nothing." Mike explains as that's why he went to Katrina's rather than his mother's house, the break in was nothing, but Jessica would worry, which is the last thing he wants.
"This would fall under the deal we made when you started." Harvey admits, "I won't say a word unless it turns out something bigger is going on."
"Thanks Harvey." Mike says and while Harvey heads to Hardman's office to get him to leave the case alone Mike gets up and heads to Rachel to get the files he needs.
A few hours later Mike and Harvey have meet with the head of the nurses' union, a woman named Nell, and Harvey has gone to court where Hardman blindsided him by rescheduling things which resulted in Hardman getting the very thing that Harvey didn't want.
As Hardman has gotten the very thing that Harvey didn't want he and Mike are walking up to Prescott hospital so that they can talk to Nell.
"So, let me get this straight." Mike comments, as he and Harvey walk towards where Nell is set up, neither caring that they are walking a lot closer to one another than they have to be, "The judge ruled against your idea, and so you went with my idea?" Mike asks, sounding surprised.
"Not exactly." Harvey admits, "Hardman got the T.R.O." Harvey reveals.
"Okay, so you told me I was wrong, and yet I had the same idea as a former managing partner." Mike comments, "I know the guys an ass, but it's kind of funny, makes me wonder what else you've been wrong about."
"Hiring you?" Harvey asks with a teasing smile, turning to Mike so that they are even closer.
"Hardman, Mom and I wouldn't concur with that." Mike responds as they continue to walk.
"Hey, handsome." Nell says to Harvey, "your bearded buddy was already here." Nell says, showing him the T.R.O, "You can shut us down for forty-eight hours, but we can still prepare to strike."
"Actually, I came over to extend an olive branch." Harvey says, ripping up the T.R.O, and throwing it on the ground, "Why don't you go ahead and start your strike right now." Harvey suggests, "You looked into our finances, I looked into yours. Your strike fund has enough to last a week. We're not even going to have a meeting about tit for a month." Harvey reveals.
"We know what we're getting into. We're prepared." Nell informs Harvey.
"Well, prepare yourself for this; our last offer's off the table. The new offer is the one we gave you before that. And every day you strike, it's going to keep getting worse." Harvey says before walking away, Mike following right behind.
"Harvey, you do realize you just littered, right?" Mike asks as they walk away.
"They can pick it up. They're not working. It'll give them a sense of purpose." Harvey comments.
"Wow. You don't think you're being a little harsh? I just put an end to a situation our client can't afford and those nurses can't either. Trust me, they'll cave." Harvey reveals.
"Do you…..." Mike starts to ask but then he catches a glimpse of something that causes him to stop walking and turn around.
"Mike? What is it?" Harvey asks as he stops walking too.
"I thought I just saw…." Mike starts to say, put trails off as he doesn't see who he thought he saw again, "I must be more tired than I thought." Mike admits, "I must be imagining things." He comments, though he doesn't know why he would imagine who he thought he just saw, though he does have a theory.
"Imagining what?" Harvey asks, looking Mike up and down, trying to figure out what is going on with him.
"Nothing." Mike says, shaking his head, "Like I said, I must be more tired than I thought." Mike admits, "So, how long do you think until Hardman tries something to get close to me?" Mike asks as he continue to walk, purposely changing the subject.
"Not long at all." Harvey response, recognizing a clear change of subject when he sees it and deciding to let it go, at least for now.
It has been a few hours since Harvey and Mike went to the hospital and since being back at the firm he has meet a person who can only been described as the female Louis, and just like Harvey suspected would happen Mike has been called to Hardman's office.
"Um, you wanted to see me, Mr. Hardman?" Mike asks, knocking on the door.
"Come in." Hardman says, "And now that you're working here too, call me Daniel" he requests and Mike walks in, "Sit down." Hardman says and so Mike walks over and sits on the couch and Hardman walks over and sits down across from him. "I'm glad we're working together on this, Mike." Hardman tells him, clearly trying to get Mike to trust him, "And I think you should know that Harvey speaks very highly of you." Hardman reveals.
"He does?" Mike asks surprised as if that was true he very much doubts that Harvey would say so to Hardman.
"Well, it's Harvey. So you have to read between the lines." Hardman reveals.
"What did he say? That I'm not a complete idiot?" Mike asks.
"Something like that." Hardman comments, "He also told me that you and I had the same idea to go after a T.R.O." Hardman reveals.
"He told me that too." Mike admits.
"Why did you think it was the right move?" Hardman asks curious.
"It put a clock on the negotiations and kept both sides at the table." Mike explains.
"I thought so too, but whether I agreed with him at the time or not, I'm not going against him now." Hardman admits, and Mike is pretty sure that he is lying but because he isn't supposed to know that Mike doesn't say anything, "But he and I do agree on this point; his decision put us in a big of a pickle."
"Because we can't go back to Ms. Sawyer and ask exactly what she needs to close the deal." Mike realises.
"Harvey and I can't." Hardman corrects.
"But I can." Mike says, starting to get an idea about what Hardman's plan might be.
"So you are just as smart as I remember." Hardman comments.
"I'm afraid so." Mike comments, starting to see what Hardman wants him to do.
"You'll have to forgive me for not completely trusting Harvey's assessment, but I needed to make sure our back channel negotiator was up to the task." Hardman admits.
"That's why he's not here." Mike says, suspecting that that isn't the real reason at all.
"Coach doesn't let Dad come to the tryouts." Hardman says amused, and as he does Mike has to keep himself from pulling a face at that comment.
"What do you need me to do?" Mike asks, having no intention of doing whatever it is that Hardman wants until he's had a chance to talk to Harvey.
About an hour later Mike isn't on his way to the hospital to talk to Nell like Hardman wants, instead he is walking up to the door to Harvey's condo, having had a strange feeling that he was being watched the entire time he rode to Harvey's from the firm, but he just ignored the feeling.
Knocking on the door Mike waits about half a minute before the door opens,
"What are you doing here?" Harvey asks as soon as he sees Mike.
"Hardman." Mike says simply and Harvey lets him in to his condo.
"What did he do?" Harvey asks as the two of them walk towards Harvey's lounge room.
"Basically implied that you both agreed to use me as a back channel negotiator to go to Nell and find out exactly what the nurses want." Mike explains to Harvey.
"I take it you haven't done that." Harvey comments.
"Of course not, I remembered everything you and Mom said about Hardman. There's no way I was going to just go without checking with you first." Mike tells Harvey.
"Good." Harvey says, being glad that he and Jessica warned Mike about Hardman.
"What do you want me to do?" Mike asks, slightly stressing the you.
"Go back to the office, find out everything you can about the nurses and the negotiations, don't go to Nell. It will make us look weak, even if it's you who goes." Harvey explains to Mike.
"Will do." Mike confirms, "What do you want done about Hardman?"
"I'll deal with Hardman." Harvey tells Mike.
"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow." Mike says before heading out of Harvey's condo, planning on going by his place to get his new keys before heading back to the firm.
Having spent most of the night working, trying to figure out what the nurses want, without going to Nell, Mike is going on a coffee run, but as he is he is taking a detour via Katrina's office.
"Hey, you got a minute?" Mike asks from the doorway.
"Yeah, but not a second more." Katrina admits.
"Good, I won't take long, I just wanted to give you this." Mike says, walking over and putting a key on Katrina's desk.
"Your new key?" Katrina asks curious.
"Yeah."
"And how you going to explain giving a new key to your Mom?" Katrina asks curious.
"Haven't decided yet, but I'll figure something out." Mike admits, "I've got to get back to work, we'll talk later." Mike tells Katrina before heading to the door.
"Mike." Katrina says and Mike turns back around, "Drinks, tomorrow night?"
"If we close this deal, sure." Mike says before leaving.
As he walks out of his best friends' office Mike continues to walk, heading back to the kitchen for his coffee when he sees his mom.
"Mike, how's it going with the nurses?" Jessica asks her son curious.
"Hard to say." Mike admits, "The biggest problem at the moment is Hardman." Mike reveals.
"Of course." Jessica says, sounding annoyed, "How bad?"
"Nothing Harvey and I can't handle." Mike admits.
"Okay, if that changes let me know." Jessica tells her son.
"I will." Mike assures his mother, "I better get to work, I'll see you later." Mike tells his mother.
"I'll see you later." Jessica responds and while Mike goes in one direction Jessica goes in another.
While Mike is giving Katrina his new key Harvey has gone searching for Hardman, who he finds in the bathroom.
"Wash all you want. The lies aren't coming off." Harvey informs Hardman as he walks in.
"I told you I changed. I didn't say I became a nun." Hardman reveals.
"You lied to my associate, tried to get him to go behind my back." Harvey says angrily.
"I never specifically said anything that wasn't true. People hear what they want to hear." Hardman reveals.
"You deceived your own, your partner's son." Harvey says angrily.
"You never lied to anyone else here? Jessica, the other partners, me?" Hardman asks.
"Not since I've been back." Harvey answers.
"Really? When did Jessica assign you this case?" Hardman asks and Harvey doesn't answer, "You lied to me, but I didn't come to the bathroom to cry about it."
"No, you tried to get my associate to go crying to the other side." Harvey comments.
"So, he didn't do it?" Hardman asks with a frown.
"Of course not, he came to me first, wanted to make sure that we really were on the same page. He wanted to make sure that you weren't using him." Harvey explains, "I told him not to go because we need to hold strong to get them to close."
"Says your gut." Hardman says with a frown, "And I don't practice law based on your gut."
"My gut didn't burn through five negotiators. Nell Sawyer did." Harvey explains.
"So, you think we should never budge." Hardman realises.
"I know we should never budge." Harvey responds, "We may be a couple of liars Daniel, but it would have been your fault if this whole thing went to shit." Harvey says before walking out of the room.
Hours later Mike has once more been called to Hardman's office, and this time Mike is pretty sure that it's not going to be a pleasant conversation.
As he walks into Hardman's office Mike is a little surprised Hardman smoking.
"We'll get going in a minute. Once I start, I have to finish." Hardman reveals, "I've always hated these things. A filthy habit. My daughter was fifteen. I caught her smoking, and I hit the roof. But then my wife got sick. And then when the cancer got to her lungs, once a week, we would share a cigarette. Give it the finger." Hardman says with a small laugh, "I can't stop. I don't want to stop."
"Right." Mike says as he sits down across from Hardman.
"I asked you to do one thing and you failed, and you went running to Harvey." Hardman tells Mike angrily.
"Of course I did, Harvey is my commanding officer. I wanted to make sure that you were really on the same page." Mike reveals, "Turns out it's a good thing I did." He says, being determine to hold his own against Hardman.
"Do you have your own opinions or do you just quote Harvey?" Hardman asks curious.
"I have my own. If you had come to me, honestly, and explained your idea I would have considered it, gone to Harvey to get him to agree, or I might have even gone to Nell anyway. But you choose to lie, you choose to put me in the middle, and that's why I went to Harvey. Now, if you excuse me I have to and find out how much the nurses want without going to Nell." Mike comments, standing up and heading to the door.
"Mike." Hardman says, causing Mike to stop and turn around, "That's got to be a lot of information to go through." Hardman comments, "Two sets of eyes are better than one."
"Yeah, guess they are." Mike says, though he really doesn't want to work with Hardman, "But this is my second all-nighter, and I've almost been through everything. I might as well finish it on my own." Mike admits.
"Well, I don't have much of a social life so I'll still be here a while longer, if you decided to take me up on my offer." Hardman explains.
"I'll keep that in mind, Daniel, thank you." Mike responds before heading out of the office
It takes Mike an hour, but he finally finds what he needs and once more he heads out of the office and goes to Harvey's condo, and once more Mike gets the feeling that someone is watching him, but he just figures that he is only feeling like that because of exhaustion.
"This is starting to be a habit." Harvey says, letting Mike into his apartment.
"Yeah, I know." Mike responds, "I've been looking and the only possibility I've found to get Nell to sign the deal we offered is something I don't want to have to do." Mike admits.
"Show me." Harvey requests and Mike hands the file over, "This is exactly what we need, Mike." Harvey says, sounding impressed.
"I know." Mike says with a sigh.
"But it's exactly what you hate doing." Harvey tells him, "Forget everything else, do you think the offer is fair?"
"Yes, but…."
"But nothing. This is an offer our client can afford, and if we don't get Nell to agree then Prescott is going to go out of business and everyone loses." Harvey tells Mike.
"I know." Mike says with a sign, "What time tomorrow will Nell be at the office?" Mike asks.
"Lunchtime."
"Then I have until then to figure out another plan." Mike says, "I'm going to head back to the office. See what I can find." Mike says, starting to head to the door.
"Mike." Harvey says, causing Mike to turn around, "You might not be able to find another plan, because this, this is a good one." Harvey tells him.
"I'm still going to try." Mike says before leaving Harvey's apartment.
The following afternoon, having not managed to find a different plan Mike is sitting on one of the comfortable chairs in Harvey's office, waiting for him to come back from the meeting with Nell.
"So?" Mike asks as Harvey walks in.
"She took the deal. It's closed." Harvey explains to Mike, "It was a win-win." He says, walking over and sitting on the chair across from Mike.
"Doesn't feel like it." Mike admits, "Grammy is in a Prescott home, and she always talks about the nurses. She likes them, respects them." Mike explains, "I can't help but think what she would say or do if she knew what I just helped you do."
"She would know that you did what you had to do to help make sure that she could continue to have those nurses she likes." Harvey tells Mike.
"I guess." Mike says with a sign, "What do you think Hardman's next move is going to be now that he knows I'm not so easy to manipulate?" Mike asks curious.
"I don't know, but I don't think we're going to have to wait long to find out." Harvey admits as Mike tries, and fails, to keep in a yawn, "Have an early night tonight, Mike. You've earned it."
"I might just do that." Mike says, "But there are somethings I want to get done first." Mike admits as he stands up, "I'll see you later, Harvey." He says, heading to the door.
"Mike." Harvey says, just as Mike walks past him, causing the younger man to look down at him, "Did you come up with a reason why someone would break into your place and just trash it?" Harvey asks curious.
"Nothing that makes sense." Mike admits, "Maybe I can figure it out once I get some sleep." Mike admits, "I'll see you, Harvey." Mike says before heading out of the office.
A few hours later Katrina and Mike are sitting at a booth in a bar, having both ordered beers, that they have barely touched.
"So, Louis was so focused on trying to assure Shelia that we should maintain our recruiting privileges that he left me alone on his case and I swear that he almost looked impressed when I showed him the closed contracts." Katrina admits, and as she does she realises that Mike is looking around the room, and doesn't seem to be listening, "And you're not listening."
"I am." Mike assures her, turning to look at her, "I'm multitasking." He reveals.
"What's going on?" Katrina asks concerned.
"It's nothing." Mike responds, "So, you've impressed Louis?" Mike asks, purposely changing the subject.
"Don't lie to me, Mike." Katrina tells her friend, in a warning tone of voice, "What's going on with you?"
"It's probably nothing." Mike quickly says.
"Tell me anyway." Katrina requests.
"The last few days I've felt like someone has been watching me." Mike admits, "And…" he starts to say.
"And, what Mike?" Katrina asks with a frown.
"The other day, when Harvey and I went to the hospital to talk to Nell, I thought, I thought I saw Trevor." Mike reveals, sounding uncertain, "I was probably just imagining it, though. When I stopped and tried looking again I couldn't see any sign of him." Mike explains to Katrina.
"Mike, what if Trevor is the one who broke into your apartment?" Katrina asks concerned, really not liking the possibility of Trevor being back in the city.
"I don't see it." Mike admits, "Trevor's done a lot of questionable things, but I don't see him ransacking my place. If he wanted something he'd come to me directly, just like he always does." Mike explains, "Plus, as far as I know he's still in Montana."
"Would you tell me if you knew otherwise?" Katrina asks.
"Katrina…." Mike starts to say.
"Mike I'm serious. I know we have disagreements about Trevor, but you can always tell me anything, even about him." Katrina assurers her friend, "I'll always listen, always be here."
"Thanks Katrina." Mike says gratefully, "But I'm telling the truth. I haven't heard from Trevor since I watched him get on the bus, and I've barely slept in the last few days, that's probably all this is." Mike admits, deciding not to mention the letter, even though he probably should, as he is too tired to get into that conversation with Katrina right now.
"Maybe." Katrina responds, looking uncertain, "If anything else odd happens, call me, right away."
"I will." Mike says, trying to keep in a yawn, "You know I think I need to go home, get some sleep." Mike admits.
"That's probably a good idea." Katrina admits, "But why don't you stay at my place." She suggests.
"Thanks for the offer, but I think I just want to sleep in my own bed." Mike admits, "Put a night of drinks on my tab." Mike requests.
"Will do. Text me when you get home." Katrina tells her friend.
"Will do." Mike says, standing up, "See you tomorrow." Mike says, walking over and placing a kiss on his friends' cheek.
"See you then." Katrina responds as Mike gets up and leaves.
Twenty minutes later Mike has arrived back at his apartment building and is walking to his apartment, texting Katrina.
I'm home. See you tomorrow.
Mike texts as he walks the rest of his way to his apartment and once he is at his door Mike pulls his key out of pocket and opens the door. As he opens the door Mike hers his phone go off so he stands in his open door and looks down and sees,
Good. Get some sleep.
From Katrina and Mike can't help but smile to himself as he sees that, but as he does he hears footsteps and he quickly turns and for a second he can't believe who he is seeing
"Trevor." Mike says, sounding shocked, realising that he wasn't imagining see him, but as he sees his old friend, Mike realises that he looks furious, "What are you doing here?"
"You're mine, no one else, and you're going to understand just what that means." Trevor says, throwing a punch, and before Mike can stop it Trevor's fist connects with his face and Mike stumbles into his apartment, dropping his phone with a crash, as Trevor enters the apartment to, closing the door behind them. Getting his baring's Mike looks up at Trevor and for the first time, in all the years he has known Trevor, Mike is truly afraid of him, and what he is going to do.
