Chapter 18
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
AN1: TRIGGER WARNINGS FOR ABUSE, MENTIONS OF SEXUAL ASSULT, IMPLIED/REFERENCES TO RAPE
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It is ten am in the morning and Harvey is making his way to his office, having been at the firm a little while. Though, he was sitting in Jessica's office, discussing the nurses case, or they were until Hardman walked in and after he left the conversation turned to what Hardman could be up to.
"Donna, get me Mike." Harvey says as he passes Donna's desk.
"I can't." Donna comments, causing Harvey to stop and look at her.
"Why not?"
"He's not here. Hasn't been here all morning." Donna explains.
"Call him, find out where the hell he is." Harvey instructs.
"I have. He's not answering." Donna reveals, there being an undertone of concern in her voice.
With a frown Harvey gets his cell out of his pocket and calls his associate, but the call just rings out.
"Get Katrina up here." Harvey tells Donna as he heads into his office, not being able to help but be a little concerned as being this late to work, and not answering his phone, isn't like Mike at all.
Harvey is sure that If something was going on that prevented Mike from being at work then Jessica would have told him, but she didn't say anything, which likely means she doesn't know, which means there is one person in the firm who may know what is going on, Katrina, and he'd prefer to talk to her before making assumptions about what is going on, and before worrying Jessica.
"You wanted to see me?" Katrina ask a couple of minutes later when she walks into Harvey's office, being completely confused about what Harvey could want.
"When's the last time you saw Mike?" Harvey asks, not even beating around the bush.
"Last night." Katrina answers, "We went for drinks but Mike was so tired that he went home before even finishing his first beer. He sent me a message saying he got home." She reveals, "What's going on, Harvey?" Katrina asks concerned.
"Mike hasn't shown to work, and he's not answering his phone." Harvey explains and as soon as she hears that Katrina pulls out her phone and calls him, and just like Donna and Harvey Katrina gets no answers.
"Mike always answers my calls, and a ringing phone always wakes him." Katrina reveals, with a worried look on her face as she hangs up her phone, and as she does a realisation comes to her, "He wasn't imagining it."
"Wasn't imagining what?" Harvey asks, standing up, remembering what Mike said a few days ago.
"Mike thought he saw Trevor a few days ago, I thought he was the one who trashed Mike's place, and for the last few days Mike's thought someone was watching him." Katrina reveals, knowing that Harvey knows about what happened to Mike's apartment.
"You think Trevor's the reason Mike's not here, or answering our calls." Harvey says, frowning as he really doesn't like the sound of that.
"I think we can't risk not finding out." Katrina admits, trying to figure out the way to explain why she is so worried about Mike without breaking his confidence, "When you told Mike to tell someone what Trevor did to him, he told me, and Harvey, it was bad." Katrina explains, pain in her voice, "We need to find Mike and make sure he's okay, because if Trevor is really back, and if he has been following Mike for days, then I guarantee he won't be okay for long, even if he is okay now."
"Give me Mike's spare key. I'll go check his place." Harvey says walking towards Katrina, really not liking the sound of what Katrina just said.
"No way, I'm coming with you." Katrina reveals, sounding determine and Harvey gives her a look, trying to get her to cave, "Mike's my best friend, he's my family, there is no way in hell I'm going to wait here while he could be in trouble."
"Fine." Harvey says, being pretty sure that arguing with Katrina will just be a waste of time that Mike may not have, "Let's go." Harvey says, walking across the office and the two of them head out, "Donna…." Harvey starts to say.
"I've already cancelled the rest of your morning, and Ray's downstairs." Donna reveals.
"Good, don't tell Jessica anything until you here from me. I don't want her to worry until we know there is a reason to be worried." Harvey tells his assistant as he and Katrina walk past, both of them desperately hoping that they find Mike just asleep in his apartment, completely fine.
After a tense trip where they were both silent Harvey and Katrina finally arrive at Mike's apartment building.
"Wait out here Ray, we won't be long." Harvey says as he and Katrina get out of the car.
Neither entirely sure what they will or will not find, though they hope that they find Mike okay, Katrina and Harvey hurry, while making it look like that's not what they are doing, up to Mike's apartment.
Getting to the apartment Katrina goes to get out his key, but as she does that Harvey checks the door and realises that it is unlocked.
"Mike always locks his door." Katrina says concerned as she and Harvey both enter the apartment, both doing so carefully, keeping an eye out for anything odd.
"Mike's phone." Harvey realises, seeing the broken phone on the ground.
"Not good." Katrina says worriedly, and as she does both she and Harvey hear what sounds like a moan of pain, "Did you just hear that?" she asks worried and Harvey nods.
Following the sound Harvey and Katrina make their way into Mike's apartment and once they are able to see Mike's bed they are both shocked by what they see.
"MIKE." Katrina says worried, hurrying to her friends who is lying on his stomach, in only a ripped shirt, though he is covered in a thin sheet, both of which have blood over them, and his face is bruised and bloody, so bad that one of his eyes seems to be swollen shut, and he has other bruises over the parts of his body that is visible and his left wrist seems is bruised and judging by the angle it is at its likely broken, and because of what both Harvey and Katrina can smell they can both assume what's happened to Mike.
"Katrina…" Mike says, clearly struggling due to pain.
"Yeah, I'm here, and so's Harvey." Katrina tells him, squatting down next to Mike's bed, near his face, forcing down the tears that are threatening to come to her eyes as it is practically killing her to see her best friend, the person she considers to be her little brother, like this.
"Har…vey?" Mike asks.
"Yeah Rookie, I'm here." Harvey says, trying to keep the urge he has to vomit down, being completely horrified by what has happened to Mike, as he puts his phone to his ear, "I need an ambulance."
"You're going to be okay, Mike." Katrina tells her friend, "We're here now." Katrina says, wanting to reach out and touch her friend, but she knows better as she doesn't know what that would do to him.
"Ambulance is on its way." Harvey says, walking over, about a minute later, "Police too." He says as he squats down next to Katrina, and like her he makes sure not to touch anything, including Mike, "Who did this to you Mike?" Harvey asks, though he has a sinking suspicion of the answer, just like Katrina does.
"Trevor."
"Help will be here soon, Mike. You'll be okay." Harvey says, the words feeling pretty shallow, but the truth is that he has no idea what else to say, he isn't even sure that there is anything he could say.
"Glad you're here, glad both of you are here." Mike says, his one eye that isn't swollen shut, drifting open and close, "Mom, want Mom." Mike mutters, Harvey and Katrina only just able to make out the words, "I'm tired." He admits, it being slightly clearer.
"You need to stay awake Mike, it's important. You need to stay awake." Katrina tells her best friend, trying to keep it together even though she wants to fall apart.
"Can't…." Mike admits.
"Yes, you can." Harvey says, being sure that Mike losing consciousness right now isn't a good idea, "Just listen to my voice, Mike. Stay awake, at least until help gets here." Harvey tells his associate, not even caring that his voice is betraying how much he hates seeing Mike like this, "Just look at me, Mike. Listen to my voice, just stay awake." Harvey say, his voice breaking.
"Okay." Mike responds, sounding like he is having even more difficulty.
Twenty minutes later the police and paramedics have arrived and Mike is being loaded into the ambulance.
"We only have room for one of you to ride with us." The paramedics says as they load Mike into the ambulance.
"You go. I'll follow behind." Harvey says to Katrina, doing so because if he is going to be able to keep it together while waiting for news then he needs a bit of time to calm himself, plus he is pretty sure that Mike would be more comfortable with Katrina.
"Okay, what about Jessica? She shouldn't be told this over the phone." Katrina points out.
"I'll call Donna, explain everything to her, get her to tell Jessica." Harvey says, planning on leaving out a few details about how bad Mike is hurt as Donna doesn't deserve to hear it over the phone, and he needs to be the one to tell Jessica.
"If you're coming then we need to get going." The Paramedic says.
"What hospital are you taking him to?" Harvey asks as Katrina climbs into the ambulance.
"Mount Sinai." The paramedic says as she climbs in after Katrina and once the door is closed Harvey hurries over to where Ray is parked.
"Mount Sinai hospital, Ray." Harvey says as he gets in the back of the car, pulling out his phone, knowing that he has to make this call, no matter how hard it is going to be.
Ever since Harvey and Katrina left Donna has been sitting at her desk waiting for some kind of update, hoping to hear something soon, but as more time passes Donna can feel herself becoming more worried, and so, when her phone starts to ring it is a relief.
"Harvey Specter's office." Donna answers.
"Donna, it's me." Harvey answers and the second she hears his voice Donna knows that something is horribly wrong.
"How bad?" Donna asks worried.
"Bad." Harvey answers, "He's on his way to Mount Sinai. He's bruised, and bloody, and really hurt." Harvey answers, Donna being pretty sure that Harvey is close to crying, but she is also pretty sure that he would want her to never mention it, "I need you to cancel the rest of my day, and I'm sorry that I have to ask this, but I need you to tell Jessica. She doesn't deserve to hear this over the phone."
"Harvey…." Donna starts to say, not wanting to be the one to give Jessica the news.
"Please Donna. Jessica deserves better than hearing this over the phone." Harvey tells her, sounding desperate, which is what gets through to her as Harvey Specter is never desperate.
"Okay, I'll tell her." Donna says, doing so even though she would rather not, "I'll see you soon." She says before hanging up, planning on going to the hospital as well.
Five minutes later Donna has cancelled the rest of Harvey's day and is knocking on the door to Jessica's office, honestly Donna would rather be doing almost anything that telling Jessica what she has to tell her but she knows Harvey is right, she knows that Jessica doesn't deserve to hear what happened over the phone.
"Come in." Jessica says and Donna walks in, "Donna, what can I do for you?"
"I have to tell you something." Donna says, fighting to keep her voice steady, though she doesn't quiet manage that.
"What happened?" Jessica asks concerned, looking up from what she is doing so that she can look directly at Donna, and as she does the first thing she notices is that Donna is holding her hand bag.
"Mike didn't show up to work today, and he didn't answer his phone, so Katrina and Harvey went to check his apartment." Donna reveals and as soon as Donna said her son's name Jessica felt her heart stop.
"What did they find?" Jessica asks, needing to force every single one of the words out.
"He's hurt, Harvey said it's bad. He's being taken to Mount Sinai." Donna reveals, and as soon as Donna said the hospital Jessica is out of her seat.
"Why didn't Harvey call me?" Jessica asks, anger in her voice as it's easier to deal with anger than the pain and worry for her son she is feeling.
"He thought you deserved better than hearing what happened over the phone." Donna explains as Jessica walks across the office and the two of them leave.
"There you are, Jessica. Can I have a word?" Louis asks Jessica and Donna as they make their way to the elevator.
"Not now Louis." Jessica and Donna both snap, both sounding angry to Louis's complete confusion, as they push past him.
"Did Harvey give you any more details?" Jessica asks once she and Donna are in the elevator.
"No." Donna answers "But I could tell from Harvey's voice that it's not good news." Donna admits and because she honestly doesn't trust her voice Jessica just nod, only caring about one thing, getting to her son, and getting to him as quick as possible.
Not long after they left the firm Jessica and Donna arrive at the hospital where they are directed to a waiting area where Harvey and Katrina are both sitting, neither looking okay, but as soon as they see Donna and Jessica they stand up.
"Harvey, where is he? How bad is he hurt? What happened?" Jessica asks as soon as she sees her protégé.
"Jessica, you might want to sit down." Harvey tells her, knowing that this may be one of the hardest things he's ever had to do.
"Just tell me Harvey, please." Jessica begs her voice full of desperation as not knowing about how her son is, is killing her.
"Katrina and I arrived at Mike's, the door was unlocked so we let ourselves in. We found Mike's phone on the floor near the door." Harvey reveals, "Mike was on his bed, on his stomach. His face was bruised and bloody, his right eye was swollen shut, he was barely conscious." Harvey says, taking a deep breath so that he can explain the rest as he attempts to force the images down as even though he doesn't have Mike's memory he is pretty sure he is never going to forget the sight that greeted him when he walked into Mike's apartment, "He was only wearing a ripped shirt and covered in a sheet, he had bruises all over him and it looked like his left wrist was broken." Harvey explains, trying not to go into too much detail but judging by the horrified looks on both Donna and Jessica's faces they've realised exactly what happened.
"He's being treated by the doctors now, and a police detective is with him too." Katrina says, wanting to help Harvey explain, "They said they'll come get him when we can see him."
"Oh god." Jessica says, sounding horrified as she makes her way to a seat as if she doesn't sit down she is pretty sure that she is going to fall down, "Did the doctors say anything?" She asks.
"No." Harvey says, walking over and sitting next to Jessica, "Just that it was probably a good thing that he was found when he was." He admits, honestly he can't help but think about what would have happened if he just thought to find out where Mike was just a little earlier.
"Did he say anything?" Donna asks as she and Katrina sit down across from Jessica and Harvey.
"Yeah." Harvey confirms, "He said it was Trevor." Harvey reveals.
"Trevor?" Jessica asks, anger in her voice, "I didn't know he was back in the city."
"Neither did Mike. We talked about him last night." Katrina reveals.
"Why?" Jessica asks, turning to look at Katrina.
"Mike's apartment was broken into Sunday night, nothing was taken it was just trashed." Katrina explains, "And Mike told me last night that he felt like someone was watching him the last few days, he even though he saw a glimpse of Trevor on Monday, but he just blamed exhaustion." Katrina explains, "I should have tried harder to get him to stay at my place last night, If I had…" Katrina starts to say.
"Don't go there." Donna tells her, "This isn't your fault, Katrina." Donna says, placing a comforting hand on Katrina's leg, being able to tell that she blames herself, not surprising considering she's Mike's best friend and Donna knows that she considers protecting Mike part of her best friend responsibility, "The only person to blame is Trevor, not anyone else." Donna says, looking over to Jessica and Harvey as she is pretty sure that they will blame themselves too.
"He's going to pay for this, he has to." Harvey says angrily, saying what they are all thinking and the group of four drift into silence, all waiting anxiously for news about Mike, as their worry, pain and anger grow.
After the way Donna and Jessica were when he ran into them Louis has gone searching for an explanation for what the hell is going on, but as he searches the frim he realises that Harvey, Mike, and Katrina are all missing as well as Jessica and Donna and so he has decided to go to the one other person who might know what is going on, or who at least should, Daniel Hardman.
"Daniel can I have a word?" Louis asks, knocking on Hardman's door.
"Of course." Hardman says and Louis walks in, "What can I do for you?"
"I think something is going on, something you should be aware of, if you're not." Louis explains.
"Why do you say that?" Hardman asks curious.
"I ran into Jessica and Donna as they were leaving, they seemed to be in a hurry and worried." Louis reveals, "I checked around the firm and they're not the only ones who aren't here. Harvey, Mike and an associate who is Mike's best friend, Katrina Bennett, are also missing and no one seems to know where they are." Louis explains.
"I see." Hardman says, wondering what is going on, "Thank you for telling me this Louis."
"Of course." Louis says before leaving.
It has been a while since they got to the hospital and Jessica, Harvey, Katrina and Donna are just sitting together, waiting for news. As they wait Jessica's phone starts to ring.
"It's Hardman." Jessica reveals, checking the caller ID.
"It's the last thing you should have to worry about, but if you don't answer his calls he's likely going to use this as an opportunity." Katrina tells Jessica, trying to be as kind of possible.
"Give me your phone, I'll deal with him." Harvey says, knowing Katrina is right, and because what she is most worried about at the moment is her son Jessica just hands her phone over to Harvey.
Taking Jessica's phone Harvey walks a few steps away from everyone.
"Jessica Pearson's phone, Harvey Specter speaking." Harvey answers.
"Harvey? Why are you answering Jessica's phone? What's going on?" Hardman asks, sounding both confused and angry.
"I'm answering Jessica's phone because we're at the hospital together." Harvey reveals, "Mike's been attacked." He explains.
"Is he okay?" Hardman asks, there being some concern in his voice, something which Harvey is both surprised about and at the same time doubting whether it is real.
"We don't know yet; the doctors are still with him." Harvey explains, "He's was attacked in his apartment, we don't know much more than that." Harvey says, knowing better than giving Hardman too many details but he knows that if he doesn't give Hardman some then things will get worse.
"Please let me know when you know more, and tell Jessica not to worry. I'll handle everything here." Hardman responds.
"Don't tell anyone what's happened to Mike." Harvey requests, "And Daniel, if I find out that you are using this as a chance to try and take control I'll make you regret it." Harvey threatens, completely meaning that.
"Do you think so little of me Harvey? Jessica's son has been hurt I will not use that against her." Hardman tells Harvey before hanging up.
Once he hangs up with Hardman Harvey walks back over to Jessica and sits down next to her.
"What you tell him?" Jessica asks as Harvey sits down next to her.
"Just the basics, told him not to tell anyone." Harvey explains.
"Good." Jessica says sounding relieved about that, as Harvey hands Jessica back her phone, and as he does the group notices a man, who is clearly a detective as she is wearing a badge around his neck, walks over.
"Are you all here for Mr Pearson-Ross?" the detective asks.
"Yes." Harvey, Jessica, Donna and Katrina say together.
"I need to talk to who found him; Harvey Specter and Katrina Bennett?" the detective asks, looking at the group after checking his notes.
"That's me." Katrina says.
"And me." Harvey adds as they both stand up.
"Let's go talk." The Detective says, leading Harvey and Katrina across the room so that he can find out what they found, leaving Donna and Jessica sitting together in silence, Jessica thinking about how desperately she wants news about her son, as not knowing how he is a feeling that she completely hates and with every minute that passes Jessica can feel herself becoming more worried and more desperate for news.
For another hour Jessica, Harvey, Donna and Katrina sit and wait for news but as they do it's not just Jessica's whose worry grow, but everyone's as they are all desperate to know how Mike is.
"Family of Michael Pearson-Ross?" A doctor asks, walking into the room.
"That's us." Harvey says as he, Jessica, Donna and Katrina stand up.
"I'm his mother, Jessica Pearson, how's my son?" Jessica asks worried.
"Mr Pearson-Ross is awake and responsive and he asked that I explain his injuries before allowing you back to see him." The Doctor explains, looking around as Mike said that there would be four people waiting for him, and that they can know about his injuries, and there are, "It might be best that we sit down." He suggests.
"Just tell me, how's my son?" Jessica asks, her voice short as she, Harvey, Donna and Katrina all sit down with the doctor.
"Mr Pearson-Ross sustained a broken left wrist that has been put in a cast, a broken nose, a direct orbital floor fracture, two broken ribs, and a minor concussion." The Doctor explains, "Mr Pearson-Ross also has bruising over his body and minor cuts, some of which required stiches." The Doctor reveals, "A lot of the bruises and cuts are from forced sexual assault." The Doctor reveals, finally confirming what they were all suspecting, "Mr Pearson-Ross's injuries are relatively minor, but it is hard to determine what the long term effects will be."
"Can we see him?" Jessica asks, wanting to see her son, needing to see her son.
"Of course." The Doctor says, standing up.
"How long will he be in hospital for?" Harvey asks as the group follow the doctor, wanting to focus on facts rather than what was done to Mike as ever time he remembers that he feels both furious and sick as he can't bare knowing that that happened to Mike.
"I would like to keep him in overnight so that I can monitor his concession, but after that he can go, as long as he won't be staying alone."
"He won't. He'll be staying with me." Jessica says, having no intention of letting Mike stay alone, plus his apartment is currently a crime scene.
A few minutes later Jessica, Harvey, Donna and Katrina are lead into Mike's room and as they walk in they find Mike lying, though sitting up slightly, in a hospital bed. The blood has been washed off his face, making the bruising so much clearer. Mike's nose is bruised and his right eye is so bruised and swollen that it is closed and his left wrist has a black cast on it.
"Mike." Jessica says, walking over to her son, trying to keep her voice from breaking as even though it killing her to see her son like this she is trying to hold it together, because she doesn't want Mike to see her full apart.
"Mom." Mike says, sounding glad to see her, which the truth is he is as all he's wanted for hours is to see his mom, "It was Trevor, you were right. You saw who he really was, even though I never could." Mike says, tears coming to his eye that is actually open, as he should have listened to his Mom, he should have seen who Trevor really is, and cut him out long before he sent that letter.
"Don't think like that, Mike." Jessica says, moving to her son's side, "I never thought he'd do this." Jessica admits, getting to her son's side.
"I should….." Mike starts to say.
"No." Jessica says, sitting on her son's bed, being careful not to sit on anything important, "Do not blame yourself for this, Mike. This was Trevor, and only Trevor." Jessica tells her son and as she does Mike pushes himself up a bit and hugs his mother, as he does Jessica returns the hug, holding onto her son tightly, as he cries into her chest.
Near the door Harvey, Donna and Katrina are just standing and watching, all three of them hating to see Mike in so much pain, all wishing that there was something they could to help him.
For about ten minutes Jessica holds her son while he cries, doing everything she can to comfort him, until they finally break apart and Jessica helps Mike lie back once more and once he does, and Jessica takes his hand that isn't in a cast Mike realises who else is in the room.
"Harvey, Katrina, Donna." Mike says to them, a little surprised to see them and while he is glad to he isn't sure how he feels about them seeing him so hurt, how he feels about them seeing him so weak.
"Mike." Katrina and Donna say.
"Rookie." Harvey greats, stepping forward, desperately wanting to not say the wrong thing.
"You should all be at work." Mike realises, feeling bad about them missing work because of him.
"You're more important than work." Donna informs Mike, who manages to look a little grateful at that.
"You two found me." Mike remembers, looking between Harvey and Katrina, "I didn't think anyone would, thank you."
"You don't have to thank us." Katrina assures him and Mike just nods, "I'm just glad we got to you when we did." She admits, giving her friend a comforting look.
"I want to go home." Mike says to Jessica.
"I know, but your doctor wants to keep you overnight." Jessica tells her son, "You can't go back to your apartment, so once you're released you're going to be staying with me."
"I figured." Mike says, actually being relieved about that, as even if he could he's not sure he's ready to go back to his apartment, "I talked to the detective, told her everything that happened, and all about Trevor." Mike reveals, everyone being able to hear betrayal in his voice when he said Trevor, "Her partner is the one who talked to you, but they both told me that finding… him, may not be easy." Mike reveals, doing so because he needs to face that truth.
"Excuse me." Harvey says, stepping out of Mike's room.
The second he is out of Mike's room Harvey pulls out his phone and calls one of his most frequent numbers.
"What can I do for you Harvey?" Vanessa asks, answering after only a couple of rings.
"I need you to find someone, and once you do send a tip to the police. No matter what I may say, don't tell me where he is once you find him." Harvey requests, knowing that if he is to see Trevor on his own then Trevor won't be going to jail.
"Sure, who is he?" Vanessa asks.
"Trevor Evans. Responsible for attacking Mike Pearson-Ross, Mike's in the hospital and the police don't think he'll be easy to find, but you're better than the police." Harvey tells her.
"I'll find him Harvey, and make sure he doesn't get away from the police." Vanessa tells him, being able to tell from Harvey's tone of voice how important this is to him.
"Thank you." Harvey says before hanging up.
Once he hangs up Harvey leans against the wall and takes several deep breaths. Honestly Harvey blames himself for not being there for Mike, for not realising something odd was going on days ago, and he may never forgive himself for that, but he won't fail Mike again, he won't give up until Trevor is caught and pays for what he did to Mike, he owes him that.
