Chapter 22
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After Mike hurried out of her office Rachel knows exactly what she has to do and she goes running too,
"DONNA." Rachel calls as she goes running towards her.
"Rachel? What's wrong?" Donna asks concerned.
"Mike just came to my office. I hurried towards him and hugged him, and he freaked out. He raised his hands to protect himself, looked terrified, and he went running out of my office. I don't know where he went." Rachel explains, "What did I do?" she asks worried.
"Something you didn't know was a bad idea." Donna admits, concern in her voice, "Thanks for telling me, you might as well go back to your office."
"Are you sure? Isn't there something I can do?" Rachel asks.
"No, there's not." Donna tells her, knowing that the last thing Mike needs is someone who doesn't know the truth trying to help.
"Okay." Rachel says and heads back towards her office, as she does Harvey walks out of his.
"I take it you heard all that?" Donna asks Harvey as his door was open so she figures he did.
"Yeah." Harvey confirms, "Call Katrina, tell her what happened, see if he's with her. Then check the file room. I'll go tell Jessica." He says, trying to keep the worry out of his voice as he heads towards Jessica's office.
When he first leaves Rachel's office Mike isn't sure where he is going, and he doesn't care about the fact that people are looking at him as he runs past, but as he runs Mike realises that he is near his mom's office and as he sees that she is alone, working at her desk he runs in and runs over to the corner where he sits in the corner and puts his knees to his chest.
"Mike?" Jessica asks worried, but her son doesn't respond and so he gets up and walks over to her son, moving slowly as she knows that Mike doesn't react well to people moving quickly towards him, "Mike, what happened?" Jessica asks as she squats in front of her son and as she does she recognizes the sings of Mike having a flashback, and so she isn't at all surprised when Mike doesn't say anything, "Mike, you're okay. You're not there." Jessica tells her son about a minute later.
"Jessica, Mike's….." Harvey starts to say walking in then he realises what is going on, "Right here." He realises, walking over, moving slowly even though he would like to hurry to Mike as he knows that Mike doesn't react when to people moving quickly.
"Do you know what happened?" Jessica asks as Harvey walks over, hoping that the answer is yes.
"Rachel, she hurried over to him to hug him." Harvey explains.
"Shit." Jessica says worried, though she knows that that will help her, and Harvey, be able to help Mike, "Mike, listen to my voice, focus on it. You're in my office. Harvey and I are here. He's not. You're safe." Jessica tells her son, resisting the urge to reach out and touch her son as she learnt the hard way that when he is in this state he doesn't react well to being touch.
"Nothing you're seeing is happening, there just memories." Harvey says, "Come back to us, Mike." Harvey requests, trying to keep the desperation out of his voice.
For the next few minutes Jessica and Harvey just watch Mike and as they do they slowly recognize the signs of Mike coming back from his flashbacks.
"Mom…. Harvey…" Mike says, looking between them.
"Yeah, we're here, Mike. You're okay." Jessica tells her son, and for the next couple of minutes Mike starts to calm himself more.
"I can't believe that happened." Mike says, sounding annoyed with himself, "I prepared myself for Rachel hugging me. I didn't prepare for her hurrying towards me, and before I could stop it the flashback started."
"Mike, that's okay." Jessica tells her son, "You have no reason to be annoyed with yourself." Jessica tells her son.
"I can't believe I freaked out at work." Mike says, sounding frustrated.
"It's okay, Mike." Harvey tells him, "It's only your first day back, it not surprising that you had a flashback, and it's nothing to be ashamed off."
"Feels like it should be." Mike admits, "I should get back to work."
"You can stay in here a while longer if you'd like." Jessica tells her son.
"No, I think I'm okay now." Mike admits, "I'll be in the file room." Mike reveals, getting up and heading out of the room, leaving Jessica and Harvey in the office.
"It's too soon. He shouldn't have come back." Jessica says worried.
"He thinks he's ready, and getting back too normal will probably help him." Harvey tells Jessica, wanting to believe that, needing to believe that.
"Or it will harm him." Jessica tells Harvey looking worried.
"We just have to wait and see." Harvey reveals, "I'll keep him busy with work, that'll probably help." Harvey says before leaving.
It has been a few hours since Mike experienced a flashback and having just given Harvey an address he needs Mike is once more making his way to Rachel's office, knowing that he has to explain what happened.
"Hi." Mike says from the doorway.
"Hi." Rachel says, looking up from her computer, "I'm sorry, for whatever I did earlier."
"You didn't do anything." Mike admits, "I don't do well with people rushing towards me, not lately." He admits, feeling that Rachel deserves part of an explanation, though he doesn't intend to tell her everything.
"I'll remember that." Rachel tells him, "How are you doing, Mike?" she asks curious.
"Better." Mike answers, "Most of my injuries are heled, and apart from the occasional flashbacks, which isn't surprising with my memory, I'm good." Mike says, completely lying but because Rachel doesn't know what really happened she believes him.
"That's good. I'm glad you're back." Rachel tells him.
"I'm glad to be back." Mike says, completely meaning that, "I'm going to dinner with Katrina, I'll see you tomorrow." He says before leaving Rachel's office.
As he arrives at work the following morning Mike is determine not to let himself have another flashback at work, and after a meeting with a father and son where the father got angry, Mike feels pretty proud of himself for managing to control himself, not that he'd admit that.
Having finished the meeting with the son that wants to be emancipated Harvey and Mike are walking towards Harvey's office.
"You know what? I've got bigger fish to fry. Put the wheels in motion." Harvey tells Mike.
""The wheels?" This isn't a merger, Harvey. You're talking about emancipation." Mike comments.
"I'm talking about filing for emancipation. It's a tactic. He cares about this son. Nine times out of ten, he backs down." Harvey comments.
"And what if he doesn't?" Mike asks.
"Then we'll be doing exactly what the client wants us to do." Harvey says as the two of them walk into Harvey's office.
"Oh, you mean break up his family." Mike comments, not looking too happy.
"I mean help his family." Harvey corrects.
"Wow, wonder what kind of relationship you had with your father." Mike says, not overly caring how out of line that might be.
"Look, my father's not up for discussion." Harvey says, "The only bone of contention between them is this decision. The sooner they resolve it, the sooner they can move on."
"The sooner you get paid." Mike says.
"I cut billion dollar deals for breakfast. I don't need this. I told you, it's what the client wants." Harvey reveals.
"It's what he thinks he wants." Mike corrects, "Look Harvey, I was eleven when my dad died, and we were arguing, about the most stupid thing, when that car hit us." Mike says sadly.
"Mike…." Harvey starts to say, sounding shocked as Mike has barely talked about his biological parents and he knows from Jessica that he never talks about the car accident that killed them.
"If you gave me the chance to be a pro anything or to make up with him, what do you think I'd choose?" Mike asks, ignoring Harvey's interruption.
"If we don't do it, he'll find someone else who will. If you don't want him to do it, change his goddamn mind. Now go." Harvey says and Mike heads out of his office.
As Mike heads towards the file room he hears Rachel's angry voice and he can't help but turn and watch her and Donna. After Rachel walks away Mikes watches as Donna picks up a file, a file that Mike realises is the same file from the day before, and she heads in the direction of the file room.
Seeing that Mike realises what he has to do and hurries and un plugs the machine before hiding in the stacks and just like he was expecting Donna goes to the machine and tries to turn it on.
"I unplugged it." Mike says, stepping out, "And this time, I'm not stopping you by accident." Mike reveals.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Donna lies.
"Don't bullshit me, Donna." Mike says, walking towards her, "That's the same file you had in your hand yesterday. You ran out of here like you saw a ghost, you bit of Rachel's head, talking about how people never have the things they're supposed to have, and now you're right back here." Mike comments, "It's not Dalton Enterprises you holding. That's the memo that Harvey's been accused of burying." Mike tells her.
"You know, the fact that you would even accuse me of that makes me sick." Donna lies, "But if you still done believe me, fine. See for yourself." Donna says trying to bluff Mike by handing the file over, and Mike goes to grab it with his plastered hand, but Donna doesn't let go, "I don't know what to do." Donna admits, letting go.
"Tell me what happened." Mike says, opening the file.
"I found it in the file room when Katrina and I were looking. It has my date stamp on it, mine." Donna explains.
"We have to tell Harvey. He'll know what to do." Mike comments, hoping he does as he has no idea.
"No, he won't."
"Donna, Harvey's been operating under the assumption that we never had this memo, all right? At some point, that assumption is gonna bite him the ass, and the later it happens the bigger the bite." Mike tells her.
"Nobody is going to believe that a file this important just got lost. They'll think that I got rid of it, and that Harvey told me to do it." Donna explains.
"This memo is part of a legal proceeding. Shredding it is a crime." Mike reminds her.
"Like getting someone to intimidate someone to get them to turn on their friend and confess to a crime is a crime? Unlike you and Harvey I didn't do this on purpose, and I am protecting Harvey the best way that I know how." Donna explains to Mike.
"Allison Holt is gonna figure out what happened, and when she does, her priority's not going to be protecting you or Harvey. It's gonna be protecting the firm. You might be comfortable putting Harvey in that position, but I'm not." Mike says, closing the file, "So either you tell him, or I will." Mike says before handing Donna back the file and heading out of the room.
A few hours later Mike has meet with Marco, and found out one of the reasons why he wants to be emancipating and the second he explained the reason beyond playing Tennis Mike knew that he had to do whatever it takes to protect him, whatever he has to do to get Marco away from his father.
Having gone to the hospital to get evidence Mike returns to the firm and after getting himself a cup of coffee Mike makes his way to Harvey's office, getting there as he is talking to Louis.
"I don't want to hear it." Harvey tells Mike, "If it's bad news, I don't want to hear it." Harvey comments as they head into the office.
"You see upset." Mike comments.
"Of course I'm upset. I just found out that Louis and I share the same dentist." Harvey says as they walk into Harvey's office.
"Have you spoken to Donna yet?" Mike asks curious.
"No, and I'm pissed about it. I need her to get me a new dentist." Harvey comments.
"Well, we have a problem, whether you want to hear it or not." Mike says, putting his coffee down on Harvey's desk.
"What?"
"Marco needs to be emancipated from his father." Mike reveals.
"But that's not a problem. That's what we're doing." Harvey comments, sounding surprised.
"No, I don't mean to let him play. I mean to keep him safe." Mike says, putting the file on the desk, "That is directly from the hospital. His Dad did that to him." Mike explains.
"We need to get him away from his father." Harvey confirms.
"I need to get him away. I set the hearing, and I'm going to win." Mike tells Harvey, this being something that he feels like he has to do.
"I'm hearing a lot of 'I's in there." Harvey notes.
"Harvey…." Mike starts to say.
"This isn't housing court. This is a kids life." Harvey reminds Mike, not sure if Mike is ready to go to court handle a case like this after what he's just been through, honestly if he had known Marco was abused he would have kept Mike as far away from this case as possible.
"I know that, and the only reason you know that is because I gave a shit about the kids life in the first place." Mike comments.
"You think I didn't think I was smarter than the guy I started working for? I did, and I was, and I waited my goddamn turn." Harvey informs Mike.
"Harvey, can do this, I need to do this." Mike says, stressing the words, "It's time to let me out of the gate." Mike informs Harvey.
"Allison's filling a motion to dismiss." Jessica says, walking into the office.
"She's swinging for the fences; I'll give her that." Harvey comments, "You know what, I'm gonna swing for the fences too. Mike's going to court." Harvey says sitting down.
"I am?" Mike asks surprised.
"What's the case?" Jessica asks her son.
"Emancipation." Mike answers.
"From him?" Jessica jokingly asks.
"I wish." Mike responds.
"He doesn't need a court order for that." Harvey comments.
"My little boy's growing up." Jessica says, smiling at her son.
"Mom…" Mike says, with an embarrassed look.
"Okay. Listen, I need you to sign this affidavit that we never received that memo from Coastal Motors." Jessica says, putting the memo in front of Harvey.
As he sees his mother do that Mike knows he can't allow that, and so, doing the only thing he can think off Mike uses his plastered hand to knock the coffee cup over and over the document.
"Oh, my god! I'm sorry, I got a jolt of pain in my arm." Mike lies.
"Are you okay?" Jessica asks concerned.
"Yeah, it's gone now." Mike lies, and while he suspects that his mother might believe him because she is concerned, he is pretty sure that Harvey doesn't.
"There are napkins over there." Harvey reveals and Mike goes over and gets them.
"I'm really sorry, that hasn't happened before." Mike says as he comes back over and starts to clean up the mess.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Jessica asks her son, looking at him in concern.
"Yeah." Mike confirms.
"When you get this cleaned up, come see me. I'll get you a fresh one." Jessica says before leaving.
"What the hell was that?" Harvey asks, the second Jessica is out of the room.
"What?" Mike asks, pretending to be confused.
"You know what." Harvey says, standing up.
"It was an accident." Mike lies.
"It was intentional. You ambushed me with a cup of coffee. Think I haven't seen Ronin?" Harvey asks.
"It was all I could think of." Mike admits.
"Meaning?"
"Donna was supposed to tell you." Mike reveals.
"Tell me what?" Harvey asks curious.
"You can't sign the affidavit. You'll be committing perjury." Mike reveals and Harvey looks completely shocked and so Mike explains everything he knows.
For the next day things are tense between Harvey and Donna and having been to court for Marco Mike has once more shut himself in the file room to work on his other work.
"I want to know what is going on." Katrina says, walking into the room.
"Katrina…" Mike starts to say.
"Don't even start Mike, I'm not like everyone else here. I know most of what is going on, and I want to know what is going on with Donna." Katrina reveals, walking over to her best friend, "I'm already trying to help Louis who is falling apart because his cat died. I want to know what to know if my friend needs me too." Katrina explains to Mike.
"What makes you think something is going on?" Mike asks, asking the question so that he can try to think of what to say because he isn't sure what to say.
"Donna cancelled our lunch plans and I heard about her yelling at Rachel, she hasn't been okay for days. Please Mike, just tell me, what's going on with Donna?" Katrina asks concerned.
"She screwed up, and it wasn't small." Mike tells Katrina.
"She found the memo." Katrina realises, as that is what makes sense.
"And it had her date stamp, and she didn't tell Harvey." Mike explains.
"Shit." Katrina says shocked as she sits down on the desk, "What's going to happen?" Katrina asks as she can assume, but she wants to hear Mike say it.
"Harvey's going to fix it." Mike says and Katrina gives him a disbelieving look, "He will." Mike says, completely believing that, "And I've go to go." Mike says before heading out of the room, leaving Katrina, who misses the hug he would have usually given her, sitting on the table.
It has been a long day for everyone at Pearson Hardman as Mike realised he made a mistake in court the day before he has been working on fixing it, which he has, while Jessica and Harvey have been worry about everything going on, including firing Alison Holt and Daniel Hardman strongarming them while Katrina has been doing her best to help Louis while worrying about Donna.
Even though it is late Donna is still at the office, putting Harvey's files on his desk, hearing footsteps Donna turn sand is surprised to see Jessica.
"Harvey's not here." Donna tells Jessica, "She should be back soon."
"I'm not here to see Harvey." Jessica reveals, and right away Donna knows what that means.
"Oh." Donna comments.
"He wanted to be the one to have this conversation with you. But it's my firm and I wanted you to hear it from me." Jessica says as she felt like she owed Donna that.
"Am I being fired?" Donna asks, her voice breaking.
"Yes." Jessica confirms, walking towards Donna, "I appreciate everything that you've done for Harvey, and for me, and for Mike, but whatever my personal feelings your actions have left me no choice but to terminate your employment at Pearson Hardman." Jessica says and Donna looks like she is about to cry.
After talking to Jessica Donna starts to pack her desk and as she walks to the elevator Katrina and Mike both walk to across from the elevators and watch.
"I thought you said he'd fix this." Katrina tells Mike as Harvey presses the elevator for Donna.
"I believed he would." Mike admits.
"I'm taking your tennis ball from Marco. Louis needs it more than you right now." Katrina tells her friend.
"Fine." Mike says honestly not even caring about the tennis ball, and he and Katrina just drift into silence as they watch Donna leave and Harvey look like he would like to fall apart.
As she knew that Donna would appreciate some space Katrina has given her friend a couple of days, but it is now Sunday night and Katrina decides to see how her friend is doing.
Getting to Donna's Katrina knocks on the door and after about a minute Katrina waits and she knocks once more, and once more receives no answer.
"You can ignore me if you want Donna, but I'm not going away." Katrina reveals, "I have ice cream, and tequila and I just want to make sure my friend is okay." Katrina says, it feeling rather stupid to talk through the door, so she is glad when seconds later the door opens, revealing Donna.
"That better be chocolate ice cream." Donna tells her.
"It's chocolate brownie and the new chocolate fudge cookie dough one." Katrina explains.
"Get in here." Donna tells her friend, letting her into the apartment.
At Mike's apartment Mike has only just gotten back from an appointment with Doctor Jenkins half an hour later and so he is lying on his couch, drinking a beer and watching TV, trying to ignore the memories that are threatening to come to the front of his mind, something which is getting harder with every minute that passes.
As he drinks Mike starts to hear loud banging on the door,
"I'm not here." Mike says annoyed, putting down his beer but the banging just keeps continuing, and so Mike reluctantly gets up and heads to the door and even though he looked through the peep hole first Mike is still surprised when he opens the door to see Harvey on the other hand.
"God, what are you doing here?" Mike asks, shocked to see his boss.
"Are you watching different strokes?" Harvey asks, trying to ignore how much he doesn't want to be at this apartment, how much he doesn't want Mike to be there, and how hard it is not to think about the last time he walked into this apartment.
"Well, it's the touching story of a couple of orphans, so…" Mike starts to say as Harvey walks in and Mike closes the door.
"Don't." Harvey tells him, "So you're really sticking to staying here?" he asks curious.
"I told you why, and yeah, I am." Mike says, "At least for now." Mike admits.
"Okay." Harvey says, it being clear that he really doesn't like that, as he refuses to look over to Mike's bed as he knows, that even without Mike's memory, he will be able to see Mike in the state he found him in the last time he walked into this apartment, "Get your tux on, we've got a situation." Harvey informs Mike.
"A situation that requires tuxedos, where is this tuxedo situation?" Mike asks confused, as he uses his un plastered hand to push his hair back a bit.
"Atlantic city." Harvey answers, "Can you get dressed now?" Harvey asks, honestly not wanting to spend any longer in this apartment than he has to and he really doesn't know how Mike can handle it.
"What makes you think I even have a tux?" Mike asks curious.
"I know your Mom, there is no way in hell she wouldn't have had you buy a tux as soon as I hired you." Harvey tells him, "Get dressed." He once more repeats and with a sigh Mike heads over to his closet being pretty sure that a tux with a cast is going to be a very odd look.
At Donna's apartment Donna and Katrina have both had several shots and are enjoying the ice cream as they sit on opposite ends of Donna's couch.
"I thought you'd ask why I did it." Donna comments as she eats.
"I don't have to, I know why." Katrina reveals, "You did it because you thought you were protecting Harvey, I would have done the same thing to protect Mike." She says, completely meaning that.
"See, that's what I love, you get my relationship with Harvey because you have the same kind of relationship with Mike." Donna says, grateful that someone understands.
"Yeah, I do." Katrina confirms, "Words don't describe it. Most people would assume we're in love, same as they would assume about you and Harvey, but that's not it." Katrina says as while she loves Mike and she is sure that Donna loves Harvey and vice versa, she knows that her and Mike aren't 'in love' and neither are Donna and Harvey.
"No, it's not." Donna confirms, "But the only people who understand my relationship with Harvey are people who have the same kind of relationship with someone, and there is no point trying to explain to someone who doesn't understand."
"Amen to that. I've tried, and failed to explain it." Katrina comments.
"Same." Donna confirms, as Katrina pours them both shots, "Don't you have court in the morning?" she asks curious.
"Yeah, I've got a few more shots in me before I have to stop." Katrina comments.
"I'll drink to that." Donna says and that's exactly what they do.
It has been a little while since Mike and Harvey left Mike's apartment and the two of them are on their way to Atlantic City, just arriving in the city limits.
As they sit side by side in the back of the car Mike is attempting to do up his bow tie, something which is rather difficult, almost impossible, with one hand in plaster.
"So can I ask why we are going to Atlantic City instead of just messengering these contracts?" Mike asks curious.
"No."
"You know, I'm sensing a little hostility, and you know what I think?" Mike asks as he continues to struggle with his bow tie, "I think that your stung about Donna, and you see a chance to blow off some steam, and you need a wingman." Mike comments and honestly Harvey has to resist the urge to make the comment he is thinking, instead he makes another one.
"Easy, Dr Phil, we're here." Harvey comments.
"There, how's that?" Mike asks, turning to look at Harvey who just gives him an unimpressed look, "Don't look at me like that, it's the best I can do with my hand like this." Mike admits.
"Fine." Harvey says, moving towards Mike, still remembering to move slowly and once he is close enough he starts to fix Mike's bow tie.
"Okay, you're fixing it now." Mike mutters, trying not to think about how it feels to have Harvey so close to him.
"You bet I am." Harvey answers as he focuses on fixing Mike's bow tie rather than what he would rather be doing, as what he would rather be doing is something that presents a whole lot of complications and he is pretty sure that it is something that, considering everything, Mike isn't ready for, "There, done." Harvey says, staring up at Mike.
"Yeah." Mike says and the two of them just stare at each other for a lot longer than necessary.
"We should go." Harvey says, breaking the silence and the almost staring contest that he and Mike have going on.
"Yeah, guess so." Mike admits, and the two of them get out of the car.
"That's right, we're not in Kansas anymore." Harvey comments, "Let's move, Dorothy." Harvey says, walking towards the casino.
"You didn't tell me you were bringing me here." Mike comments, sounding worried.
"And that's a problem how?" Harvey asks, looking at Mike confused.
"I'm sort of banned from here." Mike admits, trying not to think of the reasons why, but he knows he doesn't have a choice because Harvey will likely ask.
"Does that have something to do with the trouble your Mom got you out off?" Harvey ask curious, wanting to avoid mentioning Trevor.
"Yeah." Mike confirms, "It was three years ago, a lot of things going on, but I was banned from here for counting cards." Mike explains, and Harvey just gives him a look, "I can't help it, my brain just keeps track." Mike explains.
"That was your defence?" Harvey asks surprised.
"Like I said it was three years ago, he talked me into it." Mike admits, there being no question who 'he' is.
"Get inside." Harvey tells him, not wanting to have this conversation anymore, "You're wearing a tux. They're not gonna know who you are." Harvey says and the two of them head inside.
"Speaking of which, this isn't Havana in the 1950s. Why do we have to wear tuxes? What are you, Moe Green?" Mike asks.
"Moe Green lived in Vegas." Harvey corrects.
"I know where Moe Green lives." Mike comments as they approach two women one of whom is holding a tablet, while the other is holding a tray of champagne.
"Complimentary champagne?" the woman offers and both Harvey and Mike take a glass, Mike drinking his quiet quickly.
"You think this happens if you walk in here in a t-shirt and jeans?" Harvey asks, "You have a guest, Keith Hoyt. Can you let him know I'm here?" Harvey requests.
"Mr. Hoyt left a message for you to meet him in the Poker Room, Mr. Specter."
"The floor manager assured me that he'd be kept away from the tables." Harvey says concerned.
"I'm sorry, I have no record of that here, sir." The woman says and Harvey starts to walk away.
"Double down." Mike says, taking another glass of champagne and the two of them head to the poker room, talking about Harvey's client as they go.
After spending several hours at Donna's Katrina headed home where she got a few hours' sleep before heading into the office to get a little bit of work done before court.
As she knows that she has to be at the courthouse soon Katrina is just starting to pack up her bag when Louis walks in.
"Good, you're here. I need your help on a case." Louis tells Katrina.
"I can't, Louis. I'm in court this week." Katrina tells him.
"This is important!" Louis tells her, "It's about the ballet."
"I'm sorry, Louis, I'd love to help, but I really have to go." Katrina tells him, putting the last of her stuff into her bag, "There are plenty of associates here, ask one of them." Katrina says before heading out of her office, leaving Louis.
As Katrina walks out of her office Mike and Harvey, both wearing tuxedos walk past, in the middle of a conversation, Mike gives her a look, but doesn't say anything.
"I'm not even going to ask." Katrina mutters as they do, being pretty sure that it will be an explanation that she doesn't have the time to hear, even though she would like to.
It has been two days since Mike and Harvey returned from Atlantic City and ever since the two of them have been working to try and help Harvey's client retain control of his company that he bet in a poker game, something that they achieved after Harvey won another poker game.
As Katrina was too busy to help Louis he ended up working with Rachel and as that happened Mike and Rachel both discovered that Louis recorded Harvey and Katrina's conversation about Costal Motors, something which Mike informed Harvey off.
Having just won the poker game Harvey is in Jessica's office explaining everything that has happened to her.
"After that, he was on tilt, never recovered. Took me twenty minutes to bust him." Harvey explains.
"Are you out of your goddamn mind?" Jessica asks, looking frustrated as she has spent the last few days working on Harvey's fraud case, trying to help him.
"How fast did you want me to beat him?" Harvey asks with an innocent look.
"That's not what I meant, and you know it. You're out of control." Jessica informs him.
"I'm fine." Harvey says, looking down at his hands.
"Fine? Let me connect the dots for you. Donna's gone. You took Mike to a casino." Jessica says stressing her sons name as it is clear that she isn't happy about that, "And two days later you're gambling with a client's thirty-million-dollar company."
"I wasn't gambling; I was playing poker." Harvey corrects.
"Harvey, save it." Jessica says annoyed, putting her hand to her head.
"Save it? Gambling is what you do when you're playing against the house and hoping to get Blackjack. I'm playing against people, and against people, I win." Harvey reminds Jessica.
"In a back room card game, that might be true, but you didn't know anything about this guy." Jessica comments, "He could've been Phil Ivey for all you know. You're gonna beat Phil Ivey?" Jessica asks.
"No, I did know, and I was right." Harvey argues.
"This time, but you know what else gambling and what you did have in common? This." Jessica says putting her hand in the air to indicate a height, "You think I don't remember "life is this, and I like this" speech?" Jessica asks, signalling different heights, "When you get that from your job, it's one thing, but then you start chasing it." Jessica tells him.
"No, I wasn't chasing it." Harvey corrects, "We were going to lose this in court." Harvey explains to Jessica.
"Then lose!" Jessica tells him.
"No! I am not…." Harvey starts to say.
"You're not what? A human being?" Jessica asks, "We're people, and sometimes we lose."
"Sometimes?" Harvey asks, standing up, "Look, I don't know about you, but I feel like that's all we've been doing lately. Hardman's back, Donna's gone, Trevor attacked Mike and is now making him endure a trial in a few weeks just to make him suffer more, we're being sued. I mean, we're fighting for our goddamn lives here." Harvey explains, Jessica being able to hear the pain in Harvey's voice as he talks about what happened to Mike, "I just had a huge win, and I'm not in the mood to hear why it might have turned out as a loss." Harvey says, turning to leave.
"Harvey." Jessica says, stopping him and Jessica stands up too, and walks towards Harvey, "You're right. We are being sued, and our backs are against the wall, and I need to know that this bullshit is out of your system and that you can focus. Can you do that?" Jessica asks.
"I'm focused." Harvey assures her before leaving, knowing that once he has a conversation with Louis he will be able to focus.
