Chapter 30

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It has been a few hours since Mike found out that Louis knows about him and he has since found out that even more associates that he knew of are leaving, which made Mike realise one thing, and he also discovered that the one associate, other than Katrina, who is his friend, has been fired and because he cannot face Louis Mike couldn't even help him.

As he realises the significances of the associates who are leaving Mike is heading into Harvey's office, where he and Donna are so that he can tell them.

"Alison's not done." Mike says as he walks into Harvey's office.

"We know. We're working all the clients." Harvey informs his boyfriend.

"No, it's more than that. She's taking McKinney and Kline." Mike reveals.

"It's just two more associates." Harvey says with a shrug.

'No, it's more than that." Mike tells him and Harvey looks to Donna, who nods and Harvey throws down the file he is working at and turns around, looking frustrated, "I tell you that the rats are jumping ship, and you say it's fine, but Donna nods, and you're busting out the life jackets?" Mike asks surprised.

"You have a history of panicking." Harvey says, turning back to look at him.

"He's not panicking." Donna comments.

"Clark, Owens, McKinney, Kline, these aren't just fifth years, other than Katrina…."

"They're the best fifth years." Donna finishes.

"They're Louis's first class of associates." Mike reveals.

"He gave her a report card?" Harvey asks, sounding furious.

"Harvey, you do not know that." Donna says as Harvey heads to the door.

"Well, I'm gonna gooddamn find out." Harvey says before leaving.

"You haven't told him about Louis knowing yet, have you?" Donna asks Mike.

"Haven't had the chance." Mike admits, thinking that that might be a good thing right about now.


While Harvey, Donna, and Mike are in Harvey's office Katrina is knocking on the door to Jessica's office as she has been called up.

"You wanted to see me, Jessica?" Katrina asks.

"Yes, come in." Jessica says and Katrina walks in and closes the door behind her, "I take it you know what's going on with some of the fifth year associates?"

"I've heard rumours, and Donna filled me in on the details." Katrina explains, "What do you need me to do?"

"Find out who else is considering a jump, what can be done to stop them, and as a fellow fifth year I need you to make sure that don't even have the chance to consider taking any of their clients with them." Jessica requests.

"Will do." Katrina assures her.

"Thank you, Katrina." Jessica says.

"I'll let you know what I find out." Katrina says before leaving.


Having stormed out of his office Harvey has stormed to Louis where he walks in and sits down, without saying a single word until Louis spins around and sees him sitting there. Seeing Harvey, the first thing that comes to Louis mind is that Harvey knows that he knows about what happened to Mike.

"I never liked you, Louis. You're a vindictive, snivelling rat, but I never thought you'd betray your own firm." Harvey says angrily.

"I never betrayed this firm." Louis says angrily, realising that this doesn't have to do with Mike.

"What do you call helping Allison Holt poach our associates?" Harvey asks.

"I had nothing to do with that. I love this firm, Harvey." Louis says in his defence.

"You were a traitor when you voted for Hardman, and you're a traitor now." Harvey tells him.

"Like I told you before, I'm not the only one in this firm who voted for Hardman. And I voted to oust him once I knew." Louis reminds Harvey.

"Once you knew you had to save your own ass." Harvey points out.

"All right, you know what, Harvey, just get out. Get out." Louis says and Harvey stands up, "I did nothing wrong." He says and feeling completely furious Harvey lashes out and pushes everything off Louis's desk, "Jesus!" Louis says, sounding completely shocked.

"You bugged my office. You ran to Hardman about the CM lawsuit. You sold your soul for senior partnership, and once you got it, you created a drug policy with the sole purpose of firing me!" Harvey yells.

"I did it for Hardman!"

"Maybe Hardman wanted me dead, but you're the one who went out, got the gun, aimed it, and fired it at my head." Harvey says angrily pointing to himself.

"And it blew up in my face!" Louis yells.

"And what would have happened if it didn't?" Harvey asks.

"I was under orders." Louis explains.

"Were you also under orders when you ran to Hardman about Monica Eton?" Harvey asks.

"How'd you know it was me?" Louis asks confused.

"BECAUSE I SET IT UP!" Harvey yells, "Because I know you are! Are you still gonna tell me you're not helping Allison?" Harvey asks.

"Harvey, I swear to God I did not do this." Louis says, desperately wanting Harvey to believe him.

"Maybe not, but now that you've done what you've done, I will never trust you." Harvey says, stressing the never.

"Pearson Hardman is my life." Louis reveals.

"Well, here's what's gonna happen from now on. You and I, we're done. Don't drop by my office, don't ask Donna for information, and don't try to force Katrina or Mike to do work for you." Harvey instructs, "You're the guy that nobody wants but we can't get rid of."

"I'm a senior partner." Louis defends.

"So, I can't make you leave, but as far as I'm concerned, you don't even work here anymore." Harvey says, picking up the only thing he didn't knock over and tipping it over, before leaving the office.


For the next few hours, only stopping to go to his appointment, Mike has been working to try and figure out exactly what was going on with Trent and he has finally found the answer and so he is walking into Harvey's office.

"Well, that's it. I've talked to every client except Trent Devon." Harvey comments putting down his phone as Mike walks in.

"Well, I know why he's returning Allison's calls instead of yours." Mike reveals as he sits down across from Harvey.

"Because he thinks we're not focused." Harvey answers.

"That's not enough." Mike tells him, "Come on, you taught me to always ask…."

"What's in it for him?" Harvey finishes.

"'If we're looking to expand our reach, then Trent Devon's data platform provides the perfect symbiosis with our search algorithms." Mike quotes, "Page 23, the CEO of flash-start." Mike says, holding up the magazine, and handing it over to Harvey.

"Allison doesn't represent them." Harvey points out as he opens the magazine and reads.

"Google bought Meebo for one hundred million. Allison is trying to do the same thing with Flash-Start." Mike explains.

"Allison doesn't represent them." Harvey once more repeats.

"Pretend she does." Mike requests.

"Trent gets one hundred million, but his company gets swallowed up, and that's not what he wants." Harvey comments.

"Well, what if they let him run both companies?" Mike asks.

"That's too good to be true." Harvey comments.

"It's happen before. So, if that's true, all we need to do is figure out a way to beat that deal." Mike tells Harvey.

"We can't beat that deal." Harvey comments.

"Okay. So what do we do?" Mike asks and Harvey, who just gets up and walks out of the room, and Mike just gets up and follows, wondering what Harvey is thinking.


After leaving Harvey's office he and Mike went to Trent's and Harvey got him to agree to them look at the contracts, and so for an hour Mike has been sitting with Katrina going over the deal, and everything associated with it to try and find out what is too good about it.

"Okay, we need help." Katrina admits, as she rubs her eyes in frustration, "This is way over our heads." She says and as she does she looks at Mike who is rubbing his left wrist and making tight fists which he holds for a couple of seconds before letting go, making Katrina realises exactly what is going on, "You're in pain."

"It's nothing." Mike says, completely lying, "And I think you're right." He comments, trying to distract her, and as he does Katrina reaches into his bag and pulls out something which she throws at him.

"You need it and you know it." Katrina says as Mike catches his wrist brace.

"I wish I didn't." Mike admits, though he quiet reluctantly puts on the brace, "So, help, who should we go to?" He asks curious.

"You know the answer to that." Katrina tells him.

"Louis." Mike says with a sigh, "Do you want to go get him?"

"It's not my case, I'm just giving a helping hand" Katrina tells him, and as she does she notices Mike looking even more hesitant, "Why do you not want to go to Louis?" she asks curious.

"Long story." Mike admits, and Katrina just gives him a look, "He knows, about what… he did to me." Mike reveals, "I'll go get him." Mike says, leaving before Katrina can say another word.

A couple of minutes later Mike arrives at Louis's office where he finds Louis packing up his office.

"Louis." Mike says from the doorway, sounding shocked. .

"Mike." Louis says, turning to look at him, trying to think of what to say as now that he knows he doesn't want to say the wrong thing.

"Are you leaving?" Mike asks curious, "Did Mom fire you?" he asks surprised as last he knew his mother had no intention of firing Louis.

"No, she asked me to stay." Louis reveals, "Because she knows I would never sell out this firm."

"Then why are you packing up your office?" Mike asks confused.

"Do I really have to spell it out for you? You're Harvey's right hand man, and he hates me." Louis reveals, and while Mike did know that he didn't' think Louis would leave over that.

"Hasn't Harvey always hated you?" Mike asks.

"No, he hasn't. We were never Elmer and Bugs. We were, Ralph and Sam." Louis explains to Mike.

"Who?" Mike asks confused.

"Ralph Wolf and Sam Sheepdog." Louis explains.

"The cartoon characters?" Mike asks surprised.

"Yeah. They came to the meadows every day to work, friendly, but then when they punched in the time clock Ralph would try to steal the sheep, and Sam would stop him. I mean, it was brutal. And then they'd punch out again, friends, and that was me and Harvey." Louis explains, "Harvey's not punching out anymore, and I can't walk in here every day knowing that I'm gonna be working side by side next to somebody who despises me, I just, can't Mike, I can't." Louis reveals.

Looking at Louis Mike sees someone who desperately wants to stay, but doesn't want to stay when someone who matters to him doesn't want him there. Realising that he could know something to help Mike steps into the office and closes the door behind him as he doesn't want to tell Louis what he is going to say, but it will help him, but that doesn't mean he's going to let anyone else hear what he has to say.

"Donna talked to me this morning, so I know you know everything that was said at the trial, but there were things that I didn't say." Mike reveals, "Mom always hated…... him." Mike reveals, causing Louis to look at him with wide eyes as he realises what Mike is saying, "She thought he was a bad influence and that he was using me, but I would never listen, and because of that he talked me into doing a lot of things that weren't good ideas." Mike reveals, "Up until…. That night." Mike says, his voice breaking, "I always had a choice, and more times than I can count I learnt that actions have consequences." Mike reveals.

"Why are you telling me this?" Louis asks not being understanding why Mike would be telling him, of all people, this.

"Because I also learnt that actions can redeem you." Mike explains to Louis.

"No, it's too late for that. Die's already cast." Louis informs Mike.

"It's never too late." Mike reveals, "You don't have to stay, but I came here because Katrina and I are going through merger projections for Harvey, and we're way out of our depth." Mike reveals, "We could use your help, if you're willing, but I would understand if you said no." Mike explains and for a little while Louis and Mike are both quiet as Louis thinks about Mike's words.

"Okay, I'll help." Louis says and he and Mike head back to the conference room where the two of them and Katrina work together all night to find the answer they need.


The next morning Harvey is at work early, working on a way to stop Alison Holt when Jessica walks in.

"Morning." Harvey greats, "Thought I'd get in early and destroy Allison Holt."

"How's that going?" Jessica asks curious.

"It's a work in progress." Harvey reveals

"Mm-hmm." Jessica says as she puts a letter on Harvey's desk, "Louis's letter of resignation. Found it on my desk this morning."

"Good." Harvey responds.

"No. Not good, Harvey." Jessica informs him.

"We can agree to disagree." Harvey says.

"We're not agreeing on anything. You pushed Louis out the door. It was not your call to make."

"Louis may or may not have helped Allison, but he has betrayed, you, me, and this entire firm." Harvey reminds her, "We're better off."

"If you really believe that, then something's got you off your game." Jessica comments.

"Jessica, I'm not of my…." Harvey starts to say.

"No. not you. Me." Jessica says as she walks over and leans against Harvey's desk.

"No, not you, me. Your job is to help me." Jessica reminds Harvey, "And when I say you are off your game, you say, "how do I get it back?" I went to Louis to get him back on board, and you made an end run around me. When does it stop?" Jessica asks.

"We can't let Trent go with Allison, he's gonna get…. Screwed." Mike says, walking into Harvey's office, and as he speaks Jessica turns around and right away both she and Harvey notice what is on Mike's arm.

"You're wearing your brace." Jessica says concerned, as she stands up.

"It's nothing." Mike assures his mother.

"Are you sure?" Jessica asks.

"Yeah, I am." Mike says before Jessica heads out of the office.

"You hate wearing your brace." Harvey says, once Jessica leaves the room, his voice full of concern.

"I'm fine, Harvey." Mike assures him.

"No, you're not. You would only be wearing that if you were either in a lot of pain, or experiencing loss of movement or strength." Harvey says, walking over to him, "How bad?" he asks worried as Mike has made no secret of how much he hates his brace.

"A lot of pain last night." Mike explains, "A little pain and weakness now, but it's nothing to worry about."

"Are you sure about that?" Harvey asks concerned.

"Ask me again in a few hours." Mike responds, "it's a bad deal." Mike reveals, holding up the files that he is holding.

"What, are you reading between the lines?" Harvey asks curious, realising that Mike doesn't want to talk about his arm anymore, "'Cause I couldn't find anything in the contract."

"Because the problem's not in the contract." Mike informs Harvey, "You said it yourself. The deal's too good to be true. The financials don't support it." Mike explains.

"What, did you and Katrina get MBA's overnight?" Harvey asks curious.

"No." Mike answers, and the way he does makes Harvey realises something.

"You went to Louis?" Harvey asks, both shocked and angry.

"We worked all night, he didn't betray us, Harvey. He found the problem. They never wanted anything to do with Trent's company." Mike explains, "After the deal, they're just gonna sell it for spare parts."

"That won't get them what they paid for it." Harvey points out.

"But it'll get them what they wanted." Mike reveals.

"Trent."

"Exactly." Mike confirms.

"Louis figured this out?" Harvey asks, sounding a little surprised.

"Trent's contact has the same problem as Louis's. He's got a non-compete. They couldn't get him to run the company unless they brought his." Mike explains to his boyfriend.

"Now Louis wants back in." Harvey realises.

"No, he doesn't." Mike informs Harvey, "This is just his way of saying he's sorry." Mike reveals.

"You sure about that?" Harvey asks.

"Yeah, I am." Mike confirms and Harvey just gives a nod as he looks at what Louis found.


For the rest of the day Harvey deals with Allison, gets Trent back as a client and even manages to sign another, before heading back to the firm, there being something he wants to talk to Jessica about.

While Harvey is walking into Jessica's office, Mike is meeting Jimmy at a bar so that he can get Jimmy to give Harold, the associate that Louis fired, resume to Allison Holt.

"Not only do you retain one client, you landed another. I knew there was a reason why I kept you around." Jessica comments as Harvey walks into her office.

"And a reason Allison Holt's trying to steal me away." Harvey comments.

"Congratulations. I'm sure you'll be very happy. What could possibly go wrong?" Jessica asks.

"Congratulations, that's what I said to Mike." Harvey reveals.

"Him too? She's after everyone." Jessica says, trying to keep the anger out of her voice.

"Don't worry, he's staying." Harvey reveals, knowing that that is what Jessica would be concerned about.

"Never considered that he'd leave." Jessica says as Harvey sits down across from Jessica.

"I turned her down." Harvey reveals, and as he does Jessica stops typing and looks up at Harvey.

"But?"

"I want my name on the door." Harvey reveals, "I don't want to end around you anymore. I want to discuss things with you, like an equal."

"It's a little late for that, don't you think?" Jessica asks.

"How long are we gonna walk by his name on the wall, huh? They're coming after us, and they're not gonna stop until we send them a message that we are whole." Harvey explains to Jessica.

"I'm not gonna just slap someone else's name up there, Harvey." Jessica reveals and Harvey doesn't like the sound of that.

"Someone?" Harvey asks, his voice hurt.

"I told you once. You don't make decisions when you're reeling from a loss, and your response was, "let's quit today." Jessica reminds him.

"Not quit, fight." Harvey corrects.

"Without any thought for the consequences." Jessica says.

"With my gut, which serves me well." Harvey argues.

"As a closer, not a leader." Jessica explains.

"Jessica…." Harvey starts to say.

"Watson, Klymen, Gallo, Goldberg, Specter." Jessica says.

"The first five senior partners you named." Harvey realises.

"The first five major moves I made." Jessica corrects, "All success stories." Jessica tells him.

"And you don't think putting my name up there will be a success." Harvey comments, "Even though I succeed at everything I've ever done." Harvey tells his mentor, trying to keep the hurt out of voice.

"What was Michael Jordan's record on the bulls?" Jessica asks.

"664 wins, 285 losses." Harvey answers, without hesitation.

"More than twice as many wins than losses." Jessica says, "Do you know what his record was in the front office?" Jessica asks curious.

"No."

"185 to 291 almost twice as many losses as wins." Jessica reveals, "Do you know how I know that?" Jessica asks.

"Because you knew one day I'd come in here asking for this." Harvey realises.

"Because I look at the future like an adult." Jessica corrects

"Are you saying it's a no?" Harvey ask, doing his best not to be disappointed.

"I'm saying I'm not rushing this decision and that there are times where your judgement is wrong." Jessica informs Harvey.


After leaving Jessica's office Harvey heads straight to Louis's office where he rips up Louis's resignation letter and then leaves, without a word.

After leaving the firm Harvey realises that he doesn't really feel like going home, instead he goes to the one place he feels like being. Not long after he left the firm Harvey is knocking on the door to Mike's apartment.

"Hey." Mike greats, opening the door a few seconds after Harvey knocked.

"Hey." Harvey responds as Mike lets him into the apartment, as he does Harvey greats Mike with a kiss, doing what he's been wanting to do for days, but hasn't been able to.

"You okay?" Mike asks concerned, as he and Harvey break apart and Harvey closes the door behind them.

"I'm fine, just tired." Harvey lies, feeling a little bad about doing so but considering what is bothering him involves Mike's Mom telling him will just put Mike in the middle, which is something which he really doesn't want to do.

"I'm really happy to see you Harvey, but if you're so tried why didn't you just go home?" Mike asks curious.

"I wanted to see you more." Harvey reveals, telling the complete truth.

"Wow." Mike says amazed, before kissing Harvey once more, as those words are words he never though he'd hear from Harvey.

"You're still wearing your brace." Harvey realises as they break apart.

"Yeah, I had a call with my doctor a little while ago." Mike reveals, "She wants me to wear the brace all the time, other when I'm sleeping or showering, for the next week, and then a week from Saturday she's going to run a few tests and see where to go from there." Mike explains.

"Does she think it's going to be a permanent problem?" Harvey asks concerned.

"She's not sure, that's why she wants to see what happens." Mike says, as he tries, and fails to keep in a yawn, "I guess we could both use an early night." Mike realises.

"Yeah, we definitely could." Harvey realises.

"You staying here?" Mike asks curious.

"That an offer?" Harvey asks with a smirk.

"Definitely." Mike says returning Harvey's smirk and they both head towards Mike's bedroom.


The following morning both Mike and Harvey wake up early and Mike has a shower first while Harvey prepares and eats breakfast, and while Harvey showers Mike eats. Harvey has been in the shower for a little while when Mike's phone starts to ring, checking the caller ID Mike sees that it is his mother.

"Hey, Mom." Mike answers.

"Hey." Jessica responds, "I didn't wake you, did I? because I really shouldn't have."

"You didn't." Mike assures her, "Is something wrong?" Mike asks concerned.

"No." Jessica answers, "I was just thinking that we haven't spent much time together lately, and I have a light day today, so I was wondering if you wanted to go to lunch today." Jessica says to her son.

"Okay, are all your suits…." Harvey starts to say, walking into the room, wearing the clothes he borrowed from Mike to sleep in.

"Sure Mom, lunch sounds great." Mike says, quickly, hoping that his mother didn't hear Harvey, who immediately freezes upon hearing that, "But, what if I have a lot work to do?" he asks curious.

"Well as your boss I'm order you to take your lunch hour off." Jessica tells her son, having heard something, but she couldn't make out the voice, so she plans to talk to her son at lunch.

"Okay, Mom." Mike says, a little amused as Harvey walks over.

"Good, come to my office at lunch." Jessica tells her son.

"Will do." Mike responds, "I better get going. I'll see you at the firm."

"See you then." Mike responds before hanging up, "That was close." He says to Harvey.

"Really was." Harvey confirms, "Is there a problem?" he asks curious.

"Nah, Mom just wants us to have lunch because we haven't seen each other much lately." Mike explains.

"Seems to be a recurring problem." Harvey realises.

"Yeah." Mike confirms, "So, what what's wrong with my suits now?"

"They're cheap, and seriously they've got no style to them." Harvey reveals, "So, I'm gonna have to go back to my condo to change."

"My suits aren't so bad." Mike says, rolling his eyes, "But before you go, there's something you need to know."

"Okay." Harvey says, looking interested.

"Wednesday morning Donna dragged me into your office to tell me that after he heard Wolf say…. His name, that day, Louis looked up Wolf's cases to find out what he was charged with and earlier this week, Louis got the trial transcripts." Mike reveals, realising what it means Harvey can feel his anger grow, but he doesn't say anything because he knows how hard it would be for Mike to say this, "He knows everything."

"Damn it." Harvey says angrily, "I'm sorry, Mike. I know you didn't want anyone to know."

"I really didn't, and I really wish that he didn't know." Mike admits, it being clear that he means that, "But Donna's sure that he won't tell anyone and she scared him into not mentioning it to me."

"But you'd still prefer for him not to know." Harvey realises, knowing that for a fact.

"I rather that no one knew the details." Mike admits and Harvey walks over, "I didn't react well when Donna told me Louis knew." Mike admits and having no idea what to say, because he knows words won't help Mike right now Harvey takes the last few steps that separate them and just wraps his arms around his boyfriend, holding him tight.


Having spent a while holding Mike in his kitchen before needing to go to his condo to change, Harvey isn't at all surprised when he arrives at work extremely late, but instead of heading straight to his office, he heads to Louis's.

"Harvey." Louis says surprised when Harvey walks in and closes the door behind him.

"I know you know about Trevor Evans, and what he did to Mike." Harvey tells Louis.

"I won't say anything, I promise." Louis assures him, not at all surprised that Harvey has come to him.

"You better not." Harvey says, the threat perfectly clear in his voice, "I purposely didn't put myself alone in a room with Evans because of what I'd do, because it would make things worse for Mike, but if I find out you told anyone, or if you mention what happened to Mike without him bringing it up first I won't show the same restraint." Harvey says before walking out of Louis's office, both of them being perfectly sure that Harvey meant every word of his threat.


Hours later Mike and Jessica are sitting at a restaurant together, having just ordered food.

"So, you're wearing your brace again." Jessica realises, noticing that.

"Yeah, I've been having some pain, and weakness, and lack of movement the last few days." Mike reveals to his mother.

"Have you been to your doctor?" Jessica asks concerned.

"I talked to her last night. She wants me to wear the brace for the next week and then she'll run some more tests and decide where to go from there." Mike explains.

"Let me know what happens." Jessica requests.

"Of course." Mike responds, taking a drink.

"Did I hear someone at your place when I called this morning?" Jessica asks curious, "I thought I heard a voice."

"No." Mike lies, "I was watching TV though." Mike explains, hoping that it is a convincing lie.

"Okay." Jessica responds, and honestly Mike is incredible grateful that his mother believed him as he was expecting her not to, "So, I also heard that you were offered a job."

"Yeah, I was." Mike confirms, "But don't worry, Mom. I'm a Pearson I have no intention of leaving the firm." He assures her.

"Good." Jessica says with a smile.

"How are you doing?" Mike asks concerned, "I know the last few days have been hard."

"Yeah, they have." Jessica confirms as their food is brought and together Mike and Jessica enjoy their lunch together while Mike does his best not to mention Harvey too much, though the truth is he would love to tell his mother all about how happy being with Harvey makes him, but he knows that it's not the time, so instead they talk about basically everything else as mother and son enjoy their lunch with each other.