Chapter 39
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
AN1: Here you are, second of my double update. PLEASE, PLEASE, LEAVE A COMMENT.
Not even a day has passed since Harvey got Ava to take the deal that Cameron was offering and while having lunch with her, during which she was offering him a job, Cameron had Ava arrested for murder.
While the bribery change was something Harvey could handle on his own he knows that fighting a murder change isn't something he can do alone, and while he can't go to the person he would really like to go to he can go to the only other person he can go to, Katrina.
Arriving at Katrina's office Harvey finds her working at her computer so he walks in and closes the door behind him.
"Katrina." Harvey says, causing her to look up in surprise.
"Harvey." Katrina says, sounding surprised, "Did you want something?"
"Yes." Harvey answers and Katrina just gives him a look, "Your help." He reveals,
"If this is about Mike then you're on your own, you hurt him, Harvey, you have to figure out how to make it up to him on your own." Katrina informs him, a small amount of anger clear in her voice, something which doesn't surprise Harvey one bit.
"This isn't about Mike." Harvey reveals, "Ava Hessignton has been charged with Murder. I need an associate." He reveals.
"No." Katrina answers without hesitation.
"Katrina, look, I know you hate me right now because of what happened between me and Mike, and I deserve that, but I'm still asking you to put your personally feeling aside and work with me on this because you're the only associate who's good enough to work on this." Harvey explains, "Ava needs the best, and this is important to Darby. So, can you put aside your personal feelings and work on this with me?" Harvey asks curious and for a moment Katrina thinks about that.
"I have one condition." Katrina says after a couple of minutes.
"What is it?" Harvey asks.
"You don't ask me about Mike. You don't ask how he's doing, or anything about him." Katrina informs Harvey, "You agree to that and I'll work with you."
"Okay." Harvey says with a nod, it being hard for him to do so as he desperately wants to ask how Mike is, "I agree to that." He reveals.
"Good." Katrina says, sounding glad, "What do you need me to do?"
"Figure out a way to get her out on bail." Harvey instructs.
"On it." Katrina responds and Harvey nods and heads out of Katrina's office.
It has been a little while since Katrina agreed to work with Harvey, and Harvey is walking the halls with Jessica who he has just filled in on what is going on.
"Cameron Dennis, son of a bitch." Jessica says, sounding annoyed, "He played us." She realises.
"He slid that guilty plea right by, I should have seen it coming." Harvey says.
"We should have seen it coming." Jessica corrects, "I'm the one that convinced you to take that deal." Jessica comments.
"What's done is done." Harvey says.
"Question is, what is being done?" Jessica asks curious.
"I'm working on getting Ava off these charges, and I've got Katrina working on getting her out on bail." Harvey explains.
"You're working with Katrina?" Jessica asks surprised, "I thought she was pissed at you." Jessica comments and Harvey gives her a look, "Okay, at both of us."
"She is." Harvey assures Jessica, "But we came to an understanding." He reveals.
"You did?" Jessica asks, sounding a little surprised about that.
"Yep." Harvey says before walking into his office where Katrina is waiting.
"Harvey, Jessica." Katrina greats, it being clear that she isn't happy with either of them, "For the record I'm pissed at hell with the both of you, but I'm a professional, so I'll do my job." Katrina reveals, "But as I told Harvey, I'm not going to talk about Mike, to either of you." She reveals.
"I figured that was coming." Jessica admits, as while things may be slightly better between her and Mike they are still bad, "So, let's not talk about Mike, let's talk about Ava. Where are we on the prep for Ava's bail hearing?" Jessica asks curious.
"Well, I was thinking, since Cameron used the settlement to double-cross us, why don't we use the bail hearing to double cross him." Katrina says and as both Harvey and Jessica give her interested looks Katrina explains her idea.
Hours after Harvey, Jessica and Katrina talked in Harvey's office about Ava's bail hearing Donna has once again dragged Mike to his therapist appointment, and after the appointment she has taken him to dinner.
"You've been quiet since we left Doctor Jenkins office." Donna comments, once both she and Mike have ordered, "Do you want to talk about it?" she asks curious.
"I've spent the last hour talking." Mike responds.
"Doesn't mean there isn't more that you want to say." Donna tells her friend, "I'm here Mike, to talk or just sit in silence if you want." She informs him.
For a little while Mike is silent, not sure what to say, or even if he wants to say anything, but then he finally says,
"I don't know."
"You don't know what?" Donna asks curious.
"Anything." Mike answers, "I don't know what I'm going to do next, I don't know what I should do next." Mike reveals, stressing the should.
"Come back to the firm." Donna suggests.
"I can't." Mike says, without hesitation.
"I figured you were going to say that." Donna reveals, "Look Mike, no one can tell you what you should do, only you know the answer to that." She says, "But what I can tell you is that you've got friends, and we'll support you no matter what you choose to do, but I think you should take some time, really figure out what you truly want." Donna reveals, honestly she expects that Mike will eventually come back to the firm, but she is also pretty sure that he won't until he and Harvey have a real talk.
"Thanks Donna." Mike says gratefully and the two of them drift into silence as they wait for their food and once it arrives the two of them enjoy their meal together.
The next day a visitor has arrived at Pearson Darby, a visitor by the name of Stephan Huntley who happens to be Edward Darby's number two, and his fixer. While he has informed Harvey that he is at the firm to help Harvey isn't sure whether to believe it or not.
It has been a little while since Harvey meet Stephen and as he walks past Jessica's office she is walking out.
"So, have you met Stephen yet?" Jessica asks curious.
"I did." Harvey confirms.
"What'd you think?" Jessica asks curious.
"Turns out we have some things in common." Harvey reveals.
"Turn out he didn't show up empty-handed." Jessica says as she hands Harvey a check.
"That's half a million dollars." Harvey says surprised.
"Mmhmm." Jessica confirms, "First dividend check of the merger." Jessica explains.
"That was my buy-in amount." Harvey says, sounding surprised.
"Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea after all." Jessica comments.
"Wait as second. What was your check for?" Harvey asks, being very curious about that answer.
"More than that." Jessica answers.
"One point two?" Harvey asks.
"I'm not telling." Jessica informs him.
"One point five?" Harvey asks surprised and Jessica gives him a look which says he's right, "You're three times more valuable than me?"
"Oh, I don't think that. The check things that." Jessica corrects.
"Does the check think that the only thing that guy's here for is cultural integration?" Harvey asks curious.
"The check wasn't born yesterday." Jessica comments, "He is to Darby what you are to me, and I wouldn't send you to do that."
"No, you wouldn't" Harvey confirms.
"So what'd you tell him?" Jessica asks curious.
"I told him that as long as he steers clear of me, he'll be fine." Harvey reveals.
"You told him wrong. I want you to find out what the hell that guy's up to." Jessica says before walking away.
"She's right, you know." Donna says from her desk, causing Harvey to stop and look at her, "Cultural integration's scheduled for a week. Stephen Huntley booked a room at the Peninsula for a month." Donna reveals and Harvey walks over to her.
"Is it a room or a suite? It's important." Harvey reveals.
"A suite."
"Good work." Harvey tells her.
"It's what I do."
"There's only one problem." Harvey says, "Jessica just to me to look into him one second ago." Harvey comments.
"I anticipated her needs." Donna lies.
"No, you didn't." Harvey says.
"I anticipated your needs?" Donna asks, sounding uncertain.
"You anticipated your needs. And by "your needs" I mean…." Harvey starts to say in a teasing tone of voice.
"Okay, my needs aren't the topic of this conversation." Donna says, cutting of Harvey before he can say what he was going to say.
"All I'm saying is you went to the trouble of specifically finding out he booked a suite." Harvey reveals as he turns towards his office.
"W…." Donna starts to say.
"Save it." Harvey says as he walks away.
It has been several hours since Harvey talked about Stephen with both Donna and Jessica and since then he has learnt that Stephen is in New York to help him take the firm from Jessica.
It's early evening and Harvey and Katrina are both sitting in Ava's living room bringing her up to speed on the newest developments.
"I don't believe it." Ava says shocked.
"It's a setback, but it's going away." Harvey assures her.
"And what exactly does that mean?" Ava asks.
"I looked into three of the witnesses, and all three were affiliated with a guerrilla faction within the last five years." Katrina explains. "We're gonna paint the entire incident as a firefight between the government and armed rebels." She explains.
"Which, as you pointed out, is exactly how it was reported in the first place." Harvey explains.
"They're still placing the Colonel at these murders." Ava objects.
"I don't think you understand. This is what I found in two hours. In another day…." Katrina starts to say.
"I understand perfectly." Ava says, "You want to tear these people down in court. Well, I'm suggesting they never get there." She reveals, "We found out how to get them, and we pay them off." Ava reveals to the surprise of both Harvey and Katrina.
"Bribery is what got you into this situation. Now you think that's your way out?" Harvey asks, sounding slightly disapproving.
"That's what you said when I suggested that with Nick, and I listened to you." Ava points out.
"And I was able to neutralize him without a payoff." Harvey reminds her.
"You were able to get Cameron Dennis to offer me a deal that's now being used against me." Ave argues, "And even if you can impugn these five witnesses, your way still goes to a verdict. Mine doesn't."
"It doesn't if we don't get caught." Katrina says, really not liking this idea.
"Then don't get caught." Ava says simply.
"We're not going to get caught, because we're not doing this." Harvey says, standing up and putting an end to this particular conversation.
"You told me that you'd do anything to win. Remember that? You'll steal the rival pitcher's girlfriend the night before the big game. This is the night before the big game." Ava says and honestly if she wasn't as pissed at Harvey as she is Katrina would be asking him for that story later, and with the fact that they're basically friends now, or they were, he would have told her, but because she is pissed she doesn't intend to
"Ms. Hessington, what you're proposing is a crime." Katrina points out, trying to get Ava to see sense.
"A crime to get me out of a crime I didn't commit." Ava points out, "You said it doesn't matter whether you believe me or not." Ava says.
"It doesn't." Harvey says as Katrina stands up as well.
"But it does, because if you thought I was innocent, you'd do this." Ava tells him.
"I won't." Harvey says as he and Katrina head to the door.
"Then you're fired." Ava says, causing Harvey to turn around in surprise, "And I'll find someone who will." She says as both Harvey and Katrina head out the room, Harvey already planning what they have to do next.
Early the following morning Katrina is working on her own work when Harvey walks in.
"That doesn't look like Ava's defence." Harvey comments, though he can't even see what she is working on he knows Katrina, he knows that she wouldn't be working on Ava's case.
"That's because it's not." Katrina answers.
"Why the hell aren't you working on Ava's defence?" Harvey asks.
"I know getting fired is new to you, but normally when someone gets fired they stop working the case." Katrina explains to Harvey.
"This isn't normal, and getting fired is no reason not to work on her defence." Harvey reveals, turning and leaving the room, as he does Katrina get up and follows Harvey.
"Look, Harvey, I know we're not on the greatest terms right now, and I would rather we didn't disagree, but being fired is a really good reason." Katrina informs him.
"Wrong. Odds are Cameron's expecting her to do this, and we get a call tomorrow to get her out of a new bribery charge." Harvey explains.
"And then whatever lawyer she replaces us with can't stand up to Cameron in court." Katrina reveals, "Okay, I'm with you."
"He's not going to stop working on this, so neither can we." Harvey informs Katrina.
"We won't." Katrina confirms, and she nods and heads to her office, while she does Harvey continues walking and a couple of minutes later she runs into Jessica who walking out of the conference room.
"Harvey, is there something you'd like to tell me about Ava?" Jessica asks curious.
"Yeah, some clients can be a pain in the ass." Harvey reveals.
"Some ex-clients too." Jessica comments.
"Temporary situation." Harvey reveals.
"Good, good. 'Cause I just wanted to make sure you were still all over it." Jessica reveals.
"Did you want to make sure the sun was still shining and the sky was still blue?" Harvey asks.
"I'd be humble after I got fired, if I ever got fired." Jessica says with a teasing smile before heading back into the conference room.
It has been a couple of hours since Harvey and Katrina talked about Ava and ever since then Katrina has been working on a way to deal with the witnesses.
Even though she is pretty sure that Mike could have found the way a hell of a lot quicker Katrina has figured a way to deal with the witnesses and because of that Katrina has gone in search of Harvey who is once more walking the halls of Pearson Darby.
"We don't need to bribe the witnesses. We need them to sue us, right." Katrina inform Harvey, "The alien tort statute allows foreign nationals to bring civil claims in U.S. court." Katrina explains.
"And then we settle." Harvey realises.
"It might be a payoff, but it's a legal payoff." Katrina explains.
"And the witnesses aren't Americas, so Cameron can't subpoena them." Harvey realises.
"Exactly." Katrina confirms.
"Good, but they need a legitimate claim, or we could be on the hook for bribery ourselves. What are they suing us for?"
"Harvey, they witnessed multiple murders." Katrina points out.
"That would be emotionally distressing." Harvey realises.
"Might even suffer from P.T.S..D" Katrina adds.
"Which would prevent them from getting on the plane and testifying in our case." Harvey realises, "Get it going." He tells her and Katrina nods, "You got a lawyer to take the other side?" he asks curious.
"I have someone in mind, but we need a way to get those witnesses to go for it." Katrina reveals.
"No, right now our problem isn't getting them to go for it. It's' getting to Ava before she gets someone to bribe them." Harvey explains.
"I'll get on it." Katrina says before walking away, and as she does Harvey notices Stephan walking Ava to the elevators and right away he realises what he is doing, and she has to stop him.
It has been a couple of hours since Katrina told Harvey her idea and as she needs someone to file the lawsuits she has gone to the one person she can ask Mike.
Letting herself into Mike's place, because she is more than sure that he won't answer if she knocks, Katrina walks in and sees her friend sitting on the couch, in the same place he has been in every time she has visited.
"Katrina, shouldn't you be at work?" Mike asks, when he sees his friend.
"I need your help." Katrina reveals, "Are you sober enough to do that?" she asks curious, as it wouldn't surprise her if he wasn't.
"Depends on what you need." Mike admits and Katrina walks over and sits down on the seat next to him.
"I'm working on a case, and we need witnesses to sue us, under the alien tort statute, for emotional distress so that our client doesn't bribe them." Katrina explains to Mike.
"Okay." Mike says with a nod, being able to follow that, even with his slightly hazy mind, "What do you need me to do?"
"be the lawyer on the other side, the one suing us." Katrina explains to her best friend.
"A Pearson suing Pearson Darby, not a good idea." Mike tells his friend, his brain being clear enough to know that, "It will look like collusion, and you'll definitely be on the hook for bribery yourself." He explains.
"I didn't think about that." Katrina admits, as she has been too busy focusing on getting it done that she didn't think of the consequences of the actions, "Which means I need to figure out someone else."
"I have an idea." Mike reveals, not even realising how natural it feels to be working with Katrina once more, "I have someone who owes me a favour that would be perfect to take this." Mike says, standing up, "Give me five minutes to get changed." He says, heading to his room.
"You going to shave?" Katrina asks curious as Mike heads to his room.
"Nope." Mike responds and honestly as far as Katrina is concerned the fact that Mike is willing getting changed, and help her, both without a fight is a huge deal, and it's also the first sign since Mike quit that gives her some hope that he's going to be okay.
While Katrina is with Mike, Harvey, who has learnt that Stephen convinced Ava not to bribe the witnesses, and also convinced her to keep him as her lawyer, is walking into Jessica's office.
"You look happy." Jessica says as Harvey walks in.
"Dodged a bullet." Harvey responds.
"You got Ava back." Jessica realises.
"Stephen got Ava back." Harvey corrects, "Turns out he's here to help."
"And you believe that?" Jessica asks curious.
"He got Ava back, Katrina's on her way over there as we speak."
"Katrina?" Jessica asks surprised.
"She made the call, why not let her score the touchdown." Harvey explains.
"And you must have someplace else to be." Jessica realises, "Are you moving on?" she asks curious.
"I could never move on from Mike, even if wanted to, and I don't want to." Harvey reveals, and the way he speaks Jessica realises that he is completely serious, which is a huge deal, "I have to go repay a debt." Harvey explains before leaving.
After Harvey leaves Jessica drops her pen as she can't help but think about what Harvey said, truthfully everything he's said recently, his relationship with Mike is clearly important to him, and from what she's seen it's important to Mike and yet it's over, and some of the blame lies with her.
Honestly if someone were to have told her a month ago that Harvey Specter was in a relationship with her son she would be worried, and not think it is a good idea, but now, now Jessica hopes that they figure out a way to make things work, as it's clearly what they both want, and what's best for them.
A couple of hours after Katrina talked to Mike she is walking into Harvey's office, where Harvey is having a drink having already had his little competition with Stephen.
"Here it is. Fully executed settlement. Signed, sealed, delivered." Katrina reveals, putting the settlement down on Harvey's desk.
"Who'd you get to represent the other side?" Harvey asks curious.
"Harold Gunderson." Katrina explains.
"Louis' whipping boy?" Harvey asks surprised.
"Yeah, he works for Allison Holt now. Which may actually be kind of perfect, because everyone knows she would never do anything to help us." Katrina admits.
"How'd you get him to agree?" Harvey asks curious.
"Long story." Katrina answers.
"You know…" Harvey says, sounding uncertain, as he's not sure whether he should say what he's going to say, but because he's never been one to shy away he decides to anyway, "I thought you were going to go to Mike." He comments.
"I did." Katrina admits, "But as he pointed out it wouldn't look good to have a Pearson sue Pearson Darby." She reveals, "Mike got Harold the job with Allison Holt so he owed Mike, and that's how he him to agree." Katrina explains.
"Good." Harvey says with a nod, not sure how he feels about Mike helping on the case, "How's Mike…." Harvey starts to ask.
"No, you don't get to ask me that." Katrina reveals, "And not only because you won't like my answer." She says before leaving Harvey's office.
After Katrina leaves Harvey just continues to drink his drink, his mind on Mike, and just for a second Harvey can allow himself to imagine that Mike is with him, and that they're okay, which is what he wants more than anything.
After leaving Harvey's office Katrina grabs her stuff and heads out. Walking out of the building Katrina sees Donna and as she walks towards her she hears Donna say,
"I'm in trouble."
"The good kind of trouble, or bad trouble?" Katrina asks curious as she walks over to her friend.
"Both." Donna answers with an uncertain look as truthfully she doesn't know for sure.
"Want to get a drink and tell me about it?" Katrina asks curious, as honestly she could really use one.
"I think I'm going to need at least two to do that." Donna admits.
"Well then, first three rounds are on me." Katrina offers.
"Sounds good." Donna says and the two of them leave together, and before long they have both had a few drinks and are talking all about Stephen Huntley and his interest in Donna.
The following morning it has become clear that Ava may lose her company to a takeover and because of that Harvey, Katrina and Louis, who is handling the financials for Hessington Oil are meeting in the conference room, Katrina trying to hide the fact that she is hang over thanks to her late night with Donna.
"Katrina, I didn't expect you." Louis says, surprised as he was pretty sure that, considering everything Katrina would want to be as far away from Harvey as possible.
"I'm working for you and Harvey, where else would I be?" Katrina asks.
"After what he did to Mike would have thought you would want to be as far away from Harvey as possible." Louis admits, as that's what he assumed considering how close Katrina and Mike are.
"You told him about me and Mike?" Harvey asks Katrina, sounding furious.
"No." Katrina quickly says.
"Mike told me." Louis explains.
"You've seen Mike?" Harvey asks surprised, turning to look directly at Louis, thinking that he may finally get some answers about how Mike is doing.
"Yes, I went to see him and I found him a pretty bad shape, and from what he said you're partly to blame for that." Louis says to Harvey, looking annoyed.
"You don't know anything Louis." Harvey says angrily, "And what do you mean bad shape?" he asks concerned.
"I know enough to know that you broke the trust of someone who struggled to give it to you, and that because of that Mike's quiet the job he was born to do and has taken up day drinking while eating crap food." Louis reveals, it being clear that he is actually angry at that, he's actually concerned.
"Okay, okay, enough." Katrina says as Harvey looks like he has been slapped in the face, "How about we get to business instead of talking about Mike." She suggests, thinking that it would be best for everyone.
"Sounds good, because the first order of business is discussing what to do following Ava's statement." Louis comments.
"She's not making a statement." Harvey says, though his mind is completely on Mike.
"Yes, she is." Louis argues.
"That might be a good idea normally, but with the way he's been lately Cameron is going to be all over it." Katrina reveals.
"Cameron Dennis isn't the problem right now; the problem is that Ava Hessignton isn't a credible CEO." Louis argues.
"The problem is she's on trial for murder." Harvey points out.
"And public perception says that she's as guilty as Jean Valjean with a loaf of bread in his pants. We're facing a vote for control of her company in two days." Louis argues.
"Talking under threat makes her look desperate." Katrina argues, but then she realises something, "But it could also make her look either guilty or incompetent."
"You going to pick a side?" Harvey asks Katrina.
"I'm not on either side. I'm trying to figure out a way for Ava to keep her company while not endangering her murder defence, which is the point of this meeting." Katrina argues.
"She can't talk to the press." Harvey says, "And that's not open for discussion. She's not saying a word." He reveals.
"I'm afraid it's too late." Louis admits.
"What did you do?" Harvey asks, anger back in his voice.
"She's on her way to an interview right now." Louis reveals, "It'll run in the journal and then it will blow Gianoplous and his bullshit takeover attempt out of the water." He says and Harvey and Katrina get up and head out of the conference room.
It has been a couple of hours since Harvey, Louis and Katrina talked about the takeover attempt and since then Harvey and Katrina managed to put a stop to the interview before it could happen and Harvey had lunch with Ava to explain to her what is going to happen.
Walking into the kitchen to get some coffee Katrina finds Donna getting her own coffee.
"New dress?" Katrina asks curious.
"What can I say? It deserved me." Donna answers with a smirk.
"Really? And this would have nothing to do with a certain British Senior partner who asked you out yesterday?" Katrina asks curious.
"Since when does a girl need a guy to look good?" Donna asks, her voice being slightly insulted.
"Never." Katrina answers, walking over to the table.
"Sugar me." Donna requests.
"Um, before anyone sugars anyone, if you two are dating, you need to know that we have a very strict policy in favour of that." Steven says from the door, causing Katrina and Donna to both roll their eyes.
"And we have a very strict policy to keep our sugar to ourselves." Katrina says, realising what Stephen is doing, as he walks over to her.
"Oh, that's a pity. I'm partial to a little sweetness in the morning." Stephen comments.
"Well, then I would recommend the bakery of 52nd" Katrina comments.
"You care to join me? I hate to deny you the pleasure of my company." Stephen informs Katrina.
"I think I can manage without it." Katrina says, meaning that.
"Since you're from a different country, I'll translate." Donna says, "She finds you a bit douchey love." Donna says, putting on a British accent.
"My loss. Ladies." Stephen says before leaving.
"Okay, seriously did he really go with go after a girl's friend to make the girl he likes jealous?" Katrina asks amused once Stephen has left.
"Apparently." Donna tells him, "Now you get why I said no."
"Actually now I don't get why you did." Katrina admits, "Donna, he's charming and hot, and witty and British, you should give him a chance."
"Dating someone you work with isn't a good idea." Donna points out, "Just look at what happened between Harvey and Mike."
"That's different, and you know it." Katrina argues, "He's only for six weeks, and he's based out of London, that's practically a different company."
"And it's definitely a different country." Donna realises.
"So you'll consider it?" Katrina asks, hoping she says yes as it's just the kind of thing her friend needs.
"No." Donna says before heading out of the kitchen, leaving Katrina to pout.
While Donna and Katrina are in the kitchen Harvey has just had a conversation with both Jessica and Louis about Ava, a conversation that ended in him needing to use Darby's name, and the fact that he put Harvey on Ava's case, because he and Jessica disagreed about strategy.
Having left his office Harvey has gone to Katrina, who he just finished explaining what happened between him, Louis and Jessica, and the two of them are walking the halls of Pearson Darby.
"How pissed was Jessica?" Katrina asks curious, "I'm guessing very."
"Oh she was." Harvey confirms, "And between that and the fact that Louis clearly isn't going to play by the rules I need you to keep an eye on him, make sure he doesn't shaft us." He instructs.
"Will do." Katrina confirms.
"And while you're doing that figure out a way to get us out of this jam." Harvey tells her.
"On it." Katrina says before walking away from Harvey.
After walking away from Harvey Katrina heads to the conference room where she starts to get to work on figuring out a way to help Ava keep control of her company.
