All right. Chapter 2 is up. Forgive its shortness. It was originally part of a longer chapter but I needed to cut it short.

A quick thanks to my lovely readers and reviewers. And favers and alerters as well. :] I'm glad you like it so far.

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Two-Way Street

Chapter 2:

Mike had already cleared his desk of the file he had been examining but splayed papers to make it look like he had been there only a few minutes ago, looking away at his papers and deciding to leave to get a file he needed, a file he had already found which was now tucked in his briefcase. Hopefully, the evidence of a missing briefcase would persuade the police that he had left for a break or to see a client and they would leave. He removed any evidence that he had been there only seconds ago and then ducked around and out of his cubicle. He started towards the stairs near the front door, hoping the officers had already left.

His heart skipped a beat and then went into overdrive at the sight of the officers weaving through the other cubicles, led by none other than Louis Litt. The slimy bastard was leading them right to him. Maybe he had figured it out that Mike was not a Harvard graduate; that he was a liar working without a Harvard degree at the firm that only hires from Harvard. And he had called the police.

Granted, if he was caught, he probably wouldn't go to jail, but they would surely fire him with the possible threat that he was never to be hired by any other local firm. But that wasn't the worst part. The worst part would be that, if he was caught for lying, so would Harvey. They'd connect him to Harvey and his mentor would also be fired.

Mike didn't want that to happen.

Shaking himself out of his frozen stupor, Mike reeled away from the oncoming officers, looking around for another exit. He tried to remain calm, to appear normal so that no one would pay attention to him and remember him to the officers if questioned. He needed to slip away without being seen or he would endanger Donna as well. She had told the officers that he was out. But if they found him, they might question her truthfulness. And, knowing Donna, she would stubbornly and proudly admit her lie just to display her defiance to the officers, and her loyalty to Harvey.

The officers were getting closer and he was running out of options. For now, he just needed to get away from the immediate vicinity. Keeping his head bowed, Mike shuffled off; dipping and dodging around the cubicles to appear as if her were merely looking for something dropped; praying his luck would hold out long enough to get him away without being seen.

After a minute or two, he figured he had traveled a safe distance away and looked up, to find that he was standing before Harvey's office. He had unconsciously gone to the only place he felt he would be safe, to the only place where he could find someone he trusted.

He knew Harvey wasn't inside; knew because he had seem his mentor saunter past him (simultaneously drawing off the verbal attacks Greg believed Mike needed a healthy daily dose of) towards Jessica's office, his usual smirk of superiority with – what Mike could never quite tell – of annoyance or amusement on his lips. When Harvey passed Mike, the smile was directed towards him briefly and Mike grew even less certain of its meaning as he was often a source of both to Harvey.

Since then, Harvey hadn't returned. But the office was nearly as formidable as the man; a place where one didn't step into lightly; a place where Mike was sure he could be sheltered.

He looked first to the desk that guarded Harvey's office to see that the sentry was gone. Donna was probably lying low or had gone off in search of Harvey or Jessica. Mike felt his mouth grow dry at the sight. He would receive no protection here. If only Donna were there, he could hide in Harvey's office while she beat back any advances to search the office.

But she wasn't and he was on his own. Still, the office was his best bet now: an unprotected fortress but a fortress nonetheless.

Sparing a glance over his shoulder to find the officers at his cubicle, Mike slipped into the office. Inside, he felt more secure but not safe. He quickly scanned the office he knew so well for a hiding place, but already knew he would find none.

As he looked anyway, the door opened behind him and his heart skipped another beat, making him truly believe that if he received one more surprise, he would surely go into cardiac arrest. Blood pounding in his ears and a cold sweat beading on his brow, Mike slowly turned, fear etched in his features, expecting to see Louis smirking at him with two officers behind him.

Instead, he saw Harvey Spector.

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A bit of a cliffhanger, yes. But at least, Harvey is finally in the picture. But will he help Mike? Well, he can't say no to those big puppy eyes now can he.

In case the fact that the police are present seems unrealistic or improperly explained, be confused no longer. I explain in a later chapter.

Again I apologize for the shortness. And again I thank you all for reading. I hope you continue to and enjoy.

Until next time,
Hobey-Ho