Direct sequel to Five Times Mike Explains His Situation And The One Time Donna Makes Sure People Listen, because people asked me to, and I am a sucker for things like that.
How Harvey Tried To Fix His Mistake
Chapter 2
Fortunately for Harvey, he was not subjected to Donna's wrath until the following day. Harvey abandoned his normal practice of arriving an hour after the firm opened and was there promptly at seven, which earned him a stern comment from Donna who was always early.
"You didn't fix it." The assistant didn't even look up from her computer.
"You don't know that." Harvey countered, knowing better than to outright admit it.
"Yes, I do. You're early, and you are never early unless you are in the middle of a case or you have an early meeting that can't be pushed back. You have neither." Donna looked up, frowning. "Not to mention, Mike got here before I did."
Harvey's head turned to look at the associates area, easily spotting Mike's head, bent over his desk. "No.. I didn't fix it. But I did try to."
"Really?" Donna's tone grew sharp. "Is that why there is an envelope on your desk with money in it and your name on it? Because that sounds more like a failure than a try." Her expression softened a bit, taking in the confused look. "Harvey, I told you to talk to him."
Frowning, Harvey motioned for Donna to follow him as he went into his office, moving straight for the desk, and looking at the plain envelope. "I don't know anything about this. I locked my office when I left." He knew exactly what the money was for, and he had no intention of accepting it.
"You're still an idiot." Donna crossed her arms. "You gave Mike a key so he could leave anything you needed on your desk at any time. Remember?"
"Right... Donna." Harvey slid into his comfortable chair. "I'm not sure exactly how to do what you want." It was a testament to how comfortable the two were together for Harvey to admit that. "I did try, Donna. But, that wasn't Mike yesterday."
Donna didn't answer, preferring to let Harvey figure it out on his own. Despite the fact that she wanted Mike fixed immediately, it was always fun for her to watch her boss squirm. The redhead knew that since Harvey was finally aware of things, he wasn't going to just let it continue.
"I know how to deal with Mike. The fairly mouthy, cocky, overly-cheerful coffee addict that breezes in and out of things. But, yesterday, that was not my Mike." The senior partner shook his head. "He didn't listen, and Mike has always listened to me. He rarely agrees but he always listens."
"Try again." Donna replied casually. "You keep trying until you fix it. I think, it would be a very good idea if you started right now, because if you don't, Luis is going to be the first person he talks to today and that's a horrid way to start any day." She turned around sharply, moving back to her desk, pointedly moving aside just enough for Harvey to see Luis making a beeline for Mike's cubical. Donna was overly pleased that Harvey was up and out of his office in record time. And to think some people actually believed that all those times when Harvey would mysteriously show up right when Mike needed him were a coincidence.
Despite Donna's warning, Luis still managed to reach Mike before Harvey could intercept. "Mike, I need to speak to you."
Harvey paused briefly, giving Mike the opportunity to handle Luis on his own. His associate simply switched thehighlighter to his left hand, and reached under his desk with his right, pulling the the thrice-damned briefcase and setting it pointedly on his desk all the while continuing to make notations in the file. The action made Harvey smile.
Luis scowled. "Michael." The tone was cold and intimidating, well as much as Luis could get.
"Only my gram is allowed to call me Michael." The answer was neutral and factual, as Mike turned another page.
The oily man rolled his eyes. "This is hardly the time to be picky about what you are called. I need the subpoena that I asked for, yesterday. You remember, the one I wanted, yesterday."
"It was on your desk at eleven fifty-two last night." Mike still didn't raise his head, an action which made Harvey continue on his path to Mike's desk.
"Well, it isn't on my desk now." Luis sneered. "So I can only assume you are lying."
"Mike, do you have the.. Oh, good morning, Luis." Harvey smiled cheerfully at the older man.
"Miller briefs, complete." Mike extended two files toward Harvey. "Also, the Davis-Perker merger, ready for signatures." He handed over another file, before going back to the papers in front of him.
Surprised was an excellent word for Harvey at the moment. He hadn't actually expected Mike to have anything done. They had just finished closing a major case just before Donna decided that she was done letting people play with her pet. Harvey didn't actually need either of those things for a few more days.
"Well, since you're finished with Harvey's work, where is my subpoena?" Luis snapped.
"On your desk, left side, probably pushed under the outbox behind your coffee." Mike replied mechanically.
Luis looked over at Harvey, the two for a moment completely on the same page, confused. "Well, if it isn't.."
"I'm fired, I know."
"You're not fired." Harvey snapped, which made Mike jump slightly, and bend his head closer to his work. "What you are doing is taking those files to my office."
"Harvey." Luis whined. "I need Mike today. I have a suit against a major car company."
"Don't worry Luis, I'm sure that they used little words so any of the other associates will be able to help." Harvey's tone turned condescending. "Now, Mike."
"You're being childish, Harvey. You don't have a case right now, so you can lend me Mike for a few hours." Luis' tone was now an odd mix of whine and threat. "Right, Michael?"
Mike stood, and silently gathered up all the files he was marking and moved around the desk carrying them toward Harvey's office.
"You know, Luis, I think it's wonderful the job you do keeping an eye on the associates." Harvey began, hiding his smirk at how the shorter man puffed up with unnecessary pride. "But, Mike is my associate, and if I need him for something, then that does take precedent over what you need from him."
Harvey didn't smile until he had turned around so Luis couldn't see and moved toward his office, noticing that Donna had stopped Mike, before he could go in as she always did. When he caught up to the younger man, Harvey was relieved to see a small smile on Mike's face from whatever Donna was telling him.
"Any time, okay? I mean it. If I find out that you don't..." Her voice was softer than normal, the same one she used on Mike yesterday.
"I will, Donna... I.. Thanks.." Mike slipped into Harvey's office before his boss could speak.
"Donna, please hold my calls."
"Only if you promise to actually fix it this time. Last free chance." Donna warned in a much firmer tone. "If not you are on your own."
That made Harvey actually blanch. There are only a few things that can make him do that, like overly picky women in very, very pink clothes with yappy dogs that they take everywhere, or like being forced to spend an entire Saturday in a soup kitchen, which he still hasn't forgiven Jessica for, or having Donna angry enough at him that she refused to actively help him with anything. Recovering quickly, he went into his office, and headed straight for his desk.
Mike was waiting patiently, holding the files that he had brought. The associate had several closed ones tucked away in one arm while he read through another with rapid speed.
Once Harvey was settled, he studied Mike for a long moment. The blond was clearly uncomfortable, based on the way he was shifting his weight, while he read. Another thing that Harvey noticed was that Mike still hadn't looked at him, not once during the entire scene with Luis, or afterward.
"Something troubling you, kid?" Harvey asked softly, leaning forward in his chair slightly.
"...I'm just... trying to finish this account history." Mike replied equally softly. "I can have them done in an hour if..."
"Mike, I don't even know what case those files are for." Harvey answered, "You know that I don't have any important work for you right now. I didn't even need the briefs or the merger papers until Monday. So, what's the matter?"
"N..nothing, Harvey."
"Come on, don't lie to me, kid." Harvey sighed, knowing without looking that Donna was watching him like a hawk. "Also, what's with this?" The lawyer picked up the envelope and waved it at Mike a couple of times.
The younger man stiffened, and after a pause answered. "I told you that I would pay you back." The reply was meek. "So, I did, that's all... Can we please not talk about this?"
"I really think that we should. Why didn't you tell me?" Harvey asked the question carefully, not wanting to spook Mike.
"Does it really matter? It wasn't effecting my work, so why would you care? Besides, when I did try to tell you, you told me not to use it as an excuse. Please, lets not talk about this." Mike was practically begging now.
"Of course it matters." Harvey started, but paused when Mike shook his head.
"Right, I forgot, it makes you look bad. Since I'm your associate, if I look bad then you do too. I promise, Harvey. It won't happen again, okay? I'll make sure no one finds a fault like this again."
"That's not what I'm talking about.." Harvey was starting to feel slightly lost. He wasn't exactly sure what Mike was referring to. "I wanted to know where you got this." He tapped a finger on the envelope.
Mike muttered something in reply, that no one would ever be able to understand.
"Care to try again?"
"I plead the fifth." Mike repeated louder.
"This isn't an interrogation, it's just a question, you can't plead the fifth." Harvey insisted.
"I plead the fifth on the grounds that if I tell you, then Donna will kill me, and if Donna kills me, no one will ever find the body or any evidence to even hint that I am dead, and no one would be able to stop her from doing so." Mike retorted instantly, bringing a smile to Harvey's face, as well as one on Donna's who was, of course, listening.
"Come on, kid. It can't be that bad." Harvey pressed. "Just tell me okay, Donna isn't going to kill you."
Mike remained stubbornly silent, shaking his head repeatedly, and tightening his grip on the files.
"I won't let Donna kill you." Harvey offered ignoring the disbelieving look that Mike shot him. "I promise."
"I sold my television, okay!" Mike snapped, ignoring the identical looks that the statement earned him. "I don't watch it anymore anyway, and it was just taking up space. Now that I've told you and Donna is going to kill me, thank you very much, I.. I have to go." Mike darted out the door and down the hall like the hounds of hell were after him.
Harvey's eyes met Donna's angry ones through the glass. "That was ...?"
"Oh yeah, big time." The redhead pointedly turned around, showing in no uncertain terms how she felt about that.
