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 3
Two weeks later, and Harvey was completely miserable. Granted, Donna had outdone herself in making sure that everyone was miserable, with Jessica and Mike being the only people safe from her wrath. Although, the only real reason Jessica was safe was because she was currently enveloped in a case and Mike was assisting her.
When Donna was angry, everyone knew it. Partners couldn't find all their files, which made them blame the associates, even if all the files in question were sitting on the desk of one specific, and very overworked paralegal. Luis struggled not to loose all of his cases, because the associates were being terrorized by nearly everyone, and so nothing was getting done. No one was ever sure how Donna arranged it so everything would fall apart the way it had, but no one was going to question her on it.
When the chaos first started, Harvey had been almost amused by the seemingly random gifts that kept appearing on Donna's desk, starting with the second day. Flowers were first, lots of flowers, but she kept none of them. Next came the gift of chocolate, as Donna's love of the sweet was legendary. She refused all of those too. Each passing day saw nicer and more elaborate gifts appear, but nothing seemed to make Donna happy.
Harvey was pretty sure why she was so angry. He knew that she was very angry at him, for having such a bad second attempt at talking to Mike. But, right after that, was when Jessica had decided to abscond with the genius, and no one had seen him since, except for through the glass of Jessica's office.
Donna liked things just so, it helped her keep on top of everything, not that she really needed the help, and she was happiest when things stayed the same. But, since the day that Harvey's associate bolted from the area, for the third time, neither have been able to talk to the kid. Mike has made it a point to avoid them both like it was the only thing keeping him alive.
So the result was Donna taking all her extra anger out on nearly anyone that crossed her path, although, Harvey noticed that a few select people were targeted far more often. Personally, he felt they were getting off rather easy, He would much rather face Donna's anger, than for her to treat him like he is invisible. He no longer got messages, was constantly surprised by clients that he wasn't aware he had appointments with, granted, Donna did make sure that he had some notice whenever a big or important client was on their way in.
By the time the gifts reached the border of outlandish, Luis had actually promised Donna his own personal car and driver, for as long as she wanted it, Jessica arrived at Harvey's office, Mike half a step behind her. Neither were prepared for the clutter littering Donna's desk. Books, passes for plays, and concerts, gift certificates, flowers and even a small wrapped box were all pushed together, out of the redhead's way. Donna completely ignored the inquiring look that Jessica sent her and waved her into Harvey's office, without giving him any notice. Mike trailed behind Jessica, trying to avoid catching Donna's eye.
"Jessica! What a lovely surprise.. How is Mike working out for you?" Harvey sounded as smooth as usual, but really did want to know the answer to his question.
"Mr. Ross did an exceptional job. I'll be returning him to you now, thanks for the loan, Harvey." Jessica smirked, "Now, care to tell me about Donna's new boyfriend or does someone owe her an apology?"
Mike shifted slightly, but Harvey answered smoothly. "You know Donna, Jessica. She's indispensable, even if that means her desk it crowed with gifts from her admirers." It was a game Harvey played with Jessica before. Technically, neither admitted anything openly, so nothing was ever done about it.
Jessica rolled her eyes, and stalked out of Harvey's office, but not without a smile at both her favorite partner and his assistant.
Harvey, for his part was fully intending on putting Mike in a corner so he couldn't get away. "Good job, Mike." He started smoothly, watching as his associate nodded. "Go home and take a break. Can't have you dead on your feet... Wait, I know." Harvey smirked, when Mike looked confused. "Why don't you go keep Donna company while I see to one last meeting, then I'll have Ray drop you off. Sound, good?" Harvey ignored the frantic shaking of Mike's head. "Good, you can help her guess what is in her mystery package." The lawyer slipped out from behind his desk and after careful placement, left Mike standing uncomfortably next to Donna, looking at the small wrapped package doubtfully. Harvey eyes, bet Donna's for just a minute, but long enough for Harvey to be sure that when he came back, Mike would still be there.
When Harvey returned, only thirty minutes later, Mike was alone at Donna's desk, idly sorting everything so that it could be returned later.
"Where's Donna?" Harvey spoke right behind Mike, making the younger man jump, because, some things just never got old.
"Um.. she.. left to.. return the envelope." Mike was having a very hard time looking at Harvey.
"What was it?" The question made Mike turn red.
"Um.. it .." Mike sighed, "It was a free pass for one month to an all female nudest beach." Before Harvey could actively reply, the blond continued. "A free pass with a plus one attached." Mike's new tone left no doubt in his boss' mind what kind of beach it was.
Harvey grinned, imagining just what Donna's reaction to that had been. "Well, we won't bother her anymore today then." Harvey wrote a small note to his assistant, giving her a pass to go home early, and with a guiding hand on Mike's shoulder, directed him to the elevator.
Mike managed to stay silent until they were approaching the car. "You really don't have to take me home... I can walk."
"Nonsense." Harvey dismissed the concern with practiced ease. "Just get in, Mike."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm going... Hi Ray." Mike muttered as he moved around getting in the car.
"Hello. Where to Mr. Specter?" Ray seemed to be in an extra cheerful mood today.
"Mike, address."
Mike sighed, which made Harvey frown, and rattled off his address to Ray.
"You live in Brooklyn?" Harvey demanded the minute the car was moving. "You walk from Brooklyn?"
"Yeah, so?" Mike replied, staring out the window. "It's not that far, and I know all the shortcuts now."
Harvey frowned but let it go, happy enough that Mike had answered him. Instead the older man asked Mike all kinds of questions about Jessica's case, until Ray pulled up at a fairly dingy building.
"Thanks, Harvey." Mike opened the door and slid out of it, waving at Ray as he did so, completely
missing Harvey doing the same thing.
"Which one is yours?" Mike jumped when Harvey drawled his question. "Surely you aren't the ground floor type."
Mike spun around, staring at Harvey like he had just seen a ghost. "H..Harvey! Geez, stop scaring
me like that." Mike huffed a bit, shaking his head. "No, I wish, I lived on the ground floor." Deciding that there wasn't much else he could do but go inside, Mike, with his boss following, started up the stairs to his apartment.
"Why on earth would you want a ground floor, Mike?" Harvey sounded honestly surprised.
"Well, for one, they are cheaper." Mike rounded the second floor and continued up. "Second, if I lived on the ground floor, my grandmother could occasionally come for a visit. She can't handle the stairs." He paused on the third floor and walked down two doors, fumbling with his key. "Third, they are more structurally sound."
Harvey shook his head. "Structurally sound? No offense, Mike, but nothing here looks very safe." Harvey made his observation neutrally, trying not to offend his associate it.
Mike made an agreeing noise, as he opened his door and wandered in, motioning Harvey in with a grand sweep of his hand. "Yeah, but having just two reasons sounded unprepared." Mike tossed his briefcase with a bit more force than necessary onto his worn couch and wandered over toward a closed door. "I'll be right back."
Harvey allowed the door to close behind him, while he looked around the small place. The first thing that surprised the lawyer was the sheer number of books that Mike managed to cram in hidey-holes all over. Tolkien books were stacked together with Medical journals, while Poe and Dickens shared the same shelf as Stieg Larsson and a Encyclopedia of The Complete History of Politics. It seemed that Mike had no discrimination toward any book and would happily read anything he could get his hands on.
The second thing that drew his notice was that the apartment, while shabby, wasn't exactly messy, but cluttered. One shelf was completely full of pictures, of Mike with various people, Trevor and the girl Jenny, mostly. There were some with an elderly woman in front of a decent looking apartment, and one tucked away in the very back with a couple that was obviously Mike's parents. The odd empty space where Mike's television used to be, was now taken up with knickknacks, all of which looked old. Papers littered the low table that sat in front of the ugliest couch Harvey had ever seen before. A couch that, once Harvey finally decided was safe to sit on proved to also be the most comfortable thing he had ever sat on, his own couch included. "Where in the world did you get this thing?"
"What thing?" Mike poked his head out from behind the door. "Oh, that? I bought it off a neighbor before I moved to this apartment." His head disappeared again.
"Wait... you moved to this place?" The astonishment was unmistakable in the lawyer's voice.
"Yeah, it's nicer than the one I had before." Mike reappeared in the living room, dressed in faded jeans and what looked like the softest hoodie ever made. "More room." The blond apparently felt more comfortable in his own place. "Why are you here, Harvey?" He moved toward the couch, collecting his briefcase and dropping gracelessly into a large chair, pulling out the files that he had taken from the office.
"I wanted to talk to you." Harvey started carefully. "You've been hard to catch lately."
Mike shifted, keeping his eyes on the files. "I was helping Jessica..."
"Before that."
"I don't want to talk about it." Came the insistent reply.
"Mike." Harvey spoke in his boss voice.
"Look, what can we possibly have to talk about it?" Mike's hands moved through the files faster now. "You helped me out, I paid you back. It's done."
Harvey frowned, having learned several of Mike's tells recently. "No one's mad at you, kid."
"Really?" The question was biting, despite Mike's refusal to look at anything but the files. "Because right now, I can count the people not mad at me on one hand. Which for the record, includes all of four people."
"I really hope Donna is on that short list of yours." Harvey tried to lighten the mood.
"She would have been, but she mad I sold my television." Mike rolled his eyes. "I still don't get why you are here. The great Harvey Specter doesn't spend his time in a place like this."
"Unfair, kid." Harvey muttered, wishing Donna had told him what to say to fix his mess. "It's not that bad... It's clean." He finished lamely, noticing the incredulous look Mike was unable to hide.
"It's clean?" Mike scanned his apartment. "I bet your apartment doesn't look like this." He muttered.
"Of course not." Harvey sniffed, but continued before Mike could take offense. "I don't have near this many books."
Mike couldn't help but smile slightly. "I told you before I like to read."
"That you did." Harvey leaned forward slightly, thankful that Mike seemed more relaxed. "Listen, kid..."
"Don't. Okay? You don't have to say anything." Mike's tone turned serious. "I'll tell Donna that it was all my fault. I should be able to manage things better now." He chuckled, the sound nervous.
Harvey looked the apartment over again. The entire place could easily fit into his living room, furniture and all. Taking a minute to study his associate, Harvey realized that there was no way he could make Mike listen to him now. The kid was too concerned with proving himself to realize that he already had. What Harvey needed to do was let Mike know that he didn't have to think of Harvey as only a boss. It wouldn't fix anything, but it was a start.
"I still don't see the allure of a ground floor." Harvey began, trying his best to look comfortable and like he had no problems being there.
Mike shook his head, but took his boss' unspoken challenge to begin listing all the ways they were a benefit.
