Okay, here is the second chapter. I would like to thank LiliFayre who has kept me going and giving me ideas when I get stuck. Plus her fics are awesome! People need to read them!

Also, I like to thank everyone who has reviewed, made my fic their favorite, and clicked my fic for story alert because it made me feel loved!

Chapter Two: The Job

Mike knew something was up the moment he entered Nate's apartment.

Not that it was actually hard considering how wide Sophie was smiling, how Eliot was not looking at him in the eye, how Nate twitched at his greeting, how Hardison pretended to be busy, and how Parker was – No, actually the part of Parker skipping around with her bowl of cereal was the only normal thing in the room.

"Okay." Mike drawled out and stalled a bit by taking a long sip of his coffee before walking towards everyone else. "I don't think it's April Fool's Day since we're in the month of January and I'm pretty sure that we did fine in the last job. Or is there something really embarrassing on YouTube about me that I haven't seen yet?"

He started panicking when no answered. It looked like something really bad has happened and no one was going to tell him. Oh god, was it Trevor and Jenny? Did something happen and now those loser weed dealers are after them again? Well, Mike could fix that. It should be easy enough to convince Hardison to hack into the IRS and have some false tax frauds put into someone's account.

"Everyone is acting weird because they're worried about this new job we're taking except we have to go to your old job to do this new one and Hardison thinks that you won't be able to do it because they know you and Eliot thinks that we shouldn't even consider the job because –" Parker cheerfully word vomited everything while still crunching on her cereal. Mike briefly wondered just how many spoons of sugar she added to the stuff.

"Yes, thank you Parker," Mike interrupted with a smile (no need to get snippy with her, who knows what she might steal from him in retaliation – he had to buy a new bike because she stole the damn frame when he refused to let her pick the movie for movie night) before he turned to the others, "Are we doing a job against my old law firm?"

He didn't know how to feel about that. Numb was the feeling that was superior out of them all with a dash of vindication, a bit of nausea, a pinch of fear, and a sprinkle of curiosity. It took him a second to remember everything he knew about Pearson and Hardman before he frowned. Taking his seat at the table, Mike took a deep breath before asking the question.

"What's the job?"

It turned that the job was the sort story where little successful company is getting harassed by a big corporation. At first it just the basic merger but little company refused. Then comes in the boring but mostly effective harassment tricks each ended with an offer. Finally the harassment got so far that a small bomb was used on one of the company cars.

"Now, the owner did file charges with the police and an investigation is going on for the bomb. However his company is taking a hit and so he went out to sue." Nate added when Hardison finished the debriefing.

"If these people are smart, the bomb could be made out of anything from a grocery store. But a small amount of C-4 being bought on the black market isn't out of the way." Eliot commented as his eyes trained on the image of the damage car.

"Yes, but he can sue over harassment. Records – "

"If he had any records of said harassment, any decent lawyer can convince a jury or threaten the opposition to settle. So why does he need our help?" Mike asked as he nervously played with his cooling coffee. "Does he want us to break in and get actual proof?"

His gut clenched as Nate tapped at the flat screen of their smart table and images of two familiar people appeared on the screen. It was headshots of Jessica Pearson and Harvey Specter.

"Our client hired Pearson and Hardman to take the case. Now a little under a month ago, everything was looking good. But lately our client has been getting calls of delays of the meetings, subpoenas not being processed, and at one point had a meeting canceled on him. He's afraid that they're compromised." Nate answered. "Harvey Specter was the one who took the case. Now we're not even sure if that's true anymore."

"So a cover up?" Eliot suggested with a look towards Mike. The Fixer stared at the screens and absently gnawed on his bottom lip.

"Eliot." Hardison snapped as the Hacker gave the Hitter a glare that stated 'that's not cool, bro.'

"Michael, I'm sure that there is an explanation that makes sense." Sophie began but Mike shook his head.

"It could be. If it affects the firm, Jessica would do it and if he doesn't see an advantage to disagree, Harvey would follow her lead. But Harvey has better tactics in holding off a client; it might be possible they're hiding something bigger than a bit of malpractice."

"Ohh! Are they hiding something super cool and valuable? Can we steal it and give it to the client?" Parker asked eagerly, this time finished with her cereal. Everyone just shook their heads at the Thief. Sometimes they really don't understand where her wires are crossed.

"A company mole." Nate commented with thought. "Much simpler than buying out a law firm and cheaper too, but leaves us with a lot of suspects."

"That's not the bad part. No doubt the entire company knows that there is a mole and they're doing everything they can to find them. It's bad because Louis's tactics are utter shit – one time, he offered ten Gs to find the culprit who turned in our client lists to a rival firm." Mike added with a groan. "God, and he's tends to screw up if no one reins him in. Good lawyer, but a crappy guy."

"Ten Gs? He must really want the guy." Hardison whistled with a shake of his head.

"But we can cross him off our list. Louis is loyal to the firm. He'll do his best to make Harvey look bad, but not at the expense of the firm. That is one line he won't cross." The Fixer replied while shaking at his head because he was defending one the few men he hated. Christ, Louis was such a bitchy creep.

"Nate, if they're doing a witch hunt, it can cause some panic, maybe enough to get us some loose lips." Eliot pointed out.

The Mastermind was quiet as he processed all of the information that was given so far. He had an idea on what he wanted to do, but he was going to need Sophie's mind and some more information. Plus it would keep the 'kids' busy enough for him to relax before the plan.

"Okay, guys. I need you kids to go to New York. Secure a safe house and get everything we need. Eliot, Mike, go look into the bomb investigation, see if you can pull anything out it from the police. After that, I want you to look into the older archives to see if there's a reason why Alton Corps is interested in our client's company – might be for property reasons. Hardison, Parker, check on the law firm. I want to know the status of the case, see if anyone in the firm is getting pay offs, and the security there."

Turning towards Mike, he gave the young man a stern look.

"You need to keep a low profile. I don't want anyone knowing that you're back in town. Let Eliot do the talking."

Everyone gave a nod to the orders before rushing out of the loft to pack for their trip. It was a few minutes later before Sophie broke the silence.

"Nate, you do know that we might have to pull him from the con." The Grifter warned as she fiddled with her bracelets. "And if I know what you're thinking, that's something we can't afford."

He gave a nod at that. Nate understood what Sophie meant. A job like this was tricky already and there is always the possibility that it could go worse like in some of their cons. There were too many times the 'kids' were the ones whom got the bad end of the deal. Mike and Parker were the luckier ones out of the four but that didn't mean it would stay that way. However, Sophie must have something else she wanted to say because she had that tone going on. It was her grifter tone and Nate just had to wait her out a bit to get the real question.

"Do you think," Sophie paused for a moment as she pressed her lips before continuing, "Do you think he might want to go back?"

So that was the problem. Somehow, Nate knew that was the question going on in everyone's mind. Looking back, he vaguely remembered how Hardison kept looking over at Mike throughout the debriefing, trying to find a sign or clue. Eliot had his arms crossed the entire time and barely looked at the Fixer. As for Parker, well, Nate really hadn't noticed anything strange about the Thief but it would be a matter time before she gets with the program. Getting up, Nate held out his hand to the woman who took it, but the wary look was still on her beautiful face. The Mastermind briefly thought that such a look was never meant to be on her face.

"Mike's a good guy." Nate said as he led them out of his loft. "He likes to help people."

"Nate." Sophie protested but a finger on her lips stopped the rest of the words from forming.

"Not finished yet," he teased with a tender smile, "Mike likes to help people. He's not interested in workplace politics, money is not much of a motive now, and he's smarter now. Mike is not going back."

The look of relief on Sophie's face was enough to make his day.

Harvey Specter glared down at the files before him.

Closing his tired eyes, he leaned back against his chair and gave out a huge sigh. Jesus, he was so tired of this case. What was supposed to be an easy case that he could have finished in a week was being dragged out into a mess that even the worst associate couldn't have created. That was saying plenty considering the amount of utter crap he had to deal with for the past four years.

A sharp pain shot through his temples as he remember the reason why he had to suffer the utter crap of useless associates. In retrospect, he shouldn't have gotten Mike involved in that damn case, but he had gotten used to having an associate and used to Mike getting all the boring shit out of the way. What he didn't expect was for the damn kid to break into the company and jeopardize the firm because he believed what the fired executive had said.

Goddamn the kid's caring streak.

But it was that caring streak that saved the firm from bleeding anymore money, money that the bitch had the gall to buy a vacation home and invite Jessica to. They had settled that case with the money lost and more for the interest.

And when the kid started to make a fuss about how he could get caught, Harvey dismissed the whole thing. Because the kid wouldn't get caught if he just acted like the man he should be. It was obvious to Harvey that the kid had the smarts but just needs the experience. If he had just walked the walked, all of the little things wouldn't have mattered.

Except it did matter to the kid. Louis's stupid questions, the associates' shitty attitude, and the fact that any of those damn lawyers could have recognize the kid for helping them cheat on their LSATs were things that drove the kid up the wall with nerves. Worries that meant nothing to Harvey because he has common sense. All the kid had to do was to show everyone who the boss was.

Funny thing was that Harvey didn't even see the side blow that came. He had assumed the kid took his words and just went along with it. All of the briefs were done, paperwork turned in on time, and Louis didn't bitch as much to Harvey about Mike. Work was going so well that he took a three day mini-vacation out of the city with a lady friend who he no longer remember because she had dropped his cell phone into a freaking lake.

When he finally got anywhere near a phone, Harvey discovered that Donna had been trying to reach nonstop over his vacation and she had been pissed as hell because Mike had quit while he was gone. As in the kid went right up to Jessica with his resignation and simply quit. Harvey had not been too surprise that Jessica accepted the resignation – the kid when needed can be convincing, but he was surprised at the fuss Louis made when he came to work.

The junior partner had bitched and moaned about how Harvey must have done something for one of the most competent (in Louis terms – great working slave) associates the firm ever had to suddenly quit. In his goddamn office – with Donna watching with an upturned nose. Luckily it was only for a day and Harvey had bribed his secretary with her favorite coffee treat for a month before she finally patted his arm in a truce.

Harvey had tried to find Mike afterwards. Mostly he wanted to yell at the idiot for throwing away the second chance he had given the young man. Then he'll force the kid to sign a contract that states he stay as Harvey's associate for next ten years – screw it if Jessica ever thinks the kid will make partner. But when he reached to the given address, Harvey learned from the landlord that Mike had broken his lease and packed everything out that he owned. The furniture was still left in the room and he barely saw anything that was considered to be the kid's.

Next, he tried contacting anyone he vaguely remembered were the kid's friends and family. He made Donna call the grandmother only to learn that the woman had died nearly a month ago from a stroke. Harvey had been shocked at the news because the kid looked so normal; he had never guessed that Mike had just lost the only living relative he had for a month. The kid had always sulked whenever Harvey made him do overtime and miss a visit with the woman. Donna also mentioned that there had been a small funeral but the body had been cremated and the ashes given to the grandson. Everything had been paid in cash – leaving no trail.

The next logical step was the blond Jenny and the best friend Trevor. But both of them were surprised that Mike had disappeared and Jenny had been upset about the death of the grandmother. When Harvey talked with Rachel the paralegal, the girl had just been as shocked as everyone else. None of the associates had been much help with the exception of one – Harry or Harold, whatever the curly haired blond was called. While most of the associates had claimed they had no idea (at the same time insinuating that he could use their help – God, it was like having a harem of horny girls only it was associates and there wasn't enough money in the world that can make him touch them with a pole), Curly had stupidly went up to Donna about his information thinking that telling the secretary would be safer than the senior partner.

One minute, Harvey had been contemplating in wasting time by spinning in chair and the next, the redhead comes stomping in dragging a terrified Curly by his decently quality tie. It took a few false starts and Donna hissing at the associate, but the whole story finally comes out. Curly had noticed at least a week or two before Mike bailed that the kid had been taking in a lot more work. The kid was always the last to leave and the first to be in to the point that Curly thought Mike hadn't left the office if it wasn't for the change in suits. Curly had even offered to help which Harvey thought was probably the one kind gesture Mike ever received from his colleges. Instead Mike had been nice to Curly and took on a few briefs for the associate and had them finished when Curly came in for work.

Harvey then realized how Jessica allowed the kid to just quit right then and there. The kid had told her he had finished at least a month's worth of work in advance – more than enough for a two weeks' notice.

"Harvey?"

Raising his head from his hands, Harvey looked over to his new and longest running associate – Rachel Zane. The young woman looked as tired as he felt. Rubbing his temples to relieve the pain, Harvey waved her in.

"What is it, Zane? Any news about those finances?"

"No," Rachel answered with a wince and dumped a pile of briefs. "I'm still looking through them, but they sent out everything. Nothing looks suspicious so far."

Christ, they had received the finances two days ago. Mike would have been done overnight - earlier if he didn't go out for pizza. Except he really couldn't blame Rachel for being normally smart and brilliant. At least the woman was through and actually did quality work. Being the best paralegal before becoming a lawyer has some perks; plus it kept most of the associates from harassing her unlike with Mike.

Harvey knew that he had to quit comparing Rachel with Mike but he missed getting his cases done at a quicker pace. It gave him the excuse to retain more clients than any other senior partner and the down time between cases came more often.

"Anything else?" Harvey asked before he started slowly on the new briefs. He could see Rachel fidgeting from the edge of his sight. "Out with it Zane."

"I saw the client in Jessica's office just a minute ago." She confessed wearily. This got Harvey's attention immediately. "I don't know much, but I overheard him saying that if there isn't any good news for his case, he's going to look for alternate help."

"Shit." Harvey muttered before shaking his head. It was bad that the client had gone to Jessica instead of him and it looked like Jessica was covering his ass again. Not that there was much he could say. He had already assured the client at least three times since disaster upon disaster started and it looked like the client was getting tired. Louis had been no help (not that Harvey would ever ask again) because the junior partner was acting like a freaking bloodhound – looking for the leak.

Looking over at his associate, Harvey waved her away and she simply did as bid. Both of them were tired as hell since they had taken the case and everything was becoming bleak with each day, except Harvey had no plans in quitting. These bastards are playing a dirty game that Harvey was having a difficult time in pinning down even with his investigator.

But Harvey Specter doesn't lose and that's what keeps him going.

Okay, second chapter done! What did you guys think of the interactions between Mike and the Leverage team? Did it seem believable to you guys? I hope it did. And did Harvey seem right to guys? I didn't want to make him out of character that much and I know I have this down as slash, but seriously Mike and Harvey in my story are a bit slow on the whole relationship thing. Mike with his confusion between two girls before he left and Harvey – enough said.

Please read and review! Send me some love!