Chapter Nineteen

Rachel was barely out of the office when she heard Harvey screaming her name. She turned, seeing Harvey trying to escort a very pained looking Donna out of his office. He looked to be in between actually carrying her and just supporting her.

"Call Ray," he said, throwing his cell phone at her. "Tell him to come now. NOW!"

Donna tried to hold back her screams as the pain of a contraction hit her. She grabbed on to Harvey's hands and squeezed.

"Hurry up, Rachel," Harvey yelled, as Rachel herself screamed on the phone for Ray to come. He was sure Donna had broken his hand already.

By this time, Louis had heard all the commotion and had joined them. "Not now, Louis," Harvey warned.

Louis looked at him, "I'm sorry, Harvey, but are you trained in the art of giving birth?"

Harvey looked at him and stopped, "Why are you?"

Louis nodded and looked at Donna, "I saw this on a show once. Donna, just breathe. Hee hee hoo. Hee hee hoo."

Donna resisted the urge to punch Louis as another contraction hit. She grabbed Harvey by the collar and said, "If you don't get me to that elevator, I swear…"

Harvey glared at Louis and started moving towards the elevators again, just before they got there, they saw Jessica exiting her office hastily; probably having seen their little group. "Oh my god," the managing partner cried out, "Are you having the baby now?"

Jessica stepped back a little at the matching 'what-do-you-think' face that both Harvey and Donna gave her. Donna gave another scream as another contraction hit, squeezing Harvey's hand again. "Is Ray downstairs yet?" he barked at Rachel.

"Yes," she cried, as all of them (Louis and Jessica included) stepped into the elevator. "He's waiting for us downstairs. She wanted to say encouraging words to Donna but she feared for her life.

Donna felt that that elevator ride was the longest in her life. The pain, Louis' stupid breathing, plus, she saw Rachel and Jessica's worried faces as well—it all did not make for a good ride. The only solace she found was in Harvey, whose hand she was still currently crushing. In all, she didn't think it would be this painful, her eyes watering a little with tears from the pain.

As the elevators doors opened, Harvey finally grabbed Donna and just chose to carry her. He would never dare say it out loud, but she was heavy. He felt her hold tighten around him as she buried her head at the crook of his neck. God, it must be so painful because Harvey could feel the tears coming out of her eyes.

"It's going to be fine, Donna," he whispered to her, "I'm right here."

Ray had the car doors opened and Harvey swiftly carried Donna into the backseat; smiling a little as Rachel also squeezed in and took hold of Donna's hands. It was a tiny relief for him.

He saw Louis get on in the front passenger seat only to stagger out as Jessica stared him down. She took his place at the front of the vehicle and Ray started the car immediately.

"I'll take a cab," Harvey heard Louis yell out. As they pulled out, he looked behind them and sure enough, Louis had hailed a cab.

..::..

Once they finally got to the hospital, with Louis running to meet up with them, the only word to describe their group was commotion. Added to their assembly was Sammy (who mostly everyone still knew as George); Rachel had called him during the ride over and had told him that Harvey already knew. Harvey saw the other man and completely disregarded him; this was not the time.

They reached the reception area and everyone started talking at once, while Donna sat herself down on a chair—trying to breathe through pain. She spotted an orderly and managed to get herself her own wheelchair and was wheeled to a room without anyone's knowledge.

Harvey was still yelling at the nurse, "No, she's having a baby now! I'm not filling out any forms, not that I can because I'm pretty sure my hand is broken!"

Suddenly, Rachel said, "Wait, where's Donna?"

Harvey turned, "I left her…" She wasn't sitting where he left her.

Suddenly Harvey saw Donna's doctor approaching but before the medical man could open his mouth they heard a loud shout from behind, "Seriously, guys," Mike exclaimed. "No one bothers to call me. Louis is here! And I have to hear all this from Harold? Harold!"

Harvey gave him a deadpanned expression, "Not now, pup." Then upon seeing Harold actually approaching, he added, "What is he doing here?"

Mike looked at him, "I have a bike, he actually has a car!"

Harvey sighed, ready to argue with Mike when the doctor cleared his throat loudly. "Look, folks," he said, "I get that you all have a lot of issues but this is a hospital. Number one, we need quiet. Number two, Ms. Paulsen is having that baby and all I really want from all of you is the father."

Father. Father. Harvey took a deep breath and stepped forward, "Yes, I'm right here."

Suddenly, Mike exclaimed, "What?!" He looked at Rachel who nodded. "Why did no one tell me?"

"Is there a problem?" the doctor asked, as Harvey shot Mike a look.

Mike's eyes widened. "No. No," he said. "I'm just dramatic."

The doctor nodded and beckoned towards Harvey, who passed by a still very shocked looking Mike and he could hear Louis mutter 'I knew it' from behind him. And Harold, Harold just looked confused…in other words, he looked like his normal self.

"You need to scrub in and then meet us at Room 202," the doctor directed Harvey. The man then turned back towards the others and said, "I need you all to sit. And be quiet."

..::..

Harvey put on the scrubs and entered Donna's room. They stared at each other for a while, finally Harvey gave her a tiny nod which she returned with a weak smile. He crossed the room and took her hand without any words. Donna grinned softly as she felt him draw little circular patterns on her hand with his thumb.

They went through the motions (more screaming, crushed ice, and every more screaming) and now, a brutal three and a half hours later…there was still no baby.

Donna had called Harvey every bad word that he actually knew and had squeezed the life out of both his hands and she was still screaming in pain.

"Okay," the doctor said again, "I need you to push, Donna."

Donna looked at him, tears threatening to fall from her eyes, "I can't, Harvey. I can't anymore."

Harvey looked at her. "Donna," he said calmly. "You have to."

"Don't tell me what to do!" she screamed at him. He didn't say anymore as another contraction hit and she finally pushed.

"I can see the head," the doctor announced. "Just one more push, Donna."

Harvey sighed in relief and looked at Donna, who looked so tired. He saw her taking deep breaths, and as another contraction hit, Donna shouted, "Oh my god, Harvey! What did you do to me?"

Harvey huffed, "Hey, it was two of us in there!" And this was the moment that Harvey actually feared for his life as Donna gave him a deadly stare.

WAAAAAHHHHHHHH. They both stared as the doctor held up a bloody baby. "Congratulations," he said, "you have a healthy baby boy."

Harvey couldn't help the pool of tears that threatened to fall; he saw that Donna looked the same. "Do you want to cut the cord?" the doctor asked, handing Harvey a pair of scissors. He did, almost in a daze, and when the baby was cleaned, the nurse handed him to Harvey who felt as if the breath has been knocked out of him at the sight of this tiny human.

He was so careful in bringing him, his son, over to Donna…who was now fully in tears. Donna carried him while Harvey put his arm around her. They looked at each other and Harvey did the only thing that was on his mind, he kissed Donna softly on the lips. Thank you.

Suddenly, the nurse said, "We need to bring Ms. Paulsen and the baby to the recovery rooms now."

Harvey looked at her, unmoving. "Sir, you can inform your party outside the good news. We'll page you when you can come back and see your baby and Ms. Paulsen."

Harvey nodded slowly, unwilling to part with the two of them. But at the nurses insistence, he exited but not before he placed another kiss to Donna's forehead.

..::..

Mike had been pacing for an hour now while Rachel sat slumped on a chair, her head resting on Sammy's shoulders; the man had his hand tangled on Harold's curls, who had taken three spots and was actually lying down and fast asleep. Jessica sat impeccably straight, coffee in hand, while Louis perused through a magazine.

This was the sight that greeted Harvey as he stepped back into the waiting area. The group became suddenly alert at the sight of him and he smiled at them, "We have a son. I'm a dad."

Everyone stood up as Mike took his chance and grabbed Harvey for a bear hug. "Congratulations."

"Thanks," Harvey said, as everyone around him smiled and greeted him.

Finally, Harvey's gaze fell upon 'George' who looked at him quite fearfully. But Sammy swallowed his apprehension and said, "Congratulations, Harvey. Do you think maybe I can try to explain?"

Harvey nodded, allowing himself to be led to a quiet corner away from the group; already understanding much of what has happened.

"First off," Sammy began, "my name is—"

"…Sammy," Harvey finished for him. At his astonished look, he added, "She slipped up once."

Sammy nodded and sighed, "I know it was wrong of me to help her in her ideas, but she's one of my best friends and I just had to, you know."

Harvey nodded his head, "Look, it's not your fault. And…and me and Donna, we'll talk; probably soon."

"Honesty," Sammy said suddenly, as Harvey was about to turn back to the group. "I know I have no right to say this to you, seeing as how we first met, but I think you both will benefit a lot from finally being honest with each other, about everything."

Harvey was about to respond when they heard his name being called over the intercom. So, he just clapped Sammy on the shoulder and said, "I know. C'mon, I want you to meet our son."

Upon returning to the group, Harvey learned that the rest would have to wait for Donna to feed their son first before they can all go in; but he, he was allowed in already.

He entered the room just as the nurse placed the baby on Donna's arms, having just finished breastfeeding. She had a clipboard lying on her lap and she indicated to Harvey to pick it up. It was for the baby's birth certificate.

He eyed Donna suspiciously, "We are not naming him Keith."

She rolled her eyes at him and smiled, "I know. I think you have a better name in my mind."

Harvey took the baby gently from her arms and looked at his son. He sighed, "Nicholas."

She nodded her head at him as the door to the room opened and in filed the cavalry. Louis seems to have bought an extravagant balloon from the gift shop for the baby while Rachel went for a more subtle teddy bear. The rest seems to have all bought stuff, too.

Harvey turned to all of them, showing them their new baby; beaming and proud, "Everyone, I would like you to meet Nicholas."

Donna touched his arm and smiled at her friends, "Nicholas Gordon Specter."

Harvey looked at her and swallowed, so glad that she had decided to honour his father in that way. She looked back at Harvey, knowing how much he appreciated what she had just done. "It's only fitting, Harvey," she said. "He was a big influence in both of our lives and I think this little guy will be, too."

The two hadn't broken eye contact yet and Rachel watched on and felt her eyes water a little. Mike, on the other hand, was way too excited. "Can I hold him?" he asked Harvey eagerly.

The older man looked at his associate, "Have you ever held a baby before, Mike?"

"No," Mike shook his head, "but neither have you and you seem to being fine."

Harvey relented and carefully placed Nicholas in Mike's arms; not really wanting to let his son out of his sight. "Hey there, little Harvey," Mike said.

Donna scoffed, "Sure, I do all the work and he gets all the credit!" Everyone laughed.

Mike looked at Donna apologetically, "Sorry, Donna. I'm sure to not let it happen next time."

"Next time," Donna exclaimed, looking at Harvey who was grinning at Mike. "What do you mean by next time?"

The younger man just shrugged and went on to hand the baby to Sammy's awaiting arms.

Meanwhile, Rachel and Jessica were at Donna's side; asking her how she felt and everything.

It was a happy hour or so, until the nurse poked her head in and said that visiting hours were actually over. The group piled out of the room grudgingly, with Louis handing Nicholas back to Donna complaining he had only held the baby for two minutes.

Harvey looked at the man apologetically and said, "I'm sure your wife will let you hold your own baby longer."

Louis just shook his head at Harvey as he exited, "Still not funny."

But Donna laughed, as Harvey closed the door. "You should sleep," he said to her.

"I have to feed him soon," she said, not really wanting to close her eyes for a minute for fear she would miss him too much. She had never felt this much love for anyone before. She never wanted to let him go.

"You don't want to let go of him, huh?" he said to Donna, reading her thoughts.

"No," she answered. "It's like I never want him out of my sight."

Harvey understood her feelings. He sat on the side of her bed, grabbing hold of his son's hand. "He's absolutely perfect," he said, as Nicholas' dark chocolate brown eyes stared back at him.

"I wonder if he'll have your hair or mine," Donna said out loud, lightly combing her hair through her son's current ginger-coloured hair.

"I think this colour suits him," Harvey said. "I just love him so much."

Donna stared at him, unaware of any other time that Harvey had openly declared love for another person. But she just nodded her head, "Me, too."

They stared at each other, knowing full well that things were not yet well between the two of them. They still had so much to fix, and damn it, Donna needed to know that they can…that they will. Certainly not for their sakes, but surely for Nicholas. It wasn't just about the two of them now, they had a responsibility.

Harvey seems to sense her thoughts again and said simply, "We will talk, Donna; just not here and not now."

She let out a breath, "He's depending on us, Harvey. We have someone depending on us."

Harvey nodded, knowing what she's saying. "I know," he answered reassuringly, "and no matter what happens, he always can."

No matter what happens. Donna didn't like the sound of those words.