Okay, so you're all getting this early because I'm afraid I won't be back before the internet is used up. So, here you go! I'm very glad you all seem to have liked the last chapter, so I hope you like this one. We're almost at the end, folks! Have a good read and for we Americans: Happy Fourth of July!
Harvey glared at Donna as he gathered up the shattered remains of one of his more expensive glass art works.
The redhead was busily sweeping up the patch of floor not covered in debris, looking entirely innocent and amused.
"It's not funny," Harvey growled at her.
She gave a look of shock. "Was I laughing?"
"Yes," he said angrily.
She gave in to a new fit of giggles then, and Harvey was forced to recall how Mike had run from the place like he was liable to catch the plague any moment as Donna laughed loudly at the whole situation.
"What are you doing here, anyway?"
"You invited me, if you remember," she said coolly, wiping tears from her eyes. "I must say, though, I never thought you'd actually bat for the other team."
Harvey scoffed at the expression as he was personally offended for some reason. "I'm not batting for the—that's the stupidest expression and I refuse to use it."
"Do I detect a subject change?" She gave him a bright cheery smile from over the broom handle and continued to sweep the already clean space.
Harvey picked up a particularly sharp piece of the shattered vase as he turned to face her. "I'm not changing the subject. How did I supposedly invite you over?"
"I need an invitation now? I thought we'd maybe watch a movie, which I guess is off the table now, considering the state of your television." Harvey followed her gaze over to the now upright screen. It had a gaping hole in the screen that would be nice if one wished to see what the inside looked like. The thing was useless. "I must say, you two certainly had quite a bit of fun for people with their clothes still on."
"You're a riot."
"I am, aren't I?" she said and gave him a wink.
Harvey rolled his eyes in exasperation. He tightened his fist in frustration, yelping when the sharp edge of vase bit into his palm. "Damn it!" he growled and dropped the thing, causing it break into three smaller, more lethal bits. At least he wasn't bleeding.
Donna threw him a sympathetic look. "Maybe you should ask your boyfriend to kiss it better," she sang softly.
That's it! Harvey thought, rising to his feet, only slightly wincing at the sting of the cuts Stuart had made across his legs. "He's not my—" Harvey stopped himself, refusing to be baited. "You realize you just destroyed any hope I had of fixing this and those cursed creatures?" he said instead in a steady, quiet rage, gesturing to the mess around them.
Donna looked pensive for a moment. "Oh, was that Mike? He was running so fast I barely recognized him…"
Harvey rolled his eyes at her and resumed his cleaning.
"Oops!" she said, not sounding even slightly sorry. "Wait, I thought you didn't believe in that kind of thing."
"I don't."
"So why was he here, then?"
Harvey gritted his teeth. "Maybe he just enjoys the pleasure of my company."
"Really? Because he told me that he hates you. I believe his words were 'self-centered, arrogant, uncaring bastard.'"
Harvey's chest tightened at her words and he recalled what Mike had said about him as they were getting out of Harvey's car.
"Look, I just gave him a ride from the zoo and he was too out of it to give me his address. End of discussion. So either clean in silence or get out!" he yelled at Donna, remembering too late that yelling at his assistant was a step on the road to making life a living hell. But surprisingly, the woman was silent; the swish of the broom had paused and Harvey couldn't help his gaze finding her face.
She looked worried, of all things. "You took him to the zoo?"
"No. I happened to see him there while I was talking to Jason Pullman about the tiger exhibit." Harvey studied Donna's slightly horrified expression. "Why? What's it matter? You'd think the man who loves animals to the point of committing fraud in the hopes of becoming disturbingly closer to them would love the zoo."
Donna shook her head. "You're both idiots," she said softly and returned—silently, this time—to sweeping the floor.
"Donna," Harvey called, hoping for an explanation. She ignored him. So he glared at her for a full five minutes.
"What?" she finally asked, sounding distracted.
He sighed. Why did he care so much? Why did he care at all? "Why doesn't he like the zoo?"
She didn't answer for a minute or two. Finally: "You'll have to ask him."
"I'll never see the damn kid again after today. I doubt even if I told him my moronic pets were about to commit suicide by leaping from my balcony he would ever come back here." Harvey hated the pained feeling that statement caused him. He wanted to see Mike again, and he hated that he wanted to.
"I'm sure if you ask nicely," Donna began.
Harvey just gave her a scathing look.
Donna sighed heavily. "Fine, I'll take care of it."
Harvey returned to his cleaning, refusing to acknowledge the stunted happiness bubbling inside him at the thought of him seeing Mike again.
"Huh," she said quietly.
Harvey knew he was going to regret asking. "What now?"
"Nothing."
He chose to accept that as an answer. Unfortunately, Donna seemed intent on ridiculing him now that he'd displayed interest.
"Didn't think he was your type, you know, on account of him not being a woman. Or easy. Or heartless. Or—"
"I get the point Donna," Harvey interrupted hastily.
She gave him a wicked grin and set the broom down to pick up Harvey's now squished and completely destroyed Star Trek: Original Series signed box set he'd gotten as a gift from George Takei a few years ago after Harvey had helped him out with the Devious Sponge incident. "Oh, Harvey," she said sadly.
Harvey grimaced as he looked at the sad thing. He definitely did not let out a pathetic whimper.
"Don't worry. We'll give it a proper burial," Donna said, sniffling a little and letting out a small mocking smile.
Harvey most certainly did not have anything already in mind about funeral pyres. Nope. Definitely not.