Author's Note: Oh goodness. I just watched the newest episode. Can we please all appreciate for a second that there was a Dr. Phil joke involved? Sorry this one is kind of short, but it was a good spot to end it.

It's all in good fun, right? Don't sue me.

Jessica did win. Well, the firm called it a win. After 2 million in damages and an official (if sealed) reprimand of Harvey from the New York Bar Association it didn't feel like one.

Harvey didn't take it well. Jessica informing him that he'd be paying back every cent of those fines in sweat and that his billables better beat out Louis' next month (and every month) didn't exactly help. He poured himself into the law with a dedication Mike would've called fanaticism in anybody else. Harvey regularly beat Mike to the office, and stayed well after most of even the most junior associates had gone home. Whatever time was left after that was devoted to schmoozing clients and maybe (although it appeared to Mike to be rarely) some sleep.

Harvey managed his own schedule right up until the settlement of the case (Read: exactly three days) before he was informed of the impending changes to his work regimen. Then a wispy brunette by the name of Maybelle moved into Donna's desk, supplied by the temp agency.

Mike loathed her, and not just because Harvey had apparently given her strict orders to not let Mike into his office. Nobody would ever replace Donna, and it struck Mike as futile to try. It didn't help that she greeted him every morning with a stack or box or boxes of files with sticky notes attached. Instructions from Harvey lacking even a single unnecessary syllable. Behind the files was always Maybelle's smiling face as she told him "No, Mr. Specter is busy," in her light southern accent.

"He's not here," Mike returned flatly, "I need to drop this on his desk."

"I'm sorry Mr. Ross," and she really did seem sorry, which just pissed Mike off further, "Mr. Specter told me he didn't want anyone in there while he was gone. Especially you."

"Especially me," Mike repeated stupidly before giving his head a quick shake and dropping the file in front of her, "Fine. See that he gets that."

Not a foot around the corner from Harvey's office, Mike nearly strode into Louis.

"Why are you lurking?" Mike's eyes narrowed as he surveyed Louis and the hallway beyond.

"I couldn't help but overhear," Louis replied smoothly, ignoring Mike's comment, "I'm concerned."

"And what are you concerned about, Louis?" Mike sneered, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I am concerned that the best associate at the firm is being... underutilized. What's goin' on, Mike?" Louis nodded in the direction of Harvey's office, sporting the rodent like look that always said he was trying to ferret out information. Mike scoffed.

"I'm sorry, Louis. Are you here out of concern for my wellbeing, or because you want the dirt on what's going on with Harvey?" He asked scornfully. Louis' lip twitched at the tone, but he pressed on.

"You two were partners in crime for a minute there, and now you're not allowed in the inner sanctum even when Dad's gone. Seriously, Mike. I know you didn't screw up a case, because I'd know. Everyone would know. So why the cold shoulder?" Louis' voice was conversational, but the question wasn't.

"I don't know, Louis. Like you said, I'm not privy to that kind of sensitive information," Mike shot back, though the sinking feeling in his stomach told him he might know exactly why, "I have work to do."

Mike stalked back to his cubicle, viciously shaking off the restraining hand Louis tried to lay on his arm. The ringing phone that greeted him at his desk just sounded like bad news.

Harvey had just returned from his breakfast meeting when Mike marched into his office. Harvey glanced past him; Maybelle wasn't at her desk. Of course. He gave the girl one job. Harvey resisted the urge to roll his eyes and instead focused on the tense form pacing across his office.

"I almost wish you'd go back to staring," Mike announced, stopping directly in front of Harvey's desk with his arms locked across his chest and an inscrutable look on his face.

"What?" It was a poor, nonspecific question, but it was the only one Harvey was capable of asking.

"Really, I thought you looking at me all the time like you saw all of me and none of me at the same time was as bad as it could get. As it turns out, being ignored is worse," Mike explained tightly, barely containing the slight shift in his hips as he spoke. There was a blankness behind Harvey's eyes that made it hard to breath.

"I'm not ignoring you. I've been bu-"

"Busy? You don't say. I was wondering where Maybelle got that line. How could I not have known that she was quoting world renown linguist Harvey Specter!" Mike spat. He couldn't help himself; his insides hurt.

"If there's no purpose for your visit past squalling at me, I suggest you go back to your desk," Harvey intoned dismissively, opening his laptop.

"I've been getting up every goddamn day, putting on a suit, and coming to work. For you. Because that's what adults do, Harvey. Adults square up and bow their heads and push. It'd be great if you could check back in and do the same," Mike replied, a blatant refusal of Harvey's order.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me."

"Seventy hour work weeks and three new clients in the past month aren't me squaring up and pushing, Mike? Where the hell do you get off-"

"You're supposed to trust me!" Mike exploded, his arms flying out as he forced the words out of his chest, "You're supposed to tell me what the hell is going on so that I can help you and instead you've got some Southern Belle playing bouncer and handing me files with no context! So no, the Harvey I know hasn't shown up for work. Will you let me know if that guy needs my help?"

Harvey wasn't sure what to do with the wave of guilt that rushed over him at the strain in Mike's voice, the desperate confusion in his eyes. So he ignored it and looked at Mike levelly.

"You don't know me," he said quietly, lips barely moving as he spoke.

"Harvey," Mike started lamely, sounding suddenly exhausted. His shoulders sagged as he slumped into himself, all the fight drained out of him, "Please, just listen to-"

"Get out."

Mike went.