A/N - Okay, so first off, I want to make the biggest and sincerest apology ever. I started this fic with the best of intentions but have just gone through one of the most intense exam periods of my life which meant I had to focus on other things for a bit. I now have a free summer and I really would love to carry it on, if you're all still interested? Can't wait for the start of the series next week. It's so exciting.

Rachel had always found that the inside of Donna's apartment was very comforting and homely. The walls were a calming cream colour with canvases displaying bright artwork of which matched Donna's vibrant and ecstatic personality. It suited the redhead wonderfully. That night, candles were lit on the fireplace, giving a sense of warmth and filling the flat with a beautiful aroma of clean laundry.

Rachel still felt the tension from the night's events but was beginning to relax from her earlier state. As she entered, Donna put a supportive arm around her best friend and guided her in. Rachel appreciated the feeling that she was not alone.

They sat together on the leather sofa facing each other and Rachel described what had happened. She just managed to keep herself together as Donna passed her a glass of Wine.

When Rachel had finished, there was a comfortable silence in which they pondered what to say. Her thoughts began to turn darker. She felt a rise of panic again. What if Mike didn't come back?

"I never should have told him." She had to discuss this with Donna. Donna knew everything.

"Rachel, there is no use thinking that." She gave Rachel a warm smile but there was still doubt and pity in the auburns expression.

"What if he doesn't forgive me?" Rachel fought to keep herself in check. She couldn't handle anymore crying this evening.

"You don't know that he won't."

"You don't know that he will. And you're the one that said it will bore a hole in his head." She referred to their previous conversation. Maybe she should have listened to Donna. This evening was the worst time to tell Mike about what had happened but she hadn't been able to hide it any longer.

"And you're the one that said you should trust him with the truth anyway." Rachel was too exhausted to argue. Her brain was bubbling with worry and anxiety. She really didn't want to be left alone with her thoughts when they were so irrational.

"He walked out! I can't just…" Donna cut her off.

"Stay here the night? Course you can." Rachel smiled at her friend, trying to express her gratitude. Donna pulled Rachel into a hug, and they settled in for the night together. There was nothing more that Rachel could do about it now. She told Mike, nothing would change that. And it actually filled her with some relief to know that part of the guilt was gone. That it was out there.

"Rachel, listen to me." Donna's voice was both firm and soft at the same time. Rachel was absorbed in her warm hazel eyes. They relayed the seriousness of the situation.

"Mike loves you. Thats obvious. And you love him. That is also obvious. He'd be silly to throw this away over something as stupid as a kiss. You just have to give him the time to recognise that." And with Donna's words, Rachel finally felt at peace with her decision.

-SUITS-

Harvey and Mike spent a relaxing evening in. It was already late when Mike had turned up at the apartment and they had taken a while to explain what had happened and to calm down/sort Mike's injuries out.

Once the rush was over, a growl from Mike's abdomen reminded him that he had not got round to eating dinner that evening. Harvey insisted on ordering them both a pizza as he hadn't long been in since a meeting with a client. Instead of using up all of Harvey's scotch collection, Mike grabbed a couple of beers from the fridge and they settled down to watch 'the Shawshank Redemption' which was being broadcast on TV.

Harvey set up the bed in his spare room that doubled as a study area for Mike and lent him some clothes to sleep in. One was an old Harvard hoodie incase he got cold and Mike had made the most of statements regarding the irony behind this.

Although they were both joking and laughing, Harvey had realised that Mike wasn't quite himself. His usual carefree smirk was tighter and more forced and all the jokes he made seemed fake in an effort to keep upbeat. Also, he had noticed that Mike kept clutching his head when he moved too quickly and he forced some more painkillers down the kids throat before they both headed to bed. Harvey made a note to check up on him before he left early for work in the morning. He was worried about the kid, almost as it he was a little brother. He felt awful that he hadnt been there to protect Mike and was just hoping that Logan had come out of it worse off.

Mike couldn't sleep. He checked his phone for the millionth time at around 3am and had 5 missed calls from Rachel. But there was no way he could rationally talk to her at this present time. He tossed and turned all night, feeling bruised and sore but still triumphant that he had gotten the better of Logan. Everytime he shut his eyes, his imagination run away with images of the dirty rat and Rachel kissing, engulfed in each others arms.

What was it he had said to Mike? "she didn't just like it, she loved it." Was it just a taunt or did Rachel actually love it? There was no way he could just let this go. He would have to find out in the morning.

He was still awake when the light started filtering through into Harvey's spare bedroom and the city started buzzing with noise. He lied for a moment, pondering what to do with the day. He was terrified at the thought of talking to Rachel; something that would either make or break their relationship. She had told him that it didn't mean anything but he had a really bad feeling about the whole situation. If the worst happened, how long would Harvey let him stay here? He couldn't go back to their apartment, it would be too difficult to leave again and would bring back too many unwanted memories.

His busy and tired mind finally gave way to sleep and he dozed off for about an hour before he was awoken by the sound of Harvey's alarm in the other room. Mike pulled the pillow over his head wanting to go back to sleep and escape the world for a few more hours but he was reawaken by the sound of Harvey entering his room.

"How you feeling?" Harvey left some painkillers and water on the side and Mike sat up to take them. Did he sense sincerity underlying Harvey's gruff morning voice?

"I'm fine," Mike lied.

"Ohh really? You look like you've been run over by a bus. Actually, scratch that. More like an 18 wheeler."

Harvey laughed at Mike's pout.

"I'm just getting in the shower and then heading out to work. By all means, go back to sleep. You're going to need the beauty with that shiner." Harvey pointed at Mike's eye and smirked but Mike could sense the tension behind it. Harvey was visibly angered.

His tone changed and he smiled at Mike's sleep deprived shape. "I'll leave a spare key on the table." He whispered before heading towards the bathroom and leaving the kid in peace.

Mike rolled back over but didn't go back to sleep. He pulled himself out of bed with some minor aches and got changed. When he turned to face the mirror, he realised what Harvey was talking about. His face had looked bad last night and although his nose had healed nicely, he was still left with a mixture of blue, black and yellow on his left eyelid and a small cut on his forehead. He groaned at the time (6:30am) and then went to make some coffee.

When Harvey reappeared, fully dressed in a three-piece suit and tie, he handed him a coffee and some cereal. Harvey cocked his eyebrow at him.

"What are you doing up?"

Mike smirked, "I could say the same to you, when are you ever on time for work?"

"I have an important case going on lately. Need to keep up together with it, especially as Louis is partnering with me." He made a face of disgust.

"Awe, you miss me." Mike laughed nonchantly at Harvey's face. "You mind if I catch a lift you a Ray?" He stopped laughing and looked away at Harvey's questioning expression.

"I need to sort some things out," Mike said under his breath.

Comments and reviews are all welcome, good or bad. This is my first official fiction and I really would love to hear your thoughts on the story and where to go. Hope you're all well, will definitely be updating soon:)