(Beta'd) Notes: Thankyou to everyone, taking longer to get to the juice as I keep finding bits to write about. Enjoy.

Break the Silence – By Atheniandream

Chapter 6 - Somewhere, beyond the Sea

After the meeting with Jessica, Harvey's day had pretty much fallen into the same old lines; apart from Donna being absent; with Cameron once again having the pleasure of taking her place for the week, he was able to at least ignore the kid and concentrate on getting work done with Mike occasionally popping in with queries and questions and things for him to sign.

He could see Mike out of the corner of his eye perched on the sofa opposite; noted the door had been closed. The kid was up to something, lucky for Mike he was in a good mood.

"So…how did it go?" The young man asked; excitement clearly contained as his hands tapped a rhythm against his knees.

"She knew I came to see you, by the way?" Harvey eyed a glare at him before returning his gaze to the files Mike had brought him.

"Really? That woman is a bloodhound."

"That she is,"

"So ...?" Mike asked, inferring more to the story.

He signed the papers, giving them back to Mike. "May I remind you that we are at work? I know you're not an actual lawyer, but you are on the payroll," He reminded him.

"Oh come on! I'm not looking for details, I'm just…interested. I was told you were called in to see Jessica earlier?"

"Rachel?" Harvey asked. And here he thought that Donna was the only one with her finger on the pulse around here…

"No, Cameron told me; how'd it go?"

Finally deciding that Mike would not go away until he'd divulged the matter, and given that he had actually helped out on Saturday, he would at least give the kid some idea.

"She's giving us the rope,"

"To…hang yourselves with?"

"No, Genius, to figure things out."

"Oh… that kind of rope… well, good; that is good right?"

"Yeah it's good,"

"Well then, crisis averted, I guess."

"For now," he said, eyes fixing back to his paperwork.

Harvey Specter was a realist, he dealt in fact. And the fact was that shit could hit the fan at any time. He'd have to be ready for it. He noticed that Mike still hadn't moved from the spot. This kid just loved to annoy the hell out of him.

"Can I help you?"

"Oh, the Stanley versus Winters case: I've cracked it by the way, thanks for asking."

"Then start talking."

He'd noticed the spring in his own step; it helped him to ignore the people that were already looking at him like he was on fire; indeed word had flown around the firm before they had even opened this morning; but in retrospect it was no different from the long list of rumours since Donna had gotten fired that time; to Hardman kicking up the dust; him punching Tanner; Donna coming back again; the attacks on the firm AND Harvey having to settle and sign away each Senior partner's half a million like a chump. When you looked at it, this was just another day of scandal threatening to offset the fact that ever since the firm had been claimed 'Pearson Darby', he'd played nice and focused head long into continuing to kick the most ass out of anyone in the firm. His billables may not have exceeded Louis's but his seat at the table was firmly glued to him. Right now this was about damage limitation and most of all, figuring out a way for him and Donna to coexist between work and whatever the other side brought out in their personal lives.

He sauntered out of the building early, Ray & the Limo waiting alongside the street.

"Mr Specter,"

"Evening Ray," He smirked, handing a cd to his driver as he got into the car.

"How's the firm?"

"Good, how's the ball and chain?"

"Still dragging behind," He joked.

Harvey laughed at Ray's droll humour. He knew the guy loved his wife dearly, but he loved to down play it as if he was going home to a disaster instead of a beautiful wife and kids.

A moment of silence ticked between them; he could hear Ray on the edge of a question.

"How is Ms Paulsen?"

"She's…good,"

"I'm sorry, about the other-"

He waved him off in the mirror, "Don't even worry about it. I know for a fact that Donna coerced you into driving off."

"She is a… persuasive woman,"

"Yeah, she is." He agreed, a knowing smile on his lips as they continued to drive in silence, the dynamic Jazz of John Coltrane playing through the car.

When he walked in to his apartment, she was laid on the couch quietly reading, her eyes raising above her book as he walked up to her. Without so much as a word, he knelt on the couch between her legs, snaking one hand around her waist as his lips descended on hers. His chest pressed her book between them, a hand finding his hair until he pulled away, leaving her blushing and a little taken aback as he settled on the seat next to her with a look of satisfaction.

"You're early. How was it?" She asked, trying to seem unfazed by the fact that he'd left work strangely early.

"I dodged a bullet today, which means we dodged a bullet today." He tapped her legs as she laid them on his lap.

"Jessica…was…?" She asked.

"She wants to know what we decide to do by Monday; both of us." He clarified.

"That's…well, better than I expected."

"Yeah it is, hence why I'm early. I think we should celebrate," He said.

"What do you have in mind?" She narrowed her eyes, suspicious.

"Dinner; anywhere you want."

"There's only one problem with that; I don't have anything to wear that doesn't make me look like I have a serious case of 'The Hampton's'."

"Well, if you can tear yourself away from," he stopped to look at the cover, facing scrunching at the title. "World War Z; then we can go to 5th and pick you something up."

"Wow, you want to go out that badly that you're willing to…take me shopping? You're starting to worry me."

"Look I don't care what you wear, but I know what you're like. You'll complain the whole way through dinner unless you look fabulous, and let's be honest here; you love to shop. So, let's go."

He knew he had her when she had no comeback and grabbed her bag.

It turns out that she wasn't a complete nightmare when it came to shopping. Donna always had a strong definition of what she wanted; her coffee order was lengthy but specific. He supposed that she gave him a break by not being quite as specific as that. She'd immediately jumped out at Jimmy Choo before 5th. He rolled down the window of the limo.

"Wait, take my card," He called out to her as she all but darted out to the store.

She immediately threw a hand on her hip, mock disgust on her face. "Put your money away, Specter." She said.

"Donna, I'm not trying to be a dick, but you just paid for a wedding that you didn't have, just take it." He reasoned. She was impossible.

"And don't you think I'd have taken some money with me to Tuscany?"

She eyed him until he cracked. He gave her the same withered look he gave her whenever she coerced him into agreeing with something that he was fervently against.

Just as he rolled up the window shaking his head, she knocked on the door, frustration growing as he had to press the button again; waiting for the window to slowly roll back down.

"And besides… this is where I spend all your bonuses," She said, squaring him with that trademark devilish look of hers, as she sauntered off.

She walked out of Jimmy Choos after only five minutes.

"Saks, 5th Avenue please, Ray."

"Saks? In rush hour? You won't make it out of there alive," He questioned, one hundred percent sure she wouldn't make it out of there in less than 20.

"I'll be fifteen minutes, if that." She countered, game face on. The penny dropped.

"You know exactly what dress you're getting don't you?" he accused.

"I'm not saying anything," She answered coolly, a blank expression of innocent on her face.

"You've already tried it on." He accused.

"Oh, ye of little faith…" She condescended, patting his knee. He knew she had some sort of plan when she didn't leave her shoes with him.

He realised why that expression riled him so much. It was her victory face; for whenever she was right, or had one up against him. It made him want to declare a rematch, kiss her and fuck her senseless all in the same second.

When he dropped her off at Saks, he only had to round the block a few times in the rush hour traffic until she called him. He got out of the car, ignoring the blocked traffic around them, leaning casually against the doorjamb of the limo waiting for her.

And god, had he waited; and not just for tonight.

She'd managed to get dressed in Saks – he had no idea how, she definitely had her secrets - into an electric blue one shoulder number, with a large pleated train on one shoulder and gold heels with the sharpest stiletto he'd ever seen; so sharp it looked like a weapon. Her red hair was pinned up on one side – that bag of hers was full of surprises – and he'd noticed she'd also picked up a gold clutch to replace her large bag and a pair of gold earrings.

"What do you think?" She asked, showing him the back.

"Screw dinner, let's go…home." His deadpanned words caused her to laugh as he silently held the door for her to get in.

"I've just had to buy a whole outfit and do my makeup in half an hour. We are going to dinner." She ordered.

He leaned into her, lips grazing her ear. "I know you're wearing that flowery underwear under there," He said under his breath, the air warm against her cheek. She'd been complaining that everything in her suitcase looked far to summery for spring.

She turned her head a little, eyes holding his, lips glossy and pouting. "Who says I'm wearing anything…" She said, ruining the moment by cocking an eyebrow.

Even in the moment that dripped with sex, she still knew how to make him belly laugh.

Donna Paulsen would be the death of him…

"Ray, turn around, change of-" He started.

"Ray, do not turn around. In a second Harvey is going to pick a restaurant." She quickly countered.

He'd already had this restaurant picked out for her birthday dinner before anything had ever changed between them, but the moment he'd decided that they needed to celebrate, 'Le Bernardin' on 51st seemed like the perfect choice. She let him choose in the end and he'd had Cameron make the reservation anyway just in case she hadn't thought of anywhere, so everything was waiting for them when they arrived.

"Wow. This is…" She said, walking into the foyer.

"I was going to take you for your birthday; but somehow this seems a more appropriate time," he said, handing his coat to the cloakroom attendant.

"Really? Well, regardless, Harvey, I would have loved it anyway." She smiled, taking in the dark wooden panelling, the large square vases with dozens of Calla Lilies and tropical plants; the main feature in the large room being a tinted photos of a rushing tide and and a geometric installation in blues and greys alongside the main wall.

"I realise that fish seems to be a major food theme for us." He smiled at her, and she stifled her laughter as the Maître d' seated them. "Well if I can't cook it on a first try, then someone's got to," She said.

The rest of the evening swam by as they laughed; he recounted his day and the details of his conversation with Jessica; onto Cameron stepping on eggshells after being reassigned back to her desk for a week, much to his dismay.

"That kid is walking on eggshells, I'll tell you that much,"

"Well, I'll tell you, if I go back next week and he's rearranged my schedule I'm going to find him and kick his little white ass."

"I'll make sure Mike keeps an eye."

"Good. This Lobster Brioche is exquisite by the way, good choice." She smiled, taking a sip of her wine.

"I know, the wine goes really well too,"

"Yeah, their attention to detail here is great. I'm going to have to tell Rachel about it."

They decided to leave a little earlier, both still tired from the weekend and well fed. Harvey waited outside the building and callee Ray, whilst Donna took a bathroom break. Just as he looked up he spied none other than Rachel herself.

"Rachel Zane; we were just talking about you; howsit going?"

"Harvey; fancy seeing you here... where's Donna?" She asked, her expression a little guarded.

"Bathroom; where's your prom-date?" He joked; they both knew he was referring to Mike.

She rolled her eyes, pushing her hair to one side, as she seemed to do when she was self-conscious. "My Dad, actually, is meeting me here. I've wanted to try it for ages-Donna!" She said, as Donna joined them, toying with the hem of her skirt.

"Hey Rachel!" She said. "I was just saying to-"

He caught her millisecond of a pause as she looked at him, suddenly lost. It lasted not more than a second longer as she continued, animated once more. "to Harvey, that you would LOVE this place. They actually care about matching wine and food in there; are you going in?" She asked.

"Yeah, my Dad booked us a table. Well guys, it was great seeing you, Donna you look amazing. Have a great evening." She said, very reservedly. The silent 'call me' she flung to Donna wasn't lost on him either, as Rachel made her goodbyes, heading inside.

"You okay?" He said; suspicion rising as she refused to acknowledge what had just happened.

"Fine, just… too much wine; let's go." She said, taking his arm.

He knew she was hiding something, because she drank like a fish and had the tolerance of a line-backer.

'The world is going up in flames,

And nobody wanna take the blame,

Don't tell me how to live my life,

When you never felt the pain' ~ The World (Is going up in flames) ~ Charles Bradley & Menahan Street Band

He watched her in the mirror of his dresser as she took off her earrings, then undid the pins holding her hair in, letting it drape over her strapless shoulder causing the neck of his shirt to feel a little too tight as he undid the top button.

He was still pissed that she hadn't been honest about her little wobble in front of Rachel. Something was going on and it was making him irritable. His attention was brought back once she started speaking.

"I'm going home tomorrow; to Cortland, for a few days." She said into the mirror.

"Oh." He replied, "Why didn't you tell me earlier?" He asked, eyes piercing in the mirror.

"Because… I didn't want it to ruin the evening."

"Why would that ruin it?" His tone grated as he threw his tie into the laundry bin.

"Because of how you're being right now," she said over her shoulder,

Her restrained, almost disconnected nature was only riling him all the more.

"And how exactly am I being?" He threw at her.

"You know exactly, Harvey," Her eyes flashed at him.

"Is this about what happened outside the restaurant. With Rachel?"

"No," She said defensively; familiarly quick; she was hiding something; the truth of it ran in his blood, dancing alongside the wine.

He didn't want to ask her if she was having second thoughts but it sat on the edge of his tongue like a mosquito ready to sink its little horn in.

She reined her anger in a touch. "Look, I'll be back on Friday; but I need to see my family; seeing as they spent a lot of money coming to New York to attend a wedding that never happened I owe them that at least."

"Fine." He sighed, undoing his cufflinks with more than the necessary force required.

He knew he was being unreasonable about it; but she'd just told him that for the remainder of the week that she would have been here with him she would now be away, in Cortland, and knowing her she'd have an apartment sorted by the time she came back. He worried that she'd move back out, settle her life again and they'd go back to how they had been before any of this mess had started. It left him irritable and choked with excuses for her to stay. He sighed, knowing he was being unreasonable.

"Look, go for as long as you want. I get it; I just..." He huffed, having an issue with the last cufflink, amongst other things.

A smile appeared in her eyes as she seemed to change tact, an almost revelation softening her as she turned to him, hands undoing the cufflink and then playing with the buttons of his shirt. Her actions stopped any conviction in him dead in his tracks as he succumbed to allowing her to take over.

"Harvey; this isn't about you. This isn't about us. This is about me seeing my parents and them knowing that I'm okay."

"Okay." He wasn't sure that he believed her, but she did a pretty good job of disarming him anyway. She pushed past his bullishness and wrapped his arms arm her, hers finding his face.

"Plus my boss is this real hardass; so I only get one week to fit all it in." She said; that devilish look in her eyes.

If there was anything to learn this week, it was that he had to be honest with her.

"Donna, you balked when you saw her, because I was there."

"Harvey," She objected, her voice barely a whisper though.

"We need to talk about it." He pressed, trying not to lose his cool.

"I…I did balk." She finally admitted. "Because, I realised that we've been living in this little two-person bubble for three days; and there's a whole life out there that I've been avoiding. Friends, Work. So I have to go home, see my family, and then sort that all out."

"Okay," His reply was softer, this time, lips finding hers.

See, it was easy when she let her walls down too. They could both stand out in the emotional cold together.

"You really weren't lying about going commando, were you?" He mumbled seductively into her ear.

"Pervert," She threw at him.

'There's something inside me,

That just won't let me be

Something inside me,

That just won't let me be

My baby's gone and left me

And my Hearts in misery' ~ 'The Sky is Crying' By Elmore James

Notes:

Here are the bits, I took ages (Went shopping for myself in the end, God damn you Saks) picking for Donna, for anyone who can, I'd love one of those outfit graphics for Tumblr. Gold Clutch and Earrings too would totally make my day. ;)

For anyone who's interested, I'll post them on tumblr redwineonavanillaskye on suitsusa