A/N: This doesn't directly fit into canon, but I am keeping some major plot points in the show the same. I am by no means an expert of the law. Anyway, here's a Harvey-centric chapter! Hope y'all understand where he's coming from and don't hate him in this story.

CORNERED

2.

"You say Jessica left the firm on her own accord, abandoning her team I might add, to start fresh. I see no reason you and Louis shouldn't also let go of anything pulling you under," Paula reasoned.

The two had come home to Harvey's apartment after dinner at a five-star steakhouse and a bottle of Cabernet. 'Three hundred dollar bottle, not six hundred, Donna,' he clarified to himself, rebutting her accusation from the other night in the elevator. Although, he had bought two...

Harvey leaned forward on his black leather couch, resting his head in his hands. He needed to keep his head in the game, no distractions. Stanley Gordon was only an obstacle to sending off Jessica properly. Gordon Schmidt Van Dyke, Pearson Hardman, Pearson Darby, Pearson Darby Specter, Pearson Specter, Pearson Specter Litt. God, they'd had more name changes than his thrice-divorced aunt. Odds were that Gordon only wanted his name back on the door to stick it to Jessica.

When he looked up, he saw Paula lounging on the chair across from him, an elbow on the armrest with her hand in her hair. The setup was eerily similar to their sessions last year. Generally, Harvey had a talent for having tunnel vision when it came to life-or-death situations. This time was different, for a reason he couldn't quite pinpoint.

"She's not a martyr, Harvey," Paula continued, likely sensing his proclivity to protect Jessica. "You may see her as a maternal figure, largely due to your complex relationship with your true mother, but it's causing you to cling to her. It's time to let go."

Donna's words were gnawing at his mind. Was Paula still acting like his therapist? Play the man, those were his words to live by. He could read people like an open book. But when Harvey studied his girlfriend's expression, he knew she wasn't playing him. Paula's eyes were pure, and her genuine concern for him was evident.

Harvey smiled. "You're right," he replied earnestly. Paula may not understand the technical intricacies of the situation or follow the lawyer jargon, but her point stood. He needed to let go of Jessica to succeed on his own.

"If Gordon just wants revenge on Jessica, I think that's a dish I can serve pretty cold," Harvey concluded. He always did have a flare for the dramatics.

Paula giggled at Harvey's twist on the expression, but she was clearly satisfied with herself, understandably so. He knew he wasn't exactly the easiest to persuade. Her influence was his saving grace, his voice of reason, during this difficult transition period for the firm. His colleagues at Pearson Specter Litt had a tendency to give unsolicited advice 24/7 during any conflict. For reference, there was always a conflict.

Harvey arrived at work at 8:00 a.m. the next morning (the last one in the office) and immediately got to work crafting a press release. An hour later, he hand delivered the document to Louis. The other name partner scanned the document slowly with his lips pursed.

"Well? Do I have your approval?" Harvey finally asked, attempting to make eye contact with Louis's excessively squinted eyes. The man was a tad unpredictable, and Harvey was bracing himself for a potential meltdown. The press release essentially snubbed Jessica, blaming her for the firm's recent misfortune.

"No, yeah, for sure, ostracize the two most important women in your life at the same time for an incompetent clown who brings shame to the great name of therapy," Louis spoke his words in crescendo. By the end of the sentence, he was all but screaming. Harvey was taken aback by the accusation. Why did Louis bring Donna into this? And more importantly, why did he assume Paula was to blame?

"Is there something you want to say to me, Louis?" Harvey asked, his anger building.

"You sit on your goddamn throne all high and mighty, invincible, right? But you're just like me," Louis challenged loudly. He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment and briefly averted his eyes, seemingly calming himself down. In a more stable tone, he continued, "Harvey, I have spent years trying to befriend Stan with no avail. I get it, she understands you better than anyone, but it's not because she's your soulmate. It's because you opened up to her, and she has professional training to psychoanalyze you. You never would have even opened up to her in the first place were it not a controlled environment."

Harvey didn't believe for one second that Louis crafted that theory on his own. Sure, Louis had grown and matured over the past few years, but he wasn't a mind-reader. Only one of his colleagues would qualify as such.

"Did Donna talk to you about this?" Harvey inquired, but he already knew the answer. Any guilt he'd been harboring from his harsh words in the elevator vanished on the spot. It was one thing to question the integrity of his relationship to his face, but to manipulate their friend into turning on him? That was on another level.

"So what if she did? Harvey, listen to me..." Louis was still talking, but Harvey couldn't hear him anymore. His heart was beating rapidly. He desperately wanted to storm into Donna's office and curse her out, but his shoes were glued to the floor beneath him. He couldn't manage to tune into Louis's voice, the ringing was too loud. Using all of his strength, Harvey lifted his left foot and walked out of the office, heading straight towards the bathroom. His vision was spotty, and his chest was tight.

Harvey threw up the second he entered the stall. He moved to the sinks, splashing some water on his face and swishing some around in his mouth. Slowly, his chest loosened up and mind regained focus. He made his way back to his own office, where Mike was waiting for him.

"Not now, Mike," Harvey mumbled, hoping his underling would take the hint and leave.

"I don't think you should publish that press release," Mike declared. He didn't have a talent for taking hints, even if the hint was practically a direct order.

Harvey trudged to his desk and took a seat, running a hand down his face. "I've just about had it with everyone offering up their irrelevant opinions on every decision I make."

Mike squinted his eyes, clearly trying to assess Harvey's mood. "I don't know, Harvey, I think Louis's opinion is arguably pretty relevant for this decision," he suggested sardonically.

"Trust me, his opinion was far from professional. I assume it's your turn to condemn my relationship?"

Mike made a face. "Why does Louis care about your personal life?" he questioned, confused.

"Because Donna decided he did. Apparently, I'm the only one who can say no to her," he explained lamely. "Now, get the hell out of my office and get your ass back to work." Mike obeyed for the time being, but Harvey was well aware that this conversation wasn't over.

Harvey found his emotions unsettling, and he couldn't help but express them as anger. The animosity he carried towards Donna felt like a wrench to his heart. He felt this strange itch that he hadn't felt in over a year, an itch to talk to his therapist about her. 'Paula's not your therapist anymore. She's your girlfriend,' Harvey reminded himself. Ironically, that only made him feel more alone than ever.

About two minutes after Mike left the office, he marched right back in. "I think I made a mistake," he admitted. If the young lawyer had barged back in there to confess to screwing up a case, Harvey was going to fire him on the spot.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but something happened between you and Donna. You've been a complete and total ass to her since the night that..." Mike trailed off for a moment, averting his eyes.

"Spit it out."

"The night that I may have, just may have, told Donna it was now or never," Mike finished bashfully.

"Well, would you look at that, another one of my coworkers meddling in my personal life," Harvey yelled. He pushed away any conflicting thoughts about which roles Paula was occupying in his life. The nerve that Mike had was unbelievable, interfering with their lives like he was some sort of matchmaker. Nevertheless, Donna had a mind of her own, and it was her choice to kiss him.

"I'm sorry, Harvey, I really am, but 'coworkers'? Harvey, we're your friends, and we just want the two of you to be happy," Mike explained.

"How about you stop playing cupid and mind your own business?" Harvey suggested. Mike looked as if he wanted to fight back, but he sighed and put his hands up in surrender, exiting the room for the second time.

Harvey read over the press release one last time and emailed it to every news outlet worth their salt. He could ask Louis for forgiveness later. Besides, the other name partner had some apologizing to do, too. The firm was in desperate need of a fresh start, and restructuring would allow them to let Jessica go for good. Smearing her name in New York seemed like a small price to pay. The woman had fled to Chicago, anyway.

Satisfied with himself, Harvey decided to get himself a bagel and give Gordon the good news in person. Unfortunately, his meeting with Gordon didn't go as planned. The old man was cryptic about his reasons, but his thirst for revenge clearly wasn't quenched by the press release. When he reached the office, he ran into Donna in the lobby. He didn't have time for this.

"Harvey, I know you don't want to talk to me, but you need to get over it and listen to me," Donna ordered him bluntly. This better be important. Harvey stopped in his tracks and looked into her eyes. Why did the guilt rush back to him the second he saw her worried expression? Her eyebrows were upturned, and her stance was weak, even if her words were strong.

"The secretary at Rand Kaldor Zane, she overheard some of the partners gossiping about a merger with Pearson Specter Litt. Gordon's name was mentioned," Donna revealed. "I don't know what this means, but we have to fix it." Harvey couldn't spell out Gordon's plans, but he knew the firm was getting played.

"Don't do anything, Donna, okay? I'll handle it," he said, leaving her in the lobby and rushing to the elevators.

Something must have possessed him, because Harvey turned around before entering the elevator. "Thank you," he told her honestly.

Harvey returned home that night in an ugly mood. More than anything, he needed to be alone to analyze Gordon's motives and calculate the firm's next move. He'd spent the day searching for every possible explanation and solution, but his efforts were futile. Much to his dismay, Paula was sitting on his sofa. He wasn't in the mood.

"How was work?" she asked.

"Shit-show," Harvey muttered, walking past her without so much as a glance. He grabbed a glass from his cabinet and poured himself a glass of scotch.

"Why are you upset with me?" Paula inquired. "I understand this Jessica situation is tough on you, but - "

"Because it's your goddamn fault!" Harvey interrupted, slamming his drink on the counter.

"My fault? You came up with the press release all by yourself. When I told you to let Jessica go, I thought you could find away to restructure without buying her out. I understand she needs the money, but letting her go would mean that you don't need to cater to her needs anymore," Paula yelled back. He was taken aback by her anger. Wasn't it her profession to stay calm?

Harvey shut his eyes, trying to moderate his heartbeat. "Paula, I want to be alone tonight. I think you should leave."