Prompt 47: How would Harvey have reacted if he had walked in on Louis confronting Donna about Mike going to Harvard? Would he have literally put the other lawyer through the wall?

Louis thrusts up from his chair, rage simmering as he stands in front of Donna. Out of all the betrayal he's felt recently, hers might just sting the worst. But he wants at least some retribution before he tears her to shreds. "You know what an Oscar looks like?

Donna swivels around, worried and confused by his sudden change in trajectory. "What?"

"Academy award. Bald guy. Of course, we all know what it looks like. But especially you." He looks down at her, his hurt propelled by the fact he fell for her manipulation. "You're an actress. It's the highest honor in your field. I mean, of course you don't need to be told what it is."

His voice is steady, but she can feel the tension radiating from his words. He's clearly upset, and a knot forms in her stomach. "What are you talking about?"

He shakes his head, driving his hand into his pocket. She always knows what's going on, and he's not falling for her clueless act. "See, the highest academic honor at Harvard Law is the Order of the Coif. You don't get a trophy. You get three things. You get a parchment to hang on your wall, a medal to wear at graduation, and this." He holds up the third object. "Now, this key doesn't say 'Order of the Coil'. It doesn't say anything. It's just a symbol."

She catches on faster than most people would. His rant is about Mike, and whatever he knows, he's sure of himself. But whether she believes he deserves the truth or not, it isn't her place to play devil's advocate. "What does that have to do with Harvey?"

"It doesn't." He calls her out on her bullshit. He won't be steered of course, but this time. "It has to do with Mike."

Her eyes flicker away from him, her hands starting to sweat as she tries to deflect again. "You know what, Louis? It's been a long day—"

"It's about to get longer," he snaps. "See, Mike asked me about this..." His fingers twirl the key, stopping suddenly. "I thought he was… I thought he was trying to get my mind off of my problems. But then he did it again. And it got me to thinking. Mike graduated magna cum laude. He's in Order of the Coif. But he didn't recognize this."

Her insides quiver as she shrugs. "So, he forgot a stupid key."

"Mike Ross doesn't forget anything." He throws shade on her pitiful excuse. "The reason he didn't recognize this was because he never got one. Because he didn't go to Harvard."

His narrowed gaze dares her to reveal the truth. She can't. But out of respect for their friendship, she won't lie to him either. "Louis, we've been down this road before. Mike is in the Harvard database."

"But he's not in the yearbook," he wields more evidence, "and, according to his credit report, his address during his law school years was in New York. He even paid rent the first of the month in person."

He steps closer, towering over her, and she scrambles to get up. "Well, I'm sure there's a—"

"Sit down!"

She stumbles back at his aggression, hitting the chair hard. For a split second she's afraid of his threatening posture, her heart hammering, when he's suddenly wrenched away from her.

"If I ever hear you speak to her like that again—"

Harvey fists the collar of Louis' suit, and she leaps up on shaky legs. "Harvey, don't." She tries to diffuse the situation before it escalates.

Louis shoves him, and he lets go, the muscles in his jaw twitching under Louis' hard glare.

"You lied to me. She lied." He thrusts his arm at Donna. "Mike is a goddamn fraud!"

Harvey glances at Donna, who nods meekly, and he knows they're up shit creek without a paddle, but it's her watery eyes that rile his anger. Louis wanted a confrontation, but he attacked the one person in the firm who actually gives a damn about him. The way Louis screamed at her is inexcusable, and he snaps in her defense, "she had nothing to do with this."

"Bullshit!" He isn't surprised Harvey didn't deny the accusation about Mike. But trying to convince him Donna's innocent is fucking insulting. "You expect me to believe that? She knows when your goddamn dick twitches."

Harvey clenches his fist with a growl. "What the hell did you just say?"

"You heard." Louis squares his shoulders.

"Both of you, stop." When neither man moves, Donna steps in, pushing Harvey back and facing Louis. She can see the hurt brimming beneath his anger, but he lays into her before she can do anything.

"Last year, you told me not to tell Sheila about Mike's file. You acted like you cared about me. You didn't give a shit about me. All you cared about was protecting Mike and him."

He points to Harvey, and she shakes her head. She never pictured herself growing close to Louis, but she did, and keeping Mike's secret isn't a reflection on their friendship. "That's not true."

Her eyes plead with him to listen, but he doesn't believe her. He's done pouring his heart and soul into a place where everyone stands around laughing behind his back. "You make me sick," he hurls the insult with disgust. "But you don't have to keep up the act anymore. You're both dead to me."

She flinches as he storms past, bumping her shoulder, and her eyes sting as the door slams shut, rattling the entire office. Her first instinct is to berate Harvey for antagonizing him, but she lost control of the situation first. All Harvey did was try to protect her, and she swipes her tears. "It's my fault." Her lips quivering as she turns around. "Louis pulled out some stupid key and I didn't know what to say. I got flustered… I should have tried to—"

"Donna, stop." He takes a step forward. It's rare to see her upset, and he hates seeing her cry. Too often, he expects the impossible from her and is amazed she consistently delivers. But she's only human. Louis already knew the truth about Mike, otherwise she wouldn't have been caught off guard, so there's nothing she could have done. "This isn't your fault, and I don't want to hear you say that again."

He lifts his hand, and she swallows thickly, her eyelids fluttering as he thumbs away the moisture on her cheeks. He's right. Accepting the blame won't change the vendetta Louis now has, and her eyes flash open. "Harvey, he's going to use this as leverage. You need to warn Jessica."

"In a minute." He drops his hand, letting it rest against her hip and ignoring the way her expression falls, because they both know he isn't going anywhere. Ever since he realized she's the most important person in his life, he's made sure to put her needs first. Jessica can take care of herself. And while Louis was being purposefully crass with his dick joke, the man wasn't wrong. He's spent almost every night with Donna since they got together, and he tries to reassure her with a husky whisper. "For a second there, I thought he was going to out us as well."

He smirks, and she can't believe he's joking right now, but his calmness washes over her, and she relaxes, brushing his fingers with a soft sigh."Go, fix this."

He nods, satisfied she'll be okay. "I will." He considers leaning in, but he doesn't want to press his luck, and he gives her hand a small squeeze instead."I'll see you at home."

Her stomach flutters as he pulls away. She feels bad abandoning him, but Louis is too furious with her to listen, and she has faith in Harvey. Going to his condo, opening a bottle of something and organizing dinner will keep her mind occupied. Then when she's nestled in his arms later tonight, they'll figure out what they're going to do, because they're stronger together.

They always have been, and they always will be.