A/N: Thank you again for feedback! I hope you enjoy.
*-*Harvey*-*
November 24, 1997 – Present Day
A. Elliott Stemple was feeling particularly proud the morning of moot court. After he overheard Harvey and Scottie in the library over a month ago, he didn't know exactly what his plan would be, but he knew that Harvey inadvertently gave him enough information to make one.
It took some digging, or if he opted to be specific, it took the private investigator he hired time and effort getting to the bottom of it. Quite a bit of it, if the bill he received was any indication. The Stemple name was not getting him very far in social circles or in terms of academic acknowledgment, but it came with a rather large trust fund that had kicked in when he turned 18. He could spare the expense.
The family cognomen also came with a wing in the library and a plaque bearing those seven letters, after a very large donation. The endowment was needed to ensure he got accepted, and his father never let him hear the end of it. A. Elliott's grades did not measure up to the average Harvard law student, but rich parents and a guilt free conscience taught him how to get past pesky things like standards and minimum requirements.
Stemple men liked to win. Life was simply better that way, and it wasn't like the plebeians deserved to come out on top. People had their places, and bloodlines and pedigree mattered. His dad taught him to know his worth, and more importantly, the value, or lack thereof, of those beneath them. His dad also made winning look easy, but for A. Elliott, it came less naturally. He had to work for it. That was half the reason he hated Harvey so much. The arrogant attorney-to-be reminded him of the senior Stemple, never would he know what it was like to struggle for recognition or respect.
Everyone always noticed Harvey, he didn't even make it out of the orientation without making a name for himself. All eyes would be on Harvey during the mock trial meaning that it was the perfect time for him to make his move. A. Elliott had no qualms about turning the tides in his favor, or what it might take to do so. There was no path he found too shameful to go down, and no bar too low for him to slink under. Rules only applied to those who couldn't afford a work around in his book, and he was prepared to line pockets.
Beating Harvey was the only way he could think of to distinguish himself from his peers and maybe stop being such a disappointment to E. Leopold Stemple. He had envelopes full of cash in his briefcase, 12 of them to be exact. The plan was to bribe the jury days prior, but he didn't find out who was on it until about 30 minutes ago. Now he just had to find the right opportunity to get the members alone. Lunch might be his best bet.
That was just the addendum to the plan anyway. The essential part had been laid out and paid for in advance. A. Elliott didn't have friends in the plural sense of the word, but he did have one. That one friend happened to be a third-year law student in charge of writing the case briefings for three of the mock trials, including his showdown with Harvey. His friend also happened to be less well off financially, and not much more ethical.
When the two opponents received the initial documents for the trial, there was no way for Harvey to know there were some slight differences to his. Archibald Elliott needed the element of surprise on his side. Harvey wasn't going to know what hit him when he started his opening statement.
…..
Harvey was in his apartment finishing up his case prep. Studying might not be amongst his favorite things, but losing most definitely was not. Dedicating himself to the process was something he was willing to do for trial, even the mock ones.
He knew how he was going to tackle this one. The plaintiff, he would allege, was trespassing so his client couldn't be held responsible for any negligence contributing to her injuries. He might run into some issues if the negligence was deemed to reach the level of gross, or if the argument could be made that the employee allowing her in negated the trespass, but he had his arguments well prepared for both.
The employee inviting her into the area that was off limits to guests, for the purposes of sex, was acting outside of the scope of his duty, for example. Being armed with the most up to date case law was still critical, so he planned to keep reading and Shepardizing cases, as well as practicing his opening, until he was due in court.
His phone had been blowing up the last few hours, but he kept just sending the calls to voicemail. They were from his father, but his dad knew better than anyone how unavailable he could be when he was working towards a goal. Harvey didn't want to be disturbed as it was getting closer to show time. The calls didn't stop, however, and that part wasn't typical, so he finally picked up.
"Christ, Son, you're a hard man to get ahold of," Gordon opened with, sounding a bit frustrated.
"What is it, did something happen?" Harvey questioned, still hunched over his desk.
"It's not good, it's about Marcus," he responded while rubbing his facial scruff with a tense hand.
Gordon had been back in town for a couple of weeks and was preparing to set out for another local tour when his youngest son came to him with the news.
"What did dickweed do now?" Harvey asked, still slightly distracted by a case he was flipping through. He loved his brother, but Marcus's decision making was not always the best.
"He's sick, Harvey, it's cancer. They caught it early enough that he can fight this, but it is serious. He's going to need surgery, chemo, radiation, the whole nine yards." His voice carried his grief.
Gordon had been standing when he called but saying it all to Harvey sapped his strength and made him collapse into a chair.
"Are you fucking kidding me?"
Harvey was not expecting this. Marcus might earn himself a good ass kicking from time to time, but he loved his brother, and he was far too young to face a life-threatening illness. He didn't deserve this.
"To top it all off, his health insurance doesn't cover much more than a fraction of it. My band hasn't been booking enough gigs lately, so I don't have the funds to cover it for him. I already borrowed against the house during the last tough time."
As a father, Gordon felt like he was failing. Not only was he gone too often, but the result of it didn't even leave him in a place where he could take care of his son in his greatest possible time of need. Now, he was burdening his other son with the weight of his deficiencies.
"Did he talk to Mom about it?" Harvey grimaced as he mentioned her.
He hated asking about her, but he knew she held some stocks that she could maybe sell to pay for the treatment. Whether or not he would even want Marcus to accept her money would come down to what other options were available. As stubborn as that sounded, he didn't want to give her the opportunity to make things right in her mind, to act like she hadn't spent years betraying their father and their family. There is the money for tuition…
"Your mom is doing that volunteer program, it's like doctors without borders except they send teachers into impoverished countries to help establish educational programs. Communication isn't the easiest right now."
It struck him as odd that Harvey had to ask. He thought he would know his mother was out of the country, but things had seemed off with him and Lily for a while now. Harvey was busy at school, and it wasn't like he was the best at keeping in touch to begin with, but it still was strange.
"Leave it to Mom to be gone when he needs her." Harvey rolled his eyes and tapped his foot restlessly.
"What's the deal with you and your mom? You've been up her ass lately." He tilted his head at the last comment, a little taken back. He had to ask now.
"There's no deal, it's nothing," Harvey grumbled in response.
"No, it's something because if anything, I've been the one who hasn't been around enough. And your mom is out there trying to do some good in the world. Cut her some slack. As soon as she finds out about Marcus, I am sure she'll be on the next flight back."
Harvey couldn't say what he wanted to, not without Gordon asking questions that he wasn't ready to answer. His mom had promised to stop what she was doing years ago, and Harvey had stuck to his promise not to tell, but the guilt never went away. He had no way of knowing if his mom actually ever stopped, or if she just hid it better. A part of him worried that the latter was true. Another part of him never wanted to think about it again, so he apologized to his dad instead. It was only meant for him, never for Lily.
They wrapped up the conversation with a few more questions and a promise that Harvey would come home to support Marcus. Thanksgiving was less than a week away, which gave him a few extra days off from school.
…..
Harvey sat down at the defense table in a daze. When he woke up this morning, he had picked out his best suit. It was no Tom Ford, that wasn't in his budget yet, but it was tailored perfectly and matched his favorite tie well. When it was time to get dressed, he added a little extra gel to his hair, polished his shoes, and made sure his appearance was all around flawless. It was always the plan, but after the call, he had been grasping for a distraction.
Moot court at some second-rate law school might not matter much, but Harvard's commanded attention. Firms, clients, honor societies, they noticed the students that put on a show and Harvey was planning on doing just that. He had put in the work, and he was ready to kick ass, if he could suspend his worry about his brother long enough.
Since Stemple was representing the plaintiff, he would be up first with his opening statement. Harvey had his trial strategy down, but he was prepared to adjust if Stemple gave him reason to. Mastering everything was important to Harvey, and that certainly included thinking on the fly. He knew when he graduated, passed the bar, and really started practicing law, that he would be more of a wheeler and dealer, a closer, than a trial attorney. It didn't mean that he would settle for less than being the best lawyer in every courtroom that he set foot in.
After the professor that was playing the role of the judge finished instructions to the jury, she invited Stemple to start his statement. Stemple rose, buttoned his tweed blazer, and fixed his bright red bowtie. He cleared his throat and turned to face the twelve members as he began speaking.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, what we have here is a tale as old as time. It's not a love story, no we aren't talking about Romeo and Juliet, When Harry Met Sally, or Cinderella. It is a story, however, that you will all recognize."
Stemple was slowly pacing as he spoke and motioned with his arms for emphasis. Every now and then, he would pause his speech and lean into the jury, just to make sure they were taking in every word.
"This familiar scenario is that of a classic David and Goliath. It's one woman, one meek, but brave, damsel forced to face off against a powerful hotel chain. A company so massive that you can book a room in numerous countries across the world."
Stemple paused again, and looked down while shaking his head as if his next words distressed him.
"My client, Donna Roberta Paulsen, was severely injured while staying at the defendant's property. They are the type of injuries that will leave her scarred for the rest of her life. Did this mighty hotel empire attempt to make it right? No, the wealthy head honchos not only refused to pay for Miss Paulsen's hospital bills or make her whole for her suffering, they blamed her instead!"
Stemple looked back at the role player acting as his client with the most sympathetic look he could muster. He had asked her to wear a red wig for the character and to get costume makeup done to match the injuries in the mock case.
Harvey had been rolling his eyes at Stemple when he started his monologue. He was trying to charm the jury as he spoke, completely unaware of the fact that he was about as charismatic as a wet sponge, and as trustworthy as a spare tire with a nail in it.
His head snapped back to Stemple at the mention of her name. It was impossible for him to have missed it, but he still searched his documents for confirmation. The name he had for the plaintiff was different, it was listed as Diana Paisley. He knew it would be, obviously this was Stemple's doing. How did he even know… Scottie? No, he didn't think that would be the case. The weasel was probably lurking around a corner, eavesdropping when he told her.
How he found out wasn't the important matter at the moment, just what he was doing with it. The bio for the plaintiff had sounded too familiar, but Donna wasn't the only hopeful actress out there to base a fictitious suing party on. He wrote it off as a coincidence that packed a bit of a gut punch, but this was so much more. Doing what it takes to win was something he understood well, but this was crossing a line, this was personal.
Harvey was a ticking time bomb doing everything he could to keep from exploding. On top of it all, he was dealing with the Marcus news, and it was challenging his ability to think straight.
Stemple continued with his statement while Harvey tried to recall every strategy he had ever learned for anger management. Deep breaths, counting to 10, he feared it wasn't enough.
"My client was an aspiring actress. In fact, her arrow was pointing up after rave reviews in a local paper. That was until the hotel's negligence cost her everything. The attorney across the aisle from me, he's going to tell you a different story. He's going to argue that this isn't a case about a large hotel chain trying to bully my client out of just compensation for her pain and suffering, and her loss of future earnings."
Stemple turned around partially to face Harvey and winked at him when he was sure no one, except maybe an audience member or two, could see. The smirk he saved for him didn't interrupt his speech.
"He's going to argue that Donna Paulsen is at fault for her own injuries. Despite the fact that the hotel management and ownership had ample knowledge that the exposed piping was rusty, that it was on the verge of bursting, he'll insist she wasn't supposed to be back there. He is going to claim that she is responsible for the hot water permanently disfiguring her face even though an employee invited her back."
Stemple was particularly happy with he next part of it. He got to lay into the reputation of the fake Donna, taunt Harvey with it, all under the guise of providing effective counsel.
"He's going to try to paint for you the picture of a monster. He wants you to believe that Donna Paulsen is some kind of lowly women, a slut, if you can excuse my language. He'll try to convince you that a woman who shows up to a hotel with her boyfriend, Harvey, I mean Harry, Specker, and engages in sexual intercourse with another man, a hotel employee, deserved what was coming to her," Stemple continued.
The name slip was completely intentional. It wasn't necessary for Harvey to get the message, but the opportunity was there, and it made him chuckle inwardly too hard not to seize it.
"Mr. Specter will argue that despite her gruesome injuries, we shouldn't have any pity for her. If anything, we should feel sorry for Harry, the boyfriend that she ditched to screw the bellhop. The man who felt so abandoned by Donna Paulsen that he had panic attacks-" He was cut off suddenly when a fist met the side of his jaw.
Every effort Harvey had made to control his rage became meaningless. The panic attacks, there was nothing of the sort included in any of the bios for the involved parties or witnesses. The name switches were well beyond enough to prove to Harvey that Stemple was trying to get the better of him by playing dirty, but the fact that Stemple knew about his most embarrassing secret and had no problem throwing it in his face was a step too far.
Before he even realized what he was doing, Harvey had shot up from his chair and covered the distance to Stemple with just a few strides. He was still seeing red when he cocked back and sucker punched Stemple in the face, taking his feet out from underneath him.
The room devolved into chaos immediately. Some started shouting while others jumped in to make sure that Harvey didn't hit him again. No one understood what had set Harvey off, why the opening statement that seemed pretty standard would lead him to violence. No one except Scottie, that was.
She had been watching from the gallery, wanting to take notes for any trials, mock or otherwise, that she could end up being the opposition for. As soon as Stemple had mentioned Donna's name, Scottie got nervous. Her full name wasn't even something Scottie was privy to, but somehow, she knew. Whatever was unfolding, she had figured out was a scheme to get under Harvey's skin, but she could not have anticipated his reaction. She was alarmed.
When Harvey stormed out of the room without looking back, she hopped up to follow him. With his long legs and fast pace, she had to jog to catch up to him. Thankfully, she was wearing boots with her tight pants.
She reached him near the bronze, John Harvard statute in the Yard. There were only a handful of students briskly walking by, as the temperature had risen just a few degrees Fahrenheit from the low of 28. It wasn't close to a record low for the time of year, but the inside heat was still far more inviting.
"What the hell was that, Harvey?" she screeched after him.
"Not now Scottie, just leave me alone." He called over his shoulder as he didn't stop or turn to face her.
"Jesus Christ, you just punched out a guy during mock trial. Are you trying to get kicked out or are you just a god damned idiot?"
Not being fond of being disrespected, the last part was enough to make him pause to engage, however briefly.
"I said leave me alone." His face had a warning written all over it.
"I'm not going to walk away when you're obviously out of your mind. We need to figure out how to fix this," she snapped back.
The tone of his voice was enough to make her consider trying to have this talk later, but she was both hurt and confused by his reaction to the name of his ex and didn't have it in her to wait. She also cared about him and knew the fallout could be serious.
"You know what, Scottie? Just because we fucked a few times, it doesn't give the right to weigh in."
He knew that was a little too harsh and that she meant more to him than that, but he couldn't bring himself to care with the magnitude of emotions already tormenting him.
"You've got to be kidding me! Don't take whatever you are feeling out on me again. Not even two nights ago we were talking about not screwing other people. Now you're back to being a dick because some trust fund asshole used your ex-girlfriend's name in a fake trial." She let her words linger with her breath in the cold air while she struggled to calm her flaring temper.
The wind was picking up, and she smoothed down her hair as a distraction before pulling her pea coat closed a little tighter, not wanting to deal with fastening the large buttons. Once she felt more in control, she asked what she had been afraid to, since they had started spending even more time with each other. "Do you still love her?"
"That's none of your god damned business." Realizing that he was taking it out on Scottie did not mean he wanted to talk about Donna again with her. The last conversation was almost assuredly how Stemple even knew about her and the panic attacks.
"It is my fucking business, Harvey. It is! I know what you told me before, but I thought we were making progress here. I thought we could at least be honest with each other." She went from frustrated to forlorn quickly.
It wasn't something she could exactly slap a label on, but she thought she might love him already, maybe since she met him. The feeling was foreign to her, as she was accustomed to viewing most people as mathematical equations. She would calculate how likely they were to contribute to her achieving her goals, but Harvey had always stood out. She wanted to beat him, but she also saw him as an equal, and a challenge that would never bore her.
He made her want something real, something serious, but Donna always seemed to be in the way. Maybe she was just getting ahead of herself, it had only been a few months and people moved on at different rates. Harvey just didn't seem the type to take so long, and she kept tricking herself into thinking he was past it.
"Look, Scottie, I just found out my brother has cancer and shitty health insurance, so whatever this is right now, it's not happening."
He turned abruptly and walked back to his apartment while Scottie stood watching.
*-*Donna*-*
November 25th, 1997 – Present Day
A girl, she was having a baby girl, and she couldn't be happier. She didn't have a preference really. A mini-Harvey or a sweet, but strong princess would be equally amazing. With the news, her heart was still feeling warmer than a summer in the desert.
She imagined him with her all the time. Before her appointments, she would see him going with her, holding her hand, sharing the excitement. Some of her favorite fantasies involved him playing catch with their little boy or twirling their beautiful ballerina, who would probably throw a mean fastball as well. Even though he didn't want kids, she could only ever picture him being amazing with them. He had that kind of heart, and she hoped one day he would see it.
When she found out she was pregnant, she was feeling a lot more emotions than just the positive ones, and while the fear hadn't left, nor the sadness from giving up the stage, the love she was feeling towards her sweet potato sized baby was taking over.
The tug-o-war inside her head about telling Harvey hadn't ended, and all of the chatter from outside sources wasn't helping. Her mom was team Harvey, but her dad was hoping to never see him again. His opinion mattered the least to her, but for once in her life she didn't know if she could trust her own instincts.
When she sat down for her appointment this morning and the doctor performed the ultrasound, it changed everything. The first time she heard the heartbeat felt real enough, but now with the gender, she needed him. She had to tell Harvey.
The next thing she knew she was booking a same day train ticket to Cambridge and hoping that the Office of the Registrar would be able to direct her to her man. The train ride wasn't long, but it left her alone with her thoughts. It was hard to keep the fear away for very long.
Her hesitation in telling him was primarily the reality that she was putting him first, but she was also thinking about herself. If his reaction wasn't what she hoped, she wouldn't want to be tied to him forever, longing for a man who would be around because of their daughter, but never truly hers. The rejection still stung, and even if she pretended otherwise, she hadn't moved past it. It would kill her if he did, with someone else.
Donna couldn't forget the conversation that she had with Jessica, and what she had warned her about. If the news made him drop out of law school, Harvard wasn't just going to say come on back when your life is a little less full. Jessica certainly wouldn't be there waiting to pay the bill, and if saving up was hard just living in New York City on a low-income job, it would be virtually impossible with a baby to take care of. Although, Ms. Pearson didn't know about the last part.
Harvey wasn't built for small hills; he was meant to stand at the top of the mountain. Donna didn't want to weigh him down before he even started climbing, and she didn't want to watch him climb with a different woman, if he resented her.
She thought about the encounter again.
August 22, 1997
"Do you know who I am?" The elegant and familiar woman in a very expensive dress asked before Donna had a chance to give her a menu or even greet her.
"I'm Donna, I know who everyone is." The hand on her hip with her response made the question feel even more like one with an obvious answer.
The line was definitely cocky, but she wasn't in waitress mode anymore and didn't worry much about how it would be received. Donna could tell that the woman she recognized was seated at the table for something besides a wonderfully crafted lunch, which was a shame. Going off the heels and the handbag that looked even more high-end than the exquisite gown, she would be a great tipper. Donna knew that Jessica Pearson certainly could afford to be.
"Based on the way he talked about you, I am sure you do. How about why I am here?" Jessica didn't take her eyes off Donna as she spoke. It was a sign of weakness, and she was all strength.
"Considering you haven't come in before, I am guessing it's not for the steak tartare."
She respected Jessica from the little she knew, but she was still Donna. That came with a little sass, that she considered wit, from time to time.
"Is that what you would recommend?"
"Definitely not. A few years ago, maybe, but they saw the mad cow disease scare as an opportunity to switch to a cheaper beef supplier, and the dish has never been the same. I would go with the duck á l'Orange. It's magnificent."
She could pair a face with a meal with ease. Her gut told her that Jessica wouldn't be eating there, however.
"Well then, I'll have the duck and perhaps a moment of your time. If that sounds like a request, please understand that it is not."
Her posture, as she sat at the table, was perfect. It was something else that went hand in hand with strength.
"Is this a break type of conversation or do you need my full lunch?" Donna asked. It would be a bit early into her shift to clock out for lunch, but if her boss saw Jessica, he wouldn't complain… at least not in front of her.
"Your break should suffice; this won't take long," she answered with a wave of her hand. She knew what she needed to say, and had already predicted how Donna would react.
"In that case, I'll go clock out and bring you a glass of Chateau Margaux. You're not staying long enough to appreciate the duck."
"You read my mind. Harvey did say you could do that." Jessica narrowed her eyes slightly while her gaze was still fixed on her mentee's ex. She liked to do her own brand of sizing up.
Donna only nodded before she left to do as she said. The mention of his name pierced her. She was prepared for it, there was no other topic of conversation that would bring Jessica Pearson to her restaurant, but the cutting pain still surprised her.
She returned a few minutes later with the glass and ten minutes to spare before her boss would be on her case about clocking out, if she needed to talk longer.
"Here's the thing, Miss Paulsen, when Harvey calls you, you need to not answer." She didn't waste any time getting into it.
"Oh please, he's not going to call me. And I say this with the utmost respect for what you've done for him, but I don't see how it is any of your business if he does," Donna responded with a slight undercurrent of confusion and rebellion.
She had taken a seat across from the lawyer and was just as intentional about eye contact.
"I know Harvey told you about what he found, but did you ever ask yourself why coming to me about fraud resulted in me paying for him to go to Harvard Law and not, I don't know, a handshake and a thank you, or a healthy bonus?" She leaned slightly forward as she spoke.
"I know why," Donna stated confidently.
"Oh? Do tell." Jessica requested with a raised eyebrow.
"You don't to get to where you're at without being damned good at what you do. Especially not considering you're a black woman in an old, rich, white man's club. You see life like a chess board, and you made a move," she provided matter-of-factly.
"What I saw was the bigger picture. You don't play chess one move at a time, you plan and anticipate. I'm going to tell you this because I know a thing or two about reading people as well, and I know this will go no further."
Jessica swirled the wine in her glass after giving it a proper amount of time to breathe. She inhaled the strong aromatics, appreciating the floral notes, before taking a sip. It was a delightful selection, she had to give a slight nod of approval before continuing her point.
"My firm isn't currently being steered by a capable captain, and I am not about to stand by idly and watch it sink. It'll take time, but eventually there will be changes at the top. If you make a play for power, you only get one shot. So, when the opportunity to strike presents itself, it's essential to have the right people on your side. You also need the right people to stay in power. Harvey is the perfect mix of hungry and loyal to be my right-hand man when the time comes, and I have the foresight to see that."
"It goes without saying that Harvey is the right man for any job, but I am still curious about why you are saying it. Whatever does or doesn't happen between us won't change what you did for him, and what he owes you for it."
None of this was surprising to her. Even having never met Jessica, just from what Harvey had shared, it was obvious that she was meant to be a leader. Donna appreciated women in power, and although she was pursuing a career that had nothing to do with leading an organization, there was a part of her that knew she could be damned good at it too. In a different life, Jessica could be a mentor for her.
The part about Harvey, that made even more sense. She knew firsthand what he was capable of, and beyond just his ability to be the best, his loyalty was a true asset. Jessica had done well to place her confidence in a man who would one day take the legal world by storm. She understood why Jessica would want to protect that, despite not enjoying the implication of why the protection was needed.
"You might think I came here solely for self-serving reasons, but I can assure you that's not it. Like I said, I see the bigger picture and that's not just my own. Harvey would be hard pressed to receive another opportunity like this. You don't turn down Harvard Law and you especially don't turn it down when it is free of charge."
She took another sip of her wine and nodded in appreciation again. Either the restaurant knew how to push the good stuff, or Donna really did have taste beyond her years.
"I understand what you are saying, but that doesn't clear up why you are saying it. He already didn't turn it down, in fact, he's probably already in Boston not turning it down as we speak." That hint of confusion returned, but it didn't show on her face.
"I am well aware. The problem is, Miss Paulsen, that Harvey reacts impulsively and sometimes changes his mind when he later reflects. As promising as he is, he isn't done maturing yet. He won't come begging, but if you open the door, he will step through it." She slowed her speech at the end for emphasis.
"At this point I don't even know what I want, but changing his mind doesn't have to mean leaving Harvard. Long distance was on the table."
That was an act put on for the benefit of the woman across from her. Donna did know what she wanted, and that was being with Harvey. He was the one who shot down the idea of them being together while being apart, however.
"I assume that Harvey has shared his family history with you, probably more than he has with me."
"You would be correct," Donna said with a singular nod.
"I don't have to know him long to know that letting you in wasn't done lightly and his abandonment issues are real. He's never been good at hiding that. One sniff of trouble brewing, and that boy will be right back here and right back in that mailroom. If you think you are prepared to handle a lifetime of asking yourself if your relationship cost him the chance to be great, you're not."
Jessica's gaze was somehow more piercing as she folded her hands together.
"You are an impressive woman, Ms. Pearson, and I don't doubt that for a second. But if you knew anything about me, you would know that I would never ask that of Harvey."
The mask she was wearing slipped a little. She wanted Jessica to understand how true that was and didn't try as hard to conceal her expressions this time.
"Be that as it may, he might make that decision without you asking. Don't open the door, at least not until after he's done with law school. What you do after that is up to you."
"The thing is, it's up to me right now, Ms. Pearson. Me and Harvey, but I will consider this conversation." She stood up as she finished, knowing that their talk was done.
"That's all I can ask."
Present Day
As far as she knew, she had been right. Harvey never did call her. Jessica Pearson's words about Harvard and the bigger picture still never left her, however. Donna hadn't known at the time of their conversation that she was pregnant, and Jessica had no way of knowing, but she wondered how much that would change things.
As vain as it sounded, she impressed herself with her self-sufficiency, but Harvey had enabled her to not have to do it alone. The way they had molded themselves together made it impossible for her to separate from him without risking everything falling apart around her. That was exactly how it often felt. Despite her deciding to go to law school, and working on a path that came with more security, she couldn't feel whole.
Harvey had always been there when she needed him, and she couldn't fathom a time that she would need him more than navigating parenthood.
Their roles couldn't be reversed, but if they could, she would want to know. It was the only thing still making her put one foot in front of the other while walking through the courtyard of these hallowed grounds. It reminder her of the first time she walked the Yale campus. The history and the prestige emanated from every brick or stone, it was mesmerizing.
It also made the decision feel even more impactful. Being here was a bigger window into what could be lost and also gained. She wanted to turn back around, desperately, maybe make another pros and cons list, but she also wanted to fling herself into his arms and make him promise to never let go again.
And then she saw him.
There was distance between them, and she was certain he didn't notice her. Still, she could see that something was off. He looked incredible, but...worried, or distressed, distraught maybe. She hated seeing him look anything but happy, or at least content and motivated, but it wasn't even the worst part. The worst part was the attractive woman who had her hands all over him. It was gut wrenching and she couldn't look.
She turned to create more distance, but didn't make it far, paralyzed with indecision. As observant as she was, it was easy to miss the brunette striding over. After she had spun around, needing to tear her eyes away from the woman who wasn't her embracing the man that was most definitely him, her senses shut down.
Something was going on with Harvey, that much was obvious the second she saw him. He did look amazing, possibly even more handsome than the image of him that was burned in her retinas, but she would never miss his turmoil. She would never miss that he was struggling with something beyond just the pressures of law school.
Whatever was planting the minefield of emotions was something significant. Donna was the type of person who would above all else root for his happiness, even at the expense of her own, but witnessing him receive comfort from another woman was debilitating. The last thing she wanted to do was deal with the stranger who had come up to her.
"You must be Donna."
"And you must be the rebound." She hadn't meant to go straight to petty, but go, she did.
"I prefer girlfriend, but to each their own. Dana Scott by the way." Scottie shrugged nonchalantly in a way that belied her jealousy.
She didn't offer a hand with her name and Donna didn't know if it was to shade her, or if it was because this Dana person knew she wouldn't take it.
"It doesn't seem like you feel very secure about that label, considering you're here slithering up to me." She crossed her arms while she glared at her. Donna wasn't proud of her reaction, but she didn't feel the need to hide it either.
They weren't together anymore, but she still felt protective, and this was someone she hadn't had a chance to fully vet yet. Her initial read and instincts were telling her that the woman in front of her was tenacious, but that there was a buried level of shadiness lurking. Donna might not be able to stake a claim for Harvey, but he was the father of their growing child, they were linked for life. This woman felt like an intruder, but he must see something in her. Donna attempted to rein in her jealousy and the rest of her emotions. Of course she has to be smoking hot.
"I'm not here for a duel, you don't have to have your hand at the ready." Scottie said. She didn't come for a battle, but she did walk over to protect what was hers. Thus, she was prepared for one, and she wouldn't expect an ex of Harvey's to be weak willed.
"What are you here for?" Donna didn't find that Dana's words matched her body language. She was standing so rigidly with an intensity about her.
Scottie was preparing to answer her question. With her comment about dueling, she subconsciously glanced at Donna's hip like she really would find a pistol there. What she found instead, when Donna twisted slightly and her sweater pulled a little tighter, was what she was sure was the early stages of a baby bump. That was what she came here to talk to Harvey about.
"You're pregnant," she stated instead, not fully meaning to out loud.
"Wow, that knowledge is so not for you. In fact, you are probably the last person I should be having this conversation with."
Donna knew that she was starting to show, and it wasn't like the cashier at the grocery store noticing would bother her. It was different with Dana. It killed her that this lady, who had referred to herself as Harvey's girlfriend, knew before he did.
"I think that would be Harvey." Scottie suggested, and glared with her response.
"What did you just say to me?" She can't be serious; she must be insane.
"Look, I know it is not my place and I have no right, or however you would phrase it, but there are things you don't know." She shifted on her feet, relaxing her stance slightly.
"Are we preparing to play 20 Questions, or do you want to save us the time and fill me in." Donna stiffened hers. The tone of her voice left no room for a pleasant exchange.
"His brother has cancer, Donna. And not only that, but he is facing a disciplinary hearing after what happened in moot court."
That explained what she was able to read on his face, and it was worse than she feared. She ached for him, and she needed to know more. "What the hell happened in moot court?"
"He punched the opposing counsel," Scottie replied bluntly.
"Why would he do that?" She had witnessed that before, him losing his temper and throwing a blow. At school and during a mock trial, that was far more unexpected.
"It's a long story, but the opposing counsel is a dick and deserved it. He dug up some personal stuff on Harvey and used it against him."
"His mother?" Donna guessed.
Scottie realized in that moment that Harvey shared things with Donna that he hadn't, maybe wouldn't, with her. Perhaps she shouldn't be jealous, he had been with his ex longer, but it was hard not to wish he was as open with her. Now that she knew Donna was pregnant, it was even harder to ignore her envy.
"No, you," Scottie admitted.
"Me?" Donna practically gasped, rocking on her heels a little from the shock.
"Yes, and that is exactly why I am going to ask of you what I never thought I would, or would ever even want to. Don't tell him, at least not yet."
When she approached her, she was on edge, ready for confrontation. Now, she pleaded with Donna with a softness in her tone.
"If you tell him about… your situation, he won't even wait for the hearing, he'll just drop out. Between his brother and everything else, he's a mess right now. He'll see you as a life preserver while his ship is sinking, but I care about him, and I don't want to see him quit. I don't think it's too presumptuous of me to say that you don't want to either," she finished.
Donna had to take a deep breath before she responded. She had just been thinking about when Jessica inserted herself into her relationship with Harvey, but this was more offensive. Jessica didn't know everything, but Scottie did.
"I am getting really sick of people throwing their two cents about my relationship with Harvey at me. Is there a freaking sign on my back asking for people to insert themselves or something? And it's coming from people I don't even know. The freaking nerve!"
Donna could feel her blood pressure rising. She worried that it might not be good for the baby, their girl, and did her best to calm herself.
"I know what I am asking, but just think about it. Think about what news like this would do to him when he's already reeling. You can't tell me that he's ready to be a father and that this news wouldn't be coming at the worst possible time." She pleaded for Donna to get it.
"And you can't tell me that you honestly believe you deserve any say in this." She was still throwing jabs, but Scottie's words had penetrated her defenses.
"Don't decide today, think about it," she reiterated then turned to leave Donna to her thoughts.
She hated to admit it, but Scottie's words did get to her. It brought back the fear she had been carrying since she found out she was pregnant, that he didn't want to be a father and would resent her for it. That was before she knew what Harvey was going through. Was it unfair to tell him when everything else was falling apart?
*-*Harvey*-*
November 27, 1997 – Present Day
Hearing that Marcus was sick was hard enough, but seeing it firsthand was something else. Cancer hadn't really touched his life before, though a heart attack did take his grandfather too early, so most of what he associated with it was images he'd seen on TV or from charity events and foundations. It wasn't that he expected Marcus to be bald and emaciated, he hadn't started chemo yet, but he had never seen his brother sick beyond the flu or a cold. He didn't know what to anticipate at all.
Marcus was himself, but he was tired, exhausted really. His appetite was gone, and headaches were constant, but he did manage to still throw a few "dickheads" or "assholes" Harvey's way. The part that really got to him was seeing his brother so afraid. Based on when they caught it, the likelihood was that he would make a full recovery, but nothing was guaranteed. Especially not before they had a chance to open him up and remove the tumors and make an informed decision on how much radiation and chemotherapy would be required.
Even with the prognosis being on the more hopeful side, the process was daunting in itself. It was also expensive, and the only reason that Marcus hadn't already had the tumors removed was his unwillingness to saddle himself with crippling debt. Marcus was still trying to figure out his career path, and he didn't want to cut himself off at the knees before he even started walking.
Harvey was sitting at his desk in his old bedroom, which his parents hadn't yet changed into an office or home gym. They hadn't touched it really. The Yankees and band posters were still on the wall, even the Pamela Anderson Baywatch one remained. When he had attended NYU, he had all but moved out, though he did come home for the summers. He had remained in New York after.
Law school was always planned, and always came with the possibility of returning home, since Harvard was practically in their backyard, but he didn't end up needing to. Still, the nostalgia of his room was welcomed, even if most of the memories attached to his childhood, and the house, were soured by his mother.
There was no comfort in being home right now. The Marcus news was bad enough, but he was nervous about what would happen at school with the hearing. He didn't have it in him to tell Jessica about it, even if she deserved to know, with it being her money potentially wasted.
Some people deserved to be punched in the face, he truly believed that. Boxing helped him be able to deliver a pretty mean punch to top it off. The law didn't see it the same way he did, however, so he had promised Donna he would work on it the last time it happened.
She hadn't seemed to mind him defending her honor, the sex they had later that night suggested as much, but she never wanted to see him get in trouble for something that technically, he could walk away from. He still remembered that night vividly, the sex of course, and everything before.
May 24, 1997
Three-day weekends, especially those not attached to federal holidays, didn't come often for the hardworking duo. The firm was going through some minor renovations shutting it, and the mailroom, down for a few days. Donna chose not to pick up any shifts those days to make the most of his extra time off.
One of her friends from undergrad, who still was living in Connecticut, was celebrating her birthday by throwing a large house party. Since Donna was still a couple months shy of being able to go out to a bar with Harvey, it sounded like a good opportunity to let loose with him. Plus, she wouldn't mind introducing the man she was head over heels for to some of her college friends.
The night was going better than Harvey anticipated. Being with Donna was always amazing, but he wasn't expecting a bunch of theater geeks to put on much of a party, not that he would ever tell her that. The love she had for the stage was something he fully supported, and he mostly used geek teasingly. It wouldn't surprise him if their version of entertainment was a little different from his, however.
Surprisingly, her friends were fun, and he also got to discover that Donna was an exceptionally good beer pong partner. It must be that hand-eye coordination from her competitive shooting days. The drinks were plentiful, and while the music wasn't to his taste, it was hard to complain with the way Donna was grinding on him as they danced.
The party was starting to thin out when Donna got dragged away by a group of her girlfriends, not before leaving him with a long kiss that the alcohol aided in being steamier than what she usually would give in front of people. It was hard to complain about that either, other than the fact that it left him wanting more, the type of more that required privacy.
Harvey suspected that they wanted to ask her all the boyfriend questions. He didn't mind, Donna would only have good things to say about him and them. If the conversation entered into more of the pottery scene from "Ghost" territory, he was even more confident about what she would share.
She was all smiles with her friends, and she looked so damned beautiful that he couldn't tear his eyes away. He didn't even notice the douchey looking frat boy strut up to him until he had his hand extended and was offering his name.
"Travis Tanner."
His smirk was something that Harvey might often see if the people on the receiving end help up mirrors, but somehow it made this Tanner character look even more like a prick. Harvey stared at the extended hand until Tanner dropped it.
"Not one for small talk I take it?" Tanner added when he didn't get a response.
"The conversation has to catch my interest first." Harvey shrugged in return. His eyes were still on Donna as he casually leaned against the table holding the nearly drained keg.
"Am I already boring you with just my name? I noticed you didn't offer yours," Tanner retorted while positioning himself next to Harvey. He was facing the group of ladies as well now.
"I didn't, but it's Harvey Specter. You might as well commit it to memory, because I am sure you will be hearing it again." His arms were crossed now.
"What makes you say that, Harv, if I can call you that. You working on the cure for cancer or something?"
Tanner knew that he would not be receptive to him shortening his first name, which is exactly why he chose to. He crossed his arms as well, further mimicking Harvey's stance.
"The wise choice would be not to call me that. And what I am working on doesn't matter. When you know, you'll know." At this moment, he wished that Tanner knew to walk away.
"Okay then, Mr. International Man of Mystery. What are you doing at a Yale party? I don't recognize you."
Tanner only spoke in truth when he thought it beneficial to, or at least neutral. He really did not recognize Harvey, and he was familiar with many people at the party.
"Do you remember everyone you went to Yale with? I didn't go there for the record, but you didn't really know that." He rolled his eyes.
Typically, he was an approachable guy at a party. Perhaps someone with a short leash depending on the person approaching, but this clown was off-putting. He could practically see the slime oozing off him.
"You caught me. I am going back for law school after the summer, and a few other guys here are as well. I was testing the water to see if you were another one of those. I like to get to know who I am up against."
That also wasn't completely a lie. He did not assume this random person would be attending law school with him, but he could see that he had the makings of a formidable foe and wanted to size him up. Tanner had a radar for that sort of thing. He had also noticed him with the gorgeous redhead and wanted to push some buttons.
"You won't see me at Yale, but you might catch me in a courtroom eventually. You probably should worry about being up against me." Harvey was starting to hope for that, he knew he would be able to knock him down a peg. And if ever there was dirty lawyer in the making…
"Oh, I am not worried about that anymore. I am more concerned about being up against that foxy redhead over there. I saw you staring, but I gotta tell you, Harv, I have my eyes on her." Tanner tipped his head in Donna's direction, furthering indicating who he was referring to.
"You better redirect them, unless you want my assistance with that." Harvey wasn't leaning so casually anymore. His fists were balling and he grinding his teeth making his jaw pop. Who the fuck did this guy think he was?
"Hey now, Harv, I called dibs. You can always take that blonde with the big tits home with you. I'm nailing the fox tonight." He pointed towards the blonde standing next to Donna with his index finger and thumb.
"The fuck you just say?" If Tanner was spouting off just to provoke him, it was working.
"I think you heard me, pal. She looks like a chick who gets around and I am going to have so much fun bending her over tonight-"
Harvey was a little surprised he let Tanner get that much out before he turned just enough to split his lip with a solid jab. The commotion caught Donna's attention, along with several other party goers who rushed over to try to keep it from escalating.
"There's more of that if you ever talk about Donna like that again." Harvey shouted over the shoulder of the first guy to reach him and step in between them.
He would have moved the weaker man out of his way to get to Tanner for another blow if Donna didn't make it to him and replace the man in the middle. Harvey would never risk her getting injured in a fight.
"Good luck getting into the bar after I press charges! If you ever even get into law school, you fucking loser!" Tanner shouted back. He had meant to get under Harvey's skin, but the punch still hurt his face and his pride.
Instead of letting them further work themselves up, Donna cut in. "You could press charges, or you could remember that you are at a party with underage drinkers. Not to mention the whole upstairs smells like marijuana. Are you really sure that calling the cops is the move you want to make, or would calling a cab be the smarter one?
Tanner glared at her then stomped away, not before warning Harvey that he would see him again someday.
Donna pulled Harvey into a nearby bathroom for some privacy. He explained to her what Tanner had been saying. She didn't admit to him how sexy it was that he defended her, and instead reminded him of the trouble that could follow if he didn't learn to better control his rage response.
"Even when assholes really deserve it, it's just not worth the risk."
The well-used restroom wasn't the most romantic of settings, but she still couldn't resist wrapping herself in his arms as they spoke. Resting her head on his shoulder and breathing him in helped with the unpleasant smells of the room.
"I am sorry, Donna. I will work on it," he vowed apologetically with the tenderness he reserved for her.
Punching Tanner felt incredibly satisfying, and he didn't hold quite the same view on physical expression as Donna. For her, though, he would try to do better. He never wanted her to have to worry about him.
"You know, if you weren't going to be an actress, you would make one hell of a lawyer. It's not even just the fact that you talked him down so easily, you really have a way with people."
Present Day
Despite the way the party ended, it was still a memory he held fondly, just being there with her. It was also a memory that reminded him that he still had progress to make with his emotions, if it even still mattered.
With everything going on, he couldn't lie to himself anymore. He really needed to hear her voice.
…..
"Paulsen residence," Donna answered after the third ring while lying in bed. She had a cordless phone on her nightstand, but she might as well not have, since basically every call was for her father.
"Hey."
"Harvey?" Her heart stopped with one simple word. She dropped the LSAT prep book she had been working through, even though she was well prepared from her time helping him study.
"Sorry to call you, Donna, I just really need to talk to you about something."
She had always been the one person who could help him understand his feelings, and while his emotions weren't confusing this time, they were overwhelming. All he could think about was reaching out to her to help prevent him from drowning in them, and he was relieved he did. Subconsciously, he must have known he would. The sticky note with her number on it had been tucked inside a drawer at his apartment, but he had the foresight to bring it with him despite forgetting his toothbrush and a winter coat.
That would make two of us… "You don't have to apologize, you can always call me, Harvey." She hoped he understood how much she meant that. Together or not, she would always be there for him.
"Everything is fucked, Donna. There is some shit at school, but more importantly Marcus is sick, cancer." It was still hard to speak about it all, even after the second, less emotionally charged conversation he had with Scottie.
"Oh god, that's awful! I am so sorry, babe, how is he doing? How are you doing?" Her voice was tender and wrought with concern.
When they were together, they didn't use pet names super often. She certainly didn't intend to now, but it slipped out with her worry. Marcus being sick was something she had already learned from Scottie, but hearing it from Harvey felt like hearing it for the first time, with the pain that enveloped her.
"It's stage II. It's serious, but with treatment, doctors are more than optimistic." He almost forgot to breathe when he heard her call him that again, but he chose not to acknowledge it.
He closed his eyes to try to focus on their talk, but he saw images of her burned behind his eyelids, and it made him want her there with him even more.
"Has he started the treatment yet?" She asked and her voice brought him back.
"Not yet, we're trying to figure out how to pay for it. My dad, the music business hasn't exactly been as lucrative for him as it should be, and my mom is out of the picture right now. She's in some African country teaching art to kids to attempt to save her soul or whatever. Communication is slow, but I don't want a penny from her regardless."
He gripped the phone tighter as he spoke, consumed by anger towards his mother, but also an irrational fear of dropping his cell and losing his connection with Donna. Hearing her voice felt vital and was the one piece of solace he had since everything went to shit.
"I know how things still are with her, but if she can help Marcus, shouldn't you accept that?" she asked, her timbre still gentle. She shifted on her bed, trying to find a position that would help with the heartburn that pregnancy was frequently causing her.
"I'd rather use my tuition money. Jessica might not be happy, but I don't know if I'll still be there, come next week anyway. And I'll pay her back eventually."
He stood up and started pacing, nervous for Donna's reaction. Taking care of his brother was the right thing, but their relationship ended over Harvard. While it was too late to take it back, he never wanted her to think he took it lightly.
"You can't use your tuition money; law school is too important!" She sat up a little too quickly with that.
Graduating from Harvard was still the thing she wanted the most for him. Whether it was right or not, she wanted to see him accomplish all his goals even more than she was pulling for her own. She needed him by her side to help her navigate how terrified of being a young mother she was, but she needed him to be happy first and foremost.
"It's my brother, Donna, what am I supposed to do?" He asked, but it was more of a rhetorical question.
"I know his treatment takes priority, believe me I do, but there has to be another way. Just promise me you'll think on it, don't make any decisions until the bill is due." She didn't try to keep the desperation out of her voice, she hoped it would help sway him.
"He's scheduled for surgery next week. The bill won't be due right then, but Marcus is being a stubborn ass about wanting to line up his finances in advance. Dad had to make him even get it scheduled, despite the doctors telling him to already."
He couldn't fault Marcus too much for his anxiety about the cost, but what would that even matter if he waited too long. Cancer was unpredictable in how fast it could spread, and waiting too long could be devastating.
"How much is he needing to line up?" She bit her lip as she awaited the dollar figure she was sure would be high.
"30k. I don't know where else I can get money like that." He ran a hand through his hair as he vocalized the substantial price tag.
"I am so, so sorry that this is on your plate, all of your plates. Do you want to tell me about the shit at school, why you think you might not be there after next week?"
She rubbed her belly as she spoke. It was something that was becoming reflexive for her, especially as the pregnancy bump formed. Doing so made her feel connected to Harvey, whether she acknowledged that part of it or not.
She could have interpreted his comment to mean that not being able to pay his tuition would be the reason, but next week was an arbitrary timeline, and she had already heard, in limited detail, about the punch. Harvey didn't know that she did, and she hoped for the chance to hear it in his words.
"I'll tell you about it some other time. I just… I really miss you, Donna." He said it so softly that it was almost like he had to sneak it past his lips.
It was all encompassing how true that was, and it made the guilt return. Not all for Donna, although the way things ended contributed to it, but mostly for Scottie. Even though their dynamic hadn't reached a point that he felt like he was using her, it still was difficult to reconcile the fact that he was trying to take steps with her to move on from the woman he called instead of her.
Donna didn't know what to do with his confession, and wondered if the sentiment would change if she followed up with the one of her own that she'd been holding onto. The timing was wrong, however, and even though she refused to credit Dana Scott with that revelation, she didn't have it in her to add weight to his overburdened shoulders.
It could still just be another excuse to give into her fear, which she came close to considering, but instead she opted to save the self-reflection for another time. There was work to be done.
Despite the mental wrestling, she still replied to his last words honestly. "I miss you too, Harvey. And I have something that I really need to talk to you about, but not today."
*-*Donna*-*
After hanging up the phone with him, it only took her a matter of minutes to figure out her next move, and the backup options if needed. She didn't want to waste time because she knew that Harvey wouldn't hesitate to pay for Marcus. It wasn't that she wanted him not to take care of his brother, she just wanted to act prudently enough to prevent him from having to.
There were some calls that she had to make first, to get the number for the one that was most important. Thankfully, the network of people she could count on for one reason or another was expanding at a healthy rate. It didn't take her long to get what she needed.
"Do you know who this is?" Donna led with, after the call was answered. Speaking to Jessica Pearson again so soon wasn't exactly on her Bingo card, but not much that had been happening lately was.
"That's not quite what I said to you, but close enough. How did you get my personal number?"
Jessica was sitting in her office, though it was her cell phone, not her desk one that rang. She was giving out her cell number to more and more people, when the business line had been the standard for many years, but this caller was not one of those people.
"I'm Donna," she stated like it was the most obvious thing in the world. It probably should be by now. The expression on her face would have emphasized it further, if Jessica could see it.
"At some point I'll have you tell me what that really means, but right now, I am more curious about why you got my number. What can I do for you, Donna? I'd say we are on a first name basis now."
"Well, Jessica-"
She jumped in to cut her off. "Oh, you misunderstood me, sweet child. I'm still Ms. Pearson to you."
"Here's the thing, Ms. Pearson, I need to ask you a favor." Getting straight to the point seemed like the best strategy.
Grabbing her glass from the nightstand, she took a sip of ginger ale, hoping it would help settle her stomach without worsening the heartburn.
"This ought to be interesting. I'm listening."
Jessica leaned back in her chair and swiveled it around to look out the large windows. Her office was sizable and left her with no complaints, but it wasn't enough. It wouldn't be until she moved into the one designated for the managing partner. Daniel Hardman was likely the heir apparent, but her day would come.
"It's about Harvey. His brother is sick and can't afford the treatment. All Harvey has is his tuition money and I know we both don't want him to use that."
"What are you suggesting? I can't exactly keep sending money his way without risking raising too many eyebrows."
Financing law school for Harvey would pay off in the end, but she wanted as few people to know about it as possible. For one, when she eventually was in charge, she didn't want others coming to her hoping for the same arrangement. Even more importantly, she didn't want to undercut the way Harvey could bolster her power by making his loyalty seem like it was bought, and not earned or deserved. The loyalty was required, but he had to be able to stand on his own and not appear to be a "yes man."
"I was hoping to make a deal with you. You loan me the money and I will pay it back with interest."
Through it all, Harvey was still her partner in her mind. Her money felt like his too. With his baby growing in her womb, it would always be true. A loan hanging over her head didn't bother her, even with all of her expenses still to come.
"No offense, Donna, but that last time I checked, part time waitresses don't get paid well. I haven't seen you cast in the Phantom of the Opera or anything yet either."
She wasn't keeping tabs on Donna, but it was a reasonable assumption that not much had changed from when she did look into her.
"I am going back to school next year, and once I graduate, you'll have your money in installments. Whatever rate, guaranteed. One could say that I am the Meryl Streep of following through. Although… others might say that she's the Donna of acting."
"I see that you share the same philosophy on humility as Harvey. And how much exactly are you asking for, Meryl?" She let herself smile knowing the younger woman couldn't see it.
She was someone Jessica could appreciate, and since Harvey would be family to her, she would make room for Donna. Her instincts told her that the two of them weren't done with each other, although that was hardly a large leap logically. The beautiful redhead was willing to borrow money for him after all.
"The expectation is about $30,000." Blunt, no sugarcoating.
"That's no small favor." Her mind was made up already, but she let Donna keep working to convince her as she continued to stare out the windows at the skyline.
Jessica cared enough about Harvey already that she would likely have gifted him the money if he'd asked. He never would ask though, and that only furthered her belief that she found her protégé in him.
"It's not, but if there ever was a reason to tap into your generosity again, this is it. I could list all of the big picture reasons for you, but I know you are excellent at seeing them yourself. Plus, I would owe you one."
The power of her favor systems wasn't well known yet, but she was sure it would someday be. She always came through.
"Let me guess, one could say you're the Meryl Streep of repaying favors as well," Jessica retorted.
"I was going to say the Jessica Pearson this time, but that's only if it'll get you to say yes. A Donna Paulsen IOU should not be taken lightly, however." She fiddled with the quilt she was halfway done making for the baby as she spoke. It had been her mom's idea and she loved it.
As confident as she was that Jessica would say yes, not being able to examine her facial expressions while they spoke made it harder for her to be completely sure. Tone of voice added to her ability, but the visuals were crucial for her gift.
"Oh, that's noted, and I am going to pick one hell of a time to cash it in. I'll lend you the money for Harvey, Donna, but the terms are non-negotiable." She stated firmly, despite knowing she had no intentions of accepting interest.
If she never paid her back, Jessica wouldn't mind, but Donna would very much so. The payments were inevitable, and she would receive them when they became available, but not a penny extra.
"That's no problem, as long as Harvey never knows. And thank you, truly."
While she would send the cashier's check to him anonymously, Donna was sure that he would connect the dots. He could know it was from her and think she raised the money through donations or something of that nature. She just didn't want him to know she took out a loan on his behalf.
"What are you going to tell him when he asks where the money came from?" Jessica questioned. She apparently was on the same wavelength.
"I'll tell him it came from my plan B, which for the record, would totally have worked. Time is just of the essence, and it would take too much."
*-*Harvey*-*
December 1, 1997 – Present Day
Harvey was back on campus for his disciplinary hearing in front of a panel of three. He could have opted to have a lawyer present, but he neither wanted to escalate the intensity of the hearing, nor did he wish to look incapable of navigating a straightforward proceeding. He was at school to become a lawyer after all, and he wanted to model competency in his chosen field.
It ended up being the right decision as he came out virtually unscathed. In case it would have been needed, he had practically memorized the entire student handbook. He didn't end up making a rules-based argument. The panel was sympathetic when hearing about his brother, and wasn't happy with Stemple tampering with the mock trial scenario.
Harvey had to sit through a two-hour anger management video while Stemple ended up being suspended from campus for a week. It was a positive start to his week, and that was before he found an envelope in his mailbox with a cashier's check for $30,000 a few days later.
There was no name listed, no letter or note. It didn't need any of that for him to know it was from Donna. She did this for him.
*-*Donna*-*
March 4, 1998 – Present Day
Time sped by, but Donna chose to focus on getting into law school over the rest of her life, over figuring things out with him. She hated herself for it.
When she took the LSATs in January, she felt all of the judgmental eyes that were on her. It was common for people to look at the young, expecting mother with no ring on her finger and form all sorts of assumptions. The people seeing her take the test were probably wondering why she was even bothering with a baby on the way. Law school was tough enough without one.
Ignoring the looks, she sat through the test and absolutely aced it. She knew it then, as soon as she finished, and confirmed it a month later when the results arrived, and she scored a 176. With that score, and having attended Yale for undergrad, she was virtually a lock to get in again.
That didn't keep the nerves away every day since she submitted her application. There were other options besides Yale Law School if she didn't get in, but none of them came with the ability to stay at home and have free childcare help, thanks to her mom.
Yale was the only school that would really work, and this morning she found the big packet in the mail. She was in. If only Harvey was there to share her news with. It was her fault that he wasn't there, or at least that there was no chance for him to be. She was such a coward.
*-*Harvey*-*
April 11, 1998 – Present Day
It had been months, but Harvey couldn't stop thinking about how Donna came through for him with the money, and what that all might mean. Does she still love me? Was it just Donna being Donna?
The frequency in which she was consuming his thoughts made him question his future with Scottie more as well. They had continued to spend time with each other, but he couldn't shake the feeling that she wasn't telling him something. He knew he was keeping his persistent thoughts about Donna from her.
When they spoke about Marcus, Donna had told him there was something she needed to tell him. He had called her once since then, to thank her for the money and let her know that the school issue worked out, but she didn't say what was on her mind. It seemed like she had wanted to, but was afraid perhaps, and it made him think that maybe she did want to get back together. Deep down, he knew he wanted to as well, but he also was terrified. He couldn't handle being incorrect in his assumption.
He needed to talk to someone about it, but it couldn't be Donna, and Scottie definitely wasn't an option. That left his father, who thankfully was expected back from his latest gig this evening. Harvey knew he would beat his dad to the house, but it would be good to check in on Marcus. He had finished his chemotherapy last month and was still regaining his strength. The cancer was in remission, and overall, things were looking good, but his recovery wouldn't be quick or painless.
Harvey had been better with visiting him than he had in a long time. If not for Marcus getting sick, he might still only spend time there on rare weekends, and likely during the summers for his upcoming clerkships. That had been the plan. This extra trip today was impromptu, he didn't tell anyone he was coming.
When he let himself in, he heard something just a little too faint to identify coming from upstairs. Thinking it could be Marcus needing assistance, he decided to go check.
"Hey loser, what's with the banging around?" he shouted as he climbed the stairs, "Did you get your dick caught in your zipper again or something?"
Instead of being met with Marcus's voice, it was Lily's instead. "Hey, uh, hi Harvey, I didn't know you were coming home."
It was déjà vu. His mom emerged from her bedroom, scrambling to get clothes back on, with her hair a mess. Bobby's voice was trailing her. Harvey wasn't a kid anymore, there was no confusion about what he was walking in on this time.
"I don't fucking believe it!" He spun around immediately, he had to get out of the house before he did something he might regret, like beat the shit out of Bobby.
"Harvey. Harvey! Wait," Lily pleaded after she chased after him.
"How could you do this? Marcus is recovering from cancer and you're busy screwing Bobby behind Dad's back!" He turned to scream at her, then proceeded to storm out of the house.
"Harvey please, I made a mistake." She begged him to stop. If Harvey made it out the house, she was terrified that he would go straight to Gordon, and everything would change forever.
"No, I am done with you. You lied to me and kept making a fool out of Dad."
"Harvey, we need to talk about this. Don't do anything that will tear our family apart. Like you said, Marcus is still recovering. Think about what this would do to him."
"Don't you ever use him like that again. I'm leaving and you better tell Bobby to get the hell out of my father's house."
Every bad thought he ever had about his mom – no Lily, was validated. She never stopped cheating on his dad, making him a fool. She was the same selfish woman he always knew her to be. The rage he felt had reached a frightening level, but the pain was rippling through him just as strongly. Lily was supposed to love his dad, but even more, she was supposed to love her son. She betrayed them both.
How was he supposed to trust anyone when his own mother all but spit in his face before she stabbed him in the back? How was he supposed to believe in relationships and marriage when his dad loved his mother so much and it didn't matter? He himself had fucked up his own relationship and shot at love. Donna.
Going home had been about talking through his thoughts about her. The last time he really needed her, she came through and he had to see her now. The exorbitant cab fare he would have to pay to travel to a different state didn't even cross his mind as he ordered one. He just had to be there with her.
The cab pulled up in front of her parents' house and he all but bolted out. He never did forget the address. Catching his mom again was ripping him to shreds and the idea of seeing Donna, holding her if she would let him, was the only thing keeping him from falling completely apart. His first instinct was to go on a bender, maybe pick a fight. He wanted to finally tell his dad, but he didn't want to do so in the midst of unprecedented fury.
Donna could help him sort it out. She could talk him through the worst of it. She was the only one who could make him feel less lost, and that maybe everything could still be okay. He could still trust her, she wasn't a liar like his mother. She would never betray him.
He saw her hair first, coming around the corner before he even made it to her front steps. She must have been coming from the backyard. Just catching a glimpse made him dizzy, his world was spinning from being in her presence again after so long.
Then he got the full look and his heart stopped. She was stunning but she was…pregnant? Very, by the looks of it. She didn't tell him. Was it his? There were so many questions, he was overcome by confusion. And pain? More pain? He was struggling to sort through what he was feeling. It was all too much.
He couldn't breathe.