Hey everyone, I hesitated for a long time to update the story here since no one seems really care, but the few comments on the last chapter convince me to do it.
So a big thank you for the people who left a comment, meant the world to me :)
TW for this chapter : non-consensual drug use
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Donna's thoughts were spiraling out of control. She swore that Harvey Specter would make her lose her mind one day, and probably not in a good way. How could he not see that this relationship was going nowhere ? It was driving her crazy, and not just because of her own feelings.
Of course, she had been upset to know Harvey was in a serious relationship. So much so that she almost lost herself by reaching out to Mark. She would never be grateful enough to fate for receiving a text from Rachel at that very moment. That message full of compassion had shocked her while what she was about to do deserved anything but compassion.
She had been honest when she said she was happy for Harvey, even if it meant she would be unhappy; she could have gotten through that with time. But when you devote 12 years of your life to someone, when your relationships with men are tainted because of your dedication, when you wait because you know he's not ready for a relationship, and he finally chooses someone else. Even if you only want that person's happiness, it still hurts not to be the chosen one when you've dedicated your entire life to him.
Finally, when she realized Harvey wasn't even happy, it hit her even harder. Why put himself through such a relationship ? She knew he wasn't stupid, he probably knew his relationship with Paula wasn't healthy, so why go on ? There was only one reason she could think of : he was in love with Paula. That could only be it. That was the problem with toxic relationships in general and why the manipulator in the relationship always managed to take control over the other one who could never leave. Love. Harvey would never be ready to love Donna, but he was ready to fall in love with an abusive psychiatrist. It would take her a long time to get over it, a very long time.
The young woman was so lost in her thoughts, deep in her bed, that she almost didn't notice her phone ringing. She didn't recognize the number, but a bad feeling overtook her. Calls at 11pm were rarely good news. She picked up, her hand trembling slightly.
"Is this Donna Paulsen ?" asked a faint voice on the other end of the line.
"Yes, who is this ?" Donna asked, worried.
"Mount Sinai Emergency Department. You are listed as the emergency contact for Mr. Harvey Specter," the other person stated.
"What happened ?" Despite all the will in the world, she couldn't calm her trembling voice. She imagined a thousand scenarios, each more horrible than the last.
"Nothing too serious, don't worry. But we need to ask you a few questions, and we can't let him leave alone. Would you mind coming along ?"
Donna was already getting dressed while the receptionist spoke calmly. "I'll be there as soon as possible."
She threw on a pair of jeans and her Uggs, slipping into a sweater as she rushed out of her apartment. Normally, she was meticulous about her appearance, but this was an emergency. Her mind raced with worry as she hailed a cab, barely noticing the chill in the night air. The ride seemed to take forever, her anxiety growing with each passing minute.
After a quick stop at the reception to be directed to Harvey, Donna walked through the various hospital corridors before finding her friend in a corner where the curtains had been left open, lying on a hospital bed. Her heart pounded with anxiety as she approached.
His right hand was covered with a large bandage, but apart from that, his physical condition seemed fine if you ignored his pale skin, the sweat droplets on his forehead, and his eyes that struggled to stay open. Well, maybe not in such good physical condition, but it was much better than all the scenarios she had imagined on the way, so Donna took it as good news. She hurried towards him, her steps quick and purposeful, as he hadn't noticed her yet, his eyes still staring into space when they were opened.
"Hey you," Donna gently stroked his hair to show her presence. The gesture made him look up at her, and he seemed surprised to see her, judging by his furrowed brows.
"Donna ? What are you doing here ? It's the middle of the night, how did you get here ?" Despite looking disconnected from his surroundings, Harvey would always be Harvey. The Harvey worried that Donna might be alone in a taxi with a stranger at the wheel, in the middle of the night.
"Harvey, what happened ?" Donna's voice was soft but filled with concern, her eyes scanning his face for answers.
"I... um... I cut my hand," His tone was so hesitant that Donna wasn't sure if he was stating a fact or asking a question. His confusion added to her worry, making her heart ache for him.
The young woman was about to respond when a doctor approached them. "You must be Miss Paulsen ?" The doctor's voice was calm, professional, but Donna could sense the underlying urgency.
Donna turned to the doctor without letting go of Harvey, who was starting to fidget, and nodded before asking for explanations.
"Mr. Specter was brought here by an ambulance. Apparently, the concierge of his building called them when he lost consciousness in the lobby. He arrived with a large cut on his hand, and we had to put several stitches in it. It will be somewhat uncomfortable for a while, but he will regain full function once it heals."
"I'm going to be... I'm going to be sick," Harvey murmured, whose breathing was quickening, his eyes desperately searching for something to throw up in.
The doctor quickly placed a basin in front of him just in time for Harvey to start vomiting. Donna winced, feeling helpless as she watched him.
"Is this supposed to happen ?" Donna asked, turning to the doctor, her voice strained with worry.
"No, he clearly didn't lose that much blood to feel this unwell. We're going to take a blood sample before he leaves." The doctor's tone was measured, trying to reassure her while still being informative.
The doctor was about to fetch a nurse when Donna stopped him. "Doctor, we were here this afternoon for several tests, and the bloodwork came back clear."
"Yes, I saw his file. However, I have a fairly specific idea of what might be happening to your friend, but I can't tell you anything until we do this blood test. It's something that wasn't tested this afternoon, so the result will probably be different." The doctor's words were ominous, filling Donna with a sense of dread.
She turned back to Harvey and set the basin on the floor once she was sure he wouldn't be sick again. She said nothing while the nurse drew her friend's blood, too lost in her thoughts to speak.
Harvey had been spending every evening with Paula lately, where was she ? Was she there when he got cut ? Harvey was conscious, why hadn't he asked to call Paula instead of her ? She was glad to have been informed, and she wouldn't want to be anywhere else but here to help him. But she couldn't shake the bad feeling about this, a feeling that had been recurring for several weeks now. She was missing some information here, and Harvey wasn't really in a state to give it to her.
He was drifting in and out of consciousness, his complexion even paler than when she had arrived. When he managed to keep his eyes open for more than a minute, their gazes finally met, and Donna could have sworn he was surprised to see her. As if he had already forgotten she was there.
She slipped her hand into his unbandaged one, desperately trying to anchor him in reality, to make him understand that she was really there and wasn't going anywhere. "Hey, how are you feeling?"
"I've seen worse," It was supposed to reassure her, but it did the exact opposite.
"What happened, Harvey?" Donna pressed gently, her thumb stroking the back of his hand.
"Paula and I had a fight," He still had that absent look, and his eyebrows were furrowed as if he was making an effort to remember his evening. "She broke a glass, and my hand got cut."
Donna's blood ran cold upon hearing the story. "Harvey..." Her voice was barely a whisper, her mind reeling with concern and disbelief.
"It was an accident," he cut her off, his tone defensive.
"Like the accident at the gala?" Donna's eyes searched his, looking for the truth she feared.
"No, a real accident," Harvey insisted, though he didn't seem convinced of his own words.
Before Donna could argue further, the doctor presented himself again with a file and what appeared to be test results. His concerned expression made Donna feel that she wouldn't like the news he was about to announce.
"I will give you the results in a moment, but first I need to ask you a few questions, Mr. Specter," the doctor finally looked up from the results, ensuring his patient was conscious enough to have a conversation with him. "Can you tell me if your memory losses are limited to a specific time of day ?"
"Only in the evenings," Harvey confessed, his voice weak but clear.
"What ?! Why didn't you tell me that ?" Donna exclaimed, shocked that the lawyer hadn't mentioned this detail. Her grip on his hand tightened involuntarily.
He shrugged, as if caught red-handed. "I didn't think it mattered." His nonchalance frustrated her, making her want to shake some sense into him.
"Do you live alone ?" the doctor continued, his tone calm but probing.
Harvey raised his eyebrows, not understanding where the conversation was going but too tired to argue about it. All he wanted was to get it over with and go home. "Yes, well, recently my girlfriend is always at my place, so I'm not really alone anymore."
"Can we know what's going on ?" Donna was growing impatient with the suspense. He was a doctor, not a goddamn cop, so he should just get to the point.
"I don't want to accuse anyone, but we found GHB in your blood," the doctor explained gently, knowing the news could be shocking. "That explains all your symptoms: vomiting, drowsiness, memory loss, depressive state to some extent. Given that it's your evenings that are blurry, you must be ingesting it shortly before because the effects of this type of drug are very rapid."
Harvey and Donna both stared at the doctor, shocked and speechless at what they were hearing. Donna was the first to come to her senses, handling the situation as she always does.
"GHB..? Like… The drug ?" She definitely needed confirmation because the information was far beyond anything she could have imagined.
The doctor confirmed again. "Exactly that. I think that until the drug completely dissipates from his system, he should stay under observ-"
"No," Harvey interrupted. He was conscious enough of his environment to know that he wanted only one thing : to get out of there. "Give me a damn discharge form to sign so I can leave."
"Mr. Specter…"
"I said no, I want to leave. You can't stop me from leaving." His breathing began to quicken, and Donna understood that he was currently in total denial of what he was being told and needed time to process everything.
"Can you give us a minute, please ?" Donna asked the doctor. The question was polite, but her tone left no room for discussion.
When the doctor gave them some privacy, the young woman turned to her friend to try to reason with him, but Harvey spoke up before she had a chance to open her mouth.
"Donna, please, I want to leave. Please, don't make me stay here."
This was a Harvey that Donna had never encountered, and it terrified her. An agitated Harvey with a shifty gaze. A Harvey who was begging. A Harvey who was just a shadow of himself.
She sat on the edge of the bed and gently stroked his arm in a soothing gesture. "Harvey, I need you to look at me."
He lifted his eyes to her, ready to argue if she refused.
"I'm going to sign that discharge form, and we're going to leave, but on one non-negotiable condition," she warned. "You're not going home. You're coming to my place, and you'll finish the night in my apartment. Take it or leave it."
Harvey squinted, weighing the pros and cons. It wasn't ideal for him. Being so close to Donna was dangerous for both him and her, even if she wasn't aware of it. But Donna's apartment was a familiar, cozy, comfortable, and secure place. It was still the best option after his condo. He nodded in agreement. "Deal."
Donna stood up and kissed his temple before heading towards the doctor. She returned a few minutes later with several papers and a box of painkillers, announcing that he was finally free.
The journey back to Donna's apartment was anything but easy. They had to walk slowly because Harvey was still nauseous and sleepy. Donna guided him as best as she could, making sure he didn't collapse, but even with his lost weight, he remained a man, which meant still heavy and damn tall.
When they both walked through the door, Harvey automatically headed for the living room, aiming to collapse on the sofa and finally close his eyes, but Donna grabbed him by the arm when they reached the end of the hallway.
"Where do you think you're going ? Bed. Now," Donna ordered in a tone that left no room for argument as she guided him towards her bedroom.
But Harvey wouldn't be Harvey if he didn't try to argue. "Donna, no, I'm not going to your bed, it's..."
"Harvey, relax, we can share a bed. Remember, you're drugged, so there's no way anything's going to happen," the young woman reminded him.
"I know, but..."
"Harvey, please. I know you're very much in love with Paula, but sleeping in the same bed doesn't make you unfaithful," she sighed. Damn it, couldn't he just get into the goddamn room ?!
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The lawyer frowned at Donna's words, which couldn't be further from the truth, but he was in no state to talk openly about his lack of feelings for his girlfriend. And he was even less ready to talk about the deep feelings he had for Donna. He just hoped he could close his eyes as soon as his face hit the pillows.
He had thought that being in Donna's bedroom, the most intimate room, surrounded by her scent and memories of their night together, would drive him crazy and make him struggle even harder against his nausea because being both so close and so far from her would make him sick. But Harvey didn't expect it to be the complete opposite. Burying his nose in her sheets, surrounded by her scent, he felt like he was finally where he was supposed to be. Donna's bedroom wasn't the hostile place he had imagined to be, it was his safe place.
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When Donna entered the bedroom after changing into her pajamas in the bathroom, she found Harvey with his eyes closed, buried in a pillow, inhaling deeply the sheets and rubbing against them like a cat.
"I hope the sheets smell good," she joked at the sight before her, trying to lighten the mood.
"It smells like... home," Harvey sighed in contentment, his voice muffled by the pillow.
Donna froze at his words, not knowing if he really meant it, if the drug was making him delirious, or if it was just disinhibiting his thoughts. She decided not to respond because there was no point in discussing it while he was probably not himself and wouldn't likely remember this conversation in a few hours. She turned off her bedside lamp and lay on her side facing Harvey.
"I'm not..." Harvey began in a sleepy whisper. The sentence hung in the air long enough for her to think he had fallen asleep when he spoke again. "I'm not in love with Paula."
Donna momentarily panicked, but the only thing she could think was, "Then what the hell are you doing, Harvey?!" Exhausted by the past few hours, she shut her eyes and tried to put it out of her head.
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When Donna opened her eyes, it was still dark outside, but she was alone in bed. She quickly got up, her senses on high alert, hoping Harvey was still there. As she left her bedroom, she quickly realized the bathroom door was ajar, with a sliver of light shining underneath. She knocked gently, and not hearing an answer, she slowly opened the door and froze in place.
It was one thing to learn he had been drugged, it was another to witness the consequences. The man was slumped against the toilet, where he had likely vomited again while Donna was asleep. The toilet had been flushed, and there was no bad smell in the room, so she understood that he had stayed there in case his nausea returned and had eventually fallen asleep, his forehead resting against the toilet bowl, his legs folded under him. There was no way that position could be comfortable.
"Paula Agard, if you really did this, I will come for you," Donna thought, closing her eyes for a second to regain her composure.
She crouched down in front of Harvey and slowly shook him to wake him. He opened his eyes and lifted his head, still with that surprised look on his face as if he had once again forgotten where he was and why Donna was in front of him.
"I don't know what you have against my bedroom, Specter, but I assure you it's more comfortable than the bathroom floor," Donna smiled.
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But Harvey was far too out of his mind to catch the line of humor. He wasn't there with her, not really. He was trying in vain to put together the pieces of an impossible puzzle.
"Harvey, are you still feeling nauseous ?" He shook his head in response. "Good, then we should go back to bed," Donna suggested, but Harvey didn't move. His head was tilted to the side, and he looked at her intently as if he could find all the answers to the universe in her hazel eyes, as if she could piece together that puzzle and set his world right with a snap of her fingers.
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"Harvey ? Where did you go ?" Donna asked, squeezing his shoulder to try to bring him back to reality when Harvey finally opened his mouth.
"I could use... a toothbrush." And just like that, Donna began to laugh nervously. He couldn't have said a more random sentence. Her laughter turned into a fit of giggles, soon joined by Harvey. It helped to relieve the tension, and for a moment, she forgot all about this anything-but-normal situation. Nothing was right in their lives at the moment, and she didn't know how they had ended up here, but at that precise moment, it didn't matter. Harvey had just made the most normal comment, showing her that despite everything, her Harvey was still in there somewhere and that he would be fine. Not immediately, but he would get there.
She stood up and took a new toothbrush from the cupboard while Harvey got up. She handed him the toothbrush already with toothpaste and watched from the doorway as he brushed his teeth. He seemed much more stable on his feet and was no longer fighting drowsiness as much as he had a few hours ago. Well, at least the effects of the drug were starting to wear off.
"Do you want me to put a basin in the bedroom in case you feel sick again ?"
"No, I'll be fine," Harvey replied after rinsing his mouth. "Once the nausea passes, I'm not sick for the rest of the night. Trust me, I'm used to it."
He didn't realize the impact of his words, but Donna held back a scream. "Trust me, I'm used to it ?" Fuck.
As they got back under the covers, accompanied by Harvey, still unaware of the impact of his words, Donna made herself a promise : Paula would pay for this, and Harvey would come back twice as strong as before.
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When the lawyer opened his eyes again, the rays of the sun were beginning to filter through the curtains. As had become his habit for weeks, Harvey woke up in a foggy state. However, something was different that morning, he felt... soothed ? Damn, what the hell had happened ? Opening his eyes a bit wider, he realized it was the smell of coffee that had woken him up. Had Paula come back ? She had said she would call, and he really didn't want to talk to her but he couldn't avoid her forever, and he really needed a coffee. He leaned on his hands to get up, but a sharp pain shot through his right hand.
"Shit," he hissed, remembering his cut.
He looked at his hand and was surprised to find a clean bandage and... were those stitches ? He tried in vain to dig through his memory, but nothing came back, and when he finally lifted his eyes to his surroundings, he was even more surprised. This wasn't his bed, and it certainly wasn't his room, but it wasn't an unfamiliar place either.
Donna. He was at Donna's. He understood the sense of calm better now, Donna's scent was everywhere, even on him. But how had he ended up here ? And what had happened ? He decided to get up and head for the kitchen where the smell of coffee was becoming more and more enticing.
He found the redhead with her back to him, pouring coffee into two cups, and he took a moment to admire her before making his presence known. Even though he had forgotten his evening and was more confused than ever, one thing would never change, and she was right in front of him. Even in silk pajamas and with her back to him, he knew she was breathtaking. She was, of course, incredible in her designer dresses, luxury heels, with her hair and makeup done, but God help him, she didn't need any of that. Her body needed no embellishments, not to mention her mind. She wasn't just a pretty face, and that's probably what he loved the most about her. And even though he had no memory, he knew everything would be okay because Donna had his back. He didn't know what had happened, but he was sure of one thing : Donna had taken care of him because that's what she did. Always.
He cleared his throat to announce his presence, and Donna turned around with a radiant smile upon seeing him.
"Hey you, coffee ?" she offered, holding out a cup.
Harvey gladly took the cup and followed Donna to the dining table where they both sat down.
"How's your hand ? The doctor gave me some painkillers if you want."
Harvey frowned. "What doctor ?" He searched her face for answers, the fog in his brain starting to lift.
The doctor had warned Donna that this would likely happen, so she decided to go easy with the revelations. "Harvey, what exactly do you remember ?"
The lawyer tried by all means to remember how he had ended up here, but in vain. "I had a fight with Paula... That's when I cut my hand and, um... I don't know... I think I went to bed after that. I bandaged my hand and went to bed. The next thing I remember is waking up in your bed, not mine."
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Fuck. She was going to have to explain everything to him. It was always her job to tell him the bad news, wasn't it ?
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"The hospital called me. Apparently, you wanted to go there yourself, but you passed out in the lobby of your building. The concierge called 911, and they took you to the ER," Donna began, not knowing how to break the news about the doctor's discovery yesterday.
"That explains the stitches," Harvey replied absently, seeming to think about the situation. "But why did I come to your place ?"
"The doctor wanted to keep you for the night, and you absolutely wanted to leave. So we made a deal, you and me : I signed the discharge, and in exchange, you came to my place so you wouldn't be alone."
She tried by all means to delay telling him, but Harvey sensed that he didn't have all the pieces of the puzzle here. It was common knowledge that Donna could read Harvey like an open book, but what people didn't know was that Harvey could also read Donna very well. And right now, the young woman was hiding something from him.
"Donna, what aren't you telling me ?"
Donna sighed, knowing what was about to happen. "You really weren't well, so they decided to take another blood test and... They found something that explains all your symptoms."
"So there really is something ? It's not just in my head ?" Harvey's eyes widened with a mix of relief and dread.
"No, it's not in your head." She got up to get the document with the blood test results, thinking it would be good for him to have proof in front of him. "You were drugged, Harvey. They... They found GHB in your blood," Donna explained calmly, handing him the paper.
He looked at the blood test result without really seeing or understanding it.
GHB. Positive.
He began to feel the blood pounding in his ears, sweat droplets forming on his forehead, his breathing quickening, his vision blurring, the sounds muffling…
"Harvey, hey, it's okay, I'm here," he felt Donna's hand take his. He hadn't had a panic attack in ages, and he had always faced them alone, but not this time. This time Donna was there.
"I can't... breathe..." Harvey gasped, feeling the walls close in on him.
"Yes, you can. Breathe in and out slowly, follow me," she said, inhaling and exhaling loudly so that Harvey could follow.
At first, it was chaotic, Harvey couldn't match Donna's rhythm, and it only exacerbated his panic attack. Donna guided his hand to her chest so he could feel her heartbeat. He followed the gesture with his eyes and lingered for a moment on his hand on Donna's chest before meeting her gaze. And once again, he felt like Donna was looking into his soul, that she could set his world right with just that look. That if everything were to collapse now, he would always find that look. Always. His invariable among all the variables in his life.
His breathing began to slowly return to normal, and he blinked several times like a tic to ensure the attack was truly over. When Donna was sure Harvey had come back to himself, she left for a moment to get him a glass of water, which he gratefully took a sip from before speaking again.
"So... This explains all the symptoms ?" he asked, trying to avoid talking about his panic attack and thankfully, Donna followed his lead.
"Yes, the memory losses, the repeated vomiting, the chronic fatigue, the loss of appetite," Donna listed, her voice steady.
"But then what ? Does that mean I've had it regularly ? Because the memory loss and vomiting happen every day, so I've ingested it... every day, right ?"
"That's the conclusion I've come to, yes."
Harvey took a moment to think before continuing. "What else did they say ?"
"That the effects are very quick, so if your memory losses happen in the evening, you must be ingesting the drug at that time."
Harvey frowned at the information. He knew he wasn't taking drugs deliberately, and in the evening, he was with no one except... "No. Absolutely not. No way." He shook his head to emphasize his point, rejecting the horrifying possibility.
"Okay," murmured Donna. There was no point in pushing Harvey right now, and she knew it.
"Donna, it doesn't make sense. Why would Paula do such a thing ?" He rubbed his eyes, feeling a headache coming on.
"I don't have all the answers, Harvey. The only thing I know is that you're not taking it deliberately and she's there every evening. But... You're probably right, you know her better than I do, so tell me."
"Tell you what ?"
"Where else could it have happened ? Do you go to a bar before coming home ? Or maybe a daily workout session where someone could have put something in your water ?" Donna was really trying to make sense of this story even though she felt there was only one outcome.
"None of that, and you know it. I work out only in the mornings, and not every day, unfortunately. And I go straight home after work, so no bars."
Donna already knew all that, of course. And Harvey knew she knew. "So it's her then ?" Harvey asked rhetorically, the weight of the realization settling on him.
"I wish it weren't the case, Harvey, and we don't have any proof, but I can't see any other way," And even though Harvey and Paula's relationship had torn Donna's heart into a thousand pieces, she'd never wished she was wrong more than now.
"But why ? It doesn't make any sense," Harvey thought out loud, staring at an invisible point on the table. "What could I have done for her to need to-"
"Hey !" Donna interrupted. "She didn't need anything, Harvey. And nothing will ever, ever justify her doing that. Is that clear ?"
Harvey nodded, though he didn't seem convinced. They remained silent for a moment, each lost in their thoughts when Harvey suddenly said, "The scotch."
"What?"
Harvey turned to Donna to explain. "Every evening, when I go to change or take a shower, she pours me a drink. I never see her do it because I'm not in the room at that time, but it's always there. And once I've finished the drink..."
"You start to lose track of what's happening," Donna finished for him, her voice barely a whisper.
"I think she's putting something in my drink," Harvey muttered, his voice strained with concern as he stared at Donna, searching for guidance in her eyes. She met his gaze, uncertainty flickering in her own as they stood in the dining room, the weight of his words hanging heavy between them. What were they supposed to do in a situation like this?
Their contemplation was abruptly interrupted by the jarring ring of Harvey's phone on the nearby table. Both of them instinctively turned towards the sound, tension rising as they anticipated the caller's identity.
"Paula," Harvey announced, reaching for the phone, but Donna's hand halted his movement. Her grip was gentle but firm, her expression a mix of caution and concern.
"Donna, I have to answer it," Harvey pleaded quietly, his eyes pleading for understanding.
"She'll find it suspicious if I don't. She said she'd call when she left yesterday." Reluctantly, Donna released her hold on his arm, conceding to his reasoning.
Harvey stood and walked a few paces away to take the call, his voice hushed as he conversed with Paula for a fleeting moment before returning to the dining room with a troubled expression.
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"I'm seeing her tonight," Harvey declared bluntly, his tone carrying an edge of finality that didn't sit well with Donna. She could feel her anxiety mounting, a knot forming in her stomach at the thought of Harvey being alone with Paula again.
"What ?! Harvey—" Donna began with disbelief and concern.
"Calm down," Harvey interjected, his tone softer now as he tried to reassure her. "I need to be sure it's her and that everything will stop once I stop ingesting what she touches. And besides..." He hesitated briefly, a conflicted expression crossing his face. "I need to break up with her, and I'm not going to do that over the phone."
Donna's unease lingered despite his attempt at reassurance. She looked up at him, her eyes searching his face for reassurance but finding only a growing sense of apprehension. Harvey, sensing her turmoil, placed a hand gently on her shoulder.
"Donna, I'm a big boy, remember ?" he said softly, trying to lighten the mood with a faint smile. "Still a six-foot-tall grown man. Everything is gonna be alright."
Her anxiety unabated, Donna pressed on with her concern, unable to suppress the worry in her voice. "And if it's not her ?" the redhead couldn't help but ask.
"Are you asking if I'm going to break up with her anyway ?" Harvey countered, his gaze meeting hers steadily.
"What if I am ?" Donna replied quietly, her brow furrowing.
"I'm going to break up with her anyway," Harvey affirmed, his voice firm now. "Last night, we had a huge fight and... The things she said, I can't forgive her for that. The fact that she..." He trailed off, unable to voice the full extent of his feelings aloud. "It doesn't matter for the future. It's already over for me since yesterday."
Donna hesitated, wanting to press further, to understand what had transpired between them that had left Harvey so resolute in his decision. "What did she say that was so—" Before she could finish voicing her thoughts, however, Harvey gently kissed her forehead, a fleeting gesture filled with tenderness and reassurance.
"I need to swing by my place to pick up a suit before heading to the office. I'll see you there," Harvey said quietly, his words tinged with a sense of urgency.
With that, he turned and left the apartment swiftly, leaving Donna standing in the kitchen, her mind racing with unanswered questions and lingering worries. She watched him go, feeling a sense of helplessness settle over her as she wondered what lay ahead for him.