#suits alternate universe | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

schrijverr · 2 years

Text

Miracle Worker 8

Chapter 8 out of 10

Mike has dropped out of High School at sixteen to take on a full time job as a bike delivery boy to take care of Grammy. He lies that he’s eighteen to get better hours and more pay, somehow ending up working for Harvey on a project that will get him Senior Partnership. Mike and Harvey become friends during the course of it, Mike looking up to Harvey as all he wants to be, but probably never will. However, when things go south with Grammy, he considers taking Trevor’s offer to do a drug run, instead ending up with Harvey offering to be his mentor. Offering him help.

In this chapter, Harvey and Mike find their new footing after their dynamic has shifted and sort out Grammy’s care.

On AO3.

Ships: none

Warnings: none

~~~~~~~~~~~

Going

Mike is a ball of nerves when they pull up to his home. He doesn’t know where Harvey lives exactly, but he knows it miles better than his place. Harvey is already aware of that, since he is literally pulling Mike out of his money problems, but that doesn’t make it any better. Not to mention that Grammy is in there.

Grammy who could be thinking it’s years in the past, confused and out of it. Or she could be the sharp witted woman Mike has known for his entire life, who won’t pass up an opportunity to be embarrassing. She always claims its one of the few benefits of getting older.

He isn’t sure what will be worse as they make their way up the rickety staircase, the elevators long since broken.

The apartment is dark when they enter, but Mike sees a vague shape on the couch and hears breathing, so he just turns on the lights to find Grammy asleep in her chair.

They’ll have to be quiet for a bit. So, he finally turns to Harvey, putting a finger to his mouth to indicate to stay silent, before toeing off his shoes and creeping to the kitchen where he gets a glass of water and Grammy’s meds. He takes them to her chair and squads down, maneuvering made harder by the cast. “Grammy,” he whispers. “Grammy, I’m home.”

“Micheal?” she asks, as she wakes up. So she’s in the present, okay, that’s good. Then she spots his face and arm and concern comes over her features: “What happened to you, dear?”

“I fell of my bike,” Mike tells her. “It was nothing, really. Here, take your meds.”

“You know I hate those,” Grammy says. Then she spots Harvey and asks: “And who are you? And what are you doing in my home?”

“Grammy, this is Harvey, Harvey Specter,” Mike interrupts before Harvey can reply. “My boss from the Pearson Hardman job, remember? He picked me up from the hospital.”

She relaxes slightly, but still eyes Harvey suspiciously. “Well, thank you for that,” she says, “but that still doesn’t explain why you’re here. And why Micheal here looks like he’s about to tell me to get ready for my funeral.”

Mike knows he looks surprised, probably more so than Harvey, who just raises his brows slightly at the comment.

“No, Grammy, it’s-” Mike splutters.

“You have a keen mind, Mrs. Ross,” Harvey cuts him off and he glares at him. “However, this might be better saved for the morning. It is a long story.”

“And I have lived a long life, Mr. Specter,” Grammy answers. “You look like you’re staying and while I have heard good things about you, I won’t just let you stay here.”

Harvey regards her for a second and Mike wants to sink into the floor. Then Harvey smiles and somehow that is worse. “That is understandable, Mrs. Ross. But I’m afraid you might not think it’s the best new that I’m bringing.”

“Hm, I’m not really seeing the killer instinct here, Micheal,” Grammy says and Harvey laughs, sending Mike another look, who is living through the most mortifying meeting right now. He swallows and stammers something.

“I am now afraid about what those good things are, Mike told you,” Harvey saves him from saying something, though he doesn’t know if it’s a good thing.

Finally Grammy looses some of her suspicion and smiles. Then says: “I like you. Micheal, give Mr. Specter here something to drink. Mr. Specter, take a seat, since you’ve got news to give me.”

Mike scrambles up to get Harvey something to drink as Harvey tells Grammy that she doesn’t have to call him Mr. Specter, while Grammy says that just Edith is fine.

When he comes back, the strange sight of Harvey in his three piece suit on their old couch hits him for a moment, before he sits down next to Harvey. Harvey thanks him for the drink, then turns to Grammy: “Today the court handed me emergency custody over Mike. There is a hearing in 10 to 14 days to decide what will happen next, but you are likely not getting custody back.”

Mike watches as Grammy’s amused and mischievous demeanor falls, tears gathering in her eyes as she lets out a soft: “…No.”

She looks at Mike, who bites his lip, unable to meet her eye as he softly says: “I’m sorry, Grammy, I know how hard you try, but you should have never had to. You deserve a retirement with good care, not me leaving you here every day to work.”

“I know this must be hard to hear,” Harvey steps in. “And I wish I could give you other news. But Mike could not have been picked up from the hospital without this. You’re no longer capable of making those trips. If you get care, Mike can go back to school and have more time to visit you. I will ensure you won’t loose your grandson, but you can’t go on like this. Neither of you can.”

“Is that why you quit school, Micheal?” Grammy asks turning to Mike.

“I’m so sorry,” Mike can only repeat again. “I- I didn’t want to worry you, but you were getting worse. Remember when you forgot to put the heating on and nearly froze? God, I was so scared, I don’t want to loose you like that. I can’t loose you too.”

Grammy looks like she’s been hit and Mike wants to hug her, but getting up with his arm has been a struggle and he doesn’t really know if it’ll be welcome too.

“God, Micheal, you should have said something,” she tells him. “I want what’s best for you. You shouldn’t have put yourself through that. You stupid, sweet, idiot boy.”

“Sorry,” Mike mumbles again.

“It’s alright, dear,” she smiles and Mike knows that all is going to be okay with that smile. Then she turns to Harvey and asks: “What do I have to do?”

“We have all the paperwork right here,” Harvey says, presenting it with a flourish. “It states that I get power of attorney until Mike is eighteen, we’ll sell this apartment, use it to pay for you medical costs and put Mike through college if he doesn’t get a scholarship – which is unlikely – since he can access the money when he’s eighteen. Then hopefully, he’ll get a job and pay for it in a few years time with a bit of a cushion left.”

“That sounds very thought out,” Grammy says. “You truly do like to be prepared.”

The comment earns Mike another look from Harvey, which he smartly ignores. Though he puff up with pride and gives Harvey a small grin when the man replies: “Mike helped with it. He’s a smart young man, he’ll make one hell of a lawyer one day.”

“He sure will,” Grammy agrees. “But you haven’t told me what will happen to Mike when all of this is set in motion.”

“There will be a hearing,” Harvey repeats. “And Mike will likely go into the system until he ages out.”

“Harvey,” Grammy says. “You said it yourself, Micheal is a smart kid. He can go places, but not in the system. There is a reason I took him in after my son and his wife’s death, despite my age. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but kids need people that care to thrive.”

“I understand your concern, but-”

“No but, Harvey,” Grammy interrupts him. “I won’t sign anything until I know Mike is going to be okay and you can’t make me.”

“Grammy-” Mike tries to tell her.

“And I won’t hear a word from you either,” Grammy says. “You’ve just proven you’re too much of a self sacrificing idiot to get a say in this.”

Mike would be more offended if she didn’t have a point, so he looks to Harvey, hoping the lawyer can solve this. Like always, Harvey doesn’t disappoint. He looks Grammy right in the eyes and intently says: “I will do everything in my power to make sure Mike is going to be okay. I am giving you my word and I take my word very seriously.”

At that Grammy takes a moment and regards Harvey with the look that often has Mike shifting in his seat, whenever he had done something he shouldn’t have. But Harvey doesn’t flinch, just stares back as Mike wonders how far Harvey’s generosity goes. Where the man will draw the line.

“Alright,” Grammy gives in and Mike lets out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. “But if I find out, you have not kept your word, I will come for you. And in lawyer taking power of attorney before screwing over a kid vs. elderly grandmother trying her best, I will win in the public courts.”

Mike thinks that this might be the point Harvey walks out, telling them he isn’t going to let himself get threatened like that. Instead, he surprises Mike again by smiling and holding out his hand to shake as he says: “I see where Mike gets it from.”

“Then you better know to watch out,” Grammy returns as she shakes Harvey’s hand.

“I’m kind of scared now that you’re friends,” Mike breaks the silence that fell afterwards. Not at all comforted by Grammy’s smile and Harvey’s chuckle.

“Rest assured, Micheal, I won’t pull out any baby albums just yet,” Grammy says and Mike groans loudly. “I have some papers I need to sign and then we all need to sleep. I’m afraid we don’t have a guest room and with Mike’s arm I would feel bad offering you his bed.”

“It’s fine, Edith,” Harvey assures her. “I have slept on worse places then this couch.”

“Really?” Mike can’t help but asks.

“What didn’t you get about being pulled from the mail room and stopped from being even more of a screw up?” Harvey retorts. “I used to live a few blocks down from here actually.”

“You did?” Mike asks.

“I don’t owe you my life story, now stop poking into my life and get on with the night,” Harvey says. “Not all of us have the teenager ability to stay up all night.”

“Are you calling yourself ol-”

“Not a word.”

“Aye, aye, captain,” Mike says making a shutting up now motion.

Grammy chuckles and Mike sends her a betrayed look. But lets it go as Harvey starts explaining to her what’s she’s signing in more detail and just lets them figure it out.

Harvey helps Grammy to her bed that evening, which Mike apologizes for, but he can’t really do it with his arm. However, he gives them the privacy as Mike goes through her evening routine with her until she’s tucked in and asleep.

When he gets back to the living room, Harvey has draped his suit jacket and vest over a chair and lost his belt and socks. “I would offer to lend you some clothes, but I don’t think anything would fit,” he apologizes.

“It’s fine, Mike, seriously,” Harvey says. “Just go to sleep, you need the rest.”

“Are you sure you’re fine staying here?” Mike asks anyway. “I mean, it can’t be comfortable and you’ve already done so much, so I wouldn't want to over step and-”

“Mike,” Harvey cuts him off gently. “I know I gave you little reason to trust me Friday, but I am committing to this. You remind me of me, alright. I just want to help, which is new for both of us, so lets just ignore it, alright?”

“Yeah, uh, okay, alright, yeah,” Mike stumbles a bit. “Uhm, the bathroom is over there and I’ll be sleeping right there. We don’t have fancy coffee, but the machine is straight forwards and mugs are in the cupboard right there.”

“Alright,” Harvey nods. “Good night.”

“Good night,” Mike replies, before leaving Harvey on his couch. God, just when he thought his day could not end stranger than it started and it started with him going to pick up drugs.

He wakes up the next morning with a start, cursing that he’s going to be late, before the pain hits him and he remembers that he couldn't come into work until the arm healed. He also remembers everything else that happened yesterday and takes a moment to just breathe, wondering what will happen today.

The sound of chatter pulls him from the bed as he tentatively makes his way over to the kitchen, where Grammy is happily telling Harvey the story of Mike’s failed attempt at a basketball career, cut short by him face-planting in front of all his peers and deciding to never play again.

“Okay, Grammy, that is enough,” Mike cuts her off, announcing his presence before she can tell Harvey he cried until he got ice cream.

“Ah, Micheal, dear,” Grammy smiles at him. “How are you feeling.”

“I’m good,” he replies automatically, then adds: “Hurts a bit.”

“I can imagine,” Harvey says, holding out a bottle. “Here, take some pain meds. There’s a lot to do today.”

“What are we doing today?” Mike frowns.

“You and Edith here are going to sort out what she needs to take with her to the home and what you want to keep,” Harvey explains. “I’m going to get everything in order with the nursing home itself, alright.”

“Yeah, course,” Mike says, though there are still many questions burning in his mind.

He drops them as they eat breakfast, until he’s seeing Harvey out: “Will you come back here? And don’t you have to go to work? I’m sure you have more important cases than this.”

“I took responsibility for you, which means you reflect on me,” Harvey tells him. “You are more important than those cases, because my reputation is at stake here. So, I took today off to take care of this and after I’m done, Edith is going to the home and you and I are getting your stuff to my condo where we’ll get to work on your defense.”

“My defense?” Mike repeats.

“Yes, Mike, they’re going to find out what you did with Fly Delivery and thus to us,” Harvey informs him. “Now you’re a minor, this is civil, I can probably get you out of this, but we have to prepare. Not to mention your hearing about your future.”

“Oh god,” Mike panics a bit, a familiar yet unwelcome feeling. “What if they ask about how I broke my arm? What if they ask Trevor? What will I say?”

Harvey looks around then says to Mike: “Calm down, breathe.” Mike does. “You never did anything illegal, you never touched those drugs. If they ask, you were on a delivery, that is not a lie, alright. It’s going to be fine.”

“It’s going to be fine,” Mike says, trying to convince himself.

“And another thing,” Harvey goes on. “You’re never contacting Trevor again. Or anyone associated with him, alright. He is an anchor and not your friend.”

“But,” Mike begins to protest. “He’s my oldest friend, Harvey. I can’t just drop him.”

“You can and you will,” Harvey tells him. “He hung up on you in the hospital and tried to get you to do a drug run. He is not your friend, he doesn’t care about you. If I find out you talked to him, I’m reporting him to the police and ensuring he’s not getting out for a few years. Do you want that on your conscious?”

“No,” Mike agrees, “but you can’t just do that me.”

“I just told you that you reflect on me,” Harvey says. “I’m trying my hardest here, alright. But my help is conditional. You’re going back to school, you’re getting into college and you’re not speaking to Trevor. I’m taking a chance on you, don’t make me regret it.”

Mike swallows. He knows Harvey is right, but it doesn’t feel like it. Could he just drop Trevor like that? No explanation?

He thinks back on the past few months. On the times he hung out with Trevor, how far apart they’ve grown already. Trevor is throwing his life away and Mike was about to as well. But Mike is getting a chance to make something of himself. Shouldn’t he take that? But shouldn’t he- Shouldn’t he try to give Trevor that chance to?

No. No, Trevor has had enough chances. Mike has tried enough for him. He finally has the life jacket Trevor was never willing to throw back and he’s not letting go.

“Alright, consider Trevor cut out,” he says.

“Good choice.” Harvey opens the door, then turns back, “Oh, and I don’t want to know if you ever did, but if you smoked, that stops now too.”

Mike doesn’t respond beyond a nod, but Harvey seems satisfied, because he leaves Mike behind to pack up his stuff with Grammy and goes down the stairs.

It’s weird, Mike decides pretty quickly. Weird to go through all the memories and decide which ones are worth keeping and which ones to throw out. Though, Mike never truly throws out memories.

When his parents died, Grammy must have done something similar, but Mike had been to young to help. He had been taken to Grammy’s place and days later his stuff arrived. Grammy tried to get him excited about decorating his new room, but the place had stayed full of boxes for months before Mike could bring himself to unpack and acknowledge that this was real.

He wonders how long his stuff will stay in boxes this time. Harvey said they would take his stuff to his condo, but Mike will disappear into the system in a few days. He doesn’t think he has to unpack for that.

Maybe he should start saying goodbye to more things. He can’t take everything with him if he’s going to have to move around so much.

Still, he can’t bring himself to throw out his book collection, even if he knows them all by heart. He earned those books, they were going to be the start of his own library. The small, obtainable dream he tried to cling to.

He can’t just leave them.

The rest of his stuff is easier to sort. He takes the panda painting he did with Grammy, a few sentimental plates and cookware, a bunch of clothes, his backpack and a few trinkets he has left of his parents. His bike was left on the street somewhere and he doesn’t expect to see it again. It was old anyway.

That still leaves him with the question of the books, but he decides to ask Harvey. Grammy meanwhile has folded all her clothes and put them in boxes. He is glad she’s having a good day, he’d hate for them to be fighting or out of it when soon they will have to say goodbye.

Together they go through what else she might want to take. Mike packs her knitting kit, a few games and her photo albums, as well as toiletries and her favorite blankets.

It’s already late when there’s a knock at the door. Mike doesn’t know how he knows, but he instantly knows it’s Harvey. He opens the door and Harvey starts with: “I pulled some strings, we can move her tonight, take care of her stuff tomorrow.”

In the end the move is a quiet affair. Grammy goes easily and is taken by the staff to get a tour and introduce herself, while Mike meets with some of the nurses and doctors, before saying his goodbye to Grammy. There are tears and hugs along with promises to come by every weekend.

Walking away is one of the most fucked up things Mike has ever done and he keeps looking over his shoulder even when they’re far out of sight.

When they’re back at Mike’s place, Harvey finally asks: “You okay, kid?”

“Ye- yeah,” Mike answers, slightly distracted. “It just feels wrong, you know, to leave her there. I know it’s not like that, but it feels like sentencing her to prison or something.”

“You did the right thing,” Harvey tells him and while Mike doesn’t reply beyond a nod, the fact that Harvey thinks so does make him feel better.

They grab Mike’s stuff, with Harvey telling him to just bring the books. If they prove to be an inconvenience, he can always throw them out later. When Harvey spots the legal books, he smirks and holds up the Barbri legal handbook and says: “Bit early, don’t you think.”

“It’s interesting,” Mike sniffs, faux-snootiness as he turns up his nose. “I read the paper for cases and then think what I would do, it keeps me busy while I bike.”

“You do?” Harvey sounds both surprised and completely unsurprised at the same time. Mike wonders how he manages that.

“Yeah, remember the first time I delivered to you? The one under two hours?” Mike asks, not really expecting an answer. “I read the company I collected it from was in trouble in the paper, I suspected it was a hostile takeover. Read I was right a while later. It’s satisfying.”

“Your mind is truly miraculous,” Harvey shakes his head almost disbelievingly, a small grin still on his face.

Mike knows it’s ridiculous how much Harvey’s praise means to him, but his teachers have always written him off as a smart mouth or sad orphan, while Trevor always regarded him with a bit of jealousy and Jenny thought him too much of a kid to take him seriously, and his Grammy had been required to be nice, though she often time could not remember to be it.

Harvey, however, would be better off if he dropped Mike and never looked back, instead he is here and impressed with him. No matter how much he let him down, he still sees Mike’s potential, not someone to pity, but someone to guide. Harvey isn’t going to be annoyed at finding out how smart Mike is.

Not that he gives any of the away, instead just shrugging: “I am kind of a genius, yes.”

“Don’t get too cocky, now grab your shit,” Harvey says. “Ray isn’t waiting forever.”

“Aye, aye captain,” Mike rolls his eyes, but does as he’s told.

It takes a bit longer to get everything down with Mike’s arm in a cast, but soon they find themselves in the town car, Mike again become a bundle of nerves. He’s going to be at Harvey’s home. A home likely filled with expensive stuff.

“Stop being jittery,” Harvey says.

“How?” Mike shoots back, noticing a bit too late that he has confessed to being jittery instead of denying it.

“Don’t be nervous,” Harvey says. “I need to be up early tomorrow, so the worst that will happen is that you might hear my snoring for a bit.”

“You snore?” Mike asks, not replying to the fact that he was nervous and the comment did help.

“I’m not dignifying that with a response.”

“You brought it up.”

“And now I’m un-bringing it up.”

“I don’t think you can do that in a discussion.”

“Who is the lawyer here. Withdrawing is a thing.”

Mike guffaws offended, then realizes that was probably the point before pouting.

They pull up in front of an impressive skyscraper in Manhattan and Mike whistles lowly while Harvey gets the doorman to help them with Mike’s stuff. The fact that the doorman doesn’t comment on the fact that Harvey has randomly shown up with a teen and boxes, says a lot about what the man must pay for the place.

Despite all that the inside is more impressive than the outside. Harvey’s apartment is stylish, oozing class and expensive, while also screaming Harvey.

It’s sleek like his office, but red accents make it warmer. There are throw pillows, a thick rug and posters with a man playing jazz on it, the name Gordon Specter plastered on them. Harvey also has the small library Mike dreams off, with one wall filled with books.

Mike almost doesn’t notice how easily he drifts into the apartment, being pulled in by the books, scanning their spines as he lets his free hand glide over them.

Harvey doesn’t interrupt him, probably in an attempt to make him more comfortable, though he will only realize that later. However, once he hears puttering around the kitchen, his attention is inevitably pulled away from the bookcase and towards the kitchen.

It’s very odd to see Harvey standing in the kitchen in casual wear – when he had changed, Mike doesn’t know – cutting an onion, while pasta boils on the stove next to him. So he just stands there for a moment, watching.

After a while, Harvey says: “You gonna stand there all evening?” without looking up. How he knows Mike is there, he doesn’t know either, but it doesn’t surprise him.

“I didn’t know you cooked,” Mike replies in lieu of an answer.

“I eat enough take out on long days,” Harvey shrugs. “When I’m able to eat at home, I want to eat nice food, not more things out of cartons and bags.”

“That’s fair,” Mike agrees. He does like a good homecooked meal. His dad was a great cook, learned from Grammy, who is even better. He used to eat a lot of homecooked meals, even back when Grammy worked a lot, but with him working and Grammy not able to cook much anymore, they just didn’t have the time.

Dinner is, despite all they have shared or maybe because off that, an awkward affair.

Mike misses Grammy and feels out of place in the expensive condo in his ratty sweater and jeans, while Harvey has no clue how to talk to Mike now that he was his ward instead of his employee or client.

After dinner, Mike helps load the dishwasher, before Harvey says: “I need to do some paperwork, but feel free to grab any book. I trust you can remember to put it back where you found it when you finish?”

And Mike can’t stop the way his eyes light up at the suggestion. He already knows a few books he wants to get through and he knows that he won’t get to read them all before he has to go, but he’s excited to try. He doesn’t even mind Harvey’s amused snort as he practically skips over to the bookcase wall.

That part of the evening is the best in Mike’s opinion. Harvey’s expensive couch is more comfortable than it looks and the scratches of Harvey’s pen from the dining table are nice background ambiance.

Mike would have expected Harvey to have a home office, but the man seemed perfectly happy to work at his dining table. This along with the cooking make Mike believe more of his screw up story, it’s funny to see that never leaves, no matter how fancy the rest of his life is.

When it is long dark, Harvey sits up cracking his back and Mike swallows down an old man comment.

“I’m going to sleep. I recommend you’d do the same, we leave at 8:00 AM,” Harvey says. “I’m right there,” points at a door. “That’s the bathroom,” he points at another. “And that’s the guestroom. Make yourself at home.”

“Wait? ‘We leave’?” Mike says, looking up from his book.

“Yes, Mike,” Harvey says like it’s obvious. “I have work to catch up on and I’m pretty sure Jessica will kill me if I miss my meeting with Stable Shelters. Plus, we still need to talk strategy. Besides, I’m not letting me out of my sight just yet.”

“You don’t trust me?” Mike asks, unsure why he’s hurt by that.

Harvey gives him a look as if he can’t believe Mike is asking that. It makes him wonder if he should have assumed that of course Harvey won’t trust him, until he says: “Weirdly enough, I do trust you. That’s not the reason I’m taking you with me.”

“It’s not?” Mike replies, because in all honesty Harvey should mistrust him and he is just as surprised as Harvey that he does, despite his earlier comment.

“No, Mike, it’s not,” Harvey says. “I know it might not have landed yet, but your life just changed and with your brain, you shouldn’t be alone to overthink all that when it finally hits.”

“I can handle it,” Mike protests.

Harvey ignores him barreling on: “We also truly need to work on your hearing and what the plan is, as I already said. That has a time limit. On top of that, I think you’ll enjoy being at the office. You already snooped when you worked there as a messenger, I’m sure you can entertain yourself by snooping when you don’t have any obligations. If you like law texts, you are better served at the Pearson Hardman library than mine.”

And Mike has to admit that does sound pretty fun and interesting. Still, his stubborn streak is refusing to just agree, so he asks: “And what if I run into Louis? I think he hates me.”

“Louis hates everyone,” Harvey waves the concern away. “If you see him and he tries anything, just tell him the truth and try to get a capture his reaction in some way, like a picture.”

That’s such a Harvey reply, especially paired with the grin that Mike knows so well from all the movie quotes and stupid jokes. He can’t help but grin at the mental image too, unable to refute that going to the office sounds way more fun than likely being stuck in Harvey’s fancy apartment where he had been nearly afraid to eat dinner.

“My phone camera isn’t the best, but I’ll try,” Mike promises.

“Good,” Harvey nods, satisfied. “Now, I’ll put out a towel and washcloth for you to use, the shower is pretty straight forwards. Can you set your own alarm of should I wake you?”

“Nah, I’ll set my own alarm. Thanks though,” Mike says.

They say their goodnights, though Mike still takes a while before he retires. He wants to finish the book he’s reading and he still has a few chapters left. Though that means he tiptoes when he goes to bed, cautiously pushing open the door to the guestroom.

The guestroom looks like it’s straight out of a showroom and Mike almost feels bad about messing it up. However, the bed is like a cloud and the best thing that has ever happened to him. He already regrets that he is going to have to leave this in the morning.

At least, he would have regretted it, had he not been out in a second flat.

Waking up to his alarm, he doesn’t have much time to feel awkward being in Harvey’s condo, because he has been too generous to himself and has had too much faith in his ability to shower with a cast on.

Harvey, of course, is already fully dressed and ready, following his frantic bid to get ready on time with amusement and cheerfully informing him he already went on a run this morning when Mike grumbles: “What got you so chipper so early?”

He also asks: “Aren’t you used to getting up early from your job?” once Mike is dressed and glaring at his coffee.

“Used to and liking are not the same thing,” Mike mutters, feeling like he could turn evil.

“I don’t remember you being this grumpy.”

“And I don’t remember you seeing me after I just woke up,” Mike retorts. “By the time I reached your office I had biked myself awake and just gotten Jones’ delightful coffee, maybe even a cookie from Donna.”

That only amuses Harvey more, who tells Mike to pick out books to take with him before they have to go.

When they get downstairs, Mike witnesses for the first time how Harvey trades Ray a CD for a coffee and listens to the two talk about music while they drive to the office. It’s nice and he reminds himself not to get used to it.

A/N:

Ok, you got me, I’m soft for caring Harvey, who isn’t always the shark lawyer but actually cares, just knows he can’t always do that in his world

Also I know Harvey’s apartment isn’t canon, but it’s my fic, I get to make up their homes :D

#RR writing #suits fanfic #suits tv show #suits tv #suits #suits alternate universe #young mike ross #mike ross #protective harvey specter #harvey specter #edith ross #Miracle Worker #Miracle Worker Part 8

12 notes · View notes

schrijverr · 2 years

Text

Miracle Worker 10

Chapter 10 out of 10

In this chapter, Mike goes to court and his future is decided.

On AO3.

Ships: none

Warnings: none

~~~~~~~~~~~

Get

Mike’s leg is jiggling. He can’t help it. In a few moments, his fate will be decided and while Harvey has assured him they have a solid plan, he knows that it could still go wrong. Besides, he still can’t fully believe that they’re actually going to try and do this. Like, holy shit.

“Stop that,” Harvey’s voice snaps him out of it.

“Bit hard,” Mike shoots back through nervous gritted teeth.

“We have a plan, the judge likes you. You’re going to be fine,” Harvey tells him sternly. “Now stop biting your lip off and focus.” Mike just glares at him, so Harvey sighs and changes his face to something nicer. “You’re going to be fine, kid. I got you. Take a breath.”

Mike still isn’t fully believing him just yet, but takes a deep breath, calming with Harvey’s steady hand on his shoulder.

Then their case is being called out and Harvey leads Mike through the courtroom over to their side, telling him to stand as the honorable judge Hernandez is announced.

It’s about to begin.

The case is less formal in its proceedings, and Mike is asked to state his name at the start as well to vow he’ll tell the truth. He swallows and nervously says: “My name is Micheal James Ross, and I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”

Then they are called upon to make their case, since it is Harvey, who filed first for emergency custody. “Mr. Specter, your request for emergency custody was granted ten days ago, please tell us why Mrs. Ross should not get back the custody of her grandson?” judge Hernandez asks and Harvey had explained that this question is more a for show in their case.

“Mrs. Ross is a loving grandmother, who did everything for Mike in the wake of his parents passing,” Harvey starts. “She cared for Mike, took him in, fed him, made sure he had a home. However, all this caring can’t stand up against time.”

Mike had made Harvey promise he wouldn’t tear Grammy apart in the courthouse and is glad to see the other is keeping to it.

“She is old, and I mean this in the most respectful way,” Harvey continues. “She is in her late seventies. Her mind and body are not what they used to be. She has been forced to stop working and has burned through her pension to care for Mike. An act of love that is now coming back for her. Mike and I have made arrangements for her between me getting custody and now. She is selling her apartment, so the money can take care of her in the nursing home where she is now happily residing, getting her hard earned retirement.”

It will never be easy to hear how wrong he did her, by not getting her care sooner. However, Mike can’t change the past, he can just try to do better.

“In the end, that is where she needs to be now. Not failing to get by, which lead her grandson to dropping out of High School and working full time. Neither her nor Mike deserve that life. He deserves to get a supporting home, to finish High School, to go to college, use his smarts to get somewhere. Not waste his potential trying to provide care above his level, for a woman who loves him too much to let it go to waste,” Harvey finishes his statement. “Thank you, your honor,” and sits down.

“Thank you, counselor,” judge Hernandez nods.

There is usually not an opposition in these type of cases, since there isn’t really anyone against Mike getting a good home. However, theirs is a special case due to their plan, so an ADA is on the other side of them, nodding along.

Judge Hernandez looks at the motions before him, then says: “Your motion to take custody from Mrs. Edith Ross has been granted. However that is not your only motion I see here. I have a motion for requested punishment for holding a fake ID.”

“Thank you and yes, your honor.” Harvey stands up again. “As has probably became clear when looking into this case, Mike was working a full time job with hours the state won’t allow for a sixteen year old to get by. He did this by using a fake ID and we did not want to make it seem like we were obfuscating this fact.”

Harvey pulls out a signed document. “Here I have a signed document stating that Fly Delivery will not be pressing charges for the fraudulent work Mike did under that ID and neither will Pearson Hardman, where he worked under me. So, the fake ID is the only punishable offense my client committed. We have provided our opposition with this document as well.”

Judge Hernandez motions him over, so that he can check the document. He checks it over and sends someone to verify the signature, before telling Harvey to continue.

“As is seen in our motion, which we have provided as well, we have suggested a punishment for my client. We have requested a prosecutor from the DA’s office to be here for that reason,” Harvey explains. “And we are willing and able to defend my client’s character and potential.”

“Well, counselor,” judge Hernandez turns to the opposing counsel, who stands up once she is addressed. “What does the DA’s office have to say about the punishment?”

“The DA’s office is willing to consider, your honor,” the ADA says and Mike is glad she seems nice and just wanting to do right by the law and Mike. “Should the plaintiff be able to provide evidence that he will not become a repeat offender and that this punishment will help in reform.”

Judge Hernandez turns back to Harvey. “Well, counselor, please back up your claims about the plaintiff.”

“With pleasure, your honor,” Harvey grins and Mike knows this is going to be good. “Mike Ross is a caring young man, who was willing to do anything for his ailing grandmother after all she had done for him, including giving up his chance at a future, which undoubtedly will be great if given this opportunity to learn, from what was merely a lapse in judgment by a child out of his dept, trying to do what he thought was the best.”

This is Mike’s first time in court ever (luckily) and it’s been fun, despite all the stress. Things are going well for them and seeing Harvey in his element is amazing, which is helped of course by the fact that his current speech is a huge ego trip for Mike.

“Before he dropped out of school, he had the highest GPA in his year and was on his way to become valedictorian,” Harvey goes on. “He was leading his debate team, which were state champions before he left as well as part of the decathlon team, who were also on their way to become state champions.”

To back it up, Harvey produces the pictures taken on the day they won, Mike grinning between fellow students, cup in hand. Along with one picture of the decathlon team, Mike at the bell, face concentrated.

“He is not only smart, but social as well,” Harvey says. “And has ambitions to become a lawyer after his parents’ death, where he had to listen to a man tell his grandmother how much his parents’ lives were worth, not wanting anyone else to get a lawyer like that.”

Mike told Harvey that on Wednesday, when they were at dinner. Harvey had asked him about his interest in law and Mike hadn’t seen a reason to lie, the story stumbling out even when he had never told anyone before that.

Harvey asked if he could use it. He said yes. Didn’t make it easier to hear again.

“His goal has never been to be a criminal,” Harvey tells the judge and ADA. “All he wanted is to cling to the only family he had left, seeing no other way than this. Give him a mentor he can rely on, a person whom he can trust and keeps him on the right path, and I can guarantee that Mike will be the best lawyer and most upstanding citizen one can ask for, your honor.”

“And you think you are the best for that job, Mr. Specter?” judge Hernandez asks, reading the motion again.

“Yes, your honor,” Harvey answers. “I have seen his potential and I was very similar to him years ago, unlikely as it may seem. Jessica Pearson got my ass in line and I would like to extend the courtesy of helping out someone, paying forward that favor.”

Judge Hernandez looks a bit surprised at the statement and Mike can’t blame him with what he has heard from others.

“We would like the plaintiff to testify to that statement, your honor,” the ADA speaks up, her voice ringing clear. “Under oath.”

“Request granted,” judge Hernandez says and all eyes go to Mike.

“Uh, do- do I have to get up to the stand, your honor?” Mike asks, uncertain, his voice cracking after staying silent for a bit, which makes him cringe.

“Just there is fine, Mike,” the judge assures him.

He stands up and clear his throat, sending Harvey a look, which is answered by an encouraging thumbs up. “As I said on the phone last time we spoke, your honor. Harvey is great. He has been there for me and helped me when I thought the situation was hopeless. I am incredibly grateful for him.”

“And do you think he’ll be able to provide good guidance?” judge Hernandez asks.

“I do, your honor,” Mike says. “Harvey is tough, but fair. He is not afraid to tell me off, but lets me learn from my mistakes. He let me come to work for the past week and it’s been very educational. I don’t know everything due to privilege, but I am quite sure I could set up a case if I wanted to. He has let me be involved in my own case, steering where necessary, but also giving me free reign. I actually wrote the first motion, your honor.”

At that judge Hernandez looks impressed and he says: “Thank you, Mike. I have heard enough, does the opposition wishes to ask anything?”

“No, your honor,” the ADA says.

“Alright, then your motion for community service under Harvey Specter at Pearson Hardman for possessing a fake ID has been granted,” judge Hernandez rules. “Micheal James Ross will complete 160 hours, starting next Monday. These records will be expunged should the hours be completed.”

“Thank you, your honor,” Harvey says.

Mike quickly calculates that that is twenty 8 hour work days, so 4 weeks. He can’t believe they pulled that off, elation overtaking him that part is behind them, though another scary part is still to come, his heart pounding.

The ADA says her thanks as well, before gathering her documents. Her job there is done she smiles at Mike and wishes him well, before vacating the court room.

“Now we move on to your last motion,” judge Hernandez says. “I see here you have requested full custody over Micheal James Ross. Why should that motion be granted, counselor?”

When Harvey proposed it to Mike, Mike thought the man was loosing his mind, even asking him if they should go to a hospital.

Harvey sighed, before he’d said: “I know what I’m doing, but if you don’t want me to, I’ll respect it. You don’t have to say yes, I want you to be honest with me here, kid.”

“Why would you want me?” Mike asked. “I have only fucked up your life.”

At the comment Harvey sighed again, sadly this time. Before saying: “I have told you this before, but I’ve been where you are. I don’t want to see you disappear into a system we both know is fucked up. You might be happy with Edith taken care of, but she wants you to be happy too and I promised her I would try. Besides, you’re not bad company. I’m not going to take the roll of your grandmother or replace your parents. I think that would make both of us uncomfortable, so we’re not even going to pretend to try, alright. I am a safety net, a mentor. You can use someone in your corner that you can trust and I don’t mind being that person.”

“Yeah, but a mentor and a guardian are two very different things,” Mike argued. “Do you know what you’re getting into?”

“I absolutely do,” Harvey assured him. “I never go into anything blind, which is why it took me a while before proposing this to you. I talked about this with Jessica, who is backing me and I did research. And it’s not like I’ll be taking in a baby. You’ve shown yourself to be capable of taking care of yourself and with a bit of work you can even be a responsible young man. I just want to steer you in the right direction, do you trust me to make this judgment call?”

Mike thought it over. The moment Harvey had suggested it, he wanted to jump up and say yes, but he had to know Harvey wouldn’t regret this. However, hearing that he had even discussed it with Jessica, made him believe this was not spur of the moment or stupid. So, he nodded: “I mean, if you’re sure, I’d love to.”

“Great,” Harvey said, glad to have gotten Mike’s seal of approval. “Then that’s settled.”

Now, standing in front of judge Hernandez, Harvey is still confident in their plan. Mike knows due to the set of his shoulders and the late evening they spend planning this.

“The motion should be granted, because I am the best man for it, your honor,” Harvey replies with no little amount of arrogance. “I have built a strong report with Mike over the past few months that I have known him. I was the one to step in when it got rough,” a slight embellishment of the truth, but no outright lie, “and I have had his back ever since. Of course, my word alone might not be enough, so I have letters confirming character from Jessica Pearson, my boss, Donna Paulson, my secretary and Edith Ross, Mike’s grandmother. They should be there, your honor.”

Mike leans in as judge Hernandez checks and whispers: “When did you get Grammy to write you a letter?”

“That meeting I had on Tuesday was with her,” Harvey whispers back. “It was already forming then, so I got it just in case.” He truly is a prepared man for everything.

Judge Hernandez is done reading – more like skimming, Mike thinks – the letters. “Very impressive, Mr. Specter. However, you are not a registered foster parent.”

“I am aware,” Harvey says. “But I can provide a roof, food, clothes and care for Mike. He has been living at my condo for days now and is settling in alright. I have also discussed being able to take days off so that I can go to competitions, presentations and graduation. I am not taking this responsibility lightly, I assure you, your honor.”

“And you are aware of the work that can come with taking in a child with a troubled past?” judge Hernandez asks and Mike shrinks a bit, thinking very much the same thing.

“Your honor, if I may be so bold, I would state that you know what sort of man I am,” Harvey says to the judge, who nods. “I might take risks, but I’m never under-prepared. I am very well aware of what I am doing and I would never, never, gamble with the well being of a child. I may be a prick, but I’m not an asshole, if you excuse my language, your honor.”

“Excused,” judge Hernandez says, sounding a bit tired but also amused.

“Thank you, your honor,” Harvey replies.

Judge Hernandez turns to Mike and asks: “And do you agree with Mr. Specter taking responsibility of you?”

Mike is a bit surprised at being addressed, seeing that he was ‘a child’ not moments ago, but recovers quickly: “Harvey discussed it with me before filing the motion. I would be very happy to be placed in his care instead of a random foster home, your honor.”

“Well, then I see no reason not to,” judge Hernandez says. “Motion granted.”

And that’s it.

Mike is now officially Harvey’s ward.

Holy fuck.

He looks over at Harvey, who is looking all sorts of smug and not at all like a man who just made one of the biggest decisions ever. His eyes meet Mike and his smirk morphs into a soft grin, he reaches out and ruffles Mike’s hair. “We did it, kid.”

It suddenly hits Mike that Harvey truly stands by his decision, that he doesn’t regret it and that he’s as happy as Mike is about this. The fear makes place for elation.

“We did,” Mike concurs, still a bit dazed by the fact that they pulled this off. Then it all sinks in for real and he’s out his chair in seconds, wrapping his good arm around Harvey, not caring that the lawyer doesn’t at all seem like the hugging type.

Still, Harvey surprises him by hugging him back. Mike basks in it for a moment, in having someone at his back, someone who got him out of trouble, someone who did so much for Mike’s future it almost feels like a miracle.

After a few moments he pulls back and excitedly rambles: “We have to go tell Grammy! And Donna, she’d kill me if we didn’t tell her immediately. Holy shit, I can’t believe we – well you more, but partial credit – did it, dude.”

“Don’t call me dude,” Harvey replies automatically. “And language. You’re in a court room. We can call Donna in the car to the nursing home. And we’ll have to inform Jessica that Pearson Hardman is going to have a convict intern.”

Mike grins, then pouts: “I’m not a convict.”

“You kind of are and I will remind you of that fact to amuse myself,” Harvey says, before assuring him, “Not within earshot of people whose business it isn’t.”

“Ahw, you care,” Mike singsongs.

“I’ll deny that to my grave,” Harvey replies, deadpan.

“Actions speak louder than words,” Mike informs him haughtily.

“Not if you’re a lawyer,” Harvey snarks back, before leading him out of the courtroom, hand on his shoulder.

Neither of them notice judge Hernandez surprised, yet fondly amused look. He has something very interesting to tell next time he’s at a gathering. The great bastard Harvey Specter, caring for a kid, what a world.

As they get outside, they have to wait for Ray, who texted Harvey he’s circling the block since there are no parking spots just yet. Suddenly Harvey asks: “Tough but fair, huh, kid?” in reference of what Mike said in court.

“Yeah,” Mike shrugs. “That’s what I thought of your contract when I read it, seems like it reflects the man.”

Harvey doesn’t get the chance to reply to that and Mike doesn’t see the proud, self satisfied grin, because Ray has just pulled up and when Mike spots him, he grins and waves, yelling: “We did it, Ray!”

“That is good to hear, Mike,” the driver tells him kindly. “It is always good to have, Mr. Specter on your side.”

“Of course it is,” Harvey says arrogantly, inserting himself into the conversation. “The kid can pick the music this time. He’s earned it.”

Mike would make a snarky comment about caring, but he doesn’t see the point. It’s obvious that Harvey cares and if he wants to maintain his macho persona, then Mike is going to let him… for now at least.

Not that it stops him from picking the most unlike Harvey music he can, giving the man a shit eating grin as he does.

They call Donna, who is very happy to hear the news, congratulating them both, before promising to get the news to Jessica. Then they pull up to the nursing home, saying goodbye to Ray for the now as they make their way over to the building.

For a moment, Mike feels nervous about telling Grammy that she will never be his guardian again after all she went through, but then he spots her. She hasn’t seen him yet and is playing cards with one of the other residents, her face twisted in the mischievous way Mike knows so well from all the times she was about to beat him. She looks happy and he remembers that she wrote a letter on Harvey’s behalf to the court.

Before he’s aware of it, he’s running. Grammy always says he’s a puppy with too much energy, but Mike thinks his enthusiasm is one of his best selling points. It helped with his job, with getting here, no matter how unlikely the outcome.

“Grammy, you look as radiant as ever,” he greets her kissing her cheek. “Beating people at cards, I see.”

“Linda here is a great sport,” Grammy assures him, nodding to the other lady.

“Your grandma is a tough lady,” Linda smiles, which Mike returns.

“But how did court go, what did they say?” Grammy asks, turning away from her card game as Mike slides into a seat along with Harvey, Linda saying her goodbye and telling Grammy she’ll be back for a rematch.

“Judge Hernandez granted all of our motions,” Mike blabbers excitedly, unable to slow down as he rambles on. “It was so cool, Grammy. We were in the court and everything. It was also a bit scary, but Harvey kicked ass and judge Hernandez was impressed with my motion. I got to write one of them, did I tell you that?”

“What Mike is trying to say,” Harvey cuts him off, before it can get out of hand. “Is that I am now his guardian and his only punishment will be stricken off the record if completed. He is sentenced to a month of community service under me working at the firm.”

“Oh, that’s so good to hear, Micheal,” she gives Mike one of her patented hugs and Mike melts a bit. God, he doesn’t ever want to live without those hugs

“I promise to come tell you everything each weekend,” he tells her. “You’re not rid of me yet.”

“And I would never want to be,” Grammy tells him lovingly. “Thank you so much, Harvey, for what you did for me and Micheal.”

“I’m a man of my word, Edith,” Harvey replies with a kind smile.

“Charmer,” she says, before shuffling the cards, winking at Mike. “Here, lets play a game.”

Harvey agrees cockily, then gets his ass kicked by Grammy and Mike three consecutive times, before he gives up and tells Mike he has to get back to the office and Mike is welcome to stay there or come with.

Mike hesitates for a moment, before Grammy pushes him: “Go on, Micheal. I have Linda’s ass I need to kick again.”

“I’ll be back tomorrow,” he promises, before saying his goodbyes and following after Harvey.

They’re outside waiting on Ray, when Mike’s phone rings. Both look at the screen in confusion, everyone who called Mike doesn’t anymore. With a bit of apprehension Mike picks up: “Hello, Mike Ross speaking.”

“Psh, you sound like an uptight asshole, man. My number wasn’t getting through, so I got a new phone. Needed one anyway,” Trevor’s voice greets him.

“Trevor?” he says, giving Harvey big ‘what am I supposed to do now’-eyes. Harvey gestures for him to go on, keeping an ear on the conversation. “Why are you calling me?”

“I decided to stop giving you the cold shoulder for bailing on me, because I’m nice like that,” Trevor informs him. “I forgive you.”

“What?” Mike can’t help the incredulous tone. “Forgive me? Trevor, I called you from the fucking hospital and you hung up on me. Your call wasn’t getting through because I blocked your number. Hell, I didn’t even notice you giving me the cold shoulder treatment.”

“You were in the hospital?” Trevor sounds honestly concerned. “Why didn’t you tell me, Mikey?”

“Because you hung up on me before I could,” Mike shoots back angrily.

“Jesus, I was mad, but I would have come if you texted me,” Trevor says. “You didn’t have to block my number over it, dramaqueen. Of course I would have been there if I had known.”

“That’s not the reason I blocked your number,” Mike tells him, determination settling into his bones. He had been friends with Trevor long enough and having someone other than Grammy truly care for him, opened his eyes to how much Trevor used him.

“Why then, dick?” Trevor is obviously trying to go for joking, but it comes out hurt.

“Because you’re going down a path, I don’t want to, Trevor,” Mike says. “You’re on your way to become a fucking drug dealer and I don’t want that. I want to be a lawyer and I have that opportunity now. I’m not going to let it pass me.”

“What are you on about, man?” Trevor replies. “You’ve been chilling around the city, working a bit to fund your fun.”

How Trevor still believed that is beyond Mike and he sighs deeply: “I wasn’t doing that Trevor. I was working full time, no fun. Grammy is in a nursing home now, we sold the apartment. She lost custody, I just came from court. I now have another guardian.”

It’s quiet for a moment.

Then Trevor snorts, before dissolving into laughter. “Oh my god, you sound so serious. You don’t have to guilt trip me, dude. It doesn’t suit you. Just come over today and I’ll get you some of the good stuff, make you forget your ‘woes’ for a while.”

Mike doesn’t know why it hurts so much that Trevor doesn’t believe him or that he doesn’t want to listen when Mike says he doesn’t want to talk anymore. That he can’t even respect that after all Mike has done for him.

He doesn’t know how to let out the frustration, clenching his fist and jaw. Before, he can find a way to let out his anger, Harvey snatches the phone out of his hands, sending him a look when he tries to reach for the phone.

“I can handle this,” Mike hisses.

“I know you can, but you don’t want to,” Harvey tells him, before putting the phone to his ear. “Yes, is this Trevor? Trevor Evans?”

Mike hears Trevor reply: “Yeah, who is this?”

“This is Harvey Specter,” Harvey replies in a low somewhat threatening tone. “I am Mike’s guardian and I am telling you to stay away. I don’t care what you do with your own life, but you keep him out of it. He has asked you to and the least you can do is respect that. If you cannot, then I know where and who you are and you will be behind bars before you can blink.”

“What the fuck man, you can’t just threaten people,” Mike hears Trevor quite clearly from where he is standing next to Harvey on the nursing home steps.

“I can and I will,” Harvey tells him. “You’re not a minor anymore. Don’t think I didn’t look into you the moment Mike said your name in that hospital. You’re an anchor, find a different ship or I will personally make sure that you’re caught and the jury you’re put in front of will think you’re the next Walter White.”

Then he hangs up and gives Mike the phone back. Ray has arrived in the meantime and Harvey gets into the car silently, Mike following after him, still reeling a bit from that whole conversation.

“What did you mean with ‘you don’t want to’?” Mike asks, unable to help himself and needing something to fill the silence that has taken over the car.

“You’re soft,” Harvey says after a second and Mike squawks. “Not a bad thing,” Harvey amends, “though not necessarily useful if you want to be a lawyer. Still, you shouldn’t need to fight with your friend as a last conversation. You’d hate that.”

“How do you know that?” Mike shoots back, despite knowing it’s true. He fought with his dad before he died, never got over it that that conversation was the last.

“Because I haven’t spoken to my brother in years and we fought last. I’m still scared I’ll get called and hear something has happened without us having the chance to make up,” Harvey replies.

Mike gapes for a bit, before he remembers what Donna told him. How she said ‘used to be’ instead of ‘is.’ He also remembers he isn’t supposed to know Harvey has a brother, so asks: “You have a brother?”

“Yes.”

“Why haven’t go called him if you want to make up?” he then inquires, because he has no sense of self preservation.

“Because he told me he never wanted to speak with him last time I did.”

“I still think you should.”

“You’re not really one who should be giving life advice.”

“Wouldn’t you rest better if you tried?”

Harvey is silent for a second, then groans: “You’re annoyingly smart sometimes.”

“So I have been told, yes.”

“Come on,” Harvey gets out of the car, not dignifying Mike’s words with a response. “We’re getting a hotdog.”

“Can’t say no to that,” Mike grins as he gets out of the car.

They eat their celebratory hotdogs as Mike gushes some more about the trial, Harvey boasts unabashedly. It’s nice, comfortable and Mike thinks he hasn’t had a day this good in months. For the first time in a long while, he has a future again. He has certainty and safety. He doesn’t think he can ever thank Harvey enough for that.

After they’ve finished their hotdogs, they make their way back inside, Mike greeting Jose happily, who returns the favor. They go up to the 50th floor where Donna is waiting on them with a grin and two cookies. She congratulates them both, hugging Mike, as Harvey digs into his cookie. “You have to tell me where you get these at some point. It’s been years now, Donna.”

“You still don’t know?” Mike asks.

“What? You do?” Harvey shoots back, before he sees Mike’s face as he glances at Donna. “Oh my god, you totally do.”

“I figured it out a couple of weeks ago,” Mike says, then, before Harvey can ask, “But I’m not telling you, Donna is scary.”

“See, I liked him from the start for a reason,” Donna smirks.

“You’re both mean, first off,” Harvey tells them. “Second off, I will literally pay you to tell me, please.”

“Oeh, he said please,” Donna mocks, while Mike looks apologetically. “Sorry, I can get them for us, but I’m not telling.”

“Deal,” Harvey immediately jumps on it and it’s still nice to see the lawyer playful and free. Mike shakes his hand enthusiastically.

At that point they’re interrupted by Jessica, who raises an amused brow as she says: “Am I interrupting something?”

“Jessica,” Harvey says, putting a hand on Mike’s shoulder. “Meet, Mike Ross, my intern for the month and my ward.”

“You pulled it off?” she doesn’t sound surprised.

“Of course I did.”

“Well, then I would like to introduce you to the latest Senior Partner,” she replies, shocking them all as she holds up a small mirror in front of Harvey.

He looks shocked and gasps: “Are- Are you for real? Like serious?”

“Yes, Harvey, I am ‘for real’,” she says, the words sounding funny in her voice. “The last paperwork and checks for the Atlas Finance merger just came through and the other partners were impressed. Congratulations, you’ve earned it.”

“Thank you so much,” Harvey breathes and Mike can’t believe he’s seeing a starstruck Harvey.

“Take the day off,” Jessica tells him. “You have much to celebrate and nothing urgent. But I expect your ass in here on Monday in the morning. Don’t be late, you now represent the firm even more and with that me.”

And Mike recognizes that and nearly laughs at the thought of Harvey imitating Jessica. However, that is pushed to the back of his mind as Harvey says: “Donna, you’re off for today. Now, come on, kid.”

“What are we going to do?” Mike asks as he follows after Harvey.

“You are going to get us some cookies, then we’re buying you a bookcase for in your room and a book to celebrate,” Harvey informs him. “You’re going to store your collection with class if you’re stuck with me.”

“Hell yeah!” Mike cheers.

Today is good.

Mike is on his way back into High School, his Grammy safe and cared for. He’s going to go to college and be who he wants to be. He doesn’t need to worry about things like affording heating or the groceries. He can be happy and a kid, relying on Harvey, who seems to take his role as guardian more serious than he could have ever hoped for.

It’s nice to have hope again, when for so long it seemed like it would take a miracle for him to ever have a chance at life again.

A/N:

Interest in this story died out a bit at the end, but I do hope that ones who stuck around enjoyed the ending and the journey to it, thanks so much for reading <3

BTW, I have mentioned this before, but I know exactly zero things about law, so excuse the probably highly inaccurate court scene, I am going with good vibes, not accuracy here :D

I think my problem is that I like working things out too much. I always plan to skip certain things, but then I think it’s too interesting to let it pass by, so I spend two whole chapter just reestablishing Mike and Harvey’s dynamic instead of moving onto the plot of Mike’s future, which was supposed to be chapter 5 instead of 10… Oops

(but I do feel it makes the pay off better, but idk, tell me what you think)

#RR writing #suits fanfic #suits tv show #suits tv #suits #suits alternate universe #young mike ross #mike ross #protective harvey specter #harvey specter #trevor evans #donna paulsen #edith ross #jessica pearson #Miracle Worker #Miracle Worker Part 10

6 notes · View notes