First of all, sorry its been so long since the last update. Although I love Darvey angst, since 8.16, I hadn't been in the right mood to write it! I have always intended to finish this story though and reading the wonderful Western Stars (you've all read that right?!), reminded me how much I love angst, so inspired me to put pen to paper on this chapter. Special thanks to Irene for providing me with a sunny escape from home, which has certainly helped give me time to write too! I'd love to hear what you think, so please do leave a review if you have time! Thanks for reading!

...

Chapter Six

Louis glanced between Harvey, seated next to him and Donna, who had taken her seat across the small visiting room table. She'd been silent since they'd set out the proposed deal and their initial plans. Her eyes met Harvey's and she sighed.

"We can't do this without Marie and her mother."

Louis knew she wouldn't be supportive of the plan, but it was all they had and his presence today was to help convince his friend to at least try. Harvey closed his eyes for a moment.

"No, we can't." He wasn't going to bullshit Donna about this; he couldn't even if he'd wanted to.

"If he goes to prison, Donna, he'll be away from them. They really can make a clean break."

Donna turned towards Louis, as he spoke. "And what if he sends someone to even the score? I imagine he has friends, Louis."

"At least talk to her! Give her the choice!" Harvey's voice had raised a little in frustration. Donna wanted to bite back, but she knew his desperation was driven by his need to help her. She couldn't be angry with him about that.

"What protections are they offering for them? Marie won't be here much longer and what about her mother? What do I say to her when she asks?! It'd be my first question in her position."

Harvey took a pause before responding. He knew that these would be her questions and the cold truth was, he was still ironing out the details. "Donna, it's all hypothetical until we give them something. You need to trust me."

Her eyes met his and she could see the plea in them; to trust him, to have faith in him to make this work. "I do trust you, Harvey," she replied quietly. "I just won't leave Marie exposed. If something happened, I'd never forgive myself."

Louis remained quiet. He was squarely in the middle, understanding Donna's worries, but just as keen as Harvey to find any way possible to have her released.

"We'll make this work, Donna." Harvey knew there was risk in making such a promise, but above everything else he'd ever achieved, he'd never been more determined as he was now.

The door opened, a guard appearing. "Mr Specter, there's a call for you. They say it's important. "

Harvey struggled to hide his annoyance at being interrupted when his time with Donna was so precious but, with a nod, he stood up and made for the door. "I won't be long."

As the door closed behind him, Donna looked to Louis. "I'm worried about him, Louis. He doesn't look himself."

Louis offered a sympathetic smile. It was no surprise to him that despite her current circumstances, Donna's first concern was Harvey. "He's focussed on you. You surely can't be surprised by that."

With a sigh, she nodded. "I know. Keep an eye on him for me?"

Louis met her gaze and smiled, giving a quick promise that he would, as Harvey reappeared in the room. They spent their remaining time going over the current plans, offering Donna suggestions of how to broach certain questions with Marie and simply talking as three close friends, who had been made more aware of just how much they all cared about each other.

When it was time to leave and they had said their goodbyes, Donna glanced back at Harvey before she left the room. It was no easier than their last one and she paused, as if about to say something, before changing her mind and disappearing along the corridor, leaving Harvey to watch her leave his sight, her loss immediate and more painful than anything else he'd ever experienced.

…..

So many emotions were swirling around Donna's mind following her visit with Louis and Harvey. She didn't like this plan one bit, but if they could find a way to rid Marie and her mother of the threat from her father, then that would be worth it.

In need of some time on her own to think, she made her way in to a room she'd only seen in passing. Whether it was a music room she wasn't sure, as it seemed to have become another recreational room, with some women simply sitting quietly, but it had a piano and a few other instruments in one corner.

It was the piano that had caught her eye. It wasn't a grand instrument by any means, but as someone who hadn't played for decades that didn't matter, as she took her place on the stool. Taking a moment, she let the muscle memory take over, as she tentatively started to play, cringing each time she hit a wrong note. She'd always regretted letting the skill go, especially when it had brought her such joy as a child. In that moment, she made a commitment; as often as she could, she'd come here and practice. It would give her something else to focus on.

It was only when everyone around her headed to eat that Donna realised that she had lost track of time. Standing up, she left the room, far calmer than she had been when she'd entered it.

Marie had saved her a spot next to her. Meal times were one of the strangest times for Donna, finding herself uncomfortable, surrounded by so many she didn't know, or indeed trust.

"I looked for you earlier before my work shift. Everything okay?"

Donna nodded, having no intention of broaching the difficult conversation that lay ahead over dinner in a public place. "It's fine. I was playing the piano. Well, trying to. I'm very rusty."

It was only once they were back in their cell, that the subject couldn't be avoided, particularly as Marie sensed a change in Donna's mood.

"We may not have known each other long, Donna, but I can see something's on your mind. You can talk to me."

Donna stared at her; despite all her abilities at reading people and talking people in to seeing her point of view, she had no idea how to handle this conversation. She felt guilty before it had even started.

"I don't know how to say this. I already know how selfish it'll sound to you."

Marie frowned. "What do you mean? Selfish is not a word I'd use to describe you, Donna!"

Taking a breath, Donna took the plunge. "They…..Harvey….he may have a way of getting me released…."

She saw Marie smile and before she could interrupt, Donna continued. "But it involves your father….."

Realisation dawned on Marie in that moment and she sat back against the wall, knees pulled up to her chest on her bed. "They'll make some kind of deal, if you can help them catch my dad. Right?"

Donna couldn't bear to look at her, already regretting raising the subject. She should have stayed quiet and accepted her fate. What right did she have to drag anyone else in to her mess, when they had very little to gain? Yet, there was no way of putting the genie back in the bottle now, so she nodded.

"Yes, that's what he's trying to arrange," she replied quietly, "so I'd need your help."

Marie bit her bottom lip. "I told you those things…..about my family….because I trusted you. I didn't think you'd use it….. like this…"

Donna swallowed and sat forward on her bed, desperate to try and reconnect with the one friend she had in Danbury. "I'm sorry, Marie. It wasn't my idea, I swear to you! I wouldn't use a friend like that."

Marie shook her head, knocked off balance by the revelation. Standing up, she moved to the door. "I need some time by myself."

"Marie, please…I'm sorry…."

Her friend didn't respond, simply disappearing out in to the general area of the wing, leaving Donna in silence. She honestly couldn't remember a time she'd felt more alone in her life.

….

Rachel was just ending a call when Louis appeared, a file in hand. Despite her best efforts to mask her worry with a friendly smile, he could see something was wrong and his face changed to one of concern, as he took a seat at her desk.

"Rachel, what is it?"

She paused for a moment, considering whether to lie, but decided against it. "I just spoke with Donna. She called me from Danbury."

The worry etched on Louis's face only deepened at the statement. "What's happened?"

"She told Marie about Harvey's plan. It didn't go very well."

Louis nodded. He'd started to wonder whether Donna would actually follow through, such was her concern for Marie and her family. Knowing it had unfolded exactly how she'd feared caused Louis's heart to ache.

"She's her only friend in there Louis…I'm so worried about her. She sounded so upset, so unlike Donna."

Rachel's reaction was understandable in the circumstances and Louis had been worried Harvey's plan would fall at the first obstacle, which would not only limit their options for getting Donna released, but would also jeapardise a friendship that was so important to her when cut off from her life. He felt the familiar anger at Harvey rise up and fought to keep his expression neutral. Showing his own frustration wouldn't help Rachel.

"She'll be alright, Rachel. She's the strongest person I know and if anyone can help shift someone's mind on something, it's Donna."

Rachel nodded, but her eyes still carried the worry and sadness that he imagined were reflected back in his own.

"Should I tell, Harvey?"

They both knew that that wasn't something either of them wanted to do. Louis sighed and shook his head. "It's out of our control, Rachel and ultimately Harvey's too. Let's leave it for now."

...

Louis found Mike in the library later that evening, documents and newspaper articles spread out around him. He was so focused on the material that he didn't notice Louis until he was next to him.

"Find anything?"

They'd been trying to find anything they could on Jim Bay, or any details of crimes he was possibly linked to, anything to try and build a picture of the man himself. Harvey always worked better if he was playing the man.

"Not much. The guy's very good at staying under the radar." Looking up then, Mike could see the worry in Louis's eyes. What had happened to Donna was having an effect on all of them. She was, after all, the glue that kept their quirky family together and without her presence they were all slowly starting to come unstuck.

"You okay Louis?"

His friend took the chair beside him with a sigh. "I never doubt Harvey when he says he can fix something Mike, but this, with Donna, it's not just another deal and if this doesn't work...if she has to be in there at least another 1 or 2 years...I don't know how either of them will cope. Or any of us..."

Mike put down the papers in his hand and nodded his understanding. Still yet to see Donna due to Jessica's orders that he could only visit as a personal visitor and not as part of her legal team, he still felt a little apart from the reality of the situation. He hadn't yet seen her there, or had to watch Harvey go through seeing her and then have to leave her there. He could only imagine how that experience must have made Louis feel, as both their friend and a bystander.

"I understand Louis, but we'll get through this. We've all been through a lot together already. We can beat this too."

Louis simply let out a sigh.

"How was it today?"

Turning to glance at Mike, Louis shook his head. "I don't know what was worse, seeing how unsure she was about this plan, or watching Harvey as she left the room."

"Rachel told me about Donna's call earlier. I admit, trying to be positive for her was a challenge."

Mike had agreed with Louis's reasoning for keeping it from Harvey. Hearing Donna was upset, all because of what he'd encouraged her to do, would only add more guilt to his already overburdened shoulders.

"It's all such a mess, Mike."

"I know."

Neither could say more and for a while they simply stayed there, sitting in silence together, each praying that the next day would offer them the break in the case that they needed.

...

Donna lay awake that night. She still barely slept in Danbury, but she'd at least started to steal a few hours each night. Until tonight. Marie had kept her distance for the rest of the night in the recreational communal areas, while Donna chose to stay on her bed, too emotionally drained to try and function around anyone else. She'd been against Harvey's plan. She'd said it was too much to ask of a young girl she still barely knew and who was her one friend in this unfamiliar place. Yet, she'd been selfish and now found herself lying in the dark, following lights out, Marie choosing not to speak to her again when she'd returned for bed.

Her only change of scenery that night had been her all too brief call to her best friend, desperate to feel a connection to a friend at a time she felt so alone and on hearing Rachel's voice, she'd all but sobbed in to the phone. Her friend had tried her best to comfort her and provide reassurance, but she couldn't believe any of it and as she stared in to the darkness that night, she decided to put the plan out of her mind and accept this was her world. At best, she'd be able to fix things with Marie and once her young friend was released, maybe she'd also be close to an early release for good behaviour.

Her thoughts filled with her friends, of how much she missed them. And Harvey. It was always so complicated between them, yet now it felt even more so. Turning on to her side, her hand found the outline of the photograph Louis has slipped in the cover of the book he'd brought for her, a photo that was now taped to the wall by her pillow and connected her to the people who'd become a part of her family. She closed her eyes, her fingertips still against the image, stepping back in to the night it had been taken and pretending for a little while that she was really there, until she finally found sleep.

...

***(Pearson Hardman charity fundraiser - early 2007)***

"Admit it, you're actually having a good time."

Her smirk in Harvey's direction was met with a faux look of disgust, as he scrunched up his face a little.

"Oh please."

Coming to a standstill at his side by the end of the bar, set up in one of the firm's rarely used conference spaces, she sipped her champagne.

"Whatever you say Specter. But I even saw you crack a smile talking to Louis earlier. And don't forget, you're the one that insisted I come to this party. You owe me."

He turned to her then, tilting his head to the side, trying but failing to hide the small smile playing on his lips, while taking in how incredible she looked, her hair up for a change and the green one shoulder dress shed chosen for the night bringing out the green in her eyes.

"Owe you? You're happier to be here than I am! And as for Louis, what's the saying? Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer."

Donna laughed then. He really did hate being caught out that he had a heart underneath that suit and she found herself once again hoping for a day when he wouldn't see being seen to care as such an bad thing. It wasn't who he was deep down and he didn't fool her for a moment.

"Are you enjoying yourself? Really?"

His sincere question surprised her after his previous comment and she finished her drink before meeting his eyes. "I am. Although, we need to branch out. Hold these somewhere more glamorous than the office. I'm going to talk to Jessica about it."

She'd always loved an opportunity to get dressed up and socialise and ever since her and Harvey had arrived at the firm, she'd been determined to make her mark. Associates didn't have secretaries, so that already made her stand out and she'd built on that profile. Now everyone knew who she was and how damn good she was at her job and plenty of other people's jobs too.

Harvey smiled at the playful smile on her face. What they'd built together since she'd appeared next to him in that bar was something special, even if he still didn't quite understand how to describe it. All he knew was that he hoped he'd never have to find out what his world would be like without her in it. She made him a better lawyer, but a better man too and that mattered to him. Glancing at the party in full swing, he smiled.

"Louis keeps staring. I think he has a crush."

"On you? Or me?"

Almost choking on his scotch, Harvey's eyes went wide. "Jesus Donna. Never suggest that again!"

"Which part?" She winked, before a light laugh escaped them both.

"You should get back in there and close Phillips. Or Louis will beat you to it."

"In his dreams maybe," he volleyed back, enjoying how easy their banter was.

"Louis might not, but I will."

Jessica's voice beside them caused them both to turn, greeted by her playfully confident smile. Yet all three knew she was also absolutely serious and it was enough to focus Harvey's mind back on the work aspect of the evening.

"For the record, you wouldn't stand a chance, but the sooner I take this guy's money as a retainer, the sooner you owe me another drink."

With that, he pushed off the bar and made his way back in to the crowd, handing Louis his empty glass, with a pat to his back as he passed him. The confused array of emotions that filled Louis's face caused Donna to shake her head in despair.

"They really are like children."

Jessica chuckled. "At least I now have someone to help me keep them from needing detention."

Donna smiled. She'd grown to greatly admire Jessica Pearson since she'd met her and seeing how much she mattered to Harvey had made her important to Donna as well.

"You're good for him Donna."

The statement was delivered in Jessica's usual no-nonsense, factual style and the two women shared a knowing smile. "Thank you, Jessica. I appreciate that."

With a nod and a smile, Jessica disappeared back in to the party, leaving Donna alone, her gaze following the people within the room who had become so important to her, like a second family.

It was as the party had wound down, charity auctions over and all existing and prospective clients long gone for the night, that the four of them had shared a last drink at a job well done. Harvey, finally able to relax, had removed his tie and unbuttoned the top button of his shirt and it was as they'd moved to call it a night that Louis had insisted the moment be captured, thrusting a camera at a passing waiter, who had started to clear away nearby glasses. Even Harvey didn't seem to mind, his hand finding it's place against the small of Donna's back as she stood next to him for the photo.

The two of them. Together. The way it was supposed to be.

...

Harvey was at his desk, his chair turned to face the window, when Mike entered the following morning. He'd found his friend sitting like this most mornings in recent weeks, his mind lost in thought.

"So, I found a few leads that could all link back to Bay. The more evidence we can offer, the better the deal we can push for, right?"

Harvey moved from the chair to the couch in his office to flick through the file Mike had just placed on the coffee table. "Better deal?"

"Come on Harvey. Just getting her out isn't enough for you. I know you want it off her record. You tell Cahill yet? If not, then the more we have, the better."

"I told him."

Mike sat down next to his friend. "And? He give you his terms? I'm guessing he had some."

Harvey sighed. "He did. Woodall. They can't find the money."

Mike recalled his and Harvey's conversation only a few months ago when he was on the opposite side of a takeover deal. They both knew where Woodall's money had come from, even if they couldn't find it now. Forstman. Harvey may not have given him the details, but Mike knew that whatever was between him and Forstman, Harvey didn't really want to share.

"I'll find Rachel. We'll start looking. We'll find it."

Harvey nodded. "Thanks Mike. Now we just need good news from Donna."

Mike stood up, squeezing his friend's shoulder in support, before he left, again relieved they hadn't shared the truth of Donna's conversation with her cellmate with Harvey. Taking away what little hope he had would have been too much for any of them. It was all up to Donna now.

...

The moment the doors were unlocked the following morning, Donna bolted from her cell. She couldn't bare seeing the disappointing look on Marie's face again just yet. Instead she made her way to the piano, occupying herself until breakfast, not that she was hungry, but when you're only able to eat at specific times, she knew skipping a meal would not be a sensible choice.

She was one of the first in line, allowing her to choose a spot out of the way to eat. The last thing she needed was attention. As the room began to fill, she spotted the woman from the other day and kept her head down. The talk was there would be new arrivals today, so hopefully all unwanted attention would move to new targets.

As she ate, her mind ran through all the things she could say to Marie, determined to get their friendship back on track.

She was sitting on the bleechers later that day, her shift in the kitchen over, when she saw Marie making her way over to her. She'd intended trying to talk to her later, hoping she'd had sufficient time to process their conversation from the night before. All Donna wanted to do now was forget it ever happened and that's exactly what she planned to make clear.

Marie sat down next to her and for a moment or two, they remained seated in silence until Donna took the first step.

"I'm sorry Marie. I should never have told him. You trusted me and I broke your trust. Can we start again, forget I was so thoughtless?"

Marie was quiet for another moment, before turning her head in Donna's direction. "What would you want us to do?"

The question took Donna by surprise.

"I don't understand..."

"My mom and me...what would we need to do? To help put him away?"

Donna reached out her hand and reached for Marie's. "It doesn't matter Marie. I was wrong to raise it. We can just forget I said anything."

The younger woman sighed and shook her head. "I've been thinking all day. What would it be like to know he's locked up. That my mom was safe. That we wouldn't need to run anymore. I was so tired of it. Prison almost seemed like a relief." She laughs quietly. "That sounds mad doesn't it?!"

"I can understand the need to feel safe," Donna replied, a reassuring hand to her shoulder, not totally sure how to respond to a conversation she never expected they'd be having.

"As long as he's free, we'll never be able to stop looking over our shoulders. But, I won't let my mom be put in danger."

"I wouldn't allow that, Marie."

The two women shared a look of understanding and unspoken agreement.

"But you think we could do this? And you'd be able to go home too?"

"I...," Not sure how to respond, Donna simply sighed. "There's a chance, but I'm not going to lie to you and say anything is guaranteed."

Marie gazed thoughtfully off, letting the reality of the discussion settle within her. She'd wanted to be free of her father for so long. Yet now there was a chance, she was frightened of the outcome if it all went wrong. After a few moments, she turned back to meet Donna's eyes.

"And you trust Harvey?"

A small smile appearing on the mention of his name, Donna nodded. "Yes, I do. He's never let me down in all the years I've known him."

Marie nodded in return. "Okay then. Tell me the plan."

...

That's all for this chapter, but I do know where I'm heading with this story, so I'll try to update soon.