What would Donna do if she saw him like this?

How would she respond?

If anyone had asked her how she felt that night, she would have used one word:

Now

STAY THE NIGHTS

A darvey fanfiction (unbeta-ed)

Chapter 1: Roleplay

Five hours ago.

Donna Paulsen's front door was open. Her curiosity got the better of her and she cursed herself for not rushing back to the elevator and calling the police.

Torn off planks she had no idea existed had been removed; holes in the walls with electric cables sticking out, water that had submerged the floor paving the way to her kitchen had her slowly walk mouth agape into her living room.

Home improvement, refurbishing and renovations were the words that stuck with her when the concierge who was carrying a torchlight tried to appease the two strangers – the tenants from 106 – who'd started yelling at her. Disaster was the only sensible thing she could make out from her surroundings.

The water at her place had leaked in the apartment below, creating two medium-sized holes under the fitted carpet and therefore the wooden boards. Wooden boards she hadn't seen in years.

This was bound to happen, they'd said.

On what grounds she'd asked, lawyering up. Bitter words were exchanged; especially with the man's wife. How was the fact that she was barely at home, single – didn't have a man in the house were the woman's exact words, reason enough for her to have made the mistake of missing the signs?

She'd dropped her bag; a loud bang that seemed barely audible compared to the boom box possibly playing the last terrestrial airwaves in America.

The concierge had cut the power in her apartment and called a plumber. More explanations and more yelling ended up giving Donna the worst possible headache. These people had an explanation for everything.

"You should call the renovations company you hired back then, Ms. Paulsen," her concierge had said, seeing how overwhelmed Donna was. Not only was he a nice man, he was right. She couldn't say the same thing about the tenants below.

She felt powerless. Liable for damages.

Before even thinking about booting them out of her home, she'd asked for the tenants' numbers and called the company hotline despite how late it was. Hardly any apologies into that phone call, she had gathered the absurdity of the circumstances that had led three complete strangers into her apartment.

She'd asked if she could gather some of her belongings but the ground wasn't stable enough according to the plumber. She had to move out for an unknown length of time. She would have to book a hotel room and despite how much money she earned, these expenses would delay some of the very expensive choices she'd finally come to make. No clothes, no bathroom utensils. Donna Roberta Paulsen was left with nothing.

Renovations-NY had remodeled her apartment twice. The first time was five years ago as soon as she'd bought it – once she had the financial means to do so. And she'd done it again after she became COO; about six months ago. Apparently "these things happen" the secretary had told her over the phone.

Tired from her day and ready to sue the workers' asses and the whole freaking company's, Donna wanted nothing but to call Harvey. Except he'd left early – whatever were his reasons were these days it was none of her concern, so she dialed Louis's number from her wreck of an apartment.

Instead of Louis, it was Sheila who'd answered.

"Donna, queen of Reds, how may I or my master, Louis Von Cat, service you tonight?"

"Hi Sheila," Donna answered, blinking a few times; she was certain she was interrupting the very conversation she had no desire to have with Louis during the day. Of course this was about that freaking sexual role play he'd been fantasizing about all day. Girl Talk didn't mean she was a sex-life expert. "You two sound busy, I should call tomorrow."

"Nonsense, I'm putting the phone on speakers."

"Right…" Donna was trying to wrack her brains as to why she hadn't hung up already.

"Oh my sweet Lord..."

No answer.

"Lord Von Cat?" Sheila continued.

"Really… it's fine, Sheila, I'll call back tomorrow." Donna tried.

"LOUIS!" Donna heard Sheila yell before something akin to the sound of a vase breaking reached her ears; followed by Louis's cursing habits.

"SHIT! SHEILA I TOLD YOU I WAS–"

"WE HAVE A…" she paused for emphasis, "RED… ALERT."

Donna cringed internally.

"Oh my God! Sheila are you bleeding? Is the baby fine?" Donna could hear Louis rushing back, from wherever he was, to his fiancée's side.

She knew the whole thing was preposterous and that she shouldn't laugh considering the implications, but Donna couldn't help herself.

"For God's sake you dimwit! The baby's fine…" Sheila sighed. "Stop ruining it and stay in character!"

"Oh, I'm sorry… I–" Louis began but Sheila cut him off.

"CHARACTER!" she commanded. "Queen Donna wants to speak to you."

"My queen," Louis began. "Lord Von Cat; ready to oblige."

"Louis, water leaked through my walls and floor…"

"I'm appalled, how come your castle is in disarray my queen?"

Donna let the role play part slide and explained: "I don't know but I think it has to do with the renovations I did. I'm going to have to move out for God knows how long and they're saying I'm liable for damages."

"My mighty sword is taken right now," he paused and Donna did her best to shove away the mental picture of Louis's sex face away. "But my pen will be ready to sue their stupid asses tomorrow."

His words weren't helping. In fact, this whole interaction was more of a distraction than an actual battle plan. "Come to think of it Louis, I'd better ask Harvey."

Louis sighed. "You're right; the king doesn't like it when I interfere."

King? Harvey? Donna chuckled. At least Louis was sounder of mind than she was. How his personal growth still outmatched her own she'd never know.

"The queen has spoken, my Lord," Donna heard Sheila say. "Now, let's sharpen your battle axe."

"My sword, milady!" Louis retorted.

"SPEAKERS!" Donna yelled before grimacing. "I can hear you…"

"Right… sorry, our small abode isn't as welcoming as your castle, my queen but if you find yourself in need of accommodations, Lady Von Cat and I would be more than happy to welcome you." Louis words warmed Donna's heart.

"Thank you, Louis." She could always count on her friend.

"Besides, it'll be fun to explore the limits of this scenario with you. I mean it's been so fulfilling so far Donna, Sheila and I could go on for days."

Or not. And that was her cue to say goodnight. "I found a hotel room, so don't worry about it. Goodnight you two."

"But I thought you said –" Louis's last words died with the swipe of her fingers – effectively ending the beyond-this-world phone call.

"What sort of friends do you have, Ms Paulsen, I wonder," Linda scoffed.

Donna thought about commenting on this woman's prying habits but refrained from doing so. Looking at this woman's husband told Donna enough – bitter, hadn't aged well compared to the man she hated admitting was the only one in her life. Linda was likely lonelier than she was and she'd probably kill to be with most of the men she had been with. Including the only man she could call; the one she wasn't supposed to.

It went straight to voicemail the first time around so she called again. She was ready to give up when he answered.

"Donna now's not a good time." No 'sorry'. Dry. Somewhat brutal. Harvey style.

Instincts prevailed for no sigh came out on her end. "This can't wait, Harvey."

"I'm sorry but... it should have to." Harvey sounded then preoccupied.

She put a hand to her face, hating herself for pushing his buttons. "My apartment's a mess. I'm about to sue a company I hired years ago and I need you."

Maybe the verb 'need' was some sort of code after all this time for he sighed and used a whole different tone. "Are you home?"

His determined voice reassured her. She continued. "Yes and you won't believe it but –"

"I'll be there in twenty."

Donna sighed in relief at the idea that he was coming to help her somehow but despite how many times he'd come to her rescue, she still felt in waiting – especially when he would hang up the phone prepared to close anything in his path.

"Was this her?" Lily asked, taking a sip of her wine.

"Who, Mom?" Harvey gulped his fourth – or was it fifth scotch of the night.

"The woman whose name you never once brought up tonight?"

"You've heard of Donna before," Harvey scratched his five o'clock shadow. He'd usually shave before going out at night. This time he didn't.

"Thanks to your brother I have but... I'd never heard you speak of or to her before. And now I get it."

Harvey tilted his head to the side. "What?"

"You were so focused. I mean the world could have run its course around you, you wouldn't have cared."

"If this is about our earlier conversation..."Harvey warned her not to continue.

"Harvey it is about our earlier conversation."

"Then it's a big fat no." Harvey waved at the waiter and asked for the check.

"Oh come on, Harvey. I just want you to be happy."

"I'm perfectly fine, Mom," Harvey said, taking his wallet from his inside pocket.

"No… you're not. Every time I said something about family or love tonight, you ordered a drink."

"I'm going to have to cut this diner short. Donna said it was an emergency so I'll call you a cab." Harvey deflected.

"See? It's her, isn't it? Nothing or should I say no one else matters!" Lily was practically beaming.

"I was just stating facts. You're speculating over a relationship you don't know a single thing about."

Lily grabbed her son's hand before he could fully rise up from his chair.

"Earlier you said the only reason you'd ended it with Paula was because she wasn't the one."

"And I told you she'd asked me for the impossible."

"Listen Harvey, I've been feeling as if I'm tripping on a minefield with you all night but now I can't help but ask…"

"We went over this. My reasons are my own." Harvey's statement was final.

Lily's however would stick for a while. "Did you date Paula to escape the Donna issue?"

"I'll only say this once for my benefit and for yours. I dated Paula because I wanted to start something serious for once with someone I was attracted to. It's a trial and error system, Mom. That's how it happened. It ended. I'm still not married and the grandkids are not coming to Grandma's house anytime soon. Now are we done?"

Lily released her grasp on his hand, feigning acceptance. Harvey heaved a sigh of relief. It would suffice for the time being.

"So, do you still want to join me for breakfast tomorrow?"

"I do. Would nine o'clock be okay?" Lily said, standing up.

"Good," Harvey said, helping her put her coat on.

His mother kissed him on the cheek before adding, close to his ear. "It's not a trial and error system when there's someone who always matters more than the rest."

Lily's words struck a chord. "Pay that check, go help Donna. I'll ask the headwaiter for a cab."

Twenty five minutes later, Harvey showed up at Donna's door. He didn't have to knock for it was still open; a portable light illuminated the hallway. From this room alone, he could tell her apartment was more than a mess. It had turned unsanitary. Had this happened overnight? He noticed Donna standing in the hallway, on the phone with her back facing him.

He caught snippets of the conversation as he walked up to her.

"I have no idea how long I'll have to stay… How would I know? Listen, some of my favorite things in this world are damaged goods, I'm this close to losing it and you're… What do you mean it'll cost extra?" Donna paused. He could hear her practically sobbing. She eventually cursed under her breath. "Screw this… yes, yes I'm here, yes, let me grab my credit –"

"Hang up the phone," Harvey interrupted.

She turned around. The redness under her eyes was bound to be overlooked considering the smile she was sending his way. He liked the feeling. "Harvey… just give me a sec, I'm –"

He cut her off again asking for her phone with his hand. "Whatever hotel room you're about to book, don't. You can stay with me… stay the night, I mean."

Too stunned to move, he took the phone from her hand and spoke over the phone. "She's good, don't book the room. Thank you."

Harvey – acting like a king and yet looking like a knight in shining armor. It was all in the suit, every goddamn time. Taking charge even though he wasn't her boss anymore was something she didn't think she could take away from him. Sometimes like tonight she didn't care. She wanted this; getting to feel just how much he cared. It was in the way he'd handed her back her phone, his thumb brushing lightly against her palm. Putting Donna at an emotional disadvantage was his specialty; she was getting something more and this was making her feel beside herself. She could have hugged him on the spot. But he was out of reach – checking the damages – before she could let her brain venture where she hadn't allowed herself to since the kiss.

"Don't go past the couch," she warned. "Unstable ground."

He halted and noticed her bookstand had taken quite a shower. He knew some of the books in there were rare editions. "I know a guy who'll call some movers to get your essentials and store your furniture tomorrow after we've established how unstable the ground is."

Donna watched him ponder for a moment. Suddenly he took off his jacket, placed it on the couch and rushed to the bookstand, avoiding the broken or soaked wooden planks.

"Harvey!" Donna shouted his name. "What the hell are you doing?"

As creaking sounds of his feet cut a path through the room, he explained: "Grabbing some of your rare editions. Help me out with the titles, will you?"

She watched him test the floor carefully before he collected at least three Shakespeare plays. He certainly had an eye for details. It went by fast; he asked her if the other two novels were worth taking. She nodded in agreement but urged him to come back to her side.

He did so and placed the book in the hallway. "You need anything else? From uh…" He scratched his head like a young boy. "Your bedroom? Bathroom?"

Donna thought it was the cutest thing ever until she realized he could kill himself in doing so.

She smirked. "Bedroom's off limit."

He arched a brow; his smug face did something to her stomach. "Bathroom it is."

She caught his arm before he could venture off again. "If you cross over that couch again, Harvey, I swear to God I'll join you and we'll fall and die together."

He rolled his eyes – probably thinking the ground wasn't as unstable as everyone seemed to think. "Give me a break with the poetic tragedy. You read too many books."

Barely offended, she took pleasure in his little game. "I don't!"

"Shakespeare-worm!" He teased.

"That was stupid," she scorned.

"Damn right heroic, you mean," he countered, grabbing his jacket.

"Erratic!"

"Poetic!"

"Thank you," she said, calming her senses.

"You're welcome." Donna felt herself drowning in his dark orbs. The smile was there as was his comforting hand – rubbing her left arm. Soothing her some more. He so rarely did this.

Another sob threatened her voice. "They're saying it's my fault."

"Who did?" He frowned.

"The tenants below me… Could they force me to sell, Harvey?" She panicked.

"They won't get a chance to. This'll be over by tomorrow night. I promise."

"Thanks Harvey," she repeated.

"You don't have to thank me…" Harvey licked his lips – looking everywhere except at her – as he put his jacket back on. "Do you need to buy some clothes for the night? A toothbrush…scratch that, I have a spare for sure."

"I'm just tired; I can survive one night without clothes." That certainly didn't come out right given the look in his eyes.

"Donna… Roberta… Paulsen… sleeping in the nude," he remarked, tilting his head to the side.

"Not what I meant," she corrected him. She loved the game too much for her own good.

"You're thinking about grabbing some cheap pajamas on the way home now, aren't you?" He teased. It was the home part that started playing with her insides. His home… was what he meant.

She grabbed the books and ushered him out of her apartment. "I'll have you know that your very clean t-shirt and boxers are mine tonight."

"Sorry, dry-cleaning malfunction; you'll have to go commando tonight." He watched her lock her front door. "I noticed tonight's a full moon–"

"I'll just lock myself into your bedroom." She double checked she'd locked it properly.

Harvey moved closer to her, his warmth could have ironed her coat all the way through her dress at this point. If only that was all it did to her. As he whispered into her ear – his lips practically brushing against her skin, she realized something was off. "Who says you're getting my bed?" He was flirting over the limits – limits they'd never set straight – and alcohol lingered on his breath. Moreover, the last time she'd seen his five-o'clock shadow was in the morning after the other time. Her last thought didn't help his case but the rest of her analysis explained part of his antics at least.

Donna had caught the runner in the headlight. "Where were you tonight?"

"Having dinner with my mother, why?"

"Did everything go okay?"

"Yes." He took a step back and reverted to a more serious composure. "It was fine. We're fine."

"You don't look fine, Harvey."

"I'm fine, Donna. Why do you always have to know everything?"

"Because you're my friend –"

"Your friend…" He scoffed.

"What's that supposed to mean?" She frowned.

"Nothing…" he deflected. Nothing new here, she thought.

"How many drinks did you have?" She pressed.

"You know what, Donna?" He began, scratching his scalp. "It's none of your business," he replied dryly.

"It is when you're too drunk to even notice you're way past just flirting with me." Her words shut him up for a moment.

This was dangerous territory; probably just as much as her apartment right now. She searched his face, his eyes – looking for clues to unlock his brain – sensing she'd hit a nerve. "You say I always know everything but you always know what you're doing too. 'Takes two to play this game, Harvey."

"Of course I know what I'm doing," he groaned, loosening his tie.

She knew she would regret not second guessing herself. "Then if you're doing it consciously, what does that –"

"Mean?" He finished her sentence for her. "It means we flirt, Donna. That's what we do to make each other feel better. It doesn't mean anything else."

"Okay," she uttered softly, trying to contain the situation. She was just as responsible for after all; accepting the game – over twelve years of experience on her resume, just like good whisky.

He started pacing around her; left fist balled up. "You can't know everything. You're not my fucking wife."

This was bad and she had no idea where he was going with all of this. Donna wasn't even sure she'd get to make a deal by the end of this impromptu fight. "I think I got it."

"No… I don't think you do." Harvey would never sneer unpleasantly. But that didn't make his harsh tone any less unpleasant.

The conversation seemed to be between Harvey and his self.

"Trust me when I say I clearly get it. You just know where to poke." There was no point in walking away from the truth. They were nothing more than who they were and he would never be ready to let her in or simply admit to anything.

It felt more like he was giving her an earful than some truth. "Am I not here for you right now?"

"So you can be here for me but I can't be here for you?" She asked. After all, nowhere did it say Donna couldn't tell Harvey off too.

Each step forward and each step back he took, another blow awaited her. As if one side of him would remain chemically drawn closer to her while his closed off brain processed the things he wouldn't dare say. Hard truths that felt more like enigmas; without any solution. "Not in this case. Not when I'm asking you to drop it."

She'd only seen him like this around her when it had to do with them – and their blurred lines. Liberty Rail, leaving him to work for Louis and right after she'd kissed him.

"We're tired. This has gone too far. We should stop and I should–"

"Maybe I don't want to stop. Maybe I want you to hear all of it," he pressed.

"Harvey, stop…"

From the corner of her eye, Donna saw him anchor his soaked shoes no more than a feet away from her. She could feel his eyes burning all over her. His anger subsided along with his fist; Harvey's most significant tell tale. It was over. Apologies would ensue and there would be no answer. Maybe it was for the best.

This whole thing wouldn't have been closed but at the very least dropped on a far better note hadn't the 106 tenants jumped at their throats. "What the hell did you do?"

"What now?" Harvey grunted, turning around to see who was coming their way.

The woman spoke first – she would probably lead the conversation anyway. "I thought the plumber told you not to run around the apartment."

Confusion set in. Donna echoed the woman's words trying to make sense of them."Run around the ap–"

But Harvey, even in his state, was quicker to realization than she was. "It was me. I grabbed some of her things."

"Well…" the woman eyed Harvey up and down carefully – she was obvious. Too obvious for Donna's liking. Linda ended up looking flustered instead of unnerved. "You…" She turned to Donna and vented: "Now there's a hole in our ceiling. And trust me when I say I will sue you for this."

"Oh… you'll sue us?" Us. Not her.

Harvey walked up to the couple, focusing his menacing stare on the woman. "Let me introduce myself. I'm Harvey Specter, attorney at law. I work at Zane Specter Litt Wheeler Williams."

"This sounds like a fake law firm, isn't that right Jake?" The woman searched her husband's eyes for support.

"Yes, Linda. You're right it does." Her husband nodded like a dog following his owner's command.

"Are you serious? This is where I work!" Donna hurled at the couple before mumbling under her breath. "Unbelievable."

"Like the life you lead," Linda criticized her upstairs neighbor again, taking another visibly more jealous than lustful look at Harvey. "Is he one of your regulars?"

Donna's usual witty repartee had no place here – not after the way this woman had taken pleasure in pointing out all of her faults ever since she'd gotten home. "Not this again!"

Harvey didn't seem to like this Linda woman's tone anymore than Donna did.

"Linda is it?" Harvey swallowed, barely acknowledging the woman's response and extended his hand to the man. The weakest link, Donna thought. "And you are?"

"David." The husband shook Harvey's hand.

"David, it's nice to meet you. Could we go see where the hole in your apartment is? Just the two of us."

"What are you doing, Harvey?" Donna asked, trying to stop him with a hand on his arm.

It was a futile attempt even though he didn't reject her touch. "Just let me clear this thing out, it's why you called, isn't it?"

Donna lowered her head as he walked away. "Okay," she breathed out. He was right. He was a friend. Her friend; or less than that. Or more. Whatever had happened between him and his mother, she'd interrupted it. Guilt. She was suddenly feeling all of it. Donna hated herself for prying after one stupid flirty conversation. She was no better than the woman in front of her.

Left with Linda for sole companion, Donna heaved a defeated sigh when she saw the woman ogle Harvey's backside. After a good five seconds, Linda resumed her enquiry. "Leaving you… like this? Yeah, definitely your boss."

"Former boss. Just doing his job," Donna corrected her as she held the books she'd clung to this entire time closer to her chest.

"Aren't we all just looking for someone to hold on to in life?"

"Do you speak in rhymes for a living?" Donna jibed.

"You're going to pay for all the damages that you've caused."

"Harvey wins. Every goddamn time."

"Maybe he does. But so does my lawyer."

"Harvey wins." Donna repeated. The certainty in her tone should have left the discussion at that. But Linda was the worst of stereotypes; the kind that attacked by devaluing women.

"We get older and then they move on." Regarding this third-party case it was all bark and no bite. But on a personal level, the bite did hurt Donna.

"I'm so sorry for your loss. David seems like a fine husband," Donna stated, unable to stop herself.

"You think you're above us all with your fancy dresses and perfect hair but you're just another forty-year-old acting like the world around her owes her everything. It doesn't. No matter what your handsome friend says, you are responsible and will clean up after your mess."

"I don't need anyone, you hear me, anyone to know just how wrong you are." Donna blurted out before stressing on the word anyone again.

"Except him it seems. And it so happens he's causing even more damage."

As much as it pained Donna to admit her freedom was limited, the woman was right. She needed him. Her dependency on Harvey was all too real. She wasn't his wife; she was no one's. Too lost in her own thoughts, she managed to block out Linda's harmful words. Some of it had to do with her sex life, Donna was certain of it. Pure nonsense. Hence why she'd let it slide but she couldn't have missed out on Harvey's voice for the world.

"I wouldn't be so presumptuous Linda," Harvey interrupted them, out of breath.

"And why shouldn't I be, Mr. Specter?"

"Because the damage is under Donna's bedroom floor therefore no one's responsible in this particular case." Harvey went on, leaving her no room to speak. "And if I hear you say anything about me being a regular or Donna being something akin to a woman of low morals again, I promise you a far worse lawsuit than the one you have so irritably intended against my client."

"Who says I'm not going to file suit?"

"I am." Harvey's tone had Linda freeze on the spot. "But if you change your mind, tell your lawyer to give me a call. No number needed. He'll know who I am."

Harvey turned to Donna and grabbed the books from her arms. Tucking them under one of his, he offered his other hand to Donna to take. "Ray's downstairs. Do you still want to come over tonight?"

No obligations. It was the simplest of questions and it still tormented her. Donna could keep her options open. Maybe she didn't want options. Maybe she wanted to hear all he had to say. She could have gone with: Are you sure this is a good idea? Instead, she settled for: "Do you want me to?"

He gently took her hand, entwining his fingers with hers. As he led her towards the elevator, she felt liberated. Donna was no one's anything; just his former multiple things. But he was the only one giving her the time of day like a significant other would.

*** (to be continued)

STN

STN

New story. Didn't think I'd write one again. Unbeta-ed for now. It's based on that prompt... yes, you know which one (you know butt naked Harvey's coming up soon) but I need stories more than buttocks. So I'm going with this one. Let me know what you think.

I hope the story (besides butt naked Harvey of course) will please you. I needed to write pre-canon darvey. My Harvey's a bit alpha in this story but I want to explore his season 8/9 growth. You'll get both points of view at different times but Donna's a character I want to focus a lot of energy on too. So yeah, hopefully you'll stick around. You know I couldn't do this without your support.

Dedicated to all my twitter friends. And by the B-way, I love you,

Sincerely,

BG