Chapter 11

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

AN1: Thank you for the incredible support you've given me, it means so much to me, I hope you like this chapter and that you've loved this story.

As soon as he walks into the Dean's office and sees the man Mike can automatically see the similarities between Dean Malone and his brother.

"Mike Ross." The dean says, sticking his hand out for Mike to shake.

"Sir." Mike responds, returning the handshake.

"Please, call me Tim."

"It's a pleasure to meet you Tim." Mike responds as Tim signals for Mike to sit down as he walks around and sits down behind the desk.

"When my brother told me about you, what you had done, I wasn't sure what to think." Tim informs Mike, "But then he handed me nineteen letters or recommendations, of explanation, letters from some of the most well respective people in the legal field, including the most respected ethics professor in the country and a federal prosecutor." Tim reveals, "As well as my brother himself."

"I didn't know that this was being done, not until last Friday night." Mike reveals.

"I know that." Tim responds, "There are a lot of things in these letters, even with what you've done there are a lot of people who respect you." Tim informs Mike.

"So I've heard, I'm just not overly sure that I deserve it." Mike admits, before he can stop himself.

"From what I know I thought you might say something like that." Tim admits, "Which is why I think you should read these three letters." He says, handing Mike three letters.

Not sure what to expect Mike takes the letters and starts to read,

Dear Dean Malone,

When your brother came to me explaining what was going on and asked if I would be willing to write a letter on behalf of Mike Ross to give him a chance at being admitted to Law School my instinct was to say no, but I quickly realised how much of a mistake that would be

I have worked with Mike Ross on several cases, both with and against him, and I saw the amazing Lawyer he is capable of being. During those cases I didn't know that Mike didn't have a law degree, but that didn't stop him from doing an incredible job. He advocated for his clients, fought for them, and truly understood the law and how to use it to the good of others. I honestly believed him to be one of the best young lawyers I've ever worked with, with the potential to be even better.

Even taking into the consideration the charges he has faced I truly believe that Mike Ross has a lot of potential, and even though I may not get along with him personally I know that allowing him to earn a Law Degree wouldn't just be a good thing for Mr Ross, but it would be an incredible thing for the legal community.

Sincerely Dana Scott

As he reads Scottie's letter Mike can't help but be amazed as he knows that Scottie hates him, and he doesn't blame her for that.

After reading Scottie's letter Mike puts it down on the desk and stars to read the next one.

To Whom it might Concern,

My Name is Trevor Evans, and It was because of me that Mike got kicked out of college, it is because of me that he didn't get to go to Harvard, where he belonged, and it's because of me that that he didn't get to follow his dream.

It has been a long time since Mike and I were friends but I always knew that if I was truly in trouble then I could call him and he'd be there, no matter what. When we were in college together I needed money because I borrowed it and I was going to be seriously hurt if I didn't manage to pay it back. I was desperate and Mike didn't want me to get hurt and so I convinced him, even though he didn't want to, to memorize a test, something which Mike did without meaning to as he has a photographic memory, and sell it. What I didn't know at the time is that I sold the test to the Dean's daughter and I was going to be expelled because of that, or I would have been if it wasn't for Mike. Mike came forward, told the Dean it was him, to protect me, and because of that he was expelled, he lost his scholarship, he lost his dream, because of me.

Mike should be a lawyer, he is a lawyer even without the degree, he always has been. Mike fights to protect people, he fights for people and even though he has made some bad choices, quite a few of which were influenced by me, he doesn't deserve to be kept from what he is supposed to do forever. So please, if you have the power, let Mike into Law School, let him legally do what he was born to do.

Thank you,

Trevor Evans.

Reading Trevor's letter Mike is even more amazed than by Scottie's as he assumes that part of the reason why she wrote something so nice is because she knew what it would mean to Harvey, Trevor on the other hand has no loyalty and after the last time they saw each other Mike wouldn't have expected him to do anything for him.

Taking a deep breath Mike puts Trevor's letter down and starts to read the next one,

Dean Malone,

There are a lot of things I could say about Mike Ross, a lot of things I could say to convince you to admit him to New York University School of Law, but all I have to say is that Mike Ross is the best damn lawyer there is, he just doesn't have a degree.

Mike isn't just smart, but a genius. Once he reads something he understands it and once he understands it he never forgets, but that's not what makes him the best. What makes him the best is how much he cares. I believed that caring makes you weak, but Mike has shown me, time and time again, that it doesn't. Mike has used how much he cares to fight for every one of his clients, he has given his heart and soul to them and fought until the fight was over, and even then he kept in contact with them, made sure that they were alright after their cases were over, long after everyone else forgot about them.

You could decide not to admit Mike because he practiced without a license, but if you did you'd be making a huge mistake. I'm the person who worked closest with Mike, and have been impressed by him every single day. I've seen him grow and I've seen the lawyer he is, and if there was a way for me to be able to help him become a legitimate lawyer I would do it in a second, but I can't, you can. If you give him a chance Dean Malone, you won't regret it. Mike's the best there is, he just needs a chance to earn the degree he should have gotten a long time ago,

Harvey Specter.

"Thanks Harvey." Mike thinks to himself, being extremely grateful for his words, as he puts the letter down on the table

"I have sixteen other letters here, letters that all say similar things." Tim reveals, "You've impressed a lot of people, Mr Ross." He reveals, "But now I want to hear from you. Why did you want to become a Lawyer?"

"My parents were killed in a car accident when I was eleven." Mike reveals, "It wasn't until I was older that I realised we had a case, that the person who killed them was a drunk driver." Mike explains, "A lawyer came to my grandmother, boiled their lives down to a sum of money, and a small one at that, and I didn't want to do that." Mike explains, "I've always been smart and I wanted to use my brain to help people, and I love the law, it's always been what I want to do."

"If you love the law why did you spend years practicing Law without a license?" Tim asks.

"Because I was given the chance to do what I've always wanted, and I was able to help people and have the money to care for my grandmother." Mike reveals, "It wasn't my intention to lie for so long, but once I started I didn't want to stop as I was finally really helping, I was finally able to do what I felt like I was born to do." He explains, "All I've ever wanted was to be a lawyer and when I was expelled I felt like my world was imploding, and I felt things would never be okay again." Mike explains, "But for the last few years I've been a lawyer and even though I spent every day worried that my secret was going to be discovered they have still been the best years of my life. I loved being a lawyer and if I got a second chance, if you decided to admit me, then I will dedicate all my time, and energy to being the best lawyer I can be, I will dedicate everything to helping people."

"I see." Tim says, keeping his face blank, but the truth is that he is impressed, "Before the meeting today I had already made my decision, I just wanted to make sure that the person in the nineteen recommendations I have gotten is who you really are."

"What are you saying?" Mike asks, not sure what to think.

"This." Tim says, pulling something out of his desk and handing it to Mike.

Bracing himself Mike looks down and sees a letter which he starts to read, and with every word he feels himself smile.

"I'm in?" Mike asks and Tim nods, "Thank you, Sir, I will make sure you don't regret that."

"I believe that." Tim says, "You'll be on a short leash, any misconduct and you'll be gone." He warns, "I'm taking a huge chance on your Mr Ross, and I've convinced a lot of other people to give you a chance, don't make me regret it."

"I won't." Mike promises.

"You better not." Tim says, "Now, let's talk about what the next two semesters are going to look like for you, you're going to be busy but from what I understand that won't be a problem for you."

"No, it won't." Mike assures him and Tim starts to explain everything to him, Mike listening in complete interest, being determine not to let Tim or the nineteen people who stuck their necks out for him, down, Harvey especially.

Having spent over an hour with Tim, discussing his course load to help him finish what he needs to complete his undergraduate requirements, Mike has made his way to Pearson Specter Litt and honestly it feels extremely odd for Mike to once more walk into the building.

As he is allowed straight in Mike makes his way upstairs and he can't help but feel guilty when he realises how empty it is, but as he steps onto the fiftieth floor Mike feels like he is back where he belongs.

With a smile on his face Mike turns and starts to make his way towards Harvey's office, but as he gets closer to Donna's desk Mike removes the smile off his face because he doesn't want to give way what happened before he tells Harvey.

"Hey Donna." Mike says as he walks up.

"So, don't keep me in suspense, how'd it go?" Donna asks excitedly.

"I kind of want to tell Harvey first." Mike reveals, "He busy?"

"Never for you." Donna says, pointing her head to the door and Mike heads straight into Harvey's office.

"Hi." Mike greats as he walks in.

"Hi." Harvey says, getting up from his chair, "So, how'd it go?" he asks, trying to get a read but Mike has an impressively blank face.

"You're officially looking at an NYU student." Mike says, smiling at Harvey.

"Mike that's amazing!" Harvey says with a grin as he hurries, or as much as Harvey does, over to Mike and hugs him, "I'm so happy for you."

"Thanks Harvey." Mike says, returning the hug, "And thank you for the letter. I read wrote you wrote." He reveals.

"I meant every word." Harvey assures him, before kissing Mike.

"Okay enough, my turn to hug the Puppy." Donna says, forcing Harvey and Mike to break apart and the second they do Donna throws her arms around Mike.

"You know Donna, Mike's My Guy, I should be able to hug him as much as I want." Harvey informs Donna.

"Shhh." Donna tells him, waving him away, "You're going to blow all those other students away."

"Thanks Donna." Mike says gratefully, as Donna places a kiss on Mike's cheek.

"This is cause for celebration; Donna go get everyone." Harvey requests.

"Of course." Donna responds hurrying out of the office.

"So, when do you start classes?" Harvey asks curious.

"I told Malone's brother I'd be in Thursday's classes." Mike reveals, "Of course I'm going to have to sell the apartment as soon as possible because it's going to take every dollar I have, and some I don't, to pay for it."

"Don't worry about the money." Harvey says.

"Harvey…" Mike starts to say.

"No, we're not talking about this, I'll pay whatever you need." Harvey assures him, "But if you really want we can work something out with your salary from here and the money you get from the apartment to pay me back." Harvey offers, knowing that Mike won't want him to just give him the money.

"I'd prefer that." Mike admits, then he realises just what Harvey said, "So you just assume that I'm accepting your job offer?" he asks.

"I know you are, aren't you?" Harvey asks, being positive of the answer.

"Yeah, I am." Mike admits, "But my school schedule is pretty packed." Mike admits.

"We'll figure it out." Harvey assures him, "But you're also not going to take on too much."

"I won't." Mike assures him, "This is really happening, I'm going to be a legitimate lawyer." He says with a smile, looking like his dreams have come true, which they have.

"Yeah, you are." Harvey says, smiling back at him, feeling extremely proud of the man he loves.

For a few minutes Harvey and Mike wait in silence until they see Jessica, Louis, and Malone walking towards the office, both Harvey and Mike being quite glad that Rachel is at school.

"What happened?" Jessica asks when she walks in, wanting to know as Donna didn't give anything away.

"I want to say thank you, to all of you, for all the chances you've given me, and for going out on a limb for me again by writing letters of recommendation." Mike says, in complete sincerity as he looks around the room.

"Don't hold out on us, Ross. What happened?" Louis asks, trying to figure out if it is good news or bad news.

"I'm in." Mike says with a grin, "I'm going to complete my undergraduate and then go to Law School." Mike reveals.

"That's great." Jessica says, smiling at the young man, "I'm happy for you, Mike." She says as she, to Mike's shock, pulls him into a hug and even though there is some awkwardness it feels nice at the same time, almost like when Donna hugs him.

"Thanks Jessica." Mike says gratefully, as they break apart, "Thank you, Jeff, for making this possible." Mike says, sticking out his hand for Jeff to shake.

"You don't have to thank me." Jeff says, returning the handshake, "But what you can do is be the best damn student NYU has ever seen."

"He's going to do that anyway." Harvey says proudly and as he does the door opens and Donna walks in, carrying a cake and two bottles.

"You brought a cake?" Mike asks surprised, "What if I didn't get in?" he asks curious.

"I knew you were going to, and now we're going to celebrate." Donna tells him, "I have cake and drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic." She reveals.

"I like that idea." Harvey says and over the next few minutes everyone makes themselves comfortable around Harvey's office and Harvey pours them all drinks, giving Mike a non-alcoholic drink while everyone else gets alcoholic, "To Mike on being offically a college student and once again a member of Pearson Specter Litt." Harvey says raising his glass.

"To Mike!" Jessica, Louis, Donna and Jeff repeat and once they drink Harvey walks over and sits between Mike and Donna on the couch, putting his arm around Mike as he sits down.

Leaning into Harvey's embrace Mike looks around the room and as he does he can't help but smile as he realises that he is living his dream, not only is he going to be a legitimate lawyer, but he has a family, a real family, and is in a relationship with someone who he loves completely, trusts completely, someone who he can see himself being with forever.

"You good?" Harvey asks in a whisper.

"Yeah." Mike says with a nod, "Thank you for giving me a chance, and giving me second chances over and over again" Mike tells Harvey as he knows that he wouldn't have what he has now if Harvey didn't give him chance that day all those years ago.

"You never have to thank me for that." Harvey responds, "You've always been My Guy, you always will be." Harvey says and together the family of Pearson Specter Litt celebrate their latest good news, everyone enjoying being together and knowing that even with how bad things have been lately they are becoming good again, they are getting back on top.

THE END