A/N: This is a bit of a monster chapter, but it moves the story along hugely. Hopefully it's not too wordy!
Fun fact, the first paragraph is actually the very first thing I wrote for this fic and built everything up around it, and it's where the title came from, so the fact it took me nine chapters to get to it is hilarious.
It had been a long day. It was almost 1am when Harvey entered his apartment, set on having a scotch or two before retiring to bed. Seeing her shoes by the door changed that plan immediately. He kicked off his own shoes, leaving them alongside hers, and shucked off his jacket and removed his tie before entering the bedroom. He could make out the shape of her under the covers, stirring as he dropped his shirt into the hamper by the door.
"You're back," she mumbled sleepily as he removed his pants and socks.
"Sorry I woke you," he replied softly as he crossed the room, sliding into bed next to her. She shuffled across the mattress and into his arms, her face buried in his chest as he kissed the crown of her head. "I didn't think you'd be here."
"I went home at first, but I hated the thought of waking up without you."
He didn't reply, but held her tighter, pressing his lips to the top of her head again. He'd sent her home from work earlier, insisting that she sleep at her own place since he'd be home so late. He'd wanted to relish in the quiet of the firm after hours as he prepared for the trial that was starting the following day. They'd fought about it and he'd felt guilty all evening. His face burned with shame as he remembered the horrible thing he'd said to her.
"Are you coming home?" She was in the doorway of his office, leaning on the frame and he looked up, appreciating the way her sky blue dress hugged her curves.
"I need to work on my opening statement. I'll be home late."
"Harvey…"
"You know this is how I prepare for trial, Donna. Don't fight me on this."
"I'm not fighting you." She stepped into the room, crossing to his desk and perching on the edge of it. "Can you work at home?"
"Not on this. I need to be here for this. You go home, sleep at your place. I'll be home so late you won't even notice."
"You don't want me there when you get home?" She sounded hurt and he winced internally.
"I just need to get this done and get a good night's sleep." He could hear the words as they left his mouth and he knew how they sounded, but the damage was done, he could see it on her face.
"Fine," she said as she stood up, smoothing her palms down her thighs to straighten her skirt.
"Donna, don't-"
"Don't what? Don't be hurt that you're cutting me out of this process?" She whirled around, heading for the door but he intercepted her with long strides around the desk, stopping in front of the door and reaching out for her. She stepped back, out of his reach and his face fell.
"You know my process. You know I work alone on trial preparation."
"This is different. I've been a part of this all the way through, and now you're leaving me out."
"Because this doesn't concern you!" his voice rose and she looked past him into the hall and then back at him, raising her eyebrows. He glanced over his shoulder at the stray associates in the hall, glaring at them before closing the door. The glass walls didn't provide as much visual privacy as he'd like, but at least they were soundproof. "This is my fight. There's nothing you can do. Just go home and I'll see you tomorrow."
"I'm not leaving you here." Her tone was defiant and it snapped something in him.
"Could you just listen to me for once? I don't want you here."
"I don't care. I'm staying." She crossed her arms over her chest angrily.
"Donna, just go," he shouted, his eyes like molten lava as he stared at her.
"Fine," she spat at him, "good luck in court tomorrow." She stalked out of the room, her emotions in turmoil. She fought back the tears until she reached the safety of the ladies bathroom where she broke down into sobs that shook her body and stole her breath. She didn't know he was standing by the door, listening, holding back tears of his own as he slowly turned and walked away.
"Did you get everything finished?" she asked, her voice raspy with sleep.
"Yeah. I've got my opening statement ready." He hugged her tighter. "About earlier…"
"Forget it."
"I can't. I was awful. I…"
"Don't, Harvey. It's done, it's over. Let's just focus on moving forward. What time are you due in court?" She already knew the answer but asked the question anyway, taking advantage of the opportunity to shut down the line of conversation she didn't want to address.
"Ten."
"Will he be there?"
"You know he will." His voice was calm, but the tensing of his body in her arms told her he was worried.
"Are you going to be okay with facing him?"
"I have to be. Are you?"
She pulled away from him, turning to flick on the bedside lamp. "You don't have to be. It's okay to be nervous, Harvey. It was a traumatic experience, you don't have to be brave about it." She ignored his attempt at turning the question back onto her. Right now he was hurting, worrying, wallowing and she needed to snap him out of that so he could focus properly in court.
"Yes, I do. I've chosen to represent myself, and that means I need to be completely unaffected by him in court. I can't let the jury see my weaknesses."
"Harvey, I—"
"Please, Donna. Just leave it, okay? I don't want to talk about it tonight. I just want to relax, okay?"
"Okay." She ran her hand through his hair. "Want me to help you relax?" she asked suggestively, eyebrows raised.
"I don't know if I have the energy."
"I'm sure you can find some energy," she purred in his ear, her hand sliding down his body and palming him through his boxers. She squeezed and felt him responding, nipping at his earlobe and then kissing his pulse point. She could feel him growing under her hand and she pressed her lips to his. Until he pulled away, grabbing her wrist and stilling her movements.
"Stop."
"Harvey…"
"I'm not in the mood. Just… just let me sleep." He turned away from her, his shoulders tense.
"Harvey." She reached for him, her hand sliding over his back and the hard knots in his neck. "Talk to me."
"I don't wanna talk."
"I don't care." She pulled on his shoulder, forcing him to roll over to face her again. "You don't get to do this anymore. We agreed on that, remember? Honest communication?"
Harvey sighed, sitting up against the headboard. "I'm tired. And I've got a big day tomorrow. There's a lot on my mind."
"I know, Harvey. Don't you think I'm worried too?" She sat up, throwing a leg across his body so she was straddling his lap, taking his face in her hands. "Let me in. Tell me what you're feeling."
His jaw tensed and he looked away, avoiding her penetrating gaze. "Why don't you tell me what I'm feeling? You've always known it better than I do."
"That was different. We were different. I'd prefer it if you wanted to tell me."
"I'm not good at this. You know that."
"Try. Please?" Her eyes were wide, earnest, and he couldn't say no. He'd never been able to say no to her.
"Okay." His hands landed on her thighs, his thumbs stroking idly over her skin. He was silent for a long moment and she waited him out, patient as ever. "I am worried about seeing him tomorrow. I'm unshakeable in court. But this…" he looked away again, unable to get the words out. Donna nodded, cupping his face again, bringing his gaze back toward her.
"I know," she said softly.
"I don't know how to do this." His voice was low, ashamed.
"Have you talked to Louis about it?"
"Why would I talk to Louis about it?"
"He was mugged, Harvey, remember? Remember how he struggled with that? He could help you with this."
"It's not the same."
"I know it isn't. But what happened to you isn't something everyone can understand. It's not even something that I can understand, even though I've tried, I'm trying. But Louis went through something similar, although not on the same level, and maybe he can help you with the psychological effects it's had on you."
"Please don't try to psychoanalyse me." He shuddered at the idea, remembering a certain therapist-turned-girlfriend and hating himself a little.
"I'm not, Harvey." She ran her fingertips from his eyebrow to his jaw, soothing, calming. "I just want to help."
"I know. I'm sorry." His jaw tensed again as he looked down at his hands on her legs. "I'm - I can't believe I'm about to say this - I'm… nervous about tomorrow."
"Harvey, listen to me. You're incredible in court. And you're strong - stronger than you think you are. And stubborn as hell, too," she chuckled. "Use those things to your advantage. Show the jury that we got through this, but that it wasn't easy. Show them his temper. Break him." Her final words were punctuated with a kiss. "Mike will be there to back you up, whatever you need. And I'll be there in the gallery every minute. You're not alone in this."
"I love you," he said simply, overwhelmed by her words and his own emotions.
"I know," she replied, bringing her lips back to his again and kissing him sensuously. "Now, will you let me help you relax? You know you always sleep better after."
"Yeah, okay," he said, rolling his eyes in mock-sarcasm and then grinning widely as he slid his hands up her thighs and under her nightgown to her hips. Their mouths met and she wiggled purposefully against him, feeling his hardening length pressed deliciously against her. He let out a low groan as the friction caused him to harden further.
She shifted lower on his legs and wrapped her hand around his impressive manhood, always impressed at his girth and how solid and heavy he felt in her palm. She stroked lightly, relishing the strangled moan that escaped him as he breath became more shallow with every movement of her hand. She lowered herself to him, swirling her tongue around the head of his beautiful cock. Harvey's eyes closed as licked him from base to tip, her warm wet mouth and her hand anchored on his hip driving him crazy as the pleasure she gave him was too much but never enough.
She was grinding on his leg, not getting what she needed but this wasn't about her, this was for him. She works him over, sucking, licking, lightly scraping with her teeth on his over-sensitive shaft as his grunts grow in volume and his hips begin to jerk underneath her.
"Donna, I'm—"
"I know," she replied around a mouthful of cock, her hand massaging his balls to draw his orgasm from him. A few more firm strokes and her tongue swirling around his tip was all it took for him to erupt in her mouth, and she swallowed what he gave her, milking every last drop from him until his hips fell back to the mattress and he let out a long breath.
"C'mere," he said, "let me—"
"No," she cut him off, "this was about you." She crawled back up his body and curled into his side, dropping a kiss to his jawline. He turned on his side to face her, his hand on her waist, stroking the soft skin there.
"You're beautiful," he whispered, his nose grazing hers.
"I love you, Harvey." She kissed him, their lips meeting softly, chastely. "Now go to sleep. It's a big day tomorrow."
.
Donna woke early the next morning, finding Harvey already awake, laying flat on his back and staring at the ceiling.
"Hey," she said softly, shuffling closer to him and pressing her lips to his bare shoulder.
"Hey." He turned his head toward her, a weak smile trying to greet her.
"You okay?"
"Yeah."
"Did you sleep?" She asked gently.
"A little," he responded with a shrug.
"All you have to do is be you. Be just exactly who you are. You're an incredible lawyer, Harvey. You were born for this."
"How do you always believe in me?" He raised her hand to his lips, kissing her knuckles gently.
"Because I've watched you be the best closer in New York for almost fifteen years. You've always believed in yourself. This case isn't any different. You just have to do what you do."
.
As they approached the courthouse later that morning, Donna took Harvey's hand in hers, squeezing gently.
"Can you take a loop around the block, Ray?" She asked, "we're a little early."
"Of course," Ray replied, smoothly changing lanes to turn the next corner.
"You good?" She asked Harvey softly, stroking his fingers with her own.
"Yeah," he replied, giving her a soft smile. "I'm ready."
"Good."
"Good," he echoed and they exchanged a smile at the shared memory. She squeezed his hand again and he squeezed back, each communicating wordlessly their love, support and understanding
.
The courthouse was busy, as it usually was at the beginning of the day, but they found Mike easily amongst the crowd. Donna hugged him hard and Harvey thanked him again for taking the lead on the case. Samantha and Louis had both offered to sit second chair, but Mike had insisted it had to be Harvey - it made the case look better. Rachel had wanted to fly in to support all of them, but was looking after the firm in Seattle while Mike was away and wasn't confident enough to leave it in someone else's hands just yet.
They made small talk for a few minutes, having nothing much to say thanks to daily meetings in preparation of the trial, so when Harvey went to get a coffee, Donna took the opportunity to pull Mike aside.
"You help him, Mike. You support him, you have his back. He needs you on this one." She was stern and serious and Mike knew it. This wasn't a joking moment. This was the fight of Harvey's life, a fight that would define their future together.
"I will. I'll do whatever I need to." He took her hands in his, squeezing her fingers reassuringly.
"You'd better," she said, in a vaguely threatening tone. "I'll do whatever I need to do too."
"I know, Donna. I promise, I have his back. Leo Dixon is going down for this."
"That's exactly what I need to hear." She nodded and Mike suddenly saw just how nervous she was. His heart ached for her and for Harvey, for the stress this had put on the early days of their relationship, the time when they should have been blissfully happy.
"He's not going to be alone in there. I have his back every step of the way."
"Thank you." Donna squeezed her friend's hand as Louis made his way toward them. He hugged Donna and slapped Mike on the back in greeting.
"Where's Harvey?" he asked.
"Getting coffee," Mike replied, spotting Harvey weaving his way through the crowds to get back to them.
"Louis." He clapped a hand onto the shorter man's shoulder. "It's good of you to be here."
"Wouldn't have missed it for anything," he said somberly. "Well, maybe the birth of my child."
"Thanks Louis," Harvey replied with a light chuckle, just as the court was called into session. "Ready?" he asked Mike.
"Yup. Let's crush this." Mike strode into the courtroom with Louis and Harvey took one last moment with Donna.
"I love you," she told him fiercely. "And I have faith in you." Her words hit Harvey exactly where he needed them. The memory of Mike's case swam briefly through his mind and he nodded.
"I love you too," he replied, and she watched as he walked into court, head held high, confidence in his stance. She slipped through the door behind him, taking a seat next to Louis, who gripped her hand tight. The trial was finally underway.
.
"That didn't go well," Harvey sighed when court was adjourned for the day. Dixon and his lawyer had objected, avoided and misdirected all of Mike's questions throughout the afternoon and the case had really moved nowhere.
"It was okay," Samantha said with a shrug.
"No, it wasn't. I'm going back to the office to work on tomorrow's witness list."
"Harvey," Donna interjected, "can we just—"
"Don't fight me on this, Donna, please. I need to go to the office."
"I'm not fighting you, Harvey, I just think we should all sit down and debrief together before you run headlong into prepping for tomorrow."
"Donna's right, Harvey," Mike jumped in, "we need to do this together. Let's go sit down, go over the day and plan tomorrow."
.
There was a chicken roasting in the oven when Harvey arrived at Donna's apartment later that evening. After they'd debriefed about the day in court, she'd headed home to cook, leaving Harvey with Mike and Samantha to prep for the following day.
"Donna?" he called for her as he walked into the living room and heard the water running in the bathroom. He made his way in there, shrugging off his jacket and tossing it onto the bed as he did so.
"Hey," she said as he walked in, "how'd it go?"
"It was fine. We've got a solid plan." he leaned against the counter, watching her through the steamy glass.
"Come take a shower with me," she said, rubbing shampoo into her hair. Harvey didn't need asking twice. A naked, beautiful woman who also happened to be the love of his life asking him to get naked and soapy with her? No contest. He stripped down and stepped into the shower, taking the slippery Donna in his arms and kissing her deeply.
"I came in here to get clean, not dirty," she quipped with a sly grin and he laughed, the sound warming her heart. He'd been through too much lately and she hadn't heard enough of his laugh, seen enough of his infectious smile.
"After we get dirty, we can get clean again…" he teased, running his tongue along the curve of her ear, causing an involuntary shiver to run through her.
"Later, lover," she teased. We need to eat too and that chicken will go dry if we leave it too long." She kissed him again, running her hands down his chest, feeling his cock harden against her thigh. She grinned and then stepped back, rinsing the shampoo from her hair as he watched her lustfully.
"Maybe I'll just…" he trailed off, wrapping his hand around his erect length, stroking it slowly.
"Don't you dare," she threatened, batting his arm away. "That is all mine, but not until after we've eaten."
.
Donna woke the next morning to Harvey's hand teasing her breast. He was spooned behind her, his arm draped over her body and his fingers drawing soft circles around her nipple.
"Mmmm good morning," she replied throatily, turning her head to look at him.
"Morning beautiful," Harvey replied, squeezing her breast a little harder and kissing her shoulder. She could feel his erection pressed against her and lowered a hand between her legs, teasing her clitoris with her middle finger.
"Are you touching yourself?"
"Yes," she replied, grinding back against him, his mouth on her neck and the hand between her legs turning her on.
"Fuck," he groaned, his hand snaking over her hip and resting his fingers over hers as she played with herself.
"Yes please," she murmured in reply, pushing her ass back against him again and lifting her leg to give him space to slide into her.
He guided himself inside her, feeling her body stretch to accommodate him and she groaned a little at the pinch that came as a result of inadequate lubrication.
"You okay?" He asked, stilling his movements. She nodded, shifting her hips and feeling him slip further inside, the delicious stretch skirting the line between pleasure and pain.
"Ungh, yes," she hissed, her fingers working her clit again as she clenched her internal muscles around Harvey's sizeable length.
"Good?" he asked her, thrusting shallowly.
"Yeah," she replied on an outward breath, pulling away and pushing her body back into his. The head of his cock hit the perfect spot inside of her and she let out a low whine.
"There," she panted. "do that again." He thrust again and again, but missed the right spot. "Let me," she said, pushing her body back into his again and feeling what she was craving. She rolled her hips against him and he caught onto her rhythm, thrusting against her and she tipped her head back against his shoulder as she felt the pleasure build within her.
"Fuck," Harvey groaned, flexing his cock inside her.
"Harder," she begged, and he obliged, snapping his hips against her until she cried out, twitching and shaking in his arms as her orgasm washed over her. He slowed as she rode it out, then picked up the rhythm again, racing toward his own climax. He snaked an arm over her stomach, holding her body in place as he pounded inside her.
"Fuck, Harvey…" she moaned, and her voice was enough to bring him to the edge. "God, I love you," she said and the words had him tumbling off that peak and emptying himself inside her. He groaned as he came, a guttural sound that rumbled in his chest and vibrated through her back.
When he slipped out of her she mourned the loss of contact, turning to nestle into his embrace. She felt the need to be close to him with the day they had coming up.
"How do you feel about court today?" she asked eventually, her tone soft and hesitant. They both knew he was going to have to take the stand but hadn't voiced it. She was going to be there to support him; wild horses couldn't keep her away.
"Fine," he said with a shrug.
"You sure about that?" She traced the line of his jaw with a finger, feeling the tension there.
"I'm not exactly looking forward to it, but I'm ready to do what needs to be done to put that monster away."
"I'm proud of you," she said softly.
"I know," he replied. He pressed his lips to hers briefly, closing his eyes in an attempt to hold onto the moment: the woman he loved in his arms, the warmth of the bed, their legs tangled together. It was as close to perfect as he could imagine.
.
The defence's cross examination was brutal. Harvey held himself together well, always the confident lawyer, but anyone who knew him well could see he was shaken. And the courtroom was full of people who knew him. Donna was sitting right behind Mike, with Jessica and Louis on either side of her. Samantha was sitting next to Jessica, with Alex, Robert and even Gretchen in the row behind. At one point Louis took Donna's hand, gripping it tightly to stop her from shaking. She was horrified as she listened to Harvey describing what had happened to him that night. He'd spared her a lot of detail, it seemed. When the judge called a break for lunch at 12:10pm, she practically flew into Harvey's arms, holding back tears.
"Are you okay?" she whispered, stroking his cheek, her gaze fixed on his.
"Yeah. Are you?"
"Why didn't you—"
"I didn't want you to have to hear all that."
"Harvey," she breathed, her eyes glistening with tears. He pulled her into a tight hug, his face buried in her hair, inhaling the scent of her shampoo and her perfume and something else that was just unmistakably her.
"I'm okay," he said, rubbing her back as she took in shaky breaths, fighting back tears. He felt her nod into his neck and knew she wasn't trusting her voice. "Come with me," he said, loosening his hold on her and taking her hand instead. He led her outside, throwing a quick glance at Mike, who nodded understandingly, and took her to the park next to the courthouse, thankfully finding an empty bench for them to sit on.
"I can't believe you went through all that," Donna said softly, staring at the ground in front of her.
"I'm okay," Harvey said again. "It wasn't easy to relive it, but I'm okay."
"You kept a lot of the details from me."
"I know. I knew it would upset you, and I didn't want you worrying about me."
"When will you learn, Harvey?" She laid her hand on his leg. "I was always going to worry about you. Keeping things from me doesn't change that."
"I know. I just…" he took a breath and let it out slowly. "I just didn't want you to know the details. I didn't want you to be more afraid. You'd already been through so much."
"He practically tortured you." Her eyes were filled with tears again and he nodded slowly.
"It was like a game to him."
"Harvey…" her voice shook as she wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace, re-living the words she'd heard earlier when Mike had made Harvey describe the ordeal before the defence took their turn at him.
"I'd met him in East Harlem. I'd staged the meeting to tell him to get away from a case he'd been connected with. He knew I was coming; two guys grabbed me from behind while I was waiting, and he came out from behind a van. He laughed when he saw me. He mocked me, told me he'd been keeping an eye on me, that he had no intention of listening to anything I had to say. He hit me; I lost count of how many times. At first he was focused on messing up my face, but then he went for my ribs, my stomach. He winded me, I couldn't breathe. The guy on my left hand side twisted my arm, I heard it crack when it broke. Then he broke my fingers. For fun. He laughed while he did it. When they let me go, I fell, and then he kicked me in the abdomen. Five times. I remember that. I was counting, trying to focus on something other than pain."
"Did they say anything to you?" Mike asked.
"Only Dixon. The others didn't speak. But Dixon told me he'd be watching me. He told me he'd—" Harvey's eyes had flicked to Donna, "he said he'd come after my girlfriend."
"Were those his exact words?"
"He said, "if you come anywhere near me again, I'll make sure that pretty girlfriend of yours doesn't see the light of day again. And there's no use pretending she doesn't exist, I know exactly who she is. Redhead, smoking hot; last week I saw the two of you arrive home together, she was in a blue dress with those gorgeous tits on display"." Harvey struggled to get the words out, his eyes full of rage as he recalled the sleazy comments Dixon had made about Donna. "Then he told me that if he got wind of me trying to block him in any of his "future endeavours", he'd make me watch while he…" Harvey stopped, his jaw clenching. Mike had shot an apologetic look at Donna before he asked Harvey to finish the sentence.
"While he what?"
"I think his exact words were "while I use her as a toy and then dispose of her". He held me down, his foot on my broken arm, while he detailed a list of things he wanted to do."
Donna had sat there and listened as Harvey described his ordeal through Mike's questioning, and then had to watch as Dixon's lawyer tried to tear apart Harvey's testimony. It had been a tense morning.
"I wish you'd told me sooner," she said, "about everything he said to you that night."
"I'm sorry." He kissed the top of her head, holding her tightly. "I couldn't —"
"I know," she interrupted, "it was hard for you to deal with as it was. I just wish I'd known how hard. I wouldn't have pushed you so much."
"It's okay, Donna. You did what had to be done. And I'm glad you did. I was drowning and you saved me."
"I love you," she said simply, turning her face into his neck and breathing him in. He held her tenderly, and then he remembered.
"We have to put you on the stand tomorrow."
"I know." She shrugged. "I'm ready for it."
"Are you sure?" He was worried and she could see it in his eyes. She reached for him, cupping his face with her palm.
"I'm sure. I've been over it enough times, first with the police, and then with you, and Stan, and Andre, and Mike and then Samantha. I've said it out loud enough times. I'm okay. I can do this."
"You're amazing," he said in a low voice, full of wonder at the incredible woman he had in his life and his heart.
"I know," she quipped, a smile spreading across her face. He chuckled, pressing his lips to hers briefly.
"C'mon. Let's get back."
.
The remainder of the day was less stressful; Harvey and Mike put two police officers on the stand, the first two of many who had been a part of Dixon's multiple arrests. When the day was over, everyone went home to relax for the evening before continuing with the police witnesses the following day.
Harvey and Donna picked up pizza on their way home, eating it on the couch while they watched an old film noir marathon. Donna set the empty plates on the coffee table when they were done, settling back onto the couch and getting comfortable to watch the rest of the movie.
She pulled a leg up, wrapping her arms around it and resting her chin on her knee. Harvey watched her for a moment, still amazed by how he got so lucky.
"Stop staring," she said without taking her eyes off the screen.
"Sorry," he chuckled, "I was just thinking about how much I love you."
"Cheesy." She rolled her eyes but then threw him a smile full of joy and love and his heart beat faster in his chest.
"You sure you're okay about tomorrow?"
"Yes, Harvey. I told you before. I've been through it enough times to be able to talk about it."
"Mike's going to do all the questioning. He thought it would be… easier."
"You told me that yesterday." She took his hand in hers, turning to face him fully. "I get the feeling you're more worried about this than I am."
"I'm worried that it's going to be harder than you think. Remember I just went though it today, so—"
"Harvey, stop," she interrupted. "I know you're looking out for me, and I love you for that. But I'm okay. I can do this. Yeah, I'm a little nervous about having to relive it while he's sitting right there in front of me. Yeah, I'll have to look at his face while his lawyer tried to tear apart my testimony. Yeah, I'll have to talk about hard stuff with a room full of strangers watching me. But this is necessary. It'll be hard, but I can do it."
"God, I love you so much," he said reverently, his tone soft and warm, the voice he reserved just for her.
"I know," she replied, a gentle smile on her face and love in her eyes. "Everything is going to be okay."
.
Court the following day was harder than either of them expected. The defence first attacked Donna's credibility as a witness and then tore apart her testimony surrounding her abduction. They insinuated that she'd slept her way into her position, that she'd bought her way into her position, that she'd lied and cheated her way into her position; labelling her an unreliable witness by making her out to be a liar and a cheat.
And just when she thought she couldn't handle any more, when her nerves were frayed and her emotions were bubbling just beneath the surface, they started in on her testimony.
"Did the defendant have a gun?" Dixon's lawyer, Alan Webster, paced in front of the witness stand, like a lion stalking its prey.
"No."
"Did he threaten you with violence?"
"He didn't specifically-"
"Yes or no, did he threaten you with violence?"
"No."Donna's cheeks were burning with rage and embarrassment and she glanced at Harvey, who looked just as angry as she felt.
"Did he touch you?"
"He grabbed my wrist."
"He grabbed your wrist, okay. Did he physically handle you into the car?"
"No."
"So you weren't forced into the car?"
"Not physically, no, but-"
"So he didn't have a gun, he touched only your wrist, and he didn't force you into the car?"
"Objection! He's testifying," Mike jumped out of his seat.
"Sustained. Asked and answered, Mr Webster, please stay on track."
"Yes, Your Honor." He turned back to Donna, a nasty gleam in his eye. "Ms Paulsen, there is no record of a hospital admission for you as a result of this alleged "abduction". Could you tell me what physical injuries you sustained?"
"I didn't have any."
"You didn't have any? You didn't have any injuries whatsoever as a result of what you're accusing my client of? I find that interesting." He walked back to his desk. "No further questions, your honor."
"Re-direct, your honor," Harvey said as he stood up, buttoning his jacket. Mike's eyes were wide and Donna felt nervous. This wasn't planned and she had no idea what Harvey was about to ask her.
"What was Mr Dixon's demeanour the night he abducted you?"
"Objection! Said abduction has not been proven."
"Overruled. The witness will answer the question."
"He was threatening. Menacing. I felt unsafe."
"Do you believe he intended to harm you?"
"Yes. He was quite clear about his intentions."
"Did he tell you explicitly what he was planning to do?"
"Yes." She squirmed in her seat, uncomfortable with where Harvey was taking this. She'd already detailed what had happened during Mike's questioning.
"Please tell the court how this affected you after the incident."
"I… uh…" she felt like a deer in headlights. He couldn't possibly be asking her to detail everything that had happened afterward; her craving for closeness with him, her fear of being out on the street for any length of time, her inability to leave the office alone, the nightmares, her daily phone sessions with Andre. And the breakdown she'd had a week after the incident, refusing to get out of bed, sobbing for hours on end, and upon her return to work, feeling wary of all men.
"Why are you hesitant to answer?"
"I'm…" she took a breath, putting her trust in him. He wouldn't drag her through this for no reason. "It was traumatic. I'm still not completely over it."
He stepped toward her, meeting her eyes as he spoke, "take your time. Tell us what he's done to you." His steady gaze had her heart rate slowing, calming.
"I've lost my independence," she began, feeling tears pricking at her eyes but refusing to let them spill. "I can't be alone after dark. I can't sleep without nightmares. I need constant reassurance from my loved ones. I'm having therapy every day. I don't feel like I know myself anymore. He robbed me of my confidence, of what makes me who I am." It was the final words that caused the tears to begin spilling down her cheeks. She sucked in a deep breath. She hated crying in front of people. Thankfully, Harvey knew this and knew the line had been reached and any further pushing would be crossing that line in a big way.
"Thank you, Ms Paulsen. No further questions."
"You may step down," the judge instructed Donna and she stood gratefully. "We'll take a ten minute recess."
The moment the judge and jury were out of the room, Harvey gathered Donna in his arms.
"I'm so sorry."
"It's okay," she said through her tears, "I know you had a reason."
"I needed the jury to see what he did to you. I need them on your side. That's what will get us a conviction."
She nodded into his chest, sniffling lightly, drawing comfort from his warm, solid frame, breathing him in deeply.
"Harvey, what the hell!" Louis approached them, rage and tension emanating from him.
"Not now, Louis," Harvey said wearily. He released Donna from his embrace, keeping his arm around her as they faced their friends and colleagues.
"Are you okay?" Louis asked Donna. She nodded, the tension beginning to dissipate thanks to Harvey's hold on her.
"I'm fine, Louis. It's over now and that's what's important." She wound her arm around Harvey's waist, turning to him and looking him in the eye. "I might go home for the rest of the day," she said softly. He nodded, his face tortured at the idea of her being alone, especially after everything they'd been through and everything she'd dealt with in the past weeks.
"I'll go with you," Louis piped up and she shot him a grateful smile.
"Thanks Louis."
"Thank you," Harvey echoed, feeling a rush of gratitude to all of the people who had helped them through everything and making a mental note to throw a party when it was all over. Or better yet, let Louis and Donna throw a party. They'd be thrilled.
"I'll see you later," Donna said, kissing Harvey lightly on the cheek. He squeezed her hand as she walked away, already counting the minutes until she'd be in his arms again.
We're nearing the end now! Soon it'll all be over and all anyone will be left with is fond memories. Except for Darvey who are likely still going to be traumatised but will deal by being together.