Prologue

"Mike, get over here."

Harvey was breathing deeply. He would never admit it to anyone, but he was so damn nervous. The kid didn't move though, still standing behind those men. He didn't look up at Harvey, just kept his head down, but the older lawyer could see how he moved his head to glance sideways at his captors. Harvey realized that Mike was seeking some sort of permission from them. Damn it!

"You said you would let him go if I paid. I fucking did, now send him over here."

The three gun barrels were still pointed right at Harvey's chest. He couldn't do much more than to plead with them now, no matter how much he wanted to storm up to them and beat them all bloody. The situation they were in wouldn't get any better if he got himself shot.

Mike shuddered and stumbled a little to the side, and the big guy grabbed onto his arm. Mike looked to be in pretty bad shape, his arms behind his back. Harvey couldn't see all of his face, but the part he did see was covered in bruises. His hair looked matted and he could see a darker patch in it.

One of the men with a gun turned and spoke to the guy behind him, the one holding on to Mike. Harvey couldn't hear what they were saying, but Mike took the opportunity to raise his head then and looked up searching Harvey's eyes. Harvey clenched his teeth hard together when he saw that Mike had a piece of tape over his mouth. He gave what he hoped was a reassuring nod.

The man closest to Mike suddenly yelled something directed to the rest of his men. They spoke in some foreign language Harvey didn't recognize. The guy holding Mike dragged him a bit closer, and the kid stumbled forward and remained standing where he had been directed. Harvey fought to just stand there and wait. Then they all raised their guns, that were pointed at Harvey, in the air, away from his chest. The big guy next to Mike approached his associate and Harvey saw how Mike immediately flinched away, and it hurt in him to witness that. The guy ignored Mike's reaction, just grabbed him harshly around the arm and dragged him forward. They passed the three men in front of them, and the guy then forcefully pushed Mike forward towards Harvey.

Mike stumbled with the force of the shove and was going to fall. Harvey reacted on instinct. He jumped forward and managed to catch Mike before he went down. He wrapped his arms around the kid and pulled him to his chest, at the same time as he turned his back against the men, all to shield Mike from them.

From that position he didn't see when they left, he just knew that the next time he glanced over his shoulder they were gone.

He was holding Mike's trembling body close to him, just held him there. He was so grateful for this damn moment. For a while there he had been certain that it wouldn't happen. He had thought that he never would see Mike alive again.

-FOUR DAYS EARLIER-

"Seriously Harvey, how can you not take this serious. They are practically stalking you!" Mike exclaimed.

"Seriously, you too?" Harvey countered.

They were on their way up to the office. As soon as they got into the elevator Mike was on him.

"I mean have you seen them more than twice? You should call the police."

Harvey rolled his eyes at him. "Come on, they are totally harmless Mike. Just some pissed off guys, looking for money in easy places."

"They didn't look harmless at all. You should take this seriously Harvey. It might be dangerous."

Harvey raised an amused eyebrow against him. "Are you scared?"

Mike glared at him then. "You know what, suit yourself then. It's not me they are after."

"Exactly. It's me, so just let it go Mike. I will deal with it if I have to."

"Fine." Mike muttered as the elevator doors opened.

"Go and get the briefs ready for the meeting instead." Harvey told him. I need them in two hours.

Mike muttered something and disappeared down the corridor towards his cubicle. Harvey looked after him. Truth was that he was worried about the incident that just had occurred. Mike was right to worry, not that he could admit that to the kid. He had to do something about this though because these guys meant business.

He and Mike had been on their way down the stairs from the courthouse when two men suddenly blocked their way. Mike who was looking down into his phone, let out a surprised sound when one of the guys stopped him by putting a hand on his chest. Mike was just about to say something when the taller guy spoke.

"Hey Specter, remember me?"

Harvey looked at him, annoyed. "In fact, I do. And I saw you outside my building yesterday." Harvey said and felt how Mike look at him.

"I want you to take this case. It's the least you can do." The guy said completely ignoring Harvey's comment. He stretched out a piece of paper towards Harvey. He didn't even look at it.

"Get out of my way." He said instead.

"Look at it. You owe us." The guy said. Then something happened that was the thing that worried Harvey. When Harvey looked at him, the guy nodded towards his friend. That man was in his turn staring at Mike. He had both of his fist tightly clenched. Mike was oblivious to it and was trying to see what was written on the paper. Harvey looked back into the guy in front of him. The man nodded slightly. So, Harvey reached out to look at the paper. He purposely held it so that Mike couldn't see it. His eyes wandered across the lines.

"No." He said and handed the paper back. "I don't owe you shit. And this is not what I do. Find yourself another lawyer. Come on Mike, let's go." He grabbed the associate's arm and practically dragged him with him down the rest of the stairs.

"You will regret this Specter." He heard the man say behind him.

"What was that about?" Mike asked as soon as they got into a cab.

"Nothing." Harvey said. But Mike wouldn't let it go of course.

Harvey went over to his office. He knew that he recognized that guy from somewhere. Not only that he and his friend had been hanging outside his apartment. He couldn't place him though. He had to do some research into this later, now he had a meeting to prepare for.

Mike showed up two hours later with the briefs prepared. He didn't mention anything about the incident earlier, which Harvey had thought he would.

The meeting went well and afterwards he allowed Mike to work in his office.

"That's it for today." Harvey said a little after eight.

"But we are not done yet!" Mike exclaimed. "What has gotten into you?"

"We'll finish tomorrow. Some of us actually have a life outside of work."

"Who are you talking about, because it's certainly not you."

"Just be glad I'm giving you the night off Mike."

"Is it about this afternoon?" Mike asked then. Damn him.

"No. Just leave, will you."

Mike smiled. "Fine. See you tomorrow then."

"Sure." Harvey said, without looking up as the kid left.

Mike didn't show up for work the next day.

-SUITS-