Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own Suits.
AN: Once more, thank you so much for your lovely reviews everyone. They
really make me smile.
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The sight of associates crying, mumbling, and all around freaking out was
not the one that Jessica Pearson, Harvey Specter, and Louis Litt
had been expecting upon returning from a lunch meeting. They had expected to
find the associates hard at work as they had left them a few hours ago. Now
they were each more than a little confused because of the ambulance they had
seen pulling away from the building and one of the security guards mentioning
that one of their associates had needed it.
"You," Jessica pointed to Greg, who was leaning against the wall."What happened?"
"It was….it was just supposed to be a joke," Greg squeaked as he
straightened up. "A stupid joke. We didn't know
he was allergic. We didn't. I swear."
"Who?"
"We…we just….it was….I'm so sorry," Greg
nearly broke down in front of all of them. "I didn't know! He just…he
drank it and then he wasn't breathing and then the paramedics and….he almost
died!"
"Who?" Louis asked.
No one spoke, instead they watched as Donna approached with a messenger bag
attached to one shoulder, her purse on the other, and her iPhone
in one hand. She stopped in front of
"Donna?"
"We need to get to…to the hospital," Donna told him, her voice
eerily calm. "Mike ingested peanuts that these idiots dumped into his
drink."
"And he's allergic?" Jessica questioned.
"Deathly allergic,"
"Did he get his Epi-Pen in time?" Louis
asked as he eyed the room full of associates who were watching them.
"I don't….I gave it to him," Donna replied. "But I don't
think it was enough to really help. I had to give him mouth to mouth because he
stopped breathing and then the paramedics came and I….they said his throat was
swollen. But they stuck a tube down his throat so I don't even….he had a
pulse," she rambled. "He had a pulse when he left and they wouldn't
let me go because he was in danger of….of crashing and…I need to…"
"Breathe,"
"I told Mike to do that and he wouldn't listen," her lips
trembled.
"My driver is still downstairs, I've told him to wait," Jessica
interrupted the exchange, and eyed Harvey and Donna, her face cool and calm but
Harvey could tell that she was more than a little shaken. Hazing was commonplace
among the associates, the partners even encouraged some of it because it kept
everyone amused and on their toes but it had never gone this far before.
"He'll take you and Donna to the hospital. You will find out how Mr. Ross
is doing. You will make sure he is getting the best goddamn care this city has
to offer."
"Anything else?"
"I want the bills sent to Pearson Hardman, every associate's
bonus, except Mr. Ross' of course, will cover his medical and other
expenses," Jessica said with a hard look at each and every associate. They
all looked stricken but said nothing to the first consequence for their
actions. "I want a full report on how Mr. Ross is doing within the
hour."
"Of course,"
"They'll be dealt with, I assure you they will be," Louis assured
him. Donna put a hand up and pointed to Harold.
"Harold was good," she said. "He was the smart one who came
to get me and called the paramedics."
"I'll take it into consideration," Louis replied. "Tell Mike
that he doesn't have to worry about anything. All of his work will be taken
care of until he is well enough to return."
"Which he will not rush," Jessica added. "Now go. Remember:
Full report in one hour."
"I can trust you to handle this?"
"Yes," Louis nodded.
"Good. I'm going to smooth some feathers with
"Let me know how Mike is doing when you find out?" Louis
requested, Jessica raised a brow, he shrugged. "I'm allergic to peanuts
too."
"I'll send a message to Norma," Jessica responded before she
stalked off in the direction of her office. When she was gone, Louis turned to
the associates and found them all the paler because he had made sure that
they'd heard that last statement.
"Harold," he looked at the younger man who snapped to attention.
"Seeing as you apparently have the brains today, tell me what
happened."
"Greg and Kyle thought it would be funny to put peanuts in Mike's redbull," Harold responded instantly. "We should
have stopped them."
"Yes, you should have," Louis said. "Did it occur to any of
you to think about the potential risks in tampering with someone's food? Let me
answer that for you, no. Greg and Kyle may have been the perpetrators but each
and every one of you is guilty here."
"We didn't mean to….I didn't know," Greg mumbled. Louis huffed.
"There is a fine line between a joke and harassment," he
emphasized the last word and watched as they all flinched. "And I promise
you that if Mike decides to sue you for this or press charges, and he is well
within his rights to do so, not only will he have
"Oh god," Kyle muttered. "He's going to sue us?"
"We're going to jail."
"Your bonuses are going to pay for Mike's care, all of you are going to
take over whatever Mike was working on and have it done for me, by the end
of the day," Louis reiterated. "In addition to the work I am
going to find for you. Kyle and Greg," he rounded on the two ringleaders.
"You two are hereby suspended without pay until further notice."
"What?" Kyle asked. "Louis you can't…"
"I just did. I don't want to see your goddamn faces around here until
I've called you back," Louis said as he buttoned his jacket. "Pearson
Hardman has a very strict policy when it comes to harassment and there is now
an open, pending investigation into your actions that I will review in due
time."
"And how long will that be?" Greg asked.
"When I goddamn want to," Louis said. "You have exactly five
minutes to collect your things and get out before I call security. The rest of
you, I expect a line outside of my office in fifteen minutes because you will
be getting a portion of Mike Ross' work and a hell of a lot from everyone else.
Harold," Louis rounded on the other man who jumped. "Go and get me some
goddamn coffee."
"Yes sir."
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I find myself with a soft spot for Harold. Please tell me I'm not alone.
Thank you for reading, as always feedback is most appreciated.