Brother from another mother

Blood in the water AU [Part-3]

Harvey had shut the door to his bedroom the best he could. He didn't always like the open spaces of his apartment. He sat down on his bed for a while trying to calm down. Damn that kid. He didn't understand what Mike had been thinking. And he couldn't help but feeling disappointed as well. He really had thought higher of Mike, that he wouldn't do something so low as to sleep with a married woman. You simply didn't do that. And frankly, if you did, you deserved a beating.

Mike had gotten that. At first when he had found the kid there on the floor outside the office he had been so damn worried. He had run towards the kid, his heart pounding hard in his chest. Something was wrong with Mike! It was all he could thing about. Mike had been hurt.

It hadn't been that serious though. A busted lip and a knock towards the eye. Harvey felt angry at himself for worrying like that and couldn't help but being a bit short towards the kid at times.

Things had been a bit rocky between the two of them lately. He had even yelled at the kid the other day. Now when he thought about it he shouldn't have been that hard towards Mike that day. He hadn't really apologized to Mike for that, he almost felt like he should have. Sure they had talked a bit that night, and things were good, but after tonight he wasn't so sure anymore. He had said some things to Mike that he couldn't take back now and he didn't know if he wanted to. But it was just that Mike had looked so down when he left the living room. He had noticed the way Mike looked and he hadn't seen that expression in Mike before. He had looked at Harvey with wide eyes that displayed a range of emotions from guilt and sadness. He had looked devastated.

Harvey had almost faltered at that moment, but then the moment was lost and Harvey chose to leave. Now Harvey was laying in his bed trying to fall asleep, but he had trouble in doing so. The last few days had been eventful to say the least. Hopefully the worst were behind them now. And hopefully they would find something tomorrow that would save the case.

What was that? He thought he heard something from the living room. He had been a bit surprised that Mike had actually stayed the night at his place even after that fight they just had. He had been sure of that Mike would storm out the moment he had left the room. Harvey wouldn't have tried to stop him then. But now he could have sworn that Mike had called his name. Why the hell would he do that?

He laid there and listened out in the darkness but didn't hear Mike's voice. But then a few minutes later he heard steps walking towards his bedroom. He laid still and heard how Mike stopped in the doorway.

"Harvey?"

It was something in Mike's voice that made him sit up without even pretending to be asleep. He could see Mike's silhouette standing there and he turned the light on. Mike was leaning against the wall for support and Harvey could see him trembling.

"Mike, what is it?" Harvey was out of bed and by Mike's side the next moment. He frowned when he touched Mike's back and noticed that it almost was wet with sweat.

"What's going on?" He asked.

"I…I don't know. But…I think that…that something is wrong with me." Mike said.

"Yeah, okay. Come on. You should sit down." Harvey steered him to the bed and had him sit down. Mike was stiff and his head bobbed back and forth a bit as if he hadn't been following with the movement they made. Harvey didn't like the sound of his breathing either. What was happening?

"Talk to me." He ordered but his words where practically ignored as Mike brushed Harvey's hand off him.

"Mike!"

The kid jerked beside him and Harvey regretted his tone. "Tell me what is going on." He asked again. He needed to know.

"My side hurts." Mike said then. He offered no more explanation than that.

"Your side? What's with your side?"

"I don't know Harvey. It hurts." Mike panted.

Harvey rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Okay, you need to let me see it." Harvey moved towards him to pull his shirt away, but Mike moved back.

"No, no. You can't." He mumbled.

"Then why did you come here?" Harvey asked.

Mike looked up at him then and Harvey's frustration started to seep out of him. Mike's eyes were wide and watery and he almost looked scared. Like he had before and Harvey didn't want to see that expression on Mike's face, ever. No matter what he had done. Mike was his associate and his responsibility. He decided to change his tactics.

Mike's mouth was opening and closing like he couldn't decide on what to answer. He mumbled something Harvey couldn't make out.

"What was that?" He asked.

Mike looked away from him and made a move to get up, but Harvey put a hand on his shoulder to stop him.

"I…I thought…I thought you would… you would help me." He whispered.

Harvey's heart sank a bit. He squeezed Mike's shoulder. "I will." He promised. "Let's just figure out what's going on, okay?"

"Okay."

He waited until Mike looked at him and smiled a little when he did. Mike didn't smile back at all. He just bit his lower lip. Harvey slowly started to unbutton his shirt. Mike made no move to stop him this time, just sat there watching his face.

Harvey didn't really like what he was seeing as he carefully exposed Mike's chest. He immediately saw what it was that was causing Mike discomfort. His left side, below his ribcage had a slight discoloration of dark blue mixed with yellow. Mike flinched as Harvey reached out to touch the area.

"Please…" the kid whispered and Harvey suddenly felt an urge to draw Mike to him and hold on to him. He didn't want to hear Mike sound like that.

"I'll be careful." He said instead and felt along the bruise. It felt strangely hard. That couldn't be good news.

"How did this happen Mike?"

"He kicked me."

"He did? And you didn't tell me this, why?"

Mike just shrugged.

"Damn it!" Harvey exclaimed and let go of Mike's shirt he had been holding out of the way. Mike bowed his head down. Mike drew in a panting breath and shuddered. He was breathing too quick Harvey realized. There might even be some internal damage. He needed to get the kid to a hospital. He went to get his phone from the night stand and called for a cab. Mike remained seated where he was. He looked pale.

"Alright. Let's go." Harvey said and went to change clothes. Mike didn't move. He just sat there on the bed, breathing fast and staring at the floor. Harvey's worry increased and unfortunately it transferred into anger.

"Mike, why the hell didn't you tell me about this? That it was this bad?"

Mike didn't look at him.

"Mike?!"

"You said that I deserved it." He said quietly.

"Yeah, I did you idiot. But now I'm taking you to the hospital. Let's go!"

Harvey watched him tense and how his hands gripped the blankets hard. But still he made no move to get up. Was he just ignoring him or was Mike unable to get up?