Suits Fic: A Bit Less Ordinary (Part 1 of Fate's Decree) 2/2
Part 1
* * *
Still on morning shift until Xmas? Do you have a tux?
Mike received the message from Harvey at 12:27am just after he got home from an afternoon shift that turned into an afternoon plus half a night shift thanks to some dodgy shrimp at a downtown Italian place, the venue for a wedding reception with over a hundred guests.
Yes & no. Why?
Since Harvey's confirmation of their dating status four days ago, nothing much has changed between them. Harvey was still busy with his caseload and Mike's schedule was still as insane as ever.
Pearson Hardman annual Xmas dinner. Friday night 2 wks from now. Black tie. Want you there with me.
That is other than the mind-blowing kiss they shared just before they parted company at The Snail's front entrance.
Are you telling me or asking me?
That instant spark and recognition, it was like nothing Mike had ever experienced. Like everything else with Harvey, they just clicked. It almost didn't feel like a first kiss, but something they've been doing their whole lives.
You're so much work. Be my +1?
When he looked at Harvey after the kiss, it was clear that the other man was equally affected by the unexpected intensity of such a simple act.
But I'm worth it. ;-) Ok, but I'm still going to be on call for the night. Now tell me where one goes to get a tux.
Mike would've liked to continue kissing Harvey, but he was running late for work and they definitely did not have enough time to be starting anything.
It'll just emphasize how indispensable you are if you get called away halfway through. ;-) Still finishing at 6 tomorrow? I'll pick you up after work.
Mike changed into his sleepwear, an old t-shirt and boxers and flung himself down onto his bed.
Ok. Going to bed to pass out now. Night.
Sweet dreams & I'll see you tomorrow.
Mike was still smiling when he drifted off to sleep.
If anyone at the ER noticed how cheerful Mike was the next day, they didn't say a word, at least not to Mike directly. It was as close to a perfect shift as Mike ever had, with a constant, but not torrential stream of patients, all with non-life threatening injuries or illnesses which allowed him the luxury of actually spending some time talking to his patients instead of rushing them through like a factory production line. He even had a great teaching session with the interns and junior residents on duty when a patient was brought in with a rather tricky diagnosis of scaphoid fracture.
Despite the good day, Mike was still somewhat amazed that he managed to leave on time (it was 6:16pm, but anything within an hour of his scheduled time off was on time in Mike's book).
"Doctor Ross?" A vaguely familiar voice called out to him. Mike turned and found Harvey's chauffeur, Ray, waiting for him near the visitor's entrance.
"Ray, right? Hi." Mike greeted the other man. "And please call me Mike."
"Of course. Harvey's still stuck in a client meeting, but he should be finishing up soon. He told me to come pick you up first and we'll swing by his office on the way."
Soon, they were pulling out into Manhattan's rush hour traffic and Ray put on some jazzy tune that Mike didn't recognise.
"Does he do this often? Get you to pick up his dates?" Mike asked jokingly as they hit the first red light down the block.
"No, not really. For one, Harvey doesn't date. At least not until now."
"Really?"
"I don't think it's my place to say anything if he hasn’t mentioned it to you," Ray replied carefully.
"Fair point," Mike conceded. It really wasn't his intention to get Ray to tell him things about Harvey and he mentally smacked himself for even putting Ray in that position. "So, tell me what's an average day like in the life of a New York City chauffeur?"
By the time they arrived at the Pearson Hardman building twenty-five minutes later, Mike was laughing heartily over Ray's story of the shopping antics of a nameless socialite he once had the pleasure of driving.
"What's so funny?" Harvey asked the moment he got into the car, placing a quick chase kiss on Mike's lips before buckling up his seat belt.
"Ask Ray to tell you about it next time you have a bad day, guaranteed to cheer you right up," Mike replied, still fighting to suppress his giggles. "So hot shot, where exactly are we going?" Mike asked as soon as Harvey settled down.
"We are going to see Réne."
"That... tells me absolutely nothing."
"My tailor."
"Your..." Mike paused. "You have a tailor," he finally managed, sounding a little like Sean Bean in the first Lord of the Rings movie. Peripherally, he noticed Ray raising the privacy screen and silently thanked the man for his discretion. "And how many months' salary do I have to part with to afford this tux?"
"Don't worry about it, my treat."
"Harvey, I can afford it," they haven't really talked about it but Mike knew Harvey, as a senior partner of a top city law firm, made a shit load more money than he did even though Mike was quite comfortable financially. The lack of student loan debt and his mother's life insurance policy made sure of that. The idea of having Harvey pay for anything more than the occasional meal (which Mike was more than capable of and have reciprocated) didn't sit well with him at this point in their relationship.
Harvey must have picked up on his unease because he immediately added, "I'm dragging you to the function to keep me company and to fend off the sexual predators who tend to make an appearance after a few drinks. Only fair that I pay for it. Consider it an early Christmas gift. Besides, it's not completely altruistic, I've been dying to see you in something other than scrubs or jeans and t-shirt, and I enjoy spending money on people I care about."
"So..." Mike started, his worry slightly abated. "You mean you're not going to put me up in a great condo?" he teased, knowing Harvey would get the reference.
"Did you just imply that I'd have to pay for sex?" Harvey asked, frowning, but Mike could see the smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Yes, of course I did, because everything is about you," Mike rolled his eyes, but he couldn't help the slight hint of fondness from slipping into voice. "You do realised you still haven't answered my question."
"What question?"
"Just exactly how long have we been dating? I mean, if you're going to be showing me off at an official function in front of your colleagues, I kinda want to be able to answer something as simple as that," Mike explained.
"Right," Mike's curiosity was peaked when something that looked suspiciously like embarrassment crossed Harvey's features. "Um... six months?"
"Six months?!" Mike was a lot louder than he intended in the confines of the car. Then the dates clicked in his head. "Since that first time you asked me to meet you at The Snail?! That was our first date?!"
Harvey at least had the decency to look slightly sheepish, which in Mike's opinion only made him look more adorable. "I can't believe you've been secretly dating me for six months without telling me."
Harvey shrugged. "I wasn't sure how you'd take it if I asked you out. Figured I'd test the water first, and go from there."
"You never stuck me as the hesitant type."
"Normally, no, but ...you're different, Mike," Harvey's voice had gone slightly soft at the end. "And I didn't want to risk scaring you off."
Mike reached out and grasp Harvey's hand in his. Harvey looked down to their joined hands in surprise before glancing up at Mike again.
"I don't scare easily."
* * *
Mike was a genius; he had passed the New York Bar Exam without ever going to law school and he was a doctor, Chief Resident even, at one of the top Emergency Departments in the country. He saves lives for a living for god's sake, a bowtie should be something he could easily handle.
Doctor Michael Ross would not be defeated by a mere piece of cloth, he thought.
"Fuck!" he swore, finally giving up on the offending piece of neckwear half an hour later, wondering if he could get away with turning up in a normal suit instead. Or just forgo the bowtie, since in Mike's opinion, the tux looked good enough to carry its own weight without the tie.
His doorbell chose to buzz at that moment and Mike swore again, knowing it was Harvey and he was officially late.
Mike rushed out of the bathroom towards the intercom. "Harvey?"
"Why aren't you down here yet?"
"You better come up. Need your help. Top floor." Mike said, pushing the button to unlock the front security door.
There was a knock on his apartment door a minute later. Mike opened the door and stared. While Mike could appreciate the sight of Harvey in a three-piece suit, he was somewhat used to that given the man hardly wore anything else whenever they see each other. Harvey in a tux though, it was sophistication and sexiness personified and he had to resist the urge to run his hands down Harvey's lapels and - .
"You're not dressed," Harvey's comment finally snapped Mike out of his stupor.
"I am mostly dressed," Mike countered, stepping aside to let Harvey into his apartment.
"How do you afford this place on a resident's salary?" Harvey asked, giving Mike a quick kiss in greeting even as he took in the fireplace in the living room, the polished floorboards and tasteful modern furnishings.
"Chief resident," Mike corrected. "And no student debt. Though I think I might've offended the gods of bowties or something because for the life of me, I cannot get this thing to stay on straight," Mike tugged frustratingly at the half done bowtie even as he wandered back into the bathroom, Harvey on his heels. "I'd give you the two cent tour of the place, but I have a feeling that we're a bit short on time."
"The tour can wait. Turn around," Harvey said from behind Mike. "How can you live to be 30 without knowing how to tie a bowtie?" Harvey asked as he made quick work of the mess Mike had made.
"You're lucky I can manage a full Windsor. It's not as though I'm constantly being invited to black tie events."
In what seemed to be less than a minute to Mike, Harvey had managed a perfect bowtie. "You have got to teach me to do that," Mike commented as they stepped out of the bathroom, impressed.
"Later. Get your coat or we'll really be late."
The Pearson Hardman annual Christmas dinner was held at the Four Seasons Hotel this year. All employees were invited along with quite a few of the firm's top billable clients. Mike was glad he hadn't followed through with the suits idea or he would've stuck out like a sore thumb. The ballroom looked more like the venue for the Oscars instead of a private Christmas function.
"Wow," Mike was aware he was sounding like some country hick, but the fanciest party he ever went to was the Department Head's daughter's wedding two years ago at the Peninsular and a normal suit had been sufficient then. The groom had been the only one in a tux.
"Come on, I'll introduce you to - "
"Harvey, there you are!"
"Donna," Harvey finished just as a stunning red head in a striking royal blue evening gown came up towards them, a flute of bubbly in her hand.
"You're Donna?" Mike gaped. "Harvey never mentioned that you're gorgeous."
"Charming, and you are?" She gave Mike a rather scary smile, and Mike finally understood why Harvey and Ray were hesitant to cross her.
"Mike Ross."
Donna's eyes widened, clearly recognising his name. "You're Mike Ross? Is that your real name or are you an actor he hired for the evening and told you to say your name's Mike Ross?"
"Hey!" Harvey protested. "Leave my date alone and go harass Harold. Actually, strike that, don't harass Harold. He's just end up embarrassing me and the firm, mostly me, if he gets any more harassed."
"You're his date?! " Donna's voice wasn't loud, but she was clearly shocked at Harvey's divulgence. She turned her attention back to Harvey. "Right, I don't care who you are, but what have you done with my boss?"
"Donna," Harvey grabbed her by her shoulders, looking at her straight in the eyes. "Mike Ross does exists, and this is him. Believe it." Donna nodded mutely. "Now, go stop Harold from committing career suicide and dragging me down with him."
"Fine, I'll go rescue your labrador puppy, but don't for a moment think that this discussion is over," Donna warned before flicking her hair back in style and walking off to presumably get Harold out of trouble.
"Okay, she's scary," Mike said once Donna was out of earshot.
"Told you."
For the rest of the night, Harvey introduced Mike as "My date, Doctor Michael Ross, he's a Chief Resident at NYP," or a variant thereof. Harvey also had his hand on Mike's lower back most of the time so there was no mistake that Mike was with him. While Mike was usually not comfortable flaunting his qualifications around, he could tell Harvey was trying to make the point that Mike was his own man and not merely the 'young pretty thing' that everyone had assumed he was the moment he set foot in the ballroom with Harvey. So Mike didn't say anything, just shook hands, made small talk and put a few names to faces.
"Oh wow. He really does look like a labrador puppy," Mike had commented after meeting Harold.
"I think I must've suffered a moment of temporary insanity to have hired him."
"And now you've gotten too attached to fire him? Knew you were a softy on the inside," Mike teased.
"Bite your tongue! I have a reputation to maintain, especially in this room."
"Don't worry, your secret's safe with me."
Louis Litt was as much of an ass as Harvey said he was. The man had outright called Mike a prostitute even before introductions were made, and once he learned that Mike was a doctor, proceed to tell him everything about his medical problems and allergies. Mike felt like having a shower just after five minutes with Louis Litt, and considering his work, that's saying something.
Harvey's clients were suitably impressed, while the rest of the firm seemed rather surprised at Mike's existence. Mike wasn't sure if it was due to his gender or the fact that Harvey was actually dating someone. One thing was for certain; Harvey was surrounded by women who are equally beautiful and terrifying, Mike was sure his conversation with Jessica Pearson was more akin to a cross examination of a hostile witness than an actual conversation. It made him wished that he wasn't on call for the night and could down a few flutes of the champaign.
By the time they finished the main course and the standard speeches that came with every corporate function, Mike was actually getting tired of the attention. It was like being the fresh meat in a shark's tank. For the sake of not embarrassing himself and Harvey, he put up with it. When his cell phone let out a loud and annoying screech in the middle of dessert, signaling a message from work, Mike was almost glad.
911. MCI. ETA 25.
"Sorry, I need to make a call to the hospital. If you'd excuse me," Mike excused himself from the table and made his way to a quiet corner and hitting the speed dial for work. "It's Mike, what's going on?"
"Passenger train derailment." Jo answered. "Casualty probably in the hundreds and we'll be getting the large bulk of it. EMT on site said it's bad, Mike."
"Right, you know what to do. Get triage set up and make sure everything's ready to go. I'm at the Four Seasons, it'll probably take me over half an hour to get there with traffic."
"Paul's gathering the troops as we speak," Jo replied, referring to his fellow Chief Resident, Dr Paul Lim. "But I don't think he's handled anything like this before. He was out of town the last time we had a major MCI on this scale."
"Go help him. I'll be there as soon as I can," Mike disconnected the call and quickly made his way back to their table. "I've got to go," Mike said, leaning down to speak quietly to Harvey so as to not interrupt the other conversations going on around the table. "Major train derailment and they're predicting casualties by the hundreds."
"Get Ray to drive you."
"Yeah. I'll text you when I'm done," Mike said, giving Harvey a quick kiss on the lips.
"Call me. Even if it's three in the morning," Harvey replied.
"It's probably going to be three in the afternoon, but the sentiment is noted."
Mike straightened up and quickly made his excuses to Jessica and the rest of the guests at the table he was speaking to earlier before making a hasty exit.
* * *
Lillian Ross's will was simple. The house went to Grammy, its mortgage having been paid off years ago, and the life insurance payout went to Mike; the rest of her personal assets including her retirement funds through the Teacher's Union were left to Mike and Grammy equally. What Mike hadn't expected was just exactly how much the insurance policy was worth.
"How much?" Mike found himself asking Mr Andrews Junior, who took over the management of the suburban law firm from his father a few years ago.
"One point five million dollars," the lawyer repeated. "Your mother took up the policy though her union not long after the death of your father. She didn't want to risk leaving you and your grandmother with nothing in case anything happened. You didn't know?"
"No, I didn't. Grammy," Mike turned to his grandmother. "You knew?"
"Of course," Grammy confirmed. "Your mother and I discussed it back then. Didn't expect her to leave me the house though. Told her to leave everything to you, not as though you were going to kick me out once you inherit the place."
One week after the start of his second year residency, Mike decided that the shoe box he was renting three blocks away from the hospital was just too depressing and bought a reasonably sized two bedroom apartment on the Upper West Side for just over $550,000.
In cash.
Just because he could.
Mike wasn't sure what he was going to do with the remaining million he had, so it sat in a high interest savings account until he had the time and/or energy to figure it out.
"Well, it's definitely nicer than your last place. You can't even swing a cat in that hole in a wall," Grammy had said as she walked into the apartment. "The fire place would come in handy in winter. All you need is some furniture."
"There's a second bedroom."
"I'm not moving in with you, Mike. You're a young doctor living in one of the most exciting cities in the world, you don't want an old lady, what's the term? Cramping your style?"
"Grammy, you're not going to 'cramp my style'."
"Yes, you would need to have style to begin with," his grandmother teased. "Though I have been thinking about maybe moving to a retirement village, be around people my own age. The house's a bit too big for just myself."
"What are you going to do with the house then?" Mike asked, frowning as he leaned back against the kitchen counter.
"You remember Mrs Kuan from the grocery store?" Mike nodded. Mrs Kuan and her husband ran a general grocery store near where Mike grew up. They always had the sweetest cherries during summer. "Her daughter and son-in-law are expecting their first child and they're looking for a place to settle down."
"Buying?"
"Renting, for now. They're willing to pay a fair market price, and it'll be close enough to Mrs Kuan for her to lend a hand when the baby arrives. The rental income and my pension would be more than enough to pay for the retirement home. That house was meant to be the home for a family, not an old lady."
"You've had it all planned haven't you?" Mike asked, not sure why he was surprised.
"I was just waiting for the right family to come along," Grammy grinned. "Now, while I have you for the rest of the day, let's go buy you some furniture. God knows you'd be happy sleeping on a mattress on the floor if I leave you to it."
Mike was never so glad for his grandmother's foresight when seven months later, she suffered a mild stroke at the retirement village. If she had still been living alone at home, it would probably have been hours, if not days before anyone realised anything was wrong. It was something Mike didn't even want to think about.
* * *
While it wasn't quite the 3pm Mike had predicted, it was still close to lunch by the time the last of the patients from the train derailment was transferred to the relevant in-patient care department. Mike collapsed onto a chair behind the admissions counter and stared blankly at the ceiling, willing his brain to slow down.
"You all right?"
Mike blinked and looked away from the ceiling to find Paul perched at the edge of the admissions desk.
"I think so?"
Paul snorted. "You should go home. Hell, I should go home. We should both go home. Home is good. Not quite sure if I can make it though."
"You know you're not making much sense, right?"
"God, I'm so tired."
"I had a full morning shift before I got called in. You don't get to complain."
"That's why you should go home."
"Not sure if I can make it," Mike replied, echoing Paul's earlier words. "I'd take a cab, but I might fall asleep in it and end up getting mugged then murdered in my sleep."
"Call someone to pick you up then."
Mike blinked. "Huh. You just reminded me. I do have to call someone," he reluctantly got up to his feet, and Paul immediately stole the chair and slumped into it. "Good job, by the way," Mike added.
"Thanks. I think everyone did a good job."
"Go tell them that. I'm gonna go change and try not to pass out before I get home."
Once he was in the relative privacy of the locker room, he rang Harvey's number. The phone was picked up on the first ring.
"Mike?"
"Hey. You asked me to call, I'm calling."
"You sound exhausted."
"You have no idea how tempted I am to just find an empty examination room and fall asleep right here in the hospital."
"If you can hold off passing out for another twenty minutes, go take a shower or something, I'll pick you up."
"You don't have to. I mean, you're all the way across town and - "
"Hey," Harvey interrupted. "I want to."
And there was nothing Mike could say except "Okay."
* * *
"Are you sure you want to come? I mean, you probably have stuff you do on Christmas day and I don't want to - " Harvey's lips on his effectively cut Mike's speech short. "Right, ok. Message received."
It was late Christmas morning and they were still in bed at Mike's apartment, snuggled under a cocoon of pillows and warm duvet. Mike wasn't due to meet Grammy for Christmas lunch at the nursing home until 12:30pm, which meant they had at least another couple of hours before they had to leave. Harvey, being fully aware of the fact, was taking advantage of the time by picking up from where they left off earlier in the morning, hands exploring every inch of Mike's naked body while he continued to kiss Mike, rolling him on to his back in the process.
"Love kissing you," Harvey murmured as they broke apart for breath.
"God, you're distracting," Mike said, remembering that he still had to give Harvey his Christmas gift. "I got you something for Christmas. Was going to give it to you earlier before someone distracted me."
"What can I say," Harvey said, bending down to explore Mike's collarbone with his lips and tongue. "Six months worth of sex to make up for. Plus interest."
Mike couldn't help the shudder that ran through his whole body when Harvey started to lick on a particularly sensitive spot.
"Harveeeey, stop distracting me!" Mike laughed, pushing the other man off him.
Harvey let out a dramatic sigh. "The romance is gone."
"Aw, but we'll always have Paris."
Mike twisted around in the bed and reached towards the bottom drawer of his bedside table, pulling out the small box, elegantly wrapped in a dark red gift wrap with a emerald green satin bow to complete the seasonal look. Compared to the god knows how many thousand dollar tux that Harvey got him, his gift was nowhere near as extravagant, but he had a feeling Harvey would get more use out of them than Mike would the tux, that is, if he liked it.
"Merry Christmas," Mike said as he passed the box to Harvey, suddenly feeling anxious.
Harvey propped himself up on the pillow and carefully peel the wrapping off to reveal a jewelry box. Mike kept his eyes on Harvey, wanting to see his reaction and he wasn't disappointed. There was the initial confusion, and then a smile slowly formed as he finally worked out what they were.
"Snail cufflinks?" Harvey asked, turning to look at Mike.
Mike nodded his confirmation. "Custom made. I know they're a bit abstract, but I thought that was the beauty of it."
Harvey picked one of the cufflink out of the box to examine it more closely. It was a simple design, white gold with a small white diamond at the centre of a spiral that ended in a tail, as though someone had taken to draw a spiral instead of an O in the letter Q.
"They're beautiful," Harvey replied, carefully putting the cufflink back into the box and setting it aside on the bedside table on his side of the bed before turning back to pull Mike into another brain meltingly hot kiss. "Thank you."
They ended up almost late for Christmas lunch with Grammy, who had loved Harvey on sight, especially after opening Harvey's Christmas gift to her; a warm and luxurious dressing gown.
"You never told me he was this handsome and thoughtful," his grandmother commented right after introductions were made and Mike was treated to the rare sight of a somewhat flustered Harvey Specter.
Grammy's gift to Mike and Harvey was a pair of matching dark blue scarves, beautifully hand knitted. Mike's gift to his grandmother was simple, a framed photo of himself and Harvey at the Pearson Hardman Christmas function.
If Mike had any doubt about whether his grandmother knew what he and Harvey had been up to before lunch, it was eradicated when she casually said, "Told you older men had their uses," and winked at him.
"Grammy!"
"Anything I should know?" Harvey asked, somewhat confused by their exchange.
"No, nothing you should know. At all. Ever!" Mike said quickly before his grandmother could say anything more on the topic. "As a matter of fact, this conversation never took place."
They spent the rest of the afternoon at the nursing home with Mike's grandmother trying her best to embarrass her only grandson in front of his partner with various tales of Mike's childhood escapade. It was close to dinnertime when they were finally ready to leave.
"I'll go get the car, you say your goodbyes," Harvey said to Mike and then to Grammy. "Edith, it was a real pleasure meeting you."
"The pleasure is all mine, Harvey," Grammy replied, drawing a startled Harvey into a hug. "And I expect to see more of you soon."
"Yes, ma'am." Harvey replied obediently before disappearing through the door with a final "Happy Christmas," and leaving Mike alone with his grandmother.
"So?" Mike asked, standing before his grandmother who was still seated in her armchair.
"You've managed to hook yourself a shark there, Michael."
"What's with the fishing metaphor?" Mike asked, somewhat confused.
"I didn't live to be 85 by falling for every charmer I meet. That said it's obvious that he's head over heels for you and if everything I've seen and heard for the last few months is any indication, he's been good for you. Nice to see that he's good to you as well."
"Come on Grammy, you should give me more credit than that," Mike paused, considering his next question. Seeing Harvey with Grammy had made him wonder. "You think mum and dad would've liked Harvey?"
"Your dad and Harvey would probably get along like a house on fire. Financial analyst and corporate lawyer, practically the same breed. Your mum would probably be wary at first, but Harvey wouldn't have any problems winning her over, especially not with the way he treats you."
"Thanks, Grammy." Mike bend down to give his grandmother a hug.
"You're welcome. Better get going. You don't want to make him wait another six months." Grammy teased, returning Mike's hug.
Mike laughed. "I won't. Happy Christmas Grams."
"Happy Christmas, Michael."
The evening air was fresh and crisps when Mike walked out of the nursing home, eyes scanning the street. He smiled as he spotted Harvey in his car, waiting for him across the road and had a feeling that it was going to grow into a familiar sight.
"Happy Christmas, Michael," Mike muttered to himself, echoing his grandmother's word as he made his way towards his future.
The End
Notes:
V-fib = Ventricular fibrillation (aka the heart's not beating properly, no pulse detected aka pretty much dead unless they can shock the heart back into beating again)
BP = Blood pressure
Epi = Epinephrine (aka Adrenaline)
EMT = Emergency Medical Technician
The Snail in the Bottle is a reference to the famous English case of Donohue v Stevenson [1932] UKHL 100 which established the principles of Tort law and the modern concept of negligence and duty of care. Basically, it's the first case you learn in Tort Law.
The Full Spartan's Steel Breakfast is a reference to the case of Spartan Steel & Alloys Ltd v Martin & Co (Contractors) Ltd [1973] 1 QB 27, another famous English case with a majority judgment by Lord Alfred Thomson Denning (aka Lord Denning). It set the precedents for the principles of the recovery of pure economical loss in negligence claims.
The comment Mike made in the car about the condo is a reference to Pretty Woman.
MCI = Multiple Casualty Incident.
I based Mike's apartment on this:
http://www.trulia.com/property/3073323088-302-W-102nd-St-4-New-York-NY-10025
Finally, I wrote the whole tux scene before 2x06 aired. Basically, I WROTE THE SCENE AND THEY MADE IT HAPPEN!!! Kinda ;)
* * *
Still on morning shift until Xmas? Do you have a tux?
Mike received the message from Harvey at 12:27am just after he got home from an afternoon shift that turned into an afternoon plus half a night shift thanks to some dodgy shrimp at a downtown Italian place, the venue for a wedding reception with over a hundred guests.
Yes & no. Why?
Since Harvey's confirmation of their dating status four days ago, nothing much has changed between them. Harvey was still busy with his caseload and Mike's schedule was still as insane as ever.
Pearson Hardman annual Xmas dinner. Friday night 2 wks from now. Black tie. Want you there with me.
That is other than the mind-blowing kiss they shared just before they parted company at The Snail's front entrance.
Are you telling me or asking me?
That instant spark and recognition, it was like nothing Mike had ever experienced. Like everything else with Harvey, they just clicked. It almost didn't feel like a first kiss, but something they've been doing their whole lives.
You're so much work. Be my +1?
When he looked at Harvey after the kiss, it was clear that the other man was equally affected by the unexpected intensity of such a simple act.
But I'm worth it. ;-) Ok, but I'm still going to be on call for the night. Now tell me where one goes to get a tux.
Mike would've liked to continue kissing Harvey, but he was running late for work and they definitely did not have enough time to be starting anything.
It'll just emphasize how indispensable you are if you get called away halfway through. ;-) Still finishing at 6 tomorrow? I'll pick you up after work.
Mike changed into his sleepwear, an old t-shirt and boxers and flung himself down onto his bed.
Ok. Going to bed to pass out now. Night.
Sweet dreams & I'll see you tomorrow.
Mike was still smiling when he drifted off to sleep.
If anyone at the ER noticed how cheerful Mike was the next day, they didn't say a word, at least not to Mike directly. It was as close to a perfect shift as Mike ever had, with a constant, but not torrential stream of patients, all with non-life threatening injuries or illnesses which allowed him the luxury of actually spending some time talking to his patients instead of rushing them through like a factory production line. He even had a great teaching session with the interns and junior residents on duty when a patient was brought in with a rather tricky diagnosis of scaphoid fracture.
Despite the good day, Mike was still somewhat amazed that he managed to leave on time (it was 6:16pm, but anything within an hour of his scheduled time off was on time in Mike's book).
"Doctor Ross?" A vaguely familiar voice called out to him. Mike turned and found Harvey's chauffeur, Ray, waiting for him near the visitor's entrance.
"Ray, right? Hi." Mike greeted the other man. "And please call me Mike."
"Of course. Harvey's still stuck in a client meeting, but he should be finishing up soon. He told me to come pick you up first and we'll swing by his office on the way."
Soon, they were pulling out into Manhattan's rush hour traffic and Ray put on some jazzy tune that Mike didn't recognise.
"Does he do this often? Get you to pick up his dates?" Mike asked jokingly as they hit the first red light down the block.
"No, not really. For one, Harvey doesn't date. At least not until now."
"Really?"
"I don't think it's my place to say anything if he hasn’t mentioned it to you," Ray replied carefully.
"Fair point," Mike conceded. It really wasn't his intention to get Ray to tell him things about Harvey and he mentally smacked himself for even putting Ray in that position. "So, tell me what's an average day like in the life of a New York City chauffeur?"
By the time they arrived at the Pearson Hardman building twenty-five minutes later, Mike was laughing heartily over Ray's story of the shopping antics of a nameless socialite he once had the pleasure of driving.
"What's so funny?" Harvey asked the moment he got into the car, placing a quick chase kiss on Mike's lips before buckling up his seat belt.
"Ask Ray to tell you about it next time you have a bad day, guaranteed to cheer you right up," Mike replied, still fighting to suppress his giggles. "So hot shot, where exactly are we going?" Mike asked as soon as Harvey settled down.
"We are going to see Réne."
"That... tells me absolutely nothing."
"My tailor."
"Your..." Mike paused. "You have a tailor," he finally managed, sounding a little like Sean Bean in the first Lord of the Rings movie. Peripherally, he noticed Ray raising the privacy screen and silently thanked the man for his discretion. "And how many months' salary do I have to part with to afford this tux?"
"Don't worry about it, my treat."
"Harvey, I can afford it," they haven't really talked about it but Mike knew Harvey, as a senior partner of a top city law firm, made a shit load more money than he did even though Mike was quite comfortable financially. The lack of student loan debt and his mother's life insurance policy made sure of that. The idea of having Harvey pay for anything more than the occasional meal (which Mike was more than capable of and have reciprocated) didn't sit well with him at this point in their relationship.
Harvey must have picked up on his unease because he immediately added, "I'm dragging you to the function to keep me company and to fend off the sexual predators who tend to make an appearance after a few drinks. Only fair that I pay for it. Consider it an early Christmas gift. Besides, it's not completely altruistic, I've been dying to see you in something other than scrubs or jeans and t-shirt, and I enjoy spending money on people I care about."
"So..." Mike started, his worry slightly abated. "You mean you're not going to put me up in a great condo?" he teased, knowing Harvey would get the reference.
"Did you just imply that I'd have to pay for sex?" Harvey asked, frowning, but Mike could see the smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Yes, of course I did, because everything is about you," Mike rolled his eyes, but he couldn't help the slight hint of fondness from slipping into voice. "You do realised you still haven't answered my question."
"What question?"
"Just exactly how long have we been dating? I mean, if you're going to be showing me off at an official function in front of your colleagues, I kinda want to be able to answer something as simple as that," Mike explained.
"Right," Mike's curiosity was peaked when something that looked suspiciously like embarrassment crossed Harvey's features. "Um... six months?"
"Six months?!" Mike was a lot louder than he intended in the confines of the car. Then the dates clicked in his head. "Since that first time you asked me to meet you at The Snail?! That was our first date?!"
Harvey at least had the decency to look slightly sheepish, which in Mike's opinion only made him look more adorable. "I can't believe you've been secretly dating me for six months without telling me."
Harvey shrugged. "I wasn't sure how you'd take it if I asked you out. Figured I'd test the water first, and go from there."
"You never stuck me as the hesitant type."
"Normally, no, but ...you're different, Mike," Harvey's voice had gone slightly soft at the end. "And I didn't want to risk scaring you off."
Mike reached out and grasp Harvey's hand in his. Harvey looked down to their joined hands in surprise before glancing up at Mike again.
"I don't scare easily."
* * *
Mike was a genius; he had passed the New York Bar Exam without ever going to law school and he was a doctor, Chief Resident even, at one of the top Emergency Departments in the country. He saves lives for a living for god's sake, a bowtie should be something he could easily handle.
Doctor Michael Ross would not be defeated by a mere piece of cloth, he thought.
"Fuck!" he swore, finally giving up on the offending piece of neckwear half an hour later, wondering if he could get away with turning up in a normal suit instead. Or just forgo the bowtie, since in Mike's opinion, the tux looked good enough to carry its own weight without the tie.
His doorbell chose to buzz at that moment and Mike swore again, knowing it was Harvey and he was officially late.
Mike rushed out of the bathroom towards the intercom. "Harvey?"
"Why aren't you down here yet?"
"You better come up. Need your help. Top floor." Mike said, pushing the button to unlock the front security door.
There was a knock on his apartment door a minute later. Mike opened the door and stared. While Mike could appreciate the sight of Harvey in a three-piece suit, he was somewhat used to that given the man hardly wore anything else whenever they see each other. Harvey in a tux though, it was sophistication and sexiness personified and he had to resist the urge to run his hands down Harvey's lapels and - .
"You're not dressed," Harvey's comment finally snapped Mike out of his stupor.
"I am mostly dressed," Mike countered, stepping aside to let Harvey into his apartment.
"How do you afford this place on a resident's salary?" Harvey asked, giving Mike a quick kiss in greeting even as he took in the fireplace in the living room, the polished floorboards and tasteful modern furnishings.
"Chief resident," Mike corrected. "And no student debt. Though I think I might've offended the gods of bowties or something because for the life of me, I cannot get this thing to stay on straight," Mike tugged frustratingly at the half done bowtie even as he wandered back into the bathroom, Harvey on his heels. "I'd give you the two cent tour of the place, but I have a feeling that we're a bit short on time."
"The tour can wait. Turn around," Harvey said from behind Mike. "How can you live to be 30 without knowing how to tie a bowtie?" Harvey asked as he made quick work of the mess Mike had made.
"You're lucky I can manage a full Windsor. It's not as though I'm constantly being invited to black tie events."
In what seemed to be less than a minute to Mike, Harvey had managed a perfect bowtie. "You have got to teach me to do that," Mike commented as they stepped out of the bathroom, impressed.
"Later. Get your coat or we'll really be late."
The Pearson Hardman annual Christmas dinner was held at the Four Seasons Hotel this year. All employees were invited along with quite a few of the firm's top billable clients. Mike was glad he hadn't followed through with the suits idea or he would've stuck out like a sore thumb. The ballroom looked more like the venue for the Oscars instead of a private Christmas function.
"Wow," Mike was aware he was sounding like some country hick, but the fanciest party he ever went to was the Department Head's daughter's wedding two years ago at the Peninsular and a normal suit had been sufficient then. The groom had been the only one in a tux.
"Come on, I'll introduce you to - "
"Harvey, there you are!"
"Donna," Harvey finished just as a stunning red head in a striking royal blue evening gown came up towards them, a flute of bubbly in her hand.
"You're Donna?" Mike gaped. "Harvey never mentioned that you're gorgeous."
"Charming, and you are?" She gave Mike a rather scary smile, and Mike finally understood why Harvey and Ray were hesitant to cross her.
"Mike Ross."
Donna's eyes widened, clearly recognising his name. "You're Mike Ross? Is that your real name or are you an actor he hired for the evening and told you to say your name's Mike Ross?"
"Hey!" Harvey protested. "Leave my date alone and go harass Harold. Actually, strike that, don't harass Harold. He's just end up embarrassing me and the firm, mostly me, if he gets any more harassed."
"You're his date?! " Donna's voice wasn't loud, but she was clearly shocked at Harvey's divulgence. She turned her attention back to Harvey. "Right, I don't care who you are, but what have you done with my boss?"
"Donna," Harvey grabbed her by her shoulders, looking at her straight in the eyes. "Mike Ross does exists, and this is him. Believe it." Donna nodded mutely. "Now, go stop Harold from committing career suicide and dragging me down with him."
"Fine, I'll go rescue your labrador puppy, but don't for a moment think that this discussion is over," Donna warned before flicking her hair back in style and walking off to presumably get Harold out of trouble.
"Okay, she's scary," Mike said once Donna was out of earshot.
"Told you."
For the rest of the night, Harvey introduced Mike as "My date, Doctor Michael Ross, he's a Chief Resident at NYP," or a variant thereof. Harvey also had his hand on Mike's lower back most of the time so there was no mistake that Mike was with him. While Mike was usually not comfortable flaunting his qualifications around, he could tell Harvey was trying to make the point that Mike was his own man and not merely the 'young pretty thing' that everyone had assumed he was the moment he set foot in the ballroom with Harvey. So Mike didn't say anything, just shook hands, made small talk and put a few names to faces.
"Oh wow. He really does look like a labrador puppy," Mike had commented after meeting Harold.
"I think I must've suffered a moment of temporary insanity to have hired him."
"And now you've gotten too attached to fire him? Knew you were a softy on the inside," Mike teased.
"Bite your tongue! I have a reputation to maintain, especially in this room."
"Don't worry, your secret's safe with me."
Louis Litt was as much of an ass as Harvey said he was. The man had outright called Mike a prostitute even before introductions were made, and once he learned that Mike was a doctor, proceed to tell him everything about his medical problems and allergies. Mike felt like having a shower just after five minutes with Louis Litt, and considering his work, that's saying something.
Harvey's clients were suitably impressed, while the rest of the firm seemed rather surprised at Mike's existence. Mike wasn't sure if it was due to his gender or the fact that Harvey was actually dating someone. One thing was for certain; Harvey was surrounded by women who are equally beautiful and terrifying, Mike was sure his conversation with Jessica Pearson was more akin to a cross examination of a hostile witness than an actual conversation. It made him wished that he wasn't on call for the night and could down a few flutes of the champaign.
By the time they finished the main course and the standard speeches that came with every corporate function, Mike was actually getting tired of the attention. It was like being the fresh meat in a shark's tank. For the sake of not embarrassing himself and Harvey, he put up with it. When his cell phone let out a loud and annoying screech in the middle of dessert, signaling a message from work, Mike was almost glad.
911. MCI. ETA 25.
"Sorry, I need to make a call to the hospital. If you'd excuse me," Mike excused himself from the table and made his way to a quiet corner and hitting the speed dial for work. "It's Mike, what's going on?"
"Passenger train derailment." Jo answered. "Casualty probably in the hundreds and we'll be getting the large bulk of it. EMT on site said it's bad, Mike."
"Right, you know what to do. Get triage set up and make sure everything's ready to go. I'm at the Four Seasons, it'll probably take me over half an hour to get there with traffic."
"Paul's gathering the troops as we speak," Jo replied, referring to his fellow Chief Resident, Dr Paul Lim. "But I don't think he's handled anything like this before. He was out of town the last time we had a major MCI on this scale."
"Go help him. I'll be there as soon as I can," Mike disconnected the call and quickly made his way back to their table. "I've got to go," Mike said, leaning down to speak quietly to Harvey so as to not interrupt the other conversations going on around the table. "Major train derailment and they're predicting casualties by the hundreds."
"Get Ray to drive you."
"Yeah. I'll text you when I'm done," Mike said, giving Harvey a quick kiss on the lips.
"Call me. Even if it's three in the morning," Harvey replied.
"It's probably going to be three in the afternoon, but the sentiment is noted."
Mike straightened up and quickly made his excuses to Jessica and the rest of the guests at the table he was speaking to earlier before making a hasty exit.
* * *
Lillian Ross's will was simple. The house went to Grammy, its mortgage having been paid off years ago, and the life insurance payout went to Mike; the rest of her personal assets including her retirement funds through the Teacher's Union were left to Mike and Grammy equally. What Mike hadn't expected was just exactly how much the insurance policy was worth.
"How much?" Mike found himself asking Mr Andrews Junior, who took over the management of the suburban law firm from his father a few years ago.
"One point five million dollars," the lawyer repeated. "Your mother took up the policy though her union not long after the death of your father. She didn't want to risk leaving you and your grandmother with nothing in case anything happened. You didn't know?"
"No, I didn't. Grammy," Mike turned to his grandmother. "You knew?"
"Of course," Grammy confirmed. "Your mother and I discussed it back then. Didn't expect her to leave me the house though. Told her to leave everything to you, not as though you were going to kick me out once you inherit the place."
One week after the start of his second year residency, Mike decided that the shoe box he was renting three blocks away from the hospital was just too depressing and bought a reasonably sized two bedroom apartment on the Upper West Side for just over $550,000.
In cash.
Just because he could.
Mike wasn't sure what he was going to do with the remaining million he had, so it sat in a high interest savings account until he had the time and/or energy to figure it out.
"Well, it's definitely nicer than your last place. You can't even swing a cat in that hole in a wall," Grammy had said as she walked into the apartment. "The fire place would come in handy in winter. All you need is some furniture."
"There's a second bedroom."
"I'm not moving in with you, Mike. You're a young doctor living in one of the most exciting cities in the world, you don't want an old lady, what's the term? Cramping your style?"
"Grammy, you're not going to 'cramp my style'."
"Yes, you would need to have style to begin with," his grandmother teased. "Though I have been thinking about maybe moving to a retirement village, be around people my own age. The house's a bit too big for just myself."
"What are you going to do with the house then?" Mike asked, frowning as he leaned back against the kitchen counter.
"You remember Mrs Kuan from the grocery store?" Mike nodded. Mrs Kuan and her husband ran a general grocery store near where Mike grew up. They always had the sweetest cherries during summer. "Her daughter and son-in-law are expecting their first child and they're looking for a place to settle down."
"Buying?"
"Renting, for now. They're willing to pay a fair market price, and it'll be close enough to Mrs Kuan for her to lend a hand when the baby arrives. The rental income and my pension would be more than enough to pay for the retirement home. That house was meant to be the home for a family, not an old lady."
"You've had it all planned haven't you?" Mike asked, not sure why he was surprised.
"I was just waiting for the right family to come along," Grammy grinned. "Now, while I have you for the rest of the day, let's go buy you some furniture. God knows you'd be happy sleeping on a mattress on the floor if I leave you to it."
Mike was never so glad for his grandmother's foresight when seven months later, she suffered a mild stroke at the retirement village. If she had still been living alone at home, it would probably have been hours, if not days before anyone realised anything was wrong. It was something Mike didn't even want to think about.
* * *
While it wasn't quite the 3pm Mike had predicted, it was still close to lunch by the time the last of the patients from the train derailment was transferred to the relevant in-patient care department. Mike collapsed onto a chair behind the admissions counter and stared blankly at the ceiling, willing his brain to slow down.
"You all right?"
Mike blinked and looked away from the ceiling to find Paul perched at the edge of the admissions desk.
"I think so?"
Paul snorted. "You should go home. Hell, I should go home. We should both go home. Home is good. Not quite sure if I can make it though."
"You know you're not making much sense, right?"
"God, I'm so tired."
"I had a full morning shift before I got called in. You don't get to complain."
"That's why you should go home."
"Not sure if I can make it," Mike replied, echoing Paul's earlier words. "I'd take a cab, but I might fall asleep in it and end up getting mugged then murdered in my sleep."
"Call someone to pick you up then."
Mike blinked. "Huh. You just reminded me. I do have to call someone," he reluctantly got up to his feet, and Paul immediately stole the chair and slumped into it. "Good job, by the way," Mike added.
"Thanks. I think everyone did a good job."
"Go tell them that. I'm gonna go change and try not to pass out before I get home."
Once he was in the relative privacy of the locker room, he rang Harvey's number. The phone was picked up on the first ring.
"Mike?"
"Hey. You asked me to call, I'm calling."
"You sound exhausted."
"You have no idea how tempted I am to just find an empty examination room and fall asleep right here in the hospital."
"If you can hold off passing out for another twenty minutes, go take a shower or something, I'll pick you up."
"You don't have to. I mean, you're all the way across town and - "
"Hey," Harvey interrupted. "I want to."
And there was nothing Mike could say except "Okay."
* * *
"Are you sure you want to come? I mean, you probably have stuff you do on Christmas day and I don't want to - " Harvey's lips on his effectively cut Mike's speech short. "Right, ok. Message received."
It was late Christmas morning and they were still in bed at Mike's apartment, snuggled under a cocoon of pillows and warm duvet. Mike wasn't due to meet Grammy for Christmas lunch at the nursing home until 12:30pm, which meant they had at least another couple of hours before they had to leave. Harvey, being fully aware of the fact, was taking advantage of the time by picking up from where they left off earlier in the morning, hands exploring every inch of Mike's naked body while he continued to kiss Mike, rolling him on to his back in the process.
"Love kissing you," Harvey murmured as they broke apart for breath.
"God, you're distracting," Mike said, remembering that he still had to give Harvey his Christmas gift. "I got you something for Christmas. Was going to give it to you earlier before someone distracted me."
"What can I say," Harvey said, bending down to explore Mike's collarbone with his lips and tongue. "Six months worth of sex to make up for. Plus interest."
Mike couldn't help the shudder that ran through his whole body when Harvey started to lick on a particularly sensitive spot.
"Harveeeey, stop distracting me!" Mike laughed, pushing the other man off him.
Harvey let out a dramatic sigh. "The romance is gone."
"Aw, but we'll always have Paris."
Mike twisted around in the bed and reached towards the bottom drawer of his bedside table, pulling out the small box, elegantly wrapped in a dark red gift wrap with a emerald green satin bow to complete the seasonal look. Compared to the god knows how many thousand dollar tux that Harvey got him, his gift was nowhere near as extravagant, but he had a feeling Harvey would get more use out of them than Mike would the tux, that is, if he liked it.
"Merry Christmas," Mike said as he passed the box to Harvey, suddenly feeling anxious.
Harvey propped himself up on the pillow and carefully peel the wrapping off to reveal a jewelry box. Mike kept his eyes on Harvey, wanting to see his reaction and he wasn't disappointed. There was the initial confusion, and then a smile slowly formed as he finally worked out what they were.
"Snail cufflinks?" Harvey asked, turning to look at Mike.
Mike nodded his confirmation. "Custom made. I know they're a bit abstract, but I thought that was the beauty of it."
Harvey picked one of the cufflink out of the box to examine it more closely. It was a simple design, white gold with a small white diamond at the centre of a spiral that ended in a tail, as though someone had taken to draw a spiral instead of an O in the letter Q.
"They're beautiful," Harvey replied, carefully putting the cufflink back into the box and setting it aside on the bedside table on his side of the bed before turning back to pull Mike into another brain meltingly hot kiss. "Thank you."
They ended up almost late for Christmas lunch with Grammy, who had loved Harvey on sight, especially after opening Harvey's Christmas gift to her; a warm and luxurious dressing gown.
"You never told me he was this handsome and thoughtful," his grandmother commented right after introductions were made and Mike was treated to the rare sight of a somewhat flustered Harvey Specter.
Grammy's gift to Mike and Harvey was a pair of matching dark blue scarves, beautifully hand knitted. Mike's gift to his grandmother was simple, a framed photo of himself and Harvey at the Pearson Hardman Christmas function.
If Mike had any doubt about whether his grandmother knew what he and Harvey had been up to before lunch, it was eradicated when she casually said, "Told you older men had their uses," and winked at him.
"Grammy!"
"Anything I should know?" Harvey asked, somewhat confused by their exchange.
"No, nothing you should know. At all. Ever!" Mike said quickly before his grandmother could say anything more on the topic. "As a matter of fact, this conversation never took place."
They spent the rest of the afternoon at the nursing home with Mike's grandmother trying her best to embarrass her only grandson in front of his partner with various tales of Mike's childhood escapade. It was close to dinnertime when they were finally ready to leave.
"I'll go get the car, you say your goodbyes," Harvey said to Mike and then to Grammy. "Edith, it was a real pleasure meeting you."
"The pleasure is all mine, Harvey," Grammy replied, drawing a startled Harvey into a hug. "And I expect to see more of you soon."
"Yes, ma'am." Harvey replied obediently before disappearing through the door with a final "Happy Christmas," and leaving Mike alone with his grandmother.
"So?" Mike asked, standing before his grandmother who was still seated in her armchair.
"You've managed to hook yourself a shark there, Michael."
"What's with the fishing metaphor?" Mike asked, somewhat confused.
"I didn't live to be 85 by falling for every charmer I meet. That said it's obvious that he's head over heels for you and if everything I've seen and heard for the last few months is any indication, he's been good for you. Nice to see that he's good to you as well."
"Come on Grammy, you should give me more credit than that," Mike paused, considering his next question. Seeing Harvey with Grammy had made him wonder. "You think mum and dad would've liked Harvey?"
"Your dad and Harvey would probably get along like a house on fire. Financial analyst and corporate lawyer, practically the same breed. Your mum would probably be wary at first, but Harvey wouldn't have any problems winning her over, especially not with the way he treats you."
"Thanks, Grammy." Mike bend down to give his grandmother a hug.
"You're welcome. Better get going. You don't want to make him wait another six months." Grammy teased, returning Mike's hug.
Mike laughed. "I won't. Happy Christmas Grams."
"Happy Christmas, Michael."
The evening air was fresh and crisps when Mike walked out of the nursing home, eyes scanning the street. He smiled as he spotted Harvey in his car, waiting for him across the road and had a feeling that it was going to grow into a familiar sight.
"Happy Christmas, Michael," Mike muttered to himself, echoing his grandmother's word as he made his way towards his future.
The End
Notes:
V-fib = Ventricular fibrillation (aka the heart's not beating properly, no pulse detected aka pretty much dead unless they can shock the heart back into beating again)
BP = Blood pressure
Epi = Epinephrine (aka Adrenaline)
EMT = Emergency Medical Technician
The Snail in the Bottle is a reference to the famous English case of Donohue v Stevenson [1932] UKHL 100 which established the principles of Tort law and the modern concept of negligence and duty of care. Basically, it's the first case you learn in Tort Law.
The Full Spartan's Steel Breakfast is a reference to the case of Spartan Steel & Alloys Ltd v Martin & Co (Contractors) Ltd [1973] 1 QB 27, another famous English case with a majority judgment by Lord Alfred Thomson Denning (aka Lord Denning). It set the precedents for the principles of the recovery of pure economical loss in negligence claims.
The comment Mike made in the car about the condo is a reference to Pretty Woman.
MCI = Multiple Casualty Incident.
I based Mike's apartment on this:
http://www.trulia.com/property/3073323088-302-W-102nd-St-4-New-York-NY-10025
Finally, I wrote the whole tux scene before 2x06 aired. Basically, I WROTE THE SCENE AND THEY MADE IT HAPPEN!!! Kinda ;)