Hey there! Just a quick note to let you know that this story is nearing the end... I've got a few new idea's floating in my head already, but if there's anything you want to read, let me know!

Towards the end of the morning, the door opens and doctor Nix walks in. Harvey meets his eyes and slowly untangles himself from Donna. She is still sleeping and he would prefer that wouldn't change. The hours of rest have made some color return to her face. To his relief, Nix motions for him to step outside. The men face each other, Harvey being the first to speak, "did the tests show anything?" He carefully asks. Nix shakes his head, a gentle smile on his face, "everything points to a smooth recovery, nothing to worry about." Harvey furrows his brow, "then why is she so sick today?"

Nix shrugs, which increases Harveys worry and he squares his shoulders. But the doctor seems relaxed as he elaborates, "the past few days have been extremely stressful for Mrs. Paulsen-Specter, both physically and mentally," he starts, "that kind of stress might manifest in physical reactions like this. Moreover, we also have her on high doses of multiple types of medications. Especially the morphine is known to cause nausea." Harvey nods, while musing about how insane it is that medication to make her feel better is making her feel worse, "can you give her something else?"

A small smile forms on Nix' face, amused by the practical focus of the lawyer. "We could," he concedes, "but I think it might be better to start lowering the dose, trying to get her off as much of the medication as possible." Harvey frowns, "I don't want her to be in pain," he protests, "not when she's feeling so horrible already." Nix nods, "I'm not going to do anything without talking it through with her. And in any case, I suggest we start tomorrow, keeping today as low-stress as possible."

Harvey agrees with that offer and then he gets back to Donna. She is awake, smiling sleepily, "hey." Her hand reaches for him and he takes it, letting himself be pulled onto the bed again. "You seem a little better." He remarks while softly brushing his thumb over the back of her hand. She focusses her tired hazel eyes on him and nods, confirming his observation. "Thank you, Harvey," she softly says, "for staying today." She won't admit it out loud, but she needed him this morning. And she is so grateful to him for noticing and subsequently putting her needs above his own. "I love you," she adds. He smiles, "I love you too." He tells her, leaning down to kiss her softly. "If you're up to it, Mike and Rachel are coming by after the trial." He phrases it as a statement, but she hears the question in his voice. "I'd like that," she nods.

During the next hour, however, Harvey sees Donna's face paling again. He is not even surprised when she weakly admits that she feels sick again. He reacts quickly, grabbing the container with one hand. He slips his other arm around her waist and then to her opposite shoulder, pulling her up so she doesn't have to do that herself. Her fingers dig into his arm and she holds on tightly to him. She tries taking deep breaths, but she can't stop herself from throwing up again.

Minutes later, Harvey carefully lowers Donna back on the bed. Her body has gone limp, the fingers that were digging into his bicep now slack on the fabric of his shirt and her eyes closing. He brushes a loose strand of hair out of her face and places a soft kiss on her forehead before texting Mike to tell him that he and Rachel shouldn't come today. Then he sits on the edge of the bed and he runs his fingers over Donna's arm as she drifts off to sleep again.

Donna sleeps through most of the afternoon and night. The few times she does wake up, she quickly falls asleep again. She is exhausted by everything going on today. Harvey just sits next to her, holding her hand. Every single time she wakes up, he gently asks how she's doing, and both of them are relieved when she starts feeling better by the end of the evening. He climbs in bed with her again, holding her until he is sent home by a nurse.

When Harvey gets to the hospital the next day he is glad to see Donna looking as well as could be expected, given the circumstances. She looks less exhausted than twenty-four hours ago and he notices the feeding tube has been removed. He kisses her softly and smiles when she pulls him in. Her grip is a little stronger than it was and his smile widens, "what has gotten into you?" He wonders. She looks at him, "more like what has gotten out of me," she smiles at his confusion, "we started lowering the morphine." She explains.

That first afternoon, getting off the drugs seems to be working wonders for Donna. Her head is clearer and she doesn't feel so sick anymore. Somehow, the pain doesn't spike yet and she feels better than she has in over a week. But the next morning, pain hits her in full force. She regrets lowering the dose so fast, remembering Nix' warming a day prior. But honestly, she's still glad to be able to think clearly, the loss of control having bothered her a lot.

When Mike and Rachel come to visit Donna that morning, a nurse has just given her some painkillers again. Less intense than the morphine, but enough to make her able to move without feeling like being ripped in half. She is able to smile at her friends and engage in conversation and for a little while, she truly feels like herself again. The pair notices too, exchanging a glance, which she catches. She raises her eyebrow, until Rachel softly laughs, "you're like… You again," she smiles, relieved, "we've been worried about you, Donna. And you finally seem to be doing better."

Harvey stuffs his phone back in his pocket as he walks into Donna's room that afternoon. He is surprised to find doctor Nix in there and panic rises in his chest. He looks at Donna, who looks back at him, immediately seeing the alarm on his features. She reassuringly smiles at him before turning back to Nix, "I don't care," she tells him, "I want to go home. I've been here long enough."

"What's going on?" Harvey interrupt before Nix has a chance to answer. He looks at the doctor first, but then he looks at his wife, who has her arms folded over her chest and a frown on her forehead. She looks like her usual stubborn self, which has Harvey relieved and worried at the same time. "Donna?" He looks at her and she huffs. "He wants to keep me over the weekend. I want to go home." She summarizes the situation, never quite looking Harvey in the eye because her gaze is still fixed on Nix.

"Mrs. Paulsen-Specter," Nix is actually glad that Harvey is here. He has gotten to know Donna a little during her time in the hospital and he likes her, but he hasn't quite figured out to handle out her stubbornness just yet. Harvey seems to soften her a little and Nix is grateful to use that opportunity, "you've been through a lot in the past weeks. Your body has been through a lot. I would like to keep you for observation a little while longer. Besides, you ran a fever until today. I don't think letting you go home is a sensible idea."

Donna bites back a sharp reply, knowing she needs to approach this man with as much respect as she can muster, "I've been in the hospital for almost two weeks," she protests, "I'm doing better. And I'm done with this." She gestures at everything around her, throwing the doctor a pleading look. She debates working up a few tears, but decides against it, afraid it might be too much.

"Okay," Nix sighs, "how about a compromise?" He meets Donna's eyes. She raises her eyebrows at him, "what kind of compromise?" She asks. "If your temperature stays down and nothing changes in your clinical condition, I'll discharge you tomorrow instead of on Monday," he proposes. She thinks about it, casting a quick glance in Harveys direction before nodding, "fine." She agrees.

When the doctor leaves, Harvey greets Donna properly – with a soft kiss. Her frustration seems to have ebbed away as she smiles at him, running her fingers through his hair. Harvey pulls back after kissing Donna, carefully looking at her. "Are we going to talk about why you were so frustrated with the doctor?" He asks her. Immediately, he notices the shift in her expression. Her jaw is set and her shoulders squared. "I just want to go home, Harvey." She says in a tone that would have shut him up in the past. Now, however, he knows that it's a reason to prod a little because the angry defensiveness is just a front she pulls up when something is bothering her.

"What do those two days matter?" Harvey asks. Apparently, that was the wrong question because now Donna doesn't look angry anymore; she looks hurt. Harvey takes her hands in his, "Donna?" He softly asks. "Do you prefer me staying here?" She throws out frustratedly. "No!" He immediately protests, "of course I want you home," he soothes her, "but why does it matter so much?"

Donna looks down at her hands, still captured in Harveys. "I've been here for almost two weeks," she starts, "and that's enough." Harvey glares at her, the lawyer in him desperate to call bullshit on that argument. But his look is enough. She sighs, "I see the strain this is putting on you and Mike and Rachel. Alternating between being here and being in court. You all look exhausted…"

Harvey rubs his thumb over Donna's knuckles, "don't worry about us," he looks at her, "no, Donna, really," he squeezes her hands, "I know that you always care about everyone around you. I love that about you," he faintly smiles at her, "but please don't let that be a reason to make decisions about your health." She sighs, her shoulders dropping a little. He holds her gaze, seeing something simmer behind her eyes. He realizes there is a bigger reason for wanting to go home, something she has been trying to distract him from by giving smaller arguments. "Talk to me," he pleads.

It takes Donna a few seconds to gather the courage to meet Harveys eyes again. She bites her bottom lip before exhaling softly, "I miss you." She admits. Being without him has been harder than she thought it would. She takes another breath, "I feel lonely here, Harvey. I just want to be home. Be with you." She tries to smile, but fails, tears brimming her eyes instead.

"Donna," Harvey lowers himself next to her on the bed and wraps her in his arms. He presses a kiss against her temple, "I miss you too." He hasn't been sleeping well without her, partly because of the worries keeping him awake, but mostly because he misses the feeling of her body against his. He slowly runs his fingers through her hair, "but…" He hesitates, trying to find the right words, "I think it might be better if you stay here. At least until tomorrow."

Donna tries to pull away from Harvey, stung by his words after admitting her vulnerability. He tightens his grip and she is still way too weak to fight him. "Relax. Listen," he is glad when she stills, but she doesn't meet his eyes as he continues, "I need you to believe me when I say I want you back home," he waits until she looks at him, "I really want you back home. But I'm scared," he softly admits, "in here you're being monitored all day. If something happens you'll be safe. At home…" He swallows thickly, "I can't lose you, Donna."

The emotion in Harveys voice hits Donna hard. She brings her hand up to his face and trails her fingers over his jaw, "I'm okay, Harvey," she assures him, "this week has been scary," she won't deny that, "but I'm okay now. My temperature is back to normal. My vitals are good. The pain is not that bad." She feels him release a long breath, his dark eyes trained on her, "promise you'll talk to me? You'll say it if anything is wrong? If you don't feel well?" His concern touches her and she moves her hand from his jaw to his hair, slowly stroking through it, "I promise."

"Good," Harvey smiles, pressing his lips against Donna's temple again, "if you wouldn't, I would just leave you here," he teases. She elbows him in the ribs and he huffs, pulling away. She looks at him, a playful smile tugging at her mouth. He shakes his head, "careful there," he grins, "or I might leave you here altogether." She lets out a soft chuckle, "you wouldn't," she beams at him, "we both know you won't last another week without me." At any other time, he would've retorted with another quippy remark, but today he is just too happy to see her smile.