sixwordstories | (no subject)

Let us help you, please, Nadine.

He wants to believe what Rachel said - that they can make a difference here...

She looked up from her compact then showed it to him, seeming to think it was completely normal. Her eyes had lost all the spark they had regained, even the shine of defending Crane. They were... pretty much vacant, not unlike the look she had had in the hospital.

You get lost in the cracks, and you can't see where you're going, what you are...

It won't ever let me be. Even Jonathan can't stop it..

Harvey frowned.

What happened, Nadine?

It found me again.

Thank... Thank God Jonathan was there... He saved me... Kept me safe. Made it go away...

Careful, his voice measured --

Where did it find you, Nadine?

On... on my way to see Jonathan. To... talk to him. There were so many mirrors... And it broke them. They all broke. Into so many little pieces...

Mirrors?

Harvey looked confused.

Mirrors. Everywhere. It was in them all. So many at once.

And then... they all shattered.

He held out his hand for the compact, sitting down on the couch next to her.

Why don't you give me that?

It's important. It's to remind me.

Remind you of what?

His fingers grazed her wrist, just slightly.

The physical contact seemed to, ever so slightly, bring her away from the mirror. She looked up, at him, right into his eyes.

That I'm not safe.

That it's always waiting for me. Just... over my shoulder. Just around the corner. I can't escape it.

Yes, you can.

He held onto her wrist, his voice steady, his hold firm, but reassuring.

You can help us put the Scarecrow away, Nadine. He'll never hurt you again.

I... can?

Her hand holding the compact trembled slightly, but she kept a hold on it.

Jonathan... wouldn't be hurt? I... don't want it hurting him. He... understands. He protects me.

Then, with some hesitation, she managed to say something else.

I... can't testify. Against Szaz. Jonathan... says it wouldn't be good for me.

You-what?

He frowned.

Nadine--if you don't testify agains Szaz...he will go free.

She bit at her lip.

I... talked to Jonathan about it. He... doesn't think I should.

Can't you... Don't you...

I can't.

You... you know he... took me. You have the tape... That isn't enough?

No, Nadine, we can't prove anything else besides kidnapping. Even then - the tape is blurry enough -

He looked slightly shaken.

If you don't, we've got next to nothing.

She said nothing, just looking up at him, a small breath leaving her before she bowed her head, trying to hide the few tears falling.

I... can't...

He'd told her not to. She couldn't disobey. He knew best. He might think she wasn't listening to him, that she didn't want him to treat her.

He... said not to...

Please...

Without thinking, he put a hand to her cheek, tilting her head up.

We--I need you to, Nadine.

She looked up at him, focused on his eyes.

In her mind, she weighed them against one another.

She had to follow Jonathan's advice. He was a professional. He wanted to help her. She needed him.

But Harvey needed her. He needed her help. He had a job to do too. He wanted to help her too.

She bit at her lip again and spoke quietly, her head tilted just slightly toward the hand on her cheek.

Harvey...

You're a lawyer, Nadine, a prosecutor, a good one.

He looked at her intensely, face closer to hers, his voice gaining fervor as he went on.

I know you know what's right here. You know that we're sworn to uphold the law.

Let... let me talk to him. I'll... see... if I can... change Jonathan's mind.

He wouldn't be happy with that, she knew. He wouldn't like her questioning him. But she wasn't. She...

Harvey needed her to help. She couldn't ignore that.

She reached up and touched the hand on her cheek.

Let me talk to him. Let me ask again. I'll... tell him that... I need to.

Harvey shook his head.

You don't have to listen to him, Nadine. This is about your job. Your job -- it's something he won't understand.

If I don't listen to him... the treatment won't work... He... won't take my calls.

She could, at least, see the cause and effect there.

He understands... He will understand... But if I don't listen to him...

She stared at him, moving the faintest bit closer, trying not to cry again.

Harvey... I need him... if I lose him...

Please.

It was less about the case now and more about her state of mind. His fingertips moved from her cheek down to her jaw.

What do I have to do to convince you, Nadine?

She quivered and gave a quiet sob.

Harvey... I'm so sorry...

Exactly what she was sorry about, she didn't say.

Looking at her, he knew she'd never make it to the witness stand. He should have been enraged, incensed, some kind of upset. Instead, he drew her closer. His lips very close to hers, he spoke, his voice quiet.

It's not your fault.

I... I want to help. I swear I do.

She was speaking quickly, quivering a little.

I asked Jonathan. I asked him.

Then, a change came over her. Something... analytical in those emotional eyes. For a few moments, she was quiet. Then, suddenly, her voice ever so soft, she spoke.

I'll do it.

He still thought she wouldn't, couldn't, but he saw the brief change in her face. For a moment - there was Nadine, the one he remembered from before.

Are you sure?

She managed a very faint, very fragile smile, looking up at him.

Jonathan... said he... couldn't recommend... that I do it. He... never said I couldn't.

It was a technicality, but she was a lawyer.

Harvey gave her a small smile in return.

We'll work with that, then.

Except this time, by 'we', he meant himself and her. He traced her jaw line with a finger, almost absently, as he spoke.

She tilted her head a small bit more toward that touch, eyes half shut.

I... I'm glad I can help.

The contact and way of speaking was as effective a reward as Crane's days' long silence had been a punishment.

He nodded, and didn't even immediately realize it when his lips brushed hers.

She did not think, which would have made a good bit of difference, before she shifted forward a small, small bit more to continue the kiss, ever so lightly.

Harvey's hand dropped to her waist as he let himself keep kissing her.

Her hand came up, touching his hair. As long as he was here, she was safe. He could protect her...

But Jonathan was supposed to do that. She pulled back from him, reluctantly, withdrawing her hand from his hair. Her hands shook a little bit as she spoke, her voice no more than a whisper.

I... I'm sorry...

Harvey blinked, coming out of whatever world he'd been in.

I--no--I shouldn't have--

He ran a hand through his hair, realizing the gravity of what he'd just done.

Part of her wanted to kiss him again, and she did cave to putting her hand on his cheek. She wanted to move closer to him, right up against him, close her eyes, and forget everything... but with thoughts of Jonathan, another thought had entered her head.

No... She was hesitant to admit that he'd done anything wrong, but she supposed that couldn't be helped. But... I... shouldn't have either.

She drew her hand back, away from his skin, and she managed to smile a little. It's... okay. It... won't happen again, and... it can be... our secret...

Our...

If he didn't feel like a total asshole before, he did now.

I'm sorry, Nadine...I-am so sorry.

However, she was smiling just a little, and she shook her head. As far as she saw it, they both had a reason to keep it quiet. Both had a reason it shouldn't have happened in the first place.

I shouldn't have either. Don't worry.

Please?

I'll try.

He brushed her cheek with a hand again.

She couldn't help but tilt her head a bit toward his touch. It was so tempting to just shut her eyes, let herself forget everything, and kiss him again.

But that couldn't happen.

Thank you... for helping me like you have. I... know I've been trouble.

He kissed her again, despite his better judgment.

You're...not trouble.

This time... it wasn't the heat of the moment. She couldn't use that as the excuse for why Harvey had kissed her. Or why she kissed him back and touched the hand on her cheek with his.

She drew back a moment later, though slowly. The tips of her fingers remained on the back of his hand.

Harvey... She kept her head, though. She wouldn't say something to put him on the spot. You're sweet. Thank you.

(no subject)

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