Slots A lot
“Gambling.” Harvey said, like he had confirmed his suspicion.
“What? I didn’t know he gambled…”
“He used to.” Harvey sighed.
“Why do I feel like there’s something you’re not telling me?” You asked.
Harvey shook his head and tucked his note in his pocket. “Doctor-patient confidentiality.” He said with a smile, showing his white teeth. You self-consciously ran your tongue along your own teeth, trying to remember the last time you had them cleaned.
“If he’s in a crisis and I can help I feel like breaking that boundary is fine.” You said.
“Well, I’m going to go to the city.” Harvey said, ignoring you.
“Harvey, that’s insane.”
“I might be the only one who knows where he is. I have a responsibility to go check.”
“I’m coming, too.”
“Y/N.” Harvey shook his head, and gazed at you with his deep eyes, which suddenly looked much older and wiser than yours. “He might not want to see you. I’m the only one besides Marnie who’s seen him when he’s really low.”
“I don’t care. You can’t stop me from coming.”
Harvey sighed. “I think it’s for the best that you stay back.”
“No.” You said. You looked definitely at Harvey, ready to stand your ground while he looked at you sideways. A strange expression crept on his face, and he smiled sadly.
“I don’t know that Shane has any real friends. I’m glad he has you.” Harvey said gently.
“I’m coming.” You insisted again.
Harvey sighed again, and shook his head. “Alright, alright. You’ve got me cornered.”
After a little discussion, you decided to head back to the clinic and take Harvey’s car. Harvey said he knew the way. It made you think it wasn’t the first time Harvey had done this.
“You can play some music, if you want.” Harvey offered.
The two of you figured out how to connect your phone, and after a second you chose your favorite song. Harvey started bobbing his head along.
“I’ve never heard this before.” Harveys smiled.
“What? You must live under a rock.” You teased him.
“I kind of do. I don’t watch much TV, or listen to much music, so I feel like an alien when other people talk about those things.” Harvey said, his eyes fixed on the pitch black highway road.
His mature face shone against the moonlight. You noticed the soft wrinkles in the corners of his eyes, which indicated he smiled plenty. His glasses were slipping down his nose, and his mustache hairs were well-groomed. Your eyes drifted to his arms which were holding the steering wheel. He had plenty of muscles under his dress shirt. He was strong, both in physicality and in personality. The way he dropped everything to go after Shane… it made you wonder if you were in trouble, would your friendly neighborhood doctor come find you? It almost made you want to run into danger, seeing how serious his face looked.
“I wish I didn’t watch so much TV.” You said honestly. “I’ve been watching really crappy stuff lately. Have you heard of Love is Blind?”
“I think Maru was telling me about that one.” Harvey said, narrowing his eyes as he tried to remember. Your heart started thumping noticing just how adorable he was. You quickly pictured you and Harvey snuggled up on your couch as you introduced him to trash TV.
“So what do you do in your free time then?”
“Um…” Harvey said, his face turning a little red. Clearly he was resistant to telling you his hobby. “Truthfully, I don’t have a lot of free time, but when I do, I like to fix old radios, and… build model airplanes.” He said, his voice getting quieter as he kept speaking.
“That’s awesome.” You smiled.
“No… Is it?” He asked hopefully.
“It is. I wish I knew how to do things like that.”
“I could teach you.” He offered. “I mean- if you’re interested. Don’t feel like you must say yes out of obligation.” He stammered.
“I’d love that.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I would.” You smiled.
~
Eventually, you and Harvey pulled up to the outside of a sleazy looking casino named ‘Slots Alot.” The neon sign blinked, illuminating the parking lot.
Harvey sighed. “This is the place.”
“How many times, Harvey?”
“What?” He asked.
“How many times have you come here for Shane?”
Harvey rubbed his forehead with his tough looking hand. “I don’t know. I lost track. Upwards of 30. Marnie doesn’t like to leave Jaz, or to alert her to anything, so…”
“You’re a good person.” You said honestly.
“No, no… Just being a friend.” He said. “But I really thought after he got in all that trouble… Well, I thought he was done.”
“Trouble?”
“Nevermind. You ready?”
“Yeah.” You said. You felt nervous, walking into a building that looked so run down. Harvey walked ahead of you, keeping his arm a little out instinctively. Being with him put you at ease.
Harvey opened the door, and you were met with bombarded senses. It was loud. Shouting, laughing, the noises of slot machines being cranked one after the other. It smelled strongly of alcohol, and unwashed carpets. It was bright, and flashy, and lights were blinking from the various machines. It was a sensory overload.
You blinked hard, trying to adjust to the chaotic environment. Harvey didn’t even flinch. He was scanning the machines, and his eyes settled on a blackjack table. “There he is.” Harvey whispered to you, and took a few steps forward.
You followed behind Harvey, and watched as he approached the table. “Shane.” He said, his voice firm.
“Hello… Doctor.” Shane said in a dopey smile, and then laughed. Clearly, he was drunk. “Come to take me home?”
“Not before you settle your tab.” The blackjack dealer said.
“No, no. No tab.” Shane stammered, waving his hand like there was a bee in front of his face.
“May I remind you of your debt, Mr. Anderson?” The dealer smiled politely.
“Yeah, yeah. Thirty-thousand.” Shane said.
“Thirty-thousand?” You whispered. “Dollars?”
“Dollars.” Harvey confirmed to you. “Shane, let’s go. You shouldn’t be here.”
“Take me home, doctor man.” Shane said, standing up and stumbling forward a little before catching himself on the bar stool. Suddenly, he looked up, and saw you standing behind Harvey. “Harv, what’s she doing with you?”
“She wanted to come. She was worried about you.” Harvey said.
“Aw, worried about me?” Shane mocked. He gazed at you with malice. “Trying to make yourself a saint, then? ‘Oh, let’s go laugh at the town drunk because I’m so much better’.” He said in a high voice. “There’s nothing that makes me more mad than a fake.”
“A fake?” You asked, your voice catching in your throat.
“Don’t take it personally. He’s not in the right state of mind.” Harvey said. His voice was tight, and you noticed he had stepped slightly in front of you.
“A fake.” Shane spat. “Come to laugh at me after I almost made you…” he stumbled across his words, which you were grateful for. You had a feeling he might bring up that one night you guys had, where he was on top of you, and you were ready to go all the way, until he flung himself off of you and ran out the front door. You didn’t want Harvey hearing about that. Especially not now that you found yourself catching feelings for him.
“Shane, let’s go.” Harvey said, leading him outside.
Shane didn’t say anything else, just got into the backseat of Harvey’s green car. He laid across the backseat, and promptly fell asleep.
He was already softly snoring when you got in the passenger's side.
“I’ll take him to the clinic and give him some fluids. I’ll let him know you came with me in case he doesn’t remember. It’s nice to know someone cares about him.” Harvey said while shoulder checking, and then quickly speeding up to change lanes.
You looked at Shane. He looked so peaceful, so handsome, and so troubled while he slept. You sighed and sank into the seat.
“It’s none of my business, but are you and Shane… just friends?” Harvey asked nonchalantly.
“Yes. Definitely.” You said.
“Good. I mean, that’s what he needs…” Harvey stammered.
You smiled softly as Harvey continued to drive on the smooth highway.