Harvey loves coming home to you, no matter if youre still working (much to his dismay), on the couch or already in bed, reding before you go to sleep. Its most definitely his favourite part of the day. In this case, it was winter and you were all snuggled up on the couch. Harvey opened the door not soaked from either the rain or the snow for once and shed his coat and shoes, putting his bag on one of the chairs at the table before laying besides you. His hands weaving through your hair, the other stroking your side. “How was your day honey?” You asked listening to his rambling, even if you felt guilty you were inevitably drifting away into a light slumber while he was still talking. He carries you quietly to the bed and changed into his pyjamas, the matching ones you bought in zuzu. He told himself he was just going to lay for a bit but he fell asleep cuddled up behind you incredibly fast. Forgetting to eat dinner :(
(Wrote this in 5 minutes and its terrible but might make a part two tomorrow morning)
Summary: picking up off last chapters cliffhanger and diving straight into Harvey’s 4 heart event. You resolve the conflict after the incident with George, Harvey gives you a checkup, and you two share a jar of pickles in his apartment. 💘🥒
Authors note: I know nothing about the Air Force I’m so sorry. It’s just for the plot and vibes. He needed a backstory!!
Word count: 1.7k! A longer chapter as a treat
“Harvey! Oh my god why are you here? Wait, no, I don’t mean it like that” the surprise visit from the doctor had you stumbling over your words. “You scared me. And I don’t actually think your mustache is stupid. I just… I was really embarrassed about what happened earlier.”
“I actually stopped by to thank you for backing me up earlier. George can be stubborn, so I’m glad you got him to listen to you.” The doctor averted eye contact and stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Do you mind if I join you?”
“Oh uhhh, sure. How much of what I said did you hear by the way?” You hoped silently that he hadn’t heard you call him cute, especially since you’d been talking to a chicken.Harvey slid down and sat next to you on the floor of the coop.
“Just the part where you insulted my mustache,” he replied, stroking his own facial hair. “The farm is coming along nicely. You must be very dedicated to make such a turn around in such a short time.”
Oh thank Yoba you thought to yourself. “Thank you. I guess I’m trying to make up for lost time; I want to honor Grandpa’s memory because he loved this farm and the community. I used to spend a couple weeks here in the summer when I was growing up. I haven’t been back to the valley since I was a teenager. I didn’t think Lewis would recognize me when I came back.” You laughed quietly, an image of you as a gawky adolescent with braces coming back to you
“About earlier, we can put that behind us if you’d like. I didn’t mean to be short with you either. I was startled so I apologize for being curt.” Harvey looked at you with a kind expression before rising from the floor. “I’d like for us to be on good terms going forward.” He extended his hand and helped you up.
———————————————————————————
The bell on the door chimed as you walked in and Harvey’s head poked up from his paperwork. “Hey! Just the person I wanted to see today actually.”
“Oh?”
“I was about to write you a letter recommending that you schedule your annual checkup. If you don’t mind, I’ve got time today actually for a cursory exam.” Truthfully you weren’t very fond of hospitals, or doctor’s appointments. But you were also a terrible liar and had no time to think of an excuse. Better just to get it over with, you supposed.
“I can make it work.” You set the jar of pickles aside temporarily and followed Harvey to an exam room. You sat down on the paper, uncomfortable with the sudden formal shift in your dynamic. You’d gone from friend to patient in a matter of minutes. Harvey placed his stethoscope just under the collar of your shirt and you flinched at the touch of the cold metal.
“Sorry it’s chilly,” Harvey said. “Your heart rate is a little high. Do hospitals make you nervous?” He asked with a slight furrow in his brow.
“A little bit” you admitted. It certainly didn’t help that this was the most physical contact the two of you had shared since you met. He placed his hand on your shoulder and your eyes met. You felt your palms start sweating.
“Take a deep breath for me please” you did as instructed and tried to focus on anything else but the feeling of his hand on you. “Your lungs sound strong.” Harvey was in his element as he checked off the boxes of a routine checkup. He tested your reflexes, examined your ears and eyes, writing down his observations on his clipboard. “So far you seem to be in good health. I just have a few more questions about your lifestyle”
“Ask away, Doc.” Harvey seemed slightly flustered at the nickname but made a quick recovery. He pushed his glasses back up his nose and stood up straighter, clearing his throat
“As I was saying. Working on the farm involves a fair amount of physical labor I assume, so I’m sure you get enough exercise. What do you usually eat in a day?”
“Oh I usually just eat the foragables I find around the valley. There’s a lot of leeks and wild onions out now. I saw a weird looking berry the other day and I ate a couple of those. Sometimes I eat eggs from the chickens, or buy something from Gus for dinner.” Harvey was visibly stressed as he absorbed the information you gave him.
“I would highly advise that you eat a more balanced diet. Foraging is fine as a snack but it won’t provide enough energy for your activity levels. Eggs are good, but I’d implore you to try and eat from all the food groups”
“So this probably isn’t a great time to say I also eat the algae I find in the mines?” You’d never seen the poor doctor so stressed; you imagined most of his patients weren’t quite as odd as you.
“Let’s move on. How much sleep do you get at night?”
“6ish, sometimes less, sometimes more”
“Well, 8 hours a night is recommended but 6 isn’t terrible I suppose. But I’d encourage you to try and find a healthier routine. Farming is labor intensive and if you don’t give your body the care it needs you won’t be able to keep up sooner or later.” He had a look of genuine worry in his eyes and it pulled at your heartstrings. You’d only known each other for several months, but you sensed the beginning of a deep connection.
“I’ll try to be better,” you replied softly. You weren’t used to being chastised, but you understood he meant well.
“Thank you. You’re free to go and have an official clean bill of health from me”
“Well I stopped by to ask a favor actually”
“Oh?”
“I was wondering if you’d do me the honors of being the very first taste tester of my first batch of farm fresh pickles” you grinned and gestured toward the door “I left them on the counter.” Harvey smiled back and held the door open for you.
“I’d be honored. I’m actually about to close up for the day, would you like to come upstairs?”
The two of you headed upstairs to the small apartment above the clinic. Furniture was sparse and well loved, and there was a small kitchenette off the main room. The back wall held a large bookshelf that boasted an assortment of books and some small trinkets. Another shelf was lined carefully with model planes. There was a radio station in the corner by the window. “It’s not much, but it’s home,” Harvey said sheepishly.
“It’s great” you replied, eyes scanning the room with eagerness. You were itching to learn more about him. You took a seat on his small sofa, your heart nearly skipping a beat when he sat next to you, his knee inches away from yours. “You can have the first one” you offered, extending the open pickle jar toward Harvey.
“Don’t mind if I do.” Harvey reached in and plucked out a particularly large pickle before biting into it. His eyes lit up as he tasted it. “This is delicious! You’ve really never made pickles before?” You shook your head. “Well you certainly have a knack for it.” You grabbed a pickle for yourself and were pleasantly surprised at how good they were. You were glad he wasn’t lying to spare your feelings.
“What’s with the planes?” You saw Harvey get a far off look on his face while he thought about his response
“I’ve always been fascinated by aviation. I did a stint in the Air Force years ago. I wanted to become a pilot but it didn’t pan out. It ended up paying for my med school tuition though. The model planes are something I like to do in my free time. I find them relaxing, and they remind me of my time in service.”
“I would have never guessed that. Pilots and doctors are pretty different. What led you down this path?”
“I think I’ve always had an affinity for helping people. I joined the Air Force to serve my country; this feels like a way to serve the community in a different way.”
“That’s actually really selfless.” You toyed with images of Harvey in uniform as you reached for another pickle, not realizing that Harvey had the same idea. Your hands met in the rim of the jar and you flinched back instinctively. The small touch left you wanting more. You adjusted your legs slightly, tentatively letting one fall against his. Harvey made no effort to break contact.
“Tell me more about yourself. You said you explore the mines. Are there really monsters in there?”
“There are! I haven’t made it down very far but there’s all kinds of creatures down there.” You animatedly described the things you’d encountered on your adventures: colorful slimes, stealthy rock crabs, large buzzing insects, agile bats and more. Harvey looked on with a mixture of awe and fear.
His voice grew soft as he spoke “please be careful in the mines. I’d hate to see you get hurt.” Suddenly it was as if a switch had gone off in his mind and he got up from the couch. “Wait here one second!” He bolted across the studio and down the stairs. You heard rummaging from below before Harvey emerged again holding an armful of various medicines and first aid supplies. “Take these.” He thrusted the bundle of supplies into your arms.
“Harvey I can’t just take these from you. These are expensive” you insisted, trying to hand them back to him. A roll of gauze unraveled on the floor. Harvey plucked it from the ground and placed it on a table.
“Nonsense. Consider it part of your checkup.” He looked you in the eyes with a pleading expression. “Please take them. And promise me you’ll keep them with you in the mines”
@purpleandgreen13 Asked for Harvey fluff and I was happy to oblige... Enjoy, or don't, but I hope you do :D
Professional Advice (926 Words)
I sighed as I looked up from my rows of corn. The crows, demons more like it, had decided my old scarecrow was no longer an adversary, based on the multiple stalks strewn ruined on the ground. So help me, if I ever catch one of those damn vermin, I will erect a shrine to Yoba and burn the bird alive. I thought with a grumble.
"I don't have a whole lot of experience in the matter, but I don't think this is the proper way to fire a slacking employee…" He chuckled good-naturedly. I smiled and felt a small blush creep up my cheeks also.
I let out a frustrated yell as I took my anger out on the scarecrow, ripping it from its perch. I drug the scarecrow's corpse out of the corn field, mumbling to myself, if the crows are used to you, fine, we'll turn you back into a stranger… I tossed the straw corpse out of the field and was startled to hear an audible "OOF". As I rushed out, I was relieved to find Harvey holding the scarecrow in one hand and brushing his coat off with the other. An adorable blush colored his cheeks. My anger all but vanished as I took the scarecrow from him. Who could be mad while looking upon Harvey blushing? Not many, I was convinced.
"Yes, well, I guess that's why you leave the farming business to me. This is actually the nicest way to fire a scarecrow. My other options involved cannons and actual fire." At this, his chuckle morphed into a true laugh that rang across the yard. I loved the sound of his laugh.
"Remind me never to let you find me slacking." He held out his hand for mine, and I shifted the scarecrow to take it. We began walking toward the house and I looked up at him.
"Dr. Harvey, are you flirting with me? Cheeky…" Harvey's smile went crooked and his blush deepened.
"Yes, well… don't tell my girlfriend." He replied sheepishly. My sense of humor was rubbing off on him and it made me laugh. I stretched up and kissed his reddened cheek.
"Your secret is safe with me." I gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. Harvey stopped and looked down at me, his eyes glittering in the afternoon sun. He leaned down, cupping my cheek with his free hand, and suddenly his tone was soft but serious.
"All of me is safe with you." He whispered as he placed a tender kiss on my forehead. My insides warmed and turned to goo. I never believed the people who talked about butterflies in their stomachs, but since meeting Harvey I had an entire sanctuary in mine. Any coherent thought I had was lost, so I just grinned like an idiot and leaned into his hand on my face. He chuckled bashfully. "I hope that wasn't cheesy. Was that cheesy?"
"If it was, I don't care because you made me very happy." An honest reply for an honest question. Harvey kissed my forehead one more time and backed away, maintaining his grip on my hand.
We continued our way to the house where I propped the scarecrow against the porch.
"So what is our friend's fate?" Harvey asked, motioning to the scarecrow.
"I'm going to fix the head and then give him a makeover." I pulled the floppy, wide-brimmed hat off the scarecrow and plopped it on Harvey's head with a laugh. "That's a good look for you, you should wear a hat more often."
"Actually these hats are excellent sun protection and I have been known to wear one on occasion…"
"You're so cute when you're rambling health tips." I interrupted. Harvey blushed. It was my favorite Harvey face-state. "And as much as I would love to let you continue talking medical to me, I do need to get working on this." Harvey's face fell, ever so slightly, at my admission.
"You're right, I need to let you work." He kissed my hand. "I did come out here for a reason, though. I have to test your well water." He pulled a small kit out of his pocket. "It is important to the safety of your health and of your crops." I smiled and shook my head. You can take the boy out of the doctor's office, but you can't take the doctor out of the boy. I motioned toward my well.
"Test away, my dear doctor. I'll just be here playing a horror-movie-makeup artist in an attempt to keep the demon crows at bay."
"Most definitely." Harvey beamed and wandered off toward my well.
"Very good… I will see you later, then?" I leaned over and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
*****
Later that evening, after making the necessary repairs and changes to my scarecrow, I wandered back into the cornfield to put him back to work. As I approached the stake where he usually perched, I noticed a bundle laying on the ground. Did I leave something out here? I wondered to myself, not remembering having any sort of bundle when I came out this morning. When I was close enough, I lifted it to find a dusty white coat and a short note.
“Perhaps the only cure for determined crows is a big, scary doctor! Maybe our friend should change professions? Take this -- Doctor’s orders!” I laughed as I tucked the note in my pocket and, after situating the scarecrow back on his perch, draped the lab coat over his straw shoulders.
