And I, will stumble and fall
A part of Paige subconsciously realizes she's touching him. Another part is just trying to read from the book to get her mind of the man handcuffed to the bed. Mike was right, that she had wronged him.
He was sick, she knew, but sick did not mean ruthless. So she reads to him. She strokes his shoulder to make sure she still feels the rising and lowering of his chest. He was right, that the current situation is partially her fault, and she intends to stay and help him however she can.
From the corner of her eye, Paige sees his eyelids flicker. Then she feels him pull away.
A faint "Paige" echoes from his mouth shortly thereafter. She looks down, but can't bring herself to hold his gaze.
"Something's wrong".
Paige takes a breath, "Mike, you're okay," she tells him in what she hopes is a soothing voice.
"I can't breathe", he chokes out moments later.
Paige drops the book to the floor, and places her hand tenderly on his chest. The veins bulging in his neck are a sure sign he's struggling- and she thinks of what it must've felt like for him to drown on dry land in that hospital bed. But she needs him to focus on breathing, even if it hurts both of them. She owes him that much.
And I, will swallow my pride
Paige knows she's a proud person, it's why she went to meet the second time with Sid to settle her debt. What she didn't plan on was Mike showing up, and offering her his forgiveness. Days later he's the one consoling her after she knows she doesn't deserve the award. She may have rescued her girls, but she also let her prejudice cloud her judgement on him.
Twice Mike Warren had forgiven her sins against him, even after she sold him out to the man Mike most wanted to put behind bars. This wasn't adding up, and Paige knows she owes Mike a favor.
He's helping her clean the carpet on the first floor. The only question he asked was when he first ran in, and saw her with tears in her eyes.
"Paige, are you..?"
"No...I'm not...I'm not hurt" she said faintly. He went over to grab the bleach from the cleaning closet and to round up some rags. He knelt down, started scrubbing, and Paige watches him work for the next ten minutes. When she comes out of her haze, she becomes aware of the armored vest he hadn't bothered to take off. Paige reaches out to help him take it off, and his hand instinctively grabs hers. They say nothing about it. Once his vest is off, she notices the sweat stains on the neck of his shirt.
Mike stammers "I - it's nothing," but offers up a worried smile.
She nods, fully knowing he must have panicked on the drive back to the house. Even if they aren't the way they once were, she knows he still cares about her.
"You know, I never thanked you for reading to me." he whispers after what seems like a never ending silence.
"I only wanted you to get better," Paige replies, "and I'm surprised you remember that..." She wants to say more but doesn't know how to phrase it.
A week later, it dawns on Paige that she needs to let Mike know that he's not going crazy, when everyone else thinks he's off his rocker. She knows now how she can repay him. So she walks by Mike's open door. She doesn't bother to knock, she just walks up to the project of maps set up.
"What are we looking for?" She states painly.
He scoffs, "We?"
She doesn't pretend to know why he's apprehensive, but she needs to earn back his trust. She needs him to know that someone is on his side.
"You don't need to help me, Paige. Everyone else thinks I've lost it."
She places a hand on his chest, "Mike. You're not crazy. I helped you last time you had suspicions about Briggs, and those suspicions were spot on. I want to help you, please let me."
"Alright." Mike catches Paige's gaze.
Then she realizes her hand is still on his chest. But in that second she pulled away, she felt his heartbeat. She wants to wrap her arms around him, because the beats are so strong, and she can't imagine how she could let that fervent beating come to a halt.