"I gave Sid the name."
DEA agent Paige Arkin tossed in her bed, twisting through the sheets and tangling her legs. It had been about 3 weeks since Sid Markham had gone out and killed Mike after Paige ratted out his cover.
Mike Warren, Michael Warren the FBI agent. Michael, the agent that Paige felt so many things for. Mike, who was murdered after being given up by her. And Michael, who went so deep undercover and had to do unspeakable things to keep Paige from hating him. Paige had been told so many times by Briggs that Mike didn't tell her what happened to Lena because she would've gone crazy, wouldn't focus and wouldn't do her job. She couldn't deny that, Paige felt so responsible for Lena; she just felt so close to that poor girl. And now Paige always woke up from nightmares about killing Mike and him hating her.
Mike was recovering now, he'd come a few days ago to see how he'd handle being back in the groove of living. Most of the time he was laid up in bed and Charlie would go in to check on him. But every night since he'd been back Paige would find herself at his door at night checking that he was real, breathing. She'd let her eyes linger and peruse his room.
This night was worse for no apparent reason. The agent's mind was flooded with the images of Mike struggling for breath or unconscious as she held his hand in the hospital and apologized profusely.
Paige woke up with a start and a tear found its way down her cheek. She threw off the comforter and stumbled to her door. She regained her balance and made her way down the hall to Mike's door. It was impossibly quiet in his room. Paige needed more than to see him tonight, however. She wanted to hug him and grasp his strong arms. So slowly she opened his door and tip-toed inside his barren room.
Mike's beautiful blue eyes fluttered open and the gracious orbs landed on her. He fought his way to a sitting position and took some deep breaths. Paige started talking before she could stop.
"Mike, I'm sorry. I didn't want you to die, I swear! I don't know why I told Sid and I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Mike. Michael? Agent Warren?" she realized his eyes had shut again and he wasn't speaking. She bounded to his side on the bed and held his handsome face with her hands. She said his name softly a few times before he let out a sigh. He started speaking in a whisper, pain obviously evident from her actions and being shot, "drowned on dry land,"-as Sid put it- and then being medically dead for about two minutes.
"Paige, what are you doing? I'm not dead anymore. I'm still here, Paige. I'm right here," Mike comforted her. She climbed into his bed and snuggled up to him with no warning. He gasped from the rough movement as his bullet wound rubbed against his shirt fabric. Paige felt guilty, again, and tried to comfort the man. He reassured her that he was alright. Paige started to rub Mike's side as he ran his hand along her arm softly.
"I'm still here, Paige." He kissed her forehead softly and closed his eyes.
'I'm still here."