Hi all! I made some edits to the first chapter because I realized it was a bit wordy and didn't leave much room for Pike. I would also like everyone to know that I am a big Pike shipper. But I do like the struggle they are going through... hopefully it will bring them closer together! Enjoy!

CHAPTER 1

Paige is done. So much has happened and then this. A glimmer of hope illuminated her when she got the call saying that they found Lina. The kind of hope she hasn't felt in a long time. Especially since Mike has been back at the house. But that hope was gone after Paige confirmed a truth that she didn't want to believe. Lina is dead. There is no doubt in her mind now. Lina's poor sister felt about as lost as Paige has. But now Paige realized she can't do it anymore. Irina has to go back home and live her life and Paige has to do the same.

Paige is reminded of that bad feeling everyone had in the pit of their stomachs when Mike said he was now the one in charge. That feeling turned out to be all too accurate. Everything has gone to complete shit. The people, the relationships, the entire house. Everyone is so caught up in themselves and their own problems that they can't even have a conversation with one another, let alone work together towards a common goal.

Paige's emotions have plummeted down one deep valley without any sign of them climbing back up anytime soon. This case consumed her and, now, she has to let go. Let go of the case, of Lina. Of Mike.

How could one person go from creating so much pleasure in her life to so much pain? Is there any way they can go back now? Do either of them want to go back to the way it was before they lost themselves in the case?

Coming to these frustrated questions without any real answers, Paige gets up from her bedroom desk with a purpose. She makes her way downstairs to find Mike at the dining room table, looking discouraged and overworked as usual. Defeat evident in both of their eyes.

"This case has to be over and you have to leave this house. Now. For good."

"One thing at a time Agent Arkin." Of course Mike wants this case to end too. Probably more so than anyone in the house. "How exactly would you like to just wrap this case up with a nice little bow? Because all of the bows that I've been putting on it have been completely unraveled by everyone. Especially you."

"We still have Briggs in play with Sid. We just need to give him a push. Catch Sid in the act, now." Paige says with the same anger Mike displays.

"No shit. Except Briggs isn't in my back pocket like he is in yours. So I get to wait until he acts on something when it's convenient for him. You got what you wanted. So now what? Are you just coming here to tell me what I already know my job is or do you actually have something constructive to add?" Mike was feeling like he was in quicksand. Everyone wanted this case to be over but all anyone did was find ways to screw everything up. He needs their help.

"Have you ever cared about someone so much that you don't exactly think logically when it came to keeping them safe?"

The blind fury Mike felt when he found out Paige was missing. The time he went to get her out of the facility without any protection or back up. The time where he hit himself in the head with a tire iron so she didn't have to feel the pain of knowing Lina was gone (and maybe a little so she didn't blame him for it). "I have."

"Well Briggs has someone like that. And just as badly as Briggs wants to keep her safe, she wants to make his life a living hell."

"What are you talking about? Who is this mystery person and why would she help us?" Mike feels like he's getting played. Again. But he's also a little desperate.

"Someone from Briggs past. That's all you need to know right now. I'm going to meet with her today and see what would be the best way for her to help us. As captain of this ship, I just thought you should know what was going on."

"Well that's a first. Keeping me in the loop. I guess better late than never. And I'm going with you to meet her."

Paige thought Mike would have better things to do than to baby sit her, but I guess trust is a bit sparse between the two these days. "That's not a good idea. I'd prefer that it didn't get around that I went to talk to her. Going behind Briggs' back is already a difficult move... hopefully when this is all over he'll understand where I was coming from."

Paige is starting to realize just how south this could all go, but how badly she wanted to shut down the Solano cartel. So badly that she's willing to, not only go behind the back of someone she considers a friend and a mentor, but to exploit his weaknesses.

"I get it. But I'm still coming with you."

Not willing to fight anymore and dreading the awkward car ride, Paige concedes. "We leave at noon."

As Paige walks away, "Willing to go behind Briggs' back after he just helped you… you must really want me out of Graceland."

It sounded a little too real when he said it.