A/N: I'm still freaking out about last night's episode...hope this helps...

Part II

"I can walk, you know that, right?"

After a trip to the ER, they were finally back at Graceland. Mike didn't need stitches and his worst injury was bruised ribs. Paige stepped closer to him, tightening her grip on his waist, being careful to avoid his injuries. Looking up at him, she smiled, "Maybe I don't want to let you go."

"Paige, you - "

"Mikey! Are you okay?"

Charlie rushed up to the pair and Paige held her hand out, stopping her before she inadvertently hurt Mike. "Careful, his ribs are bruised and he was grazed. Sulla's guys did a number on him."

"I'm right here."

"Thank God," Charlie said, carefully giving him a quick hug.

"Come on, Rock Star, let's get you upstairs."

"Good to see you in one piece, Levi," Jakes said as he descended down the stairs.

"Jakes, hey, what's the update on - "

"No, updates. Briggs is taking the lead, you're supposed to rest. You can be updated tomorrow. Don't make me take your phone." Paige nudged him towards the stairs and Mike surprisingly relented without protest and they slowly made their way upstairs. Once they were in Mike's room, Paige loosened her grip on Mike. "I should - "

Mike sat down on the bed, grimacing slightly and motioned for Paige to sit down next to him, "I'm okay. My pain meds kicked in, I'm just sore."

"You keep saying that. But - "

"I'm here. You're here. Your girls are safe. The money trail will lead us to Solano."

"I've been so horrible to you since you got me out. I'm the reason you were in there today. You wouldn't have been there if - "

"Listen to me, it's not your fault. Come on Paige, I knew how personal this was for you and I discounted your opinion. I had tunnel vision and wouldn't sacrifice tying the case to Solano to get your girls out. That was my call, not yours."

"But you saved them." Lina was safe. Bruised. But with time she'd recover. Soon she'd head back to the Ukraine and be reunited with her family.

"We both did."

"After I threatened you."

Mike's lips curved into a smile, "You can be pretty scary."

"Maybe just a little."

"Maybe?" Mike laughed, then winced.

"Sorry." Paige started to stand, only to be pulled back by Mike.

"Where are you going?"

"You need to get out of those clothes and into the shower, I'll even help if you promise to keep your hands to yourself."

"As tempting as that sounds, I think the heat from the water will make me pass out."

"Maybe you should've stayed at the hospital." What if Mike was more injured than he was letting on? He could be so stubborn. He checked himself out of the hospital too early when he got stabbed last summer.

"You were standing right there, the doctor said I didn't need to stay. I'm supposed to rest and stay hydrated. Help me change."

"You're right. God, you're always right. Why are you always right?" She teased, brushing her lips over his before wandering over to his dresser. Rifling through the drawers, she grabbed a clean pair of boxers and a tshirt and tossed them on the bed before heading into his bathroom. "Strip," Paige called over her shoulder as she turned on the faucet.

"Come on, I'm wounded. You're supposed to be helping."

Laughing, Paige re-entered the bedroom with a towel and a damp washcloth. "Trust me, I'm helping. You're still bloody and can't take a shower, so..." Paige's voice trailed off as she set the towels down on the bed. Kneeling, she helped Mike take off his shoes and socks, before standing to help him out of his pants. On some other night, Mike surrendering complete control to her had possibilities, but not like this. She frowned when she noticed a bandage on his hip, almost completely covered by his boxers. She definitely hadn't noticed it earlier. "What's that?"

Mike glanced down and gave her an uneasy smile, "It's a bandage. Help me with this shirt."

Paige lightly tapped her fingers on the edge of the bandage, pushing down the side of his boxers, "And if I remove the bandage, what will I find?"

"Paige - hey, check out the wardrobe room to see if there's a nurse's uniform. Not scrubs, but something low cut..."

Not willing to let herself be distracted, she pushed the edge of her nail underneath the tape. "Three seconds, Mike. Three - two - "

"I got grazed by another bullet."

"You weren't going to mention this?"

"I didn't even realize it happened until the doctor told me and you were freaked out enough about everything else..."

Closing her eyes for a few seconds, she nodded and helped him change his boxers. "Is that it? Any other secret injuries?"

"That's it, I swear."

Taking him at his word, she motioned for him to sit down on the bed and he leaned against the headboard, propped up by pillows, groaning a little, he slid over to make room for her. Paige sat next to him, grabbing the damp washcloth and started gently wiping away the dried blood, wishing all the damage Sulla and Carlito did could be erased just as easily. Satisfied that Mike was as clean as he could get without taking a shower, she patted his damp skin dry and took both towels back to the bathroom, stopping to wash her hands. Mike's eyes were closed and she softly kissed him, "I'll be right back. I'm just going to go get you an ice pack for your ribs." She handed him his tshirt, "Think you can manage?"

"I don't want it, the fabric rubs against my ribs and it hurts."

Resisting the urge to tease him about his whining but only because she knew he was in a lot of pain, Paige ran her fingers through his hair for a few seconds before kissing his forehead. Paige headed downstairs, returning a short while later with an ice pack and a plate of food Charlie insisted she bring up to Mike. Handing Mike the ice pack, she set the plate on his night stand.

Mike groaned as the ice pack made contact with his skin and eyed the plate of food suspiciously.

Following his gaze, she laughed, "Don't worry, I didn't make it. Charlie sent it up for you." She handed him a bottle of water and he took a few drinks before setting it down.

"Maybe later, I'm not really hungry. I just want to sleep."

"Okay, I'll check on you later."

"Stay. I'm not going to break."

He handed her the tshirt she gave him earlier and she set it down on the edge of the bed. Kicking off her shoes, she undid her pants, her lips curving into a mischievous smile when she realized she had his full attention. She pulled off her shirt, taking her time as she removed her bra. "Don't even think about it," Paige warned as Mike's eyes slowly moved up and down her body, as if he was soaking in every detail.

"You would have to do all the work."

"Some other time then." Paige slipped on his tshirt and climbed into bed next to Mike, being careful not to get too close. She needed to maintain sort of physical connection with him. Needed to reassure herself that she wasn't imagining this.

Trying to move closer, his breath hitched and he stopped. "You're gonna make me move closer?"

Paige shook her head, "So stubborn." Moving closer, she rested her head on his shoulder as he slid his good arm around her.

"And you're not?"

"Just a little." Paige gently traced her fingers along his abs, making sure to stop as she neared his injuries. She hated that he was hurt. Hated her part in it. But she would never tell him to not put himself in danger. Their jobs were dangerous. She'd never tell him he needed a desk job, he tried that - thought he wanted it, but it turned out he craved the adrenaline rush as much as she did. There was a difference between risky and reckless, and until one of them crossed that line, there was no need to have that conversation.

Mike handed her the ice pack and she set it on the night stand. She should probably go downstairs and put it back in the freezer so it would be ready when Mike needed it again. But that would require moving. And getting dressed, since Mike's tshirt barely skimmed the top of her thighs. Now that she was thinking about it, she wasn't sure if she locked his door. If someone came to check on Mike, them laying in bed together - barely dressed - wouldn't do anything to dissuade the rest of the house that they weren't sleeping together. Not that it was untrue. Not that it mattered. Not that anyone would be surprised.

She heard Mike's breathing start to even out and she reached for the blanket at the foot of the bed, making sure to cover him only up to his waist since he said fabric irritated his ribs. Not that she wanted to sleep half-sitting up, but she didn't want to move him if he was comfortable.

They still had some things to sort out and work through, but she didn't want to deal with any of that today. Right now, all that mattered was that her girls were safe. Mike was safe. Sulla was in custody. Carlito would be soon. Pushing all thoughts about the case from her mind, she slid down a little and pressed a gentle kiss on his chest, snuggling into his embrace before letting sleep and exhaustion take over.

THE END