Note: This story takes place shortly after "Moonlight in Montreal."

Prologue

"No greater love, but this: that a friend lay down his life for another."

Chasing rogue agents through old buildings was not Birkoff's idea of fun......computer games were more his speed. Somehow, not having the secturity of the transport van made him feel uneasy. To his left, Michael slipped silently in and out of the shadows and around corners. Nikita followed his lead effortlessly. Birkoff admired how easy these two made this whole mission seem.

The hall was dimly lit....the target directly ahead. Each of the operatives carried a detonation device. Michael had received orders to take out a renegade agent, Gerald Berman, and his men. Recently, Berman had been caught selling secrets about the section to a terrorist faction through an unsecured line.

Berman and his men had set up their 'hideout' in the old office building the three operatives were now searching.

They now stood in front of the door to the office said to contain the computer with damaging information about the section programmed into it. Birkoff scanned for alarms and found none. Birkoff nodded to Michael and Nikita, and they entered the dark office; hologyn flashlights on.

"Remember, after you place the bombs, you have two minutes to evacuate," Michael reminded them.

The three went to work, setting their bombs in the designated places. Michael spotted his target: the main computer containing the same information that Jurgan had held over the section's head for so long. He shone his flashlight around the room.....the papers had to be here.....without them, there was no evidence against Berman and his men.

"Get ready," Michael whispered. Birkoff and Nikita stood back, ready to run for the exit. Michael touched the sides of the bomb, but he didn't expect what happened next.

A high pitched shrill emitted from the bomb, and it exploded. The last thing Nikita saw was Michael running toward her to shield her from the blast. Birkoff had no idea what hit him......except that his skin was burning. Their world vanished.

CHAPTER ONE

At the start of the match......

Darkness and dust settled about them everywhere, and somewhere in his subconscious, Birkoff could hear debris settling around him. It took a while to gain his bearings; to remember what happened......then he remembered: the bomb had exploded prematurely. Birkoff knew Walter would never had made a mistake like that. He had a feeling that this was something Berman would have done; that this was a set up. Berman had helped Walter work on the bombs........yes, it was Berman.

Since he had been in the section, no one had really trusted Berman. Not even Michael. Berman was a rebel of sorts before the Section. One night, in a drunken rage, he shot all of the hostages in a tavern holdup, execution style. Berman told his mentor, Petrosian, that it had been a political statement. Petrosian, some thought, had trainned Berman a little too well.....he was always a little too interested in Walter's work as well.

Birkoff's body ached, especially his face. He reached up and felt for his glasses. They were shattered, and his face was badly cut. He reached through the darkness, and felt the body next to him. Whoever it was, the person was dead. Where were Michael and Nikita? He felt the flashlight through the rubble, and moved to turn it on. Birkoff could only see shadows of light.

"Nikita?" Birkoff whispered, his voice shaky.

He heard a loud moan, and followed it as best as he could. The moaning grew louder, but it was also very weak.

"OW! SHIT!!!!" Birkoff swore as his hand met with a nail. The two bodies he found were stacked one on top of the other. "Nikita, are you okay?"

"I-I think so."

Nikita slowly opened her eyes. Every part of her body ached, and she felt disoriented. She couldn't feel her left leg.......One thing she was conscious of was the body on top of her. Nikita reached up and felt the soft hair, the muscular back, the dried blood.....Michael's face was shielded in the nape of her neck......

"Michael?"

At first, she couldn't remember how he got in that position, then she remembered the bomb......he had saved her life....Now other memories crept into her mind: of how cruel she had been to him while Jurgan had been alive, how Michael had tried to free her from the Section......she had never thanked him. This man, her mentor and friend, had put everything on the line for her freedom. He proved at that moment, that he would do anything for her.

"Birkoff?"

"I'm here, Kita. Is Michael okay?"

He swiped his hand through the air as though it was still dark. She knew, now, that Birkoff couldn't see.

"I-I'm pinned underneath him. He tried to protect me from the blast." It replayed in her mind in slow motion..... Michael's body felt very cold. Nikita slowly wrapped her arms around the body on top of her. The movement caused her pain, but, if Michael could feel her touch at all, she wanted him to know that she was there for him.

'Michael and I are through.....are through......through.....' The words were meant to hurt Michael. Jurgan had seemed happy to hear them, and she had chosen Jurgan over Michael.

Birkoff felt for the beam that lay acrossed Michael's back. "Hang on, Nikita. I think I can move this beam myself."

He moved it, but with some effort. Nikita heard Birkoff moan in agony. The removal of the beam's weight made Nikita's breathing a lot easier. "Thank you, Birkoff."

Nikita tried to get a sign of life from the operative above her. Nothing.

Birkoff, in the mean time, had backed up against the wall next to Nikita, and sat against it. This was his worst nightmare.......this was worse than a computer malfunction.

Nikita was afraid to move Michael; partly out of fear, partly out of pain. Gingerly, she rolled the body onto the floor, and with minimal movement. Nikita moved Michael so that he was flat on the floor. Then, she moved the body next to her.

Nikita took off her jacket and started to rip strips of material. Birkoff felt her clean some of the glass from his face, Then she placed a clean strip over his eyes to protect them.

"I don't hear Michael. How is he?"

"He'll be fine. You know how tough he is." Nikita leaned back and closed her eyes. "We should rest now."

"But..."

"I said rest. There is nothing we can do for him, but wait." Nikita's voice was weak, but firm. Birkoff didn't question her; he was very tired. Nikita lay next to Michael and sleep took over.

CHAPTER TWO

On behalf of all our sponsers I must welcome you.......

"We've lost contact with team one. Their homing devices are still active. There is also signs of an explosion." Walter announced. He was worried about them all.

Walter had never worked with such and intelligent trio as Michael, Nikita, and Birkoff. He had come to know them all, and respected the work they did. They were like splashes of watercolor in a dull, lifeless world.

"Where are the hostiles now?" Operations asked.

"The hostiles are on level three headed for four. Team one is on level five." Walter knew about Berman's intense dislike for Michael, and vice versa. Michael never liked Petrosian, and Berman was a carbon copy. Berman never liked Jurgan, and Michael was an exact duplicate....... As far as Walter was concerned, Team one was in deep Shit.

"Team one must be rescued at any cost. When you see Berman, or any of team three, take them out of the game. Am I clear?" Operations said.

"Walter, get us in."

Walter pointed out the best route; Through the back enterance. "Team one is located here."

Operations nodded to team two, and they disembarked from the van. Team two raced through the shadows of the night, and entered the building. The doors came open easily, and the men surveyed their surroundings.....residue from the explosion was still settling.

"Which way, Walter?"

"The staircase on your left. Berman is two levels directly above you." Operations motioned for his men to follow him, and they ran up the stairs silently to level two.

"Lemker, you and Harker check down that way. Richards and I will take this side. If you see them alive, I want Michael. I don't care what you do with the others."

Harker faced Berman, "Sir, on what grounds----" Harker was hit by three bullets, and slumped to the floor. Harker had been trained by Michael.

"Don't ever question me, do you understand?" Berman laughed insanely, and hurried after the others. He though of his Mentor, Petrosian.....what the section had done to him.....Killing Michael would be payback enough. Westin reached the top of the stairs, followed by Operations and Taylor.

Cautiously, Westin peeked around the corner and saw one of Berman's men standing guard by the corner down the hall. Westin took the man out with a direct shot to the abdomen.

"I think I know a short cut, sir." Westin said. Operations nodded and the two men followed Westin down the hall to a freight elevator a short way down the hall. "I saw it in the schematics while we were in the van." Westin smiled. They all stepped inside, and the door shut behind them.

"Hey, Berman! This door is jammed." Berman and Richards walked over to help Lemker with the door to one of the offices. The door finally gave way and the three stepped inside. There was evidence of an explosion everywhere, and Berman smiled. Walter saw the hostiles move into the office, but not the one that contained team one.

"Walter, where is the team in proximity to our location?" Operations asked.

"You have arrived on level five. Berman is still on level four in an office directly under team one. The schematics show a hole in the ceiling of Berman's office. If they get through that, they will be in the same room as team one."

Walter heard the comm click off, and he sighed. He hated waiting. CHAPTER THREE

Which I do, there's a catch.......

Nikita had used every medical technique she had learned, but it wasn't enough.

Birkoff couldn't see, but Michael was a different story. Nikita didn't need a medical text to tell her that his wounds were extensive. She moved the inert body closer.....she wanted him close. 'What a strange twist of fate.' the girl mused.

After their escape from red cell, she had been shot. Even though she lay comatose in the Med Lab, Nikita knew Michael was by her side.....had felt his lips, so soft, against hers.... Birkoff was asleep, now was a good time to talk to Michael.....

"Michael, I tried to lie to myself that I didn't love you. I lied to Jurgan that we were through. I meant to hurt you, but you stuck by me. Jurgan told me that you couldn't live without me, but the truth is, I can't live without you. Please live, Michael. I never realized how much I needed you."

Her eyes rested on the body beside her. She could hear him breathe, but it didn't sound good.

"Kita, are you still there?"

"Yes, I'm here, Birkoff." There was a strange pause. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine. Where's Michael?"

"Next to me. He is asleep."

"He's been asleep for a while. My eyes hurt."

Birkoff tried to take his mind off the pain by thinking of the change he had seen in Michael since the day Nikita had entered the section. Michael never admitted it to himself, but he had fallen in love with Nikita in a protective sort of way. there were also times when Birkoff had actually caught Michael smile......Nikita had stood beside Michael when Simone had reentered his life, and then killed herself in front of Michael. Nikita had been there for him....

Michael and Birkoff were both in need of medical attention, and Nikita was praying desperately for them both. Especially for Michael. Nikita knew he was dying, and there was nothing she could do about it. He had given up the will to live.

Even in his comatose state, his mind was racing. Nightmares. Not of Simone. He couldn't move, nor could he see his attackers. They were shooting at him.

Mandatory refusal. Refuse to obey, listen believe.....Nikita. Refuse to trust.

This wasn't supposed to happen. Michael's breathing became rapid.....The section had been breached. They were going to cancel him.....

Nikita saw Michael fight against the dream. She had heard about comatose people dreaming, but this was different. Michael was literally panicking, Nikita then realized that Michael was having trouble breathing. Terror gripped her heart. "My god, Michael! Don't punish me like this!" Now the nightmares were her own.

'.....nothing more between us......between us....us'

'I could learn to live with you, but I can also learn to live without you. I just don't know if Michael can. He loves you, Nikita.....loves you.....loves.... ' Michael's body was going through a mandatory refusal of its own; refusal to live. Nikita never thought her words meant so much to Michael, and because of them, she was beginning to realize that Jurgan's words were true. Michael had no longer found a reason to live. After Nikita had killed his friend Rene, Michael had asked her why she just didn't let Rene kill him....the tears were now her own. CHAPTER FOUR

I don't care if you're a champion.....no one messes with me There was no sign of team one in the office, and Lemker swore under his breath. This was where the team was suppose to have been.

"They're not here, sir."

"I can see that!" Berman was not a happy operative, but then which operative was happy? "Perhaps Walter lied to protect the team."

Lemker kicked aside a piece of plaster. The plaster?! Berman picked it up, thinking it must have fallen from somewhere. Richards pointed up and the three operatives noticed a gaping hole above them.

"Shall we pay our mice a visit, gentlemen?" Berman motioned to Lemker to prepare to rig a line into the ceiling of the office overhead.

Operations and his team left the freight elevator, and began to search the offices as quietly as they could.

"Which room, Walter?" Taylor whispered.

"You are ten offices down from their location. Hostiles now moving upward. Could be they found the damage in the roof of their office."

"Let's move!" Operations and team two were at a dead run toward the damaged room.

"Hey, men. Did you hear that?" Berman asked as he moved closer under the hole.

Richards was quiet, but deadly. Michael had trained him when he had first come into the section. Michael had trained a lot of good operatives, but Richards was like Karen.....He loved to kill. One by one, team three made their way up the rope to the room overhead.

"Look at the mess in this room!" Westin commented. "The bomb must have exploded in the next room."

The three men stopped at the door to the next office and, struggled to open it. There was a creak, and the door fell inward over a junk pile of beams and dust.

Birkoff was startled at the sound of the footsteps coming, not to quietly across the floor. He tried to remain calm. Nikita heard the same thing, and was trying to find Michael's gun. She couldn't find it.

"Don't move, Nikita. If you do, I will cancel you." Nikita looked passed the barrle of the gun, and up at Richards. "What's going on, Richards?" Nikita inquired as calmly as she could. "Well, my dear, I've come for the papers, and then, to cancel Michael."

Richards looked with fiened pity on Michael's still form. "Poor blighter doesn't look so well does he?" Richards pointed his gun at Michael's head. Nikita heard the gun cock, but the shot she heard was not from his gun. Richards fell to the floor. It was then that Nikita saw Taylor, Operations, and Westin at the far end of the room. Team two approached the wounded operatives, to help them out of the building. Operations picked Michael up and 'fireman carried' the operative out of the office, followed by Birkoff on Westin's shoulders, and Taylor helping Nikita out.

"We have to hurry. There is an undetonated bomb on level three!" Operations was the last one in the freight elevator. "Walter, have the transport meet us at the back exit!"

"You got it," Walter replied.

Operations Knew that Berman and Lemker were still inside the office on level four waiting to hear from Richards.

Team two evacuated the building, with members of team one in tow. They had made it out with two minutes to spare.

As the van drove away, The building burst into flames.

CHAPTER FIVE

End game........

Michael was resting peacefully, his upper body slightly elevated. Birkoff was sleeping in the next room, his sight fully restored. Nikita was glad her friends were safe, and that she was safe as well.

She sat in a chair next to Michael's bed and waited. He hadn't regained consciousness since the blast. It had been almost five hours since their return to the section, and it had given her time to think. Michael. Her friend, lover, and mentor.........she loved him so much. Nikita was startled when she felt a weak squeeze on her hand, and she smiled.

"Michael?"

No answer.

"Michael? Can you hear me?"

Slowly, he opened his eyes and looked around the room puzzled. "How--did--I--" His green eyes rested on her blue ones. "Kita? what happened?"

"You saved my life, Michael."

"I--I did? I don't remember....." he replied groggily.

Nikita placed a kiss on his cheek. "I love you, Michael."

"And I love you, Kita." His whisper faded into sleep. And as his eyes shut, Nikita thought she saw Michael smile.

The end