The cool Autumn wind whispered past him as he jogged down the quiet lane near his apartment. He noticed the colors of the leaves, the dove-gray sky, and the crisp cold air. He loved to have time to himself because it gave him time to think, Think about the Section, his life and Nikita.....Nikita was the best friend he had ever had. She stood by him through some of the most difficult missions, like their last mission involving Red Cell. He always felt guilty about lying to her all the time, but he also knew how the Section felt about her, or at least how Operations felt about her and their relationship. He had been given some time off to recover from their last mission but Nilkita had some work left to do for Madeline. Michael had lied to her a lot , but she always remained a trust worthy friend when most would have turned and walked away...especially from rats thought she had no choice; being strapped to an upright table and all.....

He cut the thoughts from his mind It had broken his heart to see her in that kind of predicament, but he couldn't think of anyone else he would have rather been held hostage with. He wondered if someday she would understand why he did what he did to please the Section. Maybe someday he would understand as well. He unlocked the door, stepped inside, closing the door behind him.

The warmth of the room, and the aroma of fresh hot coffee greeted him. He inhaled deeply. After a hot shower, he put on a comfortable pair of dark green sweats, poured a large mug of French roast coffee, and stretched out on the black leather sofa. He left the silence envelope him, except for the sound of the wind......It had picked up a little, and was blowing through the pines outside the bay windows. It was going to snow soon, and Christmas was only a week away........

"Christmas," he thought to himself with a heavy sigh. It had been a long time since he had allowed himself to think about the Holidays. Since Nikita had entered his life, he had suddenly found a reason to care; a reason to put his heart on the line. His life had changed for the better.....except for The Section. He and Nikita had tried so hard to hide their feelings, but he suspected that Operations and Madeline had known for awhile. He even suspected that Operations had sent Nikita on various missions hoping that she wouldn't return. Operations had never had a whole lot of faith in Nikita's work.

With a sigh, he reached for a novel he had been meaning to read. As he lifted the book, something metallic dropped to the floor. The noise startled Michael, and he bolted upright. Carefully, he placed the book back on the table, and reached for whatever had dropped.......reaching for his hand gun as well. The metallic tranqu-dart felt cold in his hand. He studied it for awhile, wondering how it had gotten on the table, and why he hadn't noticed it before.......he must have been more tired than he thought.

"How in the hell did it get here?" He muttered. Michael felt a chill go down his spine. There was no sign of a forced entry, except that his laptop computer was smashed beyond repair.

'Hell hath no fury,' he shivered. Normally, he would have laughed at the saying, but now, it took on a whole new meaning and it scared the hell out of him.

He loaded his gun, and slowly stood. The intruder was still in the apartment. He scanned the room.....The closet?....Too obvious......The kitchen?......Been there.....But the bathroom door was ajar........Not the way he had left it. Cautiously, he stepped closer; holding his gun at the ready. He pushed open the door with his free hand, and peered inside......he couldn't see anyone, but he could hear them breathing. He took a step forward.

"I know you're here! Give it up!!"

He saw a motion in the shadows. He moved to attack, but this person was fast. The contact of cold, heavy metal at the base of Michael's skull stunned him, and he semi blacked out. The intruder's breathing calmed slightly, although it was still audible. Michael felt his arm being pulled out to the side, and pinned under a knee......

"Michael was found dead in the bathroom with a wrench." The voice was malicious, but it sounded familiar.

'Sick joke,' Michael thought, but he couldn't respond.

"This is a present from my father, my friends and I.....For all you've done. Think twice before you interfere again."

The pain became excruciating as the intruder injected a micro-cell chip into Michael's arm. Michael moaned in pain. The person chuckled for a moment. "It's nice to see you in pain once again, my friend." The attacker got up and prepared to leave the young operative to contemplate his fate. "My father told me never to outstay my welcome."

The moon was shining full as the person left through the door.

He felt strange; not himself. His surroundings were unfamiliar. The Section? Operations? Nikita? The names were familiar, but unfamiliar. His neck was swollen, and his arm hurt like hell. He felt his mind slipping away from him. Michael pushed himself up against the wall of the bathroom, and massaged his forehead. He felt like he had been on an overnight drinking fest. He reached for his gun, staring at it like he had never seen it before.

"What a wild party," He said sarcastically.

The pistol felt somehow comforting in an odd kind of way. Michael stood up, uneasily, got out of the apartment somehow, got into his car, and went on a mission of his own. Michael was still wearing his sweats, not his basic black.......He really didn't care either.

"Hi Michael." Nikita greeted him as he walked by, but he walked toward his office went in and slammed the door behind him. The look he had given her was very cold.

"bad vacation ?" Nikita said looking over at Walter. The middle-aged man shrugged. He had seen Michael in worse mood, especially when a mission went wrong, like the one with Simone.

Nikita remembered her first real undercover assignment as a maid. She botched the mission, and Michael had been very upset with her to the point where he actually yelled at her.

"Could be sugar, could be." Walters eyes narrowed...it was one thing to be moody it was another thing to be unnaturally moody. The real Michael would have never acted that way toward Nikita.

"Nikita?" The name hit his brain like a hammer. She was lovely, he had to admit. His hand massaged his arm to try to ease the pain. He knew he wasn't thinking straight; he felt like he was having a nervous breakdown. He pulled the weapon from his pocket and looked at it. He had never felt more tense in his life.... except for the incident involving Red Cell.

"Nikita," Michael said aloud. Why was he thinking of her? He opened the door.

"Nikita, can I see you a moment to go over our next mission?"

'Next mission?' Nikita was puzzled. She turned to see Michael motioning her to come into his office. They didn't have any missions scheduled, therefore there was no need to go over any profiles.

"You'd better see what he wants, Sugar."

Nikita nodded, and walked toward Michael's office. Walter couldn't stop thinking of the phrase; ' "Come into my house", said the spider to the fly.'

Nikita stepped into the office and closed the door behind her. The barrel of Michael's gun greeted her.

"Don't make a sound, or, so help me, you're dead!" He motioned for her to sit down in the chair in front of him. He sat casually on the edge of the desk. His breathing was labored, and the arm bearing the chip trembled. She sat down, uneasily, in the chair, her eyes watching the weapon as it wavered in front of her face.

"Michael, what's--?"

"SHUT UP!!!" He snapped. He got off the desk, and stood before her. He used the barrel of his gun to push the hair from her face. He noticed some residual scars from the rat bites.....the metal was cold against her cheek. Michael knelt down beside her, and looked at her with the same intensity as when she had botched her first mission.

"If you make any attempt to warn anybody, or if you try to escape, so help me, I'll cancel you without a thought. Do you understand me?"

Nikita could only nod. Maybe Red Cell had done more damage than the Lab Techs had first thought......The gun still caressed her hair tauntingly.

Madeline walked toward Walter with Birkoff and Operations following her.

"What's going on, Walter?" Madeline inquired. She thought that it was strange that Nikita hadn't shown up for their morning tea like she sometimes did.

"Michael called Nikita into his office about an hour ago to talk over a mission profile. He seemed rather tense, if you know what I mean."

"Tense?" Operations asked.

"Yeah, and he seemed agitated and preoccupied as well," Birkoff added.

"There were no missions scheduled, why would he want to go over a mission profile?" Madeline looked at the three men.

"He was holding his arm as he walked by my work place," Birkoff said. "It looked as though he might have injured it."

"Hmm," Madeline looked at Operations.

"Birkoff, put Michael's office on surveillance mode." Birkoff did as he was told. They watched the screen intently, and saw a scene they weren't expecting. Michael was holding Nikita at gun point. Operations was shocked and speechless. He had never had one operative hold another hostage in within Section One. Maybe outside but never inside. Madeline noticed that Michael did appear to be agitated, and seemed to be nursing his one arm.

"What in God's name?" She heard Operations say under his breath.

"There might be something else to this" Madeline offered. She pointed to the screen, "look closer at how Michael is acting. It looks to me like he is fighting against something." She was always able to see things that others didn't; to look beyond any situation and see a deeper problem.

The others nodded in agreement. Birkoff began a mission of his own. He was mumbling to himself "....intensify scan." They watched as Birkoff initiated an in depth scanfor anything unusual. He smiled and pointed to the screen. "What do you have Birkoff?" Madeline asked.

"It's a micro-cell chip imbedded in Michael's arm."

"A micro-cell chip?" This caught everyone's attention. "I've read white paper on these, but this one is different. I'm not sure how yet but it's not good." Birkoff pressed a coded signature and glanced over at his friends. "We have an incoming call."

"Put it on screen." Operations ordered. Birkoff looked up at Operations, " We have verbal only."

As the message began to play the three of them stood silently to listen. "Section One, as you see , I have done my homework. Have you done yours? I stopped by Michael's last night to give him a present from all of us, a thank him for all he has done for us. Have a Merry Christmas."

As the screen went blank, Birkoff began to search for a voice match but found none.

"That sounded unsettlingly demented." Walter shivered visibly. If there was one thing that really bothered Walter it was a psychotic opponent.

"Damn scrambled voice messages." Birkoff was going to try until he got the answer, but it was useless. "I'm sorry but I'm having a hard time tracking this one, but I 'll do my best."

"So Nikita," Michael lifted her chin with the barrel of the gun. "What 's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?" The gun moved from her chin to her cheek, and she felt herself tremble. Nothing Michael trained her for prepared her for this....Friend against friend mentor against student.

"Michael, can't we talk about this?"

Pain shot through his arm and Michael winced. He shot her an if-looks-could-kill look, like a caged animal. Nikita made a slow move toward him, but he shoved her back into the chair. The motion almost made him black out and the gun fell from his hand. Nikita kicked it out of the way.

"Michael?" Nikita looked at him softly. He took an angry swing at her. She blocked it easily, and he landed against the wall unconscious. Nikita didn't care who was watching, she went to his side and held him close to her. "You know Michael, I almost hated to do that." Nikita had meant it as a joke but , but instead found herself crying.

A medical team appeared at the door within seconds followed by Madeline and Operations. Nikita watched as they lifted Michael on to a gurney, strapped him down and rolled him away. She knew how much he hated infirmaries. "Why?'' Nikita asked Madeline; tears streaming down her face. Madeline helped Nikita up. "Come into my office and we can talk." As they entered Madelines office Nikita could smell the pot of Orange Jasmine tea on the table, Madeline poured them both a cup. Nikita looked into her cup of tea trying to figure out how to say what she felt she needed to say. "I know that you and Operations have been watching Michael and I for a long time. To tell you the truth, Michael is the first person that has ever believed in me. We have both had our shares of heartaches, pain, and joy. It just helps to have someone you can turn to; who knows and understands what I've been through." Madeline nodded and continued to listen as Nikita spoke, until the cell phone rang and Madeline answered it. "So he'll be out for some time... I see... Home for the Holidays, Thank you.... Yes I'll send her right down. "The chip shattered in Michael's arm, but they successfully removed it all. Knowing how Michael feels about Medlabs, we thought it would be easier to send him home to recover. We thought you would like to watchdog him."

"Is there a problem?"

"Whoever tried to kill him last time might try again." So it was kind of like a mission as well. She had come to the conclusion that Michael had put himself at the mercy of Operations every time she made a mistake that she would find a way to repay him. Nikita nodded, as she stood to leave. She couldn't believe that Section One was actually allowing her to take care of Michael. Nikita couldn't contain the excitement in her voice. " Can I see him now?"

"We have arranged for a lab tech to take you back to Michael's apartment. Oh, Nikita, Merry Christmas." Madeline smiled to herself.

Nikita entered the infirmary at a rapid pace. A lab tech greeted her at the entrance.

"He is still a little groggy from the sedatives and all, but you can still sit with him while you are waiting, okay? We have some pain killers you can give him, it will help fight the infection and help him sleep, he should take one every six hours."

"Sure Gregory." She loved Gregory's accent....he was Irish. Nikita nodded, and stepped inside shutting the door behind her. She stood there a moment watching Michael sleep......he looked so peaceful. his arm was bandaged from his shoulder to his wrist, and a large bandage covered the stitches at the base of his neck. Nikita stepped up to the bed, and laid her warm hand on his, as she sat in the chair next to his bed. " Michael, you get to go home for the Holidays, and I will be there for you. You are very special to me....you always have been and you always will be." She couldn't resist the temptation to kiss him on the cheek. She softly brushed the back of her hand against his cheek, and Nikita thought she saw him smile. Two labtechs entered the room and motioned for Nikita to follow them as they rolled Michael out of the room.

"Madeline and Operations have given me permission to take you and Michael back to his apartment so you can look after him while he is recovering. I wonder if Michael knows how lucky he is to have you as a friend." Nikita smiled as she got in the back of the Aid Unit. On the way to the apartment, she thought she heard Michael mumble something and then he fell asleep again. She held his hand all the way home.

They arrived at Michael's apartment after about an hour and a half drive. The houses on the block were decorated with lights, glittering trees, and it all looked so festive...the type of Christmas Nikita had never known. The back of the Aid Unit opened and they wheeled him into his apartment. They placed him under the warm goosedown comforter on his bed. "Merry Christmas Nikita" the Labtechs said as they turned to leave. "And Merry Christmas to you both as well." She watched as they left, and hoped they had a safe ride back.

Snow had begun to fall.

That night, Michael drifted in and out of consciousness. Nikita had a tree delivered, and some decorations and lights. Soft Christmas music played in the background. As she decorated the house and the tree, she listened to Michael's delirium as he came off of the stimulant the chip had been laced with. When she was done, she got some cold towels. sitting on the edge of the bed, she applied the cold towels to his forehead. Nikita saw Michael tense as the cold towels met his hot skin. She dabbed at the sweat that formed on his face, and watched him sleep. the snow continued to fall heavier, and the wind blew it in swirls around the street lights. About Midnight, his fever broke. Nikita fell asleep holding his hand.

The ground was blanketed in the silvery glimmer of the moon shining on the snow. Light shone through the bay window and cast a shadow over the two forms that lay on the bed. Nikita had fallen asleep on the comforter, her head resting on Michael's shoulder. She woke to the sound of something outside..... she kept still for a moment her hand reaching for her gun on the night stand. The figure crept around to the door, Nikita heard it open. She was wide awake now, and her instincts came to life. This was her secret mission profile. Nikita could see a shadow on the far wall. The figure stepped closer to the bed.... slowly taking something from it's pocket.

" Michael I have something for you." The voice was breathy. closer..... Nikita tensed like a cobra ready to strike...... She heard the gun click to ready..... Nikita turned so fast that it caught the intruder off guard. The intruder was now looking down the barrel of Nikita's gun. Slowly she got up, and motioned for the intruder to step outside. The intruder silently obliged, and Nikita followed behind. The air felt cold as they walked across the street to a parked car.

"I want to know why you are here and why you tagged Michael?" The intruder remained silent. "WHY?" Nikita didn't like to be woke out of a dead sleep by impertinent intruders. A branch weighed down by the snow fell to the ground, and temporarily distracted her. The intruder whipped out another gun, and took aim. The shot missed Nikita. She spun around and fired one shot only hitting her target between the eyes. The figure slumped backwards into the opened car. Nikita released the brake and the car rolled down the hill crashing into a tree on the other side of the road. As the car burst into flames, a crowd had begun to form. Nikita quietly went back to the apartment, shutting the door behind her. She called housekeeping, and made her way back to the warm bed. Michael was still asleep. Cold and exhausted, she snuggled under the covers. She nestled up to Michael, careful not to hurt him. Nikita fell into a sound sleep. Outside, the clouds had blocked out the moon. It had begun to snow again.......the possibility of a white Christmas was definite.

The next morning, Christmas Eve, Operations and Madeline sat in her office having a mug of hot coffee. They had just received a report from another operative involved in a "clean up" mission near Michael's apartment......Nikita was definitely Michael's protege'. "Garsha," Madeline looked at Operations. "Wasn't he suppose to have died when the rest of red Cell was exterminated?"

"This was his son by Simone, Michael's wife." Operations smiled.

"Some secrets are best kept that way."

"It is better that way."

Madeline laid the reports on her desk, and looked at Operations. "How about a Christmas breakfast at my apartment?"

"I accept." The Section was dark and quiet except for the operatives that chose to work.

Nikita felt a hand absently run through her hair. She propped herself up on one elbow, and looked down at him. She leaned down and gently kissed him "Michael?" she whispered. He slowly began to stir and opened his eyes.

"What happened?" his good hand went to his neck....it ached... everything ached.

"It's a long story Michael. The main thing is that you are alright." she pushed back a lock of hair from his face.

"Rest now." Nikita kissed him again and they fell asleep in eachothers arms, and when Nikita awoke again it was two in the afternoon. She noticed Michael was awake, gazing at the decorations.

"Do you like it?" it reminded him of his childhood; something he had forgotten.

"Yes, I do... very much." He struggled to sit up and Nikita helped him. She made him comfortable with some pillows propped up behind him. Nikita offered him some water and he gratefully took it.

"How about some Coffee?" Nikita said walking into the kitchen. It was good to have her here; Michael smiled inwardly, but then frowned. A memory shot through his mind like lightning... Something happened between he and Nikita at the Section. His office, the gun..... Nikita.

"Kita what did I do to you ?" He stared at her waiting for an answer. He would eventually find out, so she told him the whole story. Nikita noticed the emotions crossing his face at that point.

"I'm sorry Kita." He leaned his head back and looked at the ceiling. "It wasn't your fault Michael, You are the best friend I have ever had, I knew you would never have done anything like that."

"I swear to God I love you Nikita." She watched as he drifted off to sleep again.

"And I love you Michael." She sat back and enjoyed the picture perfect day.

Night came, and Nikita found that she had dozed off. Michael's new laptop had been beeping for a while. She sat down at the computer and logged on. The message read:

"Merry Christmas, From Walter And Birkoff."

Nikita smiled and replied the message;

"To my two favorite guys: Merry Christmas Love Nikita."

Nikta felt a soft kiss on her neck. She turned to see Michael standing behind her, still bandaged and all, but he was standing by himself which was a good thing. He looked better than he had in days. Slow, Soft Jazz Christmas music played in the background. Michael kissed her neck again and she laid her head back to look into his eyes.

"Would you care to dance?" he offered her his hand , she took it and he led her to the middle of the room. He showed no sign of pain.

"Are you sure you are well enough?'' He pulled her close and they melted into a long lingering kiss.

"Thank you for being there for me Kita. Thank you for all you have done for me." He whispered. She always had an affinity for French Accents.... The moon was shining into the room, and the Christmas tree light were the only lights on in the room. They laughed, talked and danced , and somewhere a clock struck Midnight.

It was Christmas Day. He kissed her softly, "Merry Christmas Nikita."

"And to you Michael." the music continued to play. The snow fell softly to the earth.

In their world there was peace.

THE END