author's note:
This is just so y'all know what each of the divisions are:
********** means change in place or time (could be both could be only one)
-*---*-*---*- means change from Section to Nora or Nora to Section
=== message from deep cover operative
** (shorter number of stars) song lyrics/ a quote (the quote is towards the end)

Seven twenty-three in the morning, Michael's quiet voice was telling her to come in. Nikita glanced in the mirror she had on the wall.

"Maybe after this they will leave him alone about your actions." Nikita told the image in the mirror. She laughed harshly. "Yeah right!"

On the way in, she thought about her relationship with Michael and how it was strained- had been for weeks. He had rebuffed her latest attempt to understand him and get to know him. And then on their last mission, she had prevented him from killing a teen who had been in the wrong place at the wrong time. He had been furious with her.

***********************************************

"Michael, Nikita's disappeared!" Birkoff froze. Her blip on the screen was gone- suddenly just gone.

"Pull out, Michael! It's an ambush!" They both heard Operations voice his order.

They stared at each other. "Come in! Come in now!" Michael announced and both prayed Nikita would return to the van.

No such luck. None of the others had seen her since they had departed from the van. They waited, everyone looking at Michael to give the order to go. It never came.

Operations ordered the driver to return to Section just as Michael got out of the van. There was no way he could leave her behind.

***********************************************

He woke up eight hours later in Medlab and Madeline by his side. One glance at her face and he knew his world was crashing down around him. "She's dead." He whispered.

Madeline looked away and stated. "She's gone, Michael. I am sorry. When we recovered your body-" And she let Michael draw from there.

***********************************************

Birkoff and Walter took the news hard- not knowing what to do with themselves. Their friend, their shinning star was gone. As the weeks passed, both grew distant. Walter no longer flirted with the operatives; Birkoff withdrew back into himself, refusing to leave Section again- choosing to remain in his quarters or at his computers.

Michael was the worst of the three. Yet instead of shutting down like he had with Simone, this time he buried himself in missions. Going out in the field when he normally would remain in the van. He let the pain from his injuries block the pain of losing Nikita.

Operations allowed it to happen for three weeks. After three weeks he called Birkoff, Walter, and Michael into his office and did something he hadn't done since he had joined Section One many years before. He remembered his past- his past before Vietnam and the prison camps.

"Nikita will never die. She is one of those people you remember for life and in your memories, eternal life burns." Operations told them.

The three stared at him. They couldn't believe that he was trying to help them over the pain.

Operations sighed. God he hoped this didn't last much longer.

**********************************************

It was that night that the letters arrived- one to each of them. Lost in the mail for three weeks- not uncommon when the zip code had been written incorrectly.

*****I am gone now, Michael. We all knew it would happen some time. Just as we all hoped it would be later, not sooner. I won't lie, I knew this was coming. I could feel it coming.

**I am sorry for leaving you this way, Michael. I will forever look to you as my mentor, no matter where I am now. You must look for me in your dreams and I will never be very far.

**You got me through this life for so long and I never thanked you. It's a little late but, thank you, Michael.

**Don't let my memory die, Michael, and I will always be there for you. You never told me your past but it no longer matters. I never told you I forgave you for all of your manipulations and lies. I do, you know. I forgave you when I read your message to free me. You gave me everything while all I ever gave you was anger and hurt when you wouldn't let me in or when things wouldn't go the way I wanted them to go. I love you, Michael. You may not want to hear that, well, read that, but it is true.

**Your memories of me will be my eternal life. And with my memories, maybe one day you will realize how big a heart you still have, something I could never seem to do when I was with you. To help you remember, play the songs on the CD enclosed with this letter.

Luv, N*****

Michael had reread the letter many times by the time dawn returned and the songs had remained on repeat, Mariah Carey's Hero & Never Forget You, and Celiene Dion's Because You Loved Me . He sighed and smiled at the sun rise. He would remember her, but what he decided he would remember even more was her compassion and warmth for others. Maybe, if he could, he would help an innocent like Rudy. He would keep her memory alive, if he was strong enough, in others.

******************************************

Birkoff let the tears fall for the first time since his childhood, as he read the letter Nikita had sent to him weeks before. He put in the enclosed CD and listened to the songs (Mariah Carey's Never Forget You and Hero) as he read the letter.

*****Birkoff, my little brother of Section One.

**I never had much of a family, but if I had, I hope that they would be like you and Walter. You were my closest friend as well as one of my protectors. It is your ability on computers that has helped me survive the missions as well as Michael's actions and Walter's toys.

**My life in Section One, without you, would have been boring and cold. With your vice for junk food and your affinity more for machines than people, you stole your way into my heart.

**No matter where I am, Birkoff, you will always be in my heart. And if you keep me in yours, I can never die. My light will continue to shine through you, Walter, and Michael. I love you, Birky, for through you, I was a sister and a friend, I know you aren't big on the soft music, but when you are having trouble remembering, play these two songs and it will get easier.

Luv, N*****

******************************************

Walter's letter made him smile. It was Nikita through and through. And she had sent him the same songs as she had sent Birkoff.

****I will always be your sugar, Walter. Just as you will remain my sugar daddy, even now that I am gone. It was your humanity that helped me through life in Section One as it was your toys that kept me alive more times than not.

**You were my friend and bright spot. Your generosity and your jokes made the pains of the lies and the manipulations hurt less. I know now that they are necessary. I know now that Michael protected me and loved me the only way Section would allow him to. I wish I had seen it earlier so I could tell him.

**You are a part of my heart, Walter, no matter where I am now. And I hope that I will be a part of yours as well. My light may have faded in Section but it will never go out. Not with you, Birkoff, Michael, and even Madeline and Operations to remember me. I love you, my friend.

Luv, N*****

-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*-

Nora was as free as one could get. She held a nine to five job balancing budgets for her clients, owned a car, had a bank account with a decent amount of money in it, and owned a small townhouse in an upscale park of town. It was the perfect little normal life. Except she had no friends. Oh, she went out with her co-workers every Friday night, went shopping in the malls on Saturday, went to church on Sunday mornings and jogged in the park every morning before work, but there was no one to really talk to. And she hated her existence. Simply put, she was bored.

Until she watched as the two men in front of her converged. She sighed. They were so obvious. Did she feel like making them work, or going easily? Making them work, definitely! She wasn't in the mood to be generous. She was tired of the game already and it had only been four months. She had at least another four- only if she was lucky. She was planning on another six to eight months.

**************************************

"Do you always make it a habit to try and rough your accountants up before bringing them to see you?" Nora demanded of the man sitting at the pool.

The man laughed. "For being rough, you look mighty fine, Ms. Archangel." He had a deep baritone voice, almost a musical tilt to it.

It was pleasant to listen to, Nora decided before she answered him. "I don't look roughed up only because it was your boys that ended up getting hurt. This is the nineties, a gal has to know how to protect herself." Nora shrugged her shoulders with a smile on her lips. She sat across from him and turned serious. "Obviously, you needed me for something, what is it, Mr. Delacrow? Ya want a tax break? Doesn't everyone? What me to hide a little income? Only if my spontaneously increases. Tax fraud? Well, that's a bit of a problem, I don't lie- ever."

Jackson Delacrow leaned forward to look at her better. He was enthralled with her. She was beautiful, her raven hair a contrast with her pale skin, her huge green eyes speckled with gold, and her attitude was a wonderful mix of sassy overconfidence and humor. He liked her.

"Well, then, I guess I won't be lying on my taxes any longer. And call me Jake." He smiled fully at her. "But that isn't what I brought you here for. If I had known you were my accountant and a beautiful woman, I would have collect you myself. It seems we have a mutual friend, Kentwood von Draffe." He allowed the name to sink in.

Nora smiled. "Kent, how is the old man?"

"He is doing well. He spoke highly of your other skills, very highly. I might be in the market for them." Jake smiled devilishly.

Ye gods! This one thought he was god's gift to women! Nora chuckled to herself. She remembered Kentwood and wondered which skills he had spoken of. "And which skills are those, Jake?" Nora stared at him, letting her stare remain on his lips, adding to the sexual tension.

Jake swallowed a smile. "He never mentioned those, but I would more than willingly join you in bed. I am seeking the cat burglar skills Kentwood raved about."

"The man has got to learn to keep his mouth shut." Nora shook her head. "And sorry, but I don't mix business with pleasure. Maybe after." And she left the thought dangling. With a glance at her watch, she stood. "I suggest that if you want to contact me in the future, come yourself. Next time, I won't be so nice to your boys. I have an appointment to get to, so if one of your boys will drive me home." Her voice left no room for a negative answer.

Jake stood up and moved to her side. "Until after." He promised before his lips caught hers in a sensual kiss.

Nora smiled into his lips, then drove her tongue into his mouth and her hands into his hair. Two people could play at this game.

When he broke the kiss off, his breath was slightly ragged and his hair was wild. Nora smiled, wiped the lipstick off his lips and turned to the awaiting "boy."

Two days later, roses arrived at her office. "Meet me for dinner. 7 pm. Tonight. PortSide." The card wasn't signed, but Nora knew who had sent them. Maybe the game would only last another four months after all!

Nora showed up promptly at 7 and was escorted to Jake's usual table. He stood when she approached and helped her with her chair.

"You look absolutely stunning, Nora, darling." Jake whispered in her ear before he took a short nibble on it.

Nora sighed, and as he walked back to his chair, she let her hand brush across his crotch. She smiled when he sat stiffly. "Are you all right, Jake?" She asked innocently.

He smiled in return and tipped his head. She had scored that point but the game wasn't over- it was only the first inning after all!

Dinner was a lively affair. Nora had raw oysters for an opener, followed by lobster and a small portion of the prime rib- rare. Jake enjoyed the king's order of filet mengion. They talked of interests and found that they both liked the sea and sailing. Jake asked her if she would life to go sailing on Saturday, she agreed.

They danced a couple of numbers before she invited him back to her place for a night cap. He accepted the invitation, his eyes showing her what he was expecting once they were alone.

****************************************

"I like your decor, Nora. The place is full but uncluttered. Did you make all of these wire designs yourself?" Jake asked as he looked around while she made coffee- he had discovered at dinner that she didn't drink.

"I did at one point in my life." Nora told him and handed him a cup of coffee. "It might be a little strong. I tried to weaken my normal pot." She warned him.

"Hmm. Definitely needs sugar." Jake smiled suggestively. He put his coffee down but reached for her instead of the sugar bowl.

She moved against him, rubbing against his crotch, as he kissed her deeply. She moaned as his hands kneed her buttocks. She forced him to move backwards until she could reach to open the door. She broke the kiss and whispered. "Good night, Jake. After." Then she shut the front door and locked it.

Sighing with relief, she leaned against the door and smiled. He was an over zealous one- she would work it to her advantage- and his downfall!

-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*-

Operations smiled as he looked down over his operatives. In the last three months there had been quite a few changes. Walter and Birkoff had gotten over their grief, never forgetting their star but letting the pain go. And then there was Michael. He had changed the most. And he only had Nikita's memory to thank for it.

Madeline stepped up to his side and caught his smile. "What are you thinking about now?"

"Even in death, she was able to give him back his soul." Operations stated softly. "She gave him back his humanity, his compassion."

Madeline chuckled. "And here we always thought you wanted that cold machine!" Her voice mocked one of Nikita's accusations.

Operations chuckled. "If she only knew."

"In the end, I think she did, Operations." Madeline placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "She was a miracle, one we needed badly at that time."

Operations snorted. "I hated her in the beginning. Her disobedience was purposeful, I told myself. It wasn't until she was canceled that I saw what she had begun to do for Michael. But when she returned, there was no way that I could let them get away with such a betrayal. Your suggestion of Jurgen was the perfect. I never thought she would nearly fall for him, though! I almost thought that everything would be worse than before because with her ability to help him came her ability to hurt him."

"But they got passed that and even though their relations were strained now and again, they had found something in each other that neither could forget." Madeline nodded. "Just like we have." She smiled up at her best friend before she turned and walked out of the office- she had an operative to work on.

Operations watched her leave with a smile in his eyes. She was his line to sanity. When he needed her, she was always there for him. If she hadn't always been there- Operations shook the thought from his mind. There was no sense in going there.

The soft beeping of a satellite uplink brought him back to Section One and he moved to his desk to answer it.

===Everything is going smoothly here. Target in sight. Almost .within reach.===

Operations reply was simple. "Be careful and good luck." He breathed a sigh of relief. This deep cover mission was proving to be more difficult than he had anticipated. He didn't like risking his operatives by communication but this mission required it- he had to know when to send the team in and the only way to do that was when the special operative sent a message telling him it was safe to go.

-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*-

"You have got to tell me what is going on!" Annabelle declared as Nora took yet another box of flowers into her office.

Nora laughed. "Over lunch today, we shall talk!"

"Aren't you lunching with flower man?" Annabelle asked, suspicious.

"Well, yes and no. We have lunch but never end up eating." Nora chuckled, leaving what they actually did up to her co-worker's imagination.

Annabelle's eyes widened in understanding. She laughed. "I want details at lunch!" She stated and got back to her office.

*******************************************

"So you haven't actually done it but you've been leading him on." Annabelle concluded at dessert.

Nora nodded. "Yeah, I guess I have lead him on, but I haven't lead him and where he hasn't wanted to be lead!" And she laughed. "He's overbearing at times, believing that because he wants me, he can have me. I like to think I am just proving him wrong." Annabelle chuckled. "You have spunk, Nora, no one can say you don't! So how long have you been seeing flower boy?"

"Two months. I told him I don't mix business with pleasure. Essentially, I won't take the next step until his taxes are done. I do have some principles!" Nora smiled. Annabelle chuckled. "Sounds like you have the man under your finger."

"No." Nora answered quickly. "If that was the case, it wouldn't be any fun!"

A week later she was done with his taxes and they had planned to meet at his boat- her idea. It was much more romantic. The boat, the stars, soft music, candles, and the soft sway of the waves. She had told him was one of her fantasies.

Jake set it up for her, knowing this was going to be one night he would never forget.

Nora loved the scene, only wishing it was with a man she loved. She smiled up at Jake as he offered her a hand over the side. "It's beautiful, Jake. Thank you." She stated softly.

He claimed a soft kiss before he lead her down into the galley for a glass of champagne.

Four hours later she was leaving him a note and walking off the boat. She sped back to her townhouse, grabbed the bags she had packed before she had gone to Jake's and disappeared.

****************************************

"What the hell do you mean she is gone?" Jake roared. "She can't just drop off the face of the earth! Find her!"

Two weeks later there was still no trace of her and Jake wasn't angry that she was gone- he was mad that she had fooled him! She had taken his bargaining chip with a mercenary group- he was going to make millions off the designs of the top secret new military weapon. Now he was going to die at their hands because the whore had weaseled her way into his house! There was no way he was going to admit he had been so enraptured with her that he had never checked her out fully nor had he been very restrictive of her access to his house.

-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*-

===Phase one complete. Moving on to phase two.===

Operations' sigh was one of relief.

Until he read the obituary in the next morning's paper. "Damn!" He swore. He could only hope that his special operative could handle the heat.

***************************************

Michael was furious. He had realized something the night before as he read Nikita's letter again and listened to her songs. And if it was true, there was no one that he could trust anyone any longer.

Madeline looked up as he barged into her office. "What is it, Michael?"

"Was she a special ops? Sent in to bring me back after Simone? What was she, Madeline?" He demanded.

Madeline recoiled inwardly at the open hostility and anger he was projecting. "Who are you talking about, Michael?"

"You know damned well who I am talking about! Nikita! Was she a special ops allowed the freedom of expressing herself only to bring your precious top cold op back to you?" He roared.

Madeline was shocked. Nikita? A special op? Insane! "If you honestly believe that then there is nothing I can say to you. Why do you think this. Michael?"

"Because I finally understand that she isn't dead. I thought there was something wrong with her letter! She says no matter where I am now, not that she didn't live through a mission! And come on! Lost for three weeks? Yeah right!" Michael swore.

Madeline shook her head. She thought he had gotten over his grief so well. Where had this belief come from?

Michael stormed out of the office when Madeline didn't say anything else.

Walter watched the boy slam his office door and wondered what was going one. But he didn't have much time to think before Madeline was requesting his presence.

"Why would Michael believe now that Nikita is not dead and that she was a special ops sent in to help him over Simone?" Madeline asked the old man point blank.

Walter stared, shocked at her questions. "What? Is that the reason he is in such a snit?"

Madeline nodded.

"Ludicrous! Nikita? A special op? Not even if there was a cold day in hell!" Walter exclaimed. "As for why now, maybe because it's the anniversary of her death. Or maybe it had to do with his last mission." He shrugged, at a lost.

Madeline nodded. "Do you believe Nikita is alive, Walter?"

"Of course she is! In everyone that remembers her, she will always live!" Walter smiled.

Madeline smiled in response and dismissed him.

*****************************************

"Operations, we have a problem." Madeline stated as she entered his office.

He looked up from his papers. "What is it now?"

Madeline caught the tiredness in his voice and wondered what was worrying him this time.

"Michael believes that Nikita was nothing more than a special op sent in to return Section's prodigy to normal after Simone's death."

Operations choked. "What?"

"He thinks she is alive and that she was a special op." Madeline repeated softly.

Operations rubbed his face. What else could go wrong now? "Do you think he could handle a mission right now?"

Madeline thought for a moment. "What kind?"

"Infiltration of a chem lab. Just him, Birkoff, Walter and you will be posing as a doctor for the lab." Operations answered.

"Yes." Madeline nodded.

"Call a briefing in twenty minutes." Operations directed.

"Why only us? Why not a team? And why Madeline?" Michael asked,

"Because this lab is funded by the Agency so we can't be noticed. Madeline looks like one of the doctors there." Operations answered shortly.

*************************************

===Are you crazy? What the hell are they doing near here?!?!===

Operations sighed. "I had no choice. Nerve toxin retrieval." ===Almost done. I'll go under for a few days. Contact you tomorrow.===

*************************************

Operations was nervous. The nerve toxin retrieval from the chem lab had gone perfectly. They were getting ready to return to Section with the toxin. But he had a feeling something was wrong. His deep cover operative hadn't contacted him. Even underground the operative had the ability to contact him. He was supposed to have been contacted two days ago.

**************************************

"Madeline, we have a situation. You and Michael are going in to retrieve a deep cover operative in the city. I haven't had contact in two days." Operations was telling her over a satellite uplink when another came for him. "Hold on, Madeline."

"As you can see, we have your super operative. She was good, very good at eluding us for such a long time. But we want the plans. Section One, do not stand in our way on this. We will have the plans make no mistake about that."

Operations stared at the screen until Madeline's voice brought him back. "Sorry. Transmission just came through. Correction. You will wait for a team to arrive. Two will return the toxin here, the rest will be lead by Michael to retrieve the deep cover operative. She is in Legion's hands."

Madeline nodded. "Send the intel with the operatives."

-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*-

Damn them! Where the hell had they come from? And when she had been so damned close! Another week at the max and she would have finished the set! The first game had been so easy! The second one went as expected. This one wasn't supposed to be known by anyone save her and her employer!

Nora looked up at the sound of footsteps approaching. When the door opened, she wasn't surprised at who she saw- her employer. "Kent, what a shocking surprise! How are you, darling?" She drawled.

The man grinned. She hadn't lost her sass! But then his face hardened. "You had my brother killed. You shouldn't have done that!"

"Jake? The man deserved to be killed for the ease at which I got those plans! Cripes! He allowed me unrestrictive access to his house and boat. I watched him put the plans in the safe when I stole them for him! And the combo! Even an amateur could pick that one!" Nora laughed.

Kentwood von Draffe stepped forward and beat her for a few minutes before he got his fury under control.

But she was still smiling when he finished his little release of anger.

"You won't be smiling much longer dear. Tomorrow you find out what pain really is." And he turned with a sadistic laugh.

Nora hung her head.

-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*-

"This is where she is. We believe that her specific location is in one of these rooms in the basement. This is the schematic of the building. . ." And one of the operatives went on about the information they had for the retrieval mission.

"Why is this operative so important?" Birkoff asked.

"Because she has information that we need." Madeline stated. "We are close to taking out most of Legion's people. We need her intel to start the attack."

Walter was impressed. Obviously this operative could take care of herself.

"How long has she been held? Should I expect to carry her out?" Michael spoke up then.

"Yes. She's been held for three days now and by the time we can go in, she'll have been held five days. Also, Legion's top interrogator was seen entering the city early this morning."

Madeline swore.

Everyone looked up at her. She never let her anger show- especially in such a vulgar way!

"The man is a sadist!" She stated and turned away. God help you my friend, she prayed.

"Anyway, her employer is the one that sold her out to Legion. Months ago she was the reason a mercenary group took out his younger brother. Kentwood von Draffe is the one that trapped her and he is to be brought in alive. The rest are to be left alone. We will get them in the sweep later." Operation's voice spoke over the satellite uplink.

-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*-

She was barely conscious when she heard someone moving toward her cell. She slowly made her way to the darkened corner by the door as they made their way to her cell. She had to get out, the mission depended on her information.

She swept the first one's legs out from under him but she wasn't fast enough to get by the third one. He caught her as she collapsed from the pain and the exertion of energy she didn't have.

"Got her, pull out!" The voice ordered in a harsh whisper.

Nora moaned. It couldn't be!

In the van, she barely recognized Madeline through the haze of her vision. "Saturday, 2 am. This Saturday 2 am GMT." she whispered.

Madeline nodded and watched her lose consciousness. She stopped the doctor. "You do everything there is to save her. If she dies, consider you and your team canceled. Got it?"

The operatives stared at Madeline. None of them, not even Walter, had ever heard the conviction that was in her voice now.

They had been back at Section for two hours now. The woman was stable but still very critical. Michael was distant from everyone. Birkoff was furiously trying to coordinate the massive strike against Legion planned in less that eight hours.

Walter walked over to Michael's office. "Do you honestly believe that Nikita was a special op, Michael?"

The younger man stared at him but remained silent.

Walter shook his head and left. The boy was still in a lot of pain. He had tried to bury it, but like all things you put off, they come back to haunt you.

*******************************************

"She's looking better. She'll make it, Operations." Madeline laid a hand on his shoulder. She had found him in the young operative's room again, just watching the young woman.

Operations turned to Madeline. "I know she will. She looks so different."

"Well, I have been in deep cover, Ops." The woman on the bed opened her eyes. "I'm not supposed to look the same."

Operations smiled. "Legion was taken care of. Our numbers show that they were depleted to under 48 % thanks to your information."

Nora nodded. "Thank you. Did you retrieve the rest of my intel?"

Madeline shook her head. "What other intel?"

Nora sighed. "Then the answer is no." She was looking directly at Operations. "I may have to go back to get it."

"Operations nodded. "Be careful and heal first."

Two weeks later she was out of Medlab and meeting Walter and Birkoff along with other operatives.

She fell into a pattern of talking with Birkoff and Walter, enjoying their company, while she healed. She got Birkoff to allow her to use his computer station. She wanted to retrieve her intel soon- it had already been three weeks!

*************************************

"Birkoff, why is Nora using your computer?" Michael questioned him one day.

"Because she needs to check on some information and needs the capabilities of it." Birkoff shrugged.

Michael watched her at the computers and felt a slight jab of unease. He didn't trust the woman. She was hiding something, he could tell by the way she avoided him, not overtly but still purposely and very skillfully. While he was watching her, he saw her pound the table next to the computer and stand quickly. He followed her out of Section One. He wanted to know what she was up to.

"Birkoff, where is Nora?" Operations came down from his office not ten minutes after Michael had left Section One, following Nora.

Birkoff looked over at his station, surprised to see that she wasn't there. "She was checking her intel from my computers."

"Find her! I want to find out where she is!" Operations demanded.

Birkoff checked out his computer and noticed that she hadn't shut operation down. "Sir, I think she left Section. It looks like someone was hacking into her system. She might have gone after them."

Operations swore. "Call in Michael! I want a team of three ready to go!"

"Uh, sir, Michael's not here." Birkoff winced. He was wishing he wasn't the one to be telling this to Operations. The man was obviously not in a good mood!

"Where the hell is he?" Operations demanded and Birkoff started a simple triangulation on Michael's cell phone.

"Uh, it looks like he is following something." Walter pointed at the moving blimp on the screen.

"Or someone. I don't think he trusted Nora." Birkoff stated.

"I want a three man team following them! Their orders are simple- none of our people die! And Nora doesn't get injured!" Operations ordered.

Madeline stepped out of her office then. She saw the group around Birkoff's station and wondered what was up. She followed Operations up to his office to find out.

*************************************

"You mean she went after her intel on her own?" Madeline shook her head. "And Michael is following her. I hate to be there when she finds out he's following her."

-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*-

Nora doubled back to lose Michael before she headed to the bus station. Once there, she traded coats and hats with another woman and headed to the airport. Luckily there was a direct flight leaving for Seattle in fifty minutes. She booked herself as Nora Jensen on the Delta flight and bought another ticket from American Airlines on the Seattle flight that had a layover of twenty minutes in San Francisco and was boarding at that moment. The name she used there was Kittie Rawlings.

**********************************

Kittie Rawlings never got back on the plane in San Francisco. She was making her way downtown to a storage facility in Chinatown when the plane took off.

"Son of a bitch!" Nora swore. There were three people at the entrance to the storage facility. She went the back way- through a couple loose boards in the fence and found two more outside her building. She looked up. Thank god for the roof access she had put in a year before! Now she just had to find a way on to the roof!

Ten minutes later, she was on the roof, looking into her storage room. Two people inside. One on the computer, the other going through her stuff- looking for hard copies no doubt. She smiled and took out her keyring with the storage key on it.

Less than a minute later she was landing softly on the boxes she had filled with bedding- for the purpose of landing on them in an emergency. The smoke hid her entrance as the computer man swore.

"You idiot! Of course she booby trapped the place, you fool!" He muttered and resumed working on the computer. He was almost in!

"The man was a buffoon." Nora agreed softly just before she sliced the computer man's neck. "But then again, so are you. Never leave your back open!"

The smoke was starting to clear with the roof access open. She was closing the computer down when she heard gun fire. She smiled. "Geez, you're fast, Operations!" She stated with a smile as she unplugged her hard drive and disconnected it from the various cables. Then she sat down and waited for the Section team to open the door.

"It took you-" She cut herself off at the sight of who entered the door. "And here I thought Section got rid of you years ago!" She shook her head. "What did you do, offer yourself to Legion? No, not Legion. Must be the remaining Red Cell faction. You always were crazy, Petrosian."

"Not crazy, cunning. I am helping to rebuild Red Cell, making it stronger than before. And those schematics will work nicely in a strike against Section One. I can see Operation's shock now. Of course, it will be Michael who is even more shocked when he watches his precious Nikita deliver the bomb herself!" The man laughed sinisterly.

"Nikita is dead. And haven't you heard, Petrosian? Michael believes that Nikita was nothing more than a special ops sent in to return their prodigal cold op to operating status." Nora laughed at Petrosian's disbelief. "Shame ain't it? All those plans just flushed right down the toilet. Well, Petrosian, I can't say it's been a pleasure seeing you again, but I really do have to go."

The bullet came out of no where. He fell backwards and she just stepped over his body and pushed aside one of the boxes near the door. It is always good to have more than one entrance and exit.

**********************************

She was in Chinatown still when she spotted the tail. She sighed. Operations had better hurry up. Her energy was beginning to run low. That's when she realized she didn't have her jacket- the jacket with the tracker in it. She pounded her forehead. She had switched coats at the bus station and had never taken the tracker! There was only one place she could go to now- her old townhouse.

-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*---*-*-

"Michael, check her townhouse downtown." Madeline suggested. "If she doesn't have the tracker on her and knows it, that is the one place we know of. That is where she'll go."

"That's insane! She'll get herself killed!" Birkoff spoke up.

"Do it." Michael ordered.

They arrived just in time to turn the tide of the battle- and when she ran out of ammo and loss consciousness.

Birkoff instructed the team to get the CPU as well as Nora. Michael carried Nora back to the van and called for housekeeping, Two of the team provided cover as the third man retrieved the CPU.

****************************************

"Who is she?" Michael asked.

"She is a special ops. She's been deep cover for a little over a year before we retrieved her the first time. She has the schematics of a brand new, top secret weapon of mass destruction. She stole it for the precise reason it has remained in her possession- it needs to be destroyed." Operations stated softly as they stood by her bed.

"You are right. Nikita is not dead, Michael. But she was not special ops when you met her. Her existence at Section was completely true. If you don't believe that, you never believed in her." Operations stated before he left the room.

Once back in his office, Michael turned on some music. Normally is was the CD Nikita had sent him with the letter. But the song that played was one he hadn't put in. The words, though, made him think.

*****If you don't know me by now

**You will never never never know me

**All the things That we've been through

**You should understand me

**Like I understand you

**Now girl I know the difference

**Between right and wrong

**I ain't gonna do nothing

**To break up our happy home

**Don't get so excited

**When I come home A little late at night

**Cos we only act like children

**When we argue fuss and fight

**If you don't know me by now

**You will never never never know me

**We've all got our Own funny moods

**I've got mine, Woman you've got yours too

**Just trust in me like I trust in you

**As long as we've been together

**It should be so easy to do

**Just get yourself together

**Or we might as well say goodbye

**What good is a love affair

**When you can't see eye to eye

**If you don't know me by now

**You will never Never never know me***** "It's by Simply Red, Michael." Walter's voice came from his door. "You knew her, Michael, and what ever happens now, remember her and remember what she did, now as well as before. And think of what you would have done in her situation."

*************************************

"Girl, you've come this far, don't give up now." Walter whispered to her. He and Birkoff were taking turns sitting with her. Neither wanted her to wake up alone.

"Walter, I'll watch her." Michael whispered from the doorway.

"You have to come in the room to do that." Nora whispered hoarsely. There was a smile in her eyes when Walter turned to look at her.

"Shush, sugar. You need rest." Walter patted her hand before he gave his seat up to Michael. "Don't let her talk too much, Michael."

Michael nodded as he sat down. He watched her silently.

"Michael, I never wanted to do it this way but I couldn't jeopardize the mission. That weapon could kill hundreds with one order and was completely undetectable." Nora's voice was gravelly from the drugs.

"Nikita." He whispered, still in shock that it was her, that she was alive and back with him.

She started to chuckle but ended up gasping at the pain. "What are my injuries now?" She asked.

"Bullet wounds to the left shoulder and right thigh. Broken ribs that haven't healed, not to mention the cracked ones. Multiple contusions and abrasions. Broken left wrist, as well as sprained right ankle. You had a severe concussion before you hightailed it out of Section to reach your computer." Michael answered her.

Nora- Nikita- nodded. "Why were you following me, Michael, when I ran out of Section?"

He stared at her. "I didn't trust Nora. Something felt wrong." He gave her the truth.

She smiled. "You are admitting you can still feel. Good for you. I've missed you, my friend. There were so many times I wished I could talk over the mission with you, or aspects of it."

"I taught you well." Michael smiled. "You did really good, Nikita."

Her smile broadened. "It is weird to hear that name after being called Nora for so long." Her smile disappeared suddenly and she closed her eyes at a spasm of pain.

"Rest, Nikita. I won't leave you." Michael whispered to her.

"Where's my CPU, Birkoff?" Nikita asked three days later. They refused to let her out of Medlab but they came to see her often.

"In Michael's office." He answered.

"Has it been destroyed or even touched?" Nikita asked.

Birkoff stared at her. "No. He has refused to let anyone touch it."

"Good. Birkoff, I won't allow anyone to get that technology. Not even Section One. It is too dangerous, not to mention too many innocents would die from it." Nikita stated firmly.

He smiled. "It's good to have you back, Nikita. It was dull without you here."

Nikita smiled. "I missed you too. And I am sorry that it had to be done this way. I didn't want to hurt you and if there had been another way, I would have used it."

****************************************

As soon as she could convince Walter to sneak her out of Medlab (the next day!) she had him bring her to Michael's office and she set up her CPU. She wanted the schematics gone, erased, eradicated! She keyed into the file and swore- someone had copied the file. But she had learned from Birkoff.

She knew where the copied file would be and logged on to Michael's computer. It was relatively easy to trace the copied file. She had used a simple tracer on the original file because most hackers over looked it and it was passive until someone copied and moved the original file. Once she found the copy, she inserted a disk, typed three lines of code and sat back to watch her work.

***************************************

Birkoff didn't notice his flashing light, the one that alerted him to some simple viruses in the system for a few minutes- he had been opening another package of oreos. He swore and started corrective measures but it was no use. The corrective measures only allowed the virus to go faster.

***************************************

"I told you, Operations, no one gets this. Not even the Agency." Nikita whispered before she hacked her way into the Agency's computer and checked for a copy of her file there. It was even easier to start the virus there.

Fifteen minutes after entering Michael's office, Walter was wheeling her over to Birkoff's station. Nikita smiled at his frantic attempts to save the information the virus was destroying. She reached over and hit the escape key. "Thanks, Birkoff." And she was on her way back to Medlab.

Birkoff stared after her and understood what had just happened- she had used two of the simplest computer programs to defeat a better enemy. He shook his head. He couldn't believe he had fallen for them!

"Operations, our file on the schematics of the weapon are gone. As are the Agency's." Birkoff reported ten minutes later.

Operations nodded, hiding his smile until the young computer genusis had left. He had expected as much from Nikita.

**************************************

Two months later Nikita was finally allowed to move out of Section quarters and into a new apartment. She had allowed her hair to grow again, letting it reach a couple inches below her shoulders, and let the black die fade into her natural blonde. Her clothes, she tempered- combining both of her flashy chic looks and the more sedate and comfortable jeans outfits that Nora had loved.

Michael keyed her into the flat and watched for her reaction. It wasn't like her old apartment- there were no walls. In it's previous life it had been the top floor of a shoe factory.

Nikita smiled at it, already thinking of a design. She turned to Michael. "You, Walter, and Birkoff are going to have to help me fix it up since I am incapacitated for the next few months."

Michael laughed. "You think you'll get Birkoff out of Section? He hasn't left since you disappeared."

Nikita frowned at that statement. It brought back the pain she had brought to her friends. "I am sorry, Michael."

Michael heard the sorrow in her voice and looked over at her. He hadn't meant that dig- had he? He didn't honestly know what he felt anymore. He acknowledged her apology with a nod. "Do you know what you want to do with the place?" He asked her.

Nikita turned back to the flat and smiled. "I've got a pretty good idea. I'm gunna need a blueprint program to draw the schematics. It should take me the rest of the week, then we'll get the material and start on the work. I guess for now, I remain in Section." Nikita sighed. It wasn't that she disliked her Section quarters, it was that she hated being so confined. She wanted a place to escape Section. And if she was honest with herself, a place to escape Michael.

Michael smiled. He could see she was already planning. "I have the dimensions in my office."

**************************************

"Birkoff, please? I want out of here and I can't do the work for another three weeks!" Nikita pleaded. "Living here is driving me insane!!"

Birkoff rolled his eyes. "If you will shut up, I'll do it!"

Nikita laughed. "Thanks, Birkoff! I'll expect you at ten tomorrow morning!"

**************************************

It was amazing what a driven woman with three strong helpers could accomplish in three short weeks. The hard work was done- the wiring and the walls and plumbing were all set. The basic furniture was moved in. All that Nikita had left to do was personalize the place. And she was looking forward to doing it on her final week off.

It had been over three months since she had been shot and Operations and Madeline were finally allowing her back on missions. For the first three weeks, she would remain in the van and direct the missions from there. After that, she could return to field status. And she hadn't realized how she missed being in the field!

*************************************

"Thank you for coming. We are only waiting for two more people, so dinner will be served after I give y'all the grand tour when they arrive." Nikita smiled as she opened the door. It was her housewarming party and all of her family had agreed to come.

Walter and Birkoff had arrived first, bringing with them a computer system for her and a little undetectable fire power. She chuckled as they set it up in her "study" area.

Michael came soon after with a painting- a painting of San Francisco Bay at sunset. She kissed his cheek and oohed over the painting- it was beautiful.

The three wondered who else was coming. They were surprised when Operations and Madeline entered the apartment at six thirty on the nose.

Nikita smiled. Her family was complete again. If only her relationship with Michael was as solid as her family. She cleared her thoughts and started the grand tour of her new flat.

"Dinner was superb, Nikita." Operations actually smiled.

"Thank you." She chose that moment to announce, "I will be returning to active field status on Monday."

Michael choked. She couldn't be healed yet.

Nikita was looking directly at Michael for her next statement. "I want you all to know that I took that mission because that weapon would have been used against us. You all, over the years, have become my family and I don't want to lose you."

Walter chuckled. "Sugar, you sure know how to light up a room."

Birkoff agreed.

Madeline gave the younger woman a warm smile- one that reached her eyes.

Operations nodded silently.

Michael stared at her, finally realizing that his Nikita had changed. She had matured, become a combination of Nora and Nikita. And he began to understand the pain she had felt for causing them hurt. He raised his wine glass to her. "To the light in the darkness, may it never go out."

Nikita smiled at him. There was a chance after all. She raised her glass with her family and realized a new era had started. Her deep cover mission had changed them all, forcing them to realize things that had been hidden and ignored for so long.

********************************************

"Thanks for helping with the dishes, Michael, but I do have a dishwasher." Nikita smiled as she put away the last wine glass. The others had left around ten. They had talked, hesitantly at first, for hours.

"I know." Michael smiled. "I installed it."

Nikita laughed. "I love the painting, Michael. Thank you. But San Francisco wasn't as glamorous as I wanted it to be."

"Ideals and dreams never are when they come to life." Michael whispered.

Nikita shook her head. "I can't believe that. Michael, for the simple fact that our night was better than any dream I ever had." At Michael's shuttered look, Nikita sighed. "Michael, it happened. We will never have another like it, but you can't go on blocking it from your memory. There is nothing to be sorry for, nothing to be ashamed of. You were human, Michael, and we all have our limits. Nothings changed for me since that night, Michael, not about you or us except for the fact that I know we will never have another. My feelings remain, through the hurt and the lies, they will remain."

Michael stepped up to her and looked into her eyes. "It was better than any dream I had as well, Nikita." He whispered before he brought her hand to his lips. He brushed them against her knuckles before he turned at headed for the door.

"Just be careful, Nikita. Losing you is the only thing that will destroy me." He whispered from the door way.

Nikita stood where she was long after he had shut the door behind him. Suddenly, she smiled. It was definitely the night for the beginning of a new era in Section One!

*****************************************

Recently, she had been remembering the day Operations had offered her the deep cover mission. She remembered his reason for asking her and not Michael: **I am asking you because his face is too well known. And because I think that you can handle this mission.** She had been shocked at his words. She never really believed he trusted her, especially after returning to Section after six months "away."

"Operations, why did you really give me the deep cover mission?" Nikita asked him one day. It had been over three months since she had returned to active field status.

He looked at her sharply. "We went over this before you left, Nikita. My answer hasn't changed." He shook his head and headed to his office.

Nikita sighed. His answer may not have changed but that didn't make it the only one nor the main reason! She headed to Madeline's office.

"Nikita, does it truly matter why he asked you?" Madeline asked, not answering the question.

Nikita smiled. "No, I guess not. Are you coming over tonight?"

It was Madeline's turn to smile. "I'll be there."

"Bring Operations if you can get him to leave this place again." Nikita suggested on her way out of the office.

She had gotten in the habit of having Walter, Birkoff, Michael, Madeline, and few other operatives over once a month to just "hang" as Walter called it. She usually rented a couple movies, made some finger foods, and set up the card table.

*****************************************

"So, what are we watching tonight?" Michael asked when he arrived. Nikita always had a theme for the movies she rented for the night that had become to be called "Fun Night."

"Hmm. Tonight's is classic musicals and who-dun-its." Nikita smiled.

"Nice mix." Michael chuckled. He held up a container. "Brought dessert tonight."

Nikita chuckled. "You know where to put it, I've gotta change!"

"Ops, glad you could make it. Tonight it just us. I figured if you came, ya'd be more comfortble with just the family." Nikita smiled when she opened the door to find Madeline with Operations. "Tonight's theme is classic musicals and who-dun-its."