It was Madeline that found her in the darkened corner of Section. She had her head in her hands and her eyes held a bleakness that hadn't been there before.

"Nikita?"

She looked up at the older woman. "Yes, Madeline?" She asked, her voice betraying her tiredness.

"What are you still doing here? I thought you had gone home hours ago."

Madeline pulled up a chair to be on the younger woman's level.

"Couldn't go." Nikita shook her head slightly to accent her words.

"Why not, Nikita? Operations will be fine, Section One is out of Petrosian's hands. You were brilliant today." Madeline asked softly.

Nikita smiled her thanks at the compliment. "I don't think I could sleep, Madeline."

"Come on," Madeline stood up. "Let's take this to my office. I will make us some tea." She smiled and offered the younger woman a hand.

Nikita looked at the hand, then the woman smiling down at her and nodded but she didn't take the hand- couldn't- Madeline was still Section and she, above all, knew how to play a person.

Madeline smiled as the young operative stood. She was learning.

"Why don't you think you'll be able to sleep, Nikita?" Madeline asked softly as she poured the tea a few moments later.

Nikita sighed. "Because I was the one that sent Sikes to his death. It was my report that canceled him. Because, for even a little while, I thought Petrosian was better than Operations. And because I betrayed a friend for an order."

Madeline sipped her tea and was silent for a moment. "Nikita, Sikes was not up to Section standards, he would have been canceled without your report. It doesn't make it easier to take, but it will dull with time. As for thinking Petrosian was better than Operations, well, it was to be expected. He offered you what you wanted. It was understandable, Nikita, but what counts is that it didn't last long. You didn't let the illusion of what you wanted cloud your vision to the reality of what Petrosian was doing."

"I betrayed Walter, Madeline, for something as stupid as a new transmitter." Nikita shook her head, ashamed. "I could have lied." She whispered.

"And gotten Walter killed because you didn't convince Petrosian? No, you did what you thought best at the time. We all make decisions that we regret, Nikita. Walter will forgive you. Let him be for a little while and then go talk with him." Madeline suggested softly.

"How do you do it, Madeline? How do you stay strong enough to do what you do and not let it destroy you?" Nikita asked suddenly.

Madeline smiled. "By telling myself that it is for a greater good. When that doesn't work, I let time dull the memory of it. Then, when it still hurts, another action takes its place."

"How do you sleep at night?" Nikita whispered.

"It depends, Nikita, it depends. Sometimes I don't. But I know that the next day will still come and new options are there for me. Seneca once said that we must count each day as a separate life. Sometimes it is the only way to get through, Nikita." Madeline admitted to the younger operative.

Nikita finished her tea before she stood to go. "Thank you, Madeline. I guess I'll see you in the morning." She stopped at the door, though.

"How is Operations really?"

Madeline smiled. "Stronger every day, Nikita. He'll return to Section soon."

Nikita smiled. "I am glad."

As the door shut softly after the younger woman's exit, Madeline whispered, "So am I. So am I."

"Nikita?" Michael caught up with her outside of Section.

"Michael, how was the mission?" Nikita smiled.

"Fine. I heard about what you did for Operations." Michael stated.

"I didn't have anything to do with it, Michael. Petrosian brought himself down." Nikita shook her head and started walking again.

"Thank you anyway, Nikita." He whispered before he turned and walked the other way.

Nikita hesitated, not sure if she had heard the words or imagined them.

She turned and watched Michael walk away. In that moment, the bleakness left her eyes. She headed back inside to Operations room. She had a request to make- the surveillance was to be removed from her apartment- today!

Walter glared at the young computer genesis when he spotted Nikita.

"Walter, please, don't leave." Nikita pleaded. "Thank you, Birkoff." She whispered before he disappeared.

"What do you want now?" The older man asked, impatient.

"I wanted to apologize, Walter. I wanted you to know that I am sorry I betrayed you to Petrosian. I wanted to tell you that I understand if you don't want to see me anymore. I'll miss you." Nikita whispered brokenly before she started to walk away.

Walter watched her take two steps before he spoke. "So, when's the first date? I mean, if we are seeing each other, there has to be dates."

Nikita stopped in midstride. She turned slowly, not sure what to do.

Walter grinned. "You owe me, Sugar."

Nikita laughed as she reached to hug him. "I am so sorry, Walter." She closed her eyes to stop the tears that were forming.

Walter spotted the tears as they broke apart. "Now don't get all blubbery on me, Sugar. You knew I'd forgive you. Who else would be my Sugar? So, when are we going out?"

Nikita couldn't stop her laugh. "Tomorrow night, Walter, barring any briefings or work, we'll go out tomorrow night."

Nikita stopped in at Walter's station at seven the next night. "Ready, Walter?"

"Sugar, for you, I'm ready for anything!" Came his reply.

"You dressed up, Walter! An new bandana? Just for me?" Nikita kissed his leathery cheek and chuckled.

Walter grinned as she hooked her arm through his.

"What's Birkoff doing? And Michael?" Walter looked over at Nikita.

"They are our chaperones. Madeline wouldn't allow us to go out without them to make sure we didn't do anything naughty." Nikita whispered.

"We'll ditch 'em after the first club, okay?"

Walter winked at her and the four of them headed out of Section.

"God! He's harder to lose than a bad penny!" Nikita shook her head. "M zeroing in at ten o'clock, Walter. They just don't give up!"

Walter chuckled. "You got a tracker on ya, sugar?"

"No. You?" Nikita asked, as they finished the dance.

"May I cut in?" A voice interrupted them.

Walter looked from the man to Nikita back to the man. "What do you think, Sugar? You want him to cut in?"

Nikita pretended to think it over. "Nope. Tonight is our night, darling." She turned back to Walter- another song had started.

"It wasn't a question." The man interrupted them again. "Gramps, why don't you sit this one out?"

"Did he just call me gramps?" Walter asked Nikita.

"He did." Nikita nodded. She rolled her eyes. Boys would be boys.

She looked down at the man. "Next time, buddy, try being nice. Who knows, it might work for ya better." She laughed as she and Walter walked away.

"Nice cross, Walter. You'll have to show me that tomorrow. Uh-oh. I think M is headed our way. Shall we escape or face the music?"

Walter laughed. "It's passed my bedtime, Sugar."

"Why, hello, Michael. Fancy meeting you here. I mean, you have showed up at the last three clubs Walter and I have hit."

"And gotten thrown out of." Walter spoke up.

Nikita laughed. "I think he's our jinx, Walter, dear."

Michael shook his head. "Birkoff, you still out front? Walter punched out another one."

The three of them all heard Birkoff's laughter.

"Good night, Walter. I had a lot of fun tonight." Nikita gave him a kiss before she got out of the van.

"Night, Sugar. I'll teach it to ya tomorrow." Walter smiled.

"Need a lift, Nikita?" Michael asked softly after Walter and Birkoff had left.

Nikita looked at the rain that had started to fall and smiled. "Sure."

"Did you have fun tonight, Michael? You and Birkoff seemed to keep up pretty well. Walter and I will have to remember that you don't need to be left so many clues the next time." Nikita smiled over at him as he drove.

Michael chuckled. "Yes, Nikita. I had fun tonight."

"Good. Remind me tomorrow to get Walter to teach me that trick." Nikita stated.

"Which trick?" Michael was curious.

"Just a trick." Nikita answered cryptically. "Thanks for the lift, Michael. You want to come up for coffee?" She invited.

Michael saw the sparkle in her eyes and nodded. "Sure."

"Thanks for the coffee, Nikita." Michael whispered as he laid her down on her bed. She had fallen asleep half way through the movie they had found on TV. He had enjoyed being "normal" with her and had refused to end it until the movie was over. He bent to brush his lips across her cheek before he turned to go. He stopped in the kitchen to rinse the pot and the mugs.

Nikita smiled when she found the mugs rinsed out the next morning. She made herself a small pot of coffee and headed for the shower.

When she arrived in Section, she spotted Operations in his chair watching the operatives below him. She waved up to him with a smile.

Things were definitely getting back to normal in Section One.

She waved to Birkoff and headed, not for Michael's office, but Walter's station.

"Hey, Walter! You ready to show me that cross?" She plopped down on his stool as he got something off the back shelf.

Walter smiled. "Sure thing, Sugar. Let's hit the gym."

"How are you, Michael?" Nikita asked as she entered his office- when did she ever knock?

"Fine. How are you, Nikita? Enjoy the movie?"

Nikita stared at him. He was joking with her? Okay, maybe Section One wasn't getting back to normal just yet. "Michael, are you sure you're fine? You just cracked a joke and a smile."

Michael broke into a bigger grin. "Gotta keep you on your toes, Nikita. Did you remember to have Walter teach you his trick?"

Nikita smiled. "Yup, I did. That's what I was just doing. So any serious problems yet today? And, yes, I enjoyed the movie. I haven't seen one better than that one."

She couldn't even remember the name of the movie, who stared in it or what happened in the part she was awake for. All she remembered was falling asleep with her head on Michael's shoulder.

"Not yet." Michael shook his head.

"Aw, come on, Walter, I thought we'd ditch em again!" Nikita pouted playfully, a smile in her eyes.

"Not tonight, Sugar. The next time we'll play tag." Walter smiled.

"Michael, take her out on the dance floor. I need a break."

Nikita froze momentarily before she grabbed Michael's hand and dragged him to the floor. Someone was on her side- they played two slow ones in a row! One look at Walter and she knew why. She winked at the older man and sank deeper into Michael's embrace.

The End