NC-17

"You all know why you're here," Madeline began, "I want to know when the last contact each of you had with Kristie or Stephen was."

"Three days ago - right before we left for our last mission," Kim replied.

"Same here," Tony added.

"I saw them leave Section yesterday afternoon - they had dinner plans," Darren said, "But I don't know where or for how long."

"Michael and I saw them yesterday afternoon, just as they were leaving for their dinner date," Nikita replied, "We haven't heard or seen anything since then."

"What were they wearing?" Madeline asked.

"Kristie had on a slip style dress - corporate casual kind of thing, and sandals. Stephen had on dockers and a polo. They'd have been appropriate for a nicer restaurant," Nikita replied.

The intercom beeped, and Birkhoff's voice came through, "Forensics' is back."

"Send them in," Madeline replied.

Everyone waited in silence as two serious looking individuals came in. They were both dressed in dark clothing.

"What did you find?" Madeline asked.

"No indication of forced entry, but we did find blood splatters in Stephens apartment. The pattern is not consistent with any direction of attack. The blood cells were approximately out of the body for 90 minutes when the spray pattern was created."

Nikita closed her eyes, willing back the curl of anxiety. Blood - but it sounded like it was staged.

"Do we have a DNA match?" Madeline asked.

"Not yet, Med lab anticipates results in 10 minutes," he replied, "Nothing appears to be missing from either of the apartments. I don't believe any attack took place there."

"Shoddy work," Kim commented.

"Do we have a time frame for when the pattern was created?" Michael asked.

"At approximately 22:00," The man replied.

"So the blood was actually drawn at 20:30," Michael began, "Neither one of them were any risk to run."

"No, they weren't," Madeline agreed.

"So who would be able to take two section operatives - but do a poor job of staging the attack?"

"A fair sized assault force," Tony suggested, "It would take a few people to take down both of them."

"But do they want us to think they're dead?" Alexandra asked, "The blood pattern in his apartment is mean to throw us off. Why keep them alive - unless they plan to negotiate, ransom, or interrogate?"

"That's most likely what they plan to do. Creating a false attack location is a maneuver to buy time."

"If we look at credit card or atm card records, we might be able to find out what part of the city they were in," Kim suggested, "Assuming they didn't pay in cash."

"Birkhoff can start accessing bank records. All of us need to get subcu trackers. Start working your contacts, see who's in the market for our operatives. Go in pairs. Everyone checks in every hour."

**********

"This is rich," Eric snapped, "You kill my bodyguards, that psychotic bitch brain fucks me for days, and now you want me to do you a favor?"
Alexandra picked up piece of jewelry off of his dresser. She remembered him wearing it when they were in highschool.

"Basically."

She was dressed similarly as she had been the day she met him in the bar. Short skirt, crop top, half jacket that was all fashion, and not meant for warmth. It also hid the gun tucked into the back of her waist band. Several long silver chains, one of them being the pendant Darren had given her a their first Christmas outside of training - with

"The people you work for are psycho's. How the hell did you get hooked up with these people Alex? It just doesn't fit the kid I remember!" Eric told her.

Alexandra set down the piece of jewelry, "It's a long story - and not so different from how you got into this Eric. They recruited me. I have two choices."

"Lovely," Eric sighed, "If your people don't kill me, the people I rat out will."

Alexandra smiled, "The people you feed us Intel on will never make the connection to you. We'll plant things to lead them elsewhere. You don't have anything to worry about."

"Tell me something the real Alex would know," Eric said, still intently watching her, "Something the rest of the world wouldn't."

Alexandra sighed, thinking.

"I found you watching me light a candle for Lora once," Alexandra said softly, turning her gaze out the window, into the night sky, "And you asked me if I really believed there was such thing, as a heaven, and a hell."

Eric nodded, "And you said you hoped so. What do you think now?"

Alexandra sighed, "Now I'm hoping there isn't, because after all the shit I've been doing, St. Peter will never let me past the gates."

She managed a smile, and looked back at him, "On to business - someone out there's looking to grab up a couple of Section One cold ops. I need to find out who."

"Are you selling some?" Eric asked her.

"I'd like to recover them. They were close friends," Alexandra told him, picking up another trinket.

Eric snorted, "If they're like that Madeline woman, you're better off without them Alex."

Alexandra shook her head, "Nothing like her. The key words is friends - a rarity in my world."

She set down the trinket, "I'll be expecting a phone call soon."

She moved towards the door.

"Hey," Eric said, just as she reached the door.

Alexandra stopped and looked back at him.

"I guess I should have tried a little harder with those M&M's, huh?"

Alexandra laughed a little, "It's nothing personal Eric."

***********

Michael and Nikita moved through the club, the blue haze of cigarette smoke and other things hung heavy in the air. They dressed the part of club goers - Nikita in tight leggings and a halter top. Michael wore his usual black on black. It seemed to fit in just about anywhere.

Their contact sat in a booth along the back wall, a woman sitting on his lap. As soon as Michael and Nikita approached, he sent the woman away, telling her to come back in ten minutes.

"Someone is in the market for operatives," Michael told him.

The contact lit up a cigarette, "are you trying to find out if it's true, or who, or both?"

"Who," Michael replied.

The contact was quiet for a moment, "What's it worth."

"You get paid when you get us a name," Michael told him, "after it checks out."

"You selling?" He asked.

"No," Michael replied, "I'm remembering."

It was a reminder, a threat. The contact knew what Michael was capable of. He owned Michael a few favors.

"I'll contact you as soon as I get something. It will take a few days," the contact told him.

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

"Oh, yeah, I remember them," the bus boy told Kim, "Nice folks, good tippers."

"Do you remember when they left here?" Kim asked him.

The bus boy looked at Kim, and Tony, holding his breath, "I . . . I keep my nose clean, you know? It's just like I even recognized them - and I don't want to get into anything -"

"We're not cops, and we're not out to hurt them," Tony interrupted the bus boy, "I work with this guy - his name is Stephen, and he and his girlfriend disappeared a few days ago. No one is doing shit, so we're looking for them on our own."

Kim listened to Tony weave the story - not really lieing, but glossing it up a bit. She smiled. He was good, within moments, the buss boy relaxed.

"They got here for dinner, like 5:00 or something, left just before 7:30. Neither one of them drank much. Miguel was the valet on last night - be may be able to tell you more, but it will probably cost ya," the bus boy told them.

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

Miguel crossed his arms over his chest, "You know, I see so many people coming and going through this place."

Tony rolled his eyes, and pulled out his wallet. He held up a 100 dollar bill. Miguel reached for it, but Tony yanked it out of his reach.

"When they left, who was with them, the direction they went, and what they were talking about," Tony told him, "No bullshit. I have a good memory, and a bad temper."

Miguel shook his head, "Fucking Italians. Someone else already got your friends. They were talking about a dog when they got into the Bronco. They made it to the corner, when a truck blocked them in front and in back, and someone car-jacked them. It happened so damn fast, I could barely catch the one license plate number."

Miguel pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket, and wrote down a number.

"Probably a bull shit plate," he told them, "But ya never know."

"How many car-jackers?" Tony asked.

"6 guys - all white guys too, couple blondes, couple brunettes," he told them.

Kim waited until they were out of earshot; "I bet we can get some kind of surveillance film from one of these shops."

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

Kim and Tony walked back into the briefing room, and finding Michael and Nikita there, as well as Alexandra and Darren. Everyone looked tired. Everyone had been searching for information or any clues for the last 48 hours, without pausing for long.

"We might have found something," Kim announced as they walked in.

All eye's turned to look at Kim, expectant, hopeful.

"We got a license plate from a witness, witness thinks they saw a car jacking. The plate comes back no record found - however, Birkhoff got a call asking why we were running that plate. Section 7 seems to have a record of the same plate," Kim told them, "he told them that one of our ops saw a subject we've been watching in it."

"Our witness that gave us the plate saw 6 people take them, shot them, but he saw no blood. I'm thinking tranques." Tony added.

"Gee, section 7, tranque bullets . . . I'd say that's worth following up," Alexandra said, looking at Michael and Nikita, "Either one of you know someone there?"

Michael nodded slightly.

"We haven't heard anything about anyone looking to get a hold of some section cold ops, and we haven't gotten an ransom or trade offers," Nikita told them, "But we haven't gotten any bodies, and someone did take pains to have us find blood in their apartment - so I doubt it's a retaliation killing."

"But they do want us mislead," Darren added, "Hence - blood in the apartment."

"Someone who doesn't pay attention to forensics, or doesn't think we will," Alexandra added.

"A foolish assumption," Nikita commented.

"Perhaps they only needed the distraction to hold for a few hours," Michael replied, flipping open his cell phone.

They all watched and listened in silence as Michael spoke a few words, setting up a meeting. He ended the call quickly.

"Do you trust him?" Nikita asked quietly.

"No," Michael replied.

Nikita sighed, crossing her arms over her chest, "I'll cover you."

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

"Michael," Xavier said as he approached.

Xavier was the contact Michael had from Section 7. He didn't trust him completely, but Michael wasn't worried that Xavier might try to hurt him. Michael just knew he was corruptible.

"Xavier," Michael said in greeting, "How are things."

"Oh you know, same stuff, different day," He sighed, "I see married life hasn't improved your wardrobe. How is your beautiful wife?"

"Well," Michael replied, "I need information."

"One of us always does," Xavier said, "shoot. I'll see what I can do."

"We looked for data concerning this plate. Section 7 wanted to know why," Michael told him, handing him a piece of paper, "I need to know Section 7's involvement."

Xavier nodded, "If I can. What's going on? It might help if I knew what I was searching for."

Michael was silent for a moment.

"Two of our operatives have been taken," Michael told him, "We got the plate off of a local merchants security surveillance. They were boxed in, this plate belongs to the rear vehicle involved."
"I see," Xavier sighed, "I'd heard something about that, but with all the rumors . . . one of us is always losing someone."

"We think they're still alive," Michael replied.

Xavier raised an eyebrow, "Really? What makes you think that?"
"No ransom demands, no security breaches, no bodies," Michael replied, "Terrorists claim their acts."

Xavier nodded, "True. I'll see what I can find out. Give me a couple days."

It was another dark smoky club. Like so many other dark smoky clubs that Section sent them into, this one had people from all walks of life - and per usual, there was one recurrent theme. The black market thrived here.

This time, Alexandra and Darren were shopping for information. Alexandra pulled out a pack of cigarettes and lit up.

"What the hell are you doing?" Darren snapped at her.

Alexandra inhaled deeply, and looked over at him, "Blending in. Relax - it's just a cigarette."

"Alex-" Darren snapped.

"I'm not in the mood for a chat on the health implications Darren. Do you honestly think any of us are going to live long enough to worry about cancer?" She snapped, "And there's our girl now."

Alexandra slid off her bar stool, and started over towards the blond woman. Darren didn't know this particular contact. When Alexandra announced to Michael and Nikita that they were going to meet with her this evening, Michael's eyes lingered on Alexandra a moment or two longer than normal. Darren had been wondering all evening if Michael had concerns. But Michael would have said something. Still, Darren couldn't help but wonder gave Michael a moment's pause, even if it was just a moment.

The woman was dressed in tight black stretch pants, a tangerine sports bra top, black boots to her knees. It wasn't so different from the cloths Alexandra used to wear - the cloths she'd started to wear more and more the last two weeks.

The woman also had big hair. It had been sprayed and teased out in the extreme, and she had on metallic tone makeup.

Alexandra was a few feet ahead of Darren, and when the woman turned, and saw Alexandra, she threw her arms open, and strode towards Alexandra, throwing her arms around her.

"Alex! Honey tell me you've come to be converted!"

Alexandra laughed, and hugged the woman back. Darren watched the other woman's hand drop down to Alexandra's hip. It looked a little more then friendly. Realization hit Darren like a ton of bricks.

"Sorry Leah, I'm still into men, but if I ever get the urge, you're the first I'll call, I promise," Alexandra told her.

The woman Alexandra called Leah sighed deeply, but didn't take her arm away, "So it's not pleasure that brings you here - which means business - where's your lovely Frenchmen - I still think we could get him to join or watch . . ."
Alexandra groaned, "Michael and his wife are home I'm sure."

Leah raised an eyebrow, "Like marriage means anything. I've been married twice. I've been seeing this new girl - and she's married."

Alexandra sighed, laughing, "Why doesn't that surprise me? Let me introduce you to my boyfriend."

Leah groaned, looking at Darren, "Well, I can see why this might hold your attention…"

"Leah, Darren," Alexandra introduced them.

"I don't suppose he's into groups either," Leah said hopefully.

Darren panicked. He knew Alexandra was desperate for information right now. He also knew she'd been experimenting lately too. His panic must have showed on his face, because both women laughed.

"It is business Leah, I've gotta be someplace in a few hours anyhow. I need information," Alexandra told her.

Leah shook her head, "Is it at least someplace good? Let me guess, the Balkans, right?"

Alexandra shook her head, "Nope - I'll still be in the country. I'll be back in 24 hours even."

"Oh, so you want this fast," Leah said, "So what are you looking for?"

"I need to know if anyone's been in the market for a couple of our people, or if someone is offering up a couple for sale," Alexandra told her.

"Are they cute? I'm always in the market," Leah said, waggling her eyebrows.

Alexandra laughed a little, "Not your type, trust me. Seriously, heard anything?"
"Fuck Alex, half the underground wants a piece of your type of folks, but I haven't heard anyone selling or looking to buy from your specific employer, but I'll keep my ears open. It's gonna cost ya though."

Alexandra raised an eyebrow.

Leah looked over Alexandra, then looked at Darren, then back at Alexandra.

"Nope," Alexandra told her, "Try again."

"I got this problem with some competition right now," Leah told her, "He's doing his damnedest to ruin me too."

"Email me some stuff on him, I'll see what I can do to make his life hell," Alexandra told her.

Leah's hand tightened on Alexandra's hip, "Sure I can't get you to hang out for a while?"

"Sorry, gotta go," Alexandra told her, "I'll be in touch."

"Touch . . . oh the way you straight one's tease!" Leah complained, "Bring your boy toy back when you do. He looks like he could be fun."

Alexandra grinned, "He is - trust me."

Alexandra took one more drag on her cigarette, and then placed it between Leah's lips.

Darren watched the two of them, and couldn't believe what he was seeing. He was used to seeing Alexandra flirt with men to get what she wanted, but he'd never seen her flirt with a woman before. In fact, he'd only seen her place a role like this once. He felt a twinge of lust stirring, but quickly pushed the whole idea back. He'd never share Alex, not with a man, or a woman.

Alexandra stepped out of Leah's embrace, and she slid her arm into Darren's, and the two of them left the club.

Darren waited until they were outside of the club before he spoke.

"Holy shit," He breathed.

Alexandra laughed, "She's a bit much to handle at first."

"How the hell did you meet her? She knows what we are?"
"Yeah, she knows who and what we are. She feeds us information, we let her keep practicing her trade. Michael and I worked with her when you and Nikita were in Seattle," Alexandra told him.

"Now I know why Michael watched you a bit more than usual when you announced who we were going to meet," Darren commented, "Is she always like that?"

"Oh yeah - Leah's into women and men, especially three-sums," Alexandra told her, "She always hits on me too - surprised the hell out of Michael the first time we met her. Our Intel didn't have her tastes down right."

"You ever been tempted to take her up on it?" Darren asked Alexandra, watching her closely.

Alexandra laughed, looking up at him, "No. Not my thing."

Darren nodded slightly.

They got into Darren's car, and he started it, pulled out onto the road in silence.

"Darren - We have changed to much," Alexandra said sighing, as she reached over, and she slid her fingers across his thigh, "Sometimes your damn hard to read. What are you thinking?"

He took a deep breath, "I'm trying to get that picture of her hand damn near on your ass out my head - because part of me is turned on, and part of me is jealous. Kris was right. I'm a possessive bastard."

Alexandra leaned over and pressed a kiss to his neck, and then rested her head on his shoulder. Her heart ached. He'd used.

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

"Raging sun?" Nikita asked, "I've never heard of them."

"They're new," Birkhoff announced, "So new, that only one of the Sections had any contact with them - but rated them right up there with student demonstration groups. Not really high risk people."

Everyone was silent for a moment. Birkhoff didn't seem to notice, nor did he seem to remember that Michael had come to section Because of his role in a student demonstration group. Kim stole a glance at Michael - who wore his usual blank mask. Nikita smiled a little, glancing over at Michael. Alexandra rolled her eyes. Tony looked around, wondering what he was missing. Darren shook his head.

"All we have on them - is that they're multinational - they claim to be socialist in nature, it seems that they hate all government entities though - and so far, all they've done is write a few letters and articles published in underground unfounded newspapers," Birkhoff told them, "We do have a few names, address and phone numbers though."

"How did we make the connection between Kristie and Stephen's disappearance, and this group?"

"Section 7 is the Section that's been tracking them - and by tracking them - they mean just keeping track of inquiries apparently - because the names and addresses are a year and a half old."

"Students tend to move a lot - though usually within the same area," Alexandra started, "Unless they change schools."

"Has Leah come up with anything?" Michael asked her.

"Other than a sexual proposition?" Darren asked sarcastically.

That piqued Ton's attention. Kim frowned. Nikita smiled, raising an eyebrow at Alex, "What did you wear?"

"My usual as of late," Alexandra replied, "Short, tight, and cute. She hasn't heard about anyone in the market for us. I'll ask her to change her focus to the Raging Sun group."

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

"I don't think they even know exactly who they have," Stephen said quietly.

Kristie rolled over onto her side. They were chained by one hand to the wall. Their cell was a room made of cement. Whenever one of them was taken to be questioned, they came in a group - armed with tranque's.

"They sure as hell know to be damn careful with moving us," Kristie complained.

"These are not professionals Kristie," Stephen told her, "If they were, we'd be in separate rooms, and they'd be playing more head games."

"How many days has it been since we were fed Stephen? Ten? Eleven? If they weren't giving us water, we'd be dead," Kristie mumbled.

"Twelve I think," He told her, "I can't really tell anymore, with no watch, and no sunlight."

"Do you think they're still looking?" Kristie asked him, her voice quiet.

Stephen didn't answer at first.

"Yeah," Stephen replied, "They'd find a way."

Silence fell between them for a few moments.
"I think these guys are connected with someone bigger," Stephen told her, "And they're branching out on their own, and don't know what they're doing. But someone has told them we're operatives for someone, and they've told them about the trackers - otherwise we couldn't be this far underground. That's why section hasn't found us yet."

Kristie kicked at a tiny cement chip on the floor, "So how long does this shit go on?"

Stephen shrugged, "That's the million dollar question."

"Stephen - if someone could tell them what we are, and how to grab us, we've got big problems," Kristie argued.

"We're not quite the ghosts we'd like to think we are," Stephen replied, "Or we've got a leak in Section."

"Like I said - big problems."

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

"Raging sun," Eric said, "I think I've heard about them . . . but for the life of me, I can't remember anything they've been involved in."

"They're small time," Alexandra told him, standing by the window. Her body was turned, so she could easily watch the room, and the street outside.

"Small time, but they've cause your people some problems," Eric pointed out.

Alexandra nodded, "Another branch of . . . My people . . . . underestimated them. Personally, I think they got lucky, or they had some help."

Eric lit a cigarette, took a drag, and held it out to her. Alexandra took it, but before placing it between her lips, looked at him, one eyebrow raised.

"Plain old cigarette Alex," Eric told her, pulling out another for him, "I did take a drag. Don't you trust anyone?"

She sighed, and looked back a the street, "Not really."

"Pity, that's a helluva a way to live out your life," Eric replied.

She managed a smile, "But I am alive."

He nodded, "You breath, but do you really live?"

She laughed a little, "Sometimes. Let me know what you here, ok?"

"Sure," He said, "Does our . . . working relationship . . . preclude you from having a drink with me?"
Alexandra watched him for a moment, "I can't really date anyone Eric . . . and I am seeing someone on the inside of Section."

Eric nodded, "Ah, snake eyes again. Should I call you, or will you call me?"

"Call me," she told him, "And I'll call if I don't hear from you."

She crushed out the remains of her cigarette in the ashtray, and walked out the door.

Eric walked over to the window, and watched her step out onto the street. She watched everything. She was always alert, measuring. So different from the carefree girl he'd known as a child, as a teenager. But he'd seen the beginning of the change. He could vividly recall seeing her in the cadet uniform one night, working with the cop who'd been her partner. He'd often thought she would become the kind of cop that they really needed - someone who wanted to help - not someone just out to bust anyone's balls who stumbled across their help.

Then that whole mess with her friend Lora came out. That was when he saw her start to change. She became more wary, a little quieter. Gone was the carefree bubbly girl.

I should have killed Juan Henry myself . . . he thought to himself.

Michael flipped his cell phone closed, his gaze sweeping over the people in front of him. Madeline stood calmly, arms hanging at her side. Her posture implied calmness - and something non-threatening. Michael knew otherwise.

Operations was facing out over section, leaning on the bar that held the myriad of electronic components that connected him to everything in Section One. He was irritated, and didn't bother to hide it.

"My contact found information on Rising Sun. They were seen in the company of Santos Garcia - he's with the agency," Michael told them.

"Which might explain how they managed to pinpoint two Section One operatives," Madeline added, "Can we substantiate the connection?"

"No," Michael said, "My contact only knows who Santos is because they occasionally trade Intel."

"Wonderful," Operations sighed, "Find Raging Sun - we use them to make the connection to the agency. I want to serve this up on a silver platter to George - and Mr. Jones."

Michael barely nodded, turned, and left the room. Madeline waited until he was gone.

"It might be better to deal directly with George - rather than have Mr. Jones perceive that you want to humiliate him," Madeline told him.

"I disagree," Operations told her, "You can return to your post. We need to review the profiles for Egypt and Lebanon, since so many of our key operatives are tied up on other matters."

Madeline felt the snug as if he'd slapped her in front of all of Section One. But she held her tongue. There was no reasoning while he was like this.

"You'll have them soon," she replied, in calm even tones, and walked out.

"The two contacts I had looking for information came up with the same stuff," Alexandra announced, "The hub seems to be in Seattle, of all places. The guy running the show is Nicolas Haskell. Went to the University there, family has lots of old money, and he's publicly political - touts socialism as the cure to the fall of values, morals and the like. They demonstrate whenever anything getting lots of media attention happens."

"Wow," Tony said, "Why don't we have a thicker file on them then? They sound like someone we'd watch."
Kim sighed, "Seattle has tolerated peaceful demonstration for years. You can apply for a permit from the city, and they'll set up a specific area for you. Even when your group spills out over the boundaries, the police simply contain you, unless you're getting violent."

"So no one pays attention to these groups there," Darren replied, "Nice."

"They may have had help," Michael told them, "Someone from the agency may be feeding them."

Nikita looked over at Michael, but held her tongue. She didn't know if he should, or should not call George himself. He'd probably already thought about that himself though.

"My contact didn't come up with crap," Darren told them, "And the contact I had in Seattle overdosed on cocaine, and last week."

"We'll leave for Seattle tonight," Michael replied, "We'll extract and interrogate their key personnel in the field."

They dressed in street cloths, instead of the black mission gear. Most of this would take place in public, and they could be out there for days. They set up a base of operations in a hotel downtown. Michael knew the owner. When they arrived, they greeted both Michael and Nikita excitedly, speaking rapidly in Vietnamese.  

"How do you know them?" Alexandra asked, testing out one of the beds.

"When Michael and I did that training mission - where we ran, and you didn't know it was a mission - Michael introduced me to them then. He met them several years ago."

Kim flopped back on the mattress, "I feel like I've been run over by a truck. I couldn't even try to sleep though."

Tony moved onto the bed, gently shifting Kim so her head rested in his lap, and he started to massage her temples.

"God I love you," Kim said, sighing contentedly.

Alexandra looked over her shoulder at them, and then over at Darren, "Hey Baby - here's a realization of your fantasy - two women and one guy."
Darren looked over at them, "Actually, it was Leah's fantasy - and it was You, Her and me, not you Kim and Tony. Though I doubt she'd complain."

"Like you'd turn it down!" Kim teased him.

"Actually, I would," Darren replied, "I mean, I'm all into trying new things - but it's a one on one deal. I wouldn't trade what I have with Alex for cheap casual thrills any day of the weak."

Alexandra sighed, and said dramatically, "Oh Stop, I'm gonna cry - and I'm not even pms-ing."

Michael stood back, listening to the banter between them. Always the quiet one - he'd been drawn into this group by Nikita. He was very much apart of it, but they accepted that he was not the most talkative one.

"Oh god, and me without a camera," Nikita chimed in.

"We're on line," Michael announced.

Everyone's demeanor changed. Michael gave them their assignments, and they left.

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

"When you lived here, where did you spend your free time?" Tony asked.

Kim didn't look over at him. She knew he wasn't looking right at her, they were both watching the street, watching for the key players they knew where part of Raging Sun.

"I actually lived farther north, on the outskirts of the city. The club that Michael picked me up in was in Everett - Club Broadway," Kim replied, and she smiled, "I'd walk in, the since I was a regular, they'd start mixing my drink right away. I can only imagine what they all though and said when I left with Michael, and a body that's supposed to be me shows up in a dumpster a few days later."

"He must have been very different then," Tony commented.

Kim frowned, "What makes you say that?"
"Cause I can't see you hooking up with someone like Michael. Silent type - quiet," Tony commented.

"He was acting. I was a target. He had a whole profile of what I'd be attracted to - and became exactly that for a few hours," Kim told him, "Tell me you don't spend a lot of time thinking about this."
"I don't," Tony replied, "I just . . . It'd hard to reconcile the Michael I know - with you."
"I've changed a lot," Kim replied, "I was a party girl. I followed the rules, but I liked to party."

They both fell silent for a few minutes.

"I-" Kim began.

Tony's cell phone rang, cutting her off. He listened for a moment, then closed it.

"They have two of them on Denny," Tony told her, "We gotta go."

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

"You've been awful quiet," Darren commented, as he drove, "More so than usual."

Alexandra reached over, sliding her hand across his thigh, "I'm worried is all. If I'm not busy, I have time to think about what might be happening to them . . . and it . . . hurts. She's one of my closest friends - you know? We don't have to agree, but she's always there for me, even when she thinks I'm wrong. She can know some really awful stuff about me, and it's still ok. Losing her would be like losing you. I can't . . . it's just not gonna happen."
Darren dropped one hand off the steering wheel, and enmeshed his fingers with hers, "We'll find her Querida."

"When it gets this bad, I really crave the coke too," she told him, "And I don't know what scares me more - the whole thought of running into that - or losing one of my friends. I know eventually, Both will happen."

Darren squeezed her hand, "Would it help if I promised it wouldn't."

Alexandra squeezed his hand back, "Don't make a promise you can't make come true Darren - I appreciate the thought . . .but don't."

"I love you," he told her, and brought her hand to his lips. He pressed a kiss to the back of her hand, "When this is all over, we gotta take a night - just for us - go someplace special, we'll rent one those hotel rooms with a Jacuzzi, order room service in, fuck our brains out, cuddle afterwards . . ."

Alexandra laughed, "You could make that into a greeting card! Fuck our brains out! I love it."

"I know," He said slyly, as they turned onto Denny.

He let go of her hand. It was time to work.

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

"They're on the third floor, apartment 305," Michael told them, "Nikita and I will go in the front. Darren and Alexandra will take the back. I want Tony to watch the south and east side streets, Kim will watch the north and west streets."

Kim was peeling off the dot transmitter units, and handing them out, "Do you want to know if we get any police drive bys?"

"Yes," Michael replied, "Don't break position unless we call for you."

Alexandra and Darren started down the street, and went around the building. Tony started off towards the street corner he'd been assigned. Michael and Nikita went in through the front door.

Michael and Nikita stood off to one side of the door, Alexandra and Darren to the other side. Nikita knocked on the door loudly, holding a box in her hands. She had on a gray baseball style cap with the name of a delivery company on it.

"Delivery!" She yelled through the door.

She heard footsteps, saw the peep hole Darren. She chewed and smacked her gum.

"Come on guys, this stuff is heavy," she complained, "And I gotta have someone sign for it."

The door swung open, "I don't think-"
Nikita slammed the box into him, startling him. Michael lashed out with a backhanded punch, knocking him back, his other hand held his gun up and ready as he pushed into the room.

Alexandra and Darren followed him in, and Nikita pulled the door closed behind them.

Another man on the sofa quickly sprang up, "You can't do this! We have rights!" He yelled, picking up the phone.

Nikita kicked out, knocking the phone out of his grasp. Michael grabbed him buy his color, slamming him against the wall.

"So do the people you're holding," His snapped.

Alexandra and Darren had quickly secured the man Michael had hit on the way in.

"I've got Identification cards matching him with our records," Alexandra announced, "No weapons."

Michael dragged the man he had by the collar into the Kitchen area, and slammed him down into a chair.

"This is how this works," Nikita began, "You tell us where they are, and we don't torture you."

"I don't know who you're talking about!" He said.

Nikita pulled off a strip of duck tape, and pressed it onto his mouth. Michael held him down, while Nikita duck taped him to the chair.

Alexandra and Darren had duck taped the man they had secured, and dragged him into the Kitchen to watch.

Michael slammed his fist down into the man's stomach and ribs several times, until the man started to pass out.

Nikita rummaged around in the cabinets, found a pot, filled it with cold water, and tossed it on him. He started to rouse.

"Lets try this again," Nikita began . . .

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

"The perimeter is still clean," Kim announced, "Good luck."

Michael moved into the lead, the four of them starting the decent into the sub basements of the building. It was only a block away from the apartment they'd interrogated the two men in.

Silently, the crept down several flights of stairs, each step carefully placed. The area they were being held in had been soundproofed, but no one wanted to trust that.

They reached the door, and paused. There would be 4 guards inside. The man they interrogated had told them that they only kept 4 on duty, unless one of the targets had to be moved. Then they had 8.

Darren brought his foot up, kicking out hard, hitting the door by the lock. It gave way easily. Nikita dove in, and rolling to one side. Alexandra did the same, in the other direction, both of them coming up with their guns drawn. Michael and Darren darted in.

The four guards had a TV on, and they scrambled for their weapons when the door flew open. Alexandra, Nikita, Michael and Darren fired a few shots each, all four of the guards fell.

Alexandra and Nikita moved forward quickly, but watching the bodies, and searched the bodies for keys.

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

The sound of gunfire woke them both up. The chain that held that held them to the wall had just enough room in it for the two of them to lay within two feet of each other.

"That didn't sound like tranques," Stephen said quietly. They heard footsteps coming down the hall.

"Stephen - in case this is it," Kristie said, "I love you."

He looked over at her, stretching out his hand. She reached for him, her hand molding to his.

"I love you to," He told her, "No regrets."

"None," she answered.

The door swung open. They both looked over, relief washing over them when they saw their friends.

"Now this is just about the most pathetic bondage routine I've seen yet," Alexandra announced, holding up a set of keys, "Try longer chains next time."

Kristie let go of Stephen's hand, "Bitch! I'm hungry, I'm dirty. Unless you've got a Big Mac and a bar of soap, shut up, and get me out of here."

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

"Section 3 isn't to happy with us being here, and not telling them at first," Kim commented.

"They'll get over it," Darren said dryly, "They can't handle the stuff we do."

Kim was sitting on one of the double beds. Darren stood by the door, leaning back against the wall. Stephen lay back on the other bed, asleep. Michael sat at the little desk, his fingers flying over the keyboard.

"It's kinda freaky," Kim said quietly, "Two weeks with no food - I expected them to be weak, but they've both lost weight  - muscle tissue."

Darren nodded slowly. When he helped Stephen up off the floor, he'd been able to feel the other mans ribs, the bones in his wrist.

"We're all pretty lean to begin with," Darren commented, "No extra fat stores to go after first."

The bathroom door opened. Kristie was dressed in Alexandra's cloths, and though Alexandra was taller, they usually wore the same size. But now, the cloths looked huge on Kristie.

Nikita stood on one side of Kristie, Alexandra on the other. Both of them had been too weak to walk much. By the time they'd gotten back to the hotel, it was too much for either one of them to stand for long.

Kristie had a tired, resigned look on her face. Her gaze traveled over everyone else, settling on Stephen.

She managed to sit down next to him, and he woke up instantly.

"My turn I guess," Stephen said, "I swear to god, if anyone of you ever tells another living soul someone had to hold me up in the shower, while I was sober, I'll kill you."

Everyone chuckled at the attempt at Humor. But it didn't lift the dismal mood off the room. Everyone knew how serious this was.

"Relax man," Darren told him, helping him up off the bed, "I won't look down, promise."
Michael walked over, and took Stephen's other arm. They disappeared into the bathroom.

"We are so fucked," Kristie sighed deeply, "I didn't realize how bad we were, until I saw that mirror."

Nikita sat down next to her, holding out a cup of soup. Kristie took it with trembling hands.

"You'll gain the weight back," Nikita told her, "Mark will fix you up with some high protein shake to take ten times a day or something - and you'll be fine."

"It'll take time Nikita," Kristie told her, "I knew this girl - in my old life. She was anorexic. She lost so much weight one time, she lost muscle tissue, and she couldn't put it back on, no matter how much she forced herself to eat. Section won't keep us around long , if that's what happens to us."

"It won't," Nikita promised her, "We've got good people in med lab, and neither one of you started off with nutrition problems."

Kristie sloshed some of the soup. Alexandra gently took the cup of soup from her hands, and held it up to Kristie's lips. Kristie took a small sip.

"Thanks," she said, after swallowing it.

Kristie took only small sips. She knew her stomach couldn't handle more. It was exhausting almost, just sitting up. She was looking at months of rehab, at best. It would be at least two weeks before she could even work a full shift - sitting in comm.

"Don't spend any time worrying about it," Nikita assured her, "We've got it all covered."

Kristie barely nodded. She'd taken her last sip of soup.

"Just let me lay back for a few minutes," Kristie said quietly, "I'll just close my eye's, I'm so tired . . ."

Nikita gently eased her back, moving a pillow so Kristie's head rested on it. Kristie's eyes traveled the room, seeing tired, but relieved faces. She still didn't understand how Nikita was so sure Section wouldn't just get rid of them. It was then that realization dawned on her. Nikita and Michael were calling in favors for them.