"How about you pull over now and I'll show you what else is twitching."

Michael grinned and kept his eyes on the road.

"You are still a very irritating person" Nikita pouted.

"You are still a very impatient person."

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

Nikita rolled her eyes and groaned. "You know we're having dinner with the Riley's tonight, so we can't be home late."

"I remember, we won't be."

"So this won't take long?"

"No, just long enough."

Nikita stared out the window for a while, humming tunelessly. She switched on the radio and then changed her mind and loaded a disc into the player. Her fingers played with the volume control for a while before she was happy. With a sigh she lent back in her seat, running her hands over the soft fabric of her new blue shirt.

"I really like this shirt you bought me," she said, "another one of your covert shopping expeditions?" she added with a grin.

"It feels good on you, I'm glad you like it" he smiled.

"You're supposed to say it looks good on me."

"That too."

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

"Oh, that reminds me. Did you remember to pay the phone bill while you were out this morning?"

"Yes. What reminded you?"

"Huh?"

"Nothing Kita."

She shrugged and reached across to rest her hand on his thigh. Her fingers began drumming softly against the smooth fabric of his trousers.

"I was thinking we could take a another ride up to that antique place" Nikita proposed, turning slightly to face him, "you know the one where we found those great old wooden tables and other stuff. We could get one and fix it up. It would be perfect with that cupboard you made."

"This weeks project?"

"Yup, this weeks project. How much further Michael?"

"Not far."

"I made Lemon Delicious for desert tonight."

"Mmmm... I know. It's my favourite."

"Mmmm... I know. You're always putty in my hands when I make Lemon Delicious. Where are we going?"

Michael smiled and turned the car onto a small dirt road that led to a high, craggy headland. He parked and turned off the ignition. Ahead of them the blue sky reached out endlessly above the turquoise swell of the ocean. The pale sand of the beach below was dazzling in the sunshine.

"Beautiful" Nikita murmured as she turned to face Michael.

"Yes" he replied. He kissed her cheek and then got out of the car and unlocked the boot. Nikita followed and stood by, watching, as he pulled out a huge, rainbow-coloured kite. He knelt down and started unraveling the cords then fastened the supporting joints into place. When he was done he stood and passed the reel of cord to Nikita.

"Ready?" he asked, his eyes blazing with emotion.

Nikita smiled then nodded her head, "oh yes."

Michael maneuvered the kite above his head and started walking towards the edge of the cliff as Nikita fed out the lines. Her hair whipped in the breeze, swirling around her face. He stood on the edge, holding the kite above his outstretched arms until a gust of wind grabbed it and it lifted up. As soon as it was airborne he ran back to Nikita, standing behind her with his arms reaching around as he pulled on one line and then another.

The kite hovered several metres from the ground then suddenly plunged down. Michael quickly adjusted the lines and with a dramatic swoop the kite lifted into the air and went soaring above their heads. He pulled Nikita backwards, letting out more line as he made the kite dance above them in the strong uplift from the cliff face. The colours blended and swirled against the brilliant blue background, the tail streamers quivering in a kaleidoscope behind.

Nikita laughed, her emotions soaring as the vibrant kite sliced effortlessly through the infinite expanse above them.

"It's beautiful" she exclaimed as her laughter bubbled out again.

Michael pressed firmly against her back, resting his chin on her shoulder. "It's you" he whispered against her ear, laughing softly at her happiness.

"No, it's us" she said emphatically. "You, me, outside and free."

Michael listened to her laughter as it carried on the wind, thinking it was the sweetest sound he had ever heard.

Breathing In

"Alison we're in place" Davenport's voice announced.

Alison held the binoculars up, scanning a slow arc ahead of her. "Birkoff, do we have an update?"

"Negative Alison, but the preliminary estimates are still holding" he answered.

"Richmond, report."

"In place, we have movement but it's within parameters."

"Lindell?"

"Perimeter secured."

Alison checked her watch and then glanced at Jurgen. "Dawson are you in place?"

There was a moment's silence.

"Dawson?"

"Yup, I'm in place" he whispered. She heard a muffled groan.

"Status?" she returned.

"Patching in as soon as I can get my leg out from behind my ear. Damn it's cramped in here" he mumbled. She heard a dull thump and then another moan. "I'm in" he whispered, "scanning now."

Alison inspected the perimeter again as she waited.

"I've got them" Dawson's voice came back. "Lower level two, series of cells, four guards south east corner."

"Is our ingress clear?"

A pause.

"Look's OK, at least for the moment."

"Can you patch control over to Birkoff without detection?"

"Unknown, there's some weird circuitry, it could take a while."

"We don't have 'a while'. Yes or no"

"No."

"Birkoff you take comm for the perimeter team, Dawson cover the interior for Jurgen and I. Starting sequence. Go!"

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

Alison moved quickly as she made her way down the gloomy passage. She motioned to Jurgen to stop when she heard voices ahead.

"Which way Dawson? We have hostiles ahead" she whispered.

"No way round them, the passageway to the cells is behind."

Alison moved to a position adjacent to the door as Jurgen crept up behind her. With a nod she bent low into the doorway as Jurgen covered her from above. She crouched and with a graceful roll entered the room. A rapid spray of bullets from her weapon downed four of the guards. Jurgen dispatched the two left standing.

"Dawson, we're clear" Alison hissed as she sat on the floor.

"You're injured" Jurgen said quietly, bending down beside her.

Alison inspected the bloody tear in her pants just below her knee.

"Straight through" she said absently, "I'll be fine."

Jurgen shrugged and stood. "We should go. Dawson, how much further?"

There was a pause.

"I'd say you're there" Dawson replied slowly.

"What do you mean?" Jurgen snapped.

"Just what he said" Alison replied calmly, standing slowly and leaning against the wall. "Why did you withhold information and fabricate lies about Nikita's time outside the Section."

Jurgen cast his eye's around, a smile twitching at the corner of his mouth. "I had my reasons" he said softly

"You must have understood this level of betrayal would be unacceptable" Alison replied, her voice calm and level. She waited, watching him. "Why?" she asked, her voice softer this time.

"Because I wanted to give her ... a chance" Jurgen replied slowly.

"To be with you?" Alison asked skeptically.

"Yes."

"Your arrogance is astonishing. Did you really imagine you were in love with her Jurgen? Or that she would be with you?" Alison taunted, irritated by the smug smile on his face. "Perhaps you were in love with the idea that you might be. Or ..." Alison shifted and started to walk slowly, testing her weight on her injured leg. "Perhaps you're just playing the same old games."

"I don't play games Alison."

"No, you just use people to get what you want. You used her to get to him, just like they did. You never could accept that he was just plain better than you, so you did whatever you could to hurt him. Your pride comes at quite a cost to those around you Jurgen."

"Nothing hurts Michael anymore" he hissed.

"You got that right." Alison winced as her leg buckled under her and she lost her balance for a moment. She steadied herself against the wall again. "You know that Madeline's revised profile calls for me to cancel Nikita."

"But you won't do it, will you Alison. My guess is ... they're not even here?"

"Perhaps ... not."

"Why are you doing this?" he asked, pacing slowly in front of her.

"I think you know the answer. At least, I hope you do."

"I sent a communique to Operations outlining what I thought you were doing, so we'll have the opportunity to compare notes with him when we get back."

"Nice try. Dawson hasn't been able to break through the scrambler frequencies in their security system. We're not in real time contact with Section" Alison responded calmly.

"I figured as much, that's why I why I sent an encrypted message on my PDA."

"You're really shining today Jurgen, it's rather disturbing. But, as usual, you preparation is sloppy. As a backup, Walter kindly supplied us with a field router." She walked slowly over to retrieve her gun from the floor, before she continued. "Dawson is intercepting and diverting incoming and outgoing messages on all our transmission frequencies. Your message may have gone out, but it will just be rubbish by the time Operations recieves it."

Jurgen's gaze turned cold as he looked at Alison, shaking his head slowly.

"Well thought out Alison, but then, tactical was always your forte." He wandered slowly around her, large leisurely circles. "I have no doubt you know where they really are, you've probably even been helping them." He stoped for a moment and folded his arms, deep in thought. After a moment he resumed walking. "I've been tracking your activities and I think I know where you have them. What do you think that little bit of intel will be worth Alison?"

"Nothing. Intel is only useful if you can share it."

"I see." He withdrew his gun from its holster, holding it loosely in his hand as he resumed his pacing. "Did he ask you to kill me?"

"No, I though that up all by myself. It was a hard decision. I wasn't sure what I would enjoy more. Killing you now or watching you go more slowly after Section breached your systems and destroyed your little blackmail scam. It's happening right now, Jurgen." Alison smiled when she saw the look of consternation on his face. "You thought you deserved something better than the rest of us, without ever doing anything to earn it" she hissed.

Jurgen shook his head, silent, the radius of his circles getting smaller. He looked at the gun dangling in Alison's hand. "Section will know it wasn't an accident."

"I don't give a damn about the Section, this is just between us."

"Is there something between us, Alison?"

"There is now" she replied softly, raising her gun and aiming it at point just above the bridge of his nose. She turned slowly, her arm extended, as she tracked his movement around her with the gun.

"We go back a long way, Alison."

"Yes, a long way. I've watched you destroy good people with your fucked-up view of the world for way too long."

They continued to circle each other, silently evaluating the situation from each side.

"So, it comes to this" Jurgen said quietly, inclining his head slightly as he stared at the gun in her hand.

"Yes" she whispered.

"And how do you propose we resolve this little stand off."

"How about a question and answer?"

"Who gets to ask?"

"Ladies first?"

"Be my guest."

Alison paused a moment, her face grim as she tried to control the trembling that had started in her leg. She took a deep breath, blinking slowly.

"Are you in or out?" she asked softly.

Jurgen stopped pacing, his attention focussed on the gun pointing at him. In or out ... of what? The possibilities were endless. He cast his gaze down for a moment. Raising his head he aimed his gun again, smiling.

"I'm in" he whispered.

The words had no sooner left his lips when the single shot rang out in the empty room. Jurgen's hand twitched as his gun dropped to the floor. The heavy, metallic clang of it landing echoed through the empty halls. His eyes barely registered the sound as he stared at her for the briefest moment, an incredulous look on his face. His eyes closed slowly as his body crumpled to the floor.

"Wrong answer, huh?" Dawson' voice asked softly.

"Not neccessecarily" Alison whispered staring at the inert body on the ground. She took a deep breath as her leg started trembling uncontrollably, a sheen of sweat breaking out on her skin. With a shaky hand she withdrew the charges from the pockets of Jurgen's jacket and set them around his body.

"Are you OK?" Dawson whispered.

Alison sighed. She moved slowly, taking a last look around as she headed back down the passageway they had come in on.

"I'm fine Dawson" she finally answered. "Are the perimeter charges set?"

"Yeah, the rest of the team are already waiting back in the van."

Alison stopped to rest a moment, leaning heavily against the wall.

"Ummm ... Alison?" Dawson voice whispered in her ear.

"Yes."

"I don't have a router."

"I know."

"So, his message went through?"

"If he sent it, then yes, it would have gone through."

"Do you think he did?"

"Get to egress Dawson. I'm arming the charges now."

"I'll come in and get you, you're injured."

"No. Move out, that's an order."

"Alison I ..."

"Enough Dawson" Alison urged. "I've covered your tracks, and Walter's. I'll take the fall."

She pushed off the wall and with a deep breath started moving quickly towards the outside, suddenly desperate to feel fresh air in her lungs.

"What if want to fall with you?" Dawson's persistent, though uncharacteristically soft, voice requested.

There was a moment's silence. She slowed as she manoeuvred her uncooperative leg down a flight of stairs.

"No ... you don't want that. It's going to be a long way down" she whispered softly in response, her voice thoughtful.

She reached the doorway and stepped outside. It was calm and still, almost peaceful. She took a deep breath, the cool night swirled in her lungs and caressed her hot skin. Bliss, however fleeting. She started forward again, almost dawdling, pretending for a moment she was in another place.

"Dawson?"

"Yes Alison."

"Outside, it's a beautiful night."

"Yes, it is" he replied slowly. "Where are you Alison? Do you need help? I'm near the van."

"Can you smell it from where you are?"

"Smell? What do you smell?"

"The outside, of course. It's breathtaking, it's ... alive."

She took another deep breath and increased her pace. As she sighted the van ahead she pressed the transmitter in her hand. The explosion behind her turned night into day for a brief instant, before the air rapidly turned foul with the stench of the burning building.

Just Act Normal

Breathing Out

5. Life's unpredictable, sometimes good, sometimes bad. There are no certainties, no matter how much preparation you do. Just act normal, things usually turn out for the best.

"Hold still Kita, you keep fidgeting" Michael said quietly.

Nikita sighed and clutched the sheets. "I can't help it she" she hissed between clenched teeth, "you're driving me insane. Why do you have to keep blowing?"

"I thought you would like it, it makes it quicker."

"Arggggg ... " she moaned as she felt his warm breath again.

"Nikita" Michael said sternly.

"You're next" she whispered "mmmmm ... then you'll know all about it tough guy."

"I'm nearly done."

"Ohhhh... mmmm... so soon?"

"You are quite normal Kita, you only have ten toes."

Michael screwed the top back on the jar of nail polish and sat back to inspect his handiwork. He blew on her toes again, running his fingers along the arch of each foot.

"There, all done" he announced proudly.

Nikita shook her head slowly and sat up, leaning her chin on Michael's shoulder.

"Thank you" she breathed into his ear.

"My pleasure" he smiled.

She circled her arms around his waist and leant her head against his back. Michael laced his fingers around hers and hummed softly as he gazed out the window of their bedroom. The rain pelted against the glass, forming spatters in the liquid veneer that streamed down the smooth surface. He could hear the crashing of waves in the distance. The sounds of water raging filled his senses.

Nikita lifted her head and slid back on the bed, dragging Michael as she pulled his back against her and circled him with her legs and arms. He rested his head against her chest, his hands gently stroking her thighs. Nikita played with his hair for a while and then rested her hands against his chest.

"Michael" she whispered softly.

"Yes Kita."

"Is this real?"

"I'm not sure. It's as real as we want it to be."

"I've stopped looking over my shoulder and cringing every time the phone rings."

"That's not such a bad thing."

"But maybe I still should be." She combed her fingers through his hair and started taking small sections and making plaits. "Are they looking for us?" she finally asked.

"Of course, but they haven't found us."

"Small comfort" she mumbled. "It's only a matter of time, isn't it?"

"Maybe. But does knowing that change what we have now?"

"No, it makes it all the more precious."

"So we should just enjoy it, take what we can. One day at a time Nikita, it's how many people live their lives. It's not so bad."

"No, it's not so bad," she whispered, kissing his hair.

She watched Michael's fingers as they traced lazy circles on her skin. She felt Michael's fingers as they traced lazy circles on her skin. Seeing, feeling. She clutched him to her tightly, as though she could draw his strength into her. Michael reached one arm up, running his fingers through her hair before resting his hand against her neck.

"We are not alone" he said quietly.

"What do you mean?" Nikita asked, a hint of suspicion clouding her voice.

Michael took a deep breath and stared out the window for long moment, unaccountably saddened at hearing that tone in her voice again after so many days of paradise.

"There are people inside the Section helping us Kita. We are not alone."

"Who are they? What are they doing?"

"I don't know the details, it is better this way. I will only know if they have been successful."

"Successful ... meaning?"

"That we are free of Section."

"Forever?"

"I'm not sure I know what that means Kita" Michael sighed. "All I know is that it will mean that they are no longer looking for us."

"I see" she said softly, "and if you don't hear from 'them'?"

"Then our current arrangements will need to be altered."

"We'll have to start running?"

"Yes."

"I don't want to live my life like that again Michael. Afraid of everything, suspicious of everyone."

"Neither do I, Nikita."

"What will happen to 'them' if ..."

"Its is the Section, Kita" Michael interrupted.

Nikita sighed in acknowledgement, he didn't have to say more. Her fingers wove gently through his hair, undoing the twists she had made as she massaged his head.

"Whatever happens Nikita, this is enough. Here, now." She heard him moan softly as he turned slightly and pressed his cheek against her breast. "I thought I would never have this sort of peace again, that I didn't deserve it. Now, feeling it, seeing it, sharing it, I wonder how I ever survived in its absence. What a strange and pitiful creature I must have been."

"You did what you had to do to survive, just as we all did."

"No. I was merely existing, going through the motions of life without letting it touch me. I accepted whatever they directed me to do, because not to would force me to acknowledge what I had become."

"I can feel you now Michael, you are alive to me."

"You have breathed life into me again Nikita. I am alive, just like you."

Breathing In

Operations and Madeline stood waiting as the team unloaded at van access. Depressed, downcast faces passed them by without a glance. Finally Alison emerged, supported by Dawson and Davenport, Birkoff trailing behind them. Without any preamble Operations launched in.

"My office, now" he hissed, glaring at Alison.

"She's injured" Birkoff exclaimed.

Operations fixed Birkoff with a withering stare before turning back to Alison expectantly.

"I'm fine" she murmured, slowly extricating herself from the strong grasp of her two guardians. Dawson gripped her waist tightly while she steadied herself. She rested her hand against his and gently pried his fingers loose. With a squeeze of his fingers she dropped his hand and moved stiffly down the corridor in Operations wake, Madeline walking beside her.

With a sigh Davenport turned and followed the rest of the team to debrief. Dawson and Birkoff stood frozen, watching Alison's painful progress towards Operations office. Walter walked over and stood beside them

"This sucks, big time" Dawson muttered angrily.

"Big time" Walter confirmed.

"She'll be OK, it's not like Jurgen left her with options" Birkoff whispered.

"That about sums it up" Dawson replied sadly.

"Have faith Dawson old buddy, the fat ladies not singing just yet" Birkoff said quietly, a small grin on his face. "You guys didn't invite me to play on the A team, but I want you to know, when it comes to the relay event, the B team is the undisputed champion. I think our club might just win the pennant again this year." He started whistling a jaunty little tune as he turned and headed towards comms, leaving the bewildered faces of Dawson and Walter behind him.

*********

Alison sat uncomfortably in her chair as Operations paced in front of her, Madeline sat, staring, across at her.

"So you reached the holding cells where you found Michael and Nikita, and Jurgen turned on you" Operations said slowly.

"That's correct, as I have said before."

"Then explain it to me again."

Alison sighed and shifted her leg, trying to get some feeling back in her toes. "As per the profile I was about to cancel Nikita. Michael called out 'no' and I turned to find Jurgen's weapon raised in my direction. I ordered him to stand down and he refused. It was then Nikita explained to me that Jurgen was working as a double agent for the Freedom League."

"Nikita just volunteered this information?" Madeline asked.

"She was very upset. It was clear from her confinement and the interaction between her and Michael during this encounter that she was no longer working in cooperation with the League."

"Explain" Madeline prompted.

"Michael encouraged her to tell the truth, as though she had already explained things to him. He understood that I was about to cancel her and was anxious that I hear the details before carrying out my orders."

"Continue" Operations said.

"Jurgen became agitated, so I shot him in the arm and seized his weapon. Once Jurgen was secured I instructed Nikita to continue with her explanation."

"What was Michael doing during this time?" Madeline asked.

"He sat quietly on the floor, he had a number of injuries that indicated he had recently been subject to an intense interrogation."

"What did Nikita tell you?" Operations demanded.

"Jurgen wanted out and had been trying to sell his information on Operations as means to achieve this. Freedom League made him an offer but wanted additional services before they would help him. They wanted two moles inside Section. He helped them recruit Ackerman during the mission in Singapore. He singled out Nikita as the next possible recruit."

"When were they planning to take her?" Operations asked.

"Speculation. I assume it would have been the same set up as Ackerman, but you presented them with the perfect opportunity when you placed her in abeyance and sent her on the endgame to the Sheys mission. I can confirm Michael helped Nikita escape the explosion through a message sent on her PDA. However I couldn't work out how the League managed to track her down while she was on the outside. Jurgen must have been the link. If he was monitoring Michael's activities in trying to contact Nikita via the PDA, he could have traced the transmission frequency and supplied it to the League. They would only need to monitor the frequency and track the receiver location. I'm surprised that Michael didn't try the same technique to locate her, however, it's likely that his search path would have been detected. It's a cumbersome and time consuming process."

"When did they pick her up?"

"At least six weeks before she was extracted by the Section. They used sophisticated techniques to recondition her in preparation for the extraction. Her conditioning wasn't yet complete so Jurgen was called on take her training to conclusion."

"Jurgen completed her training?" Madeline asked.

"Yes. I understand he approached you when Nikita was brought in. He suggested Michael would be too close to the situation in her retraining and that he, Jurgen, would be more suited to the task."

Alison watched closely as Madeline and Operations exchanged a glance. She held back a smile and then continued.

"Jurgen took over Nikita's retraining for the League while she was ostensibly being retrained for active status. He used a range of drugs and hypnosis techniques to accelerate her training. Ackerman was initially assigned to keep Michael away from Nikita so he wouldn't become suspicous. The anomalies we registered in the surveillance on Nikita were a result of Jurgen's clandestine briefings with her on her duties for the League. He killed Kudren to stop him revealing under duress information that might compromise his cover and their plans for Nikita. I also suspect the anomalies we found in our communication grid during this time were messages sent between Jurgen and his contact in the League, though I haven't been able to confirm this. It's likely he sent them information about mission parameters and progress so they could sabotage our efforts to retrieve Michael and Nikita."

Alison paused for a moment, trying not to squirm as she searched for a comfortable position. Her leg was completely numb and waves of nausea washed over her, sending shivers along her hot skin. She tried to find her focus again, pick-up the thread of the discussion. Breath in, breath out, stay focussed. The future hanging by a thread. She took a deep, shuddering breath and continued.

"Ackerman's exposure by Birkoff and Michael was a significant setback to Jurgen's plans. The League instructed him they wanted Michael as a replacement. Jurgen tried to use Nikita to get the leverage over Michael that he needed. He offered himself to her as potential sexual partner to further his control over her and unbalance Michael. As you are aware Nikita is easily manipulated in this regard. He fabricated the numbers on her test scores when he recommended she be returned to provisional status so that you would be suspicious and keep her assigned to him, rather than transferred back to Michael."

"Did Jurgen tell you this?" Madeline asked, her gaze cold and hard.

"No, Nikita told me. Although with some prodding I was able to extract verification from Jurgen."

Madeline nodded.

"Michael became aware of Jurgen's plan through his observation of Nikita's behaviour during retraining and their subsequent missions when she was restored to status. He convinced her to escape the Section with him before she was exposed and cancelled. According to him he had intended that they would return to the Section once Nikita was out from under the influence of Jurgen and the League. Jurgen had surveillance set up in Nikita's apartment and discovered their plans. He arranged for the League to pick them up before Michael could finalise his plans."

"So what happened next, when you were on site?" Operations asked.

"I searched the room for the keys to Michael and Nikita's cells, my intention was to go outside mission parameters and bring them all back. Michael had agreed to assist me. While I was searching, a number of hostiles entered the room. I threw Jurgen's weapon to Michael. He killed three hostiles before he was shot and went down. Nikita was killed in the crossfire. While retreating I cancelled Jurgen and planted three charges and armed them. I then egressed through a lower level access door. I instructed Dawson to withdraw and when we were clear I activated the charges set by the team and destroyed the building, as per the profile."

"Where were the rest of the team while this was going on?" Madeline asked.

"Unknown at that time. Our communications malfunctioned as soon as we entered. Dawson identified a scrambler shield surrounding the building as we started the sequence. He wasn't able to overide it. When we returned to our pickup point I found the remainder of the team already in the van. There were no casualties other than those I have described."

"Is that all you have to tell me?" Operations asked sternly.

"Yes" Alison replied calmly, content that her injury would be masking her reactions. She imagined they could hear the rapid pounding of her pulse.

Madeline stood and took a seat at Operations desk, deftly keying in some codes. She turned to face Alison again.

"I have a communication here from Jurgen" she said, her lips stretched into a tense smile.

So here it comes, Alison thought. Her focus became blurry, Madeline stared back at her through a swirl of grey. She wiped her hand absently down her face, feeling the heat and moisture on her skin. Not long enough or maybe too long ... did it matter in the end? Her stomach heaved in answer and she fought the strong desire to vomit on Operations nice clean floor. She looked down and saw a pool of bright red blood around her foot. She wanted to apologise to Operations for putting blood on his floor, but then, when she looked more closely she could imagine the floor was covered in blood. Perhaps he wouldn't even notice hers. She raised her head slowly and met Madeline's intense gaze. What did she see there ... concern? She almost laughed out loud as a stupid old song started bouncing around in her head. ... will I be happy, will I be rich, here's what she said to me ...

"In fact" Madeline continued, her voice softer this time, "I have found a number of communications between Jurgen and the Freedom League. Mr Birkoff missed them when he was analysing the information you retrieved from the League Training Camp mission. They were hidden within an encrypted file that we have only just been able to access. They confirm the information you have provided."

Madeline stood and walked over to her, delicately side stepping the blood on the floor as she leant down and rested a hand on her shoulder.

"Well done Alison" Madeline said softly, a sad smile on her face.

Well done? Had she heard correctly? Alison shook her head and blinked slowly, trying to focus on Madeline. Her head was swimming. ... what lies ahead, will we have rainbows day after day, here's what my sweetheart said ...

"Yes, well done. Though the losses have been substantial we have closure. The last remnants of the Freedom League have been ... " Operations voice droned on " ... will be pleased with the outcome ... Oversight has approved your permanent transfer from deep cover .... mainstream duties at the Section effective ... in addition to taking over Michael's responsibilities you'll .... we'll begin ..."

... when I was just a little girl, I asked my mother, what will I be ......

Epilogue

Breathing Out

Michael heard Nikita scream his name and rushed inside the house, reaching instinctively for his gun before he realised he no longer carried it with him.

He found her on the floor by the front door, pale and shaking as she stared at the package in front of her. He crouched at her side and inspected the brown paper packaging, immediately noticing the distinctive crest on the envelope tucked loosely under the string binding it together. A strange thought lurked on the periphery of his consciousness.

"Section" Nikita whispered.

Michael nodded and ran back into the kitchen, retrieving his gun from the back of the pantry. In a crouch he sidled up to the front window. He peered quickly over the window sill, before ducking down again. Observing no immediate threat he raised his head again for a more thorough inspection of the scene outside. Nothing out the norm, except for an unfamiliar black car parked across the road. He pulled the curtain back and stood in the window, staring intensely at the car. The darkened windows made it difficult to see if anyone was inside. Nothing happened. He was still breathing.

After a long while he glanced across at Nikita before looking back out the window.

"Open it Kita" he directed quietly.

"Are you sure?" she asked, back in control now.

"Yes" he whispered, his eyes fixed to the dark car.

He heard the rustle of paper and then a sigh.

"It's a game" she announced, her voice bubbling with relief.

"Explain" Michael commanded.

"It's a game of 'Go', that's all" Nikita laughed with relief. "A game of 'Go' and this envelope."

As he heard paper tearing he saw a small, pale hand press against the windscreen of the car. He raised his own hand to the window, pressing his palm against the smooth, cool glass.

"There's a note" Nikita said quietly. Her voice was low and husky as she read it out.

Of the dark past
A child is born
With joy and grief
My heart is torn

Young life is breathed
On the glass;
The world that was not
Comes to pass.

Have a nice life, for all of us. Tu me manqueras, mais toi ne me regrettes pas. A.

Michael took a deep breath and pressed his forehead against the glass as he watched the hand in the windscreen withdraw. He felt the warmth and security of Nikita's body as her arms circled his waist. Her cheek pressed firmly against his shoulder as she tightened her embrace.

He took a deep breath as he heard the engine hum quietly to life. The car pulled out and moved slowly past him, down the street. It turned a corner and was gone.

Finis

The verse is the Epilogue is from James Joyce ("Ecce Puer" 1932). Thanks to Kadyn for help with the French phrases :)

Send suggestions and comments to amw, click HERE!