"These things will stunt your growth, you know." Nikita leaned over Birkoff's shoulder and snatched up a package of cheese/peanut butter crackers, fluorescent orange inside their cellophane wrapper. She gave a conspirator's look to Michael, who stood at Birkoff's other shoulder, then went on in a theatrical, doomsday whisper, "They make these things from toxic waste, you know. Color them with agent orange. It's the latest thing with terrorists for wiping out unsuspecting civilians."

Birkoff swiveled and grabbed the crackers back protectively, looking at her with an aggrieved expression. "They're brain food." He glared at her pointedly, "You ought to try some."

Nikita laughed aloud then and shared another glance with Michael. He folded his arms and looked down, allowing a tiny smile to curve his lips. Although Birkoff was impatient and thorny with most people, he and Nikita regularly traded good-humored insults, and their exchanges were usually enjoyed by all who witnessed them. "Let's get finished, Birkoff," he said, not unkindly, "the briefing starts in five minutes."

Nikita straightened up to leave, then hesitated as she heard voices approaching them. Operations and Madeline appeared out of a side hallway, bracketing a guest between them. Nikita felt her skin crawl with distaste as she realized the man with them was Perry Bauer. "What's *he* doing here," she muttered in a low, gritty voice, her eyes following them closely.

"We'll be finding out in a few minutes," Michael said. The look he gave her was disapproving, although he understood the source of her unease.

They had first encountered Bauer while foiling his sale of a nerve toxin to a North Korean terrorist faction. Nikita abhorred him both for his deadly brand of self-indulgent hedonism and for his callous disregard for human life. She had been stunned and furious to learn that the Section had allowed him to live. "…shades of gray," she said under her breath, closing her eyes and shaking her head in loathing.

"Are you ready?" Operations directed this question at Michael, only glancing at Nikita as she bent over Birkoff''s station, pretending to study the printout in her hand. She could feel Bauer's eyes crawl over her, and she refused to turn and face them.

Michael's reply was quiet, nothing in his tone indicating that he thought it unusual for Perry Bauer to be standing before him. "Yes. We'll be there by the time you are ready to start." Operations and Bauer walked away in the direction of the briefing room, conversing in low tones.

Lingering behind, Madeline spoke then, offering them a warm smile in greeting. "When we're finished briefing, Michael, I'd like you and Nikita to see me in my office, if you would."

His eyes flicked down to Nikita for a moment, then back to Madeline. "Of course."

Nikita only nodded, glancing sideways from her printout but saying nothing.

Madeline regarded them both musingly for a moment more before turning to follow Operations toward the briefing room. ***********

Operations gave a flourish with the remote control, producing before them the image of a man wearing a white lab coat and dark tie. He wore a closely cropped beard and mustache, and combed his dark hair straight back above his high forehead. "Dr. Bruce Palasek. Lower level researcher in a government-funded chemical weapons countermeasure group. For the past six weeks we have been following his clandestine efforts to find a buyer for a new compound their group has formulated. We have put him in contact with Perry Bauer, expecting that Bauer's reputation will give us the inside track on consummating a deal for the compound. Their initial conversations have been promising."

Operations looked around the table, folding his arms and pausing a moment before continuing. "We're not sure whether Palasek is operating on his own, or if the problem is higher up in the group. We also don't know what other materials he or they may have peddled recently, or whose hands they are in. We need to ascertain the size and duration of the leak and plug it - permanently." They all contemplated the hapless Dr. Palasek for another moment before Operations eliminated the image and resumed speaking.

"Bauer has…agreed…to assist us with this situation." He gave a meager smile, fleeting and ironic. Everyone present knew that Bauer wasn't a willing participant. "Michael and Nikita will be going in as his representatives in the purchase. Our priority will be to determine how extensive this problem is within the countermeasure group, and to identify any other unauthorized sales of this nature. We'll meet back here tomorrow at this time to go over the plan." He departed in his usual abrupt manner.

Nikita had slouched in her chair, arms folded and unmoving throughout the briefing. Now, she glanced over briefly at Michael as he sat quietly in the chair next to her. He seemed unaware of her regard, and continued looking far away, one hand gently rubbing the side of his chin. Nikita gazed at him curiously, wondering, as she always did, what was happening in his mind. Unexpectedly, he looked back at her, and as their eyes met she was vaguely embarrassed, feeling as though she'd been caught being a voyeur.

Nikita put both hands flat on the table as she rose, and spoke in a matter-of-fact tone to cover her embarrassment. "Well. Madeline is waiting for us, right?"

Michael nodded after a moment and got up to join her.

They found Madeline piling garments into the arms of a young woman whose name Nikita did not know. While they waited, Nikita closed her eyes and rotated her head and neck to relieve the tension there. Becoming involved with Bauer again was an unpalatable proposition under any circumstances, and she could already feel herself tightening up with dread.

Madeline dismissed the garment-carrier then. The girl left silently with her armload of clothing, making no eye contact with any of them and closing the door silently behind herself. "Please, sit down," Madeline invited them with a wave of one hand, then remained standing herself. She waited quietly until they were both seated, then asked abruptly, "How do you feel about working with Perry Bauer on this assignment?"

Nikita snorted in derision. "I'd feel a little better if I thought we *were* working together." She folded her arms and narrowed her eyes. "You may see shades of gray, but I know black and white when I see it. I don't trust him."

Madeline nodded thoughtfully and looked next at Michael, who spoke with characteristic understatement. "We'll be watching our backs."

"Why does it matter, anyway, how we feel about it?" Nikita challenged.

Meticulously folding the silky blouse she still held over her arm, Madeline caressed the fabric for a moment before answering. "You need to remember that no matter how you feel about Perry Bauer personally, he is the reason we'll be able to stop the leak in this government group. Whether he does it willingly or not, he could be saving a lot of lives by enabling us to do our job." She looked pointedly at Nikita. "Innocent lives."

Grudgingly, Nikita nodded.

Madeline leaned against the edge of her desk, laying the blouse down gently and folding her arms. "Now, having said that, I also want you to remember that the same warnings I gave you before still apply. Bauer is not a lap dog. The possibility of betrayal exists. You'll need to watch him carefully, especially once a sample of the compound is obtained from Dr. Palasek."

She straightened up then, signaling an end to their conversation. "Bauer will be here for the briefing tomorrow. Needless to say, these are things we couldn't discuss in his presence." She smiled softly at them, then her expression became serious. "Be careful." ***********

Nikita shuddered involuntarily as they approached the chain link gate to Bauer's property. Michael cast her a sideways glance but said nothing, turning his attention instead to the man who barred their way through the gates. Short and powerfully built, he stood with arms crossed and legs spread aggressively. A gun handle protruded warningly from his waistband.

Michael stopped the car and rolled down the window, holding up his hands in the universal sign of harmless intent. The guard drew his gun and approached the car confidently. "Bauer is expecting us," was all Michael said. The man leaned down, peering into the interior of the car and examining them both with sharp, cold eyes. After a moment of this close perusal he stepped back and waved them through, satisfied. With a sinking feeling, Nikita twisted in her seat to watch the gates swing shut imprisoningly behind them.

Bauer joined them in the expansive living room. "Well, here we are again, aren't we?" His hooded eyes surveyed them coldly, belying his falsely jovial expression. He seated himself in a large overstuffed chair, draping his arms wide over the chair back and straightening his legs before him. With a languid flap of his hand he signaled to the buxom blonde woman who had followed him hesitantly into the room. She went promptly to the bar and began clinking bottles together. "Anything?" Bauer inquired inhospitably.

Without addressing the offer of a drink Michael pocketed his hands and spoke in an even tone. "We need to talk." He glanced meaningfully at the woman behind the bar.

"Stephanie?" Bauer looked over and snorted dismissively. "You can say anything. She's got a brain like a BB in a box car." Stephanie put a drink into his outstretched hand and he accepted it without thanks. Maintaining a carefully neutral expression, she retreated to a stool near the bar.

Nikita looked at Bauer with ill-concealed hostility, finally turning to face the window in disgust as Michael resumed speaking. "Is everything set up to meet with Palasek?"

"Of course," Bauer replied testily. He took another deep swallow of his drink. "I can buy chemical weapons with my eyes closed. I don't need you coming in here and checking up on my procedures. If I say it's set, then it's set."

They locked gazes for several tense seconds. Unmoving and unblinking, Michael did not respond to Bauer's little tirade. Finally, Bauer broke the look and heaved himself up from the chair, going to the bar and freshening his drink.

Nikita felt Michael's light touch on her shoulder. "Call in," he said quietly. Nodding, she moved away and pulled a cell phone from her bag, watching the uncomfortable trio at the far end of the room.

"We're in," she said briefly."

Birkoff's voice floated into her ear. "Is the schedule still intact?"

"So he says," Nikita replied. "We'll check in just before the meet to make sure you're receiving OK, then again after."

"Right." There was a pause, then Birkoff continued in a whisper. "Be careful."

Nikita smiled slightly. "I always am, Birkoff, you know that. Safety is my motto." She closed up the phone, shaking her head. Michael looked at her inquiringly and she gave him a reassuring nod in answer.

Bauer watched this exchange without comment, then put his drink down on the bar with a noisy thump. "I still have the same good chef," he announced, "let's go see what he has for us."

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

With dinner sitting heavily on her tense stomach, Nikita waited quietly in the darkened room for Michael's signal. She went over the details in her mind and breathed calmly to help control her leaping nerves. She knew the plan. She knew her bug was sending to Birkoff. She was ready.

Hearing the door open quietly, she looked up and saw Michael come into the room, closing the door behind himself. She stood and picked up her jacket, watching him warily as he came to stand before her, gently gripping her shoulders and looking closely into her face.

"Be careful tonight," he said softly. "With Bauer we don't know what to expect." He hesitated a moment. "If Palasek provides a sample tonight that will become the priority. If anything goes wrong, make sure it gets back to the Section."

Mutely, Nikita nodded. He released her shoulders then, allowing his hands to trail down her arms until he grasped her hands. They looked at one another in silence until, with a final squeeze, her released her hands and turned to open the door.

The night was crisp and cool as they pulled up outside a non-descript office building. Walking beside Michael down the empty hall, Nikita took in the tired decor and noted it was badly in need of cleaning. Their eyes moved restlessly, monitoring the surroundings and alert to everything .

Bauer stopped next to an open doorway on their right and exchanged a greeting with an unseen person within. Turning, he motioned for them to join him, then preceded them into the room.

Dr. Palasek stood nervously at the end of a battered table. Bauer had already seated himself and lounged comfortably. "These are my friends Michael and Nikita," he said to the fidgeting scientist. They'll be handling the transport and delivery of the product, assuming it checks out." He looked irritably at the man then, finally snapping at him. "Why don't you sit down and relax, Dr. Palasek."

Nikita and Michael watched silently as the man drew a shaky breath and sat down, scratching nervously at his bearded chin. "Look. You told me you were going to arrange a test. You were supposed to pay me and be done tonight." He looked around anxiously. "Now you're bringing more people in. I don't know if I like this."

Nikita felt a thrill of alarm race through her. Bauer had let them believe that his negotiations with Palasek were in the very beginning stages. It now sounded otherwise, but this was surely not the time or place to show her suspicion. With an effort she maintained a detached expression as Bauer spoke.

"It's OK, Dr. Palasek," he said, leaning forward and patting the man's arm. "You're doing fine and things are moving along." His voice was low and soothing. "I told you I don't handle material personally, and I know all about these two. They're all right. So don't worry." He gave Palasek's arm a final reassuring pat then leaned back comfortably and knitted his brow together in mock concern.

"Tell me now. How many of you people here am I going to have to pay?" Dr. Palasek looked at him in bewilderment. "What?" He peered at Michael and Nikita, as if expecting them to clarify the question for him.

Bauer continued patiently. "I mean, how many of your bosses know about this little arrangement?" He frowned, his tone becoming threatening. "And how many other people have they already sold this material to?"

Palasek shook his head with vigor, relieved. "Nobody, Mr. Bauer. Nobody. I'm doing this on my own and I haven't even talked to another potential buyer." He looked around again nervously. "Nobody," he stated again, vehemently.

Bauer said nothing, but looked over at Michael and Nikita with raised eyebrows, as if doubting the truth of Palasek's declaration. Finally, he sighed theatrically and pushed back his chair. "All right, Dr. Palasek. Let's make sure it stays that way." They all stood then and began to walk out, leaving a shaken Palasek remaining at the far end of the table. Bauer paused at the door. "The test has been arranged. I'll be in touch tomorrow."

The returned to the chilly car and rode in silence for some time. Michael's voice in the darkness was curt and displeased. "Why did you mislead us about the negotiations with Palasek?"

"Now, Michael. You don't tell me everything…I don't tell you everything. That's the way it works, right?" He yawned hugely, then continued in an offhand tone. "Tomorrow we'll get a sample from him. Then you can go run your tests and kill the good doctor and I'll be done with you."

The remainder of the short trip was completed in silence.

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

It was awkward, sitting on the floor with her hands tied behind her. Back-to-back with her, also stripped of his transmitter, Michael was in the same position. The heavily armed men who had greeted them at the car were gone, and now Bauer stood looking down at them with folded arms and a thoughtful expression on his face. Perched on her bar stool again, Stephanie sipped her drink and seemed to find nothing unusual about two people tied up in her living room.

"You have the sample already," Michael stated, not looking up. "Of course," Bauer replied. "I have it and I have a test already arranged to determine its effectiveness."

Nikita could not keep silent. "How many innocent people are you going to kill this time, Bauer?" Her lip curled in loathing as she glared up at him.

"Innocent people? Why, I don't plan to kill any innocent people this time. In fact, the test site is underground and self-contained, so there shouldn't be any danger of spillage into the general population." He smiled at her sardonically. "I've thought of everything, haven't I?"

Nikita felt her insides freeze as she realized what Bauer was saying. Michael's fingers intertwined with hers behind their backs and gave a gentle squeeze as he spoke.

"You planted the chemicals somewhere in the Section."

"Yes. Yes I did." Bauer was clearly pleased with himself. He squatted down and poked his forefinger into Michael's chest. "Nobody tells me what to do." Another poke. "Nobody."

Michael gazed back at him unflinchingly. "You'll be hunted down, you know."

Bauer stood up shaking his head. "No, I don't think so. But I'm willing to take that chance to get you people off my back." Without looking around, he snapped his fingers at Stephanie. She got up hastily from the bar and put a telephone into Bauer's hand, then returned to her seat. Bauer stood looking from Michael to Nikita meditatively.

Abruptly he turned to Nikita and squatted on his heels in front of her, drawing out a gun and laying the barrel alongside her neck. He flipped open the telephone, then spoke, looking at her closely. "You are going to call in. I am going to keep this gun right here. If you don't act normally, I'll pull the trigger. Handsome, here, will become headless and you'll get all messy." He gave the gun an emphatic shove and Nikita could hear it rap the back of Michael's head. "Do you understand me?"

She nodded, her look venomous. "Good. Tell me the number."

Nikita recited the telephone number for him to dial, feeling Michael give her fingers another squeeze as she did so. Bauer held the phone to her ear, tapping the gun once against her neck as a reminder. She held tightly to Michael's hands.

"Get Madeline," she said tersely when Birkoff answered the phone.

On his end, Birkoff waved frantically at Operations and Madeline, who covered the short distance to his station at a rapid pace. His voice as he spoke was both relieved and confused. "It's Nikita. She's not on the assigned line. She wants Madeline."

Operations and Madeline exchanged glances. "Something's up, they're late calling in." Operations looked back at Birkoff. "Put it on speaker." He nodded at Madeline then, indicating for her to go ahead.

Her voice was calm. "Yes, Nikita?"

Nikita's amused-sounding voice came back brightly over the speakers. "Birkoff, I can't understand you with your mouth full." She sighed in mock resignation. "I *told* you about those crackers. When we get back I'm going to tell Operations on you and have him search the place until he finds every last package and has them properly disposed of. Now get Madeline for me."

After a tiny pause Madeline spoke again. "Who is the problem - Palasek or Bauer?"

Nikita's response through the speaker was relaxed, sounding a little apologetic. "Yes. I know - we're a little behind schedule here. The meet with Palasek ran longer than we thought. Everything's looking good for a sample tomorrow."

"Do you need backup at Bauer's house?" Madeline asked urgently, trying to glean more clues as to what Nikita was obviously trying to tell them.

Nikita continued on with her charade for Bauer. "No, Michael doesn't have anything else." Pause. "OK." Pause. "We'll be in touch as soon as we have the sample."

The line went dead.

Operations and Madeline looked at each other briefly, then both turned to Birkoff, who rolled his eyes nervously at them. "Crackers? What in hell was that all about?" Operations snapped.

Birkoff reached into the drawer beside him and sheepishly pulled out a package of cheese-peanut butter crackers. "These crackers, sir. Nikita was, uh, talking to me about these before the briefing yesterday." Suddenly his face lit with concentration and he spoke more rapidly, eyes widening as he realized the probable meaning of Nikita's double-speak on the phone. "She said they were toxic…and the latest thing for terrorists…" he looked up at them in fear.

Operations understood the situation instantly. After closing his eyes momentarily, he looked over at Madeline. She nodded once in response, then turned and walked quickly in the direction of her office. Operations placed one hand on Birkoff's chair back and leaned down, speaking quietly and calmly. "Bauer has put a sample of the new chemical compound somewhere here in Section One. Issue a general evacuation alarm, standard sub-station regrouping assignments. Then get out." He paused a moment before continuing. "Make sure Madeline goes with you."

Birkoff nodded, his fingers already busy on the keyboard. "What about you, sir?"

"You heard Nikita: search and dispose. I'll be here with the biohazard containment team." **********

Bauer stood up, snapping the phone shut and grinning maliciously at Nikita. "Very good," he said, nodding. "You people should be actors instead of spies." He walked to the bar, trading the phone for his drink, then turning back to them. "I'll bet you're wondering why I didn't just let you go back and get it with all your friends."

They said nothing, and he looked displeased at their refusal to play his game. He smiled coldly and placed his drink on the bar, coming to stand over them with his arms folded. "You see, we left something unfinished last time you were here. With your friends, getting rid of them is simply business." He leaned down and winked. "With you - it's personal." Reaching out then, he lightly stroked first Nikita's face, then Michael's. "I can't decide which of you I want first."

Nikita shuddered at Bauer's touch, unable to control her revulsion. "Maybe you?" Bauer fingered her hair. "You know, I never really liked you as a brunette."

He disappeared from her line of vision then as he moved to face Michael. "Or maybe you?" Bauer's hands grasped Michael's outstretched legs above the knee and began moving upward, massaging the hard thigh muscles and nodding his head approvingly. Michael stared at him with disdain, giving no other reaction to the groping.

Nikita braced herself mentally , then spoke in a lazy, sarcastic tone. "You know, Bauer, I could just tell you were the type who'd do it with the girl tied up." She went on contemptuously. "Tell the truth, Perry," she said, pronouncing his name with exaggerated scorn. "I'll bet you even have to drug them sometimes, don't you?" She lay her head back against Michael and laughed heartily.

"Nikita…" Michael muttered in a low warning tone, understanding what she was doing and not liking it.

Bauer was back in front of her, silent. Nikita raised her head, "No - I know," she said, still laughing madly. "You give out paper bags. One for you, and one for her in case yours falls off!" She shook with helpless laughter. Between them, Michael gripped her hands like a vise.

Bauer slapped her then, snapping her head back onto Michael's shoulder. Her ears rang and she could taste blood inside her mouth. She smiled. "Yeah," was all she said.

Unsnapping a pocket knife, Bauer split the cord that bound Michael and Nikita together. Roughly he pulled Nikita to her feet, tearing their hands apart, shoving her forward as she stumbled on her numbed and cramped legs. "Nikita." Michael's face was calm and his eyes held her as he spoke. "It will be all right." Her return gaze was fearful, but composed.

Shifting his attention to Bauer then, Michael spoke in a soft, menacing tone. "If you hurt her, Bauer, there will be no place where you can hide that I will not find you."

Bauer snorted, unimpressed. He plucked a handgun from the waist of his trousers and slid it down the bar to the silent and watchful Stephanie. He jerked his head toward Michael then, who remained trussed on the floor. "If he moves, shoot him."

***********

"Stephanie."

She deliberately turned her back on Michael, taking a sip of her drink and fondling the gun.

"Stephanie." Softer, lower, a little sad. "Please."

She glanced over her shoulder once then turned back. "Don't talk to me."

In the same low tone Michael went on. "You know what he'll do to her."

She closed her eyes but said nothing in response.

"You don't deserve to live like this." His voice was filled with sadness, understanding, pity. Stephanie stood up from her stool, staring at him furiously, her eyes bright with sudden tears.

"What do you know about the way I live?" she challenged in a taut voice. "What do you care?"

His eyes soft with sympathy, Michael's voice remained low and kind. "I know he has no love or respect for you. I know he has others in your own bed." He paused, looking at her seriously. "I know I can help you get away from him if you'll let me."

Stephanie gave a brittle laugh. "Perry would kill us all! Just let him have his fun and then you can both go away." She looked away, wiping her eyes angrily.

"No." Michael responded instantly. "He will kill her. You have been listening. You understand far more than he thinks you do. Surely you can tell that his intentions go beyond simple lust." She watched him warily as he continued. "Nikita and I come from resources far beyond Bauer's. We can help you." He waited tensely as she visibly weighed his words in her mind.

Abruptly she picked up her drink and slugged down the remaining liquid, then walked purposefully to Michael and knelt in front of him. "I'll help you. But only if we leave now...while he's busy with her."

Michael gazed at her somberly, shaking his head. "I won't leave her with him."

Her face hardened stubbornly. "Then he can have you next, I guess. I don't care." She stood up and glared at him. "Do you think she'd hang around for you?"

His expression was pained and regretful. "She would," he whispered, looking away. "She deliberately gave herself to him just now to draw him away from me. Surely a woman like you understands about loyalty…and love."

He lapsed into silence, waiting for her response. Stephanie looked at him with swollen eyes. His words had struck deep into the anger and humiliation which comprised her daily life with Perry Bauer. Real love was an enticing mirage that glimmered in the far distance of this emotional wasteland. She wondered if she had enough courage to let hatred overcome her fear.

At last she walked to the bar and picked up the gun, hefting it once or twice in her hand. "All right. But I'm keeping the gun. I don't trust you."

Michael nodded, looking back at her somberly and praying that she would hurry up. "As you wish."

She examined him for a moment longer, then placed the gun into her pocket and reached to cut his bonds. ***********

The silken cord tightened again, closing her throat and dimming her sight. Bound to the bed, Nikita struggled to remain conscious and control her panic, concentrating on the sound of Bauer's raspy breathing and the sight of his pasty face as he smiled with perverted enjoyment. Hatred would get her through this.

Suddenly sweet oxygen flooded her lungs as the cord eased and she was able to heave great gasps of air. Bauer looked at her with satisfaction. "You don't have as much to say now, do you?" He rummaged in the bedside table and came up with a thin sharp blade in his hand. "What do you say we get a little more comfortable?"

Nikita turned her head in anguish as Bauer slid the cold metal under her shirt and began to slice the fabric with a smooth steady motion. The blade was very sharp, and the cold metal raised goose bumps on her exposed skin. Then she heard the knife clatter as Bauer tossed it back onto the bedside table. She squeezed her eyes shut, unable to look as the bed sagged with his weight next to her. His hands were cold and dry, and she felt her gorge rise in revulsion as he casually explored her naked torso, pinching cruelly. Holding tightly to her loathing of this man, she retained enough sensibility to control any reaction. Nothing would infuriate him more than for her simply not to react.

Unexpectedly then he rose from the bed and Nikita looked up quickly to prepare herself for his next onslaught. With repugnance she saw that he had stripped off his shirt and was plucking at his belt. She took a deep calming breath and put a smirk on her face. "You know Bauer, your aura is so dark and confused. You really should try channeling sometime, it's a wonderful enhancement of your inner radiance." Bauer paused and looked at her in disbelief as she nodded vigorously and continued in a perky tone. "Negative energy can build up in your aura. It's like a storm cloud over your head; showering gloom over everyone around you. Gloom, gloom, gloom." She focused on an area just over his head. "I can see it…so dark and damaged. Really, some auric healing would just do wonders for your self-esteem and interpersonal relationships. Because, let's face it, Perry….you don't play well with others."

He scowled and suddenly backhanded her with a vicious crack that whipped her head sharply to the side. "You're talking too much again." He smiled slowly, and Nikita felt cold dread slither up her spine. His zipper made a small rasping sound. "Lucky for us I know just how to shut you up for a while."

The door slammed open behind him then, crashing into the wall behind and rebounding partway. Michael's foot stopped the door, and in the next instant he was into the room and had Perry in a neck-snapping headlock. "Kill him!" Nikita snarled, straining against the cords that held her down, completely uncaring of her partial nudity.

"No." Another figure stepped into the room and stopped just inside the door. Stephanie held the gun with slight waver. She looked only at Bauer and her face was a mask of hostility.

Nikita laughed from the bed. "I think she's going to kill you Perry!" Abruptly she stopped laughing and sneered at him in abhorrence. "You're lucky if she does. You know what I would have done if I'd had another minute?" Her voice lowered to a scathing whisper as she hissed the words. "Bitten it off."

Michael's voice was calm in the face of her attack. "Stephanie. Release Nikita now and give her the gun."

Stephanie never looked away from Bauer and did not move in response to Michael's words. Instead, staring intently through narrowed eyes, she began inching closer to Bauer.

Bauer struggled in Michael's grasp, realizing that he was about to reap everything he had sown. "Stephanie…" he began.

"Shut up, Perry." Stephanie's voice was without inflection as she approached to within few feet of the two men. Her eyes went briefly to Michael. "If you really do care about her, then you'd better get out of the way. I'm not a good enough shot to avoid killing you too."

Nikita blinked at this, but lay silent, knowing not to interject a distraction into the tension of the moment.

"Look, Stephanie…." Bauer started again.

Michael watched judiciously as she raised the gun until her arms were level. Just as her finger began to tighten on the trigger he released his hold on Bauer, pushing him slightly forward, and leaped clear of the bullet's path.

Bauer was struck in the throat, his body jerking with the impact, his hands reaching up to clutch the wound. Nikita cried out in horror as Bauer fell partway onto the bed, his neck jetting blood over her with each beat of his heart. She strained her face away and shuddered in horror. "Michael…get him off…get him off…Michael" Her voice was high and strident, her eyes squeezed tightly shut.

Unwilling to look, she could feel Bauer being dragged from the bed, and the ensuing loud thump as he was dumped unceremoniously onto the floor. Her bindings were cut, and she could feel gentle hands massaging the blood back into her wrists. Opening her eyes then she saw Michael's face before her, and she sagged onto his chest in glad relief. He gently wrapped her in his jacket, then held her quietly, stroking her hair and murmuring soft words of comfort.

There was no time for hysterics. Nikita calmed herself quickly, then sat up and gave Michael a grateful nod. "Thanks. It was about to get really unpleasant in here." Still holding her hand, Michael looked back at her for a long moment, his eyes unreadable. Finally he reached behind her and picked up a pillow, pulling off the case and using it to gently wipe the blood away from her face and neck.

A sudden, solid clunk drew their attention and they both looked up to see Stephanie standing in the same spot, the gun now on the floor at her feet. She was staring fixedly at Bauer.

"What about Stephanie?" Nikita asked quietly, knowing what the answer was likely to be.

Michael sighed and let the pillowcase drop onto the bed between them. He spoke in a low voice. "We'll take her back. She'll be questioned for anything she knows about Bauer's business and contacts. After that….I don't know." With his thumb he rubbed at a spot of blood remaining on Nikita's cheek, and one corner of his mouth twitched slightly upward. "Maybe you could convince Madeline that we need another good-looking blonde operative."

Nikita smiled a little at this gallows humor. He went on seriously, looking down to stroke her hand lightly as he spoke. "I know what you did, deliberately baiting Bauer…"

Nikita's dismissive shrug was unconvincing. "I thought I could buy more time with him than you could." She did not meet his eyes. "You should have gotten out. We don't know if Madeline understood my phone call…" She paused and stared at Michael as the thought struck her fully. "They could all be dead by now."

"Maybe." They exchanged a long look.

Finally Nikita sighed and rose from the bed, pausing to push her arms through the sleeves of Michael's jacket and bundle it tightly around herself. She went to Stephanie then and placed a gentle arm around her shoulders. Michael joined them, and without sparing a glance for Bauer's exsanguinated corpse, they left the room. ************

The teapot whistled sharply in the tiny kitchen. Nikita answered its shrill summons, pulling a new shirt into place as she hurried down the steps. Stephanie, still looking shell-shocked and dispirited, was seated in the living room. She looked up gratefully as Nikita offered her the hot mug.

Near the balcony windows Michael stood looking out, the cell phone dangling from his hand. As Nikita watched, he slowly opened the tiny instrument and dialed a number. Their eyes met. "Ringing," he said.

For a long moment time was suspended, as in each of their minds the scenarios played out. If Section One had not managed to decipher Nikita's "cracker code", then there was every likelihood that they were all now dead. She and Michael would be free, but the price would be the lives of many people she had come to care about. The emotional extremes of this possibility were unbearable, suffocating. She tried to imagine Michael free of the behavioral constraints placed on him by the Section. She found that she couldn't picture it. Could he?

At last Michael closed his eyes and Nikita felt a bubble burst as he began to speak. "Yes. Bauer is dead." A pause. "When?"

Michael closed the phone and stood silently, looking down at it lying in his hand. Nikita joined him at the window, hesitantly touching his shoulder to communicate her understanding. Slowly he turned and pulled her into a gentle embrace, resting his face against hers and stroking the skin of her back where the shirt remained untucked. There was nothing to be said. ************

"Did you have to let her kill him? He could still have been useful to us." Operations shook his head as he looked from Michael to Nikita and back again.

Nikita shrugged and looked away, having no satisfactory response for this. Michael answered quietly, his face expressionless. "It was unavoidable."

"At any rate, he had proven himself to be unreliable." Madeline sat on Michael's far side at the large table. "His personal motivations were too strong to allow him to successfully play both sides of the field." She looked at them with some regret, her dark hair like a cloud around her face. "I think we might have lost you both if Stephanie hadn't been so easily influenced. How did you convince her to release you?" This last was addressed to Michael.

He glanced at Nikita before answering slowly. "I appealed to her desire to believe in love." He offered no further explanation of this obscure answer, and after a moment Operations huffed exasperatedly.

"Well. We found the chemical compound Bauer left here. It was attached to the underside of this table…about where you're sitting, Nikita." He grinned unpleasantly as she involuntarily looked down at the table in front of her. Still looking at her he continued, "By the way, your method of warning us was…creative." Looking at Madeline to include her he added ungraciously, "I suppose we owe you our thanks."

Nikita only raised her eyebrows and looked at him in mock surprise at this expression of gratitude. Madeline smiled at the exchange before speaking in an ironic tone. "We have, of course, revised our policy on the presence of non-personnel inside the Section."

"What about Stephanie and Dr. Palasek?" Nikita asked, looking at Madeline curiously.

"Dr. Palasek was canceled, of course," she answered smoothly. "As for Stephanie," she paused briefly, then continued. "Stephanie has been very cooperative. Her information has been valuable. She displayed considerable courage and single-mindedness in her resistance to Bauer. For the time being she'll remain under evaluation for possible recruitment."

Nikita was unsurprised. 'Anybody with her looks who can kill in cold blood…' she thought to herself. "Are we done here?" she said aloud.

At a nod from Operations she pushed back her chair and reached under the table to retrieve a large, handled shopping bag. She paused briefly to wink at Michael, then walked away. Sensing too late that Madeline's sharp eyes were upon him, Michael quickly stifled the smile that rose to his lips.

At his station Birkoff was irritatedly rearranging and checking his equipment. The hunt for the chemical compound had required a thorough search of the entire premises and now nothing was in its right place. He supposed they had broken things too, with their manhandling. He was still grumbling under his breath when he saw Nikita approaching, carrying a large bag.

To his great consternation, Nikita deposited the shopping bag in his lap, leaned over and gave him a resounding kiss on the top of the head, then walked away without saying a word.

Observing from their position near the briefing room, Operations and Madeline watched as Birkoff laughed delightedly and upended the bag over his desk, pouring out hundreds of packages of cheese-peanut butter crackers. They looked at each other then, and Operations put his hand to his face, pretending to rub his jaw as he struggled to control his amusement. Madeline shook her head, making no attempt to contain her smile. Placing his hand at her back, Operations steered her quickly away from the briefing room.

Moments later, as Michael stood beside him surveying the bounty, Birkoff looked up from his crackers in surprise. "Did you hear that?" he asked Michael. "Sounded like somebody laughing up there." He looked up in amazement toward the observation deck.

Michael smiled to himself behind Birkoff's back. "No. What would they be laughing at?" Turning down Birkoff's offer of a package of crackers, Michael walked away. If he hurried, he could probably catch up with Nikita for coffee...

FINI

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