The village of Ballykissangel and all it's inhabitants are the property of the BBC. Nikita and Michael are the property of Warn.Bros. No infringement intendended. This is a story written just for the fun of it.

An Irish Interlude

Chapter 1

"Our ride back is delayed by two days. Priority change." Michael said as he shut the cell-phone. "They'll contact us about the point of rendevouz." He smiled slightly at her delighted laugh.

"That means we have two days off... two days without Section surveillance." Nikita hugged him. "What shall we do with two days off?"

"Any suggestions, ma chère?"

He returned the hug and put his hand under her chin. He looked into her eyes and bent foreward and kissed her forehead before letting his lips put butterfly kisses on her cheek and nose before he found her mouth.

A long time later, she stirred beside Michael. Putting a soft kiss on his chest where she had been resting her head. She said: "Let's get out of here. There must be more to Ireland than terrorists on either side."

Michael stroked her bare back tendelry and put a kiss on the top of her head: "Where would you like to go?"

"I don't know, let's pick a place at random." She got out of bed and came back with a map.

"Close your eyes and point."

Michael closed his eyes and put his finger on the map. Nikita read: "Ballykissangel....Ballykissangel? Is there such place? God, I love Irish names... Come on, let's go!"

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

The small Irish village of Ballykissangel was situatead near the coast, with steep cliffs leading down to the beach. The village itself consisted of a few narrow streets lined with rather small houses and a large church. The area around had farms and a few bigger houses. A small river ran from the land above and passed through the village joyfully towards the sea. The river was a favorite place for fishing. The people inhabiting this small idyll were quite ordinary, and they lived quite simple and good lives with all the ordinary joys and problems that are parts of an ordinary life.

Many of the inhabitants met at The Fitzgerald after their days work. The Fitzgerald was a pub of tradition and character and the regulars would hate to see it changed in any way. The publican was a young woman named Assumpta. She was an independant young lady with strong opionons on many issues, and especially the Church. In this Catholic area that was an unusual attitude. But being a fair and likeable woman, she had many friends, who were among the regurlars at The Fitzgeralds. Some of her best friends were Nieve, married to the village constable, Ambrose, the vet Siobhan and the teacher Brendan, to mention a few of the people who liked Assumpta and her pub a lot.

Sometimes strangers passed through the village, and if they wanted to spend some time in this peaceful little place there were a couple of rooms at The Fitzgerald. They were mostly treated with distant friendliness until the villagers got an idea of why they visitied and felt sure they meant no harm to anyone in the village.

The pub was beginning to fill up on a late Friday afternoon in June. Siobhan and Brendan were there, Ambrose and a few others. Nieve was helping Assumpta behind the bar. The talk by the bar was quiet and relaxed when the door opened and a strange couple entered. The talk stilled and every eye in the bar was fixed on the new arrivals. They were a striking looking couple. The man was very handsome with auburn hair and grey green eyes that looked expressionlessly around the room. He was accompanied by a young woman with blond long hair and blue eyes. She was very beautiful, and looked smilingly at Assumpta as they went to the bar. They were both dressed in black and carried an aura of danger and mystery.

"What shall it be?" Assumpta asked and smiled back at the young woman.

"We were told you have rooms, we would like one for two nights." The man said in a low husky voice. He spoke with a slight accent, and Siobhan and Nieve looked at each other. The man's voice sent shivers down their spines.

"Yes, I have a room. Please, sign in here..." Assumpta said and handed them the registry.

The man filled out the forms and both signed.

Something in their demeanor stopped Assumpta from asking more questions. "The room is upstairs on the right."

She handed Michael the key and pointed them to the room. As the two strangers left the room to go upstairs, the door opened again and a young man entered the room. He was tall, dark and quite handsome. Nikita turned as she heard the door open and gave a little smile as she saw Assumpta's face light up at the sight of him.

As soon as they had left the room, the curious whispers started:

"Who are they?"

"What are they doing here?"

"Nieve, did you see those lovely eyes?" Siobhan whispered.

"And that voice..." Nieve smiled.... "Assumpta... now there's a handsome specimen."

Asssumpta just smiled and said: "Good afternoon, Peter" She handed the newcomer a pint without asking what he wanted.

"Thank you." Peter looked at her with hungry eyes before he carefully switched his attention to the others at the bar. They talked for a while before Peter asked:

"Who were the strangers I saw as I came in?" He spoke with a English accent, from somewhere north. Before anyone could answer the couple came downstairs again.They had changed out of their black clothes and into jeans and T-shirts.

"Can I get you anything?" Assumpta asked while she looked admonishingly at Siobhan and Nieve who were giggling at the other side of the bar.

"No, thank you..." Michael said and continued towards the door.

"Yes, please. Do you serve tea. We've been on the road most of the day."

Michael shook his head and returned to the bar, "Nikita...."

"I am thirsty and hungry, Michael..." Nikita smiled at him, then she turned to Assumpta, "and sandwiches. I'm starving.

"Yes, of course, please take a seat... Nieve, would you?"

The other guests were looking into their drinks, pretending not to watch what was going on. Only the young man seemed unconcerned.

"Hello, I'm Peter Clifford, nice to meet you. It's nice to see some new faces in this place." He reached out his hand to Michael, who took it.

"I'm Michael, and this is Nikita. Nice to meet you too. We are just stopping by for a couple of days, looking around."

"Nikita, nice to meet you." Peter smiled shyly while he shook her hand.

He is nice, Nikita thought. I wonder what the story is with him and Asssumpta. Their awareness of each other is so obvious that anyone can see it, but why the secrecy?

She smiled at Peter again, saying: "You are not a native to these parts either, what brings an Englishman to a place like this?"

"I got a job here."

Nieve returned to the bar with the sandwiches and the tea, and said: "Can I get you anything, Father?"

"Another one, please Nieve." He lifted his glass.

"Right you are."

"Father? You're a priest?" Nikita asked, thinking poor Assumpta...

"Yes." Peter smiled. "I have been here nearly two years. What are you two doing here. This is not exactly a tourist spot."

"We wanted to see an unspoilt part of Ireland and we must have picked the right place." Nikita said.

Peter smiled and looked at Assumpta: "It is beautiful here isn't it. I've grown to love the place." He returned his attention to Nikita who was finishing her sandwich: "And once you get to know them the people are very nice.... What do you do? For a living I mean?"

Michael looked at Nikita. She had a very thoughtful expression. He answered: "We're in computers." He put hand on hers and said: "Shall we go for a walk, Nikita. I need to move after all that driving." He looked strictly at her.

She nodded: "OK. let's go." She looked around... "See you later, maybe."

They left the pub, and could hear the chatter start. She looked back and saw Assumpta lean on the bar and talk quietly to the priest.

"Michael... look at those two... it's heartrending." She took his hand as they walked down the street.

"What do you mean?" Michael switched hands and put his arm around her shoulder, while looking softly at her.

"Those two. Peter and Assumpta. They 're in love."

"So..."

"Well, he's a priest and she runs a pub." Suddenly she laughed. "We think we're in trouble. The one trying to stop us from being together only thinks he's God. Those two are up against the real thing."

An Irish Interlude - continues

Chapter 2

Michael gave her a big hug before they continued walking. They stopped on the bridge and looked down into the river like many others had done before them.

"So you think they have a harder time than us, do you?" Michael laughed.

Nikita looked at him with deep love.

"Michael, you laughed. I think I can count on one hand the times I have heard you do that."

"Well, there's something about this place... and the company..." He took her hand and they walked on, across the bridge and along the road, past small houses and gardens. It had stopped raining and the air smelled sweetly of fresh grass and a multitude of flowers. Nikita skipped beside him, like a joyous child, before she walked quietly beside him again. Michael turned and looked at her:

"Tell me, what are you thinking?"

"Oh, you'll think me silly... but this day is a gift... I feel free... for the first time in a very long time..." Nikita smiled ruefully. "I know it's an illusion, but I want to enjoy it anyway."

They stopped and Michael put his hand under her chin and lifted her face towards his. He looked into her eyes. "I know... and we'll share these days... no Section..."

He dropped a small kiss on her lips before they continued their walk.

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

"I like her, don't you?" Nieve said to the crowd at the end of the bar. "She seems so friendly."

"Now I thought it was him that you liked.... those eyes and that voice...." Siobhan laughed at her.

Nieve blushed and looked at her husband. Ambrose shook his head. "Oh, he seemed very taken to me, so not to worry, and if he weren't, we have Assumpta here who's available."

"When I need your help, I'll ask, Ambrose." Assumpta laughed at their banter, but she threw a quick look at Peter.

"What do you think, Father?" Nieve put another beer in front of him. "Does Assumpta need help to find an eligible man?"

Peter lifted his hands: "Outside my area of expertise, I'm afraid... but I wouldn't think so." He blushed a little as he looked at her.

"Och, enough" Assumpta shook her head.

"There is some mystery to those two though... In computers, he said," Brendan said. "They don't look like any computer nerds I've seen."

"So what do you think they are?" Ambrose asked, the policeman in him woke up at Brendan's words.

"Their clothes when they arrived, for one thing, not the average computer suit. And the way his eyes swept the room when they entered."

"Come off it, Brendan." Peter said. "They are probable just a nice couple on a tour of Ireland."

"Yeah, and I'm Bill Gates."

As the laughter filled the pub, Nikita and Michael entered. They looked fresh and happy. Even Michael's usual blank stare was replaced by a smiling and happy expression.

They stopped by the bar and ordered beers. Nieve served them and they brought their beers to a table by the window. The laughter had stilled as they came in, and the crowd by the bar were talking quietly.

"Were they talking about us?" Nikita asked while she looked around. There were a lot more people than when they went out earlier.

"Probably," Michael had already checked out the people present."

"What do you think they said, Michael?"

"Trying to guess who we are, what we are."

"Is it a problem?" Nikita was suddenly nervous for the crowd at the bar.

"No." Michael smiled. "Our world does not exist to these people. They really are the innocents."

"Would you like to join us?" Brendan asked as he lifted his glass to them.

"Of course." Michael answered. He looked at Nikita and they joined the crowd at the bar. Nikita sat on a stool and he stood beside her, putting his arm around her shoulder.

"Let's introduce ourselves. I'm Brendan, this is Ambrose, Siobhan and Peter you have alread met. Then there's Nieve and Assumpta behind the bar."

"I'm Michael and this is Nikita." Michael shook hands with every one. "Let me get the next round, what are you having?"

"So you're in computers?" Brendan asked. "I've been trying for a long time to get computers to the school here, but the board is very old-fashioned.... What exactly do you do.. in computers I mean?"

"Testing some very advanced communication systems." Michael replied. "So you're a teacher? That must be very rewarding?"

Nikita smiled slightly and looked at Assumpta. "Are you the owner of the pub? Do you run it alone?"

Assumpta smiled back. She liked this woman. "Yes, it's mine and yes I run it alone."

"No husband or boyfriend to help you?" Nikita couldn't help herself. She wanted to find out about Assumpta and the young priest. He was being rather quiet, but looked up when he heard Niktia's question. He watched Assumpta while she answered:

"No... neither." Assumpta smiled. "It's not really a necessity, you know."

"Oh I know, but it is very nice when it's the right man, though." Nikita touched Michael's hand that was lying across her shoulder.

"I'm sure it is," Assumpta said. "It's not difficult to see that you two belong together, you're lucky."

"Yes, we are." Nikita said thinking of their life in Section and all the obstacles that had been put in their way to stop them from being together. But the miracle was that they had found each other at all, in spite of the cold and darkness of Section.

"Is there nobody in your life like that?" they were talking very quietly now.

"Sometimes the right man is unavailable." Assumpta said. She could hardly believe she was saying these things to a complete stranger. She hadn't talked like this, even to Nieve.

"Married?" Nikita said.

"Well, you could say that, I guess." Then she shut up as she saw Peter following the conversation while pretending to listen to Michael and the other men.

She looked at him and moved away down the bar. Nikita looked at her, and thought she could relate to her pain. Amidst all the beauty and kindness of this place, there was a love affair as difficult and painful as hers and Michael's.

"Last rounds!" Assumpta said. Michael touched Nikita's. "I think I'm ready to call it a night."

"Me too." Nikita looked around "Good night, every one. It's been really nice meeting you."

"Good night. See you tomorrow." Peter said and the others said good night as Michael and Nikita went upstairs.

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

The room was decorated with old fashioned wallpaper, white with small blue flowers and curtains in the same patterned material. The large bed was covered with a homecrocheted bedspread and the lamps beside the bed gave a soft light to the room. Nikita walked over to the window and looked at the quiet street outside.

"I laughed at Assumpta and the priest earlier, but they must be in agony."

"Yes, it must be terrible. Especially for Peter." Michael said. He came to stand behind her and put his hand to her hair and kissed the side of her neck.

"Why for him?" Nikita asked, wondering about the logic of men, as Michaels breath on her neck made her shiver.

"Well, I guess the decision is all his, and he must be agonizing over what is the right thing to do. Priests don't make their vows lightly." He turned her around to face him, then drew the curtains.

"I never though of it like that. I was sympathizing with her because she have to wait for him to decide. She is probably not even sure about how he feels." Nikita looked into his eyes. "I know how she feels, waiting for the love of her life to make his mind up."

Michael searched her face with tenderness. "You know, a decision to leave the church must be very difficult. Peter strikes me as a sincere and dedicated man." He held her face between his hands and looked deeply into her eyes. "Are we going to talk about them all night? I have a much better plan."

She put her hands around his neck and drew his face close to hers. "Me too," she whispered against his mouth. Their lips met in a soft kiss that soon deepened. The night filled with warmth, light and tenderness.

An Irish Interlude - 3

The morning broke with a clair blue sky, the sunshine making the dew sparkle in the emerald green that was the Irish countryside. The village of Ballykissangel was still asleep when Michael woke to a slight fresh breeze rustling the curtains through the open window. The sound of birds singing in a burst of joy in the beautiful morning broke the quiet of night.. He tried to stretch, but his left arm was hindered by Nikita's head resting on his shoulder. The arm felt paralyzed by the pressure, but the discomfort did nothing to stop the contentment that filled him, having her so close.

In the time they had been together, he always woke with a feeling of happiness and thankfulness when she was near him. He would never take this for granted. They were here. They were together and for a short space of time they were free.

The curtains moved slightly again from the air blowing softly in by the open window. It smelt fresh and inviting. Michael carefully removed his arm from under Nikitas head. She mumbled his name, turned over and slept on. He stealthily got out of bed and got dressed. The morning was too beautiful to stay in bed. He tiptoed out of the room and down the stairs. The bar was empty and there were no sounds from the back room. As he came out of the pub, he did his habitual check of the surroundings. The street was still quiet in the early morning and a sense of peace was resting over the village. He drew a deep breath of pure well being and walked down the street at a leisurly pace. For once there was no need to hurry. He walked through the village and along a small country road. The road was bordered with tall trees shading the road with its green branches.

He had walked for quite some time when he came upon a glade beside the road. The early morning sun was only high enough to throw scattered rays down between the trees.... and there with only parts of her lit by the sun, was a mansized statue of a madonna. She looked like she had been standing there since the beginning of time, shining white and a bit worn. She was beautiful. He stopped and sat down in the grass looking at her. The serenity of the madonna amidst all this green abundance must bring great peace to all who sought her presence. Leaning against the trunk of a tree, he rested his eyes on the madonna and let his mind relax. This was a place without need for worry and concern. This was a place to let go and just be. He stayed there for a while finding a peace of mind he had missed for a long time. Despite all the ugliness of his everyday life, there was so much beauty in the world, and to be able to enjoy it just for a short while would make the return to the darkness both easier and more difficult. In some way this place and these people reminded him of what they were fighting for, and at the same time he felt regret that the right to enjoy this kind of life had been taken from them.

He opened his eyes when he heard footsteps on the road. A few seconds later the young prist appeared in the clearing. Seeing Michael, he stopped and said: "I'm sorry to disturb you."

Michael looked at him and smiled slightly. "You're not disturbing. I have had my time of tranquility. And this is a place for sharing... right?"

"Yes, it is, but sometimes it's a good place to be alone." Peter said.

"It's a wonderful place!" Michael said. "How long has she been here?"

Peter pointed to the ground beside Michael: "Do you mind if I join you?"

"No... please do."

Peter continued as he sat down beside Michael:

"I've tried to find out about her, but nobody has been able to tell me. It's seems like she's been her forever. She belongs here. A lot of people must have found solace here through the centuries. I come here quite often on a day like this. She somehow makes me focus on what's important in life."

Michael looked sympathetically at him. "I come from a world with a lot of rules and regulations, and though they somehow narrow your choices, it makes life very difficult when what you want is the complete opposite of what they tell you."

"The church is not much different, at least in some areas. Some of it's all right, I guess," Peter smiled ruefully, "but if you ask Father Mac, my boss, he'll say I'm too much of a rebel. I do things my own way."

"It probably makes you a good priest, though?" Michael thought he could see the caring nature of this young man.

"Depends who you ask."

"And you're still a man.... despite what the church demands of you." Michael thought of the looks he had seen between Peter and Assumpta. The connection had been obvious.

"Yes..." Peter sighed, then was silent.

Michael was very sympathetic towards the priest and thought he could reckognise the struggle between duty and love. He had been torn in the same way himself. For Peter it might even be more difficult. He had chosen the church of his own free will, and then love entered his life.

"You'll find the right way..."

Peter looked at him with a surprised look on his face: "Is it that obvious?"

"Well, you look like a man trying to find answers." Michael smiled slightly.

Peter shook his head: "Perhaps everyone knows...."

"Don't worry about it... I'm very observant... and I've been there." Michael tried to comfort him.

"You have? You look like you know what you want?"

"I do... but circumstances... Peter, may I ask you a favour?"

"Yes, of course... what?"

They talked for a short while and Michael said:

"I think I'd better get back to Nikita." Suddenly he longed desperately for her.

Peter looked at Michael as he stood up: "She's a beautiful woman, Michael. You're a lucky man."

Michael nodded: "I know... I'd better go. See you."

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

When he returned to the pub, Assumpta was busy in the kitchen and she had a pot of tea ready for him to take up. Nikita was still asleep and he sat on the edge of the bed and softly moved the hair away from her face. He bent down and kissed her brow.

"Nikita, sweetheart, it's time to wake up. It's a beautiful day out there."

She turned around and mumbled something unintelligable.

He kissed her again, this time on the cheek, before he moved on to her lips. He gave her light kiss, then let his hand stroke her face.

"I've brought you a cup of tea...." His lips moved down to her neck and he nibbled at a spot he knew was very sensitive to his touch.

She smiled slightly with her eyes still closed, and put her arm around his neck and turning her face towards his. "Michael." She whispered against his lips in a voice husky with sleep.

She opened her eyes and looked at him, "I love you." She pulled his head down and their lips met in a tender kiss. He pulled his head back, whispering: "I love you too."

He stroked her cheek again. "Now, here's your tea, my dear, when we've had the breakfast Assumpta is preparing for us, we'll go out to explore."

"You smell very fresh, have you been out already?" Nikita sat up, drawing the sheets up around her chest. She took the cup and looked smilingly at him.

"I woke up early and couldn't go back to sleep, and I knew you weren't ready to get up, so I went for a walk." Michael lent back against the headboard beside her. "I found a place I want to show you....later."

He moved his head towards her and removed the cup from her hands. He let his lips travel along her neck and towards her earlobe before continuing along her cheek.His lips found hers in a soft kiss that soon deepened into burning passion. She let her hands slide up his back and around his neck before she pulled him down to her. He pulled his head slightly away and looked at her.

"We have plenty of time, cherie" he whispered huskily. He placed butterfly kisses along her cheek before he found her lips again. She pulled his T-shirt up and let her hands caress his back. He let go of her mouth and got up to remove his clothes. She followed his movements with growing arousel. He was so beautiful, she would never tire of watching him. He looked at her, his eyes glinting green with passion before he lied down on the bed beside her. His hands started roaming under the covers sliding his warm hands along her side. Soon they were lost in each other.

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

A couple of hours later, they enjoyed a nice leisurely breakfast before going out into the sunlight.

"Where are we going, Michael?"

"It's a surprise." Michael looked gravely at her, but she could see the smile at the back of his eyes.

"Will I like it?" Nikita became more and more curious.

"I hope so." Michael was trying to assume his blank stare without totally succeeding. He stopped and took her in his arms. "I love you..." He kissed her nose before he started to walk again with his arm around her shoulders.

She put his arm around his back and lent her head on his shoulder while they walked slowly out of the village and down the country road. She looked up at him and smiled. "Another beautiful day.... another miracle."

He hugged her closer in response.

They walked slowly along, stopping to watch the beauty of the landscape and to hold each other. Suddenly they came to the site of the madonna. Michael was struck once again by the beauty and serenity of the place and he heard Nikita gasp beside him: "Oh, glory...." then she lost her speach in wonder at this totally surprising appearance.

They approaced the statue slowly, Nikita wore an expression of reverence. She whispered: "Michael, this place is beautiful...." She breathed: "thank you for bringing me here."

Michael turned to look at her and framed her face carefully with his hands while looking searchingly into her eyes.

"I love you, Nikita.... Will you marry me?"

She was stunned by the question and her eyes filled with tears. "Marry you?" She paused "Of course I'll marry you... but can we?"

"I guess the paperwork might be shaky since we don't really exist, but we can be married in the only way that counts...."

She smiled brilliantly while the tears were still glinting in her eyes and threw her arms around his neck. "Oh yes, please.... I want to marry you more than anything."

He kissed her tenderly on the mouth, and while she still had her eyes closed, he waved his arm behind his back. He pulled back, "Then go with these new friends of ours...."

Nikita looked around and saw the same people that had been in the bar last night all smiling at her. Assumpta and Nieve took her hands and led her among the trees.

"You really can't get married in jeans, my dear." Siobhan said as she brought forward a long dress in white muslin. It was light and beautiful, quite suitable for a forrest wedding. They helped her dress and Nikita felt slighty bemused at the speed of it all. She had thought he meant to find a church or a chapel, but this was so much more romantic. When they had pulled the dress over her head and giver her hair a good brush so that it was hanging down her back all shining, and gave her a bouquet of the wild flowers.

"You look beautiful!" Assumpta said. She had tears in her eyes and when Nikita looked at the others they were all looking smilingly at her.

"Come, he's waiting!" They all took her by the hand and led her back to the Madonna.

Nikita still felt bemused, but when she saw Michael waiting for her, she really believed herself in a dream. He was looking at her with all the love he felt showing in his eyes, they sparkled with a green fire that set her heart racing. He walked slowly to meet her holding her gaze with his until he stopped in front of her and held out his hand to her:

"Ready?"

She took his hand, it felt warm and safe, and she smiled at him. "Ready."

Peter stood in front of the statue wearing the white and gold clerical outfit for weddings. He lifted his hands and invited them closer:

"Michael and Nikita, you may approach."

They walked towards him holding hands. Peter looked at them and felt at small tug at his heart. There was something special about this couple. He didn't really know them, but something in the way they looked at each other and the awareness they had of the other told him that they belonged together in a way he had rarely seen. Maybe there was such a thing as *a love made in heaven*.

"We are gathered here today to join this couple in holy matrimony...."

Niktia heard the words and could hardly believe he was talking about her and Michael. This was real and a wave of joy washed over her. She hardly heard the priests words until he asked her if she would take Michael to be her lawfully wedded husband. And she answered joyfully:

"I do!"

And then she heard Michael soft voice saying clearly: "I do." She looked at him and found him already looking at her and she could drown in his beautiful eyes.

The priest interrupted their silent communication:

"Michael, you have something you want to say to Nikita, please go ahead."

Michael kept his eyes on Nikita's and spoke huskily:

"I lived in darkness and you brought light into my life.... I lived in despair and you gave me hope.... I was dead and you revived my soul... No matter what the world has in store for us, I will always love you. You are my life and purpose and without you I will no longer have a reason to go on."

Michael lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it tenderly before putting a plain gold ring on her finger.

Nikita was overcome with emotion and the tears were running freely down her cheeks. To speak so openly about his feelings was a new side to Michael that she had rarely seen and she suddenly realized the depth of his feelings for her. Though totally unprepared for this wedding her love for him gave her the words to say to him. Assumpta standing next to her put a gold ring, similar to the one Michael had put on her finger, into her hand.

"Michael, we have been through so much, you even more than I, but we have come this far, and our love is alive, we are alive. This is the reality. Whatever comes, this is our truth, this is our reality. I love you, I always have and my life is worth nothing without you. You are my reason to keep breathing and my reason to fight the dark forces in our lives."

She brought out the ring and put it on his finger.She looked deeply into his eyes: "Remember this always, Michael, whatever happens." Her eyes were still filled with tears, and the love she felt for him was there for everyone to see.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife." Peter's voice was strong and clear. "You may kiss the bride." He smiled at them.

He was deeply moved by the words of the couple before him and the love and tenderness he saw in the kiss they gave each other to seal the pact they had just made with each other. What kind of cruelty had they been subjected to, that these were the words they spoke to each other. They must have overcome horrendous obstacles to get this far and he looked at Assumpta.... Maybe the love between man and woman was God's intention. He certainly didn't doubt that it was His plan for these two, but what about the vows he had made, maybe they were man's doing and not God's?"

He looked at the small crowd witnessing the wedding. They were his friends and he loved them. He smiled a little when he saw that they were all crying. Michael and Nikita broke apart and looked at the people around them. Peter shook Michael's hand, "Congratulations." Then he kissed Nikita on the cheek, before all the others gathered around them to join in the congratulations. Nikita felt dizzy with joy and smiled at their tearstained faces. Her radiance was infectious and soon they were all laughing and hugging the newlyweds. Even Michael, the normally so distant man, suffered the hugs of their new friends. They suddenly seemed very dear to him, for making this wedding possible. They had had a busy morning setting it all up, and they weren't finished yet.

"We have prepared a wedding picnic for you, I hope you'll let us celebrate with you." Assumpta said. and led them to the cars parked a little bit further up the road.

They drove on to a place high on the hillside with a beautiful view of the green valley below amd were served with a delicious lunch. Nikita was sitting quietly close to Michael with his arms around her. She listened to the gay chatter of her new friends and enjoyed this more than she could say. They had never had this kind of normal contact with people. Their love had always been clandestine, never being able to express it in front of others. They had rarely had this kind of contact with "ordinary people". To be able to be a couple among friends was something quite new and a memory to be treasured.

"I would like to give a toast" Peter said, raising his glass, "To Michael and Nikita. In a very short space of time, you have become our friends. When you leave her we want you to take our friendship and blessing with you. We shal pray for you. Know that you are always welcome back."

"Hear, hear," The rest of the company raised their glasses in salute. Nikita looked around at the smiling faces. "Thank you every one for giving us this day. We shall never forget you and will always value you friendship."

Michael raised his glass: "Thank you."

He had barely finished speaking when his cellular phone rang.

"I'm sorry." He answered shortly: "Yes."

"Jacques!"

An Irish Interlude - 4

"Jaques" Birkoff's voice sounded hesitant.

"Yes!" Michael answered with an edge to his voice. He was annoyed that they should be disturbed now, and a sudden fear stabbed at him. Could they possibly have found out about the wedding?

"You are in Ballykissangel." It was not a question, but a statement of fact.

"Yes,... you said two days..." Michael had moved away from the others as soon as he heard his code name, now he turned his back on them as well.

"I'm sorry, Michael!" Birkoff said apologetically. "But we have intel that suggests connections to a new group calling themselves "The Irish People's Army" IPA. They are extremists from the IRA that don't agree with the recent peace-talks and have gone out on their own."

"That does not make sense. What's up, Birkoff?"

Birkoff ignored the question and continued: "A garage owner called Padraig O'Connor has a cousin we know is one of the leaders. He was on his way up in the IRA when the peace talks seemed to succeed. He was not happy about it and opposed Sinn Fein openly, accusing them of treason to the cause."

At this point Michael interrupted him: "It still doesn't explain the connection to this village."

"The intel says he's coming to Ballykissangel tomorrow afternoon. They would hardly take the time off for social calls. They are just beginning to establish themselves. The fact that you're there, is too good a chance to miss."

"I still think you're wrong! I'd hate to bring Section to this place." Michael was worried that the hospitality and kindness for their new friends were going to be severely abused.

"You'll do as you're told, Michael!" Operation's voice interrupted. "This is not a game. We do what we have to do! You know that better than anyone." Operations left no room for argument and before Michael had a chance to speak, Birkoff continued.

"You will get the profile at the Dublin substation tomorrow morning."

"Of course." Michael knew there was no way to fight the impossible. At best they could try to limit the damages. He looked at Nikita and the others and tried to relax his features. She was talking and laughing with the others, but he could see her tension from the way she held her head.

"That was our boss. He wants us to test some new toy from here," Michael smiled as he returned to the party. "That means we can spend some more time here."

He looked at Nikita, "he wants us to pick op the gear tomorrow morning." Nikita smiled wistfully. "I'm glad we have today... I hope the testing won't be too disturbing for the village." She looked questioningly at Michael.

"I don't think so." To the others he seemed much the same, but Nikita could easily detect the anger and tension in him.

"Here's to the happy couple." Peter lifted his glass to them. "I'm certainly pleased that you will be among us a little while longer."

"Hear, hear!" The others joined in the toast and smiled at them.

Siobhan said: "You have given us a great gift today, letting us share your wedding day. Thank you for letting us be there." She sounded almost tearful. "I will never forget it."

"Hey, come on." Brendan put his arm around her shoulder. "It's not like you to get all maudlin. Not that I don't agree, because I do. It was a very nice wedding."

Assumpta suddenly had tears in her eyes. "Me too... I hope you have a long and happy life together... Love is really the most important thing of all. Your happiness could make anyone want to get married." She looked at Peter. "Don't you agree, Father?"

Peter looked at her, his pain obvious. "What do you want me to say, Assumpta?" he said before he turned away from her challenging expression.

"This is not the time for your game of needling the clergy, Assumpta." Nieve said to her friend, and Assumpta looked contrite.

Nikita suddenly felt very sorry for the young priest. There was a vulnerability about him that reminded her of Michael in the old days. She had believed him to be cold and ruthless, never understanding the pain behind the blank stare, or the cost of the sacrifices he had to make. The difference was that Peter had not learned how to hide his pain. She moved over to him, took his hand and held it between both of hers.

"It was a beautiful ceremony, Peter. Thank you." She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. He blushed and she continued. "You understood something of what Michael and I share, and that makes you very special to us."

Assumpta touched Nikita's shoulder as she returned to Michael's side. "I'm sorry, Nikita. I didn't mean to embarrass you."

"It's all right." Nikita said. "I understand." And she did, remembering how angry, hurt and confused she had been at the mixed signals Michael had sent out.

"It looks like it's going to rain." Ambrose said, pointing to the gathering clouds. He was trying to lighten the tension Assumpta's challenge to Peter had caused. "Maybe we should continue this celebration at the pub.." he suggested. "What do you say, Assumpta? Can the Fitzgerald stand a party?"

"Of course. Fitzgerald's it is." Assumpta answered with assumed gaiety.

Nikita looked at them: "We don't want to put you out. You have already made this day a more wonderful wedding day than I had ever dared dream about."

"There's no way we can thank you enough." Michael added, looking around at the friendly faces. "When I asked Peter to marry us, I never expected a wedding like this... Thank you."

"Now, that's enough." Padraig laughed. "What better excuse for a party than a wedding.... And it's not over yet."

An Irish Interlude - 5

"What's going on, Michael?" They were in their room, before going back to the party in the pub.

"Operations thinks there's a connection to a new group here in Ballykea. We must take care of it." Michael sounded calm on the surface, but she could feel the anger vibrating underneath as he spoke.

"What absolute rubbish!" She had feared something like this when he said they were staying on, but the actual words made her furious. "How can they be so stupid? This is no den of rogues.... Is there any way we can protect them?"

"I hope so. Intel first. We won't let them bring the whole team in, at least not until we know what, if anything we're dealing with." Michael put his arms around her and held her tightly. "No matter what happens next... we were married today... any regrets?"

She put her arms around his neck and looked deeply into his eyes. They were shining like green gems and she suddenly felt breathless. "I love you, how can I regret it?" She smiled and touched her lips to his. "And to be married right there in the woods, by that lovely man, it was inspired, Michael."

"Now that it's turned into a mission, they might find out..." He brushed his lips softly against her jaw.

"I know... All the more reason to get through this mission as lightly as possible." Nikita turned her head and found his lips that had been trailing along her jaw. "We had better get back to the party. We're the guests of honor, remember."

"Of course. They might forgive a small delay though." Michael resisted when she pulled away.

"We don't have many friends, Michael."

"I know." He released her and took her hand. "Let's go."

********

They entered the pub holding hands. Assumpta had taken up her position behind the bar and was the first to spot them. She nodded to the others and everyone turned towards them and cheered. The whole pub had been told about the romantic wedding, and there were a lot of friendly faces greeting them.

Nieve approached them, dragging a middle aged man along.

"This is my father, Brian Quigly," she said. "Dad, meet Michael and Nikita, our new friends." She smiled from one to the other.

Brian Quigly was a rather portly man in his mid fifties. He greeted them pleasantly, but they soon got the impression that he thought himself a man of great importance.

"Congratulations on your marriage. It was rather an unusual wedding I hear."

They both thanked him, unsure whether the unorthodox manner of their wedding was a good thing or not.

"I understand you're in computers?" Brian continued.

"Actually, we test communication equipment." Nikita said.

"What company do you work for? One of the big ones?" Brian wanted to know. "I've been trying to get one of these companies to establish themselves in Ballykea. Ireland is doing well in information technology, you know."

A hand on Michael's shoulder saved them the necessity to answer. "Michael, Nikita, let me introduce my boss, Father Macannally. Father this is the couple I told you about." Peter winked at them. "I'm not sure if he approves of this wedding."

Peter had been at home to change and had arrived quite some time after Michael and Nikita had rejoined the party. He had removed his collar and was dressed in black trousers and a black shirt. He looked very handsome and very different from any priest Nikita had ever known.

Father Mac shook their hands and said. "Father Clifford believes me to be devoid of any sense of romance. My sole concern, however, is that you will find the marriage not legally binding. There is this small matter of a marriage certificate."

"Father Clifford explained all that to us, Father." Michael said. "For reasons I can't disclose, this way suits us."

The older priest looked sharply at them. "Both Father Clifford and myself will be available for for confessions tomorrow, before or after mass." he said.

"There are no just cause or impediments, Father." Nikita smiled at him. "Our employers have a policy of not encouraging relationships between coworkers... To us the woves are the important part.

"I have heard of companies like that," Peter said. "Sounds like very inhuman rules."

Father Mac looked as if he was about to debate the issue, when someone started to sing rather loudly, and soon others joined in. He shook his head and gave up being heard through the noise.

Padraigh was leaning heavily on the bar, singing a rather sad song. He was obviously very drunk and very sad. The words of the song were slurred and he looked as if he about to cry.

Nikita walked over to him. "Padraig, is something wrong?"

He looked up at her, his eyes suddenly angry. "My bloody cousin is coming tomorrow."

"So... What is the matter with that?" Nikita asked. "I have no family left. I'd love to have my cousin coming to stay."

"Not this cousin, you wouldn't." He was almost sneering.

"What's wrong with him?"

"He's a bloody superior bastard. Always talking politics, and about the terrible English. As if war ever accomplished anything but getting people killed."

"Why do you have to receive him?" Nikita wanted to know.

"He's family. Actually I don't know why he bothers either. He doesn't like me any better than I like him." He bent forward again, starting on another sad song.

Michael was watching while Nikita spoke to Padraig. He looked at Brendan and the doctor who were standing next to him by the bar.

"That is one unhappy man."

"It's just the booze," Brendan said.

"The trouble is, there's been too much of it lately," said Doc. "He finds it very hard to cope after his wife left him to bring up a 12 year old boy alone."

Brendan looked at him. "There's no reason to make his problems public, Doc."

"We have admitted Michael and Nikita into our circle of friends." he answered. "I'm sure they won't abuse the confidence.

It was then that the lights went out.

**********

An Irish Interlude - 6

"Damn!" Assumpta swore. "It's just a blown fuse. I'll go down and change it." she said and lit a torch. She opened the hatch in the floor and climbed down the ladder.

In a little while the lights came on and Assumpta returned upstairs. Nikita and Michael had tensed when the lights went out, thinking the intel had been faulty. They looked relieved at each other. Hearing Padraig's obvious dislike of his cousin made Nikita wonder if the village might be a target and not itself connected to the terrorist group. It was certainly a more likely scenarrio.

On a Saturday night the Fitzgerald's was packed with people and this night was no exception. Assumpta and Nieve were working the bar together. Nieve looked pale and tired.

"I think you've had enough for today," Ambrose said. "I think it's time to go home. Can you manage, Asssumpta?"

"Yes, I can. Go home, Nieve, this is no job for you in your condition." Assumpta patted her on the shoulder. I'll manage."

"I'll give you a hand," Peter went behind the bar as Nieve left.

Father Mac looked at him with obvious displeasure. "This really is no job for you, Father. It's hardly seemly that a priest should serve behind the bar."

"Just giving a hand to a friend in need, Father." Peter smiled. "The people here know me."

"That is not the point." Father Mac said angrily. "She has other friends here that could help."

"Maybe none of them care as much as I do," Peter said. He went to the other end of the bar: "Can I get you anything?" He looked at Assumpta and smiled, "You don't mind having a priest behind the bar, do you, Assumpta?"

She smiled at him. "Good to know the clergy can do something useful at times."

Nikita watched the incident with amusement. The priest might be shy, but he was certainly not afraid of authority. The other guests seemed not to notice what was going on. They had to know of the quite obvious attraction between the two, but they were too loyal to give any indication of it. She moved over to Michael who was still talking to Brendan and the Doc. She put her hand into his, and looked smilingly into his face. "I missed you."

He smiled his sexy halfsmile and pulled her closer. "I missed you too."

Suddenly the lights went again and some guests called out: "When are you going to get the wiring fixed in this place, Assumpta? You can't keep your guests in the dark."

"Fixing the wiring will cost a fortune, which I don't have." Assumpta said as she lit the torch again. "You wouldn't like having to pay double for your pint now, would you?"

"I'll go." Peter took the torch and disappeared down to the cellar. After a while he called. "Asssumpta, this place is a mess, and the wiring is arcaic, a deathtrap. Where do you keep the spares?"

"I'll find them." She climbed downstairs. The celler was lowceilinged and dark and forced a proximity between them, that left Assumpta breathless. She reached for the fuses in a cupboard beside the fusebox brushing Peter's back with her arm and she could feel the tremor going through him. Her arm stopped reaching and her hand rested on his shoulder as he turned to her. She could barely see his face in the dim light from the torch, but she could feel his eyes burning into hers. He felt his whole body tremble, being so close to her. He lifted his hand and softly stroked her cheek while he whispered her name.

She could feel the sound of her name brush against her face like a tender touch. "Peter, what do you want?" Her voice was shaking with emotion and she wanted to lean into him.

"Hey, where are those damn lights." Voices called from upstairs.

"We must talk... after closing?." He took the fuse and changed it and as he ascended he said to the crowd at the bar. "The wiring must be as old as electricity." His eyes were glowing and a faint blush covered his cheeks.

Father Mac looked ready to explode when Assumpta came up smiling sweetly and Peter gave her his hand to help her the last few steps.The talk around the bar suddenly became very loud and everyone looked away from the two of them. At closing time, Father Mac says: "Father, are you coming, I'll walk home with you."

"I'm staying to help Assumpta clean up, then I'll go for a walk." Short of bodily dragging him out, there was no way to get him out and Father Mac left the pub with angry strides. Michael followed him outside while Nikita went upstairs to change. Father Mac was still standing there, looking up to the sky and giving a deep sigh.

"Waiting for someone, Father?" Michael said.

"Oh, no. Just looking at the stars." Father Mac replied.

"They are beautiful aren't they? - And so constant."

"Um, yes, holding a steady course... always."

"Bound by the laws of physics, no troublesome emotion."

"Unlike man, you mean?... Well, I'd better get home, good night, Michael." He walked slowly down the street towards his car, his shoulders slumped.

Michael smiled slightly. Something had happened to clear the worried frown off Peter's face, and Assumpta's smile had been sweet and mysterious after the visit to the cellars. He knew any decision made by Peter would not be made lightly, but he seemed to have come a long way since this morning. The man was dedicated and devoted. He had a strong faith, but he was not a man to follow rules blindly.

As Nikita came down the pub was empty and she could hear low voices from the back room. She joined Michael outside with a happy smile. The mission would have to wait till tomorrow, this was their wedding night.

An Irish Interlude - 7

They had finished cleaning up in the pub and it was late. Suddenly shyness was gripping them both as they faced each other across the kitchen floor. Assumpta felt very unsure of what Peter wanted, she wanted to go over and hold him, but felt rooted to the floor and her insecurity made her turn away holding on to the kitchen sink.

"I can't count the hours I've been on my knees praying for an answer, Assumpta." Peter spoke huskily. "The last one was this afternoon after the wedding. It seemed that whatever choice I made, it would be wrong."

Assumpta's shoulders moved slightly and she whispered, "And now?" Normally she would have made a crack about trusting one's own judgment, but she realised that would be totally out of place. His faith was an important part of Peter, the man she loved. She would have to accept that.

"Then this couple comes out of nowhere to visit the village. Something about them touched me..." Peter's voice was husky but sure. "From the little Micheal said to me, I understand that they have overcome severe difficulties to be together, that their love for each other was worth every risk they took to be together...There was a lesson in there somewhere... I love you, Assumpta. I have loved you for a long time."

She turned around and looked at him. He looked searchingly at her, while he slowly walked across the floor. "Do you love me?" He was close enough to touch and his heart beat like thunder, "Sometimes I think you do... at other times I can't think why you should." He didn't know how he could wait for her answer, his hammering heart would kill him.

Assumpta closed the remaining distance between them. "Of course I love you." She was between laughter and tears. "I couldn't believe myself, falling in love with a priest. The most unavailable..." His shaking hands cupped her face and looked hungrily into her eyes. They were filled with tears and a feeling of gratitude filled him. She loved him.

"Are you sure, Peter?"

"I'm sure." His lips closed over hers, softly at first, his breat uneven and shallow. The kiss deepened and the passion burned between them. He tore himself away and pulled back.

"Peter?" Assumpta was suddenly afraid. He couldn't regret it now. After this kiss nothing would ever be the same. Nobody had ever made her feel like Peter did.

"What am I going to do?" He said.

"What do you mean?" Now it was coming. She had loved this man for two years and it felt like forever, what if he couldn't break his comitment to the church. "Don't play with me, Peter."

"What am I gonna do for a living?" Peter asked. "I'll be without a job after tomorrow's mass."

She laughed in relief and put her arms around him again. "You're quite good behind the bar, and as Nieve is pregnant, there might be a vacancy."

"Well, I should be good at that. Barkeepers get to help souls in distress, or so I've heard." Peter rested his chin on the top of her head. "I'll have to finish with the church before we take this any further, my darling girl. You understand, don't you?"

"Of course." She kissed him softly, and he left quietly but with a spring to his step, that spoke clearly of his state of mind.

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

The night air was soft and warm. Moonlight made it possible to walk comfortably along the river bank, without tripping over rocks and roots. They were holding hands, walking slowly and without speaking much. Since the call from Section and the party at the pub, the wedding had taken on a mask of unreality, but now they were alone together, and could let the happiness of being married, fill them. Nikita felt like bursting with the joy of it. Her love for Michael had grown steadily over the years, starting with a solid crush on her mentor. From that it had grown through lies and deceit, beyond anything she had thought possible and she knew he felt the same way about her. However, their circumstances had made the thought of marriage seem like an impossible dream. Now they were married. She stopped and pulled him towards her. He put his arms around her and held her close. The beat of his heart could be felt through his shirt and she lifted her face to him so his lips were close to hers.

"Michael, I love you." She breathed against him.

His lips touched hers softly. "I love you too." He let his lips trail along her jaw. "I have loved you since that first day in the White Room."

They continued slowly whatching the moon mirrored in a calm stretch of the river. They stopped by a grassy slope surrounded by bushes and they looked at each other before sitting down on the grass. Michael's arm was around her shoulder and she lent against him. The night smelt of green grass and the warm wind felt like balm against their faces.

"This is beatiful, Michael." She sighed contedly.

He touched her brow with his lips. "Yes." He placed butterfly kisses all along the side of her face and she turned her face to capture his lips with hers. The kiss deepened and she buried her hands in his soft hair. Soon they clinged close and he pushed her softly back until she was lying in the grass. He lent over her, his lips leaving a burning trail along her neck an collarbone.Her hands slid down his back and tore at his shirt, wanting desperately to touch his bare skin.

As they joined on that green bed, she thought she heard a nightingale.

An Irish Interlude - 8

"We'll take them out as soon as they've made contact." Operations voice over the videophone was adament. "Michael and Nikita you go on point. Davenport and his team will back you up from second position."

"No!" Michael said. "We will not take anybody out till we know what is going on."

Nikita continued: "It seems that the village is more likely to be a target than a part of the terrorist community. More accurate intel is needed before we proceed."

"There's nothing to suggest that in our intel." Operations said.

"The intel is insufficient." Michael said. "Nikita and I will use our already established cover to find out what's going on. Davenport's team must wait in Kildargin until we know what is going on."

"If you're wrong..." Operations didn't finish the sentence, but nobody had any doubts as to his meaning.

*********

Fitzgerald's had it's first customers soon after Sunday mass. Assumpta looked up every time the door opened, hoping it was Peter, but he didn't show until nearly two hours later. He's talk with Father Mac had been very unpleasant, but finally it was over. He had spent the night, dreaming of Assumpta, the taste of her on his lips and her fragrance surrounding him. He was finally at peace with himself and the choice he had made.

Assumpta's eyes lit up when he finally entered and went over to sit at the bar. Wearing jeans and a checked shirt, there was nothing to remind her of the priest. She leaned agains the bar, resting her hand close to him. He slowly put his hand over hers and she looked questioningly at him. He smiled sweetly at her. "I've been to see Father Mac. The village is now without a priest."

He squeezed her hand: "Back room?"

As soon as the door closed behind them Assumpta asked: "Are you sure, Peter?"

"I'm sure." He reached for her and pulled her close to him. "Father Mac said Ireland is full of girls like you... but he's wrong... there's only one like you." He put his lips to hers and she threw her arms around him.

"I've got to go back out." Assumpta said as they heard someone come crashing through the door.

Ambrose called out: "Is Nieve here?"

The guests all shook their head and he continued: "I don't understand. She said she would come straitght home from mass, but she's not been there. I couldn't go with her because I was called to an accident on the Kildargin road. I called Brian and she's not there either."

"I spoke to her right after mass, she said she was going straight home." Peter said as he came out of the kitchen.

The guests looked uncertainly at each other. Padraig entered the pub with his cousin and right behind them, Michael and Nikita. The atmosphere was tense and Michael looked around at the anxious faces.

"What's going on?"

"Nieve's missing." Peter said.

"Since when?"

"Since mass this morning, she should have been home directly afterwards, but she's not been seen." Ambrose said. He turned restlessly. "I've asked around at every thinkable and unthinkable place. Nieve is four months pregnant... God, what can have happened to her?"

"Where is she, has she come home." Brian said as he entered the pub. "Where is my daughter?"

Ambrose looked down and shook his head.

Nikita pulled back from the others. "Are you getting this, Birkoff?"

"Yes..."

"Have you checked if any other IPA members are in the area?" Nikita asked.

"We only know two other members and they are still in Dublin." Birkoff said.

"How could he send us this blindly into a mission?" Nikita's surprise was obvious. "We never go in blind like this... Find out if any strange cars have come to the village today."

"I'll check it out. - ten minutes." Birkoff said.

Nikita went back to Michael. "Is there anything we can do to help?"

Padraig looked around. "Maybe we should get together a search party. My cousin and I will help... Won't we Sean?"

"Yes, of course." The cousin, Sean O'Connor said. "I don't know the village very well, but I can organise it if you like."

Michael moved over to his side, dropping the trackers on the floor so he would have to step on them. "I think we'd better get the police from Kildargin," he looked at Ambrose. "What do you say?"

Ambrose looked relieved that someone was taking charge. He was much too worried about Nieve to think clearly. "I'll get on to them at once."

Sean O'Connor looked very annoyed to have his offer turned down, but Brian looked thankfully at Michael. "While Ambrose calls Kildargin, we'll start calling in the search parties. He had hardly finished talking when his mobile phone rang. "Yes!"

"We have your daughter..." a voice said.

"Who is this? Where is she? Is she all right?" The questions tumbled out.

"Listen! She's all right... so far. If you want her to stay that way, you must have 500.000 US dollars by tomorrow. You'll be contacted. Don't call the police."

"I can't raise that kind of money." Brian said angrily, but the connection was already cut off.

An Irish Interlude - 9

"She's been kidnapped?" Ambrose shouted. "Who would kidnap Nieve and for what?"

"Well they were clear as to the the why," Brian said. "They want money... but I have never pretended to have that kind of resources. 500 000 USDollars - where the hell am I going to get that."

"The inspector from Kildargin will be here in one hour." Ambrose said. "There's no point in a regular search party now, but what are we going to do?"

"They said no police!" Brian said angrily. "We must stop him."

"That is the most stupid thing I've heard," Ambrose said. "If they know anything about her, they must know she's married to a policman. I can't keep them out of it."

Michael and Nikita looked at each other. Quigly was the target through his daughter, but how could they mistake his financial possibilities like that, and what would they do, when they realised their mistake. If O'Connor was a party to it, they must already be aware of the fact.

Birkoff's voice said: "Two unidentified vehicles came to Ballykissangel this morning. One sedan and one van. The sedan had two people inside, they stopped by the church, it left thirty minutes later going back to Kildargin. We lost the van just outside the village. There were five persons inside."

Nikita answered him. "O'Connor is still here playing concerned citizen.. We can't even be sure it's them."

"It must be. They think they've got an easy target for start capital. There must be more of them than we expected though. They've covered their tracks well." Birkoff said. "We'll do a thermoscan of the area. It would help if he would move though."

"Is there any chance any of them might know us." Nikita was speaking too low for anyone to hear. "I don't think so. O'Connor was on the way up, but not high enough to be trusted with that kind of intel. I should think he doesn't even know of Section."

"We'll find a way to get him moving." Nikita said. She walked over to the crowd by the bar. "Michael, maybe our new equipment might be useful. I have talked to the boss, we are allowed to use it as a test, as long as the police is doing their usual thing in situations like this... as back-up."

"What does that mean?" Sean asked. "What equipment?"

Michael didn't answer, but looked at him. Nikita had to hide a smile seeing what Michael's cold and expressionless look did to Sean. He suddenly seemed to shrivel.

"Wouldn't it be an idea to move the command center to the police station, Ambrose." Michael turned away from Sean. "This is hardly the ideal place now that you're dealing with a criminal offence rather than a search and rescue." "Yes, I'm not thinking very straigth." Ambrose looked like he wanted to give up to the fear and despair. "May I ask you to join us, Michael? I would appreciate any help you can give us."

"Of course." Michael looked at Nikita. "Do you mind, my dear?"

"No of course not." She put a hand on his arm. "I'll stay here."

The pub had filled up with people wanting to give a hand in the search. Peter was standing next to Assumpta, with an arm across her shoulder. In the exitement nobody noticed and he pulled her close. She looked up at him. "What can we do, Peter? Nieve is my best friend."

"We'll do what the police tell us to, any thing else would be too dangerous to Nieve." He said, kissing the top of her head.

"I just feel so helpless." she said. "I want to go out and find her."

"Look at that Sean O'Connor. He looks so angry. Why should he be angry at Michael, he's only trying to help."

"I wonder why that should be," Nikita said. She had walked over to the bar and standing beside Assumpta. "Do you know him well?"

Assumpta looked at her. "No, he doesn't come here often. As far as I can make out, there's no love lost between him and Padraig... and he's never been liked in the village, barely tolerated for Padraig's sake." She shook her head. "I don't know what it is about him that rubs people the wrong way. He's so intense and arrogant..."

Nikita nodded, "I see what you mean." She looked smilingly at the two of them. "You seem to have worked something out between you. I'm glad, congratulations."

Peter blushed and Assumpta smiled in thanks.

Ambrose, Quigly and Michael left for the police station and the crowd in the bar was very quiet.

"Who the hell does he think he is?" O'Connor spat out when the door had closed behind the three. "He's an unknown. Who's to say he's not involved?"

Nikita walked up to him, her eyes frosty. "You had better be careful about who you accuse of what."

He backed away from her. "Well, we don't know you, do we?"

Peter stepped forward. "You might not, but we do. Personally I would trust Michael with my life."

"The testimony of a fallen priest." O'Connor sneared. "Not much to go by, is it."

"That's enough. No reason to antagonize people, Sean." Padraig was ashamed of his cousin's behaviour. It was not the first time.

O'Connor shook his hand off his shoulder. "Well, since our help is not required, I want a beer. You do serve that here, don't you?" He looked pointedly at Assumpta, who was still frozen by the bar.

"Yes, of course." She came out of her preoccupation. "What can I get you?"

Chapter 10

Nikita pulled back as Birkoff's voice came on her ear again. "The cars we spotted have both disappeared. These guys are much better than we assumed."

"How can that be, Birkoff?" Nikita spoke in a low voice. "Is somebody trying to set us up?"

"Of course not." Birkoff's answer was too hasty. "It was just coincidence... that you were there when the intel about O'Connor came up. I guess they've come a lot further than we anticipated."

"We don't usually anticipate, Birkoff. "We make sure so we don't send the ops in blind."

"I know... I'll keep searching." Birkoff signed off.

***********

O'Connor had finished his drink. Nobody has spoken to him, even Padraig was silent as they stood by the bar. "I don't think I like this company," O'Connor said. "Are you coming, Paddy?"

"Yes... I'm coming." Padraig looked apollogetically at his friends. Brendan gave him a pat on the back, as they walked out.

"He's left the pub, Birkoff. Are you tracking him?" Nikita asked carefully.

"Yes, we're tracking. He's walking towards the garage. We'll let you know."

***********

At the police station, Ambrose was pacing the floor of his office. "How could this happen... here in Ballykea. We usually don't get any worse crimes than petty theft."

"Well, you heard me." Quigly said. "They want money, but why us? We're not famous for our wealth." He was getting desperate with worry for his daughter. He might be a hard man, and up to all the tricks in the book or outside it, but his love for Nieve was unquestionable. She was really the only person he cared about since his wife died when she was just a child.

"Do you have any enemies?" Michaels asked carefully. "It seems like too much of a coincident that you should be a target for this kind of crime. If money was the only object, why not someone with a lot of money?"

"I agree, but it still doesn't make sense. Of course I have enemies, but I find it hard to believe that any of them would be responsible for this."

Ambrose looked at him. "Well, you're not very particular about who you do business with, are you?"

Quigly looked down, "I know... but being shifty about money and business..." He shook his head. "I can't believe it's any of them."

"Is there anyone with any other kind of grudge against you?" Michael asked again.

"I did report on a guy who wanted me to sponsor some IRA activity. It was never said out loud, but I understood. I never grasped why they believed me to be into that cause..."

"I'll go and check out something." Michael said. "The inspector will be here soon and you won't need me. Tell him what you told me... Names?"

***********

Oh God, her head ached... she ached all over. She was lying on her side with her hands tied behind her back, the rough rope was making any movement very painful. Her feet were bound together in the same way. Her face was covered with cloth, letting no light in. As she woke up realising her situation, fear overwhelmed her. Her baby! She wanted to put her hands protectively over her belly, but couldn't. She tried to remember what had happened but everything after talking to Peter outside church was very hazy. She tried to move, and moaned from pain.

"So, you're awake. Sorry for your discomfort, but this is the way it has to be."

The voice was unfamiliar and spoke wtih an accent she recognised from Ulster.

"What am I doing here?" her words sounded muffled behind the cloth.

Nobody answered her and her fear grew, the darkness and silence threatening in the extreme.

"Please answer me, what do you want with me?"

"Your father will pay a lot of money to get you back." The same voice answered.

Pay a lot of money for her, how much money, He might be wealthy by Ballykea standards, but not so that anyone would take the risk of kidnapping her, it didn't make sense. Wisely she said none of the things that went through her mind.

"I'm very thirsty." She sounded frightened to her own ears, and pathetic, bus she heard movement in the room. There was a hole in the hood over her face and someone brought a straw through, she drank at first very carefully, not knowing what they brought her, but when she realised it was water she drank, only thinking of how to survive this nightmare. My baby! The thought kept going through her mind, when a prick in her arm startled her and everything went black.

Chapter 11

The crowd at the pub was still very silent. Some of the men, started to plan search parties in spite of the knowledge of kidnapping. Anything was better than just doing nothing. Nikita watched them, and wondering at the courage of ordinary people. They did not know what faced them, but they were still going out to face the challenge of unknown criminals to save their friend.

"They're going out to search, Birkoff." She spoke quietly. "Do you have a reading on them?"

"We have taken the two members in Dublin, Madeline is questioning them now... O'Connor is leaving the garage. He's alone and driving."

"I'll follow him, and get someone to check on Padraig... Michael did you get that?"

"Yes, I've just left the policestation. I'm getting the car now."

She walked over to Peter and Assumpta who were serving the guests. "Peter, I think someone should check on Padraig, if he's all right."

"What are you saying, Nikita?" Peter looked shocked. "O'Connor?"

She signed to him to be quiet and left the pub unobtrusively. Outside Michael drove up in the van and she jumped in beside him. He was in mission mode and the lover and newly wed husband seemed a long way away. But then so was she. The only thought in her mind was the danger to the young, pregnant woman that had made them her friend.

"He's driving towards Kildargin... Don't let him see you." Birkoff said. "The team is on it's way to meet you."

********

Peter pulled Assumpta into the back room as soon as Nikita had left. "Did you understand, Assumpta. She thinks this has got something to do with Sean O'Connor."

She nodded her head. "I don't understand how he could be, but I've never trusted him."

"I'll go and check the garage," Peter said. He touched her cheek with his hand and she grabbed it and put it to her mouth.

"Be careful, Peter. I can't lose you now that I've just found you."

He pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. "I'll be careful, you might be sure of that. I'm not brave at all."

He left her quickly and she went back to serve at the bar.

The walk to the garage was short and he entered softly. Only Padraig's pick-up was parked outside which comforted him a little bit. "Padraig!" he called softly, there was no answered and he entered the next room. Padraig was lying on the floor unconscious and he moved quickly over to check him over. He was breathing faintly and Peter put him in a stable position making sure he could breath before he called the policestation. "Peter here. I'm at the garage, Padraig is unconscious and Sean is gone. We need an ambulance fast."

Ambrose answered him quickly. "O'Connor. The bloody bastard!"

"Ambrose, get an ambulance!"

The inspector relieved him on the phone: "Who's this?"

Peter repeated his story and the inspector grasped the case immediately. "We'll get an ambulance as soon as possible. Can you stay with him?"

"I'll stay." Peter sighed with relief. that help was coming, "How long?"

"We'll let you know." The inspector disconnected. "O'Connor, what do you know about him?" he asked Quigly and Ambrose.

They told him what they knew about the man, which really wasn't much, beside the general dislike of the village and Padraig's especially.

"OK, we'll find him and find out what's going on." He called his superiours in Kildargin and the police search to find O'Connor started.

******

Nikita and Michael had him tracked to an abandoned farm house close to Kildargin. To the naked eye it looked deserted, but the scan showed five people in the house and two cars hidden in the barn.

"It will be dark in less than an hour, we'll wait. Will you get me a position on the hostage, Birkoff?"

"She's in the basement, she's alive, but immobile."

"And the hostiles?"

"Three are on the ground floor and one in the basement. I'll keep you notified of any movement. The team will hold off till nightfall."

They waited impatiently. "I'm so worried about Nieve. The baby..." Nikita said.

"I know." Michael said. They won't harm her as long as they still think they can get anything out of her father, but O'Connor..."

"It's more to this than the money." Nikita suggested.

"Revenge." Michael agreed. He took her hand softly. "But I still think he'll hold off killing her until he's tortured him some more with demands for money."

She turned her hand over in his. "The police is involved, how are we going to handle that? They will have to get something to explain her release."

"I know. Operations will have his say I guess, but I want Sean O'Connor."

"Me too."