Intervention: (Love Letters – Continued)

Hello all. I apologize for being away so long, but finally RL has slowed down enough to get back to the series I was writing. Please forgive me for the long delay. As promised, here is the story I was writing as a continuation of my series Love Letters. It’s been so long I hope you all remember them. There are some references to that story in this one, but it’s not necessary to go back and read it to understand this one. This story is again one of those ideas that came to me after watching the last episode of S5, and what I would like to see them do if they decided to come back with a movie in the near future. Below you will see the results of my feverish brainstorming and I hope you like it. Yes, Jade is back and I’m trying my hand at creating a new character that I hope you will enjoy as much as Jade. For those who read Final Freedom that story is no way connected with this one although some references may be the same just so that it makes sense with the new characters in this one. I’ll do my best to post at least one or two chapters a day, time permitting. Hope you enjoy this ride as much as I am enjoying writing it. This story contains spoilers for all seasons, the characters of LFN do not belong to me and no copyright infringement is intended, no profit is made from this other than for other’s enjoyment…etc. Thanks for waiting so patiently for this, I hope it was worth the long delay. As always I look forward to your thoughts on this one. Enjoy!

Jasmine

Prologue:

Derek Capland was an ambitious man, and now that he was the new head of the Collective his ambitions had just become greater. As one of the sole survivors of Section’s various and numerous attacks on Red Cell, he was now in a position to administer some serious retribution to the ones that had annihilated such a powerful organization. He could even thank Graff and Haled, the now deceased former heads of the Collective, for their inability to trust each other and work together to defeat the Section because they had given him the means to achieve what he wanted. Their power hungry struggle caused both of them to lose their lives while giving him the opportunity to take over. That was why he was now sitting behind his desk in the new quarters the Collective had established after the Section had discovered their previous location due to a traitor in their midst.

Thinking of said traitor, Derek reached his hand out and tapped the space bar on his laptop and leaned back as the screen scrolled and he continued to read the intel they had gathered on the infamous Michael Samuelle. He was the man responsible for the Collective’s current predicament, and he was the man who would pay for daring to cross them and then think he could so blithely get away with it. Unfortunately, the method of punishment Derek had in mind would have to begin with another source first since the Collective had been so foolish as to bargain with the Section and gain the release of the one thing that was sure to keep Michael in their enforced employ as long as they had wanted.

Derek had been on a separate mission when the events surrounding the revelation of Michael’s betrayal against the Collective had taken place. He had come back too late to find out that Michael Samuelle had infiltrated the Collective for the sole purpose of destroying them from within. Derek had smirked at the news and was glad his suspicions had been confirmed that it should have been Haled and not Graff in charge of the Collective since Haled had known what Michael’s game had been from the very beginning. While Graff had regained his respect by retaliating quickly enough and administering justice to Michael by taking his precious son as a captive, he hadn’t recovered soon enough for that action to do anything for the Collective except cause them more problems. Unfortunately, Graff had been relatively short sighted and had managed to get himself killed before he could make use of the weapon he had acquired in the form of Michael’s son. The man had been a fool to think that Samuelle wouldn’t retaliate in the harshest way for touching what was his. Derek was proven right when the inevitable occurred and Graff was assassinated.

Derek had then turned his hopes toward Haled and found that he had been destined to be disappointed by that particular individual as well when the Collective discovered Haled had bargained with their traitor to return the man’s son to him after Michael had threatened to use the same tactics on him should he not keep his word. Derek silently berated Graff and Haled for being so foolish as to attempt such a course of action without making sure that anyone inclined to help Michael had been taken out of play in order to keep him in line. It was why Derek had decided it was time to move the amateurs out of the way and take over the leadership of the Collective himself. Unfortunately, his decision had come one day too late and the considerable leverage the Collective had over Michael by holding his son prisoner had been taken from them in exchange for the much bigger target of Section’s most powerful commander, Mr. Jones.

Derek smiled thoughtfully as he remembered that while Michael had his son back, the Section had been unbearably crippled by the loss of their domineering, yet powerful Mr. Jones and now that Jones precious daughter was in charge of the Section, the Collective’s success had increased tenfold. Unfortunately for the Section, Derek wasn’t the least bit satisfied. He wanted complete and total destruction of the Section. He wanted to cripple them as they had crippled Red Cell and dozens of others of his colleague’s organizations who now reported to him. He also had a personal agenda. He fully intended to make Michael Samuelle pay for his role in delaying the Collective’s success, but in order to do that the first thing he needed to do was find the man. He knew his task was next to impossible considering the fact that Michael’s reputation was legend and as far as he knew nothing he had heard about the danger and ruthlessness of what had once been Section’s top operative had been falsified. Samuelle was as elusive as they came and Derek knew that his strategy had to be perfect if his plan was going to succeed. Fortunately for him he knew the one thing that would guarantee Sameulle’s coming out of hiding.

Although Derek could taste victory he was far too clever to get ahead of himself. There was no room for mistakes and unlike Graff and Haled, he had planned a lot better than those two. He may be impatient to see his plan come to fruition but he wasn’t foolish. He would bide his time. He could wait, and while he did he would continue to systematically strip the Section of everything they had. Then he could focus on his primary objective of locating Michael Samuelle. There was no better way to do that than to begin with the few individuals who had been closest to him.. There was only one person that came to mind that Derek could get his hands on and that person also happened to be the one thing of value left that Derek planned to salvage from the Section. She was of course, the new Head of Section One. He knew who she was, just as he knew that her capture would entice Michael Samuelle out of hiding.

Derek was quite satisfied with the plans he had already put into motion in order to accomplish his goals. Section would fall, Michael would pay, and Nikita…Nikita would be the trophy of the Collective to prove that they had played the game and won. As beautiful, cunning, and intelligent as she was, it would be a pity that after he had used her to exact retribution on the man who had crossed them she would have to die as well. After all she had the unfortunate problem of having been his enemy’s daughter. Shrugging his shoulders in complete indifference at his conclusion, Derek rose from his desk and headed out of his office to go and find one of his chief officers so that he could find out the status of the first phase of his plan. If everything was on schedule then he should be one step closer to meeting the infamous half of the formidable pair that had made up Section One’s most deadliest team. Derek considered the frantic activities of the Section and wondered how much more frantic they would be when they discovered that their leader was the target the Collective was after. It really didn’t make much difference to him. He was simply amused that the activity of the Section continued toward what they had no clue was a downward spiral of defeat. Derek planned for them to continue on their present course, blissfully unaware that the Collective was gaining momentum in wiping the Section off the face of the earth…blissfully unaware that all their efforts to keep that from happening were in vain…blissfully unaware that their leader was now the one in the most danger because of the simple fact that she provided Derek Capland with the means to a long-awaited end.

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Chapter 1

Sy Valdano leaned nonchalantly against the wall outside the office of the Center’s committee meeting room as he waited to be called inside by his superiors who had summoned him two days ago. Smirking at the overt glances he was getting from the capable assistant who he assumed was the one who had called to deliver the Center’s message if he recognized her sultry voice correctly, he could only assume that his appearance had once again managed to throw her off guard. No one knew better than he that he was anything but what most people expected when they spoke to him over the phone, and then had the opportunity to see him in person. While his name sounded as if it was of Italian descent he knew his features said he was as far from being Italian as he could possibly get. He was six foot two inches and owned a slender yet lithe, muscular body that attested to his obvious physical fitness. He walked with the catlike grace of a sleek tiger, which seemed to be the requirement for any ruthless, devastatingly handsome male who was in the employ of the elite anti-terrorist organizations of The Center, The Agency, or The Section. His eyes were a beautiful, shimmering light green, and they offset the angular planes of his attractive yet chiseled features. Pale blonde locks that fell past his shoulder blades to just above his waist in a long, thick, single braid completed the picture, and it was perhaps the most surprising thing about Sy’s appearance. Most women would have committed murder for the beauty and thickness of his hair and many a woman had told him that very thing. While most men wouldn’t have been able to wear their hair in such a style without it detracting from their features or making them look particularly effeminate, on Sy it only enhanced his attractiveness and added to the feline quality that exuded out of every pore. The gold and diamond stud earring he wore in his left ear enhanced the picture even more, and all who saw him thought, rather fancifully, that he was a pirate who had stepped out of the pages of some renaissance romance, or that he was a modern day rock star attempting to make a point. Either way, his look attested to the fact that he epitomized the image of a sleek, beautiful, hungry, tiger on the prowl for his next unwary victim.

Sy’s features were unique but no less arresting and he was well aware of the effect he was having on people as he sighed tiredly at the attention he was drawing from not only the assistant, but the various operatives who drifted down the hall. As he received yet another furtive glance from the assistant he sighed impatiently and tilted his head back against the wall and closed his eyes. His braid swung with the motion and he smirked yet again as he thought rather snidely that his hair was probably what was drawing all the attention. The length of his hair was a bit of surprise considering his line of work and it was the one thing about him besides his looks that always managed to garner the double takes people seemed to give him constantly. Because of the attention he drew he had been pressed by many within the Agency to cut it if only to make him look less conspicuous. It was a sort of challenge for him to keep himself from being recognized in the line of business he was in despite the fact that his hair was probably one of the first things his enemies would describe about him. Even now he steadfastly refused the suggestions made to him about getting a more orthodox style, one that made him blend in better but he refused, and only one person knew why he chose to be so contrary about something so trivial as his hair. Thoughts of that person, the one woman who knew him better than she realized, made him less annoyed about the unwanted attention he was getting and he allowed himself to smile as he considered what she would have said about the assistant who was slowly beginning to get on his nerves. It was probably a good thing for her that the intercom system on her desk buzzed and he knew before she even addressed him that his superiors were now ready to see him. Not bothering to wait for her to tell him the obvious Sy pushed away from the wall with his customary fluid grace and took the few steps necessary to reach the secured door which automatically slid open to admit him.

Quickly masking the expression on his face to show none at all, Sy entered the room and stopped just at the entrance as he took in the audience before him. Sitting at a long conference table located on the far side of the room, Sy took careful note of the six individuals who sat quietly behind the table as they all turned their expressionless gazes upon him. Ignoring them for the moment as he realized they didn’t look familiar to him Sy focused his attention on the man sitting quietly at the very end of the table with his hands folded in front of him. The man being observed stared back at Sy for a brief moment and then turned away to scan the file lying in front of him. Realizing the game the man wanted to play, Sy didn’t wait to be asked but moved to the middle of the room, and stood with his hands clasped in front of him as he waited for the inane greetings to begin before they told him what it was they wanted from him.

“Good morning, Mr. Valdano. My colleagues and I apologize for the wait.”

Sy refrained from reply as he refocused his attention on the man he had first noticed when he walked into the room. It was no surprise to Sy at all that he was the one who was running this little show.

“If you will indulge us for one more minute there is one thing left to do before we can get started.”

Turning to his colleagues the spokesperson for the group completed a conversation that immediately caused Sy to be on his guard and become extremely wary about the reasons behind his summons.

“You can be assured I will do as we have all discussed.”

“Good. We’ve made a grave mistake that has to be rectified.” One of the members responded quietly as she quickly began to gather the files in front of her.

“I agree.” The leader replied gravely. “Leave us please, and we’ll get started.”

All of them stood except the leader and turned quickly toward the exit. As the last of them left the room, Sy turned and faced the man who was still seated and staring at him intently.

“It’s just the two of us, Mr. Valdano.” The man said quietly. “Why don’t you take a seat?”

Not bothering to comply with the man’s politely voiced command Sy walked over to stand in front of him instead.

“Why am I here?” Sy asked quietly.

“To rectify a mistake I made almost nine months ago.” Came the cryptic reply.

“Of course.” Sy responded dryly, quite aware of the fact that he hadn’t received an answer that made much sense to him and not at all sure why he had expected one. Deciding that matching wits with this man, whom he had known for years, wasn’t the best way to find out what he wanted to know, Sy relented and quickly retrieved a chair and lowered himself into it.

“That’s better.” The man said with a slight smile on his face once Sy was seated. “It’s been quite a while, Sy.”

“Not long enough as far as I’m concerned.” Sy stated with feeling.

His superior chose to be amused by his statement and then continued to enlighten him as to why he had been summoned.

“Yes, well I apologize for once again dispatching you to do my dirty work, but I do believe this time you’ll agree with me about what needs to be done.”

“It’s got to be serious for you to have dragged me in front of the committee like you just did.” Sy stated.

“Yes.” Came the one word reply that conveyed more than most people would have thought.

“Just what does need to be done this time?” Sy asked, his tone conveying that he truly didn’t want to know but realized he had no choice but to find out everything he could about this little mission he was being sent on.

“As I’m sure you’re aware Section One has been having some rather overwhelming problems of late.”

Sy refrained from comment as he tensed the instant he heard the mention of the Section. His attention was immediately captured, yet he remained silent as he waited for the next startling statement.

“Although their mission success has been satisfactory over the course of the last few months it’s not enough to counter the new rise in terrorist strikes we’ve been seeing since the unfortunate events that took place nine months ago. My colleagues and I feel that your expertise is needed to rectify the situation.” His superior continued when he didn’t receive a reply from the man sitting in front of him.

“I suppose you and your colleagues have a specific method of action you want me to take.” Sy stated hardly, not at all excited at the opportunity he had been given. Section One was the last place he wanted to be right now. He wasn’t quite ready to face what, or rather who awaited him there.

“Yes, we do.” Came the expected answer.

Sy reluctantly stretched out his hand and retrieved the file that was now being handed to him. He flipped it open, scanned the contents and closed his eyes as his suspicions were confirmed by the material he had just read.

“Making me out to be the company bad guy again, I see.” Sy said after he had regained his equilibrium.

“It can’t be helped.” His superior stated blandly. “The Committee can’t trust either one of them to take the required action needed so you will have to. A mistake was made that can only be rectified one way. We expect you to see to it.”

“Are they expecting me?” Sy asked as he stood up with the file in hand.

“Of course. You didn’t expect me to make this easy for you.”

Sy said nothing as he headed toward the door. He stopped just before leaving and turned to face his superior knowing that it was expected. True to form his superior didn’t disappoint him as he extended the admonishment Sy had expected to hear.

“Don’t let your personal feelings interfere with this mission, Sy. We can’ t afford the time.”

“I didn’t let it interfere last time.” Sy was compelled to argue in a tone suddenly gone bitter.

“Didn’t you?” His superior countered. “Your impulsive gesture almost cost us a very valuable operative. Be thankful your fiancée had her own resources and solved the problem for us.”

“Ex-fiancée and she didn’t solve anything.” Sy said hardly as he thought about the woman he had sacrificed for the sake of the Center’s goals.

“Somehow I don’t think she will view it that way.” His boss replied, deliberately goading Sy by discussing a situation Sy had refused to even talk about after his broken engagement almost a year ago.

“No, I guess she wouldn’t.” Sy replied in a deceptively mild voice. “However, while we’re on the topic of impulsive gestures, is the new Operations to be made aware of our partnership?”

Sy knew his barb had hit home when his superior’s eyes flashed angrily before he instantly masked his expression.

“For this purpose we will consider that intel class eight clearance, as you well know Sy.” His superior snapped back impatiently.

“Of course.” Sy replied quietly, satisfied that his point had been made and not at all perturbed at the rebuke he had gotten.

“You leave immediately as they’re expecting you in a few short days. I expect a detailed report within a week of your arrival.”

“Yes, sir.” Sy answered in an obedient, yet sarcastic tone. “Goodbye, sir.”

His superior snapped his head up in irritation at the man who had been his top troubleshooter for a little over ten years, and just barely refrained from rebuking him for his insubordination. He was well aware that he had goaded him into it by his mention of an unwelcome topic, however, it wasn’t exactly a good idea to let Sy think that his behavior was acceptable.

“Happy hunting, Mr. Valdano.” the older man stated quietly.

Sy’s eyes narrowed sharply as he pinned the other man with a lethal stare. Knowing that it was futile to take the gauntlet his superior had so casually thrown, he held his retort and turned swiftly on his heel and left. He could hear the other man’s quiet laughter behind him but he ignored it as his mind moved to think about the disturbing assignment he had just been given. For once he wished he wasn’t quite so good at his job, and like everyone else that worked in this place he didn’t have the luxury of choice. He hoped Section was prepared for what they were about to encounter. He hoped he was prepared as well.

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Chapter 2

The soft tinkling sound of chimes could be heard clearly as the wind picked up and the threatening storm moved closer to the otherwise tranquil setting of the rolling green landscapes that could be seen for miles in the quiet secluded part of the country where Michael Samuelle had made a home for himself and his son. Standing near the window looking out at the overcast sky Michael took morbid satisfaction that the rapidly approaching thunder and darkened clouds matched his dark and somber mood perfectly as his thoughts wandered to the wife he hadn’t seen in over five months. He knew from reports from Walter that her two-week vacation here with him and Adam just before her recent five month absence from them had been all the time to herself she had gotten since her return to the Section. It appeared that Section’s victory against the Collective, which had enabled Nikita’s vacation to him in the first place, had only been temporary and now the Collective had bounced back stronger than ever. Michael understood what that meant, and how much pressure was being applied to Nikita because of her status as Operations.

Although the two of them had kept in touch through letters and messages passed between them using Walter as a messenger, Michael couldn’t quite shake the feeling that she wasn’t telling him everything because she didn’t want him to be concerned for her. If only she realized that her lack of communication made his concern for her worse. If he was honest he also admitted to himself that he had a deep sense of foreboding that something terrible was about to happen, and it bothered him that he couldn’t somehow warn her when he didn’t know what she needed to be warned about. For the first time in weeks he allowed a small smile to grace his features when he thought of what Nikita would say about this urgent need to warn her from something neither of them could see. Knowing her she would accuse him of relying on the intuition he had told her he didn’t believe in.

Thoughts of her made his mood darker and lighter at the same time and he wondered briefly if he was becoming slightly schizophrenic with nothing to do but take care of Adam and worry about his wife. He laughed at himself as he considered the irony of what used to be Section’s top level five operative going crazy because he was attempting to live a normal life. Abandoning his post by the window he looked at his watch and calculated that Adam would sleep at least another hour before waking up from his nap to demand his father’s attention. He decided to use the time he had to sit down and write another letter to the woman he loved, if only to let her know that he was there for her should she need him, and also using the activity as an excuse to try and dispel the worry that seemed to be dominating his mind at every turn. Acting on impulse before he could change his mind he walked into his study, sat down at his desk in front of his laptop, and tried to collect his thoughts as he considered all the things that needed to be said. After a few minutes of staring blankly at the screen he rapidly began to type.

~~~ Nikita,

Hello, Beloved. Once again I find myself sitting in front of the computer struggling to find the words to tell you how much I miss you. Foolishly I thought that somehow I would be able to cope better after your too short visit with us and then your subsequent trip back to the Section. I never thought it was possible to miss you more than I already was when I watched you leave, but I find that your actually having been here makes me long for you even more. I look around me and I see touches of your presence, actual evidence that you were here everywhere. It’s almost as if time has stood still and Adam and I are in a picture that has frozen in time as we wait impatiently for your return. I can almost see your smile as you read this because the thought of me being impatient is something you probably always wished for, but never really expected to live to see. I’m just as surprised by my uncharacteristic behavior as you are. It’s just one more thing where you and I have traded places, and I’ m feeling things I suspect that you used to feel all the time. I wonder how long this impatience will last before I do something neither of us expects and put myself at risk in order to be able to see you. Of course as I contemplate what the consequences of what such an action could be, I quickly realize that I will have to live with this foreign emotion for a little while longer so that I don’t risk everything you and I have worked for. The thought sobers me and I long for you even more as I realize that the loneliness I feel is minute in comparison to what you must be feeling as the leader of a cold and unforgiving place that can’t possibly understand what it takes to do what it is you have to do.

How are you, Nikita? It’s a question that I find myself longing to ask you every waking moment of the day. I think of the chaos that is probably fast becoming the normal state of existence where you are and I know that waiting to act was one of the few things that continually kept you on edge. Walter has told me some of what is happening there, and the looming presence that is once again threatening the very existence of the Section. Even the news seems to be littered with bits and pieces of the turmoil that is striking remote parts of the world. Exposure for the Section has never been as risky as it is now with all of the terrorist attacks you are all being forced to quell, and I admit that I worry for you. I worry for you more than I ever thought possible because as the attacks increase and the success of the Section is lower than it has ever been, I know that eventually your dissatisfaction will cause you to do something drastic like take to the field yourself. While I have some comfort in knowing that you can take care of yourself, it still makes me long to rush to your side for the sole purpose of protecting you from all who would dare try to harm you. Perhaps it’s my imagination getting the best of me and I’m envisioning things that won’t happen. Maybe my concern wouldn’t be so great if I couldn’t read between the lines of your letters and realize by the things that you don’t say just how critical your situation is. Don’t hide from me, Beloved. Even if I’m not there, doesn’t mean I can’t help. I know that you want with all your heart to keep me removed from the Section now that I’m out but shutting me out of your thoughts only makes me hold on to the life I used to know with more tenacity then ever because you’re still a part of it.

I miss you so much. Adam misses you as well and the both of us have fallen back into old habits as the days, weeks, and months continue to pass and the both of us know that the chances of seeing you any time soon are unlikely. I will say that although he asks for you on a regular basis, he has returned to the normal, carefree, little boy I used to know. It appears that once again you were right and that a motherly influence is what he needed to get him back on track. I wonder how the newly hired Mrs. Costanza would feel if she ever finds out that you and I chose her based on the fact that her background assured us that she would be the ideal one to look after Adam when I have to be away from him on business. She’s a woman of her word and just as she promised us when we interviewed her for the job, it only took her a month to wrap up everything and find her way to the estate. While I know we did the background check on her together, I used the time she had given us and dug a little deeper just to make sure what we found was accurate. It turns out everything she told us was true. No family other than her deceased husband who died in the line of duty makes her perfect for the job. The fact that her husband was a federal agent with whom she had learned to ask little or no questions makes the adjustment of having her around a little easier to deal with. She doesn’t pry nor does she ask too many personal questions other than her continued curious observation that it’s a shame you have been away from us for so long. I can’t really take issue with that statement since I happen to agree with her so I simply tell her it’s the nature of the work that you do and leave it at that. She doesn’t even try to hide the sympathetic look she gives me and instead nods her head in agreement and politely drops the subject. It’s more than a little uncanny just how well she reads my moods. That’s probably one of the reasons Adam has taken to her so well.

Mrs. Costanza’s only been with us four months yet it feels as if she’s been with us for years and she has Adam in the palm of her hands. She’s turned out to be very good for him, and he adores her. She looks after the both of us well. She acts like a doting grandmother to Adam, and she treats me like a favored son. It’s a bit unnerving, but comforting at the same time. She keeps us from becoming too melancholy as we indulge in thoughts of you wondering when we will see you again. You should be proud of yourself, Beloved. Don’t think I don’t realize that the reason you insisted on finding someone like Mrs. Costanza was not only for Adam but also for me as well. You were determined to find someone you could trust to look after us when you’re away. Now it seems we’re even. I have Walter to take care of you and you have Mrs. Costanza to take care of me. I only wish that we were together so that we could take care of each other. I know this is only wishful thinking on my part yet I can’t seem to keep my mind from going in that direction when I know how hard it must be for you right now. I realize it’s unlike me to be so emotional, but I find that things that used to be impossible for me before are second nature to me now. I will also admit that I feel helpless to aid you when I consider how much danger you’re really in. Having dealt directly with the Collective my imagination is working overtime on the things they might attempt to try in order to eliminate the existence of the Section once and for all. The only thing that eases my mind is the fact that you have someone there with you who will do everything in their power to keep that from happening and to do her best to keep you safe as well. I know I have to be satisfied with that...for now.

It’s almost time for Adam to wake from his nap so I have to go, Beloved. Remember that I love you and that I think of you always. Adam sends his love and the both of us look forward to being able to see you as soon as it can be arranged. Until then enjoy your roses and think of me often. I love you.

Michael

~~~

Michael read the words on the page and then printed them out quickly before he could change his mind about sending what he had written. He knew that his letters only made Nikita miss him more and he didn’t want to make it harder for her than it had to be. However, he also knew that she looked forward to his letters to her as much as he looked forward to hers to him and he would not deny her the one thing he could do for her just because he didn’t want her to worry for him. Rapidly making up his mind he got up from his desk, retrieved the typed sheets and put them in an envelope. After writing the post office box number on it he sat it on his desk with the rest of the mail ready for the afternoon pick up and resumed his seat at his desk. It wasn’t long before the dark foreboding thoughts he had been entertaining earlier engulfed him again. He stared at the letter and sighed as he realized the temporary relief he had felt at getting some things off of his chest by writing to Nikita was completely gone. He couldn’t shake the feeling that she was in serious trouble and it was by an enemy that she couldn’t see. The only thing that kept him from going to her is the fact that he couldn’t, wouldn’t, put her in jeopardy by reappearing once again in a place he had been liberated from for the final time. Nikita would never forgive him and he knew it. Sighing softly he walked up to stare outside at the rain that had finally begun to pour, and did his best to ignore the warning signals that kept flashing in his head so loudly. All he could do was bide his time and continue to wait...wait for word...wait for confirmation that danger was close by and that his wife was the target of it. His instincts were screaming, and for once there was nothing he could do about them. He could only hope that in her next letter Nikita would give him some sort of clue to help him fit all of the pieces together. It would give him something to do, something to focus on and it couldn’t come soon enough because he didn’t know how much longer he would be able to wait for danger to strike.

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Chapter 3

The creaking sound of the door opening to van access was all the announcement that was needed to notify one of their new leaders that the mission had returned. Allen’s, the team leader on the mission, braced himself as he came to stand before the stunning, exotic looking woman leaning against the wall with her arms crossed in front of her. Her head was down, as if she found something fascinating about the lack of pattern on Section’s concrete hallway floor. Her black, glossy, waist-length hair was hanging loose and therefore fell forward on both sides of her face to effectively block her expression. Allen’s hoped for his sake that this woman they had all come to know and get used to since she arrived from another Section over six months ago would continue to show her mercy after this, his third failure.

Allen’s remained silent offering no explanation as he noted the waves of disappointment emanating from her. He quietly motioned the team towards ordnance and then debrief while he continued to wait. He was on the verge of pleading with her to give him a chance to explain and make things right before canceling him, but she waylaid his action by holding up an imperious hand to halt the words about to tumble from his mouth. As soon as his teammates were out of earshot she finally spoke.

“Status?”

“Two injured, one down. Partial intel retrieval.”

“Why only partial?”

“Too much resistance, and we’re not in a position to be able to sustain heavy losses.” Allen’s explained automatically, more than a little nervous at the fact that she hadn’t looked up at him yet.

“The profile?”

“Was fine.” He answered as expected, considering she was the one who had prepared it. “Their intel was simply more current than ours. They knew we were coming.”

“So.” She said as she finally looked up to pierce him with her dark, glittering gaze. “After all these months of strategic attacks from us the Collective is still as strong as ever.”

“Yes, but they have no where near the capability they had before with two of their strongest leaders being taken out.” Allen’s stated.

“How comforting.” She replied sarcastically. “What a pity that we can’t seem to take advantage of that fact.”

Allen’s wisely remained silent as he could tell by the biting edge in her tone that she wasn’t pleased with the outcome of the mission at all or his reasoning behind their current failure.

“Give me the intel and then I expect a full and complete debrief within the hour.” She said after a moment.

“What about Operations?” Allen’s asked as he put the small micro disc of intel in her hand.

“I’ll take care of it.” She said softly. “Just do as I say.”

Allen’s turned away and Jade watched him depart as she sighed in weariness, pushed away from the wall, and headed towards the perch, to inform Nikita, now Operations, of yet another failure. As she walked she mentally prepared herself for the argument she was about to instigate because she knew that Nikita would fight the suggestion she was going to offer, but Jade intended to make the suggestion nonetheless.

Walking through the center of Section she met Walter’s agitated gaze as he checked in equipment from the team that had just returned. Allen’s was standing next to him and kept his head down although he watched under eyed as Jade waggled her fingers at Walter in greeting and then turned abruptly to enter the hallway that led to Operations perch. Neither man tried to hide their interest as they focused their gaze on Operations who met their startled gazes with the hardened cold blue gaze of her own.

Walter kept his gaze locked with the young woman who was staring more through him than at him and then went back to his work, while Allen’s had looked away the moment his new commander’s gaze focused itself on him.

“Do you think she’ll have me put in abeyance?” Allen’s asked quietly, more than a little concerned about his fate.

“If she was going to do that, Jade would have ordered you there already.” Walter said. “Of course you might want to get started on that debrief before one or the other of them change their minds.”

Allen’s looked back up at the perch to find Operations and her second in command, who had just walked up to stand beside her focused on him. Not bothering to waste any more time he mumbled a quick ‘later’ to Walter and left to follow the older man’s suggestion.

“Status.” Operations commanded in her low husky voice while she watched Allen’s hasty departure.

“Partial success with obtaining some intel on the latest strike against the Collective, the Zurich mission and Taos mission have not concluded as of yet. Overall we’re losing and the situation doesn’t seem to be changing.” Jade responded automatically as she allowed her gaze to follow the direction her boss’s had taken.

“Analysis.” Came the next sharp command from Operation’s, her voice conveying a slight hint of irritation at the unwelcome news Jade had given her.

“Other key groups have taken their cue from the Collective.” Jade explained carefully. “Unity is their strength and Section’s weakness. Internal and inter-Agency struggles have made us ineffective and an easy target.”

“Solution.” Operations asked quietly, her voice losing it’s edge and becoming strangely subdued and weary all of a sudden.

“Oversight intervention.” Jade replied after a slight pause.

It was then that Operations, better known to her friend as Nikita, turned to the woman who had been made her second in command and pinned her with a level stare.

“I do believe that’s the first time you’ve ever lied to me.” Nikita stated softly.

She allowed a small smile to skim her features as she saw the stubborn gleam in her friend’s eyes. Jade Deveraux was a formidable and determined woman and Nikita knew that she would never get Jade to admit that the two of them were facing a critical situation that didn’t seem to have any other alternative but the one they had been given by the Agency. Nikita appreciated and admired Jade’s intense desire to thwart the Agency, and found herself not for the first time being extremely thankful for the fact that she had been specifically chosen to take Madeline’s place as Master Strategist in the Section, when that greatly feared dame had ended her own life rather than submit to the evaluations of the Center.

Nikita had known Jade for years and the two of them had become friends a long time ago. They had a lot in common and quite a long, unusual history between them that had been forged by deceptive mentors who had other plans for their protégés’ futures. The both of them had been determined to thwart their mentors’ plans and had become close friends in the process. Aside from Walter, Jade was one of the closest and dearest friends she had within the Section, and she also had the unique distinction of being the one woman other than Nikita who Michael also considered a close friend. That distinction made Jade one of the best people Nikita could have around because she understood what motivated the decisions she had been making recently. Also like Walter, and very unlike Madeline, Jade was someone Nikita could trust and not be concerned about being stabbed in the back when the first opportunity arose. Nikita didn’t question the reason behind Jade’s presence but attributed it to the fact that Jade had been a sort of peace offering by her father’s colleagues to make the transition as Operations easier for her to make in light of what she had given up because of that choice.

“I didn’t lie.” Jade finally replied as she brought Nikita back from her drifting thoughts. “I just refrained from offering a solution that is not an alternative to be considered.”

“Even so it is a solution.” Nikita replied as her suspicions behind Jade’s solution to their problem was proven. “According to the Agency it’s the only viable choice.”

“I don’t agree and neither do you.” Jade said sharply. “Nor will you convince me that you will ever agree to such a plan. It’s not gonna happen so why even mention it?”

“I know, Jade.” Nikita sighed as she ran her fingers through her rapidly, growing hair. “It doesn’t change the fact that the both of us are running out of ideas, operatives, and time. We have to think of something.”

Jade was well aware of that as she watched Nikita pace back and forth. Biting off the sharp retort she wanted to make she leaned against the far wall and waited. It was her turn to reminisce and she maintained her silence as she contemplated the anger marking every stride the new Operation’s took. The rage within Nikita grew with each passing day as she was forced to make decisions she had never wanted to make. Studying her friend beneath her long, dark lashes Jade sighed inwardly at the seething rage she could feel coming from Nikita and wondered when she would give it up and finally explode with all the bitterness and anger she was holding in. It had been nine months since Nikita and Michael had been forcibly separated and a little over five months since they had last seen each other. In what seemed a short span of time Jade could see that Nikita had changed drastically, so drastically in fact that Jade knew it was only a matter of time before she snapped.

An entire organization was hanging by a thread and the pressure was being put on the new Operations to pull them out of the fire and become the feared, anti-terrorist organization they once were. To facilitate the change, Jones colleagues had transferred Jade from the remote Agency position where the now deceased Head of Oversight, George, had placed her and sent her to be Nikita’s second in command. She realized that it was times like this that her friend alternated between hating her father and wanting him alive so that she could be anywhere else but here in charge of the Section. The situation was not made any easier with the current mission success rate at thirty percent, and decreasing with each failed mission against the Collective. Jade found herself wondering once again what the organizations they worked for had been thinking when they had embarked upon the destructive path that had led them to this current state of affairs.

“There must be some other option we can come up with.” Jade stated softly as Nikita turned to pace the other end of the room. “Between the two of us we should be able to find an alternate course of action.”

“Well we don’t have much time to do it in.” Nikita replied as she stuffed her hands back into her pockets and stopped pacing to look back out the Perch window.

“Why is that?” Jade asked as she moved again to stand next to her friend.

“It seems you’re going to get your wish.” Nikita explained. “While you were meeting the last mission I received a call from the Agency. In a few days Oversight is sending someone to oversee us and assist us in dealing with our current problem.”

“In other words, they’re sending someone in to tell us how to do our job.” Jade restated in an annoyed tone.

“They called it a troubleshooter.” Nikita confirmed wryly. “However, your description is probably correct.”

“So after all of this the Agency and not Oversight has decided that now is the time to interfere and come show us what they think needs to be done?”

“It appears that way.” Nikita answered.

“Well, then I guess now is as good a time as any to bring up what I’ve been thinking about for quite some time.” Jade started out carefully, deciding that now as the opportunity to instigate the fight she had been contemplating earlier.

“What are you talking about?” Nikita asked, her tone suspicious as she noted the light of battle in Jade’s eyes.

“I’m talking about going in the field.” Jade answered. “Deploying the teams, leading them myself.”

“No.” Nikita replied in a tone that brooked no argument.

“I figured that is what you would say.” Jade continued in a reasonable tone. “However, we have every reason to do this if only to prove to the Agency that we know what we’re doing.”

“I said no.” Nikita said again more sharply.

“Nikita, listen to me.” Jade began.

“Jade, NO!” Nikita shouted. “I need you here. I will not send you into the field with operatives who are no where near advanced enough to provide the kind of protection you need. I know that you can take care of yourself, but too many things can go wrong and I can’t afford to lose you out there. So the answer is no, and you can forget about arguing the point because I will never agree.”

“Alright.” Jade replied in a tone that conveyed her disagreement with Nikita’s reply. “So what do you suggest we do, besides sit back and let the Agency take over?”

“I don't know Jade.” Nikita said tiredly. “It doesn’t look like we have much choice, and frankly maybe we could use the help.”

“And if they suggest the one thing that you don’t want to consider?” Jade challenged her.

“We’ll have to cross that bridge when we come to it, Jade. All I know is that I need you here with me to help me deal with them for however long they intend to grace us with their presence.”

Nikita watched silently as Jade turned on her heel and left the Perch without making further comment. Sighing softly she knew that her friend was more angry at the fact that they had been backed into a corner than she was at the denial she had given her to go out in the field with the teams they were deploying. Nikita was no fool and she knew Jade well enough to know that the discussion wasn’t over, only that she had made a tactful retreat. As far as she was concerned her answer would be the same whenever the subject was revisited because she was determined that she would not lose Jade like she had lost everyone else with the exception of Walter. Even so, Nikita hoped her decision had been the right one, as she couldn’t shake the feeling that the critical situation the two of them found themselves in was just about to get worse. It was times like these that she missed Michael and wished more than anything the he was there with her if only to infuriate her with his cold, methodical, and ruthless attitude that always ensured they would come out of these situations alive if not necessarily unscathed. Unfortunately, he wasn’t here and so that role now fell to her. She only hoped that she would have as much success using the tactic in the present as her husband had using it in the past. Their lives...Section’s very existence depended upon it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 4

Rustling leaves skated across the cold, barren ground that held the first stirrings of the winters chill settling upon the wide, lonely landscape. Vincent Riley felt the bite of the wind and he shivered uncontrollably as he crouched with his team behind what would soon be a snowy embankment if the continuing drop of the temperature was any indication. Forcibly ignoring his body’s protestations about the extreme conditions, he brought his mind back to the present and concentrated on the job at hand. Turning his head slightly he glimpsed the last of second team disappearing behind the large stone building and then he checked his watch to make sure that everything was still tracking as it should be.

“Team two report.” He commanded a few minutes later, pretty sure that they should be in place now.

“ETA sixty seconds.” Came the prompt reply.

“What’s your field status?” Riley asked.

“The area looks clean, sir.”

“Hold.” Riley commanded sharply. “I’m having Simon sweep it again. The Collective is known for it’s traps and we can’t afford to mess up this mission. Simon-“

“I’m already on it, Riley.” Simon responded from the relative safety of the mission van. He was one of the newly trained Comm operatives and Riley was glad that he was as good as everyone said he was. It was bad enough he was stuck out in the field with a bunch of inexperienced new recruits as it was. The last thing he needed was to have someone who held their lives in his hands be incapable of doing the job as critical as Simon’s was. He was their eyes and ears and as far as Riley was concerned in the line of work they were in those were the two most critical body parts a Comm op could have.

“Team two is correct, sir.” Simon commented a few seconds later. “The area is clean. No hostiles in sight.”

“Alright here we go, people.” Riley stated calmly. “Williams you’re on point. Move toward the target and retrieve the intel, then we move to checkpoint two.”

“Got it.” Williams responded.

Riley heard the steady sound of Williams moving toward retrieval and sat back to wait and couldn’t prevent the impatience he was feeling at wanting this mission over soon. Operation’s and her new second-in-command needed this mission to go well for everyone’s sake or it would be just one more victory for the Collective that the Section couldn’t afford to give them. He supposed he shouldn’t be too concerned about this mission since it was a lead from a credible greenlist source and all they had to do was retrieve the needed intel, but experience had taught him to be wary of every piece of intel they received when it had anything to do with the Collective.

“Nearing the target, sir.” Williams whispered over his comm unit. “The area is clean, no collateral in sight.”

“Good.” Riley said as he tried to keep the nervousness out of his voice.

“Our informant said that the intel was located underneath the base of the statute that is situated in the middle of the area. Do you see it?” Simon interjected as he scanned the intel of the active profile.

“It’s kind of hard to miss.” Williams reported in a dry tone. “I’m moving in, sir.”

Riley said nothing as he waited nervously to tell him that he had retrieved the intel. Five minutes passed before he heard the soft sound, of Williams hushed tones pouring through the Comm set once again.

“I’ve got the intel, sir. It’s a tiny micro disc. I’m downloading to Simon right now.”

“Do it later, Williams.” Riley instructed. “Just get to your egress route so that we can get out of here.”

“I’m on my way, sir.” Williams replied. “The download is done.”

“Teams move toward egress.” Riley commanded when he heard Williams response. “ETA is approximately ten minutes.”

Riley quickly scanned the area around him to continue to make sure that it was still clean and that the Collective wasn’t waiting somewhere to pounce upon them at the very last minute like they were so fond of doing. Satisfied that all was going well, he began to let his guard down a little as he quickly headed toward the mission van to await his other team members. It was actually a shock to him when he heard a loud boom that shook the very ground he was walking on. He fell on his knees at the impact of the sound and he knew before asking that the Collective had managed to strike once again.

“Team two report?”

“Hanes? Williams? Somebody answer me.” Riley commanded in a hoarse tone when he got no answer.

“Hanes here, sir.” Came the weak response from Williams other team member.

“What happened out there?” Riley shouted. “Where’s Williams?”

“He’s dead, sir.” Hanes replied. “It was a trap. We got the intel but we lost Williams. It must have been a delayed reaction. I started moving toward egress the minute you gave the command, but Williams was blown to pieces. The Collective knew we were coming.”

He muttered a foul expletive as he realized that everything Hanes said was true. As careful as they had been they still had managed to lose yet another valuable operative to the enemy. Operations would not be pleased. Shaking his head in disappointment and anger Riley doggedly picked himself up and continued to walk toward the mission van.

“Hightail it back to the van, Hanes.” Riley ordered the other man. “We’ve got to get out of here, now.”

“Yes, sir.” Hanes replied.

Riley entered the van and avoided looking at Simon as he sat down to initiate contact with the Section. The boss would want to know what had happened before they returned. He supposed he should be comforted by the fact that because there weren’t enough operatives as it was, he didn’t have to be concerned about being cancelled because of his failure. Unfortunately, that thought didn’t make him feel one bit better when he considered Williams. Riley hoped the situation turned around for them soon, because at the rate they were going there would be no Section left. The door to the mission van opening jerked him to attention and he hastily put the glock he had drawn as a reflex back down onto the table. Hanes didn’t say a word as he slumped into the nearest bench with a glazed expression on his face. Knowing his teammate was in shock at seeing Williams blown to bits before his very eyes, Riley ignored the young man and motioned for Simon to tell the driver to go.

The van took off and Riley leaned his head against the back of the bench and closed his eyes as he waited for the Section to answer his page. He didn’t care when they answered because he could always wait to deliver bad news. He knew that his superiors would not be happy to hear that they had failed…again. The Collective was winning and it didn’t look as if things were going to change. Slowly but surely they were all running out of time, and there didn’t seem to be anything the new heads of Section could do to change the tide. The Section was doomed and they all knew it. Riley shook his head and weakly began to laugh as he tasted the cold, bitter, taste of defeat…Paul Wolfe and Madeline had gotten their revenge.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 5

The rapid clicking of several tech operatives inputting data into their systems was the prominent sound that could be heard throughout Section’s command and control center. Kate Quinn swiveled from one side to the other as she rapidly processed the incoming intel that was coming in over the screen. Jason Birkoff mimicked her moves as he monitored his screens and helped Quinn run two simultaneous missions that were taking place in two different countries. The missions were critical to the continued success of their organization and everyone was on pins and needles as they filtered the incoming data and waited for news from both teams where dark approach had just been invoked. Even with all the activity taking place and the obvious preoccupation of the operatives at their terminals the slow steady clicking of booted heels coming in their direction could still be heard clearly. Jason and Quinn exchanged nervous glances, but quickly masked them as they turned their attention back to the screen and looked anywhere but towards the sound that signaled their new leader had descended from the perch. Walter was the only one who didn’t react as he continued to clean his weapons and looked up at the one walking towards him with an expressionless mask on her beautiful face.

“Hi, Sugar.” He said as she walked up to him.

“Hello, Walter.” She replied quietly.

“You and Jade seemed to be in a pretty heated conversation earlier.” Walter said as he ran a towel down the side of the gun he had just reassembled. “Everything, alright?”

“No.” Nikita replied candidly. “Jade was just reacting to some bad news.”

“Anything I can do?”

“No, Walter.” Nikita said as she gave him a grateful smile. “The two of us will work it out, we just need some time to come up with an answer to our problem.”

“Three heads are better than one.” Walter persisted.

“True.” Nikita agreed with a slight laugh. “I’ll keep it in mind and let you know if I need your wise advice.”

“You do that, Sugar.” Walter replied solemnly as he picked up another weapon and began to dismantle it.

“In the meantime will you do me a favor?”

“Wha’cha need?” Walter asked as he expertly wiped the glock down and then quickly snapped the dismantled pieces back together.

“I’m disappearing for a little bit.” She informed him. “I’ll be back well before the teams report in. I’m in my quarters should I be needed right away. Could you make sure I’m not disturbed?”

Walter nodded and watched her as she walked away and then turned back to find Quinn’s and Jason’s eyes on him. Giving them a disapproving stare for their wary attitudes toward the boss they were still trying to get used to he turned his attention back to what he was doing and dismissed them from his thoughts. While he was well aware of the fact that Kate Quinn had every reason to be wary around Nikita because of her role in teaming up with the now deceased Paul Wolfe to try and get rid of a woman who now had complete control over her life, he couldn’t understand why Jason had the same nervous attitude around his Sugar. Walter, figured he could have been more tolerant of the both of them had they not made their own beds because of their actions, but his impatience with them was reaching the boiling point. He figured the fact that Nikita hadn’t had Kate canceled when she had every reason and opportunity to should have told the other woman that despite what she had done, Nikita was above all a fair person. As far as Jason was concerned, Walter had his own suspicions about why that young gentlemen was nervous and he would continue to bide his time and see if he would come forward and confess or if he would force Walter to make him do the right thing. Either way the older man decided that they didn’t deserve his consideration at this point of knowing what their commander wanted with him, so he would let them sweat about what she had told him despite the fact that there were two critical missions on the board. If he saw them getting into trouble then he would notify Operations himself, otherwise he would leave her alone and make sure she received the solace she was seeking by taking a few minutes to herself.

Reaching her quarters a few moments later, Nikita was unaware of the friction she had inadvertently caused by her short chat with Walter. Closing the door behind her she briefly leaned against it and then closed her eyes in acute weariness. The rich, fragrant smell of fresh roses assailed her senses after a brief moment and she smiled slowly as she breathed in their scent and allowed her thoughts to drift to more pleasant things. A few moments later her mind was far away from Section and a lot closer to the two she had not been allowed to think of for a few days because of her intense concentration on attempting to thwart the terrorist strikes the Collective was executing all over the planet. Now finally for the first time in days she could take a little time for herself and reflect on the plans she had been making that seemed to keep getting pushed further and further away. Looking at her desk she saw her laptop sitting on her desk and decided she would use the time to write the man she loved another letter. Although she had sent just sent him a letter a few days ago, there was no law that said she had to wait for a reply before writing to him again. Besides she needed to talk to someone about what was going on, about her feelings and what she should do next. Just because Michael wasn’t here didn’t mean she couldn’t talk to him. No one understood her as well as he did and right now she needed to share what she was feeling, if only to be able to focus better on the job at hand. Nikita smiled as she pictured Michael’s happiness at getting another letter from her so soon after the first one. Rationalizing that it was a nice surprise she could gift him with she sat down at her desk, turned on her laptop, and began to write what was on her mind and in her heart.

~~~

Michael,

Hello, my love. I know you’ve only just received my reply to your last letter, but I was missing you and decided that I should write to you again. Perhaps it’s the increased pressure from attempting to deal with our continued failures to curb the Collective’s activities, or maybe it’s the wary attitudes of those around me, but I find that I’m most content when I’m spending time alone here in my new spacious quarters communicating my every thought and action to the man who loves and understands how I think and why I do the things that I do. I need your encouragement, Michael. I don’t know where else to turn, so I guess it’s time for me to ask for your expert advice. I realize that in order to have your cooperation, I must first apologize for my evasiveness in my recent letters to you. I have no excuse other than that I love you and I didn’t want you to be concerned about how bad things really are here in the Section.

I’m running out of time, my love. The Collective has come back stronger than ever, and because of their daring, and their successes in defeating us more often than not, other terrorist groups have been on the rise all over the world. In the normal scheme of things the Section could have handled any threat against it, but with all of the events that have happened lately we still haven’t fully recovered. Hindsight is always twenty-twenty and while I still believe that the absence of Operations and Madeline was a needed change in the Section, I must admit that there was never a question of their excellent ability to out think our enemies and defeat them more often than they defeated us. Unfortunately, they could never understand that the people that worked for them were more than weapons to be used, but humans who needed their consideration and concern. Then I think of you and realize that the reason you were so successful here was because you held all those qualities, but were kept back from what you really deserved because of Operations need to keep you under his thumb. I look around me now at the struggle Section is undergoing just to maintain our existence and I understand that your absence was probably the greatest loss of all. Oh, Michael what was my father thinking when he insisted I take this position? Part of me is very glad that he’s not alive to see what a mess the daughter he had so much confidence in has made of this place. Everything you taught me, all the hard lessons I learned from you has given me the ability to lead, but none of it prepared me for the reality of this horrible situation where there doesn’t seem to be any hope for survival.

My thoughts are morbid I know, but they are no less true. It’s probably a good thing that I have Jade and Walter to fall back on when I need support otherwise I would probably do something drastic like present myself to Oversight and demand that they remove me from power. Ironic isn’t it, my love? I fought so hard to save the people in the Section and now that I’m in charge my ability to keep them safe is nonexistent. Perhaps the Agency has realized this and that’s the reason they are sending someone to “help us through this difficult period we seem to be having.” That’s exactly how it was put to me over the phone, and I alternate between being relieved and being angry at their high-handed interference. So now it appears we’ve been backed into a corner and have no choice but to accept the assistance of someone who probably has no idea what they’re getting themselves into by coming here. As if things weren’t enough I can sense that they are about to get even more interesting, and I realize that Jade’s concise summary of our situation is more than accurate. Even with all of our resources and abilities we can’t defeat our enemies because of organizational infighting. What makes it even more intolerable is that my father with his sly ruthless scheming started all of this. If he hadn’t been so intent on manipulating the situation to his advantage, Adam never would have been taken by the Collective, Operations wouldn’t have been killed in some misguided attempt to rectify what he started, my father would still be alive to make some sense out of this fiasco he created, and you and I would be living somewhere together with Adam. Of course all my wishing for the impossible is useless since I saw him murdered before my very eyes. So all I’m left with is the knowledge of the promise I gave him and the regret that you and I can’t live our lives together as we wanted to despite the fact that all the people who tried to prevent that very thing are dead. All I can do is be the one to stop this vicious cycle and compromise with these Agency intruders when what I really want to do is to tell them to stay out of our business and go back where they belong. It’s easier said than done and predictably Jade was more than a little angry with me for not doing that very thing on the phone despite the fact that she’s the one who pointed out the problem to begin with. I understand her anger, however, and have resigned myself to deal with it if she’s not over it by the time our internal spies arrive. Just when I begin to think that nothing else unbearable can happen, something else happens to prove me wrong. Now with the Agency moving in to watch and criticize our every move, I know that even more pressure is going to be applied to a situation that is already more tense than it needs to be.

Well as you can see, my love, things here are as dysfunctional as ever. I can only imagine how all of this sounds, Michael, and I wrestle with the guilt of loading all of this on to you when the Section is no longer an active part of your life. Still I know that if I continue to keep silent about what’s really happening here you’ll do something drastic in order to find out the truth. I know how hard it must be for you as you sit and wait for news from me or Walter, especially when what you hear on the news about some of the current international incidents aren’t even close to the real violent terrorist rises that are happening. I miss you so much and I want more than anything to recapture the peace and tranquility I had during the long time I spent with you all of those months ago. I hold on tightly to the memories of our recent time together especially when I feel the politics of this place attempt to suck me back in to its intensity.

How are you my love? I’ve been so intent on telling you my problems I haven’t asked how things are going with my two favorite men. Whenever I get a small moment to sit and think about the two of you, I imagine you playing ball outside on the beautiful grounds, or composing more songs for me on your lovely cello. I don’t think you know just how much I think of you and the roses that you continue to send to me only makes my thoughts more vivid. Anytime I smell a rose, or inhale its fragrance an image of you always comes to mind. Of course, it doesn’t surprise me and I know that was your main purpose for continuing to gift me with them. I could save you tons of money by telling you that no subliminal messages are necessary when it comes to conjuring up thoughts of you, but I don’t want to spoil your fun. Speaking of money, Walter tells me that you’ve become quite the lucrative businessmen. That doesn’t surprise me one bit, and I nearly laughed out loud when he bragged to me that you were now making his investments for him. Really, darling you can’t possibly be that bored. Besides I would think that you have more than enough time on your hands doing things like digging deeper into Mrs. Constanza’s background just to make sure she’s safe for Adam to be around.

I know you well my love, and I knew you wouldn’t be satisfied with Mrs. Costanza until you found your own assurance. I hope now that you found what you were looking for that she is working out. My instinct tells me that she’s just what the two of you need, a sort of female Walter, only no where near as lecherous. I know she will take some getting used to as you’re not exactly the most trustworthy of people but maybe when you’ve let your guard down some you will become comfortable with her being around. She is the sweetest lady and I feel better knowing that someone is there to take care of you and Adam when I can’t be. She’s also the perfect spy just in case some beautiful woman introduces herself to you and doesn’t look a thing like me. Something tells me that Mrs. Constanza would find a way to make her life very miserable until such time as I could show up and take over the job. Someone has to watch out for vultures being around you and she seemed to be the perfect choice. Now you know the truth. I insisted on having her there for Adam’s benefit and mine as well. You can get me back for having ulterior motives later. For now, know that I did it because I seemed to have developed a jealous streak of massive proportions and knowing you the knowledge of how low I’ve stooped will give your ego a major boost. As you can see I still have my sense of humor even if it is hanging on by a very thin thread.

Well, I suppose I should close for now, my love. There’s so much that has to be done before our uninvited Agency guests show up tomorrow. I don’t know how soon it will be before we see one another again, but just know that I think of you constantly. Kiss Adam for me. I miss the two of you so much, and your roses make me long to be with you even more. I love you, Michael.

Nikita ~~~

Nikita read the contents of her letter and gave a derisive smile as she realized how depressing and lonely the words she had written actually sounded. She supposed she could be grateful that Michael would appreciate her honesty at least and be somewhat relieved by the fact that at least she had filled him in on what was really going on in her head. Quietly folding the letter she had printed, Nikita pulled out an envelope, addressed it, and then placed it in the electronic safe hidden behind a false wall to give to Walter later for delivery. Feeling a bit better now that she had poured her heart out to the one she knew would understand, she was just about to sit down and come up with a plan to deal with their uninvited Agency guests when Walter’s gravelly voice came over her intercom. She answered him quickly and upon hearing the urgency in the hushed tone he used to tell her she was needed, she accepted that her moment of privacy was over for the day. Knowing it was time to get back to business and become Operation’s once again she took a deep breath and allowed her face to assume the cold expression she used as protection. She suspected that the teams from Zurich and Taos were about to report in. She could only hope the missions were a success. The Section was in need of some good news and as she headed out the door she held on to the slight hope that maybe this time they were about to get some.