"Josephine" the voice, which sounded a lot like Birkoff's, asked over the phone.

"Yes"

"Briefing in 20"

"On my way" Nikita said as she hung up the phone. Ten minuets later she was walking down the halls of Section One. She was surprised when she got to the computer area and Birkoff wasn't there. He was always there! She glanced into Walter's area and saw that he was busy with two recruits. Madeline and Operation were in his office. She looked around quickly, then started down the hall.

Michael was in his office going over the pre-briefing Intel that Madeline had given him. The mission could be considered routine, but nothing was routine in Section. The only thing that bothered him was the possibly of--

That thought was never finished as Nikita walked in to his office and sat down in the chair across from him. They just stared at each other before he asked "Yes"

"Walter's busy, Birkoff's no where to be found, and I have no one else to bug."

Michael let a small smile curve his lips. Normally he wouldn't have but it was good to see that she was still talking to him, he wasn't sure if she would after the mission with Fanning. He was about to reply when he noticed Walter at the door.

"Michael, Operation wants to see you."

Michael got up to leave his office and Nikita followed him out. She watched him go down the hall towards Operation's office. As she took in his usual black outfit, she briefly wondered if he ever wore black underwear, but stopped that thought that thought as it led to other thoughts that consisted of him without them at all.

A few minutes later she sat down at the briefing table, as Michael, Madeline, and operation came down from his office. Ops pick up the remote and activated the vid-screen. when the screen appeared it showed a middle-aged man with pale skin, hair, and eyes.

"This is Stanley Host. He peddles all types of heavy artillery to the wrong types of people. Our information say that he has a sale pending with the Janus group."

Ops clicked the remote and two profiles appeared. Nikita looked at them both had nondescript looks. Dark hair that, depending on the light, was brown or black. there was nothing really remarkable about them until you got to there eyes. Even though it was just a picture you could see the intelligence shining out through their eyes.

"Kristopher and Kathryn Kase. Freelance mercenaries, hired by Janus to check security at one of their substation. they were so impressive that Janus ... kept them on retainer.We picked them up last night. You and Michael will be playing them." She glanced at the rest of the profile and she saw.

PROFILE: KATHRYN KASE

Age: 28 Height: 5' 9" Weight: 110 Eye Color: Grey Hair Color: Dark Brown/Black I.Q.: 225 Background Infromation: Born in a small town in Southren New Jersey. I.Q. sent het to collage at age 10.By age 20 had 15 Doctorates in subjects varying from Micro Biologic Chemistry to Egyptology . At age 22 met Kristopher Kase. Married two weeks later.

Michael didn't need to look at them. Madeline had given him two disk, one for him and one for Nikita, with a more detailed profile on them. But habit made at lest glance at it.

PROFILE: KRISTOPHER KASE

Age: 32 Height: 5' 11" Weight: 175 Eye Color: Green Hair Color: Dark Brown I.Q.: 220 Background Information: Born in Philadelphia. I.Q. sent him to top school and collages. By age 18 had 15 Doctorates in various subjects. Rebeled against prental pressure and started to hang out with what his parents considered the wrong people. Sent to Newman Collage but continuned unwanted behvior. At age 26 met and married Kathryn Wisse.

"Once you get in" Operation continuned. "Find out who he suppliers are and any other clients that he has. You leave tomorrow-8:00 A.M..Madeline will have you bags and a outfit ready for you. Any question?"

"Yeah,"Nikita started "Since these two are so smart, what if someone ask me a question that I don't know the answer to ?"

Operstion wanted to be mad at the interruption but it was a valid question. He glance at Madeline to let her answer it

"Becase of pressure from everybody they knew as children Kathryn and Kristopher don't like to display thier intellagence. When ask to they just ignore the question and give a slight glare to the person that asked it."

"Any more question?" Operation asked "Dismissed" Operation turned and quickly mounted the stairs to his office. As the other three were leaving the table, Michael heard Madeline call to Nikita.

"Nikita, for this mission you'll need a deguise."

"A deguise?"

"Yes. Even thought Mr. Host doesn't know what Kathryn looks like he does know thing about her physical appearance. I was going to let you decied how we were going to-

Michael couldn't hear any more as they turned the corner into Madeline's office. ************

When they had gotten to Section that morning, Madeline was waiting for them. She took him into her office first. His outfit was more or less what he alway wore. Black jeans and a black button up shirt, but he also had black boots and a black leather biker jacket. When he finished dressing he went out and sat with Birkoff to wait for Nikita.

Nearly an hour and a half later he heard her footsteps. He didn't look up at her. Birkoff saw her frist and after he did a double take, he tapped Walter, who had come over to talk to him, who did his own double take befor saying "Is that you Sugar?"

Nikita laughed at thier surprised looks "What's wrong Walter. Don't like it?"

"No, Sugar it's just ....different."

Now Michael looked up and, if he didn't have such control over himself, he would have fallen out of the chair! He looked her up and down starting with her feet. They were covered in knee high boots with a two inch heel. He leg were encased, and he meant encased in tight black leather pants that stopped right at her hips and a viberant blue silk shirt that was tied in a knot at her waist and had the top three button undone to reveal the black bra the she was wearing. All this was to be expted, she had worn similar on other mission. What was shocking was her hair. It was dark BROWN, nearly black. It wasn't a wig, He could tell when she wore a wig and this wasn't one. It was dyed.

"What do you think Michael?" she asked

"It fits the profile."He said, he didn't and that perfered the blond.

Nikita didn't mind, she could see that he was shocked.

"Michael, Nikita" Operation called from his perch. "Your transport is ready"

Later that day Michael and Nikita were in the first class section of a plane on their way to Seattle, where Host had set up shop. He sat up straighter in his seat, being careful not to wake Nikita who was sleeping against his shoulder. He turned his head and encounted her dark brown hair. It was going to take a while to get use to that. He reached over and fingered a strand of it. He already missed her blond locks.

"Excuse me, sir" A flight attendant said."But you'll have to wake you wife. We're about to land."

"Thank you" He replied then waited till she moved off before leaning down to whispering in Nikita's ear to wake her up.

"'Ki-ta, 'Kita wake up." She just snuggled closer. He glanced around and saw that no one was near so he leaned down again and whispered " Ni-ki-ta, we'er about to land." Then took her earlobe in his mouth and gently pulled.

Nikita groaned and mumbled "Michael" then came awake. When He saw this Michael quickly leaned back into his seat. She sat up in her seat and look around confuesed. She looked at Michael

"We'er about to land"

"Oh,um thanks" she mumbled then shook her head. 'that was a weird dream' she thought. No images just feeling, it actually felt like Michael's mouth was on her ear. She was tempted to feel her ear to see if it ws wet. But she knew that Michael wouldn't do something like that. All thoughts stopped as the plane started to make it's landing.

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

As they got off the plane, each with a carry on over their shoulder, Nikita put her sunglasses on and looked around. She was about to ask if they were suppose to meet some one, when a man in casual but businesslike attire approached them. He looked them up and down before asking " Mr. and Mrs. Kase?"

Michael and Nikita glanced at each other before Michael said "Yes."

The other man smiled and proffered is hand. "Hi, I'm Tom House. Mr. Host is sorry that he couldn't meet you personal but something came up."

"Nothing inconvenient?" Nikita asked

"Oh, no." He said with a slight laugh. "No, It just the representative for his supplier arrived unexpectedly and he had to over see putting together a room for him."

"Oh." Nikita replied before looking into Michael's eye and see that he thought the same thing. They were sent in to find out about his supplier and here was someone just as good as the person himself.

As they went thought security and on into baggage claim, Tom went on to say "Mr. Host tells me that you just need me to take you bags with me. That you brought your own transportation?"

"Yes" Michael replies as he hand his and Nikita's carry on over to him. "I just need the direction of how to get there." Nikita stared at him. He didn't tell her any of this. She wonder if this is going to be another manipulation.

"Of course." Tom said and pulled a slip of paper out of his pocket " Here you go."

Michael took the paper and looked at Nikita. He knew what she was thinking. He smiled a real smile to reassure her. She was going to like this. They walked out onto the tarmac and over to some workers. Michael asked them a question then started over to the other side of a small plane. Nikita followed and when she was what it was she broke out into a huge grin. 'I'm going to like this' she thought.

"Well" she said "this explains your jacket." She walked over to it. IT was a motorcycle. A 1965 Harley Davidson to be exact. The idea of having to hold on to Michael while they road down the street was very appealing. "Do you know how to drive one of these things?"

"Yes" he said. this was the one part of the mission the had bother him. Having Nikita's arms around him was likely to snap his control, he let it go a little on the plane, but he was actually looking forward this. He swung his leg over the seat and was about to start it when he looked over at Nikita, tilted his head and said "Come on."

Nikita hesitated a moment before walking over and siting in the seat behind him. She wrapped her arms tightly around his as he drove off.

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

They didn't go straight to Stanley Host's house. They drove around the city for a while.

No real reason, only that Michael didn't want Nikita to let go of him just yet. When they finally got to the house it was late afternoon and Tom House was outside waiting for them. Michael turned off the cycle and dismounted then turned to help Nikita.

"I didn't think my directions were that bad." he said

Nikita looked over at Michael to see if he would offer an answer as to way they took the long way from the airport, but when he didn't say any thing.

"No, they were fine." she said politely, "It's just after such a long plane trip we like to ride around a bit. Get all the cramps out."

"I understand fully." he said "Now if you'll follow me Mr. Host is waiting"

Once inside they went into the study. Tom went over to a chair and leaned down, whispering something. The man that got up was the man from the vid-screen

"Mr. and Mrs. Kase. I've heard a lot about you. I'm Stanley Host. Tom tells me that you took a ride thought the city. Did you like it?"

"Yes, very much." Michael said.

"Good, good. I'm sure you've been told that my supplier sent an associate for our deal. He would be here now but he had other business in the city to take care of. He'll be back day after tomorrow. I hope that's all right?"

"That's fine." Nikita said.

"Well I'm sure you want to get cleaned up. Tom will show you to your room. Dinner will be at eight."

Once in there room they tried to decide on a strategy. After much discussion, they decided to wait in till they met the supplier's associate. So the got cleaned up and dressed for dinner. Michael got the shower first. As the hot water relaxed his muscles, he couldn't help but remember how Nikita felt pressed against his back as they rode thought the city. He could still feel her hand on his chest and her face against his as she asked him question as they rode. His imagination was about to take over what her lips were doing to his ear when there was a knock on the door.

"Michael," Nikita called "leave me some hot water, will you." Michael shook his he and turned off the water. These thoughts were getting dangerously distracting. He emerged from the bathroom a few mints later dress in a pair of black dress pants and a emerald green silk shirt on. When Nikita saw this she smiled, she loved it when he wore colors. She got up and went into the bathroom for a quick shower. When she came out she was also wearing black dress pants but with a purple silk shirt. They went down to dinner and actually had a good time.

Shortly after dinner they went back to there room. Nikita sat down on one of the chairs while Michael sat on he bed. He looked over at her and saw that she had a perplexed look on her face.

"What's wrong?" he asked

"He's not what I expected."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know. I guess I thought that he would be more like Bauer."

"Nikita," Michael replied " No one is like Bauer."

Nikita smiled "True, but still I didn't think that he would be so... likable. I mean he a nice person, what's he doing dealing in arms."

"Nikita you should know that your not going to be able to dislike everyone we go up against." with that he pick up the night close that Madeline packed for him and went into the bathroom to change. Nikita did the same in the main room. She laid down on the right side of the bed and when Michael came out he hesitated a moment before taking the left. they slept with their backs to each other, trying to forget that the other was there. It was all in vain because by morning Michael was on his back in the middle of the bed with Nikita in his arms, her head was pillowed on his shoulder.

Michael woke up first. He told himself that he didn't move because he didn't want to wake her up. She moved a little and a strand of hair fell on her face. He moved his hand to caress it.

"You never said weather you liked it or not?"

He looks down to see that Nikita's eyes are open. He holds the look for a few second before saying "It looks nice but you were perfect the way you were." He gets up and retreats into the bathroom to change.

That night at dinner things were going smoothly when there was a noise at the door. A servant came in and whispered something in Host's ear.

"Well, show him in" He told him and the servant ran off. then he turned back to them with a smile on his face. "It seem that my supplier's associate came back early. maybe we can conclude business early then we expected."

As footsteps were heard they all turned towards the door. The figure appeared at the door, and as soon as Michael see him he visibly pales, but quickly recovers before Host sees.

"Kristopher and Kathryn Kase, this is Marcel LaFleur. Marcel, Kristopher and Kathryn Kase." Marcel looks at them and his eyes lock on Michael's before he put a smile on his face. "Well," He say to Nikita, "It's nice to meet you."

Nikita notices that he had a slight French accent like Michael. Everything settled down and besides the fact that he doesn't even look at Michael let alone talk to him the rest of dinner went smoothly.

Once back in their room Nikita was about to ask why he paled but there's a knock on the door. When she answers it, Marcel just rushes into the room. He strides over to Michael and punches him in the face. That Michael take it surprises Nikita more then the punch. Marcel paces around the room taking ragged breaths finally he stops and asks "How could you. Tell me that Michael. Tell me how you could let Mom and Dad think you were dead?"

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

"How could you do that?" Marcel asked again

Michael's eyes shot to Nikita then back to Marcel before he walks over to him grabs his arm in a viselike grip

"Let's go" He say as he pulls him out of the room. As Nikita starts to follow he turns to her. "No, Nikita stay here."

"Michael."

"Nikita you need to stay here in case Host decides to check on us." Nikita stares at him knowing that its just an excuse for her to stay. Her eyes stay on him as he leaves. She waits for enough time to pass that he wouldn't know that she following, then a few more seconds to be sure. For three years she wanted to know about Michael's past and this was the best and maybe the only chance she was going to get.

Michael escorted his brother into the study. When he got to the door he shoved Marcel in and shut it, but luckily for Nikita it didn't latch. She creeped up the small opening and looked in. At first they were just staring at each other, then Marcel spoke.

"So, are you going to answer the question? How could you let them think that you were dead?" he paused for a minute waiting for Michael to answer. When he didn't he continued "When Mom heard that you were dead it devastated her. It took her a year and a half to even be able to hear your name without crying. And Dad, if, IF he talked about you at all it was about something that happen when we were kids." He stopped again before starting again. "If pretending you were dead was the only way to get out of prison, there are other ways. I mean suicide? That's what made Mom take it so hard. She never believed that you'd kill yourself. It was like a conformation that you were guilty, and we both-" He stopped mid-sentences and lower his head.

"And we both know that I wasn't." Michael said.

Marcel's head shot up as he glared at Michael. "So, how did you do it? How did you get out of prison? Was it that woman you kept writing about?" Marcel had turned way from Michael again so he didn't see his body stiffen and his eyes harden. "What was her name again?" he asked sarcastically "Simone?"

Marcel had barely finished saying the name before Michael reacted. Michael's hand shot out and wrapped around Marcel's neck. Marcel tried to pull Michael's hand away but when he couldn't he looked in his brothers eyes and what he saw there scared him. They weren't the eyes of the man he had grown up with or the eye of the man who had taken the wrap for him one night when he was so messed up on drugs that he had shot an undercover cop. These were the eyes of someone that was close friends with death. At that moment he was quite sure that Michael was going to snap his neck.

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

Nikita saw the look on Michael's face when Marcel mention Simone's name and, when he grabbed a hold of Marcel's throat, she also thought that he was going to snap it. She was about to enter the room to stop him when he suddenly let go. Relief was evident on Marcel's face. He put his hand up to his throat to rub the pain away.

"What's going on, Michael?"

"Simone was my wife."

"Was?

"She's dead.... So is our son." Michael added a few moments later to let Marcel knew that for that short precious time he had been an uncle.

"Michael, I.....I'm sorry."

Silence ruled for a few minutes before Michael asked "How are they?"

"They're good. More or less what they were before. Mom still gets this far away look at times, but besides that they're good."

"And Julie? Last I heard she had gotten accepted to collage, but I never heard for what."

"Yeah, she going for Photography. She misses you. Never fails to stand up for her big brother Michael."

"You seem to have gotten things together."

"Yeah, after the conviction, I did some serious thinking, that you did what you did, and I thought that I owed it to you to get cleaned up."

"Then what are you doing working for an arms dealer?"

"What are you doing impersonating a mercenary?" He evaded Michael let it go as he paused to think over what, if anything, he should tell him. If Section found out that Marcel knew that Michael was alive, they wouldn't only kill Marcel but the rest of his family.

"The people that got me out of prison did so on the condition that I work for them." Michael paused and turned his head slightly to the side, then took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and let out slowly. "Come on in Nikita."

Marcel frowned and looked at the door, when the dark haired woman came in and stood next to Michael he couldn't help but think that she would look better with blond hair.

Nikita hesitated for a moment before she entered the room walked over to Michael and looked into his eyes. Silently telling him that she was sorry that she disobeyed him and followed, also telling him that she thought he was crazy if he thought that she wouldn't have. He slightly nodded his head that he understood, then turned back to Marcel.

"Our assignment is to get Intel on your boss. We can get it from Host..... or we could get from you. But no matter what we will get the information. If you help us, I can protect you. If you don't, it's out of my hands." Marcel was quite for a minute, thinking over what Michael had said.

"Well, I don't think Mom could take losing another son. I'll give you the information tomorrow. We better get back to our rooms. Host gets paranoid about people breaking into the house at night."

Once back in the room Michael quickly went into the bathroom to change. Nikita stared at the door for a moment before she started to change also. In the bathroom Michael's hand went on automatic as he changed, his thought were to preoccupied with remembering his past. At first he remembered happy times, playing with Marcel as a child, the hours he would sit and read every thing he could get his hand on. He remembered the day, when he was seventeen, that his mother had come into his room where he and Marcel were acting out a play to tell them that she was going to have another baby. Then the months waiting for Julie to be born. He was with his mother then, in the delivery room, his father was away on business and couldn't get there in time. As he remembered holding her, he also remembered holding his own son when he was born. He shook that thought away, that one was still too painful to think of.

Then he started to think of the bad times. Covering for Marcel, about his drinking, drug use and finally for killing that cop. That brought thoughts of Section. His training, the first time he had gotten shot, and Simone's death. He remembered the first friend that he lost, the first time that he found out that Section manipulated him, and the first time that he had lost an operative as team leader.

Michael shook his head again, walked out the bathroom door and immediately wished he hadn't. Nikita wasn't quite dressed yet. Her back was to the bathroom and Michael found himself staring at her bare back. He thought back to her first mission, when she had stripped down in front of him to put on the maids outfit. When she pulled down the shirt, and turned around to find Michael staring at her, their eyes locked. They just stood there for a few seconds, then she went and got in bed.

Michael stood there for a minuet more before laying down also. Their backs were to each other again, but when Michael heard that she was asleep he took a pillow and slept on the floor.

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

When Nikita woke up the next day Michael was working on a laptop at the table. As his back was to her and she hadn't moved or made a sound, she was surprised when he started to speak.

"I contacted Section. They want us to bring Host in."

She sat up in bed, and stared at his back. "Michael about Marcel..."

"He gave me the information already. Transport will be here at ten. We have to have Host ready to go by then."

She got up and sat down across from him. At first he continued to work on the laptop, then he looked at her. His eyes pleaded with her not to take this up now, they also promised to talked to her the next time she asked. She decided to let what she was going to ask go and ask something else. "How do they think that we got the information?"

"I told them that the supplier had sent an associate and that he was one of my contacts." He got up and started to walk away but she had to ask one question.

"Won't he tell your parents that your alive?"

"No, I told him to let them..." Michael paused, his voice wavered a little "To let them think I was dead."

"If he told, and Section found out they wouldn't....." She trailed off unable to continue.

"Probably." When he answered she looked down at the table to keep the tears at bay. It wasn't the answer, but the pain and fear in his voice.

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

Five hours later, they were back at Section. Madeline had her two assistants working on Host. Michael had just got done debriefing with Operation, and had sat down in his office to write up the formal report when he heard Walter.

"Hey," he said " There's my Sugar." Michael looked out the window to see Nikita standing with Birkoff and Walter. Her hair was back to it normal golden color. just seeing it Michael realized that he missed it even more then he told himself.

Nikita walked over to Walter and she came out of Madeline's office. It had taken nearly an hour to get the brown out of her hair. She looked over at Michael's office in time to see him look down. After on last comment to Walter she walked to his door.

"Hey, Michael." she said when she got there. He looked up at her.

"Would you like to go for a cup of coffee?" She held his eyes, telling him that she was taking him up on the promis to tell her the next time she asked. he let out a deep sigh before saying

"I'd love to." He got up and came around his desk to follow her out.

When he got behind her he reach out and caress a lock of blond hair.

Nikita felt this, but she didn't let him know. She put a big smile on her face and preceed him out of Section

END

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