At the large table in Section One, the team assembled for the briefing. Seated around the table were Nikita, Birkoff, Michael, and Jurgen. The latter two stared at Nikita. She smiled at Jurgen and turned her shoulder to Michael.

Operations cleared his throat and began the briefing. "It seems someone has been leaking information to Red Cell from one of our CIA offices."

Birkoff explained. "We've traced it to one of our most secure computers. Someone hacked into it..."

"Someone from the inside?" asked Jurgen, in his gravely voice.

"Sort of," Birkoff answered. "We've traced the hacker to another government office outside the CIA. It's low level and not a security priority..."

"You sound impressed, Birkoff," commented Nikita.

"I am. Very. This guy had to bypass several very hairy security obstacles to get in."

"Do we know who it is, then?" asked Michael.

"It's one of two people in the office," responded Operations,activating the holographic screen.

The image of a man and a woman appeared side by side above the table. "Our target is either Scott Beck or his executive assistant, Jan Avery."

He clicked off the screen and looked at each face around the table. "You will determine which one of these people is our hacker and bring him back here."

Operations grinned at Nikita. "You'll be Mr. Beck's new secretary. It shouldn't be hard to get close to him, my dear."

His smile widened. "Apparently, Mr. Beck is into sexual harrassment as not just a sideline, but a full time job..."

"I can handle him," said Nikita with assurance.

Michael looked grim. Jurgen turned from staring at Nikita to stare at Michael appraisingly.

Michael longed to get him back into an empty room for another fight. Instead, he would have to put up with him on another mission.

"Michael, you and Jurgen will provide back-up," continued Operations. "You'll be in a near-by office. When Nikita signals you, bring our target in."

He looked around the table once again, daring them to ask questions. "Dismissed," he said.

On the way to the van twenty minutes later, Michael put his hand on Nikita's arm, hoping for a moment of privacy before Jurgen appeared.

"Nikita.." he began.

Nikita sighed impatiently. "I know, Michael. It's a mission, not a dream sequence..." Her expression was both hurt and defiant.

"That's not what I was going to say..." Michael's frustration increased when just then Jurgen came striding down the corridor.

Nikita looked up at Jurgen and smiled. They entered the van together. Michael reluctantly followed, pulling the door closed behind him.

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

Nikita wondered if she would have trouble getting close to her new "bosses", Jan and Beck. When she got to her new work place, she realised her assignment was going to be easier and less stressful than the ride in the van had been.

Michael and Jurgen had alternately stared at her, at each other, and at nothing. The few words that were exchanged had been between her and Birkoff.

She was relieved to be able to get out of the tension-filled van. Everyone but Birkoff was dressed for a day at the office. Nikita had on a cream colored suit and gold wire-rimmed glasses containing her comm unit. Michael and Jurgen were in suits as well; Michael in his usual black and Jurgen in dark gray.

Once inside, Nikita wondered why she had worried about making contact with their targets. It had been incredibly easy. Jan had greeted her warmly and was showing her around the office.

Jan was in her early forties with lively blue-gray eyes and short dark hair. She was small, lithe, and graceful. The only things that betrayed her age as being more than twenty-five were the strands of silver through her bangs which she did nothing to conceal, and the laugh lines around her eyes.

Nikita doubted someone so open and friendly could be hiding anything, let alone the fact that they were selling government secrets to terrorists.

Jan introduced her to her coworkers and showed her to her desk. "Now we'll go to the most important room in the place," Jan told her, smiling.

"Am I going to meet Mr. Beck now?" Nikita asked, sure he was their target.

"Heavens, no!" Jan laughed. "I'm going to show you where you can get some CAFFEINE! Let's go to the break room..."

The women entered the brightly lit room. It was filled with tables and vending machines. In one corner was the kitchen area with a stove, refridgerator, and the all important coffee maker on the counter.

Jan poured them some coffee. "Nikita, there's something I should warn you about.."

They were interrupted then when one of the employees, Peggy, stuck her head in the door. "I'm sorry," she said apologetically, "But Mr.Beck wants to see Nikita right now in his office." She looked scared.

Jan looked grim. "It's this way," she said, reluctantly walking with Nikita toward the office.

Michael and Jurgen looked at each other in the empty office across the hall where they waited.

Of the two, Michael was more upset about the idea of someone other than him touching Nikita.

Jurgen, reading his discomfort, said, "She can handle him.."

Michael nodded and stared back at Jurgen. "Shut up," he said.

Over their comm units they heard Nikita say,"You wanted to see me?"

"Come in, come in." Beck's voice was smarmy and falsely cheerful. A predator, Michael thought. He looked forward to taking him in and debriefing him.

"No, no," Beck was saying. "Sit here, close to me.."

"Do you want me to take dictation? Or work on the computer?" Nikita asked.

"No, my dear. My work doesn't involve dealing with the computer. Jan takes care of all of that."

Beck lowered his voice and said invitingly,"I just want us to get acquainted..."

A muscle in Michael's jaw twitched. The lack of dialogue for the next minute between the two in the office told him that Beck was making his move on Nikita, his new employee.

He balled up his fists and continued to listen.

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

Michael and Jurgen could hear them breathing heavily. Beck struggled to get his hands up Nikita's skirt, while Nikita struggled to control her urge to kick him where it counted and then break his arms.

Michael was thinking of doing worse than that to him.

"Now, now, don't squirm away from me like that," Beck said. Nikita responded with a frustrated whimper.

Michael stood away from the wall he was leaning against and started toward the door.

Fortunately for the lecherous Beck, just then Jan knocked on the office door and entered without waiting for an answer.

"Nikita," said Jan. "Personnel just called. They need to see you right away. There's a problem with your paperwork..."

Nikita disentangled herself from Beck's lap and stood up, straightening her skirt. "All right," she said, smiling sweetly at Beck. "See you later."

Beck smiled back and smoothed a hand over his receding hairline. He was oblivious to the fact that he had just escaped dismemberment by mere minutes. He was only aware of his frustration.

Michael had just crossed his arms and leaned against the wall again. He felt a warm feeling for Jan and the glitches of paperwork.

"C'mon, Nikita. This could take a while," urged Jan. "All afternoon, maybe..." She glared at the frustrated Beck, who glared back.

On the other side of the door, Jan turned to Nikita. "Are you O.K., Baby?"

The way she said "baby" was not demeaning or offensive. It was in fact loving and motherly. Nikita wished her own mother had spoken to her in such a tone.

"Yeah, I'm all right." Nikita smiled brightly.

Jan led her back to the break room. "Let me make you some tea," she said tenderly. "Here, sit down."

"What about Personnel?" asked Nikita.

"They don't need to see you. There's nothing wrong with your paper work. I made that up to get you out of there..." Jan explained.

"Thanks." Nikita looked up at her."He's who you tried to warn me about..."

"Yes, I'm sorry. Beck's a pig.." Jan shook her head. "I've tried for the past year to get him fired, or at least transferred where he can't work with women. But he has friends in high places. We can't touch him..."

Jan was more upset by Nikita's encounter with Beck than she herself was, Nikita realized.

She tossed her blonde hair back over her shoulder and said,"Have you tried taking out a contract on him?"

Jan laughed."I like the way you think! Cut right through all the red tape..."

"Could you get him for something else besides for sexual harrassment?" Nikita asked. "Hasn't he made any other mistakes in his work?"

"What work? He doesn't do anything in that office. Anything mental, I mean.."

"But what about all those computers in there?" Nikita pressed.

"He doesn't know how to even turn it on," Jan answered. "I do all that. Beck has only one functioning organ, and it's not his brain, if you get my drift.."

Nikita laughed.

Jan turned to prepare the tea as the kettle whistled on the stove. Nikita took the opportunity to speak softly into her comm unit. "It's just her, not Beck. Do you want to take her in now?"

"We're on our way," said Michael.

He and Jurgen crossed the hall to the break room. Jan turned as they entered. Nikita stood up behind her.

Both men looked at her and Nikita. Jan recognized the look in Jurgen's eyes. He had the same predatory expression as Beck's when he looked at Nikita. Michael's eyes held longing, but no menace.

"Come with us, please," said Michael softly.

Jurgen took a step toward her, pulling his gun. "Don't scream," he said.

Jan's eyes widened with fright. Misunderstanding their intentions, she stepped in front of Nikita, shielding her.

"Leave her alone! Don't touch her!" Jan cried.

Michael and Jurgen came closer.

She reached behind her to shove Nikita toward the door. "Nikita, run!" she urged, putting her hand on Nikita's arm.

Nikita grabbed Jan's wrist, holding her in a tight grip. Her eyes were full of regret. "It's O.K. Do what he says, Jan. Come with us.."

Jan, stunned, had no choice but to let herself be led out of the building. Michael and Nikita flanked her, while Jurgen pocketed his gun and followed behind.

They all walked in silence to the van.

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

Madeleine gave Michael and Jurgen brief instructions outside the interrogation room. "Good cop, bad cop," she said, looking first at Michael, then at Jurgen. They nodded.

"I don't think violence is necessary," Madeleine went on. "We know where her weakness lies..."

"Of course," said Jurgen with a little smirk.

Michael said nothing but was inwardly disgusted both with what was coming and Jurgen's obvious enjoyment of Jan's intended torture.

The two men entered the room. Madeleine returned to her office.

Jan looked up from the metal chair. She was strapped to it by her wrists and ankles. Her eyes were wide with fright and her breathing rapid.

"Who are you? What's going on?"

"We are Section One," said Jurgen. "We need to know why a nice woman like yourself is selling government secrets to Red Cell..."

She turned her head and looked away from him, saying nothing.

Michael bent his knees until he was eye-level with her, looking into her face.

"I suggest you co-operate with us." His tone was not threatening but almost pleading. "We know you did it; we just want to know why...."

Jan took a shaky breath and sighed, but said nothing.

Michael straightened, and nodding at Jurgen, took a step back from Jan.

Jurgen came forward, smiling, and very lightly placed one hand on Jan's cheek.

She flinched back away from him as if she had been burned.

Jurgen smiled wider and let his hand drift slowly across her collar bone to the top button of her blouse. She gasped when he ripped her shirt open.

"No!" She tried to twist away from him as he pushed the material away from her shoulders.

Michael's stomach turned as he watched Jurgen run his hands back up her arms to her throat again, smiling all the while. Jan's whole body trembled.

"When you're ready to talk, tell him to stop," Michael told her.

Jurgen's hands continued to roam over her. Jan's breath came in sobbing gasps. Even in her panic, a part of her mind noted that Michael seemed as repulsed by Jurgen as she was.

When Jurgen placed one hand on her knee and started moving it up her thigh, Jan cried out.

"Stop! Please!"

She looked up at Michael. Jurgen continued to caress her leg, still smiling. "No! Stop!" Jan said again.

Michael grabbed Jurgen's wrist and held it immobile.

"She said, 'Stop'." The men locked eyes. Jurgen nodded and stood up. He grinned at Michael one last time before opening the door and leaving.

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

Michael stared at Jurgen's retreating back until the door had closed behind him. Then he turned back to look at Jan.

Tears marked her cheeks. She was still crying, her breath coming in uneven sobs.

Michael released her from the restraints and she pulled her blouse closed and folded her arms across her chest, hugging herself.

Michael gave her a moment to get her breath,then asked, "Why were you dealing with them? For money?"

Jan looked down at the floor, her voice almost a whisper. "No, they never paid me. They said if I didn't do as they asked, they would kill my daughter.."

She took a deep breath and continued. "I guess I got their attention when I hacked into the sealed personnel files a few months ago to try to find something to use against Beck..."

She looked up at Michael. "They contacted me. I never approached them.." she said earnestly.

"We were not aware that you have a daughter.." Michael said. Their intel on Jan said that she had never had any children.

Jan nodded, and sighed. "When I was twenty-two, I was raped. He...he..." She sobbed and started again. "He used a knife on me. Messed me up pretty bad. Then I found out I was pregnant."

Jan continued in a rush. "It was a difficult delivery. We both almost died. But the baby turned out perfect and healthy. I gave her up for adoption. I was never able to have more children after that....."

She looked into Michael's eyes. "They found her somehow. They said they would...they would..."

"Torture her and kill her," Michael finished.

"Yes." Jan wiped her eyes."I've never even seen a picture of her. But she's my child, I had to do what they said..."

Tears filled her eyes again. "I don't think I want you to tell me what they did with the information I gave them."

She sobbed. "I'm afraid to know how many people died because of me..."

Michael put his hand lightly on her shoulder. Jan didn't flinch away at his touch. She looked up at him, trusting.

"No one died," he reassured her. "They blew up a munitions dump. It was one of our targets, too. You did everyone a favor."

When he dropped his hand and took a step back from her, Jan grabbed him by the arm.

"Wait, please! What about my daughter? Will she be all right?"

Michael rested his hand on top of hers. "She'll be fine. We'll see to it that she's protected."

He looked into her eyes. "I promise you."

Jan buried her face in her hands and let out a little cry of relief. "Thank you," she said, looking back up at him.

Michael only nodded, and left.

Jan laid her head back against the chair and continued to cry.

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

Several hours later, after a busy and productive afternoon, Michael returned to see Jan.

She had been given some new clothes to wear and the opportunity to take a shower. She was more composed, though her eyes were still red.

Michael smiled at her. "You'll be happy to know that Mr. Beck does not work for the government any more..."

Her eyes widened. "And my daughter?"

"She'll be fine." Michael pulled a five by seven photograph out of his coat pocket and held it out to her.

She took it from him. It was a picture of a smiling girl about twenty years old. She had the same laughing eyes as Jan and the same delicate build. It was unmistakably her daughter.

"Ohh!" Jan sighed, and clutched the picture to her breast, cradling it as if it were a real child.

"Thank you." Jan smiled, even though tears stood in her eyes.

Michael recalled when Simone was pregnant and their struggle to decide whether or not to have the baby, given the difficult circumstances. Their choice seemed both simpler and at the same time more complicated than Jan's had been.

Curious to understand,Michael asked, "Why didn't you have an abortion?"

Jan sighed, still caressing the picture. "I guess, it was because of something I believe in."

"A religious belief?"

"Maybe you could call it that.." She looked up at him. "Do you ever wonder why one person dies and another lives?"

"Frequently."

"I like to think that ther is a meaning behind everything that happens in your life. That there's a purpose, a lesson there..."

What lesson was Jurgen there to teach me, Michael wondered. Or Section? Or Simone? Or Nikita? So far it seemed to him that the only lesson there was to learn was that life is painful.

Jan continued. "When I found out I was pregnant, I thought, somehow, here was something good, something beautiful, arising out of all the ugliness. I knew the baby was MEANT, that life had arranged itself so that she could be here..."

She took a deep breath. "I had to give her a chance."

"So, you believe in Fate," said Michael.

"Yeah, I guess so."

Michael was a little angry at Fate at the moment. If only he could have Nikita back. If only she would trust him now instead of Jurgen, who would surely use her trust against her someday.

Jan rubbed her cheek across the top of the photograph. "So, I guess I'm done now. I've fulfilled my purpose in life. I can go now.."

Michael smiled at her. "We're not going to kill you.."

Jan looked up at him, shocked. "You're....not?"

"Your computer skills make you valuable to us. You'll train here in Section. You'll work for us..."

Jan blinked. She had been prepared for death, but not for this. She gave a short laugh. "I guess Fate isn't through with me yet.."

"No, not yet."

Michael turned to leave.

Jan took a step toward him. "Wait, that man.."

"Jurgen you mean?"

"Yes. He's like them.." Jan shook her head. "He gives off the same vibes as Beck did... the same vibes as the man who raped me...."

Michael's jaw twitched. He looked down.

"Is Nikita all right?" Jan asked.

"Yes, she's fine," answered Michael. He didn't know for sure if that was true. He worried about her with the predatory Jurgen. Michael feared for her. He ached for her.

Jan looked at him for a long moment. "Would you do me a favor? Another one, I mean?"

"If I can."

"If I get assigned to Jurgen or someone like him as my trainer, would you just shoot me?"

Michael smiled, but he knew she was only half joking. "Birkoff will train you," he said.

"Oh. What is he like?"

"Nothing like Jurgen," Michael assured her.

Jan nodded. "Thank you again, for this." She held up the photograph. "I'll find a way to pay you back someday."

"There's no need," he said softly. Michael turned and left.

Jan looked at the closed door thoughtfully. "Oh, but I think there is," she said out loud, stroking the picture.

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

"Michael?"

He looked up to see who had called his name as he walked through Section to his office. It was Jan, who sat alone at one of the computer terminals in Birkoff's work area. She had been adjusting well to her duties since being recruited some weeks earlier.

Michael walked up to her. They were alone. It was very early in the morning.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Uh, I just need your advice on something. Would you look at this sim for me? It's not working out..."

Jan seemed nervous, although he didn't know why. Her work so far had been excellent and all her dealings with him had been friendly, even warm.

"All right," he agreed. "Let's have a look."

She smiled at him and then turned in her chair to face her desk. Michael leaned forward and peered over her shoulder at the screen.

"Here...Look at this..." Jan said, but pointed discreetly at a notebook in front of her. She wrote quickly: Do you trust me?

She looked up at him to gage his response. Michael held her gaze for a moment and then said softly, "Yes, I think that's right. What else?"

"What about this problem here?" Jan said. She wrote in the notebook again.

Meet me for coffee in 15 minutes in the Square. I need to talk to you, Michael read.

"All right," Michael agreed. "This sim looks fine to me."

"Thank you, Michael." Jan seemed vastly relieved. Michael was curious about what was making Jan so secretive and circumspect, beyond the usual Section requirements.

As he straightened up to leave, Jan brushed her hand gently against his. He felt the small folded piece of paper against his palm. He placed the note in his pocket and left without commenting on it.

More secrets, he thought. When he got to his office, he unfolded the note and read it.

It said: When you are with your Beloved, don't talk about your rival. Talk about HER. About how she makes you feel. Talk about yourself; reveal your personal and intimate feelings. Bring her a gift, a token or symbol of your devotion. When you are alone together, don't be her Boss. Be her Lover.

Michael threw the note down on his desk angrily and shook his head. What was Jan doing? Did she want to meet with him for coffee to lecture him on his romantic techniques? Michael sighed in annoyance. Why was she wasting his time this way?

He had almost decided not to go to the Square to meet her when he remembered her first message: Do you trust me? Jan was a complicated woman. There was more to this.

He left his office headed for their rendezvous point.

A few minutes later Michael searched the Square looking for Jan. It was quiet and deserted because of the early hour. He walked slowly, carrying two styrofoam cups of coffee carefully in front of him.

"Michael! Over here!" It was Jan, waving and smiling at him.

She was sitting on a bench, but she was not alone.

Seated next to her was Nikita.

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

"Hi, Michael!" Jan said brightly, taking one of the cups of coffee out of his hand. "Thanks for meeting me."

The two young people stared awkwardly at each other, both uncomfortable and unsure what to do.

During the past few weeks, things had grown even more awkward between them. Michael had been unable to have a private moment with Nikita. It seemed Jurgen was always hovering nearby. He had felt stung by her words about not wanting his company, and now his pride kept him from pushing her to see him when she so obviously preferred to be with Jurgen.

Nikita drank in the sight of Michael with the sun glinting on his hair. She yearned to be with him. She had certainly made that clear to him, but his coldness and curt replies had hurt her badly.

When he spoke to her lately, which was rare, it was usually a lecture about staying focused on the mission or staying away from Jurgen. She longed for him to say something, do something, to show her he felt the same passionate connection between them that she felt now after their night together.

And here he was now, in front of her. But he had come to see Jan, not her. Nikita decided to leave, feeling unwanted.

"I'll go now," she said, forcing a smile.

Jan noticed they couldn't take their eyes off of each other. She smiled, too. So far, so good.

"No, don't leave, Nikita." Jan stopped her by putting her hand on her arm. "Please, wait..."

"All right." Nikita settled back onto her spot at the end of the bench.

Jan began. "I guess I just wanted to thank you both for recommending that I not be cancelled.... for saying I should be recruited instead..."

Nikita's smile was more genuine this time, and she shared a look with Michael. "Jan, that really wasn't our decision. We were just doing our jobs.."

"Yes, I know," answered Jan. "But you could have been a lot nastier about it. I still wanted to thank you, especially you, Michael. For your kindness..." Jan looked at him, smiling.

Michael looked back at her, beginning to understand a little of Jan's purpose for their meeting. Something that might be called the start of a smile played across his lips.

"Kindness?" Nikita asked, curious.

"Michael can tell you about it sometime," said Jan.

Just then, a phone rang.

All three checked their cell phones. It was Jan's.

"Yes?" she answered, listening intently for a moment.

She flipped the phone closed, saying, "That was Birkoff. I need to go back."

"Here, Nikita, take this.." Jan handed Nikita her untouched cup of coffee. "See you later,Baby.." said Jan, kissing her quickly on the cheek.

She turned to do the same with Michael. "Good bye, Michael," she said aloud, kissing his cheek. Under her breath she couldn't resist emphasizing one piece of advice to him.

"You're not her Boss, remember," Jan whispered. "You're her Love-Slave..."

With a final pat on Michael's cheek and a smile at Nikita, Jan hurried off.

They were alone.

Michael looked at her, his green eyes soft. "May I sit down?" he asked.

"Of course." Nikita took a nervous sip of her coffee. "Jan's nice, isn't she?"

Michael smiled. "Yes, very nice.." Also very devious, Michael thought. Devious enough to fit well into the Section.

Jan slowed and turned to look back at the young lovers on the bench. She saw with satisfaction that they were sitting close together, leaning toward each other, and talking and smiling.

Jan grinned. She hoped they were discussng Fate and its twists and turns. She hoped she had helped Fate along just a little bit.

When she got back to Section, Birkoff looked up at her.

"Everything O.K.?" he asked.

"Yes, thanks. Thank you for phoning me when you did."

Birkoff nodded. "It was the least I could do, after all those great cookies you baked for me."

He smiled and asked her, "Ready to get to work?"

She smiled back and settled in at her desk. Section, so far, had provided several outlets for her powerful maternal instincts. She sighed happily.

So many needy children, so little time..... Jan thought.

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

On the bench, Michael found he was unable to continue making awkward small-talk with Nikita. Jan had given him this opportunity to open up, to share his feelings with Nikita. He gathered his courage.

He took a small oblong box out of his coat pocket and placed it on the seat between them.

"I've been wanting to give you this, Nikita. I've had it for a long time, since you first came back to the Section..."

Nikita looked startled. "What's this?"

Michael's voice caught in his throat. She was so beautiful. He loved her so much.

"Maybe I'm not good with words," he said in a rush. "Maybe I haven't told you how much I've missed you, missed being with you.."

His green eyes looked deeply into her blue ones. He put his hand tentatively up to her cheek, stroking it lightly.

"My lovely Nikita....."

Nikita found herself breathless. She put one hand against his cheek, mimicking his gesture. Her fingers brushed against his silky hair.

"Michael.."

He turned his head to kiss her fingers, then captured her hand in his.

He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed her fingers again.

A thrill of desire shot through her as his warm mouth touched her skin.

He held her hand in both of his and caressed the inside of her wrist lightly, then kissed the pulse there.

Nikita was glad she was sitting down, her knees suddenly weak.

"I never got a chance to answer your question, Nikita..."

"My question?" she said, her mind clouded over, his caresses disturbing her ability to think.

"The answer is, it was real. It wasn't just a dream..."

Michael opened the box and slipped the delicate silver charm bracelet on her wrist.

"That night was real," he went on. "It was the most important thing in the world to me.."

He moved closer to her on the bench, wrapping his arms around her. "I need you so much, Nikita.." He breathed into her neck, his face close to hers.

Nikita gave a little moan and kissed him. His mouth was warm, his lips soft, yet eager and demanding. He tasted so sweet. He tasted of dreams...

Nikita's heart listened to the wordless message of his kiss, confirming all her hopes. Michael loved her.

Unconsciously, she grabbed him by the lapels of his coat and pulled him closer. He laughed against her mouth, and then buried his face in her hair, inhaling its fragrance.

He gave a moan of satisfaction and spoke into her ear. "It's been so hard being without you these past weeks..." His voice was breathless from the kiss, filled with passion.

He lifted his head up to look into her eyes, still holding her close.

"I was so afraid for you, because of Section," he said. "I was so afraid I would lose you.."

Nikita kissed him again. Still clutching his lapels with one hand, she moved the other down the front of his shirt, caressing his chest and enjoying the feel of his hard muscles under her hand.

She moved her hand lower, trailing it across stomach until she reached his belt. She tugged on it, pulling him closer.

"Maybe you need to have me..." she offered, laughing.

Michael laughed, too, before pulling her onto his lap. He wrapped his arms around her, his hands resting first on the small of her back and then moving lower. He groaned and buried his face between her breasts.

Nikita wrapped her arms around his shoulders and leaned her head back in pleasure. After a few minutes, Michael lifted up his head to eagerly kiss her mouth again.

The world dissolved for them both. Everything, all thoughts, all concerns, all time, receded until there was nothing but this moment. They were lost in the depths of all encompassing passion, adrift in this vast and timeless kiss...

Michael's watch beeped.

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

They broke the kiss as reality rushed back in on them. The magic spell was broken. They were both bereft.

"I have a briefing," Michael said, lifting his head to look at her. "I'm sorry..."

"It's all right," she said, smiling at him.

"Dinner later?" he asked eagerly.

"Yes," she said softly. Reluctantly, Nikita removed herself from his embrace and stood up. She realized it hurt to have this physical space between them. Without his touch she felt cold and empty.

Michael stood also, struggling with this moment of leaving as well. He postponed it by reaching out to hold her hand.

Nikita hungrily drank in the sight of him,her eyes lingering on every detail of his muscular frame and his beautiful face. Her eyes caressed his arms, his shoulders, the glorious hair, and his exquisite eyes, his....

"Michael!" Nikita laughed suddenly.

"What is it?" he said, puzzled.

"Lipstick..." she said.

Michael laughed too, and took his handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped off the pink gloss from his mouth and cheek. It was a joyous task.

"Better?" he asked, smiling, turning his face for her inspection.

Nikita looked at him for a moment. "No, not really," she said. "I like you better with my lipstick on you..."

He laughed, his heart light. The idea of her lipstick all over him was a disturbing one. He hoped he could find a way to concentrate at work today without thinking about that all day.

"Later," he promised. He gave her one last longing look before kissing her deeply, but briefly. He left.

Nikita sat down on the bench and dreamily brought her hand up to her lips. The charm bracelet clinked musically and she inspected it closely for the first time.

There were three charms dangling from the chain, all in delicately wrought silver. Each delighted her more than the last. The first charm was a full moon, the second a heart, and the third a tiny sail boat.

Nikita kissed each one in turn. She sighed, and held the bracelet up to her cheek, cradling it there for a long time as she stayed on the bench, lost again in the dream.

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

When Nikita returned to Section, the first person she encountered was Jan.

"Hi, Baby," Jan greeted her.

"Hi, Jan."

"That's a pretty bracelet. Can I see?"

Nikita smiled and held out her wrist. "Sure," she said.

Jan admired the charms, noticing the engraving on the backs. "Oh, that's a nice message!" she said, grinning.

"What?" Nikita looked at her gift more closely. The words were small and in French. Words chosen by Michael for her. Nikita blinked as her eyes suddenly filled with tears.

"Jan, what does it say?"

Jan touched the tiny silver heart. "This one says, 'You are my Love'...."

Jan touched the miniature silver moon. "And this one says, 'You are my Dream'....."

"Ohhh," Nikita sighed. A long awaited answer came to an old question. Yes, Michael had a heart. And it was hers.

"Thanks, Jan." Nikita smiled. "And thanks for the coffee.."

"Sure, anytime." Jan grinned. She was proud of Michael. He had done well. For a while there she had given up hope of him ever getting a clue. But today, he had proved to her he could follow simple instructions if you made them plain enough.

What a good boy, she thought.

Nikita walked back down a Section hallway, her mind drifting back to the world of the dream...

She was barely aware of someone coming down the hallway toward her. It was Jurgen.

"Hi," he said. "Want to go for coffee?" He looked at her greedily.

"What? Oh, no, no thanks," Nikita answered absently. "I had some earlier..."

"Oh. O.K.," he said. She left him standing there, walking past him without a second glance.

Jurgen faded from her mind completely as the dream in her mind resumed again. A dream of clouds crossing the full moon, of soft night and glimmering sea, of a silver sailboat and Michael's green eyes....

Smiling to herself, Nikita checked her pocket for her lipstick. The bracelet rattled on her wrist and she brought her hand up to her breast. She let the charms rest there against her heart, where Michael's kisses had been.

"You are my Love, too, Michael. You are my Dream.." she whispered.

Nikita continued walking down the hallway, her step light, her heart even lighter. She felt so light, in fact, her soul so free, that she was almost positive that her feet did not touch the ground....

Send suggestions and comments to ranma.
OR
If you would like to send a comment to Lorraine, click HERE!!