Center's protocol handed down from Oversight to the different Sections was chuck full of pure CYA directives. Any Mission, especially one of this magnitude and importance, was to have absolute back up for every possible anomaly. The Mission referenced in the memorandum addressed to Paul Wolfe was succinct and clear, nothing was to happen to Monsieur Michel Samuelle while in Section One's care, and for this Mission he had command.

Michael had been in a Deep Blood Cover marriage to Elena Vacek and had just been promoted to Level 12. He was Oversight's crème de la crème, George and The Committee's fair-haired boy. While in the throngs of passion Operations and Madelyn discussed how careful they had to be around the young handsome Operative. One slip and their house of cards would come tumbling down.

Michael was given offices overlooking Com as he began, slowly at first, becoming familiar with the inhabitants of this Section. Their people where good operatives, but otherwise ruthless. You had to commit a mayor crime before they would recruit you...or maybe you were an innocent they needed so they recruited you anyway. Adrian wished Michael would assimilate himself into Section and when the mission was over he would take its command. Paul and Madelyn somehow suspected this and could do nothing.

Michael put on his workout clothes and went in Search of the Gym and his new Material. Running instead into a young beautiful woman of flaxen hair and deep blue eyes dressed in white scrubs, Michael was sure he had died and gone to heaven. She ran smack against his chest while looking back as she walked, and Michael held her arms with his strong hands and smirked. He felt Cupid’s arrow pierce his callous covered soul.

"Hi", his French accent overwhelmingly sensual, his soft voice devastatingly arousing, his killer smirk, his powerful hands, his lips..."Why don't you watch were you are going bub?" she told him, extremely turned on but aggressive.

"Maybe you shouldn’t strut”.

Michael seriously cocked his head, "My name is not Bob. And you are...?"

"I am not calling you Bob, bub is an expression, like buddy...never mind. Are you a new Recruit? Listen", conspirationally, "I would love to stand here and shut the bull with you but if I am late my asshole trainer might get pissed."

She turned; softly caressing his face and walked away consciously wiggling her cute little ass. "You are hot bub." She called out over her shoulder.

Very few things in life surprised Michael, this woman had not only surprised him she had stimulated fires in him. 'Maybe I will like it here after all.' He wrapped his towel around his neck and continued to the Gym in the opposite direction from where she had gone. His arousal now obvious and painful in the tight pants he wore.

Section I was an austere, modernistic edifice with a cold air about it. Michael thought this designed state was probably to demonstrate a feel of efficiency and ruthlessness. Even if he had not been warned by The Committee, Michael wouldn’t have trusted the man they called Operations and least of all the woman beside him - Madelyn.

They had assigned him a level 4 Cold Op by the name of Simone to assist him. A beautiful brunette, efficient and accomplished, but Michael suspected too loyal to Paul and Madelyn.

"I have a problem with this recruit, she is too petite to replace the target's daughter if the need should arise," the powerful operative noted to Operations and his Aid d’Camp.

"But Michael, she is the best operative we have to offer and Mr. Vacek has never met his daughter so why do you need any resemblance? Madelyn added.

"Fine, let me interview her, spar with her, watch her hold some syms, then I'll make my decision." Michael retorted and left. He left Paul and Madelyn boiling.

When Michael entered the facility he scanned the enormous exercise room. He had requested that he be allowed to "bond" with his material on a one to one basis and Operations had complied. He had made these amenities available for the Team's private use and now Michael stood in the middle of a huge space empty of people and very well stocked of equipment.

Nowhere to be found was his Material, he pivoted on his shoeless feet and glided towards the intercom on the wall. Michael was a gorgeous man and he wore everything and nothing well. His dark exercise garb made of spandex hugged his well-defined muscles and made him look like a mythological winged warrior.

"Birkoff," he had brought the computer geek with him as his Comm. expert, "where is she?"

"I don't know Michael, I have been looking myself, she has not reported in." The trusted young man confessed.

"And Walter...?" Michael shurtled and Birkoff joined in.

"I told you it was not going to be pretty to bring Walter into a sea of beautiful women..." Birkoff said about the Munitions expert accompanying Michael's team and was quickly interrupted by the Leader's standard "Focus."

"If she has gone rouge I will let you know." With this Birkoff's communication with Michael was ended and the Com expert turned to talk to the other two team members Michael had brought with him. "Chuck, Mowen, have you guys seen Michael's material anywhere?"

The two men where standing between Birkoff's space and Walter's space, facing the latter. Birkoff approached his team members and saw with amusement what the other two were looking at. Walter, the bandana wearing gray pony tailed eternal hippie chatting with a magnificent specimen of womanhood. Both men pointed at Walter.

"Walter" Birkoff annoyed called out, "If this is the Material she better get herself down to Michael, he is not happy she is missing."

The woman from the hallway turned and Birkoff was in awe "Well, what do we have here", she amusingly asked at seeing the three men gawking at her.

"You've never heard of the Marx's brothers? Walter said laughing, "Here are Chico, Curley and Mo." The goddess before them laughed.

"So tell me Chico are you dense? Do you think that the Material, as you've describe "her" would be sitting waiting here for her trainer? This is Section One things don't work that way here in hell. I brought Walter…" The woman’s statement interrupted as the Winged Warrior stepped unto the group, now wearing black jeans and a black v-neck cashmere sweater.

"Hi bub, come to join the chat?" The woman from the hallway, wearing bright turquoise exercise clothing, a fuchsia towel around her neck and brightly painted toe nails the color of a ripe mango. Smiling, cocked her head, "Are you a member of this team?"

Her mouth wearing tinted gloss, her face clean - she didn't need make-up, her beautiful hair now tied in a braid that sported a buttercup attached to the scrunccie holding the end. Her look was a stark contrast to the black clothes operatives who now stood before her, smiling.

"Nikita" a female voice sternly yelled from behind the group. "Why are you in this sublevel? You will have to explain, I will have to repo…" Simone was interrupted from the horrific tongue-lashing she was about to publicly give the beautiful blonde.

"I asked her here, and you are?" Michael forcefully told the woman, who was now annoying him.

"I am Simone, your material." Extending her hand to Michael who ignored her and stood next to the blonde.

"You are late, let's go talk to Paul and Madelyn. With me one strike and you are out." He told her, turned and walked away from the group advising the blonde to wait there.

Michael informed Madelyn and Paul that he wanted Nikita in his team, she was more like Elena Vacek than their choice Simone and added the latter had been tardy and had reprimanded an underling in front of others; those being two actions he didn't accept. Madelyn tried to talk him out of his choice, Ops was ecstatic getting rid of the blonde.

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

The Team members cleared their throats walking away from Nikita and Michael. Together they looked like a beautiful painting; he grabbed her chin softly with his strong fingers - couldn't help himself, she blushed "Hi again, you never told me your name."

When realization of who this man was hit her, for some reason her reaction was to pull away. She hit the wall and slid to the floor in a heap, sobbing. He squatted before her not touching her somehow moved. "I am sorry, I am sorry...I did not know." She said.

He was confused and angry at her reaction to a simple misunderstanding. So she had been cocky and flippant, what had been done to this seraph to quench her joie de vivre...The Angel of Death was...smitten. Smiling addressing her softly "You are now in my team, don't be afraid; give me your name and stand up, please."

She looked at him finally raising her head from her hands, seeing again his extremely green eyes. "I am Nikita, you knew that." Raising he extended his hand to her "Michael," he smiled, "In the outside you can call me bub if you want Kita."

Nikita feeling better saw for the first time the morphing of the man before her, he stroked her hand a couple of times with his thumb and then BAM patented blank stare firmly in place. "It doesn't matter what went on before this moment, let's go to my office it has doors." With this he turned and walked away, the other men following close behind.

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

Michael began explaining the Mission parameters to Nikita. He was in Mission mode, but was fascinated by the light radiating from the exquisite woman. He brought all the operatives before him up to date with the new Intel and assignments. With everyone briefed he went on to listen to his team, a give and take that surprised the young recruit.

"Nikita" Michael offered, "You have a slight resemblance to my Mission Wife. Of course, E-le-na dresses differently and wears her hair in a different style, and if the two of you stood together right now, height and weight would be the only thing you would share, however, it is there.

Michael proceeded to explain in detail his two-year marriage to Sallah Vacek's only daughter, how they were expecting a baby, the reason for the Mission, all the details. He then asked her, while looking at her file to tell him in her own words what brought her to Section; Michael really wanted to know Nikita.

Nikita surprised at this request said "I did not kill anyone before I came into Section." She went on with her story; Michael and the 4 other men listened.

"Joszefeen - I see this is your code name -we are all here for different reasons; the ends of Section 1 seem to be a little skewed, but now is not the time for this discussion. You are under my command now, a member of my team. I am a hard taskmaster, but I am fair. You are the back up for my marriage; meantime you will work in whatever parameter we assign to you, just like any member of the team. Study these tapes and study the Mission. We have an advantage, Vacek has never seen his daughter, not once since she was born."

"In other words, if we wanted to pass Birkoff off as his daughter all we would have to do is put him in a dress." Walter added and everyone laughed.

"Then Michael, what makes you think this is going to work? I mean my father abandoned me before I was born and I have never crossed paths with him. Although I tried when I was free he never wanted to meet me."

"Intel shows that he will eventually want to meet her. He comes from this type of experience. His daughter sooner or later will become very important to him and he will try and won't stop until he succeeds."

"But, is Elena willing to meet him? Nikita asked he smiled.

"E-le-na is a sweet, innocent woman who sadly for her and regretfully convenient for me, will do as I ask, and I have asked. Now she is pregnant with her - err our - first child" before continuing he pinched his index finger and thumb to his nose.

"I am sorry to ask Michael how about you, how are you holding up?"

He warmly looked at her little quirk in the corner of his luscious lips saying, "I'll be fine."

Michael stood up showing all those present the meeting had concluded, turned his back to them and busied himself with some mindless task. His head and feelings were reeling, Elena was a problem for his psychic, and now Nikita was making him 'want.'

When the 5 team members were away from their leader Walter spoke up "Man oh man, I have known Michael for 9 years Sugar, I never heard anyone question his personal life like you did, or worst yet, have him answer."

Mowen said, "We are going to make a good team Nikita, welcome to our world."

Nikita went to watch her tapes and study, the rest to their assignments. Michael watched her covertly from the window in his office, the screen in his laptop, and the team members' spaces. He got aroused every time he looked at her, thus he was in a bad mood as they left Section.

Nikita, who'd been in S1 since her 'release' from jail, went into the world for the first time since her recruitment - her home had been close quarters at S1. She had been watched since being arrested and felt funny as she walked out with the members of the team.

"Michael, were are we going?" she said as he took a little known exit from the deep caverns of Section. Her teammates were ahead of the blonde and their Leader. "I live in Section you know."

"Not anymore" he told her, smiling and offering her his arm. "The team lives in apartments in a building owned by Center, one apartment is yours. I hope you like it."

Nikita was speechless, she had never had her own room, was homeless half her adult life, and now this. She nodded in agreement; got in the car through the door Michael had opened for her, and traveled looking out the window in quiet amazement. Michael watched her and touched his fingers to his lip, thinking 'this woman is magnificent'.

The team members bid them good night and went their way; Michael accompanied Nikita to her new apartment, opening the door for her, the top floor - the penthouse. Michael stood by the kitchen counter while she walked around the tiny apartment with total joy in her gaze; she touched, opened and looked at everything. He smiled thinking, 'amazing'.

"Thank you Michael, I never..." She said, he interrupted - with two steps stood next to her and covered her mouth with his lips. Her mouth opened letting his tongue in and she was lost. His kiss at first as tenuous as a butterfly’s wing, his tongue the texture of velvet, his breath warm as summer; she groaned her senses had never been these captivated, he was hard. The lines were crossed, there was no going back – feelings nothing more.

"I am sorry,” he said.

She smiled and added, "For kissing me?"

"Not for kissing you but for breaking protocol - is not like me." He said, she smiled again, "I wanted it also Michael" and then whispered, "Are we being monitored?"

Michael touched the pad of his thumb to her eyebrow; she had unshed tears in her deep blue eyes. "No - I promise you, I will never ki..." now she interrupted, "Don't promise that Michael" and moved forward for one last longing agonizingly sweet kiss.

He nodded turned to the counter and mask back in place said "Everything you need is here, identification, money, credit cards, tomorrow Walter will pick you up at 7:30 am, give you a car and take you around your new neighborhood before accompanying you to Section. Good night Kita." He strutted to the door and left silently not looking back.

"Good night bub", she whispered to herself and smiling ran to the balcony in time to watch him get in the black Mercedes and drive off.

The phone rang, Walter and Birkoff wanted to take her to dinner, she agreed. Life had taken a sharp right turn somewhere this morning and she was thankful, but especially for the charismatic and mysterious Team Leader, a man who would steal her heart.

Dinner was a fun two-hour laugh fest. Walter was a charmer and Birkoff's innocence was so endearing he had giggled through dinner. The Italian restaurant run by a family was cozy and the food superb; Nikita had never had so much fun.

Upon returning to the building the men came to the blonde's apartment for late night coffee. She'd told them she didn't know how to make coffee and they decided to help showing her around her kitchen. The conversation then turned to Michael, filling her in on everything they were allowed to say.

She learned he was going places; Michael was the heir apparent to take over the Organization some day. But his devotion to his work was solely due to love for duty, honor and nobility; the marriage to Elena had taken its tool.

The men bid Nikita good night around 11:00 pm and the blonde then ran a bath, luxuriated in the comfort of her tub and the sounds from her stereo. Afterwards she proceeded to her brand new king size bed and slept peacefully until the alarm woke her.

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

"Jozsefeen" the soft, low, husky, sleep filled voice addressed her.

"Yes, I'm up." She'd been up for an hour and was having coffee and croissants on her balcony. The call made her smile.

"Just wanted to make sure you are ok this morning, I will not be in the office - need to take my wife to the Obstetrician, please make sure Mr. Walter gets your assistance today." He was at home within hearing distance of his wife and wanted to set up Nikita's cover just in case her name and presence ever came up.

"I am better thank you, have a good day Mr. Samuelle", realizing she was on a speakerphone covering the enthusiasm brought up by his voice.

"I will, thank you." With this he hung up and shuttered his eyes. Turning to Elena he said, "Cher do you want your milk warm?

Michael had arrived at the house the night before in a fowl mood. He hated what he was doing to Elena and what was being done to him. Elena had greeted him warmly as always.

Michael and his Mission Wife had a candle light dinner of grilled lobster tails with lemon butter, salad and potatoes. He had grilled outside and she had set the table by the pool. He had complained about the cold weather and his pregnant wife's comfort, she had laughed.

Elena was very affable and Michael, although not in love with her liked her.

After dinner, fruit compote for dessert, coffee for him, they had gone to bed.

Nightly rituals and the couple had turned off the lights. Elena was feeling frisky and Michael did his husbandly duty, now he had the blonde operative to fantasize about. So the blonde made things easier, he always had trouble making love to his Mission Wife, reason being just that - this was a mission.

The passion that Michael kept under wraps not once had threatened to come out with Elena; but with Nikita - the kiss - there had been no control. As Elena moaned and thrashed in the throws of ecstasy Michael thought of Nikita's soft lips and her inviting and perceptive tongue. He was thinking he shouldn't repeat the kiss but knew he would, when the phone rang; Michael chastely kissed his wife one last time and answered "Oui" grateful for the interruption that put an end to the sex.

"Jacques, we had dinner she is safely tucked away for the night, mission completed." Walter was reporting on the side mission Michael had assigned.

"Thank you Walter for returning my call, just wanted to let you know tomorrow we go to the Obstetrician and will not go to the office. Have Josephine help you, will tell her tomorrow."

"Good night." Walter answered and they hung up.

And now, the next morning Michael sat in the doctor's office listening to the pregnant women trade stories. He felt uncomfortable at the remarks they were exchanging within hearing distance about him, or as they were calling him Elena's hunk.

Elena laughed along with the doctor when he addressed the patients in the waiting room, "Ladies, the man is never going to want to accompany his wife again." To which Michael added, "Nothing would stop me." And Elena furthered, "You are all correct, I am a lucky woman."

Time passed, missions came and went, and the team had a very high success rate. Nikita and Michael had become an irreplaceable team. They knew each other well and moved like a pair of synchronized swimmers. She was his ying he was her yang. They were very close and when they were alone and unmonitored held hands constantly.

The feelings of love were kept under a tight reign. He lived a life of quick visits to the bathroom to gratify himself. She felt empty when he was not by her side. Of course Michael spent more waking time with Nikita than with Elena, not only did he plan it that way he needed it to be so. The love between the Operatives - unspoken but understood.

Elena had not heard from her father, things seemed to be stalled. The Committee understood and encouraged Michael to be patient. The Mission Wife was now within days of delivering...Michael was conflicted. Not about his feeling for his wife, that was plain friendship. But about his unborn child, for the birth would change his life forever and someday the Mission would end, and he was well aware of this certain future.

Michael and Nikita had been on a long mission just before Michael’s leave; they'd stayed up and talked until all hours of the night. Their feelings and needs getting the best of both and they had finally made love for the first time. It had been magical and unforgettable. The night for Nikita had been affirming and for Michael healing. But most of all sweet, soulful and fervent, a true testimony to their deep-set love.

Michael had taken a hand to her face, caressed her cheek, stroked her eyebrow and lips. He’d ventured forward and kissed her lips while whispering his need as he lowered the fly of her mission pants. Nikita had been frantic tearing at his mission garb, holding his idle hand to her breasts, begging with her eyes and her tongue. Michael had focused her eyes with his and had taken control, making their first joining a remarkable act of love.

Michael had returned to his wife, needed to be there when his child was born. Nikita and the team would return to S1 shortly after. He had been sitting at home for the past two days on "maternity leave"; Elena was almost ready to 'pop'. His Mission Wife had been standing by the front fence talking to their neighbors Mr. and Mrs. Ted Ellis.

When Michael heard the couple screaming his name, he ran out to find his wife on the ground, her head in Mrs. Ellis' lap. The woman said "I called the ambulance, will be here any second." Michael was kneeling by Elena now and holding her hands.

Of course Section 1 already knew they would send a Med Team to take care of Elena who was bleeding vaginally. This malady and his monitoring of her, were the only things that assured Michael this was not Section induced. The medical team arrived and immediately started triage, Elena was unconscious had been since she started bleeding and passed out.

The hospital had been advised as well as the Obstetrician, both Section sanctioned. Michael was told this was the second ambulance dispatched to his home. The first ambulance, the one requested by the neighbor, had an accident, which was being investigated, no injuries to anyone.

Michael was frenetic; Elena after all was a woman he cared for even though it was not love of the romantic kind. His son, the child he had tried not to conceive had already even before birth, become an immediate source of love and comfort in a dark ruthless world.

Michael paced the floor in the Obstetrics Waiting Room his eyes blood shot from lack of sleep, worry and tears. He waited by himself, his team not present for security reasons and his non-Section cell phone rang - an unlisted number - not traceable.

"Oui?" Voice husky, soft, and vague and his mind out of reality.

"Michel Samuelle?" A male voice asked, a stranger.

"Ici, c'est moi" the French language tripping easily from his mouth.

The stranger explained to Michael he was Elena father's man of confidence. Mr. Vacek wanted Michael to know he was aware of the grave situation Michael, his daughter and their un-born child were crossing. He was unable to come be with her at this time and although he had never met, seen or been with her, he still loved his daughter. Vacek's message terrified the Operative, he had to think fast and focus so Michael's Mission Mask fell into place.

Michael asked, "Are you telling me he cannot come to his daughter's side, but has the audacity of spying on her? You mean that all through her life this man has known where she was and kept in the shadows, no comfort. Why?"

Michael was truly curious and concerned for the Mission; what if Vacek knew this was a mission and it had already failed before it went into final approach. He didn't think this was the case since Section had this Mission painstakingly planned and executed. Not once had there been an inkling of a compromise to the Deep Blood Cover.

The stranger said "No! He has not been monitoring her, happenstance that is how he found her. I was in the car the ambulance hit and since I don't believe in coincidence I had it checked out after I found Elena Vacek Samuelle was the patient to be picked up. Sallah never wanted to find her, never thought of looking for her, but now…things changed. He can't come, knows no one is in peril. Please understand." and hung up.

Michael alarmed but more concerned for Elena and Adam. He called Birkoff and asked to check out the incident. But in the meantime Michael sat with Elena holding her hand. Her eyes opened, she was in excruciating pain but awake. Michael kissed her pale-dry cold lips. "Michael, I …" he interrupted "Shh, you need your strength."

"Michael, I knew what the risks were. You didn't want me to get pregnant because of them. If something was to happen to me… marry again, be happy give our son a mother. Promise." She coughed, she was weak and in a lot of pain. Michael smiled not answering kissed her lips again.

"Promise me, please." Repeating, he said, "I promise, but nothing is going to happen." Elena said, "I love you Michel."

With this Elena closed her eyes and let out a sigh. The monitors besides her rang out like sirens in the night. The Section medical team rushed into the room and pushed Michael out the door, into the hallway were Walter, George and Paul now waited; he looked passed them, Michael's voice came from the catacomb that was his life "Walter - Nikita here immediately, Protocol 307."

With this he walked to the bathroom and vomited the content of his stomach. Ordering this Protocol made all understand Elena was as good as gone. Michael accepted this and now he sat on the toilet seat sobbing for the loss of a woman who didn't deserve the fate he'd imposed on her. While in the deep comma Elena’s un-born baby had been extracted, he shuddered with the fear that gripped him.

Nikita came disguised as a man; glasses covering eyes while lenses covered color. A short black curly wig covered golden hair, baseball cap and loose fitting masculine clothing covered an incredible body and holding a female operative's hand pretending this was her significant other.

She was purposely smoking, someone in the elevator told her to put it out, part of the cover she needed to be remembered in this persona. Asked the nurse for a room number further setting the cover; she reached the group and her eyes met Walter's who nodded.

She was covertly taken inside, Elena had been removed without anyone noticing; baby Adam was all pink and swabbed in blue and lying in Michael's amazing arms.

His eyes met hers and she saw a combination of anguish, ecstasy and love. He begged with his gaze to understand, to give him room, he needed her help to cope. "Nikita we need to hurry" the Housekeeping team leader said; she needed to be prepared and become Elena.

She was being undressed and helped with a hospital gown. Michael had convinced Elena months before to bleach her long hair to match Nikita's color. She, on her own accord, had taken to wearing blue contact lenses thought they looked better with the new hair. Nikita got into the hospital bed hair braided like Elena.

Michael handed her Elena's wedding rings and sighed.

The doctors put the IV and all other accoutrements where they belonged, baby Adam given a slap so he would wail and Michael, sitting next to his wife, magnificent ass resting on the nightstand his hands playing with her hair and lips, followed the script. The picture of a relieved happy young family, but Michael's eyes...haunted, lost, afraid.

Nikita felt his hands on hers stroking them; she looked into his ghostly face and whispered "Michael?" He bent his head so his mouth was next to her ear, he kissed it and said, "It has begun Kita, my time with my son is going to be short, I don't know if I'll be able to stand this, you are the only person in the world I trust… help me."

She turned her face and their lips met in a sad kiss, until his tongue snaked out and licked hers; then it turned to pure combustion. "I am with you bub," she said as the nurse handed her the baby. Michael in hushed tones, "Meet Adam our son." And he kissed both heads.

Through Section's advanced techniques, even in the field of genetics and other medical and scientific areas, Nikita was able to breast-feed the baby boy. This was the piece de resistance in demonstrating this indeed was the blonde's baby. They'd moved into a sprawling home in the suburbs of Paris. The Ellis Michael’s former neighbors had been cancelled; the ambulance incident had been proven to be coincidence.

The upscale neighborhood well in the range the "artsy" couple could afford. And the convoluted Deep Blood Cover continued. Nikita quickly became enamored of the beautiful baby and the child immediately bonded with the only mother he knew.

She took three months off work, as did the proud papa. Michael forced himself to put his relentless fears in the back burner, Nikita refused to give into the impending future. A day at a time they told each other, holding on for dear life. They both needed the taste of their bodies and the aroma of each other’s skin to survive.

Their passion was awe-inspiring Michael wanted, needed to be in constant contact with his wife. His arousal was assuaged at least once a day in the most creative of ways, she joked they’d find other uses for appliances. She was full of wanton sex appeal; he melted every time they came as one. At home they held hands, Section was ‘no touch land’. The two operatives while at Section One maintained control and correctness.

And for a few brief moments they were a happy blissful family.

The End