“The most ridiculous scene of all was when Operations said he knew Nikita was my material, and that sometimes we form bonds. He ‘hoped’ I understood their position.
I said, ‘Of course.” and left. Finally I could send a message to Nikita. ‘Nikita, are you there?” I must have sent this encrypted message dozens of times daily the first few weeks. I could not give up. I continued to send the message, no matter where I was or what mission I had.
“There was never any answer. I began to lose hope, and the small flicker of light that I had guarded for so long, began to die with the rest of me. The blackness I felt within my heart and mind was all encompassing and the nightmares overtook me again. Always I could see the flames of the explosion, Nikita and Simone. They would both hold out their hands to me and beg me to help them, and I would be rooted to the ground, powerless to move and they would disappear in the flames.”
The despair he felt at that time was mirrored on his face. Therese almost despaired as she saw it herself. So much pain, so little true control in his life.
Michael interrupted Therese’s flow of thought. “I have to stop. There is a 1PM briefing, I have to attend. I am sorry.” Therese watched him submerge his grief and despair and channel his energies to leave and was amazed at the physical changes he made as he made interior mental ones.
“Michael, I know the weekend is upon us, but here is my beeper number, if you need, you can call me. We are at a crucial point, and I hate that we have to stop at this juncture. Unfortunately, it is one of the realities of therapy--the limits of time.” She gave him a regretful smile and a Gallic shrug of the shoulders.
“Till next time,” he said softly. He turned gracefully and left the office.
*******************
Madeline and Operations were having a pre-briefing meeting in Madeline’s office. “I know you have some reason for not wanting to pair Nikita with McClure again, but since Michael is on ‘sick leave,’ I have no choice, Madeline.” Operations was pacing as he argued.
“McClure has become fixated on Nikita since the last mission. I don’t think he’s thinking too clearly when it comes to her. First he couldn’t stand her or Michael. You heard how he baited Michael about Nikita during the last mission. Now he goes mooning around like he’s in love with her, since she saved his life on the that mission.”
“So! Is Section One becoming the Love Connection? Since when do their personal feelings enter into the mission profile?” Operations was still upset over earlier events with Michael and Nikita.
“These relationships have always had their place in mission profiles, and you well know it! We have used them, especially in the case of Michael and Nikita, regularly to obtain the results we wanted, and we’ve been very successful.” Madeline was showing more spirit in her conversation with Operations than anyone else in Section ever saw. “You know, denial is not one of your more favorable characteristics. Sticking your head in the sand won’t make the relationships go away. I happen to think that the instability of McClure’s feelings might jeopardize the mission and not give us the results we expect.”
“Do you recommend placing him in abeyance?” Operations asked heatedly.
“Of course not. He’s an irritation to Nikita right now, but he is still our best team leader after Michael. There is no one else available that has the experience in developing and completing a mission profile that McClure has. Nikita will have to manage as she did in the last mission. If you remember, she did quite well.” Madeline was changing her position as she spoke.
“Yes, she did perform well,” Operations admitted. “Quite well.”
Operations walked out to the team briefing area. Nikita was already there, leaning back in her chair, looking tired and thinner. He wondered if she had lost some weight recently. Her cheekbones certainly looked more prominent.
Nikita ‘was’ tired and thinner and she felt it. She and Michael barely managed to eat at all. The instantaneous combustion they felt whenever in each other’s presence flamed as soon as they were alone. Food, sleep--what were they? Nikita was wearing slim black slacks with a silky black top. Black shades completed her ensemble today. Black for a black mood. Nikita was not ready to go back to work. She thought she could use some more down time, but it was obviously not to be.
McClure picked this time to lean over Nikita’s shoulder and say conspiratorially, “Nikita, I guess we’re going out again. We made a pretty good team last time. Don’tcha think?”
Nikita jumped at the suddenness and closeness of McClure’s presence. Personally, she still couldn’t stand him, but that wouldn’t do to let him know at this juncture. “Oh, hi, McClure, I didn’t hear you coming. Yeah, I guess we are.” Nikita adjusted her shades so that McClure couldn’t see the disdain in her eyes.
This exchange had another interested observer besides Operations. Michael had just walked into the briefing area to take a seat. Only Nikita could tell that the rigidity of his stance was a prelude to anger. Michael could have cared less that McClure had always been resentful of Michael’s apparent ‘fair-haired boy’ status with Operations, but McClure’s new ‘interest’ in Nikita was something Michael would not tolerate easily.
****************
Operations watched the interchange between Nikita and McClure, and also took note of Michael’s ‘no-response’ response. Madeline may be the expert in Psych-Ops, but Operations had known Michael long enough to know when the younger operative was highly pissed. He found it amusing that Michael thought he could hide all his emotions under a blank stare. The blank stare itself was a dead giveaway.
Operations hit the control button that brought up the holographic image of a handsome man who appeared to be in his forties. “This is Simon DeVry. He is a high-level arms dealer with some very interesting connections in the upper echelons of French politics.”
“What are those connections,” Michael asked, forgetting that he would not be leading this mission.
McClure glared across the table at Michael. His animosity toward Michael was obvious to everyone. As always, Michael ignored him, preferring to focus on the briefing.
“DeVry’s wife Sophie is the sister-in-law of Gerard Montand, France’s Minister of Finance. Montand’s wife Helene and Sophie are sisters. We feel that this relationship makes for a substantial conflict on interest on the part of Minister Montand, given DeVry’s other contacts in the terrorist community, and we would like to disrupt the flow of information and arms as well as gain control over DeVry and Montand.
“And the plan to take him out? McClure asked.
“We’re not going to take him ‘out.’ We’re going to use him as a pipeline of information. Money is one of his weaknesses. He will work for whoever pays him.”
“And his other weaknesses?” Michael asked, fearing he already knew the answer.
“Oh, yes, he likes tall blondes,” Operations smile was wolf-like as he turned it on Michael.
“Who doesn’t like tall blondes?” McClure asked as he gave Nikita a slight leer.
Oh, brother, Nikita thought. I’m going to be fighting off McClure and DeVry on this mission. Lovely, just lovely. Nikita slid farther down into her seat.
“Michael, you will be Team Leader and you will be on site in Paris.” Operations had obviously made some personnel and profile changes since talking to Madeline. No matter. He would use this mission to punish Michael and Nikita, and Madeline would just have to get over it.
“What?” Both Michael and McClure answered at once.
Operations continued as if he had not heard the surprise expressed by his two main operatives, “Nikita, you will pose as an upper level American Embassy staff assistant, and you will seduce DeVry so that we have incriminating material with which to blackmail him. McClure, you will be posing as Nikita’s attentive fiancé. Michael, you will continue to run tactical from Paris. I want you on site, and you will do ‘whatever’ necessary to distract DeVry’s wife. This mission should only take the weekend. Any longer and we will run risk of discovery.”
“What about Montand?” Nikita asked. “How exactly do we gain control over him?”
“The incriminating evidence that you, Nikita, will recover from DeVry’s computer should be sufficient to bring Minister Montand under control along with DeVry. Study the profiles in your PDA’s. The plane for Paris leaves in an hour, so you have no time to waste.” Operations could barely contain his need to chuckle aloud. This was really a minor mission as missions went, but it was the perfect opportunity to twist Michael and Nikita a bit.
The operatives all left the briefing area, each going in separate directions. Nikita exchanged one glance with Michael, but all she received was another blank stare.
**************
Madeline paced in her office. She was not happy with Operations and his improvising against her express recommendations. Luckily, this was a low-level security mission. It was supposed be a cold operation, but it wouldn’t be the first time that an apparently simple one turned disastrous, and in Madeline’s mind disaster was written all over this one.
Michael, Nikita, McClure and the backup team were all on the plane as it streaked through clear blue skies to Paris. Nikita took her seat first, expecting Michael to sit beside her, but it was McClure who took that seat. Michael took another behind and across from them. “I would advise everyone to get some rest during the flight,” Michael stated. He refused to show his annoyance at McClure. Nikita could handle McClure, and he had no doubts about her love. At least that much had been gained in the last few weeks. They were both much more secure in their feelings for each other. With these thoughts in his mind, Michael simply took his own advice, shut his eyes and attempted to sleep.
Nikita was mildly annoyed that Michael was not beside her, but she knew better than to show it. McClure was an integral part of the team, and there was no point in antagonizing him. Nikita was delighted that Michael was going. That had certainly been a shock to all of them. Only Madeline, Operations and Nikita knew about Michael’s daily appointments with the psychiatrist, but apparently this wasn’t supposed to take long. Nikita sighed and settled down to nap.
“Nikita, what’s the deal with you and Michael anyway?” McClure couldn’t stand to watch her sleep any longer. The whiteness of her graceful neck was absolutely getting to him. He didn’t dare touch her, but he had to talk to her.
“What?” Nikita had just dozed off. What an inane question to ask and awaken someone in the process. Nikita looked at McClure. “Why would you ask me something that is so patently none of your concern?”
“I just thought that given Michael’s history with women, you might be a little more cautious. You don’t seem the type to get sucked up by his ‘charm.’” McClure knew he was risked alienating her, but he couldn’t resist the chance to denigrate Michael.
“Sorry, Mac, you must have me confused with someone who gives a damn.” Nikita turned away and appeared to go back to sleep. Michael’s history with women, she thought. Why shouldn’t he have a history with women? He was handsome, virile, and heaven knew a wonderful lover. She was sure there were women ‘before’ Simone. If he had been with anyone since she had entered Section, he had been very discreet. Michael’s seduction of Lisa Fanning had been part of ‘the job,’ and not under his control, if he wanted to live. She had not heard a word of gossip about him, and in Section where information was as highly prized as gold, there would have been some. She knew that people had whispered about them often enough, and that was long before there was ‘anything’ to the speculations.
“Ask him about Madeline, Nikita.” McClure prodded again. “Ask him about the special training he received.”
“Give it a rest, Mac. I’m not interested in whatever you’re selling.” Nikita unfastened her seat belt and moved to the other side of the plane. She was not going to sit there and listen to McClure spew his poison. In other circumstances, Nikita knew she could have been attracted to Mac. He was a little older than Michael, tall, dark blonde hair and blue eyes. He was handsome as was Michael, but in a more conventional way. He lacked Michael’s uniqueness of features that when added together produced a breathtaking and beautiful man.
If appearance were Nikita’s only criterion, the choice would not have been easy, but given the interior man, Michael won easily in Nikita’s mind. Mac thought he could dominate Michael by constantly pointing at Michael’s faults, but Nikita knew that Michael, whatever his history with women, had a heart. True his heart had been encased and shackled by pain and tragedy, and Nikita was only now learning how to soften and free that lonely heart. Nikita sighed as she went to sleep. She missed Michael even though he was dozing across the aisle from her. She missed being in his arms.
Michael had tried to sleep, but he had been unable to eradicate the vision of a lovely naked Nikita from his mind. He had heard McClure come on to Nikita and had heard her responses. McClure had attempted to place doubt in Nikita’s mind, and Michael was not sure how much Nikita trusted him even yet. Finally, Michael slept.
*****************
Nikita and McClure, her fiancé, as a part of their cover were living together in a small apartment on rue de Blancmange. Michael’s cover as an international art dealer decreed that he stay in a luxurious suite at the Georges Cinq. Nikita was not thrilled to say the least. Nikita imagined Michael and herself ensconced in that suite, but the tiny apartment where Mac and she would be ‘living’ for the duration of the mission certainly lacked the cachet and ambiance of the Georges Cinq. Not to mention that she would be with Mac and not Michael.
“Well, looks like wonder boy got the plum assignment along with the swank lodgings, but I’ve got you, gorgeous.” Mac did his impression of what he thought was charm, but Nikita found it sadler lacking and boring.
“Mac, you don’t have anything but a roommate for the weekend. You keep your mind focused on the mission, and that does not include hitting on me when we’re alone. Do you understand me? Are you reading my lips?” Nikita was about ready to deck McClure, and if he so much as touched her when they weren’t en profile, she would take him down.
Meanwhile at the Georges Cinq, Michael settled into his suite. His evening clothes were hung in the closet and were perfection. Madeline always knew exactly what to send on missions, but this tuxedo was his own tailored to fit his muscular body and other individual requirements--guns and other armaments often needed special fittings to accommodate them.
Michael checked in with Birkoff. “Birkoff, we are in place at our individual lodgings. Did they have to be so far apart?”
“Hey, Michael, I don’t make the reservations. That’s somebody else’s job description.” Whew, he thought, Michael was a little testy about being so far from Nikita. Hmmm. Wonder what the ‘real’ story is there, he mused as he worked on sequencing for the evening activities.
“We are scheduled to attend an embassy gala tonight. Nikita and McClure will attend as a couple, and I will be there to distract Madame DeVry. Do you have any other intel we can use.”
“Yeah, Michael, it seems that Madame DeVry and Madame Montand like to swing a little. You might be more than a little distracted yourself. Watch out, Michael. Running tactical and the two sisters might be a little much for even you.” Birkoff laughed and Michael swore.
“Michael.” It was Madeline. “In spite of Mr. Birkoff’s levity, this complication could compromise the mission. Are you sure you can perform to our expectations, or do you need backup?”
“What?” Michael was aghast Madeline’s double entendre, whether intentional or not. “I will be fine. The plan is in place. It will be executed. McClure is ready to assist with any ‘extra’ distraction that may be needed.”
“Whatever is necessary, Michael.”
“Of course, Madeline.” There were times Michael was merely unnerved by Madeline, but other times, like now, he came close to hating her and her machinations for Section One’s goals.
**************
Nikita finished dressing for the gala evening. Her dress was elegant and understated. Nikita loved dressing in black. Her gown left one white shoulder bare, fit her snugly through the bodice, waist and hips, then starting just below the hips flaring slightly. Most of her back was bare as well. McClure appreciated her fair form from his vantage point where he was sitting on the bed. “Well, princess, you surely do clean up good.”
Nikita gave him a ‘look,’ and said, “If that’s supposed to be a compliment, thank you.” She continued to tuck stray strands of her hair into her smooth coiffure, but gave up and let them fall as they would. The effect was okay she supposed, but she knew Michael would have been hovering around her trying to kiss her where the strands graced her long neck. And instead here she was stuck with Mac, who if he continued to leer at her, was going to be missing some major male equipment.
Michael, on the other hand, had the task of ‘diverting’ the attention of her target’s wife. Well, he was certainly well-suited for that mission. It was one of his specialties! Men just don’t seem to mind that sort of activity. Nikita doubted that Michael ever felt ‘cheap’ after such a mission.
It was as if Mac could read Nikita’s mind, or maybe just her body language. “Nikita, don’t you mind Michael seducing other women? Don’t you get just a little bit jealous? I mean he’s supposed to be so good at it.”
“McClure, you need to drop this line of conversation. I find it immensely boring, and I don’t care what Michael does on the job any more than I care what ‘you’ do. We’re here for a purpose, all of us.”
“What about Michael? Doesn’t he get jealous?” Mac could not give up. He knew he was digging himself deeper and deeper, but lacked the wisdom to just shut up.
“I have no idea what Michael feels about anything. We haven’t discussed it. It is not germane to the mission we have before us.” She walked over to him and smiled her dangerous and seductive smile and said, “Mac, just shut up.” In order to reinforce her point, Nikita knocked him back on the bed, grabbed him by the testicles and gave a little squeeze. “I’m sick of you and your questions and innuendoes. Do you understand me?” Nikita’s hands were strong, and she added just a little more pressure.
“Oowww. Nikita! For pity’s sake,” Mac’s face grew pasty white as he moaned. Nikita released her hold. McClure began to retch and gag. Nikita went back to adjusting her hair. She felt a lot better now, but she couldn’t say the same for Mac though, she thought to herself.
“Are you ready, dear fiancé?” She asked a few minutes later. “The limo will be here in about five minutes.” She gave him a sweet fiancée type smile as she picked up her wrap and evening bag. Mac merely glared in response and stood up slowly.
**************
Michael visually scanned the mingling guests at the French Embassy. He had memorized the .jpg’s of both Madame DeVry and her sister Madame Montand from his PDA download. They were both very beautiful women. Sophie DeVry was according to the intel was petite 5-1, weighed about 45 kg., She had dark brown hair and brown eyes. Her sister Helene Montand, wife of the Finance Minister, was taller about 5-5 with the same dark brown hair and eyes, but with her larger bone structure she weighed about 55 kg. Unfortunately, that simple description fitted over half the women in the room. Both women were very striking, but again the large elegantly appointed ballroom was filled with striking women.
Michael moved gracefully in his evening dress, and many women were giving him appreciative glances. He even knew a few of them from his travels as an art dealer. He spied Katrina van der Hoot, an old acquaintance on the art scene, who knew everybody who was anybody. She was smiling at him, and he knew she would point him in the right direction. He wanted to waste no more time on visual reconnaissance.
“Michel, mon cher. Where have you been for so long? It’s been simply ages since I last saw you.” She made her way to him and placed a proprietary hand on his arm. She was lovely, but never had been to his taste.
He smiled, “Katrina, cheri, I have been in the Americas a great deal. They are just simply starved for art there. And you, how have you been? Still married?”
“Oui, you know we don’t bother to divorce here in France. We are too civilized for that. We just have affaires de couer, darling.” She arched an eyebrow at him.
“Je desole, I am looking for someone, but don’t see her. So many beautiful women here tonight, it is difficult to find the one I seek.” Michael’s eyes glittered greenly in the bright lights of the ballroom.
“Oh, Michel, you have not changed a bit, I see. Let me help you, I know everyone, but you already know that don’t you darling.” Katrina patted his arm and glanced around.
“Katrina, you fill me with shame, but yes, I do need your assistance. I have so little time in Paris this visit. Sophie DeVry? Have you seen her here tonight,” he asked.
“Michel, you are very brave, mon cher. Does the word barracuda ring any bells? Ah, there she is with her sister Madame Montand. They are standing by the French doors. Bon chance, Michel. You are going to need it.” Katrina’s tinkling laugh grated and made the hairs stand on Michael’s neck as she wandered in search of further prey.
Michael had not seen Nikita until he turned to make his way toward the two sisters. Nikita walked down the marble stairs with McClure at her side. Mac was already well into character, playing the attentive fiancé to Nikita. Nikita was into character as well, but more dignified about it, and she looked so incredibly lovely that it was all he could do avoid making eye contact with her--eye contact hell! He wanted to make love to her on the spot, touch that white skin, remove that sinful black dress. Can’t go there, at least not now, he thought. Oh, well, he knew he’d better be on mark for his target(s) of the evening. “Birkoff,” he said softly. “I have identified Sophie DeVry and her sister, and I am moving.”
“Yeah, Michael, I hear ya. Man, you really do have the moves.” Birkoff chuckled into Michael’s comm unit.
“Focus, Birkoff,” said Michael, who was not amused.
****************
Nikita, too, surveyed the crowd looking for her target M. DeVry. In the one-sided top of her dress, she had her own secret weapon. It was not a part of the mission profile, but Doc in Medlab had given it to her anyway. It was a topical form of a new benzodiazepine, as effective and potent as Versed, but not requiring a intravenous injection. Nikita planned on using it to “deactivate” her target for the evening while she went through his computer system. The real trick would be to meet him, seduce him, and convince him to take her to his home, so that she could breach his computer system. All Michael had to do was ‘entertain’ the wife and from the looks of it, her sister, too.
Mac was whispering in her ear. “Look at Mr. Charm, Nikita. Look at him go.”
“Yeah, whatever,” she smiled pretending to be besotted with her fiancé. “Let’s dance, Darling.”
Mac led her onto the floor into a smooth waltz. Well, he does know how to dance, Nikita thought. If he would just shut up, I might be able to tolerate him for a few more minutes.
Mac took advantage of the dance to pull Nikita close to his chest and caress her breast. Nikita smiled and said in her most charming tone of voice, “Mac, you can touch my shoulder, you can touch my waist, but if you touch my breast one more time, I’m going to cancel you. Right here, right now. Do I make myself perfectly clear?”
“Nikita, you just have no sense of fun. Your Michael over there is about to seduce two women, and you’re acting like a stick in the mud.”
“McClure, focus! We’re on a mission here, not a date!” Nikita hissed. Echoes of Birkoff cackling sounded in her comm unit. Nikita took the opportunity to glance in Michael’s direction as they moved about the dance floor. Conversation with his two targets seemed to be going well. He was already guiding them out of the main room, as they smiled and laughed at his bon mots.
“Come on, Mac. We need to mingle. You need to get lost. I see my target by the fireplace. Why don’t you see if Michael needs any help.” Nikita smiled at Mac as she started making her way toward DeVry. “Moving, Birkoff. The target is in sight.”
*************
Sophie and Helene needed little encouragement from Michael to leave the room for more private conversation. Sophie had spied him before Helene. “Umm. Helene, there is the most beautiful man I have ever seen, and he is coming this way. Oh, my, but he looks a little dangerous,” she sighed.
Helene turned around to see for herself. “Oui, and look and the way he walks, like a jungle cat. And that hair. I cannot wait until I get my hands into that wavy mass.” Helene felt the heat rise as she watched him approach.
Michael was aware of their interest, but was pretending to be wandering aimlessly around and carrying a glass of wine which he sipped intermittently. Michael sipped again, and as he did both pairs of eyes locked on his as he surveyed them over his glass of wine. He swallowed and smiled, but they did not notice that the smile did not reach those glittering gray-green eyes. Wordless signals passed between them, and it was settled. As he introduced himself, Michael guided them into the next room which was a spacious library.
Leather bound volumes shared the many shelves with objet d’art of many origins. There was one glass-fronted shelf that contained rare and priceless Chinese porcelain. Brocade settees were spaced around the room as well. Over the ornate fireplace, was an elegant gilt-framed trumeau which reached almost to the ceiling. In other words, it was a typical French Louis XIV-XV library/sitting room. A rare rococo bureau plat trimmed in elaborate ormolu was the centerpiece of the room, and probably the most valuable piece of furniture there. The room was also too well trafficked for any kind of dalliance, and Michael knew that dalliance was definitely in order with these two. He had to keep them, especially Sophie, out of Nikita’s way.
Sophie suggested, “Michel, would you like a tour? There are some lovely paintings and pieces throughout the embassy proper, as well as some lovely little works of art in the private areas. N’est pas, Helene?”
“Oui, Michel. Since you are an art dealer, you should definitely see the private area,” seconded Helene with simpering enthusiasm.
In his comm unit Michael could hear Birkoff choking with laughter, “Man, you don’t even have to talk, do you. They are ready to lay it on you. God, Michael, you have it made. You’re my hero.” Birkoff continued to wheeze and giggle into Michael’s ear. Michael continued to smile and make small talk as they continued on the tour.
After 10 minutes of walking through long halls that were wood-paneled, elaborately painted and decorated in the French style, Sophie and Helene opened the door to a small room. While it was almost tiny, it was elaborately decorated as well in the French manner. An une bateau lit was the main piece of furniture of the room. As Michael looked around ostensibly for the artwork, Sophie placed her arms around his neck and began to kiss his mouth. Helene began to remove his tuxedo jacket.
“He carries a gun, Sophie,” Helene whispered as she carefully placed his jacket aside and began caressing his back.
“Yes, I can tell,” said Sophie as she rubbed her body against Michael’s.
“No, I mean a real one. But then you said he looked dangerous,” she giggled as she started to remove his holster.
“No, let me do that. I wouldn’t want you to hurt anyone.” Michael disentangled himself from Sophie’s hold long enough to remove his holster and gun. “I’ll just place them over here out of the way,” he said with great charm.
Helene then took over kissing him, and Sophie began popping the studs from his shirt, and they went flying everywhere. “Voila! The shirt is history, soon the cummerbund, and the trousers. Sophie then started running her hands up and down his back. “Umm. You have some interesting scars, mon cher. Are you sure you’re just an art dealer, Michel? You are looking more and more like a terrorist to me,” she said as she began to envision a fantasy in her mind.
Michael gave a feeble laugh. That is certainly too close for comfort he thought. And Birkoff gave a, “Woof, woof” into the comm unit. Cancellation and Birkoff were two words that came to his mind, while he was still coherent.
By now, Helene and Sophie had Michael’s trousers removed and folded on a chair. Boxers or briefs were not at issue, as he was not wearing any. Sophie was behind Michael massaging his buttocks, while Helene was taking similar action in the front. Michael moaned. These two certainly knew what they were doing. All he had to do was keep them occupied for a couple of hours. Mon dieu.
*************
Nikita walked slowly over to her target, M. Devry. “Birkoff, does Michael have Madame Devry out of the way,” she asked quietly.
“Oh, yeah. I don’t think you’re going to have to worry about them for quite a while,” Birkoff could not help that he sniggered as he said this.
Nikita sighed and wandered over to Simon DeVry and looked at him with her enormous aquamarine eyes, and said, “I’m Nikita, and you’re the most handsome man in this room. Why don’t I know you already?”
Simon chuckled, “That’s supposed to be ‘my’ pickup line young lady. Why don’t I know you?” He straightened up and preened a little at her interest.
“Because I was just posted to Paris, and I’ve only been here a week.” Nikita fluttered her eyelashes and gave him her most seductive smile. “Paris is a beautiful city, but I haven’t seen very much of it yet.”
“I’m Simon DeVry and I am an importer. My sister-in-law is the wife of the Finance Minister, which is why they allow me to come to these parties sometimes. Unfortunately, they tend to be quite boring too. One sees the same people over and over.”
“I’m sure, M. Devry,” Nikita agreed.
“Simon, please call me Simon. It’s much more friendly. Don’t you think?”
“Yes, Simon. And I think I would like some more champagne, and to get away from my fiancé. He’s followed me here to see me settled and he’s really beginning to get on my nerves.” Nikita intensified her gaze at Simon, and she could see him begin to respond to her flirtation.
“Yes, I noticed you dancing earlier. You appeared to be having a little disagreement or lovers quarrel,” he quizzed her gently. A waiter passed by with champagne and Simon took two glasses, one for Nikita and one for himself.
“Oh, it was nothing very serious, he --well, he becomes a little too demonstrative in public, and that is not something I like,” Nikita said as she gave him a shy look over her glass of champagne.
“But you are so beautiful, he probably cannot help himself. If fact, I am not sure that if I were to dance with you, that I could control myself either,” Simon smiled a little one sided smile as he attempted to flatter her. He had made up his mind to take he to his bed. Sophie and Helene had pulled their usual disappearing act on the arm of some wimpy artsy type, so they would be out of his way for quite a while.
Nikita looked down shyly, then said, “What about your wife. Are you here alone?” She asked as she ran her hand over his forearm.
“Oui, I am married, but my wife and her sister are otherwise engaged for the evening. I do not expect to see her till morning, if the truth is told,” he said as he gave her a little smile.
“Doesn’t that bother you. I mean if what you are implying is--” Nikita acted as if she were uncomfortable with what appeared to be the truth of Simon’s situation.
“My wife and her sister have just picked up some poor slob, who doesn’t know he will be the worse for wear by morning. Pity him, not me. This is France, my dear. We understand such things. What about your fiancé? Will he not be upset if you ‘disappear’ for a little while?”
“I don’t care. This is Paris, and I want to be ‘bad’ for a change.” Nikita unleashed the full voltage of her seductive smile and sizzling eyes. Simon’s hand began to shake a little. “I want to be ‘really bad.’ Take me to your house and make love to me in your bed, the one you share with your wife.” Nikita was standing very close to him by this time, and she could see the feel the tremors of desire that were running through Simon DeVry’s body.
“My house, my bed. You certainly do want to be bad. Well, I will help you be bad. Come along ma pet.”
Nikita could hear Birkoff in her comm unit. “Nikita, you are a piece of work. I can’t believe he fell for ‘I want to be bad.’” Nikita was glad that Birkoff was having fun, since she certainly wasn’t. Nikita knew the real reason for her irritation with Birkoff was that Michael was probably having fun as well. It’s only part of the mission, she told herself. It’s only part of the mission. She repeated it over and over in her mind and DeVry ushered her out quietly and took her to his nearby townhouse.
***************
Michael wondered how he was going to get to the topical tranquilizers he had secreted in his tuxedo. His clothes had come off much quicker than planned. Luckily, there was enough of the new type of tranquilizer for two. It acted instantaneously, in fact, but the half life was long enough for him to get out of there and act as backup for Nikita and to get into DeVry’s computer system. If he could just get back to his clothes!
“I feel at a disadvantage, having all my clothes off, and you two are still dressed. Somehow it does not seem quite fair.” He smiled as he began undressing Sophie, and placing her clothes neatly beside his. He kissed Sophie’s breasts as he picked her up and lay her on the bed. Helene received his attentions next. She was anxiously removing her expensive gown, and she handed it to him. Neatness was important, after all, they would have to go back out to the party eventually. It would never do to appear at an embassy gala with wrinkled clothing or one’s hair out of place. Michael was able to manipulate the dosages out of his jacket as he placed Helene’s dress next to his clothing.
With a delicate ampule in each palm, he approached them smiling and in all his glory. Helene could not wait any longer, and she pulled him roughly onto the bed. His right hand placed the tranquilizer on her shoulder. A little pressure, the seal was broken, and Helene was asleep on the bed. Sophie appeared stunned. All she had seen was that her sister had apparently fainted. “Helene, what is wrong?” she cried as she shook her sister.
Michael allowed a puzzled look to cross his face as well, and placed his left hand containing the other dose of the new drug on her shoulder. “Ditto, Sophie,” he said. He threw their clothes over them. He quickly redressed, adjusted his holster, ran his fingers through his hair and went to the door. He casually looked both ways, and strolled into the hall.
“Birkoff, the sisters are neutralized. After I find my way out of this maze of back halls, I will be following Nikita’s tracker to DeVry’s. Is everything okay with her?,” he asked a little anxiously.
“She’s leading him a merry little chase, she is, Michael. I wish you could hear her.” Birkoff giggled in Michael’s ear.
“That’s okay, I’ll be over there soon enough.” Michael continued to wander around a bit. The simm rep that had been downloaded into his PDA was missing a few halls and exits in the embassy. Michael’s sense of direction won the day, but he was not pleased with the quality of the intel he’d been given. “Birkoff, tell McClure to meet me at the van. We’ll go over to DeVry’s together. There’s no time to waste now.” Michael said tersely.
Michael reached the gray van and entered. Birkoff was sitting at his usual spot, sequencing to beat the band. “Why did I have so much trouble with the embassy simm rep, Birkoff. Nothing was where it was supposed to be in that area of the building.”
“Gee, Michael, maybe it wasn’t the intel. Just maybe you didn’t have enough blood supply to your brain.” At this Birkoff ducked, Michael’s aimed smack at the back of his head. Birkoff continued to giggle. Michael glared.
Michael waited impatiently in the van rubbing his chin. “Where’s McClure? Why isn’t he here?” Michael’s anxiety level was climbing higher, the longer he was away from Nikita. He knew she had backup, but he could not help worrying about her.
“He’s coming Michael.” Birkoff said as there was a knock on the van door.
“It’s about time. Let’s go,” he said to the driver. Michael settled back as McClure gave him a disgusted stare.
“What’s the matter, Michael? Afraid your girlie will get some strange like you did tonight?”
A swift and powerful punch to his jaw knocked McClure to the floor of the van. “I’ve had enough of your sh** McClure to last me a life time. Another word about Nikita, and I will finish you.” Michael loomed over him ready for any resistance.
“Sorry, Michael, my mouth gets the better of me sometimes. By the way, Nikita fights dirtier than you do.” Mac laughed and Michael did as well, wondering what Nikita had done to McClure to earn this praise.
**************
In his office aerie, Operations paced as he usually did when a mission was in progress. Madeline called with Birkoff’s report. “Nikita is already in place at DeVry’s townhouse with backup stationed just outside. Michael has eliminated Madame DeVry and her sister and their potential for being in the way..
“Eliminated?” Operations looked surprised. Canceling the two sisters hadn’t part of the mission profile.
Madeline smiled. “Sorry poor choice of words. Michael apparently drugged them. They are still sedated in an obscure part of the embassy well out of the way of Nikita and her target.”
“Drugged them, where is he getting that stuff. It’s the second time he’s drugged targets without it being part of the mission profile. Find his source. If it’s ‘here’ I want to know it.” Operations turned his head and leveled his steel blue eyes at Madeline.
“Of course.” Madeline nodded, but she already knew the source and Michael and Nikita’s new tranquilizing drugs. “Doc” down in MedLab, in addition to being a trauma surgeon, had research facilities for pharmaceuticals and had been of use to Madeline on more that one occasion.
As Madeline turned to leave his office, Operations reached for her arm. Madeline merely looked at his hand on her arm and queried, “Is there something else?” Her tone was respectful, but cool. Her brown eyes said, not again.
Operations removed his hand. “No, I guess not,” he said a little sadly, then he turned and walked away, leaving Madeline alone in his office.
Madeline pondered Michael’s new propensity for using drugs as the means to achieve his ends. There had been a time when Michael would not have hesitated to use his body to occupy Sophie and Helene. The relationship between Michael and Nikita was strengthening, she surmised. That was good to a point. McClure was proving to be a distraction to them both, but apparently that situation was also contributing to strengthening their bond. The most encouraging fact was that Michael and McClure seemed to be working toward some rapprochement. Michael was handling him well--controlling the disruptive member of the team indeed. Maybe this would not be a disaster at all. Madeline crossed her mental fingers for a little more luck.
***************
Simon DeVry put his arms around Nikita's waist and kissed her neck breathing heavily. Nikita laughed huskily, "You really want to be bad with me don't you?" They were already in the bedroom, and Nikita had easily maneuvered him over to the bed. She caressed him about the neck and placed the plastic ampoule of tranquilizer. Minimal pressure against the small container allowed the drug to come in contact with his skin, and DeVry collapsed onto his bed. Nikita smiled and said "Pig," to his inert form.
"Birkoff, DeVry is neutralized. I'm on my way to his office." Nikita picked up her evening bag containing the disk which she would use to download his files. She walked out of the ornate bedroom and down the hall to the left. The simm rep she that was downloaded on her PDA had proved to be quite helpful. Two more doors on the left and she was there. She tried the door. "It's locked, Birkoff."
"Use the code analyzer, Nikita."
"I didn't have room for it in my evening bag, Birkoff. McClure has it in his pocket."
"What! You didn't have room!" Birkoff exclaimed. "Okay, we're almost there, Nikita. Mac's in the van with us. He's got it, Nikita." He gave a puzzled look at McClure. "Why on earth did you let her do that, Mac?"
"Well, Nikita felt it was more important to fit her 9mm in the evening bag and the code analyzer in my pocket. Let's just say I have learned the hard way to do what Nikita wants,” he said and grimaced.
"Hey guys. Hurry, I'm standing here in the hall with no place to go and nothing to do till you get here," Nikita spoke quietly into the comm unit and looked up and down the hall.
"We're here, Nikita," Michael said as they drove in front of DeVry's townhouse. "Give me the decoder, McClure. Let's go." Michael bounded out of the van almost before it stopped. Silently McClure followed him to a side entrance. As they ran, they adjusted their ski masks before they prepared to enter the house.
"Michael, I've deactivated his primary alarm system, but there's a backup, that I can't reach because it's shielded. I don't know how long you have. In the typical residential alarm system, it may be as long as 5 minutes, or as little as one." Birkoff's voice spoke calmly into Michael's comm unit. "It looks like we have a couple of moving bodies besides Nikita on the second floor. Probably servants, Michael."
"Merde, Birkoff, why don't we have adequate intel on this. Never mind, We're in the house and going to meet Nikita on the second floor." Michael and Mac were bounding up the stairs and came across a very startled maid. Michael nodded to Mac, who placed his hand across her mouth. In seconds he had her bound in a hall closet. Michael continued on his way to find Nikita.
He reached the room where he knew the computer system was located, but Nikita was nowhere to be seen. Michael placed the decoder on the door. The code came up quickly, and Michael entered it, still wondering where Nikita was. "Nikita, where are you?"
"Here, Michael." Nikita opened a door that was behind Michael. The maid almost caught me in the hall. I had to go somewhere."
"No problem, but we 'have' wasted time because you didn't have the decoder with you." Michael sounded very irritated, and Nikita knew she had not made the wisest choice in handing it over to Mac. She had expected to keep him a little closer as part of her backup, but she still had made the choice. She could tell from Michael’s machine mode expression that this was not the time to whine or make excuses.
"Birkoff, we're in the data room. I'm booting his system now. Nikita, please tell me you ‘do’ have the disk with you," Michael said as he raised an eyebrow. Nikita gave him a saccharine smile and handed it over.
"Okay, Michael, I'm receiving. It should only take another 60 seconds." Everything was going smoothly, then an alarm started squawking not 10 seconds later. "Hold on, almost. Another 45 seconds, and you can exit.”
Nikita watched the door. She pulled out her 9mm and checked the clip, replaced it and pulled back on the cocking mechanism. She stood silently as she watched Michael complete the file transfer.
"That's it, Michael. Get outta there! You've got incoming hostiles. Looks like it’s only the local gendarmes, but they're not gonna care who we are."
Michael looked at Nikita. "The gendarmes are coming. We're going to have to bluff our way out. Get DeVry and we'll ‘encourage’ him to give us a cover story. Move."
"He's out, Michael," Nikita protested with wide eyes.
"What do you mean out?"
"I mean I tranquilized him. I don't know if I can wake him up. I've never used this drug on anyone before." She saw the frenzied look in his eye. "I'm going. I'm going. I'll see what I can do. Hold down the fort, mon cher."
She threw him a kiss as she ran down the hall DeVry's bedroom. He was still snoring. Well, doc, said I could awaken him easily, if I needed. So here goes, she thought. “DeVry,” Nikita said as she nudged him with her gun. “Wake up, and do it quickly. Do exactly as I say, and you’ll live. Don’t do as I say, and well....” she held the gun to his head. “The police are on their way. Funny thing, you’re alarm sounded, and they are here to check it out. My friends downstairs and I would like you to pretend that we’re your guests and that the alarm was an accident. Got it? Good. Let’s go.” Nikita motioned with her gun and DeVry did as he was told.
Nikita and her “host’ came down the stairs just in time to greet the gendarmes answering the alarm call. He was acting as if he were an attentive companion to the lovely Nikita. Michael and McClure had allowed the gendarmes to enter the townhouse. Since both men were in evening dress (minus their ski masks) and leisurely sipping wine, the gendarmes were already somewhat reassured that the alarm was a mistake.
“I am so sorry,” DeVry started. “It is all a mistake. My friends and I were a little tipsy after the embassy party, and I had trouble entering my code. As you can see there is no problem here.”
*************
Nikita had kept her gun on DeVry the entire time that the gendarmes were in his townhouse. As soon as they left, he demanded, “Who are you people, and what are you doing in my house?” He did a double-take as Michael walked up to him. “You were with my wife. Where is she?”
“Your wife and her lovely sister are still sleeping it off somewhere in the embassy. They have not been harmed. You will be coming with us.” Michael signaled who Mac quickly bound DeVry’s hands behind his back and blindfolded him.
The operatives quickly left the townhouse and entered the gray van. Michael was reporting to Madeline. “We have DeVry and his computer files are already downloaded to you. Yes, there were no problems.” Michael gave a glance at McClure who raised an eyebrow in response. “Well, yes, that was a little problem, but not insurmountable.” Michael looked at Nikita with that response, and she knew Madeline must have mentioned her little mistake with the code analyzer.
The trip to the military airport outside Paris was accomplished without incident. The operatives and their target were on board waiting for clearance to take off. Nikita snuggled down into her seat. She had changed into khaki fatigue pants and tee shirt in order to get some sleep on the flight. Michael, too, had changed from his tuxedo into black, of course, pants and tee shirt. He sat in the seat beside her. She looked up in surprise, since he normally avoided showing any personal interest in her on missions either before or after they were completed. DeVry was stowed in the containment portion of the plane, and most of the operatives had the same idea as Nikita, sleep.
“Sorry, I wasn’t able to tell you how lovely you were tonight,” he whispered in her ear. His comment brought a small smile to her face. “That dress,” he continued, “wasn’t just a dress. It was a weapon, ** and I wish it could have been used on me.”
A bigger smile came to Nikita’s face. “Thank you. You looked pretty hot yourself tonight. I love it when you wear a tuxedo,” she whispered to him. Nikita could not resist touching his cheek and running her fingers over his lips. As she did, he kissed her fingers, but his eyes warned ‘be patient.’ Nikita sighed and snuggled beneath the blanket, which she magnanimously offered to share with him.
Michael held her left hand in his right one beneath the blanket. He stroked her hand softly, as Nikita’s eyes widened. She wondered what he would do next. How could such a simple innocent movement be so arousing? She saw that his eyes were partially shut as if he were going to sleep, but the continued movement of his fingers against her own belied that suggestion. She saw him cut his eyes toward her, and could see that they glittered. She could also see that his respiration rate had increased, and that the carotid pulse in his neck was bounding. Going to sleep was the last thing on his mind, she knew.
Nikita could feel her own heart rate increase and a heated flush rose to her face. Rivulets of desire began to wash over her. Rivulets that threatened to become waves. If Michael did not cease and desist, they were going to be joining the mile high club before the flight was over. Nikita barely noticed when the plane became airborne. As the plane gained altitude and leveled, Michael continued his soft assault on her hand, then progressed to caressing her breasts beneath the tee shirt. Wide-eyed with apprehension, Nikita looked around the plane. Everyone seemed settled into sleep, even Michael.
“Go to the bathroom,” he whispered urgently. “I’ll follow you.”
“Michael?” Nikita could not believe her ears. Surely, he did not mean for them to....
“Do it,” he ordered softly.
Nikita sighed again and pulled his hand from her breast. She looked over her shoulder as she walked down the aisle. Everybody seemed to be asleep. She knew she must be insane. After the fiasco in the parking lot when Operations threatening to cancel one of them, Nikita could not believe she was going willy-nilly to make love with Michael in the Section plane. Well, yes, she could believe it. She couldn’t resist Michael’s nearness anymore than he could resist hers. This weekend had been frustrating for them both apparently. She had been paired with McClure, and Michael had been the distraction for two women, not one but two!
Nikita entered the bathroom and leaned against the wall in the small space. She waited. After two minutes that seemed like twenty, Michael opened the bathroom door.
A finger to his lips cautioned her to be quiet. “Not a word or a sound,” he whispered. His eyes were green, and they glittered with desire as he looked at her huddled in the small bathroom..
Nikita’s mouth opened in an O, and Michael started kissing her. His tongue found its way into her mouth and found hers. His hands pulled at her tee shirt and she pulled at his. Her hands began unfastening his belt buckle, as his began unbuttoning her pants. She tugged his pants down and his manhood sprang free. Nikita’s hand encircled him and a silent moan shook his body. Michael had difficulty with Nikita’s khaki pants. They were down around her ankles, but didn’t want to come off over her boots.
As he knelt down to pull at the pants, her tempting sweetness was there right in front of him and he could not resist taking a taste. The silent moan now came from Nikita. Her face contorted in pleasure, but she refused to give voice to her desires. Finally the khaki’s were off, and Michael picked up his precious burden. Her legs wrapped firmly around him, as she guided him to her. Michael turned around in the cramped quarters so that Nikita’s back was against the wall. He could wait no longer as he began thrusting into Nikita’s silken warmth. Nikita answered his thrusts with her own, biting into his shoulder to keep from crying aloud.
On and on, till neither could stop the overwhelming tide that washed over and exploded between them. Michael’s breath was ragged, and perspiration glistened on his face and back as he sagged against her. His eyes were half closed, but Nikita could see the love and emotion as he looked at her. He kissed her mouth and breathed, “I love you, Nikita,” in her ear.
Nikita looked deeply into eyes that were gray again, and whispered, “I know. I finally know. I love you, too, Michael.” Tears glistened in her aquamarine eyes.
************
Nikita left the bathroom separately from Michael, and walked quietly down the aisle to her seat. He followed her a couple of minutes later. As he sat next to her, he gave her his heart in his gray-green eyes. Tears formed in Nikita’s eyes as she accepted the gift. Michael stroked her cheek and his hand shook with the emotions that were overwhelming him. Together they snuggled under the blanket.
Michael took Nikita’s hand and told her softly, “I wish we could have stayed in Paris another night. The Georges Cinq is a beautiful and romantic place. I wish you could have been there with me.”
Nikita smiled and put a finger to her lips to caution him. “I wish it too, Michael.” Michael kept her hand in his and held it until they both fell asleep.
Mac observed this from his seat on the other side of the plane, and he had mixed feelings. Nikita’s heart definitely belonged to Michael. From the tenderness he saw on Michael’s unguarded face, Mac surmised that Michael was in love with Nikita as well. He found it difficult to reconcile the Michael he knew as the perfect section machine with the passionate and tender Michael he had just seen with Nikita.
Mac was a pragmatic person. He had to be in order to survive in that environment. He would not spend a lot of time chasing a dream that could never be his. The dream that was already someone else’s dream. At that moment he knew and accepted that he didn’t have a chance with Nikita. There must be more to Michael than he thought, if Nikita had given her heart to him.
***********
Nikita debriefed with Operations, but Madeline had requested that she come to her office afterwards. Nikita always approached Madeline’s office as if it were a tenacious spider web and she the nice juicy fly. The door opened as Nikita neared. Madeline sat there with her enigmatic smile and waited as Nikita sat. Madeline knew exactly how Nikita felt, and that was a good measure of her power over Nikita.
“The mission went well I know, but how did you and McClure work together?”
“Basically, he was a pain in the butt, Madeline, but he’s a good team leader,” Nikita spoke frankly. “We came to an understanding, finally. After that we worked well together.”
“An understanding?” Madeline said as she raised an eyebrow. “I see.”
Nikita looked at Madeline with a question in her eyes.
“Yes, Nikita, that is all.” Madeline dismissed her and turned back to her terminal.
Nikita met Michael coming down the hall as she left. Michael was back in machine mode, and he barely gave her a second look. Apparently, he didn’t like going to Madeline’s office either.
“You wanted to see me?” he asked coming straight to the point.
“I was concerned about McClure’s performance. I hesitated to send the three of you together, but it couldn’t be avoided, given our low recruitment numbers at present.”
“He performed well. There were no problems.” Michael’s mask remained in place.
“I understand that there was an altercation in the van,” she probed. She knew it was too much to ask for Michael to squirm, because she had trained him too well, but she still enjoyed pushing his buttons from time to time.
“We merely came to an understanding. There won’t be any more repeats. Are we getting what we need from DeVry?” He asked attempting to divert Madeline’s attention from the subject of McClure.
“Yes, as a matter of fact, M. DeVry is only too happy to assist us with the type of information we need. He was quite ‘charmed’ by the pictures you took of his wife and sister-in-law before you left them. We have the means to control him quite nicely, as well as the Minister of Finance. You did quite well, Michael. The use of the new topical benzodiazepine came in quite handily, did it not?”
“Yes.”
“I am intrigued by your new usage of pharmaceuticals in the field rather than force or your body. I wonder if you’re becoming softer, Michael. Is this a new trend?” Madeline asked as she pushed another emotional button.
“I simply chose the quickest way to neutralize my targets. That’s all.” His mask or voice never faltered.
“Well, you always were economical, Michael,” Madeline smiled. “That’s all.
Michael spun on his heel and left.
Madeline smiled as she watched him leave. Yes, she had trained him well.
************
Nikita was waiting in Michael’s office when he returned from his sparring with Madeline. She waited until he punched in the code that shielded the office from the ‘eavesdropping’ that was so rampant in Section One. She leaned back in her chair and smiled, “Your place or mine?”
“Nikita, don’t you ever get tired? I don’t even know what time it is. I barely know it’s Sunday. I have the mission reports to finish. And tomorrow, I have to go back to the damn shrink.” Michael was still on edge after his episode with Madeline. She still had the power to ruin his mood, and he hated it.
Nikita sprang from the chair, her blue eyes blazing with fear. “What’s wrong, Michael? Don’t pull away from me. Don’t shut me out. I can take anything but that.”
She looked into his eyes and could see that he would not or could not tell her what had changed his mood so abruptly. “I’m here, Michael, if you want to talk.” She stroked his cheek, and she felt the muscles relax a bit.
“I know, but there are still some things, I must keep to myself. Go home, get some rest. I will call you later, when I know where I am with all this....” Michael gestured with his outstretched arm toward the mountain of paperwork on his desk. Having a relationship with Nikita was certainly playing hell with his ability to stay ahead of the work.
“All right, Michael. I’ll talk to you later then.” Nikita resisted her basic impulse to whine, and kissed him on the cheek. It took all of her strength to smile and walk from his office.
Michael sighed after she left. She’s learning, he thought. He could see how she felt, and he knew her well enough to know the effort it took for her to leave as she did. He loved her more than he could have possibly imagined. She was his weakness and his strength. For the man who lived his life split in two, she was the weakness of the perfect operative. The man who had been reassembled, refabricated and readjusted to suit a higher purpose than himself. The knowledge of his weakness for her gave others power over him.
But for the other man who struggled to be free, Nikita was his strength and light. That man was trying again to rearrange his psyche with assistance from Nikita and Dr. DuPre, who were attempting to tear down the walls he had so painstakingly erected over the years--the walls that kept him functioning in this place. Michael was not sure that the walls could ever be completely removed, but Nikita had certainly breached his defenses with her heart. Certainly Nikita had removed some of the bricks in those walls.
Dr. DuPre had made him examine the chinks that held the bricks together. At this moment, Michael was not sure he would be able to withstand the deconstruction. What would be left when they finished?
***********
Nikita met Mac in the hall as she was leaving Section. He looked like he was waiting for her. That’s all I need, she thought.
“Nikita, I want to apologize for the way I’ve been acting. I know I’ve been a jerk. You and Michael obviously have something special, and I won’t give you anymore grief over it. I’ve always been a little jealous of Michael, and now I guess I’m really jealous.” He gave a small laugh. “Just watch yourself and be careful with Michael. You have no idea of some of the things he’s been put through. He’s not a healthy person, but if he can love anyone, I guess it would be you, Nikita.”
“Well, thanks, I guess, Mac.” Nikita smiled, but was puzzled. She thought by now, she knew almost everything there was to know. Maybe not. What was it Mac had kept saying on the Paris mission--ask Michael about Madeline. Nikita thought of his familiarity with where Madeline lived. Nikita decided she didn’t want to think about Michael and Madeline. Better not go there, she thought.
Nikita arrived at her apartment and started the straightening process. There was no food in the refrigerator--nothing except bottled water. Nikita opened one and took a long thirsty drink. She had just enough time to make a grocery run and was on her way out the door as her cell phone chimed.
“Nikita, I am not going to make it tonight. I won’t be out of here till late. There’s so much left to do. I’m going to take it home with me or stay in my quarters here. That won’t be any fun for you,” Michael’s voice was soft and hesitant.
“No, you’re not. You have all day-- hell! You have all week to do nothing but paperwork. You need to eat. If you don’t want to come over here, I’ll bring you dinner to your place. And if you don’t let me do that, then I’ll just bring it to you at Section. Let’s see now, candles, flowers, violinist and dinner right there in your office. Get the picture, Michael? We’ll have a nice little romantic--”
“I get the picture, Nikita,” Michael sighed. When did she become so damn pushy, he asked himself. It was getting harder and harder to refuse her anything. “All right, you win, but this is becoming a dangerous precedent,” he said softly.
“I’ll be there at 7PM,” she said. “You be there, too. No excuses. Love you.”
“Nikita this is not a terribly secure line,” he protested.
“Say it,” she insisted softly.
“Je t’aime, Nikita. Je t’aime.” Michael had given up trying to direct the relationship. He was well aware that Nikita was in control, at least for that night.
*************
At 6:45PM Michael closed the top of his laptop and stood up to leave. He had accomplished a small mountain of work, but the feeling of deep depression had not abated.
As Michael walked out, he met Madeline. Just what he needed, he thought.
“Everything all right, Michael?” Madeline noted his unease in her presence. “Anything you want to talk about?”
“No. I’m fine, just a little tired. I’m on my way home.” Michael’s inclination was to run, but he never would. He knew his only recourse was to remain calm and wait till she tired of her sport. Maybe he was being paranoid.
“You could come by my place for a drink. It might help you relax,” she suggested knowing he was probably on his way to see Nikita.
“I don’t think so, Madeline.”
“As you wish, Michael.” Madeline smiled, but wondered if she had gone too far in baiting Michael. Probably, but it kept him enough off balance that she was always in control. Madeline and Michael rode in the elevator together and in a ‘companionable’ silence.
They went their separate ways as they reached the parking area. “Good night, Michael,” she said as she slid into her elegant, white Rolls Corniche.
“Night, Madeline.” Michael did not allow himself to shudder until he was safely in his car. And now, in his present mood, he still had to see Nikita. This was one night he wanted to be alone and needed to be alone with his thoughts.
A short drive and Michael was home by 7PM, and Nikita was not there yet. Typical, he thought. She would be thirty minutes late and come running in with her arms full of bags. This visualization of Nikita brought a smile to his face. He started turning on the lights in the apartment. As always, his Tiffany lamp was the only spot of color in the room. He supposed he had carried the ‘black’ theme a little too far. He ought to do something about all that black, before Nikita took it on herself to start ‘redecorating.’
He shuddered at that thought. He might be ready for a little color in his life, but he certainly wasn’t ready to trade gray and black for all white. He smiled again. Maybe he did need to see Nikita tonight. Every time he had thought about her, he realized he had smiled.
Michael headed to the bathroom and turned on the shower. He knew he would have time before Nikita arrived with dinner. He quickly stripped and stepped into the shower. Michael stood in the pulsating stream of water and let the heat and steam fill the shower. Finally he shut off the water, he could hear a pounding at the door. He quickly wrapped a white towel around his waist and went to the door.
“Took you long enough, what were you--” she started to ask, but then she saw a tall tanned body wearing only a towel. Wavy, wet hair was dripping on his shoulders, and he had a sheepish smile on his face. Nikita dropped her packages. “Eye candy, mmmm.” she said as she started grabbing at them.
“Sorry, I didn’t hear you,” he said as he pecked her on the cheek and helped her with the packages of take-out Chinese food.
“Either I’m going to have to take some clothes off, or you’re going to have to get dressed, Michael. This is very disconcerting. I feel overdressed.”
“I’ll put on something,” he offered.
“Well, don’t put on too much, and I’ll take something off. What should I take off, Michael?” she asked with a big smile and batted her eyelashes at him.
“Surprise me,” he suggested in his soft, sexy voice. He put his arms around her and kissed her on the lips. “Back in a minute,” he said and patted her on the butt.
**************
Michael was always being surprised by Nikita. He had been enveloped in the most profound depression that he could remember in months, and now here she was invading his apartment and his life, and he was glad. He rummaged through the armoire in his bedroom and struggled into whatever came first to hand.
He used the next few minutes sitting on his bed thinking of dark and light, of despair and hope and Nikita and how their relationship had changed over the years. There was no longer a struggle to hide their feelings from each other. Their evolution was only beginning, and Michael knew that the future without Nikita would be no future.
Nikita busied herself by lighting the multitude of candles she had brought with her. She had also picked up a bouquet of flowers at a sidewalk stand. “Hmm. Kung Pao Chicken, Cashew Shrimp, Fried Rice, Egg Rolls, Pot Stickers, Lo Mein and sauces. That looks about right.” She set the cartons on Michael’s glass topped table. Michael would probably prefer to eat on a plate, she thought. How boring! “Now,” she said out loud, “wonder what should I take off.”
She looked at her image in the mirror. She was wearing a pink see-thru blouse tied at her waist over a white bandeau bra. White Capri pants hugged her lithe hips and legs. Pink braid in a helix design was applied down the side seams. Chunky white heels completed her outré ensemble, and Nikita didn’t care one whit about the old saw of not weaning white after Labor Day or before Easter. She looked great, and she knew it.
Her hair was pulled back with a plastic pink head band that had two big hearts in the middle. She guessed the bandeau would have to go, and quickly rearranged her blouse just as Michael came back into the dining area, wearing gray athletic shorts and a white tank top.
The candles brought a warmth that Michael’s apartment lacked just as Nikita brought the warmth that his life had lacked. He smiled at her appreciatively. “I see you took off a little something,” he said as he reached over to caress her breasts through the transparent blouse.
“Uh Uh, you can look, but no touching. We are going to eat dinner first. I’ve lost five pounds in the last month, and I’m starving.” She made a moue as Michael looked from her top to her bottom and walked around her--his eyes giving her entire body their attention.
He smiled and shook his head wonderingly. She looked like perfection to him, but then she always had since he had first seen her in the white room. The wild-eyed terrified nymph that was now his love. “May I have a kiss before dinner?” His voice was a soft as a caress on her ear.
“Only one, Michael. No tongue.” Nikita thrust her chin at him as she delivered this order.
“No tongue,” he giggled. “Who made you the manager of my tongue. It has a mind of its own. No touching, no tongue. So many rules, Nikita. I don’t know if I can remember them all. What will you do, if I break one of your rules? Will you punish me?” The pitch of his voice was so sensuous, that it made shivers run down Nikita’s back.
“Michael, no games till after dinner.” Her voice was husky with emotion. She was not sure she was ever going to get dinner if he didn’t stop teasing her with his eyes and his body. She reached over to touch him and give him the one kiss.
“No, dinner first,” Michael teased. He could see from her reactions that she was a hair-breadth from tackling him. Two could play this game, and he could play it well. He pulled a chair for Nikita so that she could sit. He began filling a plate for her. “Nikita, do you have any idea of the fat content of this meal. It is very high. It’s a good thing you have lost some weight, because this meal will take care of it.” He gave her generous portions being precise and sensual with his movements as he did. All the time his voice never changed its seductive tone. He could have been reading Khalil Gibran to her as he continued to talk about the sodium content and the dangers of monosodium glutamate reactions. “You did tell them no MSG, didn’t you? I’m sure you did. At least the vegetables look like they were fresh. You did check to see that they used fresh vegetables, didn’t you. Of course, you did.” Michael’s eyes positively twinkled as he went through this spiel.
Nikita sat there with her mouth open. She had never seen Michael in such a playful mood. Michael, seeing the perfect opportunity, picked up a bite of cashew shrimp with the chopsticks and placed it into her mouth. “There, how is it? Is it good, Nikita? Do you like it?” His sultry voice continued to caress her ears and send shivers down her spine.
“I love it, Michael.” Nikita picked up her own chopsticks and proceeded to give Michael a taste of lo mein. She could play any game he could. “Is it good, Michael?”
Only Nikita’s skills with the chop sticks weren’t as good as Michael’s, and part of the lo mein landed on his chest. “Oh. How clumsy of me. Let me clean that for you.” Nikita rose a little from her chair and began to eat the lo mein off his chest, finishing with a lingering and sensual swipe of her tongue.
Michael moaned. He had known all along this dinner would end with Nikita in his arms. He wouldn’t have had it any other way. Michael reached for Nikita as she reached for him. Nikita threw her head back as he kissed her long white neck. His hands were every where at once, caressing her, pinching her, stroking her. “Michael,” she moaned and her breath grew ragged.
“Talk to me, Nikita. Tell me what you want. Tell me how to please you.” His voice in her ear, was a warm breath that eddied as he spoke.
“I want you, Michael. That’s all I’ve ever wanted. That and your love.”
Nikita had deviated from the playful script. Her sincere answer required more than a seductive and glib response. He gathered her tenderly in his arms and led her to the sofa and sat there with her. “Shh, you already have that, Nikita. You have my love. You have always had it. From the first moment I saw you, in the white room, I knew what Madeline had done when she gave you to me to train. You were to be my healer. I knew I was lost when I saw your wild blue eyes, crying over the photograph I gave you. I fought my feelings for you and tried more than once to destroy those feelings, because I never felt I deserved to be healed. I never felt I deserved to live, much less to love or be loved again. And in spite of all we have been through and done to each other in trying to hide and even deny those feelings, we are here together for whatever time there is left to us.”
Tears rolled down Nikita’s face. She had never heard Michael speak so emotionally and openly to her. She looked into his eyes and saw the unshed tears there.
Nikita stroked Michael’s cheek as she gently kissed him. “I love you, Michael. I always will.”
“No promises, Nikita, just love me for now,” Michael whispered. He still did not believe his life should or would be rewarded with her depth of love.
“No, Michael, I will ‘always’ love you,” Nikita said as she looked directly into his shining eyes.
Michael shut his eyes at her response, and the unshed tears fell, a silent vow to his love for her. He kept his arms around her as he buried his head on her shoulder and sobbed.
***********
Nikita was stunned by Michael’s loss of control. She rocked him in her arms and murmured, “No one has a better right than you, Michael. No One.” Nikita knew Michael had never dealt with his losses. It was as if he had taken those losses, wadded them into a ball and then hidden the ball where he could never find it again. He had first lost his parents, and she really didn’t know how. Then after the bombing he lost his future and with that the relationship with his younger sister. Then he lost his son and finally Simone. Finally, he had been forced to betray his friend Rene.
Eventually, Michael’s sobs quieted. Nikita kept her arms around him. This was perhaps the sweetest moment in their relationship. Michael had given up any pretense of control. He never would have expressed any of his emotions before their relationship had really started to develop. He would have looked at her, looked away, and walked away.
Nikita’s shining blue eyes looked into Michael’s silver-green eyes with all the love and tenderness she possessed. Michael’s aching heart absorbed her feelings like a thirsty sponge. For too long his heart and soul had dwelt in the desert of emotional drought. Nikita with her heart and her light had brought him the elixir of love that restored his life and reasons for living.
“I love you, Michael.” Nikita stroked his cheek with her hand. She kissed his eyelids tenderly. “I have been so stupid. I’ve done such immature things...”
