* * *

The tall and stalwart Brady took point as he walked calmly to the back door of the small house, with the shorter operative Williams following. They were to handle Moira, while Nikita and Li, who would retrieve the child, followed and carried the ‘cleaning’ equipment. A smart rap on the back door, and sequencing commenced.

“Birkoff, I can hear steps in the house. Everything still okay?” Nikita asked, as her stomach cramped with nervousness. She’d had a bad feeling, since Birkoff’s “piece of cake” remark. She surveyed the area again, but could see nothing amiss.

“Yes, Nikita. Only two in the house and one heading toward you.”

The door opened, and a middle-aged woman, with kind blue eyes, appeared with a smile on her face. The silenced spit of the 9mm, and Brady’s tumble backward were the only warnings that he had taken a 9mm round in his chest. Nikita and the other two members of her team dropped and rolled. Williams was down, but not able to fire. Nikita did not have time to ascertain the severity of his wound, she was too busy returning fire. The smiling woman was no longer smiling. Nikita’s first round had struck her chest with a red blossom that bloomed on her white silk blouse.

Nikita assessed her team. Li was uninjured, but Williams needed attention. “Li, retreat to the van,” she ordered. Into her comm set she barked, “Birkoff, Brady’s dead, Williams is injured. Li and I are okay. That wasn’t Moira Fogherty who opened the door, but she’s dead as well. I doubt very seriously that the child is the other person in the house. Eire Fein has gotten here ahead of us, but I have to make sure the child isn’t there. I’m going into the house.”

“If I’m not out in two minutes, abort, and get the hell out of here.”

“Nikita,” came Madeline’s voice over her comm set. “Don’t go. Abort now.”

“Sorry, Madeline, you’re breaking up. What did you say?” Nikita ignored the abort order, and as she had intended, made preparations to leave the van and enter the house.

“Tyler, come with me, and the rest of your give us all the cover you can,” Nikita ordered. Tyler nodded and followed Nikita as she exited the van in a semi-crouched position. From the house, the silenced spit of machine gunfire sprayed around Nikita and Tyler. Cover fire returned an answer from the van. She and Tyler took opposite routes to the house. The back door was the only entrance, and it stood open, an invitation to certain death.

“Birkoff, where is the person firing located?” The machine gunfire had come from a window, but had stopped. Eire Fein’s operative was waiting for them, but where.

“He’s on the move, Nikita. The front exit needs to be secured. Looks like he’s headed that way.”

Nikita nodded toward Tyler, “Secure the front.” Tyler scrambled over the privacy fence and ran for the front door, while Nikita entered through the back. So much for not alarming the neighbors, she thought. As an afterthought, she ordered, “Don’t kill him, we need him for intel on the whereabouts of our targets.”

As Nikita darted through the rear of the house, the EF operative made a rush for the front door. Tyler blocked his way and took a slug in his thigh for his trouble. Nikita aimed low at the wiry opponent and shot out his knee. His leg collapsed under him, and he went down with a groan of pain and frustration.

“The EF operative is down, Tyler is hit in the leg. We’ve got to get out of here before the police show up.” Renault and Li ran from the van to assist in moving Tyler and the EF operative, while Nikita quickly surveyed the rest of the house. Nikita found Moira Fogherty’s body in the front bedroom, but there was no sign of Sean. Nikita’s worst fear had been realized, and Michael’s son was now in the hands of Eire Fein.

Within three minutes, all operatives were in the van and exiting the small subdivision. Nikita reported to Madeline. “We lost Brady. I found Moira Fogherty dead in the house, no sign of Sean. Tyler has a thigh wound. We need Medical waiting at the airport. Plus, we have an Eire Fein operative, but he’s decided not to talk to us. Maybe he will for you.”

“Rot in hell, you blonde bitch!” spit the furious Eire Fein operative. “You will never, I repeat never see that child again. You can do anything you want to me.”

Nikita smiled. “You only say that because you haven’t met Madeline yet.”

*********

Michael sat in the rear cockpit of the two-man fighter jet. The sky was a dazzling blue, but Michael was oblivious to anything but the incredibly slow passage of time, another element that he was unable to control. Five hours had passed since Nikita’s only transmission, and Michael’s anxiety level was at it’s peak, when his communication device sounded again. Michael held his breath and waited for Nikita’s intel on the mission.

“MICHAEL, ARE YOU THERE?

“YES.” He responded.

“EIRE FEIN HAS SEAN.”

“MOIRA DEAD ON SCENE.” Nikita was blunt, for there was no easy way to tell Michael, what she had to tell him.

“IS HE ALIVE?” Michael’s heart felt as if it would burst from his chest.

“UNKNOWN, PRESUMED TO BE.”

“HAVE EIRE FEIN OP”

“FOR INTERROGATION.” Nikita continued.

“YOUR CURRENT LOCATION?” Nikita queried.

“40K FT OVER ATLANTIC”

“GOOD. GLAD YOU’RE ON WAY.” Nikita breathed a sigh of relief. At least he was on his way back to Section One.

“SORRY ABOUT LACK OF INTEL.” Nikita offered by way of apology.

There was no further response from Michael, who felt like throwing the comm device into the Atlantic Ocean far below the clouds. He wasn’t sure he could ever forgive her for not letting him know about the mission sooner.

* * *

Operations was waiting at Van Egress, along with two members of Security as the Phoenix mission returned. “Well, have you gotten anything from him?” he asked Nikita, as she walked down the arched passage to meet him at the door.

Nikita huffed, “Nothing that I’d care to repeat. He needs to meet Madeline.”

“Very well,” Operations said with a smirk as he instructed the security ops., “Take him to the white room now!” They complied and jerked the struggling member of Eire Fein down the hall toward what would be his next-to-last destination.

* * *

The clank of the steel door announced the arrival of Madeline. She wore a charcoal gray, V-necked dress. Her auburn hair waved softly to her shoulders, and she gave a warm and reassuring smile to the latest ‘guest’ in the white room. He was restrained, as was usual, and a sullen gaze of hatred was his only response. She began to circle him in the steel chair that restrained him so effectively.

She continued in her soft, well-modulated voice, “You are Patrick Fogherty, first cousin to Liam Fogherty, now deceased, and a third tier member of Eire Fein. Therefore, you are related to the child, who was taken by the other members of your group. I can only guess at what kind of fanaticism it takes to murder the grandmother of that same child to whom you are also related. Frankly, we don’t care about Moira Fogherty, but we have ‘some’ interest in the child. I want you to tell me exactly who has him, where they have him, and what they intend to do with him, and I want you to tell me now.” Madeline paused as if waiting for a response, one which she did not really expect to receive.

Patrick Fogherty refused even to look her in the face. Beads of sweat began to slide down his pale face, and his breathing grew ragged. He was not fooled by her smile or calm manner. Now he knew death by her real name--Madeline.

“If you tell me what I want to know, I will have you relocated. Your group will never need to know that you confided in us, and you will be free.” Madeline continued to circle.

Fogherty twisted in his seat trying to follow her, “You’ll never find him. He’ll become one of us, and he’ll hunt you covert, thieving bast%$#s down one day, and live to dance on the grave of his traitorous father. Never mind that his mother tried to save that coward she married, and never mind that her mother, my own Aunt Moira tried to keep us from taking him. He’ll be one of us. ‘Give me a child by the age of seven, and he’ll be mine forever.’ Someone said that in the past. It was true then, and it’s true now.”

“I can understand that you are reluctant to share this information with me, so you leave me no choice.” Madeline smiled again as she turned to leave, and with a clank the door opened again.

“He’s all yours,” she said with a nod to the male and female intelligence retrieval specialists, who nodded back, as they prepared the instruments of their highly specialized craft.

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

Operations paced and smoked, his usual pursuits, while Madeline and her apprentices worked with Patrick Fogherty. He heard someone in the hall outside his door and assumed that it was Madeline, who was coming with a report on the interrogation. His assumption was in error, for when he looked toward the door, he was surprised to see Michael standing there.

“What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in Italy,” Operations barked.

Michael stood poised with his hands folded in front of him. “I decided I didn’t need a vacation after all. I’m ready to perform.”

Operations leveled a skeptical gaze at Michael. “Really. You were told to take two weeks. Your precipitous return wouldn’t have anything to do with your son, would it?”

Michael shrugged. “My son? Is there a problem?” Tell me, you SOB, he thought to himself. Tell me about my son. It was only his long-practiced skill at hiding his emotions that kept Michael from grabbing Operations by the shirt and throwing him against the wall.

“Come off it, Michael. I know everything that goes on here. I know that Nikita has been in contact with you. Why does your internal clock say that you’re still in Rome?”

Michael raised an eyebrow as he shrugged again. “Malfunction? Maybe it’s time for a replacement.” He paused and asked again, “What about my son? Do you have a location, yet?” Michael decided it was time to stop playing games, but his outward demeanor did not change.

Operations smiled, “We should have one soon. He’s in interrogation now. Madeline will let me know when she has something. I suppose you want to lead the team to retrieve him. I don’t know if that’s a good idea or not.” Operations smiled as he contemplated prolonging his torture of Michael.

“Of course. Whatever you decide. May I see the prisoner?” Michael asked again in his flat monotone. His increasing agitation was evidenced only by a twitch of his right thumb, but Operations noticed and recognized it as a sign that Michael was anxious to take some type of physical action.

“Now, Michael, Madeline will obtain the location. She doesn’t need your assistance.”

“Fine.” Michael turned on his heel and left Operations standing with his mouth open. Patronizing bastard, he thought, as he took long, swift strides toward Madeline’s office.

*********

Nikita was heading toward Systems, after completing her debrief. She was tired and anxious, but knew there would be another mission on pad as soon as a new location had been achieved on Sean--at least there had better be, she thought. She rounded a corner and literally ran into Michael.

“Oops, sorry, I didn’t realize you were already back. Any news yet?” she asked.

“No, I was on my way to Madeline’s office, but I want you to debrief now.” Michael took Nikita by the arm and lead her into a dark corner.

“I’ve already debriefed, Michael. I’m tired, and I want some rest before I have to go out again,” she added with a petulant glare. His touch on her arm wasn’t a tender one, and she resented his high-handed manner.

Michael’s eyes were cold. “You will debrief with me, now. I want to know why you didn’t contact me sooner. I could have made it in time to rescue my son. Now all my plans are for nothing, and I don’t even know where Sean is.”

“Michael, I contacted you as soon as I knew where he was. All we had before was the city, no address. You could ‘not’ have made it in time, and you know it. I understand that you’re concerned for Sean, but don’t take it out on me. I just had a damn good operative blown away in front of my eyes, and I’m not in the mood to play control games with you, Michael.” Nikita jerked her arm from Michael’s grasp and headed to her standby quarters. For once, she left Michael to watch ‘her’ retreating back.

Michael leaned against the wall and took a deep breath, counted to ten, then to twenty. It was no use. Nikita never failed to surprise him. In the logical part of his mind, he knew she was correct, but in the deeply hidden jumble that constituted his emotional half, he wanted to strike out in rage and angst at the unfairness of life and missed opportunities. One disturbing thought kept leaping, unbidden and unwanted, to his consciousness; if anything happened to Sean, he was not sure he would ever be able to forgive Nikita.

**********

Nikita continued down the hall toward her standby quarters. The unhappy expression on her face and her long, angry stride warned those she met to steer clear. Michael was the most unreasonable man and operative she’d ever had the displeasure to encounter. Nikita took the loss of Tom Brady personally. She had been the team leader, and it was her responsibility to see that all her team returned alive. She didn’t care that contingencies said a certain percentage of losses was acceptable.

By the time Nikita reached her quarters, she remembered that Michael had suffered his own losses; and that basically, the mission had been a failure. The mission had ‘not’ been a ruse of Madeline’s to bring the child under closer Section control, and Sean had ‘not’ been retrieved. As she changed to a white tank top and loose drawstring pants, she admitted to herself that she had ‘reacted’ to Michael’s desperate plea for information in a way that she regretted. Nikita knew she often spoke without thinking about the consequences, and this had been another one of those times.

She wondered uneasily if he would forgive her once again. Of course he would, once Sean was safe again, she thought. She reached for her cell phone. “Birkoff, do we have a location yet? she asked.”

Birkoff nibbled at jelly beans, while he pretended to be engrossed in a tactical simm, and replied, “No, the twins are with him now. It shouldn’t be much longer. I mean if Madeline can’t persuade him with her gentle manner, the twins and their devices will make short work of him.”

Nikita, who always crossed to the other side of the hall when she met them said, “Yeah, Birkoff. What’s their story? I mean they are the creepiest of the creeps around here.”

Birkoff snorted, “Believe me, you don’t want to know their story.”

A bored Nikita responded, “Yes, I would.”

Birkoff gave a furtive look to see if anyone was listening. “It involved small pets and children. You don’t want to know anything else, honestly, Nikita. It’s better not to know some things around here.”

Nikita shivered and admitted, “I guess you might be right after all, Birkoff.”

“Gotta go, Nikita, I’ve got incoming on channel B from Madeline. They’ve got a location on the kid.”

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

Michael walked down the steps into Madeline’s office. She raised her eyes from her computer screen and gave him a wide smile. “We have a location on Sean. He’s being held in Fogherty’s old warehouse. Patrick was kind enough to tell us that they plan taking him out of the country tonight, so we don’t have a lot of time to waste.”

Michael paused, then spoke, “Thank you for making this a priority, Mad’len. I realize it’s a personal consideration and would not normally be considered.”

Madeline looked at him gravely. “You are very valuable to Section One, Michael. There are no other pending missions. Wellesley’s team will be back from Libya tonight. It’s a matter of expediency, really. We need you here, and we need you focused.”

Michael nodded, “Of course. I understand.” He paused again, then said, “I want to lead the team.”

Madeline gave him an direct and appraising look. “You want to lead the team?

Do you really think you should? This is awfully personal for you. I doubt that Operations would agree.”

“He will if you approve it. I don’t trust anyone else to lead it. Is that what you want me to admit?” If Madeline wanted to push his buttons a bit, he would allow it. The safety of his son was worth playing Madeline’s little control games.

Madeline’s eyes twinkled as she smiled, “You didn’t ‘have’ to admit it, Michael. I ‘will’ recommend that you lead it, and Operations will object, but agree in the end.”

“Thank you.” Michael turned on his heel and made a graceful exit.

Madeline’s eyes followed him, but as the door closed behind him, she sighed. Power, grace and sensuality all combined in one remarkable man, who grew more unforgettable every day.

* * *

Nikita saw Michael exit Madeline’s office and head toward his own. She took a deep breath and decided there was no reason to delay her apology. She followed him into his office, where he was already keying on his laptop.

Keeping his eyes on the laptop screen, he said, “I’m busy. There’s a briefing in thirty minutes, and I have a mission to prep.”

“So, I know. You have a location on Sean. That’s great.” Nikita had not felt so ill-at-ease in Michael’s presence in a long time, but she didn’t blame him for his attitude, not this time, anyway.

Michael gave her a blank stare. “I don’t have time for idle conversation, Nikita. I thought I made that clear.”

Nikita’s face flushed. “I -uh, just wanted to apologize for earlier. I’m sorry for the way I acted. I should have been more understanding.” She was ready to grovel, if necessary.

Michael’s hands paused over the keyboard as he looked directly into her eyes and said, “Then understand this. I’m busy. I’ll see you at the briefing.” In a pure gesture of dismissal, Michael returned his hands and eyes to the keyboard.

Nikita bit the inside of her lip to keep from making a pithy response. “Fine,” she muttered softly, as she left the office. The tears started a moment later.

***********

Thirty minutes later, along with Walter, Birkoff, and Li, Nikita was seated at the long polished briefing table, as Madeline and Michael made their appearance. It seemed to Nikita as if some form of unspoken communication passed between them as they took their places. Michael looked first at Nikita, then back to Madeline, whereupon Madeline gave a slight nod. To Nikita, Michael and Madeline acting in concert was a somewhat troubling concept. Nikita knew Operations was still involved with the Libyan mission debrief, and she correctly assumed that Madeline would handle this briefing.

Madeline wasted no time in commencing. “You are all aware that our last mission,” she paused for a momentary glance at Nikita, “was a failure. Our target Moira Fogherty had already been compromised by Eire Fein and killed. Our secondary target, the child Sean Samuels, is now held by another member of Eire Fein, Gavin Fogherty.” Madeline hit the remote and the holographic screen picture changed from the childish face of Sean to the bluff, red face of his great uncle.

“From what our prisoner was able to tell us, they do not plan to harm the child, but take him to Ireland to be brought up in Eire Fein to continue the senseless violence that has wracked that country for decades. Normally, the outcome of a four year old child and his possible future activities would not be considered, but since this is the child of one of our Class 5 operatives, an exception is being made.” Walter, Birkoff , Stiles and Li gave a brief look in Michael’s direction, but were rewarded with no response whatsoever. Michael continued to stare forward, as if he were not the Class 5 operative mentioned.

Nikita wanted to ask what would happen to Sean under the ‘protection’ of Section One, but saved the trouble when Walter asked it for her. “What about him? What’s Section going to do with him, Madeline?”

Madeline gave a tight smile as she said, “That is still under discussion.” Another brief look at Michael, and Madeline continued. “He is being held at the Fogherty State St. warehouse. It’s was purportedly used for their import business, but more often for export of arms to their Irish compatriots. The time line is right because they plan on flying him to Ireland tonight. Michael will lead the teams and handle tactical on site. Reconnaissance shows us that there are only five people currently at the warehouse. Two teams of five, with Nikita on point for team alpha. Stiles will cover the same position on team beta. The mission profile has been downloaded into your PDA’s. It’s short and simple, but there is little time for more than that.”

“Prisoners?” Nikita asked.

“Everyone but the target is expendable,” Michael declared flatly. “Both teams, be at van access in thirty minutes.” Without saying another word, Michael and Madeline rose at the same time and left the briefing area. Nikita gave Walter a questioning look. “What do you think is going on with the two of them?” she asked.

Walter shrugged, “Who knows, Sugar, but my guess would be that Michael is doing his best to convince Madeline to let him keep Sean.”

“Think there’s any chance of that?” Nikita asked.

“Sugar, how long have you been here?” Walter shook his head.

“That’s what I was afraid of.” Nikita rubbed her forehead and wondered if she could have done anything differently in the previous mission, but the answer was still the same--nothing.

********

In an inner storeroom, the target of this Section One mission lay curled in a fetal position on a small cot. He was dressed warmly and had ample bed linens to keep him comfortable until time came to take him to the airport. Siobahn Fogherty, Sean’s aunt, had not heard him speak a word since he had been brought to her early that morning. Other than when he indicated a need to go to the bathroom, Sean’s green eyes appeared dull. If she had not known the bright and voluble child he’d been only a few weeks before, Siobahn would have thought him mentally slow. He’d been through too much for such a little one--first his mother and father and now his grandmother.

From what she had been told, Siobahn knew that her sister-in-law and Sean’s grandmother had been killed right in front of him. Moira had resisted too strongly, and her own uncle had shot her quickly, cleanly, and ruthlessly. Siobahn could see from Sean’s even breathing that he was finally asleep. She resisted the urge to run her fingers through the tot’s wavy red hair. She didn’t want to chance waking him.

Sean’s arms and legs began to make twitching movements. Siobahn knew he must be dreaming and hoped that there would be no nightmares. As he began to cry in his sleep, she knew her hopes had been in vain. She rushed to his side and cradled him in her arms, whispering tender phrases in his ear.

Sean, still asleep, began to resist her ministrations. “Mommy, Daddy. I want my Mommy. Nana! No. Don’t hurt my Nana.” His little voice screeched as he began to sob and thrash in Siobahn’s arms.

The door opened and Gavin Fogherty entered with an impatient thrust of his head.

“Can’t you keep him quiet just a little while longer, Siobahn?”

Siobahn answered, “He’s not awake, you fool. The poor baby’s having a nightmare. Did you have to kill Moira right in front of the little thing? He’s had enough losses for one little boy.” She continued to rock and croon to him, trying to ease his night terrors.

“His losses are no more than anyone else’s, Siobahn. We’ve all had them. He’s no better or worse, ‘cause he’s a child.”

Siobahn bit back the response that would have branded her a traitor to the Cause. A woman’s lot was a difficult one. They birthed the babies, loved them and then gave them over to men, who then turned them into men who would kill another generation of mothers’ babies. She wondered if she’d ever see the end of it all. War and all the pain--and no closer to a solution, as long as there were men like her relatives.

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

The ride in the van had been quiet but the level of tension had been palpable. Nikita noted that Michael barely spoke to any of them, not that he was ever exactly loquacious before a mission. He seemed to have withdrawn, communing with his inner demons, instead of his team. The other team members, taking their cue from Michael’s silence made no effort at idle pre-mission chat.

Indeed, Michael’s mind was full of memories--other missions, Simone, Stephanie, and, of course, Sean. Michael’s last memory of Stephanie had been as she challenged her Uncle Liam, before he shot her. She had not deserved her fate, and his need to preserve the life of their child was paramount. At least he could do this much to honor her memory, even if he had dishonored their vows while she was alive.

He had tried to resist the web Nikita had unknowingly woven. The web, that the more he tried to escape, the tighter it became. Seducing her for Section’s goals had had the unexpected effect of ensnaring his heart for the first time, since he had fallen in love with Simone.

His Section-forced marriage to Stephanie had brought only pain and death. He’d had to endure the pretense of a happy family life, and had never been quite able to succeed. The death of Simone had been impossible to push aside as he had walked into his other life. The distance had grown between Stephanie and him, and there had been times when he thought he would rather die than experience the tearing of the fabric of his soul.

Conversely, Nikita’s recruitment in Section had presaged a more comfortable relationship between him and his mission wife; and the more he tried to put Nikita from his mind, the more he took refuge in his deep cover assignment. Unfortunately, he had still not been able to keep from falling in love with Nikita. The passion she had awakened in him had been a whole-hearted passion for life, as well as the deep well of sensual longing that plagued him everytime he saw her. The desire to claim her as his had been there from the start, but he had resisted those impulses and had hidden his true emotions behind lies and manipulations.

The most honest he had ever been with her had been after the Armel mission, when after portraying a happily married couple for the surveillance cameras of Armel and Section One, he had admitted to feeling conflicted. He had warned her that there were ‘things’ she couldn’t know about him and that what she needed to hear, he couldn’t tell her yet. A deep cover wife and a small son--yes, those were ‘things’ he hadn’t been able to tell her. That she had found out on her own months later and been terribly hurt, still gnawed at him.

Eventually, she had forgiven him for his evasions and lies. Now, they were estranged again over Sean, and perhaps, that was for the best. He knew that Section would never allow him to keep his child, but at least they would not permit his son to be warped and perverted by Eire Fein. He still could not accept that Nikita had delayed giving him the intel on Sean’s location, and thus prevent Sean from falling into Section’s hands as well

As the van reached the site and slowed, Michael snapped into the present. Nikita could feel the change as he did. Their link was still there, even if Michael chose to ignore her physical presence. Then unexpectedly, his eyes sought hers and acknowledged that he felt the link as well. Nikita gave a tiny nod in his direction and could not prevent a tiny smile of satisfaction to show on her face, as the mission-induced adrenaline rush increased her heart and respiratory rates. It would all be over soon.

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

Birkoff’s fingers flew over his keyboard, as he performed a warm-body scan of the warehouse. He glanced up at Michael, who rubbed his chin, a certain give-away of his anxiety. “There are still only five in the warehouse. One of them has a smaller body--must be Sean. He’s located in an inner room. There’s only one person with him now. They’ve got someone at each exit point. ”

“Fine,” Michael nodded. “Go,” he said to the teams, as they completed last minute adjustments to their gear. Michael paced in the small confines of the van, as the two teams of operatives exited in a well organized fan-out pattern. The hastily loaded simm showed three possible means of exit with beta team to cover them and take them out. Nikita led alpha team toward the rear of the warehouse, where she shouldered the apparatus that would shoot a grappling hook to the roof. Her aim was solid and on target.

After testing the hook’s hold, she began to climb, followed by the remaining members of her team. Their target was a skylight that was in close proximity to the room where Sean was being held. Silently, she motioned for quiet, as they merged on the skylight.

The efficient and handsome Stiles and his team quickly took out two of the three remaining guards. “Birkoff, the third guard has changed position. Can you give me a reading?” he asked.

“Yeah, he’s headed toward where Sean is being kept. Nikita,” Birkoff warned on channel A, “You’re going to have two to deal with. Stiles has taken out two of the three guards, but the third one is headed your way.”

Stiles motioned for his men to enter the building, which they did in silent precision. Michael said nothing. Everything was going according to profile, but the anxiety that filled his mind was insurmountable. Only because of his years of training, was he able to remain in position and allow the teams to do their jobs.

“Right,” Nikita responded on channel A. That left only two for her team to handle. Normally, five Section operatives were more than a match for any two operatives of any caliber, but the addition of a small child hostage changed the equation. A innocent child who would not be considered acceptable collateral. If she never saved another innocent life, ‘this’ one she ‘had’ to save. Michael would never forgive her, if she failed; and she would never forgive herself.

* * *

Finally, Siobahn had been able to comfort little Sean into a deeper state of sleep. Poor little thing, he was exhausted, she thought to herself as rocked him in her arms. If only there were another solution. She hated the thought of what his relatives in Ireland would do to him, in the name of the Cause. Siobahn wished she could flee with him herself and take him away from all the terrorism and war that were sure to be his future; but she knew she lacked the courage and the resources to accomplish such a feat.

Gavin Fogherty looked in the door at the peaceful scene--mother and child, it appeared. Well, no matter, he thought. The Cause is what’s important, and never giving up on the Cause like those peace-loving cowards are trying to do. Eire Fein was dedicated to destroying the peace process; and they would succeed, if it took his dying breath to achieve it.

Siobahn gave him a look of disdain and motioned for him to leave her alone with the child. Gavin shook his head and sat on the desk in the corner of the room.

“You know he has to come with me, don’t you? Don’t you believe in what we’ve been fighting and dying for, woman?” he asked.

“I don’t know what I believe anymore, Uncle Gavin. I just know this child’s had enough sorrow to last a lifetime, and you want to give him more.” Siobahn shook her head and rocked, smoothing Sean’s curls away from his small face.

**********

“Nikita,” came Birkoff’s voice on Channel A. “Three remaining bodies are all together.”

“Okay, Birkoff.” Nikita’s team had completed the removal of the skylight. As they began to fasten their hooks, Nikita, as point, went first. She took a deep breath and tried not to think what would happen if she fell. She hated heights, but her Section training had forced her to face her fear, and downward she plunged in silent precision. After reaching the floor of the warehouse, she signaled the rest of her team to follow, as she unhooked her rappelling cord. Within seconds, her team was there. Nikita nodded toward the target area, and they began their advance in a precision that was born of practice and experience.

Stiles team followed Nikita’s as backup, while Michael grew more agitated as the tension mounted. Birkoff guessed he’d be upset too, if it was his kid in there. “Everyone is in place, Michael. Shouldn’t be much longer.”

Frankly, Michael didn’t know how much longer he could sit there and do nothing.

“Both teams advance, slowly,” he said into his comm unit.

Birkoff interrupted, “Michael, I’m getting movement on the periphery.”

“How many?” he asked, his control snapping into place once again.

“At least ten. A and B teams, we’ve got incoming hostiles. Take cover.”

“Damn!” was Nikita’s only reply. The fire fight began immediately as EF members swarmed through the exits. Silenced spits of machine gun fire only added to the eerie unreality of the scene.

Gavin Fogherty rushed from Sean’s room. “Siobahn, stay here! They walked right into our trap,” he chortled with glee.

“You expected trouble, and you just left little Sean here to be in danger,” she screamed in outrate.

“He was the perfect bait, woman!” Gavin ran into the hall, pulling his 9mm as he ran, firing at the Section One operatives.

Siobahn knew that if she’d had a gun, she’d have killed her Uncle Gavin herself. Instead she wrapped Sean in a blanket and huddled in the far corner with him, her body over his.

*********

The fire-fight continued, as operatives ran and ducked for cover. In the Section van, Michael could take it no longer. He grabbed an AK-47, in addition to two 9mm guns strapped to his thighs, and broke position.

Back in Section, Operations stood with Madeline as they listened to the communications. “What the hell’s Michael doing, Birkoff.” Madeline gave a small smile. She had been surprised that he had lasted as long as he had.

“Uh, he’s left the van, Sir, and he’s going in.”

“Michael! Maintain your position. Your teams can handle this!” Operations insisted over his comm set, but Michael was in mission-mode and would not be deterred from rescuing his son.

“Reinforcements are coming,” Birkoff said to the Section Operatives.

“Reinforcements?” queried Nikita.

“Yeah, Michael should be there any second. He’s worth a team any old day.”

“You got that right, Birkoff.” Nikita breathed a sigh of relief. Michael would make the difference, not that they really ‘needed’ help.

* * *

Siobahn listened to the spit of silenced gunfire. There was no mistaking the sound, and she trembled as she wondered ‘who’ wanted Sean in the first place besides Eire Fein. What did these others want with him. She hated to see the child used as a pawn. Apparently, Michael had been the member of some covert organization, but which one she no idea. She didn’t suppose it mattered. One of the groups outside would win and would take him; and she would never see the little boy again. She hugged him and prayed that he would be safe, not believing that he would ever be safe or free.

* * *

Michael’s entrance into the fray was dramatic. The front door crashed open and Michael entered with a blazing AK-47 in his right hand and a 9mm in his left. Nikita, along with the other Section operatives, were not surprised at Michael’s kamikaze maneuver and had the foresight to remain in cover, while Michael drew fire from the opposing EF team. Once Michael ascertained where his team was, he rolled and ducked for cover himself.

Gavin Fogherty recognized Michael as he entered and gave a roar of outrage. So the traitorous bastard wasn’t dead after all. Well, no matter, Gavin swore. He would be soon. He would see to it himself. He had pinpointed where Michael had taken cover. All Gavin had to do was lie there and pretend to be dead. He might die in the doing, but he would avenge his brother Liam.

Nikita took two shots to eliminate the last shooter, and there was silence in the warehouse. “Report,” Nikita demanded. One by one Section operatives began to report. No losses, a miracle, she thought, and only two non-life-threatening wounds.

Michael nodded to Nikita who removed her black hood, allowing her blonde hair to spill across her shoulders. Together they walked to the area where they knew Sean to be kept, guns still drawn. There they found Siobahn huddled in a corner with the young boy.

Nikita entered first and asked, “Is he all right?”

Siobahn nodded at the tall blonde, but when her attention was drawn to man behind her, she gasped, “Michael, oh my God. You’re not dead.”

“No. I’ll take my son now, if you please.”

“What are ‘you’ going to do with him? He’s better off with me. I can take care of him. I don’t want him hurt.”

“I’m not here to negotiate. Give him to me. Now.” Michael aimed his gun at her head.

With hands that trembled, she handed the sleeping child to his father, who replaced the gun in his thigh holster and cradled the child in his arms. For the first time in weeks, he had his son in his arms. Michael’s eyes grew shiny as he hugged the boy to his chest, and the emotions he felt well in his chest made his throat nearly close with emotion.

“He thinks you’re dead. It’ll be a shock when he sees you,” Siobahn warned.

“He’ll be all right,” Michael said hoarsely.

Sean’s eyes began to open, “Daddy?” he asked softly.

“Oui, mon petite chou. C’est Papa.”

Sean opened his mouth and began to scream in terror at the top of his lungs.

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

Michael was startled by Sean’s response, but continued to attempt to comfort him. “C’est Papa, Sean. C’est Papa. I’m not dead. I’m okay. I’ve come to protect you,” he said softly into his child’s ear.

Sean’s screams did not diminish with this reassurance, but intensified. Michael’s eyes widened in alarm. He turned toward Nikita, whose eyes were full of tears. The sight of the child screaming in terror at the sight of his father hurt her more than she could ever have imagined.

“Here take him,” Michael said as he handed him to Nikita.

“Shh, Sean, your Daddy’s here. He’s okay. You’re going to be all right,” Nikita crooned.

Michael removed a tranq injector and applied it to the little boy’s thigh. In less than thirty seconds the child was asleep on Nikita’s shoulder. “I can’t believe you drugged your own son, Michael. What if that’s too much?”

“Madeline warned me it might be needed. It was formulated for his body weight. It won’t be too much. In the mean time, we still have to secure the scene.” Michael turned to walk away.

Nikita motioned with her head, “What about her, Michael? She’s obviously not one of the terrorists.

“I know she’s not. We have our orders.”

“Well, who is she?” Nikita demanded. Sometimes Michael could be so obtuse.

“She’s Sean’s aunt,” he said softly.

Nikita whispered furiously, “You’re gonna cancel his aunt? Stephanie’s sister?”

Michael looked at Nikita with eyes full of pain, “I don’t know, Nikita.”

A voice interrupted, “Well, excuse me, but what are you going to do with me, Michael? Tell me to my face. What are your orders? Are you going to kill me like you did my sister? Then do it!” she challenged, as she drew up to her full five feet-one inch height. Her blue eyes blazed with fire as she flung herself at Michael and attempted to rake his face with her nails.

Michael easily deflected her attack and held her against the wall, as he said in soft measured tones, “I didn’t kill Stephanie. She may have died because of what I do and what your family does, but ‘I’ didn’t kill her. Liam did!”

“Then what ‘are’ you going to do with me, Michael? Can you just let me go?”

Michael shook his head, “No, I can’t let you go. You’d be at risk, and that would put my organization at risk.”

“Michael! You can’t--kill her,” Nikita protested.

“No, I can’t. Come on, let’s go.” Michael took Siobahn by the upper arm and led her through the door, and Nikita followed carrying Sean.

Stiles walked up to Michael as they entered the hallway. “We’re checking the bodies now. Housekeeping has been called,” he reported.

“Good,” the taciturn team leader replied. The foursome continued down the hall. A scuffling sound to the left drew Michael’s attention, and as he turned four shots spit into the silence.

Nikita whirled with Sean on one shoulder and fired in the direction from which the shots came. There were no more shots. “Michael is down!” she cried into the comm unit. We’re going to need medical. We have two innocents and one of them is down, too.”

***********

Nikita handed the sedated child to Xiang Li and dropped to her knees to examine Michael and Siobahn. The amount of blood covering the two of them meant that one or both of them had a fatal or near-fatal wound. As she pulled Siobahn forward, she would see that the young woman had been wounded in the back. Michael groaned and tried to stir. “The vest. I think he hit my vest.”

“Hold still, Michael,” Nikita ordered, as she continued to search for a bleeding wound. “I think you’re right,” she admitted.

“Sean?” he asked, his heart filled with fear at what she might answer.

“He’s all right, Michael. I gave him to Li. He’s in the van by now.

“Siobahn?” he asked again.

“It’s bad, Michael, really bad. I don’t know if she’ll make it.”

Michael tried to sit, but the bullet had hit the vest in his left flank right over the kidney, and any movement he tried to make sent waves of agony through his entire left side and back.

“I said to lie still, Michael. You’ll only make the pain worse.”

Stiles knelt beside Nikita in order to apply a pressure dressing to Siobahn’s back.

“She’s lost a lot of blood. We’ve got to get her back to Section.” After he finished the dressing, Stiles motioned for B team to take her to the van. “Get some fluids started on her,” he ordered. “Two lines, one of them a plasma expander.”

Nikita walked over to Fogherty’s body and gave it a nudge with her boot. “I guess you’re really dead this time.” Nikita knelt down to feel for a pulse and was gratified to find none. She returned to Michael’s side.

“Ken, have anything in the van for Michael? Fogherty hit his vest, over the left kidney. It kinda hurts a bit. I think maybe he should have something before we try to move him.”

Ken gave Nikita a grin. “Oh, I think we can find some good drugs for old Mikey.”

Nikita giggled and warned, “Better not let him hear you call him that.”

“Yeah, I know. My life wouldn’t be worth much, would it?”

“Not much,” Nikita responded with a grin. Now that the mission was over, levity often emerged, as a defense mechanism, more than anything else. Nikita’s relief was immense. Michael was safe, Sean was safe, and only the fate of Siobahn nagged at Nikita’s thoughts.

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

The trip back to Section One had been a near nightmare. Nikita thanked heaven that little Sean had been sedated. Michael had refused sedation, but had been sedated anyway with the help of Stiles and two others to hold him. The worst was the fevered activity to save Siobahn Fogherty’s life. Oxygen, IV lines and prayer were all they could do until they reached the Section One trauma unit. Birkoff had Medical waiting for them at Van Egress. Nikita watched the telemetry monitor as Siobahn’s heart beats grew more rapid. Nikita knew the increased heart rate was a sign of shock. The numbers on the blood pressure monitor continued to fall. Nikita had no idea how low they could go, but a pressure reading of 70/32 seemed awfully low to her.

Nikita still held Sean in her arms. He had such a sweet little face and red curly hair that any girl would give her eyeteeth to have. She supposed he would probably hate his curly hair in time, for most little boys did. Nikita could only sit there and wonder if she would ever have a child of her own; and she told herself, Never, never as long as I am in Section. She had seen first hand the pain Michael suffered and would still suffer. What would Section do with him, she wondered for perhaps the hundredth time since the beginning of the mission. What ‘would’ they do? Nikita hugged Sean tighter to her chest. Maternal feelings, once they emerged, were difficult to deny--and rein.

* * *

Twenty-four hours later, the furor had died, but it was still touch-and-go with Siobahn. She was still fighting for life. Michael was still in great pain, but it was manageable, and he was able to be dismissed from MedLab, at his own insistence, of course. He walked to Madeline’s office and was granted entrance. He walked stiffly, guarding his left side and needed no encouragement to sit in the chair across from Madeline’s desk.

“When may I see him again, Madeline?” Michael asked.

Madeline sighed. “I don’t think it’s wise for Sean to see ‘you,’ Michael. Apparently, Moira fed Sean a steady diet of hatred to the child. My assessment is that the emotional damage she has done can be corrected, but there is one drawback.”

“What is that?”

“We can modify his memory. It really doesn’t take much modification with a child of his age, but he will have to have his memories of you erased completely. Any mention of you puts him on a hysterical roller coaster. To put it frankly, you are the personification of all that is evil to him. You killed his mother. That is what Moira had been telling him for weeks. It was the cause of his reaction when he first saw you.”

“He won’t be able to remember me at all?”

“No,” Madeline replied softly.

“What about his mother? Will he at least be able to remember that she loved him?”

“Yes, we won’t have to interfere with the memories of his mother. He’s already accepted that she is dead, and it would be better if you stayed dead to him as well. I’m sorry, but there is a limit to what we can do.”

“Thank you.” Michael paused, then asked, “Where will he go?”

“Section will find him a very good home, Michael. I will see to that myself.”

“Will I be able to monitor his progress?”

Madeline steepled her fingers on the desk. “I’ve given this a great amount of thought, Michael, and after a three month adjustment period with his new family, I will permit you to ‘monitor’ him. By that, I do not mean any social or physical contact. I am certain you understand the reasons behind this.”

Michael nodded, “Yes. Of course. Thank you.” He rose to leave.

“Michael.”

Michael turned to face Madeline again. “Yes?”

“I’m sorry things turned out this way,” Madeline offered one of the few apologies she had ever given to an operative.

“I am too, Madeline. I am too.”

* * *

Michael next walked to the observation unit outside his son’s room. He didn’t dare attempt to visit the child, for he had no desire to add to pain and fear that Sean experienced in his presence. He stood and watched Sean as the boy played with a puzzle game. They had assigned one of the younger nurses to ‘nanny’ him, and he was adjusting well to the confinement. “It won’t be long, Sean, you will be free,” he murmured softly at the window. “You will be free.”

Nikita walked to Michael’s side. “I’m sorry, Michael,” she said simply. Michael blinked his eyes and walked away without answering. Nikita took a deep breath and let it out. She would not surrender without a struggle.

* * *

Michael walked next to Siobahn’s room. Doc was at the bedside. “How is she, Marie?” he asked.

Marie shook her head, “She’s not going to make it, Michael. Her kidneys have started to fail. We’ve started her on dialysis, but it’s only a matter of time until she’s in multi-organ failure. The trauma was too severe. She’s young, but her reserves are gone.”

Michael nodded. Another death to add to his toll. He walked over to Siobahn’s side and took her hand in his. “I don’t know if you can hear me, Siobahn, but I’m sorry. Sean will be given to a good family, and I’ll be able to keep an eye on him. I’m sorry about Stephanie, too. I did care for her, and I never meant for her to be harmed.”

At these words, the monitor signaled ventricular fibrillation and a flat line soon ensued. Marie looked at Michael with the question in her eyes.

“Let her go. She’s tired of all this. I can feel it as I hold her hand.” Michael continued to hold her hand until all the wires and lines were disconnected. He closed her eyes and said, “You’re free. Rest now.”

***********

Hours later, Nikita gathered her nerve. She had vowed that she would not surrender without a fight, and she was determined to brace Michael in his den. Nikita took a deep breath and walked into his office. He looked surprised to see her. Taking possession of the office, as if it were her own, she closed the blinds, and gave him the look that said, we have to talk.

“I’m busy. We have nothing else to discuss.” he said flatly.

“We have plenty to discuss, Michael.”

“Please leave,” Michael said, but conversely he reached to activate the panel that would secure his office.

“No. I’ve told you there wasn’t time. You ‘know’ that there wasn’t time for you to return from Italy and reach Sean before us. I didn’t want you caught in the middle.”

“You had no right to make that decision for me.”

“Like you’ve had no right to make decisions for me over the past four years.”

“That was different. I protected you. You would be dead, if I hadn’t.”

“No, this is about control, isn’t it? For once you were on the receiving end, instead of the manipulating end. Well, you’re going to have to accept that I’m a lot closer to being your equal than I was when I came here. I made a decision that you perceive to be wrong, but the end game is that Sean has been rescued from his grandmother’s poison, and he’ll have a chance at a decent life, instead of always being on the run with you.”

“I know.” Michael grudgingly admitted. “He’ll be better off with a family than with me. You will be better off without me as well. You know that is the truth, Nikita. I destroy everything I touch.”

Nikita sighed in frustration and began slowly to unbutton her white silk blouse.

“Don’t,” he managed to say, but his mouth was dry, and soon the sight of her bare breasts were in front of him.

Michael made a desperate effort at control. “Don’t dishonor what we’ve shared, Nikita.”

“Dishonor, Hell! I’m fighting to keep what we’ve shared. I can’t believe that you’re content to throw it all away. You see my breasts? You’ve staked your claim on them.” She began removing her blouse. Michael tried to avert his eyes, but was unable to do so.

“There isn’t an inch of my body that you have not touched with your hands. There isn’t an inch of me that hasn’t known the feel of your tongue. You know what I feel like and what I taste like, Michael. Can you forget that? Can you honestly say you don’t want me right here and right now?”

Michael could feel his insides trembling with desire. The need to touch her alabaster skin was overwhelming. He clenched his fists in an attempt to maintain control.

“Stop,” he cried in anguish. “Don’t torture us anymore. Don’t. We can’t be together. I won’t allow myself to want you anymore. Please leave.”

“This is your last chance, Michael. Your very last chance.” She reached a hand to stroke his cheek, and he turned away from her touch. Nikita gave a small sob and turned from him. She rebuttoned her blouse, straightened her back, held her head high, and without a backward glance, walked from Michael’s office. “He’ll be sorry,” she whispered to herself, “but not as sorry as I will.”

Michael had watched as Nikita gathered her pride and left him. As the door closed, he steepled his fingers on the desk and wondered how he could continue without the hope her love had given him. She had been his raison d’etre for over four years. She had been his light and his salvation. Now he could truly be her salvation. She would find a life that did not include his manipulations or the intricate and tumultuous tango they had danced for so long.

He picked up the only picture that remained of Sean and looked into his child’s face, as he stroked the intricately carved frame with his forefinger. There ‘was’ this beautiful child Sean, and Nikita was right. Sean would have a better life without him. If it were not for the fact that Madeline had given him permission to monitor Sean’s well-being, after a three-month adjustment period with his new family, Michael would not have had any hope at all, or any reason to live.

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

EPILOGUE:

Three months later, Michael walked into Madeline’s office. “Thank you,” he said.

“You’ve seen Sean for yourself?” Madeline asked quietly, as a soft look crossed her face and transformed the Mona Lisa smile to a genuine one. She motioned for him to be seated, and he complied.

“Yes. He seems happy and adjusted to his new family. I could not ask for more.”

Michael’s controls were in place, and Madeline was pleased.

“In any other life, you could have asked for more, and you could have had it all.” Madeline’s tone grew wistful, sympathetic even.

Michael sighed and looked at the floor before responding, “I am happy that he is alive and that he will have a chance at a normal life. I was selfish to want to take him with me.”

Madeline rose from her desk and walked toward him. “It was a perfectly understandable desire, Michael. I don’t condone it, but under the same circumstances, I might have attempted the same.” Madeline had occasionally wondered what kind of life Michael would have had, if he had not taken an unfortunate path in University. His life and career might have been stellar, when one considered his talents and gifts. There were not many in Section like Michael, and his losses had been immense. She was grateful that he remained faithful to Section, for he had been her most successful creation on so many levels.

She walked behind his chair and her right hand trailed lightly across his shoulders.

A flame of desired flickered in her lower abdomen, and she wondered how his abilities had developed over the years. Training him in the Valentine operations had been as difficult for her as it had for him, although, if asked, he would probably disagree. In spite of herself, she had come to care for him in some hidden corner of her mind. She had protected him when necessary, given him Nikita when it looked like he might self-destruct, and even protected Nikita as much as she had been able. She would never have admitted it, but Michael had always been her weakness.

Michael shut his eyes for a moment, as he felt Madeline’s light touch across his back. Madeline had been a constant in his life, since his recruitment to Section. First, as a demanding trainer/tormentor, and then as a classic role model in survival. She had taught him well.

As he opened his eyes, Madeline’s fingers gave a graceful stroke to the side of his face, and he was compelled to take her hand in his. He brought it to his lips and kissed the palm, then turned it over and kissed the back in a gesture that was courtly and respectful. “Thank you,” he said again, as his crystal green eyes looked into her soft brown ones.

As Michael’s arms encircled her, Madeline lay her head on his chest and replied with a sigh, “You’re welcome.” A feeling of comfort possessed her, and with it a fleeting sense of completion, for who knew what the morrow would bring.

Fini

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