The climate was in turmoil inside Section One. Each day, the walls seemed to creep in further, pushing the tired and overworked operatives closer together. Every day, Walter would pier out, trying to diagnosis the problem, and each day, continued on without an answer.

Nikita, trying to not notice anything about Section One that she did not have a need to know about, walked the halls with a plastic face. Not a change, and a lesson too many from Michael's lesson plans.

Yet, Nikita could not control the insides of her eyes, as Michael could not. They yielded a insight of her gears clicking in her mind. On this particular day, it shined brightly with anger and deception.

Michael, like Section One, was in a time of inner turmoil, that no one knew about. He would sit at his computer working on the mounds of paperwork, and lose his mind. Sometimes, Michael could not identify where it went, but more often, and more consistantly, it drifted to memories that Michael could identify. Maybe, he didn't want to identify.

It was during one of these periods of inner conflict, that the irrated and highly flammable Nikita entered Michael's office. Michael stopped typing, and went to turn to his drawer, but Nikita slammed the door.

"You rejected me for a mission." Nikita says firmly as she stares at Michael, standing straight, and from Michael's sitting position, looking like an Amazon.

"You did not fit the profile." Michael responds in his normal cold hearted tone. Nikita doesn't even flinch, does not move.

"I saw the profile, Michael. It orginally called for a young tall blonde." Nikita says firmly, as she rolls her body down and looks straight at Michael as her hands plant on the desk.

"Who showed you the profile?" Michael reacts. He had waited until the last moment to turn in the profile for this reason. He had turned Nikita down for a mission earlier in the week, and a scene happened in the hallway. At least this time, the situation is contained.

"Madeline did." Nikita says as she pushes her muscular body back up to the stunning upright position, that had so many times before made a shiver run down Michael's back, as it did this time.

Michael though, registered the comment, because it was a severe statement. Madeline was now questioning Michael's judgements and was looking at Nikita as the problem. That did not sit well in Michael's overprotective stomache.

"I will discuss that with Madeline." Michael says, a few moments to late, as Nikita has leaned back against the pane of glass.

"Is there something wrong, Michael?" Nikita asks, in a cold tone that echoes of Michael's own voice.

"I am fine, Nikita." Michael responds back as he barely moves his head to look straight into Nikita's eyes. This movement, prompted Nikita's own body to again ascend the heights of her full posture, with her head turned down to look at Michael.

"You aren't sleeping." Nikita states as her blue eyes start to simmer with flames. Michael's own green eyes reflected back that she was right, yet he had no knowledge of it.

"I have average sleeping patterns for an operative." Michael says back as he moves his head back to the computer. He opens the screen again, and waits for Nikita to move her lanky body out of the office.

Nikita, though, remains. Her head levels off, as she waits for Michael's next command.

"Is that all?" Michael asks as he looks up from the edge of his computer. Nikita only turns and leaves, with no response.

Nikita walked down the hallways that operatives hurriedly walked up and down in, expressing the turmoil that was inside Section One. Her arms hung from her body, as if useless and her stride was slow, but still powerful. Nikita tossed her hair back around her shoulders and headed out.

Madeline, pushed the computer away from her chair and moved to her bonsai trees. She picked up the tiny scissors and started to trim, giving her mind time to process and evaluate what Michael forgot to turn off for her viewing.

***********

Nikita was wrapped up in the heavy quilt on her bed, as the four sharp knocks echoed throughout her apartment. She first threw out her head from the warmth, back into the cold air that Nikita could not rid herself of. Then, slowly, she untangled her body from the blanket.

As her bare feet hit the waxed floor below her bed, the four sharp knocks rang out yet again, as if annoyed that Nikita was asleep. Nikita turned her head to check the little alarm clock on the side of her bed. Shaking her head at the three o'clock hour, she started down the stairs without a sound.

Nikita, in those moments from her bedroom to the door, swept the lingering thoughts of her dream out. It was of Michael, as most of them had been since her return. They haunted Nikita, like a shadow. Nikita wanted to lose them.

The dreams had fallen off into a nicer phase until Michael's memory was lost. In that time afterwards, they returned. Nikita often wondered why Michael was unconcerned about what he did during the time he couldn't remember. That time was gone to him, but lived in Nikita's memory. That Michael, was the one that visited Nikita in the good dreams, and the real Michael visited her in her nightmares.

Madeline looks firmly into the wooden door as she tugs at the fingers of her gloves. The lock is heard being turned as the first glove slides off of Madeline's hand. Nikita's face barely peaks around the corner of the door, before Nikita opens the door wide, and leaves.

Madeline enters and watches Nikita's back as she heads into the kitchen. The kettle of water is already placed on the stove, and all Nikita does it turn the nob on. Nikita then opens the drawer and retrieves a few bags of tea.

"Tea?" Nikita asks, as she turns and looks at Madeline. Nikita is in her night clothing, which is rare for her. Nikita usually ends up falling into bed with whatever she wore home on. This day, because Michael's decision, Nikita was able to change into the blue and white flannel pajamas.

"Yes. Thank you." Madeline says as she enters the apartment and closes the door without a sound. Madeline moves slowly around the counter of the kitchen to watch Nikita move. The pure mechanics of Nikita's actions almost scream of Michael, and Madeline drops her coat off on one of the chairs.

"You like to keep it hot here." Madeline comments as she moves closer to the counter top. Nikita turns from the refrigerator, with milk in her hand and looks at Madeline.

"I think it's cold." Nikita says as she sets the milk on the counter in front of Madeline. Madeline's eyes drop towards the milk as she tries to analysis what is occuring. It was uncommon for Nikita not to question Madeline why she is there. Time passes, and Nikita still does not question Madeline as she hands the warm tea, with two sugars in it to Madeline.

"I am sending you and Michael on a mission." Madeline announces to Nikita and Nikita just responds by nodding her head. Nikita sips her tea and then sets it on the countertop.

"Why did you just call?" Nikita questions with a barely arched eyebrow. The knowledge that Nikita had picked up from Michael was remarkable, and seemed so sudden.

"It is a sensitive mission, Nikita." Madeline remarks and Nikita turns away and dumps the tea into the sink. Madeline drinks a few sips before Nikita turns back around.

"I do not want to work with Michael." Nikita says firmly, with an emotional reaction shining in her eyes.

"There is no option here." Madeline says as she slides the PDA out for Nikita. Nikita lets Madeline set it on the counter top, next to the milk.

"I doubt Michael will accept me, Madeline. I do not want to work with Michael, nor does he want to work with me." Nikita says firmly, showing the stubborness in her words.

"Like I said. There are no other options." Madeline says as she stands up and walks to the door. Nikita has yet to touch the PDA as Madeline opens the door.

"I would read that." Madeline informs Nikita with a slight lowering of her head before she sweeps through the door and closes it with a decent bang.

Nikita's fingertips graze the PDA as she picks up Madeline's teacup. Nikita empties the cup and moves to the livingroom. She looks back at the PDA and picks it up.

***********

Michael sat at his computer with his hands threaded through his hair. His elbows supported his head up as he stared off into the words on the screen.

That was not what Michael saw. He saw a room, cold and sterile, but not as severe as Medlab. He saw and felt a bed, a bed he did not know. Michael continued to question these images.

'Is it just a dream?'
'Is it Nikita's apartment?'
'Why would Nikita do something like that?'

Michael ached to click the current screen off, and search for Nikita's cameras. He no longer had that kind of access, that Michael use to take for granted. He had learned of Nikita's apartment the first time by watching the video and then going there personally.

Michael had been to Nikita's apartment before she remodeled, more than he would want to admit. It was comfortable, and reflected Nikita. The images Michael saw now, did not reflect Nikita. The images were too far away from him to grasp, but yet to close for him to push away.

"Michael, Have you read the new standards for operatives?" Madeline asks as she enters Michael's office to find him adrift in his thoughts.

"No." Michael responds without looking up at Madeline. Michael stared ahead and composed himself to do the intellectual battle with Madeline that was to come.

"You should be home, getting sleep." Madeline says as she pulls the standards out and hands them to Michael. He sets them on the desk and looks at Madeline.

Although, Michael believes that Madeline does not know the truth, she does. Madeline knows that at home or at Section, Michael would not sleep. He was being caught up into a twister of emotions and memories that Michael was not yet ready to accept.

"I have reports." Michael replies as he motions with his hands to the computer. Madeline steps around the desk, and snaps the computer off. Instant anger is seen in Michael's eyes as he struggles to maintain his straight face.

"Go home, Michael. You have a mission to brief tomorrow." Madeline says firmly as she places the PDA down on the desk with a loud click. Michael looks down at the PDA and then at Madeline.

"Who?" Michael demands as he rises his chin at Madeline in a way that indicates power.

"The mission will be discussed at a whole in my office with Nikita." Madeline says and she turns around, to see the reaction that it will draw from Michael.

"I REJECT NIKITA FOR THIS MISSION!" Michael says firmly as he stands up in utter protest. Madeline turns on the ball of her heel and looks at Michael, eye to eye.

"Michael, you have not even reviewed the mission." Madeline says as the edges of her taunt lips start the upward curl to indicate that she recieved the reaction she wanted.

"I, personally, think Nikita has been underneath a tremendous amount of stress, and that working with me adds to it." Michael replies quickly without moving his face into any particular emotion. Michael appears even and steady, although his body feels like it is about to explode.

"You see a lot into Nikita... I wonder if she does the same for you." Madeline says as she turns her head slightly. Madeline struggles to maintain her lips from a full smile. She knew it was almost too easy.

"My feelings stand as said." Michael says with a blink of his eyes.

Madeline turns and walks out of the darken office. In her actions, is her reply. Michael sits down at his desk to view the PDA. Before the devise is his hands, Michael notes that the mission would be especially designed by Madeline for her own purposes.

*********

The warehouse was closing in on Michael, and a large barrel was pointed at his head. Michael looked forward, with a face of stern concern.

"Michael! Get the move on!" Nikita mutters as she slings the gun back up towards herself. She is wearing a tight black bodysuit, with no body armour. Nikita was required to strip out of the ball gown and be ready for an attack in moments, and therefore, placed her in the most danger.

Michael stands to move, but turns his head as the moment flashes back at him. He sees Nikita ahead of him, with the body armour, waving him towards her. He feels the fear that ran through his body, as Nikita strode back to him and pulled him firmly up to be even with her eyes.

"Stay with me." Nikita roared into Michael's face, but still looked tender. Michael, that time followed.

Michael couldn't remember when that occured, or if it did occur. It played in front of him like a movie, and it almost did not feel like himself. Michael looks forward to see Nikita glaring at him. She impatiently waves to Michael.

Michael looks both ways and then jogs to the position that Nikita has taken. His pants were still the dress pants to the tuxedo that he had worn.

"This is why you need your assigned sleep." Nikita mutters as she waits for Birkoff's next instruction.

"I am fine." Michael murmers back as he looks around the corner and starts to hear guns again. He instinctively pulls his gun out to a more aggressive stand. Quickly, it is wrapped up around his throat.

"You are not fine. You stood there in that damn squad for four minutes, not responding. THAT IS NOT FINE!" Nikita roars as she holds the gun tightly underneath Michael's chin. Nikita pauses for a few seconds, pulls up a bit tighter and then pushes Michael away from the hold.

Michael snatches the gun out of Nikita's hand as Birkoff orders them to turn the corner and kill the two bodies that were inside the room to the left. Michael walked infront of Nikita and covered her.

It was an order, that Nikita swiftly carried out. She walked past Michael, opened the door, and killed the two people that stood huddled in the center of the room. Not a second thought passed through Nikita's mind.

Not until the two children's faces roll around for Nikita to view. The gun almost slide to the ground with a thud, as she entered the room.

Emotions ran Nikita as she pathetically reached down for a non-existent pulse. Her fingers grazes the necks of the children as she looked at them more closely.

Suddenly, as if a timing devise clicked in Nikita head, she pulled out of the room. She closed the door and continued down the hallway as if nothing occured.

In her mind, Nikita swore she could never live with herself. She wondered if the children would be found by their parents. Nikita wondered if they would be buried. Nikita wondered if it was painful or not. The wonders became worries. Nikita started to worry that the children knew that the pretty blonde was going to kill them.

Michael moved down the hall in his own set of worries and wonders. Each movement of Nikita's would bring images to Michael he did not remember. The images were so real, yet so unreal.

The connection between Michael and Nikita that had been relied upon several times before, was not needed on this mission. It was a blessing, because this mission, there was Michael and Nikita... and nothing more.

**********

Section One was not ready for what would occur when Michael and Nikita walked off the transport. Section One would not even have a warning, as both Michael and Nikita sat in the transport, not looking at each other, not saying a word, and not expressing emotions.

When the doors opened, allowing Michael and Nikita room to speak, most of Section was empty. Nikita stormed ahead, down the hall. Sometimes this was a normal behavior for Nikita, but Michael quickly followed her. That was not normal.

"You reached down for a pulse... that could have gotten us killed!" Michael says angerily from behind Nikita as she turns the corner to be standing infront of Walter.

"It was the humane thing to do, Michael! And you are still breathing, aren't you!" Nikita challenges back, but still in a voice much more quiet that Michael's.

"You should not have been on that mission!" Michael angerily says at Nikita as he rips off a piece of body armour and throws it against the wall.

"ME! At least I get enough sleep!" Nikita huffs out as she slams the gun down on the table. Walter pulls it out from underneath Nikita's hand, and moves back to the weapons closet.

"I had reports." Michael says softly. He knew the truth. He had gone home, and found sleep impossible. That would not be admitted to Nikita. It couldn't be.

"You stood there four minutes in a daze, Michael. If anything that could have gotten us killed.. it would have been that!" Nikita says angerily back as she pulls off her boats and slams one down on the floor by Michael's feet.

"If you were so worried about my lack of sleep, you would not have continually dragged me out onto the dance floor. I am not your trophy!" Michael says as he moves closer to Nikita.

Walter's head moved side to side, as he looked between the bars of the shelves to view Michael and Nikita. They were standing face to face. If it wasn't for the red faces of anger and the loud words, Walter would say they were heading for a kiss.

"I wouldn't want you!" Nikita roars back as she pushes past Michael and looks back at him. He was a jerk. Nikita was fighting with the emotions, but he was a jerk.

Nikita did not want to admit that what she was truly angry about was killing the two innocent kids. This mistake by Michael was reason enough for Nikita to show and express anger. Yet, those complete thoughts were not conscious to Nikita.

"I have a date.. and no time for this." Nikita says as she turns and starts down the hall. She walks barefoot in the black bodysuit. The vision gave Michael the chills. The walk, seemed so more familiar.

"What about the debrief?" Walter asks as he exits the closet and looks at Michael, who is fidgeting iwth the gun.

"Would you want to debrief with that?" Michael questions and walks away.

***********

Sometimes, Michael did not know if time was his friend or enemy. At this moment, about an hour after returning from the mission, time was his friend. The longer away from the mishap with Nikita, the better and more together felt.

Michael was at his desk, working on the report, with his door open. He heard Walter whistle loudly and therefore, raised his head from the computer screen. In that movement, Michael realized that time was his enemy.

"Sugar, I wish you were going out with me!" Walter commented as he rounded the table and looked Nikita up and down. Nikita had changed into a simple blue dress, that was cut low and hight. It plunged down her chest, barely covering Nikita's chest, and it was cut high on the skirt.

"You can show me a good time some other time, Walter." Nikita spoke with a deep voice. She smiled and winked her eye at Walter. Walter stood transfixed on Nikita. To give Walter a good time, Nikita did a little spin and then stopped.

"Another date?" Walter asked, although he already knew the answer. Nikita's face started to blush and Walter smiled back at her.

"Yes." Nikita admits with a little giggle that reminded Walter of so many girls he had dated in high school.

Walter turns his head down the hallway, and is surprized to see Michael standing at the doorway. Walter struggles to turn his head back to Nikita without shaking it in shame of the situation he sees. Walter knew Nikita was struggling with some realities of her actions, but Michael couldn't admit his heart.

"Well, as long as he treats you better than Michael does... I trust him." Walter says with a bright smile. Nikita playfully slaps Walter's arm and moves down the hallway, carefully holding onto a small purse.

Madeline, seeing that her first plan did not work, had started the next phase before Michael and Nikita had returned. Madeline moved down the hallway, just behind Nikita, as Nikita passed Michael's office.

"Nikita... A moment." Madeline says firmly and she watches Michael's head bob up from the screen. Madeline again finds it hard to contain the smile that aches to shine through.

Nikita turns and walks back to Madeline. Nikita stands patiently, not saying a word.

"Michael... can you?" Madeline asks as she looks into the office. Michael stands slowly, and makes his way into the hallway to see Nikita turn her head away from him.

"You two will brief for a mission in the afternoon tomorrow." Madeline says as she studies the posture of the two operatives and wait for their reaction.

"Why?" Michael asks, and the question asks volumes.

"Probably because we make a believeable couple in love." Nikita says with sinister intentions. Michael turns to Nikita and stares into her blue eyes.

It was not a wise move for Michael, as the eyes are seen differently than they presently were. A time that Nikita looked at Michael as someone she had to protect. This causes Michael to look away from Nikita, and to realize that Madeline had continued to speak.

"...only ones that are as capable will accompany." Madeline finishes and looks at the couple, knowing that Michael had missed most of what she had said. Nikita nodded her head at Madeline and waited for Michael to protest yet again. The protest never came.

"Can I go?" Nikita asks and Madeline nods her head and smiles at Nikita. Michael takes it as a move that he may leave too, and moves into his office.

As Michael turns to sit down, he finds Madeline closing his door. Michael sits down after a brief, but noticeable, pause.

"That's five days in a row that she's gone out." Madeline comments to Michael as she raises her chin at Michael. Michael couldn't forget when Nikita had done the same motion in his office.

"It is?" Michael asks as he pretends not to know what Madeline is talking about. He tries to open the computer screen, but again, Madeline moves inbetween him and the computer. She turns it off again, as if it signaled her win.

"She has tampered with the cameras in her apartment." Madeline says and Michael looks up at Madeline. Madeline can only blame Nikita's actions with the camera on Michael. Nikita only did what she had been taught.

"How has she tampered with them?" Michael asks, with slight interest in the way she tampered with them. Michael was more interested in why she was tampering with them.

"Tapes.. we recieve images of Nikita arriving home and going to bed." Madeline says as she turns and walks to the door. She opens the door and exits. Madeline needed not to instruct Michael what to do. Madeline knew that Michael would instinctively watch Nikita that night.

Michael did not even turn the computer back on. He picked up his black coat and headed out after Nikita. As he walked onto the city street, he could easily see Nikita strolling ahead of him. Her arms swung lazily in the air, as she continued on.

**********

Music drifting, glasses clinking, and people laughing were only a few of the friendly sounds Nikita heard as she opened the door to the established bar. The wooden door closed behind her, as she stepped in and looked towards the bar.

A blonde waiter looked up from the bar towards the door. He rose a hand in the air to Nikita and Nikita nodded her head as she started towards the long bar. She walked around the birthday girl, celebrating her 21st with a yard long beer, and she walked quickly around the older man, who had tried to grab her twice before.

Nikita walked up to the corner of the bar, and slide onto the tall bar stool and smiled at the waiter. He collected a tip and quickly proceeded to Nikita's end of the bar. He grabbed into his pocket and threw two packs of cigarettes on the bar.

"Thanks, Jack." Nikita says as she throws the twenty on the bar and quickly opens a pack. She lightly taps the pack until one cigarette falls towards her fingertips. Carefully, Nikita pulls at it and places it into a plastic holder. Jack moves to Nikita and holds out a lighter to light the cigarette.

Once the cigarette is lit, Nikita pulls back and takes a long inhale and holds it. Her eyes close as she slowly allows the smoke back out. Jack stays, watching her, and collects his pay.

"Something to drink?" Jack asks with a smile and Nikita smiles while quickly working down her first cigarette.

"Milk." Nikita replies inbetween puffs. She reaches back and pulls her blonde hair over her left shoulder and smiles at Jack.

"I can't interest you in something stronger?" Jack asks with a wink as he sets the milk down on the counter in front of Nikita.

"No, thanks, Jack." Nikita replies as she stares at the red glowing end of the cigarette, before taking another puff.

"A pretty like yourself in here... drinking milk." Jack says, as he has done since the first time Nikita entered five days ago. Nikita's body starts to sway with the backround music, and flirts with Jack.

"It does my body good." Nikita says in a deep voice.

"It sure does make your body good.. yum yum." Jack says and Nikita starts to light up another cigarette.

At the opposite side of the room, a waiter walks to the dark gentleman, sitting in the corner, staring at the bare back of the blonde.

"What will you have?" The waiter asks as he tentatively reaches the man. Michael looks up and pauses in thought.

"Milk." Michael replies and the waiter starts to laugh loudly, but not loud enough that Michael doesn't hear Nikita's own laughter float on top of all the noise.

"You and that blonde.. drinking milk at a bar!" The waiter says as he writes the order down. He turns to the right to leave, when Michael's hand reaches and pulls the waiter back.

"What do you know about her?" Michael asks as he continues to focus on the corner. Nikita turns her head to the side, so that Michael could finally see it. In that moment, Michael watches the smoke filter out of her mouth in a small stream, and not long later, the cigarette to her mouth.

"Everyone thinks she is H-O-T, hot! Jack buys her cigarettes for four days.. no this would be the fifth day. He gave up his day off to be here for her arrival." The waiter says and Michael reaches and tears up the order sheet.

"Do you have any wine?" Michael asks and the waiter looks at Michael in surprize.

"We have anything." The waiter says with a laugh.

***********

"Nikita.. I get a sense that your bitter at a man?" Jack asked as he refilled Nikita's glass of milk and leaned in towards Nikita. Nikita smiled and lit another cigarette.

"No. He meant nothing." Nikita says laughing as she pulls her arm up for another puff of the cigarette. Nikita looks at Jack and winks.

"You are much better looking." Nikita says, although she knows how much that is a lie.

Michael hears all of this as he walks over towards the bar, carrying two glasses of Merlot that the waiter had dug up for Michael's very generous tip. Michael's moves, makes an older man, who was sitting next to Nikita's back, slide away.

"Wine?" Michael asks as he places his hand across Nikita's left shoulder, brushes her hair and presents the glass of wine. Nikita pulls her head and body quickly to the right and stares at Michael ask the cigarette dangles from her fingertips.

"Jack... can you.." Nikita starts and Jack, with a frown moves quickly away from Nikita's corner. Nikita pulls her right hand and takes a quick puff of the cigarette, hoping for strength.

"I did not know you smoked." Michael comments as he watches Nikita's moves that make him upset.

"That's new.. you don't know something." Nikita says as she shrugs her shoulders and turns her body to push a shoulder into Michael. He lets go of the glass of wine and grabs the cigarette. He smashes it into the cigarette tray and looks at Nikita.

"Is this why you tampered with your cameras?" Michael asks as he drops the butt near the glass of wine that Nikita's finger tips touched the neck of.

"No, it isn't. I just applied what you have taught me for some privacy." Nikita comments as she pulls up the pack of cigarette, and quickly lights it. Nikita takes a puff before Michael can grab it out of Nikita's tight grip and puts it out.

"Madeline would have your head." Michael says in a deep and smoldering voice that vibrates through Nikita's body. Nikita turns and looks into Michael's eyes and then turns away.

"She can have it. It's worth nothing to me." Nikita says directly into Michael's face before trying again for another cigarette. This time, Michael grabs the pack and throws it over the side of the bar that Jack stands at.

"What are you running from, Nikita?" Michael almost purrs out and Nikita turns her head away from Michael. His comments and his presense was rubbing Nikita raw.

"Nothing." Nikita murmers and the comment is only slightly heard over the noise of the bar. Michael moves closer to Nikita and places a hand onto her right shoulder. Nikita quickly pushes it off.

"I'm here for you, Nikita." Michael says and Nikita laughs into his face. Michael can feel the little droplets of saliva hit his face as Nikita continues to laugh.

"You are running yourself, Michael." Nikita announces loudly as she turns her body fully to Michael.

"I am not." Michael pronounces intensely.

"You aren't sleeping because you are afraid of the truth.. and you are refusing to us me, again, because you are afraid of the truth." Nikita says as she stares into Michael's eyes.

"This isn't about me." Michael hisses lightly as he tries to move closer towards Nikita, but she quickly turns away.

"It has everything to do about you. Until you can admit the truth to yourself.. don't come in here and tell me how to live the little life I do have." Nikita says as she stands up. She drops another ten on the counter and nods her head to Jack.

Jack nervously nods back to Nikita. He knew nothing about the man who Nikita was talking to, but that he bought Merlot. Jack was scared of the powerful and dark man.

"Nikita... do not play around here. You must stop this." Michael says as he reaches and grabs Nikita's left arm. Nikita stops her movement and looks at Michael.

Quickly, she snaps her right arm out and grabs the glass of wine that Michael had set down for her. She hurls the liquid out of the glass, and watches it splash onto Michael's face and drip down his neck.

Nikita pulls her arm free and starts out of the bar. Almost at the door, she turns around and opens her purse. From the purse, she retrieves the second pack of cigarettes and waves them to the dripping Michael.

**********

Walter's head quickly shot up when the twigs around his small, but waterproof tent, began to snap. He rolls his body to the door, still in the sleeping bag as he glanced out towards the woods.

"Didn't I make enough noise?" Michael asks as he head snaps down near Walter's from the right side. Walter sits back, still in the shock of Michael's appearance, as Michael unzips the tent and enters.

"So I guess Section knows where I am." Walter mutters as he sits up and looks at Michael. Michael shakes his head no and raises his hand to show a small devise hidden in his palm.

"Only I know." Michael says as he drops the hand down and stares at Walter. Walter looks at Michael and shakes his head.

Walter, was finally given a few days off. At first, Walter was going to run off to some exotic island and enjoy the company of a few lovely and willing ladies. Yet, Madeline had dropped a tent off into his work area about a week before, and it brought wonderful memories back to Walter. Walter had scanned the tent for any sort of bugging devise before leaving, and believed that he could have three days of total peace.

"What do you need, Michael?" Walter finally asks in annoyance that Michael has yet to speak or explain why he was sitting in Walter's tent at three o'clock in the morning.

"Nikita is smoking." Michael says as he turns his head and looks at the sides of the tent.

"Not my sugar." Walter immediately reacts and then looks at Michael's gaze. Walter knew things between Michael and Nikita were tense, but nothing would give Michael a reason to run up to Walter's little tent and lie to him.

"Does Madeline know?" Walter asks quickly, wondering if Nikita was heading for a short and quick battle with Madeline.

"No, of course not." Michael responds as he looks back at Michael and Walter becomes uncomfortable.

Walter had known Michael for a long time, and found it surprizing that Michael was consulting with him on this manner. The Michael Walter continued to think about, would have allowed Nikita to face the consequences of her decision without a worry. Nikita had changed something in Michael, like Walter always knew would happen.

Walter also sensed that there was something more occuring here. Birkoff had commented to Walter that Michael had seemed off kilter since he was shot. What Birkoff had meant was from Michael's memory lost, but he was in Section and could not admit such a thing. Walter finally realized what Birkoff was speaking of. Michael seemed on edge and working off of impulse.

"There must be something more there, Michael. She didn't smoke before Section and she didn't smoke until just recently. She is running." Walter says with a tilt of his head to the side.

"I know this." Michael responds and Walter shakes is head.

"What do you want from me?" Walter asks, becoming confused with what Michael wanted from him.

"She goes to the bar and smokes.... those dates.. lies." Michael informs Walter and he lightly shakes his head.

"Where does she go afterwards?" Walter asks and Michael looks down at the floor of the tent.

"You don't know. Let, me guess.. you had a fight." Walter says bitterly. He was probably more protective of Nikita than anyone knew. If he had is way, Nikita would never work with Michael again.

"I'll find out." Michael says softly with an open mouth pause at the end. He stands and leaves Walter's tent. Walter falls back onto the ground with a heavy sigh.

"Operatives..." Walter mutters.

**********

Madeline closed the door to her very clean office and walked down the few stairs to Michael and Nikita, who sat in front of her desk. Madeline moved around the desk and looked at the two operatives infront of her. They blankly stared back at Madeline, with no hint of emotion showing through.

"I gave you the file on Trenton Hays... he is a rebel from Red Cell that is starting to establish himself in his own right." Madeline starts. She pauses, and waits for Michael or Nikita to say a word or to question further. Instead, no one moves.

"We want him for his knowledge of Red Cell." Madeline says, hoping that the comment brings on from either operative.

"I understood that from the PDA." Michael says briskly and then snatches a glance at Nikita, who does not even flinch. Madeline's heart pounds as she hopes her decision on this mission profile gathers the results she wants.

"Michael... You and Nikita will be set up inside one of his hotels that Trenton Hays monitors for.. for a social life." Madeline says and finally Nikita's eyebrow raises only slightly at Madeline's judgement of words.

Madeline almost expected a sarcastic remark from Nikita, but did not remain silent when the remark never was said.

"Your job will be to lure him in to be with you, Nikita." Madeline says and Michael leans forward in his chair.

"What kind of lure?" Michael questions, although he has a sense of where this is heading. Madeline's lips were curving just a little bit too much.

"Sex." Madeline replies and Nikita turns her head away in disgust.

"I'd rather be forced to be with Operations than him." Nikita mutters as Madeline looks at Michael. Michael turns his head in anger towards Nikita's. Her head slowly turns towards Michael's.

"I feel the same way." Michael says firmly with the fire licking at his eyes.

"Enough." Madeline says, which brings both operatives back to Madeline. She stands and leans down over the desk.

"All of your personal emotions will leave as soon as you stand up. You both will participate in this mission. There is and will not be any exceptions." Madeline says firmly.

"Do you both understand me?" Madeline asks firmly. Neither operative looks at her. Madeline pushes her body back up to a straight position and looks down and shakes her head.

"This is a priority mission. I don't care if you get sick at the sight of Nikita, Michael. You will love and adore her body until Trenton Hays comes to the room and throws you out." Madeline directs as she feels her anger starting to pound around her body.

"The same for you, Nikita." Madeline adds as she senses Nikita about to smile at Madeline's comment towards Michael.

"Do you both understand?" Madeline asks firmly and Michael stands up while nodding.

"I understand.. be Michael's sex slave." Nikita murmurs as she stands and brushes quickly out of the room.

These were the orders that Nikita could no longer stand. She did not care about putting her body in the line of danger from a bullet or a bomb or some other thing like that. She didn't want to put her body in this danger. The danger of emotional damages.. the ones that Nikita watched her own mother experience. Nikita wanted nothing of it.

Nikita knew that Michael would never do such things to her, but those thoughts were lost in her anger. This was the second time that Nikita was being ordered to give herself to Michael's jollies. It was beginning to sicken her.

**********

"Thank you." Michael said as he slipped the doorman the tip and closed the door. Nikita was around the corner in the bedroom. She easily saw the camera that Birkoff and Madeline had identified.

"It's there." Nikita says as she walks out of the bedroom, after recieving confirmation that it was only a video link and that Michael and Nikita could talk freely. None of the other rooms contained a camera.

"Nikita... this mission is not what I want." Michael says and Nikita turns around.

"Don't flatter yourself.. I don't want this either." Nikita fires back as her hair flips around.

Michael stands looking at Nikita as she carries a suitcase into the bedroom and walks back out. She had been muttering as she walked.

"...and the fact that this is the second time that Madeline directly ordered me to give my body to you sickens me..." Nikita says and Michael walks forward and grabs her shoulders.

"Birkoff... some time." Michael chokes out as he stares into Nikita's eyes. They look back at Michael with the fright that he has seen in his dreams when he is the room he thinks in a hotel room with Nikita.

"I thought it was more than that." Michael says firmly as he looks into Nikita's eyes. They bob up and down and Nikita quickly pulls herself away.

"It was Madeline's good deed for the week... give you some fun." Nikita comments as she picks up the other suitcase and moves to the bedroom.

Michael did not know nor understand what Nikita was playing. She was upset, and Michael understood that. Yet, he had believed that the night of the passion that Madeline had coordinated was more. He had a firmly understanding that Nikita said that the morning after.

Michael walked to the window and glared at the sun that was slowly setting. Nikita had made her intentions known that she was hoping to get out early from this mission. Michael, fighting with his own struggles, finally felt that he needed some sleep, wanted the same thing.

Michael moved towards the bedroom, with intentions of speeding things up, and found Nikita.

Naked.

In bed.

Looking at him.

***********

Impulse is what flew Michael across the room to the bed. Before his hands touched the covers of the bed, his shirt was thrown off, and landed in the doorway.

His finger tips crawled up Nikita's jaw as he shuffled his legs onto the bed, and closer to Nikita. Michael pushed back her hair and nuzzled his head closer to Nikita's ear.

"Let's enjoy this.." Michael commented in short and soft words as he kissed the earlobe in tenderness. Nikita's head did not turn towards Michael's mouth, and her pulse did not change.

Michael run his hands across and down Nikita's neck. Finger over finger. Walking them slowly down her tender and warm skin. Michael's fingers slowed as they found the curves they eagerly seeked.

Still, Nikita's head faced forward, staring dead on to the camera. Michael lifted his head and saw Nikita's eye not even move. Even as his right hand nudged the darker nipple, Nikita was not moved.

"Let me adore you..." Michael murmers as he rolls so that his bare chest covers Nikita's briefly. He looks directly into Nikita's eyes and sees no contact. His mouth opened over hers and allowed his tongue out to caress the outline of her lips.

Nikita's will power was more than she ever realized that she had. She stared at the wall, trying to dull her senses. That had not worked. Nikita then moved to using a counter-emotion. Nikita thought of the times that she hated Michael. Times that Michael hurt her.

Michael gained little access to Nikita's mouth, but found no response from her tongue. Michael continued to prod it with his tongue, trying to create a reflex, but nothing occured.

Michael's hands started to walk further down as he snaked his body further. His mouth dragged out of Nikita's mouth and left a wet path as he licked down Nikita's straight and long neck.

Michael looked up at Nikita with eyes of an animal, but eyes she did not notice. Michael, deciding that aggression might bring a response out of Nikita, attacked her right breast with hunger.

That was one body response that Nikita had no control of. Her nipple harden and Michael licked around the nub. Her pulse quickened, but her breathing actually slowed. Michael would have admitted that he was proud of her control, but was upset at it.

Michael bite at the nub and Nikita did not move or pull back. She had allowed her body over to Michael. She was following the orders that Madeline had sent forth with the mission profile.

Michael, feeling frustration that he had not felt in years, pushes his hands into Nikita's warm thighs. Quickly, he spreads them and moves down towards the haven. Michael has never had a woman stonewall him in his sexual advances. He skips over Nikita's belly button and places his nose in the small hairs surrounding Nikita's warmth.

"You smell like heaven." Michael rumbles as he looks up at Nikita. Her head is straight ahead and does not look down. Michael pushes further in, and gives one lick to the nub and feels no response in her thigh muscles.

Michael uses his hands to spread Nikita's thighs further apart. The animal is about to pounce. Michael takes his tongue and licks the length of Nikita, from top to bottom. A sweet liquid lightly coats Nikita and Michael smiles up at Nikita.

"You taste like honey." Michael murmers as he dives his head back in. His hands rub tightly into Nikita's buttocks as his mouth and tongue lick furiously.

Nikita is struggling to maintain control, but just recalls the time when Michael said for her to be patient. Control rains over her body.

Michael licks and licks. He probes with his hot and long tongue, searching for more. Michael blinks his eyes and moves his head away.

"Thank you." Nikita says as she pulls her legs together and swings them over the head.

"For what?" Michael murmers, as a tiny bit of liquid shines around his mouth and chin.

"For stopping." Nikita comments and walks out of the room, still naked as the day she was born.

**********

Michael walked out in the room, after Nikita. He lifted his arm and wiped the glistening wetness away from his mouth. Michael stared at Nikita, as she retrieved the black jacket Michael had placed on the back of a chair.

Nikita wrapped her naked body with the black jacket and turned back to Michael. She saw the anger in his eyes. It bothered Nikita, because she knew deep in her heart, that she wanted Michael.

"Birkoff.. .give us some time." Nikita says as she stares at the wall, avoiding Michael's eyes.

"Ni-ki-ta..." Michael stutters as he shakes his head in confusion. He looks at Nikita, who even in his own black jacket, shines with a beauty that he had come to love. He truly wanted to give Nikita pleasure that she should have.

"Michael...it was the best way to seduce Trenton Hays to me." Nikita says as she nervously twists the hands in the extra material of the black jacket. Michael turns his head with the statement and then looks back at Nikita.

"That's not enough." Michael says as he feels the anger with what Nikita had done. It scared Michael to the core that only for a few seconds, Nikita had total control of her body.

"Michael, I did what I had to do. When Hays sees that you could not pleasure me, he will feel challenged to do what you couldn't." Nikita says as she turns away and looks at the wall. She feels Michael staring in her back and can feel the hate that Michael was feeling. What Michael did not know was that Nikita hated herself for her actions.

"It is impossible..." Michael mutters as he thinks about what he did. He was attentive to Nikita's body. He was trying to do everything, and would have done anything, that Nikita wanted. The knowledge of what happened was lost to Michael.

"Michael... a study showed that have of the women in the United States admitted they have faked organism.... It is not so unbelievable." Nikita says firmly as she shakes her head in disbelief. Michael's attitude was bringing back Nikita's hatred for him. She just wanted Michael to leave.

That was what he did.

*

Trenton Hays entered the hotel room as Nikita closed the door quietly. He smiled at Nikita and Nikita smiled back. He moved close to Nikita, and touched her cheek as he pressed his body close to Nikita's.

"You are a vision." Trenton mutters as he runs his hands down Nikita's body and grasps his hands hard against Nikita's firm buttocks. Nikita murmurs into his mouth as she allows access for the passionate tongue.

Quickly, Michael enters the room and slides the handcuffs around Trenton's hand, as they were around Nikita's low back. Nikita slides down between the handcuffed hands and steps back. Michael places the hood on Trenton as Nikita finishes up in the room.

It is now, that the mission is over that the emotions start to be seen on Nikita's face. Michael, although, was still bitter because of Nikita's manipulation and lies. He places Trenton near the door and walks to Nikita.

"Thought you might need to satisfy yourself." Michael mutters as he hands Nikita a pack of cigarettes, and quickly leaves with Trenton.

********

Nikita walked up a flight of stairs and turned around when she hears a matching pair of footsteps. The brown hair of Madeline’s is noticed, and Nikita stops at the top of the stairs, that run across most of Section.

“Nikita.. I am glad to stop. I’ve wanted to speak with you since you returned.” Madeline says as she steps up onto the landing with Nikita. Both ladies start to walk down the hallway, with loud footsteps.

“I was pleasantly appreciative of your talents on today’s mission.” Madeline says as she turns her head to Nikita and smiles. Nikita just looks back at Madeline.

“It must have been extremely difficult. I do not have to tell you how talented a lover Michael is.” Madeline says, and expects a Nikita to react. Nikita maintains control over her body and looks back at Madeline with no emotion.

“I do have some advice.” Madeline says and Nikita tilts her head slightly at the statement. Nikita’s pace slows down as she is interested in what Madeline was going to say.

“Since you retained yourself so well.. you will be feeling the need to allow those urges out. Do not do this here.” Madeline says as she moves in front of Nikita. Nikita, this time, reacts. Nikita quickens her pace and steps in front of Madeline.

“What did you exactly mean by that?” Nikita says with eyes ablaze. Madeline smiles at the girl and pats her arm tenderly.

“Nikita... we are all human. Withholding sexual urges such as you did is almost unhealthy. You will need to release that tension. I don’t care who with, just not here.” Madeline says with a motherly voice and Nikita’s eyes blink. Madeline was practically giving Nikita permission to have sex with Michael because she wanted to and not because it was under orders.

“There is no one I would want to with, Madeline. Section has made sure of that.” Nikita says as she turns and starts down a flight of stairs. Madeline moves to the top, and Nikita looks back.

“We are both women, Nikita. I understand your needs.” Madeline says with a soft face that does not express the real Madeline. Nikita narrows her eyes and looks at Madeline.

“And what do you mean by that?” Nikita demands as she steps back up closer to Madeline. Madeline notices Nikita’s hands balling up into fist. It was quite funny watching Nikita struggle to keep a secret something Madeline already knew and wanted.

“Nothing, Nikita. Have a nice night.” Madeline says as she steps back and continues on the raised hallway. Nikita steps down onto the stairs and watches Madeline walk away. Still confused, Nikita knew it was too early to call it a night. Nikita hurried on down the stairs, off to see Jack.

**********

Nikita opens the door to the bar that she spent the last hour thinking about as she prepared herself to go. She wades through the crowd and pushes towards the bar. There is a man sitting at the stool that she had frequented for the week. Nikita bends down and whispers something into his ear. The man stands and quickly leaves.

“Nikita! After last night, I didn’t think you would be back!” Jack laughs happily as he moves down the bar. Nikita smiles at Jack and leans up and kisses his cheek. Jack stands back and winks at her.

“What will you have, darling?” Jack asks in a deep country accent. Nikita laughs in her flirty way and sits back down on the stool. She can see Michael sitting in the corner, nursing the milk. Not only was Michael following her, he was being cheap.

“A screwdriver.” Nikita pronounces and Jack steps back with his hand over his chest. He makes a few choking noises as Nikita continues to laugh. Jack stops and steps back towards Nikita.

“You do realize that a screwdriver is vodka and orange juice, right?” Jack asks and Nikita smiles back at him. Nikita stands up and pulls Jack’s ear down to her mouth.

“I know that, and I also know that if a guy wants to stick it to a woman, he wouldn’t mess up her drink order.” Nikita says and lets go of his ear. Jack rubs his ear softly, and pulls out a pack of cigarettes. Nikita smiles as she pulls the pack that Michael gave her and places it on the bar. She watches Michael’s head shake back in forth in disappointment as Nikita lights the first cigarette.

Jack soon returns to Nikita’s area with the large glass for the screwdriver. Nikita pulls it into her hands and stirs it slowly.

“I’ve never seen a screwdriver so large.” Nikita says with a huge wink that Michael can see on the mirror from his vantage point. Jack licks his lips and bends down to Nikita, who is now starting her second cigarette.

“I know of one much larger and so much more fun.” Jack says as he reaches over and brushes some hair out of Nikita’s face. Nikita smiles back at Jack and starts to drink her drink.

Not long after, Jack returns from helping some customers, and Michael has slipped out the door. Nikita looks for the pack of cigarettes that Jack offered her. Jack reaches down and touches Nikita’s hand.

“I am off in ten minutes, darling.” Jack says and Nikita’s eyes widen suddenly. Madeline’s eyes echo back at Nikita in her head. Nikita realistically looks at Jack and knows why he has asked her. Nikita had openly flirted with Jack because Michael was visible in the mirror all night.

Nikita swallows and looks at Jack. She stands up and places her hands into his blonde hair. Nikita pulls his mouth down to hers. Nikita allows the kiss to progress and can feel her body temperature rise quickly. Nikita slowly pulls away and looks at Jack.

“It is not a good night.” Nikita says with eyes that portray regret. Regret that she allowed it this far, but Jack sees regret that she night with him.

“It is that guy.” Jack says as he steps back and looks at Nikita. Nikita chews her bottom lip and nods lightly. Jack nods his head and walks away.

Nikita exits the bar, looking at the ground. She had a terrible day. Nikita knew that Michael viewed it that Nikita had a great day. Nikita looks around the bar, and decides to continue on with her daily visits. She had skipped yesterday because of the fight. Now, Nikita ached to go more than ever.

***********

The night was dark with no moon in the clear sky. A slight breeze nibbled at being almost chilly. The streets were quiet, with only a stray cat or two. Nikita moved quickly through this environment.

Her moves were purposefully, and practiced. She stayed in the shadows of the trees and bushes that brushed against her legs and body. Nikita looked straight ahead and moved quickly.

Michael stood in the shadows across the street. He moved like the wind. Michael would move quickly and then stop for long periods of time. Michael’s body was ready for any sudden move from Nikita. Nikita's move could have been the street or down the sewer. Michael was ready.

Nikita was about to round a corner, when her hands pushed back a bush. Her head ducked in underneath a tree and she disappeared into complete darkness. Michael followed behind, not stopping when noticing the sign that read, ‘St. Mark’s Cemetery’.

Michael moved silently, but then almost tripped over Nikita literally. Michael had tried to step over a headstone, and found it higher than originally thought. Michael started to trip, when he noticed Nikita three rows ahead.

Nikita was spread out over a grave site. It was the darkest example of the pain that Nikita lived with every day. Michael stepped back and bowed his head. His heart ached to run to Nikita and protectively hold her while his head told him to stay away.

Then the sobs reached Michael’s ears and he closed his eyes to the sound and sight. He could not escape what he felt, although he would continue to try. Michael convinced himself that Madeline had given him orders to do this, and so he was only following orders. Even his lies to himself were starting to fall apart.

Nikita heard a twig snap loudly and immediately stopped her sobs. Nikita did not move, and did not continue. She could feel him. Nikita knew it was Michael.

“Go away, Michael.” Nikita said as she pushed her body up from the ground. Little pieces of grass cling to her black shirt, but Nikita does not notice them.

“Let me help you.” Michael says as he moves closer to Nikita. Nikita flips her head around, sending her hair into orbit. Michael sees the hair flip and the eyes of anger bore into him.

“I do not need your help.” Nikita spits out as her eyes start to flood with the fires of anger. Michael moves closer, but still out of range from Nikita. Her face was speckled with tears and flushed with the anger.

“Nikita, you are running...” Michael says and stops when Nikita turns her entire body around towards Michael. Michael feels as if a cannon has been pointed to his head.

“Look Michael. I am not running. I can admit to myself anything. I know that killing those kids today is eating me inside out! I can admit that to myself.” Nikita starts and Michael shifts his weight.

“I come here to heal myself. To get away from people who think they can help. All they do, and you do, is hurt me more! I know who I am! I hate killing these kids, I hate giving my body up to men I don’t love, I hate listening to Madeline telling me what I should and should not feel! I hate it all!” Nikita says as tears start to flow easily.

“But, You should not even speak to me about problems!” Nikita says in a booming voice. Michael’s eyebrows rise with the comment and then the pause of words.

“You don’t want to admit to yourself the feelings you have. You are probably having memories that you cannot phantom yourself doing. They seem so impossible to you, because you deny everything.” Nikita attacks. Nikita sees Michael’s eyes widen and she smiles at the progress.

“Have you remember waking up in a room that you don’t know. Finding me there?” Nikita questions with a haunting voice.

“Have you resigned it off as pure dream? It isn’t Michael. You depended on me to get you past Operations. I protected you. I took you to MY apartment and allowed you to sleep in MY bed. You laughed and you smiled at him. You called yourself a JERK! And you can’t admit any of that to yourself...” Nikita says as she pauses before telling Michael everything that he had done. The argument was straining Nikita’s nerves.

“Don’t come to help me when you can’t help yourself.” Nikita stammers out as she hauls her body up and runs out of the cemetery.

**********

Walter was in his tent, deep asleep. His mind had transported him to one of the many fantasies he dreamt of every night. In this one, Nikita is crawling up the beach on her knees and licking her lips at Walter. Walter’s lips part in his sleep and allow a small murmur out of his mouth.

Nikita moves closer and closer and takes one of Walter’s toes into her mouth. Her tongue swirls around quickly and Nikita grins back at Walter. Then a steady stream of warm air was blown into his ear.

“What the...” Walter starts as he pulls out of his dream and turns to the left, where the air had come from. He sees Nikita and stops before the words spills out at Nikita. Walter shakes his head and sits up to be more level with the leaning down Nikita.

“Sugar!” Walter slowly recovers from the shock. “What are you doing here?” Walter asks. Then his eyes open and Nikita slowly pulls a necklace up from around her neck and smiles. Walter sees a device as Michael had the previous night attached to the necklace.

“I needed to speak with someone.” Nikita says as she digs her bare feet into the bottom of the tent. Walter notes the shoes stood next to the door of the tent. Walter yawned and looked at Nikita. This was more inconsistent than Michael’s visit.

“Why?” Walter asks and he watches Nikita’s head roll down in shame. Her hands start to twist against each other, and slowly meet with her mouth. Nikita starts to chew her nails.

“No reason to be nervous, sugar.” Walter adds, and Nikita hastily pulls her fingers away from her mouth. She pushes back her hair and looks at Walter.

“Tonight’s mission was bad. I had to do it, Walter.” Nikita says as her eyes dive away from Walter’s. Walter looks at Nikita’s hair and tries to think of what to ask next. Walter knew he was not Madeline. Sometimes, he wished he had her insight, but would never want her job. But, Nikita takes care of it.

“It was awful. I had to make Michael look like a fool in bed. He worked and I couldn’t react. I couldn’t tell him. We had to lure the target in and it was the only way. And he hates me for it. It’s only the beginning. I wish someone would just cancel me.” Nikita says in a hurried voice as she starts to twist her hands together again. Walter places his hands over Nikita’s and looks at her face, now littered with tears.

“It was the job. Michael knows that.” Walter says firmly but can feel the young woman’s body quake at the word. Walter knew more about Michael and Nikita than anyone else believed.

“Not this time, Walter. He has been rejecting me for missions.” Nikita says as she turns her head away. The words hang in the tent. Walter knows what rejecting Nikita meant, and so did Michael. If Nikita was rejected to many times, Madeline and Operations would have to evaluate Nikita. Madeline would not be pleased, and Operations would be more than pleased.

“What else is going on?” Walter asks as he remembers his visit from Michael the night before. Nikita turns to Walter and fakes a smile. She tries but then stops.

“I killed two more kids. Nikita, the kid killer.” Nikita says trying to be matter-of-factly. Walter looked at his sleeping bag and looked at Nikita. They were quiet for some time.

“Do you remember anything from the time that you have amnesia?” Nikita asks. Although the question is slightly confusing, Walter understands the question. It was one that he thought about being asked by Nikita.

“Usually it comes back. It seems like a dream because it isn’t you who experienced it.” Walter informs Nikita as he strokes her hair back. “Why, Nikita?”

“Just wondering.” Nikita says pulling her head back and standing up in the tent. Walter felt true sorrow for Nikita. He did not know much about Nikita, but from her questions and comments, Walter grew to an understanding that Nikita was never given much in life.

“Nikita, what you did for Michael in that situation was honorable, and I hope for your sake that Michael in time will remember and realize it.” Walter says as Nikita slides her shoes on her feet. Nikita nods her head and slides out of the tent.

***********

Sleep was starting again for Walter, when a series of twigs broke around the back of his tent. Walter sat up and sighed loudly.

“Sugar? Did you get lost?” Walter calls out, as he is sure of it being a person. Walter could not fathom another person being out at this dangerous hour. Walter moved towards the zipped door.

“Nikita? Are you ok?” Walter calls out as the twigs snap by the right hand corner. Nikita had weaseled up inside Walter’s tent, and had been extremely careful. This person was making a hell of a noise.

“Sugar!” Walter calls out, and the door starts to unzip. Walter looks at the door and frowns as Michael’s head pops down from above the tent's roof.

“I do not appreciate being called sugar.” Michael says as he holds up his hand to Walter. Walter nods and Michael steps in and looks around the tent.

“Nikita was by?” Michael asks and Walter shakes his head. All he wanted was three days off from Section One. Of course it would be the three days that Michael and Nikita fought. Nothing could go right for Walter. He regretted not going to the tropical islands.

“Yes. Very upset.” Walter says as he looks at Michael for an explanation. Michael sits down and brushes some faint mud from his black boots.

“I have more intel.” Michael says with a very serious tone. Walter looks at Michael, noting that he wants only to speak about Nikita. Walter rolls his shoulders back and waits for Michael to deliver.

“I followed Nikita tonight. She went to a graveyard...” Michael starts and Walter almost bounces up to his feet with the mention of the graveyard.

“A graveyard? Michael, what was Nikita doing in a graveyard?” Walter asks, starting to become annoyed. The thought of beautiful Nikita hanging out in a graveyard was sick and gross. The thoughts almost made Walter’s stomach upset.

“She was curled up on the grave site of a child she killed in that huge innocent loss mission she was involved with.” Michael says as he turns his head away from Walter and looks at the side of the tent. Walter’s shoulders slump forward with the words. Nikita was hurting more than Walter even realized from his conversation with Nikita.

“Because she killed those two kids?” Walter asks and Michael looks back at Walter. Worry was etched around Michael’s eyes. Michael pushed back a piece of rebel hair and took a deep breathe.

“From what I have gathered, no.” Michael says and the statement means something deeper and darker. Walter wanted to run to Nikita’s apartment and curl her up into his arms. He wanted her to smile and be happy.

The possible answer for recovery and happiness sat in the tent with Walter. Walter was starting to think that a relationship between Michael and Nikita would never occur, like either person needs. Walter looked at Michael and shrugged his shoulders.

“I can’t tell you what to do, Michael. You have all the knowledge. You deal with Nikita most of the time. Do what you can.” Walter offers up and looks away. Here was Michael worrying about Nikita and not his own problems and visa versa.

“Nikita told you something.” Michael says to Walter. Walter stands up and moves outside the tent. He stands nearby the fire that he is figuring on rekindling.

“Go home, Michael.” Walter says firmly and Michael stares into Walter’s eyes. Walter stares back. It was stubbornness against stubbornness until Michael turned and vanished into the night.

**********

Madeline’s office door closed, and Michael and Nikita sat as far apart as possible. Madeline frowned and moved to her seat. She started to study the pair, but gave up within seconds. It would be a waste of time to do so when both are so defensive.

“Trenton Hays gave us some very important information. Red Cell is looking for you two.” Madeline says with a smile. The smile moves Nikita’s body and it moves Michael’s body. It was not normal.

“So?” Michael asks, trying to fight away the fear that coursed through his body. The smile indicated that Madeline had a plan afoot. Madeline’s plans always had more than one goal in mind.

“We will give them you, with some work.” Madeline pronounces and Nikita sits straight up in her chair. Madeline pushed forward two PDA’s and looked at Michael and Nikita as they grabbed the device and sat back.

“You two will be placed inside a little cottage community in the woods. You will be husband and wife to all. You two have come to the mountains to work through some difficulties.” Madeline says and Nikita steals a glance at Michael. All of what Madeline had said was too close to what was truly happening. It was too strange.

“Red Cell will find you. We will not be monitoring the situation.” Madeline says and Michael stands up and walks towards the back of the room in thought.

“Then what will we be doing?” Michael asks and Madeline again smiles. Nikita looks back at Michael to see his mouth trembling trying to maintain his poker face. Nikita looked back at Madeline to see her folding her hands in front of her.

“To Section, you and Nikita will be in mandatory refusal. You two will only report in to us, when you have taken out the Red Cell unit, or if in a week no one has approached you.” Madeline says and Michael looks at Nikita’s chair. Her foot is nervously tapping at the leg of the chair.

“I have a few words of wisdom for this mission.” Madeline says as she motions Michael back to his chair. Michael looks at the wall and then moves back to the chair. He catches Nikita’s glance, but the contact causes Nikita’s eyes to divert.

“The problems between you and Nikita must end. Use this time to do whatever it takes to fix this problem.” Madeline says firmly and Nikita looks down at her hands. She studies the crease of her knuckle and looks back at Madeline.

“What if whatever it takes is against Section policies?” Nikita bravely asks the question that was floating on Michael’s head. Madeline leans forward in her chair, almost surprised by Nikita’s blunt move of bravery.

“If we aren’t monitoring, we won’t know now, will we?” Madeline says with a raised eyebrow toward Nikita. Nikita nods her head and looks at Michael. Michael raises a stern eyebrow to Nikita and turns away.

“I do not approve of this mission profile.” Michael says to Madeline and her almost playful face dies.

“It is not up to debate. This is what you will do. I need Red Cell captured, but I also need you two to stop the childish squabbles before, during, and after every mission. It is an order.” Madeline says as she presses the button to open the door. Michael takes the signal and quickly exits.

Nikita stands and stares at Madeline. She wasn’t sure what Madeline was doing or why Madeline was doing it. The move could be kind in a way, or it could be just another way to hurt Nikita. Nikita studied Madeline and then moved away quietly.

***********

Michael stood in the shadows that day. Since the mission for him and Nikita was not leaving until the next morning, Michael was to work on reports. They had been finished for days, and sat inside the disk until he sent them out to Operations' computer. So, for the day, Michael became a shadow.

It was no guess what Michael was watching. Most of the day had been uneventful, as Nikita enjoyed a prolonged workout and then had some coffee with Kelly, an operative that Nikita had become friend with quickly.

It was when Nikita moved to the locker room to change for her night out, that Michael’s face turned down in a sad way. He had hoped that Nikita would spend the night at home, and no where else. His hopes were soon dashed, when Nikita emerged wearing a long black slip dress. It hung at her curves, but not as dangerous as Michael had seen Nikita dress in before this night.

“Nikita!” Birkoff called out from behind her and Michael placed his head against the wall. He was less than a foot away from both of them. He paused and waited.

“Hey, Birkoff... that equipment tested fine.” Nikita says as she pats the young man’s shoulder. Michael had been present for that too. There were special comm units to use if some mishap would occur during the mission.

“I can’t say I want to be in your shoes... geez.. a week with Michael?” Birkoff says and Nikita looks down the hall. Not seeing anyone, Nikita turns back to Birkoff.

“Not my ideal situation. But, it could be worse.” Nikita says with a wink to Birkoff. Birkoff blushes a bit and then smiles back.

“It could be Operations.” Birkoff comments and Nikita laughs loudly.

“That would be better than this.” Nikita says with a smile and Birkoff grabs Nikita’s shoulder. He turns her head towards him and looks her in the eyes.

“I thought you and Michael had a special understanding?” Birkoff whispers as he moves closer to Nikita. Nikita shakes her head ‘no’ quickly and Birkoff stays at his position.

“I think you might be wrong.” Birkoff says and Nikita pulls away from Birkoff. Nikita stares at Birkoff in disbelief.

“Who’s side are you on? Can’t you see that this is a set up? Madeline wants to get me and Michael... but what she doesn’t understand that there is nothing there. NOTHING!” Nikita roars loudly. She looks up and down the hallway and shakes her head away from Birkoff.

“I think she is giving you the opportunity to get out of your funk and to communicate with Michael what you desperately need. I would jump at this opportunity, Nikita.” Birkoff says quickly, forgetting that he was to know nothing about the mission except the equipment. Madeline had briefed him of the true goal of the mission in order to provide the decoy for Operations. Operations, Michael, and Nikita would kill Birkoff and Madeline if they knew.

“What are you? Madeline’s son?” Nikita says in a huff and walks down the hallway quickly. Michael pulls his head off the wall and watches Nikita move away. Slowly, he pushes the button in his pocket and instantly delivers the reports as he walks after Nikita.

*********

Nikita walked down the same street and in the same darkness of the night before. She moved quickly, this time allowing more limbs and leaves to strike her body. Nikita turned and looked across the street.

In Nikita's plain sight, there stood Michael. He froze as the wind pushed back his long black jacket and pushed his hair away from his head. His eyes seemed to glow from the distance. His muscles twitched to run and pull Nikita away, but his mind would not allow it.

Instead, Nikita ran. She ducked into the trees and the overgrowth early, trying to lose Michael. In her rush to escape Michael, she failed to notice that Michael did not give chase. He walked slowly up the street, taking his time. He was following, but also giving Nikita time.

Nikita dropped onto the ground in front of the grave marker. She reached out and touched the name with her fingertips as her stomach turned into tight and turning knots. Nikita leaned forward, and smelt the flowers left by the grave. She smelt nothing. Fear, guilt, panic, and regret coursed over her body like a hurricane brewing in the gulf.

Nikita’s body buckled around her cramping stomach and Nikita hugged herself. Her black dress easily picked up the odd clippings of grass, but it did not matter. Nikita rolled onto top of the grave, wishing it was her in the coffin and not the young boy.

Michael approached the scene a good bit later. He viewed Nikita from a distance. Her arms were laced tightly around her thighs, holding her in a tight fetus position. Rhythmically she rocked slightly back and forth. Her hair was thrown around, and some even settled on top of the grave marker and the flowers.

“Nikita...” Michael says softly as his eyes start to wield up with tears for the pain that she is going through for days. He would easily take it all from her. He wanted to help, but could not submit to Nikita’s stubborn rules. He wasn’t ready to admit anything to himself about himself. All that mattered was Nikita.

“Why take a boy... who had a mother... and a father...” Nikita says with her eyes shut tightly. She pauses and rolls a bit more radically as her bottom lip quivers with emotion. Michael wants to pull her into his arms, but turns his head, not wanting to view Nikita’s most private pain.

“And they loved him...” Nikita cries out with a squeak and a wheeze. Michael stares at the tree, trying to rid himself of any emotional response from Nikita’s state. The tree does not help.

“I... with no father... and a mother... who hated me... lives in this...” Nikita says as she rolls onto her knees. Her hands unlock from around her thighs and balls up into tense fists. She angrily starts to pound on the ground.

“I am already dead! Stop my breathing! Stop my torture!” Nikita screams out, and Michael’s eyes begin to seep. He has lost the control of his eyes, his weakness. The rest of his body stands sturdy like steel, but his eyes overflow with emotion that was bound to overtake his body.

“Nikita... let me help you.” Michael says steadily. Nikita’s pounding stops as she registers the words. She flops back down on her side and looks at Michael. Her eyes look almost red in the lack of light, and her cheeks are puffy from the crying.

“Cancel me.” Nikita echoes out into the air. She looks into Michael’s own eyes, with the wetness still clinging to them and curls back up into her ball. She begins to roll again. Michael looks away and then looks back.

Michael slowly moves to the grave and places a hand on Nikita’s side. She does not stop. She does not acknowledge. Michael slowly slides down, and does not try to hold her. He keeps one hand on her side, and one in her hair as he just waits. His body stretches almost twice her size, and waits.

*********

“Walter!”

Walter sits up a bit, but then rationalizes the noise as his unconscious mind yelling at him for not going to the tropical islands.

“Walter!” Michael’s voice booms and Walter can identify. Like the past two nights, Walter glances at the battery alarm clock before moving. It was earlier than the previous nights. It was only a little pass midnight.

“Walter!” Michael’s voice echoes even louder as Walter pulls on his boots, and steps out of the tent in nothing by his long johns. All he sees is trees and his tent. Then, he hears the footsteps. They sound extremely loud as Walter turns towards them.

“Now, Walter!” Michael’s voice demands, and Walter starts off towards the sound. He moves around three trees to find Michael climbing up the steep hill with a sleeping Nikita in his arms. Walter dashes down the hill and takes part of Nikita’s body.

“What have you done to her?” Walter demands as he leads the way up the hill. Michael does not speak. Together, the men move quickly and place Nikita into the tent. Michael paces about in front of the tent as Walter starts another fire.

“Are you going to tell me what is going on?” Walter demands as he looks up from the fire and stares at Michael. Michael looks down and then towards the sky. He feels as if he is splitting in half and losing his sanity.

“She broke... I found her... in that graveyard...” Michael starts as he continues to pace obsessively and quickly. Each time he passes the door, he looks in to the sleeping Nikita.

“Michael, it sounds like you aren’t far from it yourself.” Walter comments as he places some water on to brew some coffee. It looked as if Walter would need it this night.

“It’s the mission. Madeline has set us up.” Michael says as he stops and looks straight into the fire. Michael remembers seeing Nikita behind the flames when she saved his life. She appeared to be a ghost, but Michael knew it was real. Michael never saw Nikita in his dreams. He only saw her in situations that she had been in from the beginning. This realization started to shed light onto his own mayhem of thoughts.

“HOW?” Walter says in a harsh voice, as Michael has neglected the question twice before. Michael moves to the fire and squats close to it. Michael looks back at the tent and then through the flames towards Walter.

“We are portraying a married couple with problems. We are to work them out.” Michael says and Walter raises an eyebrow. He could not image that Operations would willingly accept this mission, and had deep down feelings that this was all Madeline’s doing.

“What if we can’t?” Michael questions Walter. Michael stands up and looks into the tent. He sees Nikita cuddling the pillow like it was her last string to life. What she had asked him was so cold, so filled with pain that it shattered his world. Michael always believed that Nikita had enough strength to conquer all, and this splintered that belief.

“What happened tonight, Michael?” Walter asks as he visibly sees Michael’s body start to tremble. Walter could not remember ever seeing Michael so visibly spooked. Not even after Simone was Michael emotional like his current state.

“She cried... that the boy... he had a mother and father that loved him... that he should not have died.” Michael starts as his pacing resumes. His hand runs across the top of the tent nervously.

“And?” Walter asks with a raised eyebrow. He wished for once a Section Operative would straight out tell him what they wanted or needed too.

“I can’t... I just...” Michael hesitates and this stirs Walter’s anger.

“Look, here, Michael.” Walter orders as he moves to the door and points into Nikita.

“She was brave. She took your blood and found out what was wrong. She saved you from Madeline and Operations. She took the skeleton of your Section body and made it act like yourself! She did that!” Walter says as his voice starts to get louder and starts to echo.

“And what else?” Walter asks as he turns and faces Michael’s face.

“She said that she should have been the one to die because her mother didn’t love her and she didn’t have a father.” Michael says and turns away from Walter and the tent. The turn head only indicates one thing to Walter.

“And?” Walter questions.

“She asked me to cancel her.” Michael says as he turns his head back around and looks Walter dead into his eyes. He turns and starts to walk away.

“Where are you going?” Walter demands as he watches Michael move further away.

“Nikita will need tea in the morning.” Michael comments with a trembling voice as he stalks away.

**********

Nikita’s head rolls down the around as her eyes start to flutter open. A bird is heard chirping not far away from her. Nikita struggles to open her eyes against the early morning sun light.

Nikita lifts her head as she tries to sort the events that led her to this tent. She moves a hand to her head to touch the pounding on her forehead. Her face squeezes together, trying to push the headache away. Slowly, she moves her legs outward to stretch them from their tucked position.

Suddenly, the light is blocked and Nikita looks up towards the doorway. She finds Walter bending down to step into the tent. Walter squats down and looks into Nikita’s face. His own face is stern and firm, unlike anything Nikita has seen from Walter before.

“You are awake. I’ll get you something to drink.” Walter pronounces when Nikita does not speak back to Walter. She watches Walter walk out and pulls her shoulders up, still continuing to fight the headache.

“You got aspirin?” Nikita calls out with a parched throat. Nikita pulls her arms all the way out of the sleeping bag and drops her head. She can only remember running, and everything else is gone.

Walter enters with a cup with a steaming liquid. Nikita looks at it and then at Walter. Walter extends his arms, in a motion of handing Nikita the cup.

“I don’t drink coffee.” Nikita says as she places a palm up towards Walter, stopping his movement. Walter uses his other hand to push Nikita’s hand down and to place the cup in her hand.

“Michael dropped off tea earlier.” Walter says as he slides down by Nikita’s feet. Nikita takes a small sip and allows the liquid to drip through her body. It does nothing for her headache, but helps the rest of her body.

“Nikita... both you and Michael are on an emotional cliff. Now, you both can continue to deny until your blue in the face and just get further and further down that cliff. Or, you both can just admit everything and walk away for other things. I know it is a whole bunch of crap to get through, being in Section and all.. but you both ruined my short vacation!” Walter says, throwing in the joke at the end to cut short the seriousness.

Nikita continues to sip the tea, and says not a word. Her back is sore and she rolls hers shoulders back in hope to loosen the muscles. Walter, seeing this movement, moves around to Nikita’s back and places his hands on it. He slowly rubs the muscles.

“Did I ever tell you about the girl in Hong Kong?” Walter asks as he rubs between the shoulder blades. He pauses and pushes all of Nikita’s hair over the other side of her shoulders.

“No, Walter.” Nikita responds.

“She was hot. Not as much as you are.. but hot. She was tall, but not like you. She had curves that never seemed to end. We spent every hot and steamy night together.” Walter says with a chuckle as he rubs around the neck more.

“She taught me the best massages... she would talk while giving them... usually hot and sexy stuff. Ha! She knew what would relax me, sugar.” Walter says with a deep laugh. He presses two fingers on either side of the spine and Nikita tries to pull her back away.

“It would hurt.. but the outcome was sweet, if you catch my drift.” Walter says with another deep laugh. He releases his hands and turns Nikita to face him.

“How is that headache?” Walter asks. He watches Nikita in realization that it is gone. Nikita looks down at her watch as she flashes a brief smile. She hurries up and kisses Walter on the cheek.

“Remember what I told you.. I don’t want to climb down any cliffs, NIKITA!” Walter calls out after Nikita as she moves down the hill quickly.

*********

Another day has started with Michael in Madeline’s office. The night was long and difficult. Sleep never arrived for Michael. After walking away from Walter’s camp, Michael walked around for no particular reason. Then, passing a convenience store, Michael bought the tea that Nikita drank each morning.

Michael returned to the camp to find Walter minding the fire. Michael approached and set the tea down on a log that surrounded the fire to give a place to sit. Walter looked up at Michael, but made no attempt to talk. Michael walked to the tent to see Nikita thrashing around in her sleep. Michael turned his head and walked quickly away.

After the trip to Walter's camp, Michael came immediately to Headquarters. He would not sleep at home. Plus, he had no where else to go. Michael was barely noticed, but Birkoff was there. The young man brought in Michael some coffee and left quietly.

“Michael, Nikita is late. When did you last see her?” Madeline asks as she stands up from her desk and moves past Michael. Michael waits for Madeline to turn back around.

“I saw her leave last night.” Michael responds and Madeline’s glare narrows. She moves her body next to the sitting Michael and looks down at him.

“And you did not follow her?” Madeline asks firmly.

“I saw here leave last night.” Michael responds again as he looks up at Madeline. Madeline challenges, but moves back to her chair.

“I overrode her little devise on the cameras. She never arrived home last night.” Madeline informs Michael and Michael tilts his head. He looks at the display cabinet of the bonsai trees and then looks back at Madeline.

“Nikita is a big girl.” Michael responds as he straightens his back. The slight swoosh is heard and Nikita slowly enters.

“Hello, Madeline.” Nikita says as she looks at Madeline as she walks down the stairs.

“Hello, Michael.” Nikita says as she looks at Michael. Michael turns his head and looks at Nikita. She had found time to change her clothing, and looked amazing for the fact of what she had been through last night.

“Hello, Nikita. How are you?” Michael responds with opens eyes that called out for more. Nikita smiles and sits down in the chair.

“Fine.” Nikita responds and looks back at Madeline. Madeline, who had watched the exchange, was positive they saw each other last night. Madeline also knew in those few words that the problems had yet to be touched.

“Why are you late, Nikita? This will push back the mission.” Madeline says and Nikita folds her hands on her lap. Nikita tosses her ponytail over her back and smiles.

“Traffic.” Nikita responds smartly. Michael turns his head and stares at Nikita. Nikita does no movement, since Madeline’s attention is focused on her.

“You never went home last night.” Madeline says and Nikita smiles back at Madeline again. Nikita slowly unfolds her hands and crosses her legs.

“Went to a hotel. Neighbors have been loud.” Nikita responds as she lightly scratches behind her left ear.

“Fine. Let’s go over the security at the house.” Madeline says as she turns her screen so that both Michael and Nikita can see it without getting close.

“We installed sensors three years ago around the perimeter. They are still working. They will alarm you to any visitors.” Madeline says as she points out the perimeter that she was speaking about on the computer screen. Nikita nods her head along with Michael.

“Nikita, you tested the ERU yesterday. They are a comm unit that can be used to send no longer than a three minute conversation from.” Madeline says and pushes the comm units out for Michael and Nikita.

“They are one channel, and one time use.” Nikita says as Michael picks his up his own unit. Michael nods his head and turns back to Madeline.

“I’ve had someone pack your bags. You will be leaving now.” Madeline says as she stands up from her desk. Nikita and Michael stand up and almost bump into each other as they round the chairs towards each other. Nikita stops and goes the opposite way.

Madeline sits back and pulls up the screen on her computer. She enters the keyword and sits back.

“I will tell you about the comm units in a minute, Michael.” Niktia’s voice echoes softly.

“I want to know more than just about the comm units, Nikita.” Michael’s voice booms back.

**********

Nikita stepped out of the black Jeep and started up the path quickly. She opened the door to the cottage and looked around. It was styled with a country motif and seemed very comfortable. Nikita quickly walked up the stairs to find only one bedroom.

Michael was taking the suitcases out of the Jeep when Nikita huffed down the stone pathway back towards Michael. Her face was red with anger and before Nikita could say a word, Michael knew what it was. One bedroom.

“What was she thinking?” Nikita questions as she looks away from Michael. Michael drops the bag to the floor and touches Nikita’s shoulder.

“We are suppose to be a married couple, Nikita.” Michael patronizes Nikita. Nikita turns around and stares at Michael. She shakes her head and moves back up towards the house.

Once inside, both were quiet. Nikita unpacked slowly in the bedroom, muttering to herself. Michael stored the units away and moved to the kitchen. Opening the door to the refrigerator, he finds not an item in it.

“‘Kita! I have to go shopping.” Michael says as he walks up the stairs. Nikita looks out the bedroom and at Michael. He doesn’t know what she was doing, but can see the barely trembling chin.

“Do you want something specifically?” Michael asks softly as he steps into the bedroom. Nikita sets down the shirt that was nestled in her hands and looks at Michael.

“Fruit salad. Oh, and some milk.” Nikita says quickly and then pulls out another shirt from the suitcase. Michael taps the doorway and leaves.

Michael did not know what kind of problems the fruit salad would case. He did the shopping, and placed all the items in the perspective places. Michael hoped he had bought enough for the week, as the women looked at Michael like a prized piece of beef.

Nikita had offered to make dinner and moved to the kitchen. Michael was just sitting back when he hears the doors slam and Nikita’s socked feet move hurriedly across the tiled floor.

“Where is the fruit salad?” Nikita asks. Michael raises an eyebrow, and walks into the kitchen. He had left all the fruit in a bag together so that it would be easy for Nikita. He pulled out the bag and placed it on the counter top just to the right of the sink.

“That isn’t fruit salad!” Nikita says angrily. Michael squints his eyes at Nikita in anger. Nikita moves to the cupboard and pulls out a can of soup.

“Fruit salad comes like this. In a can. You throw it into the frig, and then open it!” Nikita says as she slams the can onto the counter top next to the bag of fruit.

“All you have to do is cut the fruit, Nikita.” Michael says and turns his head. Nikita walks to the opened cupboard and sets her head against the lower shelf. Michael, who was about to leave pauses.

“What is wrong, Nikita?” Michael asks and Nikita turns back around. Her face is stern and she brushes pass Michael.

“Leave my kitchen.” Nikita says. Michael shrugs his shoulders and leaves. Michael picks up the local newspaper and starts to read through it. He listens to the steady chopping of Nikita and turns his head. There was a sense that something was wrong, but he did not know what.

“OWH!!!” Nikita hollers out, and then the falling of a metal object is heard. Michael folds the paper and walks towards the kitchen.

Nikita was upset with Michael, that she could not admit that she knew nothing about fruit. There were pieces of fruit around the counter top and the knife had dropped to the floor. Nikita was facing the window, sucking at her bleeding finger.

When Michael enters the kitchen he notices the mashed pineapple on the counter. Then found Nikita slamming the non-bleeding hand against the wall. Then she pushes her head against the same wall and starts to cry. Michael picks up the towel and head to Nikita.

He pulls Nikita’s finger out of Nikita’s mouth and wraps it in the towel. Nikita does not look at Michael as he pulls her to the sink.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Michael questions as he looks at the cut. It was a small one, but since Nikita was cutting pineapple, it burned.

“You guys taught me to shoot a gun, plant explosives, dance properly, give up my body and other assorted things. None of you thought to teach me how to live in my own place. It was just assumed I would know.... I lived on the streets.” Nikita says bitterly as she pulls her hand away from the water.

“I’m going for a walk.” Nikita announces as she continues out of the room

***********

Michael was concerned for Nikita, as she did not return quickly. The sun was setting when Nikita opened the door and walked into the kitchen. In the time that Nikita was gone, Michael went along cooking. There was the fruit salad that Nikita had started and a light shrimp paste. Michael dropped the spoon and looked at Nikita.

“I finished dinner.” Michael says. Nikita does not acknowledge the comment as she opens the refrigerator. She reaches in for a bottle of water and starts to walk away.

“I am not hungry. I’m going to bed.” Nikita protectively says and Michael does not stop her. Michael sits down and eats his meal, and wraps up a dish for Nikita to heat it up later in the night.

Michael was feeling, tired, but he did not want to disturb Nikita. He sat on the couch and started to watch the local news. Slowly his eyes closed.

Dreams for Michael and Nikita were not peaceful on this long night. The dreams filled to the brim with memories that ate away at what little sanity they had left. Nikita could only picture the kids that she has killed and Michael continually turning her away. Michael could only picture sending Nikita out to her death and his moves to hurt her.

As Michael knew, Nikita strangled into the kitchen just around one for food. She opened the microwave and found the pasta. Nikita programmed the microwave for three minutes and walked out of the kitchen.

“Nikita! Nikita!” Michael’s sleep driven speech calls out and Nikita goes to the living room. Michael is thrashing about on the couch, in a cold sweat that has gathered around his face.

“NO!” Michael screams as he sits up, but is still in his sleep. Birkoff had mentioned to Nikita that Michael for a long time suffered from night terrors and would not sleep for weeks. Nikita watched Michael, wanting to wake him up, wanting to make it stop.

“Did I ever tell you that I love you?” Michael moans out and tears magically roll down Nikita’s face. The words that Nikita heard no too long ago, from the man that she did love. The words murmured again out of Michael's voice, and sang a bittersweet song to Nikita. She wiped the tears away from her eyes as the microwave stopped. Nikita does not turn to the kitchen. She moves slowly towards Michael. His movements had slowed, but it was still a restless sleep.

“Michael.” Nikita calls out as she touches a hand to his shoulder. Suddenly, her arm in jerked tightly as she was flipped against the back of the couch. Still sleepy herself, Nikita blinks as Michael looks at her. Michael lets go and moves away.

“I was hungry.” Nikita says as she flips her head back up and places her feet on the ground. She stands and walks to the kitchen. Michael follows.

“You were having a bad nightmare.” Nikita says as she opens the microwave. She pulls out the pasta and inhales the aroma. Nikita pulls out a fork and starts to eat quickly.

Michael stands, thinking he should say something. His body ached, that he could not think of what to say. He wanted sleep and to know that Nikita could sleep too. So he watched Nikita eat, in the quiet.

**********

Michael stood at the doorway of the bedroom, looking at Nikita in what seemed to be a peaceful sleep. The couch had suddenly become uncomfortable, and Michael ventured upstairs. Michael looked at the bed, and noticed that Nikita barely used half of it. Michael took one step into the room and stopped.

Nikita’s eyes had been open from the time Michael blocked the hallway light. She stared out the window, and wondered if and when Michael would do something. She tried not to move and give away that she was actually awake.

“Don’t worry, it’s king size.” Nikita finally mutters out as she hears the soft creak of the wooden floor. Michael’s presence firmly makes its mark and Nikita can feel her body start to catch fire. Nikita finally rolls over and pulls back the blankets.

“I can get one from the cupboard.” Michael says and Nikita looks at the window. She had done the same thing earlier. When Nikita found none, she further extended her theory of this mission being a Madeline set up for herself and Michael.

“There are none.” Nikita announces to Michael. He stops and turns to Nikita. He looks down at her in the small silk nightgown that Madeline had packed for Nikita. Madeline was even more devilish with Michael’s packing. There were no night clothes.

“Are you sure?” Michael asks and Nikita pats the bed. Michael turns around and pulls the shirt off and allows it to drop onto the wood floor.. Nikita glances at Michael’s chest and looks back up at his face.

The heat in the room soars as Michael pulls off his pants, and Nikita’s eyes rise up to Michael's face. She did not know that Michael went au natural. Nikita turns quickly and pulls the blanket over her shoulder. Michael slides into the bed, and tugs at the sheet for his own use. Nikita uncomfortable moves, and her slender foot slides against Michael’s warm and muscular calf.

“Do you feel that?” Michael asks as Nikita pulls her foot away from Michael’s leg. She pulls her legs together tightly, and even goes as far as crossing them. Nikita can feel herself losing the battle that she had won before.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to kick you.” Nikita says in a shaky voice. Michael laughs and Nikita stops breathing as Michael moves his head closer to Nikita.

“I mean the sexual friction, Nikita.” Michael says at the nape of Nikita’s neck. Nikita’s mouth drops open with the statement. Nikita’s eyes search the wall in front of her. Nikita tries to think of other things, but the only thing that comes to her mind is Madeline.

“We are only human.” Madeline’s voice echoes in Nikita’s head.

“It’s always there, Michael.” Nikita says as she drawls out saying his name. Michael leans forward and kisses the small dip between Nikita’s shoulder blades. Nikita closes her eyes as Michael’s tongue lightly tickles the skin.

“I know that, Ni-ki-ta.” Michael says as his finger tips slowly glide up the back of Nikita’s arm. Again, Nikita closes her eyes, and her lips part against her will. Nikita feels a shiver as Michael’s body heat starts to flirt with Nikita’s cool skin. Michael is still inches away, but he is already covering her with his warmth.

“So, what are we going to do about it?” Nikita bravely asks in nervous and shaky voice. Michael responds with his tongue sliding down Nikita’s spine in small circles. Nikita fights the moan back into her throat.

“I don’t have the strength to fight this.” Nikita says slowly after Michael lifts his mouth away from her burning skin. Nikita turns, revealing herself, and faces Michael. His emerald eyes focus onto Nikita’s eyes. Nikita’s hand reaches out and slowly traces a line across his muscular chest. Again, their legs touch in careful movements.

“I don’t either.” Michael admits as he pulls his arms around Nikita and pulls her in tightly.

*********

Once Michael’s arms wrapped Nikita tightly, nothing stopped her. In a matter of seconds, Michael had stripped off Nikita’s silk nightgown and the matching panties. Michael never saw the panties that Nikita kicked off her body. Their legs rubbed against each other like two boy scouts rubbing two sticks to light a fire.

Nikita could feel Michael’s need as he hungrily attacked Nikita’s mouth with his mouth and tongue. Michael probed the depths of Nikita mouth and throat as her hands tugged at Michael’s hard nipples.

“I need you...” Michael groans as he starts to move his mouth down Nikita’s chin. She leans back to give Michael access to her throat. Michael grinds his hips closer to Nikita’s humid heat. Nikita lets out a groan as she feels Michael’s tongue move for her soft and highly sensitive breasts.

“Michael... please...” Nikita mutters as Michael slowly circles the hard and erect nipple of Nikita’s right breast. Michael continues as Nikita slides her hand down Michael’s long and muscular back. It glides over Michael’s thigh and to the silky hardness that had been rubbing against Nikita’s stomach.

“I want to consume you...” Michael grunts as he moves against the coolness of Nikita’s hand. Nikita only rings the smooth and hard Michael with her index finger and thumb as she slowly rubs up and down.

“I can’t wait...” Nikita moans out in pleasure. Michael leans his head back against the pillow as Nikita pushes him backwards. Nikita slides her tight legs over Michael’s and kisses as his neck. She applies Michael’s technique and licks at the connection of the neck to the chest.

Michael’s hands rest on Nikita’s back, but not for long. He allows them to follow the smooth contour of Nikita’s firm thighs and helps spread them. Nikita now rocks back and forth, trapping Michael’s firmness, and not allowing entry.

Nikita builds a slight sweat as she works on licking her way to Michael’s nipples. She feels Michael arch his back to her. Nikita playfully bites down on one of the nipples as she feels the firmness pierce into her.

Nikita moans as the first entry fills her with the need for more. She moves down hard. Michael caresses her lower back as she continues her movement. Nikita then snuggles down onto Michael’s chest, providing both with a different angle. Michael moves with Nikita’s rhythm.

Michael instinctively feels the small quakes in Nikita’s body. He pushes her body upwards, rubbing hard into her. Nikita’s mouth falls open as the quakes clamp down on Michael.

“Oh... OH..god! Michael! Michael!” Nikita calls out and in seconds Nikita feels the pleasure of Michael erupt into her like a flow of lava.

“More...” Both hungrily say as they continue moving together. Michael quickly pulls Nikita around and onto the bed. He moves his arms so he is not laying his muscular body over Nikita’s.

They were attached the entire time, and Nikita feels no end at sight. She wraps her legs around Michael and pushes up towards him. Michael places his hands around Nikita’s hip and rubs softly.

Their mouths instinctively seek each other. Each opens wide, and tries to devour the other as if they had been starved for months. Nikita’s back starts to arch as she moans into Michael’s mouth. Michael pulls away from her mouth and carefully but aggressively uses long strokes.

Nikita’s body shakes as she erupts again, not followed far behind by Michael. Michael then collapses against Nikita, but continues to rub her slowly.

“Shower?” Both ask each other.

********

Urgency filled the blue and green eyes, as Michael and Nikita scrambled out of the bed and into the bathroom. Body contact was kept with a playful slap on Nikita behind by Michael and Nikita running her fingers through Michael’s wild hair.

The water was extremely cold when Nikita ducked under the facet. Michael smiled at the chill that ran the length of Nikita’s body as she jumped away from the water. Her hair was dripping down her back and Michael pushed her under the water again.

This time the water did not seem as cold to Nikita as she looked up at Michael. She winked and pulled Michael to her. Her arms wrapped around his back, as she found waiting impossible. She attacked his neck with her mouth. She wanted to have all of Michael. She wanted to lick and nip at every patch of skin on him.

Michael had the same need. He leaned down and sucked the water lightly off Nikita’s fair shoulder. His hair now dripped with the water that slowly warmed. Michael moved his right leg in-between Nikita’s legs as he pinned her against the wall underneath the shower head.

Nikita bent her knees and rubbed the apex of her legs down on Michael’s knee. She moves in slow circles as Nikita moves her head down to Michael’s chest. Seeing the water drip down his chest in little streams, Nikita starts to lick at the water like a cat does with milk.

“Nikita?” Michael asks as he leans her head up to look at him. He bends down and takes her mouth again. He can not find an end. He is lost in Nikita. Her arms tighten their grip and her legs tighten around his own leg.

Physical aches and pains are gone, and in a sense, Michael and Nikita had started to heal each other. They reached for each other, wanting the same thing. Michael pulls Nikita up as she eagerly opens herself for him.

Gently, Michael enters Nikita as he runs his mouth down her chin. He pauses, and the hot breathe causes Nikita to moan in pleasure. She raises her hands up and holds onto the shower head, so that Michael can move more smoothly.

Michael bends his head and licks at the heaving chest in front of him. He can’t get enough of Nikita. He can’t get close enough to Nikita. Nikita was allowing him to feel alive. Michael continued and continued, seeking something more than possible.

Nikita’s hands dropped as she rolled down to Michael’s shoulders. Michael moved a few more times and then helped eased Nikita down so that her feet touched the floor. Both were breathless as Nikita grabbed a towel and wrapped it around both of them.

They exited the shower, with all intentions on falling asleep. Then, the image in the foggy mirror shone back at them. Michael’s head down on Nikita’s shoulder, gently caressing the firm breast, still engorged and sensitive. The towel was barely around the two of them.

Nikita circled around, so she moved Michael towards the mirror. Michael looked at Nikita and he saw the same hunger still glowing in Nikita’s eyes that Nikita saw in his.

“Engulf me.” Michael says firmly to Nikita. Nikita pushes Michael backwards. He laughs as he slides into the sink and his back is against the mirror. Jutting out from him is the firmness that Nikita quickly surrounds with her hand. Nikita licks at Michael’s belly button and Michael suddenly sees the reflection of himself in the shower door.

Nikita jumps up on the counter that surrounds the sink and looks down at Michael. She grinds her hips as she slowly goes down towards Michael. She can see herself in the mirror but does not think about it. Michael reaches out with his arms to help Nikita angle herself onto him.

With some creative moving, Nikita moves slowly against Michael as he holds her body, half dangling off the counter. Nikita then starts to move quickly.

It was crash and burn time. Michael started to push into Nikita, feeling the need to proclaim himself to her. Nikita leaned forward as the tremors started slowly and began to build. Nikita’s hands reach around the faucets to give her more leverage.

Suddenly, Michael feels a surge of water against his buttocks as Nikita yells in a guttural moan. Michael surges hard and falls against the exhausted Nikita.

Both entirely spent. Sit on the counter top, still with each other. Michael gently kisses Nikita’s forehead and Nikita runs a hand up his side.

“Sleep.” Both of them mutter as they struggle to find the strength to get back to the bed.

***********

Madeline walks down the hallway in the pre dawn son hours. She moves towards the area that Birkoff secured hours ago. Birkoff looks up from his computer and pushes back the chair.

“The units worked as you wanted them too.” Birkoff says and Madeline looks down at Birkoff in a serious face.

“If that is the only reason why you sent for me, I will put you in the abeyance pool myself.” Madeline says in a deep voice that bubbles the anger that Madeline is expressing.

“I thought you would like to know about Michael’s and Nikita’s evening activities.” Birkoff says with a half smile. He dipped his eyes low and looked at Madeline through his dark lens glasses.

“That is why we used these units, Birkoff.” Madeline says as she bends in closer to Madeline.

“Well, they were quite the little pair of bunnies.” Birkoff comments as he hands Madeline several pages of typed words.

“I had to be creative with the transcript.” Birkoff says in a gloating manner. Madeline scans the pages quickly and notes that it describes four times. Madeline places them on the desk next to Birkoff.

“This was not what we were looking for. Did they talk?” Madeline says firmly.

“They were too busy locking their bodies together, Madeline.” Birkoff fires back and Madeline turns away.

“You are showing a new side to yourself, Seymour. If I think about it, you must enjoyed listening to this tonight.” Madeline says with a raised eyebrow.

“I have more fun playing Quake.” Birkoff says as he turns back to this computer. Madeline picks up the papers and walks towards the door.

“Contact me when we retrieve information we can use.” Madeline says firmly. Birkoff shakes his head as he stands up and pulls out the disk.

Birkoff swiftly walks into the hallways, with the disk in his hands. He sees a light on and Walter standing with several guns out on the table. Birkoff turns towards him and stands at the doorway.

“Walter... I got something you might be interested in.” Birkoff says with a smile. Walter looks up at Birkoff and smiles.

“Who’d ya get on tape this time and how much?” Walter asks. Birkoff was the Section One’s biggest gossiper and he usually could prove anything.

“It’s audio.” Birkoff supplies as he shows the disk. “Fifty bucks for you.” Birkoff says and Walter whistles.

“Who is it, God and Mother Earth?” Walter asks with a laugh. Birkoff laughs back at Walter.

“This is going to be bigger than the video with Madeline and Operations.” Birkoff says and Walter raises an eyebrow.

“Michael and Nikita... non stop like bunnies!” Birkoff whispers softly as he leans into Walter. Walter snaps Birkoff against the wall and grabs the disk out of his hands.

“You lose money on this one.” Walter says to Birkoff as he leaves go of him.

“Walter... everyone has been waiting for this. And Michael won’t come after it because he doesn’t know about it.” Birkoff says angrily.

“I will personally tell Michael if you sell this to anyone. Do you understand?” Walter says as he holds the disk. Birkoff shakes his head and leaves.

********

The morning after was not spent in a happy afterglow that a frenzied night of lovemaking normally would. Even before the sun rose, Nikita had slipped out of Michael’s arms in a whirlwind of emotions.

She swore at Madeline, and rationalized all of last night as her need to release those repressed urges. Yet, Nikita felt it was more. She knew it was more. She expressed her primal need for Michael, and it scared her. Nikita was only starting to understand the emotional crap around her, and this, did not help. It complicated.

Nikita had finally settled onto the couch, with a cup of tea, and stared out the window as the sun broke across the sky. Michael was awake not long after the sun woke. He entered with a pair of boxer shorts on and looked at Nikita.

“We have to...” Michael started to say and Nikita turned her head and looked at Michael. His words stopped as his eyes connected with the eyes that he fiercely looked into last night.

“Talk.” Nikita finishes as she sets her cup of tea down on the table. Michael sits down at the other end of the couch and looks at Nikita. Nikita looks over nervously.

“Why didn’t you tell me about it, Nikita?” Michael questions as he glances at the kitchen. The glance instantly explains what Michael was questioning. Nikita looks down at her feet, which she has curled underneath her body.

“I was embarrassed, upset.” Nikita supplies quickly and Michael looks back down at Nikita. He looks at the glass door and then back at Nikita.

“Why didn’t you come to me sooner?” Michael questions Nikita. He swallows and waits for Nikita’s answer. Nikita started to shake in pain.

“We work for Section One, Michael. I was taught the rules by you. You would have asked Madeline for help?” Nikita responds defensively. Michael moves closer to Nikita and pulls her head up in his hands.

“No hiding here, Nikita.” Michael responds and Nikita looks down at the floor. Michael waits again for the answer.

“I couldn’t. I spent the first week eating out. Then I learned what a microwave was. I think it was a couple months before I knew how to boil water. Do you know how embarrassing that is? I was thrown into a situation unlike anything I had in my life before. And I was stranded.” Nikita says and Nikita drops her head even more. Michael looks at Nikita with an open mouth.

“And I fight with memories of my childhood. Once while cooking, I remember a man throwing boiling water at me. I remembered eating dog food out of a can. That’s why fruit salad came in a can.” Nikita echoes out sadly. Michael looks at Nikita and can not think of the words to say to her.

“I had nothing. I never did. I had no father. I had no mother. You couldn’t call her a mother.” Nikita continues as she stands up and walks to the window. She rubs her noise as she looks at a bird flying from tree to tree.

“I had little schooling. No friends. No friends’ parents. I had men who used me, but I never had them. Section took my dreams away. So when I got my apartment, it was...” Nikita says and then pauses.

“The first thing you had?” Michael finishes softly and Nikita nods her head.

“But that wasn’t all I had. I had memories. I had bad memories. Memories of the rats chewing at my face. For nights I dreamed of them, gnawing at my face. I had memories of losing my mind, becoming a machine. Then I had the memories of the kids. The faces of pain and anger. The young, innocent faces. I had the realization that I was one of those kids. I could have easily been one of them. Nothing I had was really worth anything.” Nikita says as she continues to stare out the window.

“Is there anything that you have that you do put worth too?” Michael questions. Nikita turns from the window, with more tears than Michael had ever seen.

“I have you.” Nikita mutters as her body begins to shake. She moves quickly to a chair not far away. She looks back at Michael.

“I just bared my soul.. now you. You remember, don’t you?” Nikita challenges. Michael looks sharply away and then back at Nikita. Michael nods his head slowly.

“Was it the truth?” Nikita questions.

“I don’t believe so.” Michael says and Nikita almost falls out of the chair. She stands and starts to pace. She tosses her hands about as Michael tries to hold her.

“Nikita... listen...” Michael urges softly as Nikita gathers a coat and walks to the door.

“I don’t believe so...” Nikita responds as she looks back at Michael.

***********

The path to the large cliff on the property was covered with tree roots and assorte bushes. At one time the path was taken care of. When turning around some of the corners, a half rotting railraid tie is seen. Nikita stumbled her way down this path quickly.

Before the cliff, were several large rocks. Nikita climbed up on one and looked out at the valley below. She swore at herself. She swore at Michael. Then Nikita blamed Michael and Madeline. She loothed them and wished they lived elsewhere.

Nikita sat there for hours, and only moved to stretch out the legs that had gone numb ages ago. Her eyes had stopped crying no long after sitting down. There were no more to be produced. Nikita was beginning to understand what Walter meant.

The truth was out. Michael knew that Nikita struggled more away from Section One than while in Section One. And, Michael knew what Nikita felt. It wasn’t a stray emotion. This emotion had attached itself to Nikita. It was the truth.

“Nikita...” Michael’s voice says softly from behind the line of trees. She shakes her hair in the breeze coming in from the valley. Michael touches the rock that Nikita is sitting on and stops.

“Walter made sense, Michael.” Nikita says as she turns her head to him. For the past half hour, Michael stood behind those trees. He wondered what Nikita would look like. He wondered if Nikita had stopped crying. He wondered if Nikita would try to push him off the cliff.

Michael did not expect to see Nikita in this way. Although, he was sure that she had cried a lot, Nikita appeared pretty as always. Her blue eyes shined like the sky above, and her hair floated in the breeze. Nikita appeared more aware of everything, and in essence, more free, than ever before.

“How is that, Nikita?” Michael questions, allowing Nikita to take control of the conversation. He was worried for Nikita, but could not equate those feelings into himself. Nikita pulled her hair together and looked over the cliff.

“He said we were both on an emotional cliff. Admitting the truth, and you can walk away. Deny the truth, fall deeper in.” Nikita says slowly as she turns back and looks at Michael.

“You think I lied?” Michael questions with his eyes starting to turn hot and angry. Nikita turned her head again, and looked at the peacefullness below.

“Your question proves it. If you tell the truth to yourself, no one can question it.” Nikita says as she stands up on the rock and moves over to the right some. She closes her eyes and looks back at Michael.

“Nikita.. I feel something for you... I care for you.” Michael starts to say as he reaches towards her. Nikita shakes her head and stays away from Michael’s outstretched hand.

“So last night meant nothing more than what Madeline said it would be.” Nikita says as she slides down the opposite side of the rock. She walks around the rock as Michael stares opened eyed at her.

“Madeline? How does she figure into this?” Michael says angerily as he steps towards Nikita. Nikita again, steps back, and gives a warning glance at Michael.

“Did I confuse sexual electricity with love, Michael? You have the only knowledge of what love is. Can you give me an answer?” Nikita says as she stares into Michael’s eyes.

Michael stops. He feels like the world stop. He feels that everything around him froze in time. He did not want to think about last night. There was too much there that he could not explain. He did not want to face it. He did not want to love Nikita.

“I didn’t think you could.” Nikita says as she licks her lips. She moves closer to Michael and kisses his chin lightly. Michael closes his eyes and grazes his hand against Nikita’s own chin. Nikita withdrawls and Michael’s eyes snap open.

“I climbed my cliff, Michael. I can’t.. No, I won’t wait for you to finish climbing your own.” Nikita says, and again, she leaves.

Michael climbs up onto the rock and looks down at the valley below.

**********

The week passed quickly for Michael and Nikita. Neither one used more than five words at one time, and entire parts of day would pass without one word between them was whispered. Nikita would wake early and take a walk. Michael would wake late, and take his walk after Nikita returned.

Nikita and Michael would make their own lunch and Nikita would make dinner. Most of the time, because of Nikita’s limited skills in the kitchen, Michael would make the snack. Of course, the snack was almost another meal itself. Nikita would nibble at it, feeling angry at Michael. Nikita took the snack as a personal attack of her inefficiency in the kitchen.

It was six days later, that Nikita did not take a walk. She sat at the desk when Michael walked down the stairs. Both knew that contact with Section in the next few hours would be required.

“What are you doing?” Michael asks as he moves to the kitchen. He raises an eyebrow to find coffee sitting in the pot. He pleasantly pours a cup and walks back behind Nikita’s shoulder.

“Writing.” Nikita responds as she feels Michael’s breath just nipping at the top of her head. Nikita maintains her straight face. Although she had promised herself, she could not stop her body from responding to Michael.

“What?” Michael questions as he moves away from Nikita. He had seen Nikita’s hand stop its motion. He moved to the chair that was placed in-between the desk and the couch.

“Poems.” Nikita responds in a bitter and short voice. Michael sips his coffee and places it down on the coffee table.

“Poems?” Michael questions. Nikita drops the pen and looks at Michael. He had seen her there each day. She would sit there for hours, and he never questioned it. Nikita had to wonder why he worried.

“As I do each morning.” Nikita says as she crumbles the paper up in her hands. She throws it into the waste can and opens the drawer. She wanted to end this pure torture quicker than possible. She picked the unit up in her hand and slides it on her ear.

“Birkoff.” Nikita says firmly and Michael takes the coffee into his hands and moves to the kitchen. Nikita stands and moves to the living room.

“Nikita, come back.” Birkoff responds and cuts the communication. Nikita moves to the window as she thinks of Birkoff’s voice. It seemed surprised, no, excited to hear Nikita. She shakes her head and walks outside to breathe in the fresh air.

Michael, slowly moves back to the trash can and retrieves the piece of paper that Nikita had crumpled up in a ball. He smoothes it out and looks at the words.

I cannot stop myself
I cannot stop the want
The need
The desire.
It overwhelms me.
It devours me,
With the kisses of his.
He sets me on fire
And...

The poem reads and Michael is glad to find it unfinished. He would not want to read any of the others. He folds it up and places it inside his black pants. It described what he felt, but he would never admit it. He looks out towards the door and to Nikita.

Michael has walked back into the kitchen when Nikita reenters the house. She moves to the kitchen and stands there. Michael can feel his stomach jump in her presence. No woman has ever made that happen in Michael. He had discovered so during one of the days on the rocks. He had learned a lot in that spot.

“We are to return ASAP.” Nikita informs. She turns and starts upstairs to pack. Michael watches her legs pull and stretch up the stairs.

“Nikita! I do.” Michael calls out from the kitchen. Nikita stops three-fourths of the way up the stairs.

“Do what?” Nikita questions.

“I do love you.” Michael says. Their eyes connect, and Michael quickly exits, leaving Nikita on the stairs shaking

***********

Birkoff walked down the halls of Section quickly. He ducked his head and tried to blend in with the other operatives, as he passed Walter. Walter had threatened and hounded Birkoff all week about the disk. Birkoff would quake after the threats, but would always go back to it for his own personal pleasure. Birkoff blamed it all on Madeline. Madeline had made him listen. It was all her fault.

Birkoff had listened to the confession of Michael’s and leaped from his chair. The operatives around Birkoff stopped and looked at him in confusion for his actions. Birkoff looked at his screen and the Quake game that was on the screen.

“I broke the record!” Birkoff exclaims. The operatives throw their hands up in disappointment and laugh the movement off. It would be abnormal if Birkoff did not break the record.

The second that Birkoff sat down, he called for Madeline. All week she had been hovering around him. She was like a bat, fluttering around his head. She complained and worried that the units were not working. Birkoff tested them and retested them, and found out that Michael and Nikita just weren’t talking.

That had made Madeline upset. She left yesterday telling Birkoff to make sure to bring them in from the house. She muttered to herself as she walked away. Birkoff almost smiled, hoping that this week was all because Michael and Nikita outsmarted Madeline.

When Birkoff tried to notify Madeline of the good news, she refused to talk to him. In fact, she h