Michael stares straight ahead into Operations eyes. He looks to the door and then back to the empty chair. Operations tapes his fingers on the table and sighs.

"Michael, where is Nikita?" Operations demands. Michael looks to the chair next to him and then back to Operations.

"Not here." Michael responds simply and Operation's frown becomes larger. He looks to the door and then back to Michael.

"Do you know where she is?" Operations asks and Michael looks straight ahead.

"No." Michael responds and Operations grinds his teeth in anger.

"And what do you think we should do about this?" Operations asks and Michael looks down at the black PDA. Michael had been given a mini briefing by Madeline.

"Go on with the briefing and I will bring Nikita up to speed when she shows up." Michael says and Operations sits down.

"Have we ever allowed operatives to miss briefings?" Operations demands and Michael sticks his chin up.

"No." Michael says and he waits Operations next words.

"Then why should I start now?" Operations questions. Michael glances at the rest of the operatives, Walter and Madeline look back for Michael's response.

"Her part of the mission won't start for a few weeks. A full mission briefing would be too extraneous." Michael says and Operations stands up.

"Why don't you try to find her in the next half hour, Michael?" Operations asks and Michael stands up.

"That would be impossible, sir." Michael says after he stands up. Madeline stands up and walks to Operations as Matthew walks into the room.

"Michael, just try." Madeline says, trying to stop a show down. Michael nods his head and starts to walk out of the briefing room. Matthew turns and walks with Michael.

"Do you need to know where she is?" Matthew asks and Michael stops.

"No. She is at the grave, again." Michael responds and Matthew nods his head. Michael moves to his office and grabs his black jacket.

"Michael... she is healing." Matthew says and Michael looks at Matthew.

"Spending hours upon end in front of the grave marker is not healing. She needs to function. That is not functioning." Michael says and Matthew grabs Michael's arms.

"And sending her back to St. Louis in this mission is going to help?" Matthew demands and Michael looks away.

"I can only hope so." Michael says as he starts out of Section to gather Nikita.

***

Michael walks down the street as he looks at Nikita. It is the first time that Michael had found her here without her laying on the ground. Her blonde hair is whipping in the wind and Michael stops about five feet away from Nikita. He can hear her cries.

"Nikita... you didn't answer your cell phone." Michael says softly as he looks down at Nikita. Her hands reach out to the sides of her body to steady herself.

"I never heard it." Nikita says softly as she leans her head back and looks at the sky. Michael moves forward and places his hands on Nikita's shoulders.

"Nikita... we had a briefing." Michael says firmly.

"Oh... that was today?" Nikita asks as she stands up and turns to Michael. Her head is hung down low and Michael shakes his head.

"Nikita, I thought you were fine." Michael says as he uses his hand to tilt her head towards his eyes.

"Of course I look fine at night. You only see me sleep." Nikita remarks as she turns back towards the grave. She touches the grave and tears run down her face.

"Nikita.. it is not safe for you to come here so often." Michael says softly as he looks around. He doesn't know if it is true, but he thought that it wasn't healthy for Nikita.

"I don't come that often... God, Michael... I found out two weeks ago that I missed my father by THREE DAYS!" Nikita says firmly and Michael nods his head.

"Nikita... I'm sure his sisters visit... they could notice you and put them in danger." Michael says and Nikita turns to Michael and shakes her head.

"Michael... who are you thinking about right now? Me? Or Operations?" Nikita asks as she pulls at her purse, still not shaking off the leaves and dirt from her black outfit.

"Nikita...." Michael says and Nikita continues to shake her head as she looks up to the road.

"Michael.. you aren't there when I need you.. You come in for a few minutes.. when I'm already asleep.. I wake up in the morning and feel it all. It's all there. Three days will haunt me the rest of my life." Nikita says and Michael tries to wrap Nikita up into his arms.

"Michael... if you can't be here for me... then just tell me." Nikita says and she starts to walk towards the road.

"Nikita... let's walk together..." Michael says as he turns and walks behind Nikita. Nikita stops in the road and then turns back to Michael.

"Why? So I can feel secure for a few moments?" Nikita asks as she starts up the hill. Michael shakes his head.

Michael continues to walk behind Nikita slowly. He doesn't want to pass her and he doesn't want to meet her. He doesn't like the spatial relationship between the graveyard and Section One. It was too close. Nikita could walk over and walk back, and it would look like she went to the bathroom.

"Nikita..." Michael calls out as she stops at the corner of the graveyard driveway and the road. Nikita turns towards Michael and drops her head.

"Don't tell Operations where you are." Michael says and Nikita nods her head.

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

Operations turns around from facing the wall as Michael ushers Nikita into the briefing room. He barely notices the accumulation of twigs and leaves on her clothing. It does not go unnoticed by Madeline, who sat at the end table.

"Where were you, Nikita?" Operations asks and Nikita sits down.

"Shopping." Nikita responds and Operations looks at Birkoff. Birkoff shakes his head no and Operations sits down and stares at Nikita.

"Your charges show no purchases." Operations says and Nikita looks straight into his eyes.

"I didn't find anything." Nikita says as Michael sits down.

"Nothing? At all?" Operations asks and Nikita nods her head yes. Operations leans his head back and looks at Michael.

"Why didn't you remember the briefing?" Operations asks and Nikita pulls off her watch.

"The battery is dead.. I didn't realize." Nikita says as she sets the watch down on the table. Madeline pulls at it before Operations can grab it.

"The mission." Madeline says as she sits back down.

"Be more careful, Nikita." Operations says as he turns to the briefing. He looks at Walter who is sitting at the other end of the table.

"Walter and Dorothy will be going to St. Louis in the morning. As part of the cover needed for this next mission, Walter and Dorothy will be taking over the workings of a homeless shelter there. It has come to our knowledge that drug king Dominic Hurntz choices his girls from the homeless shelter." Operations says as the hologram screen first shows the picture of the man.

"This is the shelter. In order for this operation to work correctly, Walter and Dorothy will take it over... It is only a few blocks away from the bus station." Operations says as the screen now shows the shelter. Nikita diverts her eyes and looks at the table.

"It use to be a very nice facility. Lots of people in and out." Walter says and Michael looks at him. So it was the shelter that Walter had been in before.

"In an unspecified time, Michael and Nikita will go in as further staff. You two will work with the runaways and try to find Dominic." Operations says and Nikita stands up slowly.

"Can you excuse me for a moment?" Nikita asks as she pushes her hair back. Operations tilts his head at Nikita.

"That is fine, Nikita. Michael will finish briefing you since you don't leave for at least a week." Madeline says before Operations can say anything else.

Operations watches Nikita walk out of the briefing room quickly and stares at Madeline. She only lifts her head and watches Nikita out of the corner of her eye.

"Michael, does Nikita have bladder problems that we aren't aware of?" Operations rudely asks and Michael maintains his blank stare.

"Will me and Dorothy be leaving in the morning?" Walter asks quickly, trying to bring the mission back to mind. He didn't want to be going back to St. Louis. He wanted to find the girl again, and knew he could never find her.

"No, you will be leaving immediately." Operations says as he walks out of the briefing room. Michael stays sitting until the room has clear of everyone but Madeline.

"She was at the graveyard." Madeline says softly.

"She was shopping." Michael replies without looking at Madeline.

"She was at the graveyard... the twigs were still on her outfit." Madeline says as she touches his shoulders. She pulls away and leaves Michael.

***********

Walter walks into the door with Dorothy. There are girls in the corner off to the left as the waiting room has every seat filled. Walter walks to the window and looks to the person behind the desk.

"Hello?" Walter asks and the person sharply turns around.

"Take a number and sit down." The woman says rudely.

"I am here to take this place over!" Walter roars loudly . The woman turns around and stares in horror. She really thought that Walter was just another person from the street.

"Walter?" The woman ask and he shakes his head.

*

"Dorothy.. we are going to have to bring Michael and Nikita in sooner. I can't run this place with this staff." Walter says as he walks into the office filled with boxes.

"I understand, but do you think that it is wise?" Dorothy asks and Walter tilts his head.

"What do you mean by that?" Walter asks as Dorothy leans against some boxes.

"She has seemed to have some emotional problems of late. Do you think it is wise?" Dorothy asks and Walter shakes his head.

"Unless this place really meant something to her.. I think that Nikita should do just fine here. I think this is what Nikita wishes Section was more like!" Walter says and Dorothy shakes her head happily.

"Walter, see what Madeline thinks." Dorothy says as she leans in closer.

"Have you heard the rumors about Madeline?" Dorothy asks and Walter pulls away quickly.

"What rumors?" Walter asks, knowing he had heard most of them by now.

"The one about Madeline having Nikita's dreams... now that is a little crazy." Dorothy says with a laugh.

"OH, yeah.. just a great big old hoot!" Walter says nervously as he starts to sort through the boxes of paperwork.

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

Michael looks up at the building and shakes his head. He had been trying for three hours to get a hold of Nikita, and got no response. His first reaction was to check the graveyard. When Nikita wasn't there, he didn't know if he should be relieved or worried.

Michael entered the building slowly. He had circled it twice and spotted the lights in Nikita's apartment on. He walked up the stairs and walked down the hallway.

He knocked, but there was no response. He pulled the key out and walked in. He couldn't remember how many times he had to come in this apartment and had found something wrong with Nikita. He could only hold his breathe until he found out what was going on.

Nikita wasn't on the main floor so Michael walked towards the soft music that was swirling in the apartment. He moved up the stairs and so the cd player in the corner. He moves and finds the disk cover to the soundtrack of EVER AFTER. He remembered Nikita saying that she had watched the movie.

Michael pushed thoughts of Nikita being a hopeless romantic out of his mind as he crossed the room to the half opened door. He pushed through the door and looks down.

"MICHAEL!" Nikita exclaims as the bubbles cover her body and Michael looks straight ahead at the wall in front of him. He sees the clothing that Nikita was wearing earlier on the wall. They had also collected leaves and twigs. Nikita must have been to the graveyard again.

"I have been trying to get hold of you for three hours, Nikita." Michael says and Nikita tilts her head towards Michael's black clad body and turns the water off with her toes.

"Then it wasn't for Section. I told Birkoff that my cell phone was broke, and that all of the block lost phone service." Nikita says slowly as she looks at her hands and then at Michael.

"Well... we have to talk." Michael says and Nikita giggles softly. Michael briefing glances down but then back up. He looks straight ahead.

"Michael, can you hand me my robe?" Nikita asks and Michael steps forward and grabs it off of the hook. Nikita holds it and looks at Michael.

"If you can give me three minutes... I'll go downstairs and make ourselves tea." Nikita says and Michael looks at Nikita and then walks out of the bathroom.

*

Nikita walks down the stairs and into the kitchen. Michael stands up from the couch and follows her.

"You should have told me about the phone." Michael says and Nikita opens the refrigerator.

"I'm going to have a snack, do you want something?" Nikita asks and Michael shakes his head no. Nikita pulls out some chunked cheese and then goes to work on the tea.

"Michael... it couldn't have been important. Birkoff gave me this." Nikita says as she pulls a little beeper from the pocket of her robe. Michael looks at the counter and then Nikita.

"I wanted to tell you before tomorrow." Michael says and Nikita looks at him.

"What? Do you have to sleep with another operative tonight?" Nikita asks seriously and Michael lifts his head firmly.

"No. We will be leaving for St. Louis in the afternoon. You aren't to know yet." Michael says and Nikita pulls the two cups of hot water from the microwave and places the tea bags in them.

"Oh. Why tell me?" Nikita asks and Michael grazes her hand lightly.

"Because St. Louis is somewhere you know already. Will you be all right?" Michael asks and Nikita smiles.

"Why wouldn't I?" Nikita asks.

"Isn't it the same shelter?" Michael asks, knowing that it is.

"Nope. Mine was on the other side of the bus station." Nikita says as she hands Michael the cup of tea. Nikita sips hers and looks away from Michael.

"Oh, that's strange. I thought it was yours. Then why did you leave the briefing, Nikita?" Michael asks and Nikita sucks her cheeks in.

"Nature." Nikita says as she walks around the counter and to the living room. Michael looks at Nikita and then moves to her.

"Nikita, I am concerned. This mission is in the same shelter. I know it is. You complain about me not being here when you need me, but then you don't allow me in!" Michael says and Nikita calmly sets the tea cup onto the coffeetable.

"Are you done? Why don't you check on me the next time when I am asleep?" Nikita asks and turns away from Michael. Michael sets his cup down next to Nikita's. He is right behind her and he takes her head in his hands and leans down and kisses Nikita's head.

"Don't try to be stubborn in St. Louis Nikita. It would take a strong person to admit that they can't handle something." Michael says as he walks out.

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

Nikita walks next to Michael in a long black trench coat. Her blonde hair is pulled up in a dramatic and strict French twist. She wears black gloves on her hands. The same black color is seen on the long black boots that reach to her knees and have a four inch heel.

Michael pulls the glass door back and the two walk in firmly, with a crew of ten operatives walking behind them. The people inside the room look at the crew as they make their way to the little desk area.

"Excuse me." Nikita says forcefully and the woman at the desk turns around.

"Who are you?" The woman asks rudely as she looks at Michael and then back to Nikita.

"I am Nikita." Nikita responds and the woman smiles that wicked nurse smile, and looks away from Nikita.

"Take your little fancy clothed behind and park it in the corner." The woman says and turns away from Nikita. Nikita slams her hand against the wall.

"Maybe you didn't hear me. My name is Nikita." Nikita says again this time louder.

"Hey, blonde hair, b@#$h... I don't have time for these games. What are you here for and go take a damn seat. You and your corporate yuppies might just have to wait!" the woman says as she turns around.

"We are the new staff." Nikita says firmly.

"OH, if you are the new staff... then what am I?" The woman says as she stands up from her chair and rolls her shoulders around.

Nikita looks at Michael and slowly takes off her gloves. The rest of the team does the same, and Michael is the last to finish.

"It means you are fired." Michael says as he stuffs his gloves into his pocket. The woman defensively places her hands on her hips.

"What? Walter too?" The woman asks as she looks around at the crew. She can't believe who she sees and what they are saying.

"Walter sent for us." Nikita says with a soft smile and the woman leans in closely to Nikita.

"You, little missy.. take you and your funeral clad monkeys and hit the pavement! I don't need your fun and games and clean prissy hands slowing up the damn work that has to be done to keep these no-good-less-beings off the streets!" The woman hollers and Nikita swallows hard. Michael slightly grazes her hand, knowing that Nikita could pounce on the lady in a fraction of a second and be justified.

"SUGAR!" Walter calls out and the woman snaps around to watch Walter bound out the door and next to Nikita. The woman almost faints as Nikita smiles and kisses Walter's cheek as he hugs her.

"Walter..." Nikita sighs as Walter lets Nikita go. Walter shakes Michael hand and looks to the woman at the desk.

"This is my step daughter and her husband... Michael and Nikita Raphael." Walter says to the woman and Nikita sickly sweet smiles to the woman.

"Step daughter?" The woman asks and Walter smiles.

"She is wonderful with the organization that we deeply need here. She was closing up shop for me in Seattle and was heading to meet me here." Walter explains as Nikita finally does a check of the place. She moves around the waiting room and shivers run down her spine.

"It is the one that you were at, right?" Michael asks into Nikita's ear and she snaps defensively around.

"Not now." Nikita hisses and moves back to Walter. She looks at the operatives that were sent with her and Michael.

"Erica.. take the desk." Nikita says and Erica with short red hair moves up front. The woman stares at Nikita and then Walter.

"Are you going to let her fire me?" the woman demands and Walter stares at Nikita.

"Nikita, we can retrain her. It would be for the best not to get rid of all the staff." Walter says and Nikita rolls her eyes.

"Whatever you feel, Walter." Nikita says as she walks to the other quarters of the shelter

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

Several days later, Walter and Michael move through the shelter. Nikita had worked from the back, reorganizing the way everything was done. The only time she had stood in the waiting room was that first day. Michael knew she hadn't seen any of the people in the shelter yet, and hoped to maintain it that way.

Nikita's suggestions though were brilliant. She developed a tagging procedure that helped anyone identify what each person was here. Nikita made the ones who needed medical attention a priority, but not neglecting the ones who just wanted some warmth and maybe a cup of coffee.

"Michael, I believed that Nikita would have been more hands on." Walter says as he inspects how quickly the people are being handled.

"She is going through a difficult time." Michael says and Walter turns and stops their walk.

"Michael, Madeline wanted her out here. She wanted Nikita working day in and day out with these people. If she finds out..." Walter says and Michael raises a hand.

"Then make it so that she doesn't find out." Michael says and Walter looks around.

"Michael.. we have 24 operatives working here... they all know." Walter says and Michael shoves his hands in his pockets.

"And the same amount operatives and even more know that Nikita spent years of her life on the street. This can't be easy on her." Michael says defensively and Walter blinks his eyes.

"Michael.. then she should be out here.... they are were she was! She knows how much a little bit of help goes a long way! Michael." Walter says and Michael puts on a firm frown.

"I won't ask her to do more than she is willing to put herself through. I can't." Michael says and Walter starts to the back section of the shelter. Michael opens a closet door and pushes Walter in.

"Look, Walter. I have a firm suspicion that Nikita stayed in this shelter! Everything she has done has been a bonus!" Michael says firmly with narrow eyes.

"Then why hasn't she told me?" Walter asks as his mind starts to do circles. He was still searching for the girl he helped. It couldn't be Nikita.. It just couldn't be Nikita.

"Because she has had so many problems that she doesn't want this to be." Michael says and Walter shakes his head.

"Michael, if Madeline finds out..." Walter says and Michael takes a deep breath.

"What Madeline wants to know is that Nikita isn't doing what she wants... Don't worry... I'll take care of it." Michael says and Walter stares at him. Michael moves towards the door but Walter grabs his arm.

"Michael, are you sure that Nikita stayed here once?" Walter asks and Michael nods his head.

"Yes." Michael says firmly.

"And you know that I had a mission here before." Walter says and Michael starts to shake his head. Nikita had to admit it, plus, Walter was firmly sure that it was Nikita.

"Walter... I believe she passed through years after you left." Michael says as he opens the door and leaves.

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

"Nikita.. we need some help out here." Michael says as he walks into the back office. Nikita is dressed in a strict black outfit and typing at the computer.

"Michael, I have to send out the payment on these bills." Nikita says and Michael closes the door.

"Nikita.. we are really short here." Michael says and Nikita shakes her head. She pulls out her roaster and consults it.

"Who is missing?" Nikita asks and Michael glances at the list and then at Nikita.

"Erica was in a major accident... and Madeline ordered Terrance to go to the hospital and check on her." Michael says and Nikita looks at the list.

"That wasn't smart. That is sending two of the people ordered to the medical part out of here. Now.. move Lisa over and you should have enough people." Nikita says and throws the chart back into the desk.

"No.. because Lisa is with a person going to Wayview." Michael says and Nikita flutters her eyes.

"So then move Frank from the soup kitchen." Nikita says and Michael slams his hands on the desk.

"Nikita, would you want Frank to stitch you up?" Michael asks and Nikita looks at Michael.

"No." Nikita says and Michael stands up.

"You are much better in these medical aspects." Michael says and Nikita stands up.

"I can't go dressed like this." Nikita says as she moves to the file cupboard and pulls out some passed due bills.

"That's why I brought your jeans and this shirt." Michael says as he moves to the next cupboard and Nikita rolls her eyes.

"Michael... I need to get these bills out." Nikita says as she turns away and Michael drops the clothes.

"Nikita... this is the shelter you stayed in, right?" Michael asks and Nikita turns to him.

Nikita's face said it all, and Nikita knew it. Michael knew and he had known from the beginning. Nikita just couldn't admit it to herself. It was too much for her to handle right now. For some unknown reason, and force sent her back to a place that haunted her nightmares but also started her dreams. It was a place when one bad thing ended and another thing, both bad and good started.

"Yes, Michael. It is." Nikita says as she sits back down in the chair and Michael moves to her. He squats in front of Nikita and looks up to her dry eyes.

"Nikita... then maybe the best way to deal with this is to get out there." Michael says and Nikita shakes her head.

"I can't Michael." Nikita says and Michael rubs her forearm softly.

"Nikita, you have amazed me so many times before... maybe it is time to amaze yourself." Michael says and Nikita glances at the clothing.

"You'll be there?" Nikita asks as she stands up. Michael watches her cross the room towards the clothes.

"We'll work as a team." Michael says and Nikita nods her head softly.

***

Michael leads Nikita into a curtained off room. Nikita looks at the dirty girl and then at Michael. Michael can see what Nikita is thinking. She identify parts of the girl that she use to see in herself and then she identified parts that she doesn't see in herself. It was a quick process and only occurred in seconds. It was the lingering thoughts the crossed Nikita's face now.

"Hello, Victoria." Michael says as he looks down at the small chart. There was very little information. He had met Victoria before he went to Nikita. She was the reason why he needed Nikita.

"Hi, Mike... so is this 'Kita?" Victoria asks and Nikita looks at Michael and then at Victoria. Michael had slammed the last person who called him Mike into a wall.

"Yes, I am Nikita." Nikita says as she looks back at the girl. Michael smiles at Nikita.

"It's been a while since my wife here has been out of the office." Michael says and the girl starts to laugh.

"She has to be better than the dim-wit last week!" Victoria laughs and Michael nods his head. He pulls the sheet off the leg and shows Nikita a deep cut about six inches long on the girl's thigh. Nikita pulls away but does not move her eyes.

"Nasty cut." Nikita says and Michael laughs softly. Nikita notices the rapport that Michael has established with Victoria and looks to the side quickly.

"We are going to dig some of the infection out and sew her back together again... Nikita?" Michael says until he notices Nikita's wandering eyes.

"So I'm holding the leg?" Nikita asks as she looks back at the leg. Michael nods his head and looks to Victoria.

Nikita diverts her eyes as Victoria screams as the procedure starts.

*

Nikita walks back towards the office after scrubbing her hands over and over again. She holds the keys out to open the door and can't steady her hands. Nikita grabs her wrist with the other hand and tries again. Nikita pushes back the tears of frustration.

"Here..." Michael says as he moves down the hall and pushes the key in and Walter is right behind them. Walter enters and looks at Michael as he stands blocking Walter from viewing Nikita. Walter stops before going back out and looks at Michael's back.

"Hey, sugar.. everything all right?" Walter asks as he opens the door slightly.

"Fine.. just fine, Walter." Nikita chokes out and Walter looks at Michael's protective stance. He wasn't going to get anything more from Nikita right now. Walter walks out and the door shuts. He stands right outside the door in the hallway and hears Nikita sob lightly.

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

Nikita moves from the curtain area and moves to the desk. She had slowly moved out of the office and into the floor quickly. Soon Michael was begging Nikita to work in the office just for a half hour. Nikita moved around quickly and made and impact on several of the people who went through. She had successfully talked three girls to call their parents and go home.

Michael glances at Nikita and softly smiles. She had done an amazing job, although each night she would stay quiet. She didn't like to talk about it, and Michael knew Nikita well enough to know that eventually she would.

"Michael.. Nikita.. a little help!" Walter calls out from the glass doorway. There is Walter holding a badly battered blonde haired teenager. Nikita runs to grab the gurney they rarely used and wheeled it through the waiting room and to the door. Walter and Michael placed the girl on the gurney and they started into the examining room.

"God, Michael.. she looks like that girl..." Walter says and Michael glances at Nikita. She looks down at the leg and starts cutting at the pants.

"She has a broken leg." Nikita announces, as if Walter never said anything. Michael watches Nikita for a few seconds before snapping into his own actions.

"Michael... maybe we should transport her to a hospital." Walter says and Nikita looks at Michael.

"She will just fight them. She was heading to us." Nikita says as she places a brace onto the leg and Walter steps back. Nikita moves to the girls face and trembles lightly as she sees the broken nose. Nikita wipes at the blood and looks at Michael.

"That would be a broken nose..." Nikita says and Michael nods his head. Dorothy walks in and shakes her head.

"Nasty one at that.. But I can take care of that here." Dorothy says as she checks the girl for responds. She nods her head to Walter.

"She is fine here." Dorothy says as she looks at the chart that had been started.

"Michael... she could easily pass as the girl.. god.. almost the same injuries." Walter whispers but everyone in the room hears. Nikita makes herself busy pulling the girl's blonde hair away from the face and washing the face.

"Walter.. you know that it isn't her." Michael says firmly, wishing that Walter would finally realize who the girl was that he was looking for.

"Michael.. I can't help but think about what happened to her." Walter says and Nikita pauses at the girl's face.

Nikita takes stock of how close the girl looks like she did. The injuries were about the same too. Nikita runs her eyes down to the girl and wonders if she ran for the same reasons. Nikita looks at the wall.

"Michael... what if this girl is her daughter.. they look the same.." Walter says and Nikita shakes from head to toe.

"Because she isn't." Nikita snaps and walks out of the room. Walter looks at Nikita and then at the girl.

"What did she mean by that?" Walter asks as he looks at the closed door.

"Think Walter." Michael says and Walter shrugs his shoulders.

Michael doesn't want to tell Nikita's secrets. It would be up to Nikita to tell Walter or Walter to figure it out himself. Michael looks at the door and knows that Nikita must not be holding up well. His cell phone rings and Michael pulls it out.

"Michael, what happened?" Matthew asks and Michael turns away from Walter.

"What do you mean?" Michael asks in a hushed voice.

"Michael... I got this rushed feeling of... of... grief.. of pain.. of.. of..." Matthew says and Michael takes a deep breath in.

"Of Nikita...." Michael finishes and folds up the phone.

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

Nikita holds onto the porcelain toilet and her tears drop into the crystal water. She swallows back the contents of her stomach. She doesn't want too throw up. She didn't want to look like the girl either. She didn't want anything. She didn't want to face Walter. She didn't want to face the memories. She didn't want to stand up. She didn't want to stop crying.

She didn't hear the door open as she pushes the stuff back down. Her throat burns from the acid and Michael stares at her.

"Nikita...." Michael says softly and Nikita keeps her head down.

"What are you doing here, Michael? Don't you see that I'm at the bathroom." Nikita asks. Michael softly comes closer. He looks to the door and notes that he didn't lock it.

"Nikita... it's an unisex bathroom..." Michael says. He watches Nikita force the acidity liquid back down her throat and looks at her.

"Please leave Michael." Nikita says before she closes her eyes to concentrate on keeping the liquid down. Michael is still about four feet away from Nikita.

"Nikita... just throw up." Michael says as he watches her body tremble with the need to keep it in her. It was like an symbol of what she was doing. She was holding every emotion deep inside her. They wanted out and Nikita just pushed them back in.

"I can't, Michael.." Nikita says in a warning tone. Michael steps closer and looks at her.

"Just throw up." Michael says as Nikita starts again, this time it occurs. Nikita hugs the bowl as the tears begin. Michael touches her head softly and waits.

He watches Nikita again start to hold it back. He increases the pressure of his hand on her head and Nikita sobs out.

"Nikita... let it go." Michael says and Nikita proceeds to throw up.

"Michael.. I can't tell him.." Nikita cries out softly and Michael leans his head down to touch the back of Nikita's. He waits for her sobs to slow down.

"Nikita.. you have too." Michael says.

"I can't tell Walter that I'm the girl he is looking for.. I just can't!" Nikita says as she looks down at the toilet.

"YOU! NIKITA! IT IS YOU!" Walter exclaims from the doorway. Everything makes perfect sense. He runs to Nikita's side and grabs her in his arms.

"I have looked for you.. Why didn't you tell me!" Walter says as tears run down his face. Nikita leans her head into Walter's chest and cries along with him.

"I wanted to protect you ... and you've been here all this time! You were saved!" Walter says and Nikita pulls quickly.

"Do you call Section saved?" Nikita asks and Walter runs his hands against Nikita's cheeks.

"You.. you have the biggest heart... oh... You are safe..." Walter says and Nikita closes her eyes.

Michael feels like he is intruding and looks away. Walter rocks back and forth for a few moments until Nikita pulls back away from him.

"Walter... can you give me a few moments." Nikita asks with a shaking voice.

"I just found you!" Walter says and Nikita pushes at her hair.

"Please Walter. I'll take you out for coffee and explain tonight." Nikita says with her eyes rimmed red.

"Sure, sugar." Walter says startled by Nikita's reaction. He stands up and walks out of the bathroom.

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

"WHY DID YOU DO THAT?" Michael says tensely as he stares at Nikita. Nikita rolls her head to her right side and slowly stands up. Her legs are a bit shaky and Michael steadies her.

"Please, Michael. Not here." Nikita says softly and Michael shakes his head.

"Why not here, Nikita?" Michael asks and Nikita half giggles and half sighs.

"It's a bathroom." Nikita says as she flushes the toilet and Michael slams the seat down.

"Why did you brush Walter off like that?" Michael demands as he physically places his body in front of Nikita.

"Because I know that tonight.. tomorrow.. three weeks from now, he is there for me." Nikita says as she stares into Michael's green eyes.

"And what do you mean by that?" Michael asks tensely as he feels his blood pressure boil. He couldn't believe Nikita still didn't understand what she meant to him. It was uncanny how naive Nikita was at times.

"Michael, Please. Not in here." Nikita says and Michael flips the lock on. Nikita drops her head and pushes at her hair.

"What aren't you telling me Nikita?" Michael asks and Nikita sits down on the toilet.

"Michael... I appreciate all that you have done for me in the past couple months..." Nikita says and stops as Michael kneels down by her side.

"Do you still question me?" Michael asks and Nikita looks off to the side.

"We never talked about it. I feel like I have gone from one event to another, with nothing in between. I'm tired and I just want to know that this is not a part of some grand Madeline plan to destroy me." Nikita says and Michael's mouth drops open.

"No... Nikita.. it is real." Michael says softly and Nikita looks away.

"But sometimes Michael.. I doubt that you will be there in the night.. and the next day.. and in three weeks." Nikita says and Michael touches her knee softly.

"Don't worry about that, Nikita. Sometimes I can't physically be there with you... but I'm there." Michael says as he touches her chest above her heart. Nikita cries and looks away from Michael.

"Nikita.. don't turn your head because you are crying... Let me see them." Michael says and Nikita places a hand to her trembling mouth.

"I'm so sorry Michael." Nikita says as she leans forward. Michael shakes his head as he touches Nikita's back.

"No, Nikita... I am sorry." Michael says smoothly.

***********

Nikita sits across the little table in the small coffeeshop. She blows the steam from her tea and smiles at Walter softly. Walter holds his coffee and smiles back at Nikita.

"Didn't you know me?" Walter asks softly and Nikita shrugs her shoulders.

"Walter... you looked vaguely familiar. But when I was at Madame Zelda's, I knew.. but I couldn't admit." Nikita says softly.

"But Nikita, Michael knew." Walter says and Nikita stares down into her coffee.

"I never told him that it was you. He probably had a feeling and checked the files." Nikita says and Walter opens his mouth.

"Yes, Michael did question me about the mission I had here." Walter says and he studies Nikita sip her tea. Her sip is short and powerful. Walter looks down at his coffee and then to Nikita.

"Did you straighten things out with Michael?" Walter asks softly. Nikita looks around quickly and Walter begins to laugh.

"Nikita.. we aren't being watched here." Walter says and Nikita laughs softly.

"Well.. you never know... since Madeline.. well, let's just not go there." Nikita says as she hurries another sip of tea into her body.

"Let's go to that, Nikita.... You may not realize what the all did to Michael.. and what it did to Operations. Michael's raw emotion shook Operations. Operations knew at that moment everything that you and Michael mean to each other and he knew at that moment everything that you and Michael will mean to each other." Walter says and Nikita stares down at her tea.

"Walter..." Nikita says and Walter shakes his head. He knew that tone. It was Nikita trying to brush off the seriousness of his lecture. It would do her no good to continue in that manner.

"Nikita.. He loves you. HE LOVES YOU!" Walter says and Nikita's smile shines brightly.

"Walter.. I KNOW! I KNOW!" Nikita screams out as she stands up.

"MICHAEL LOVES ME! AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO HAPPY IN MY LIFE!" Nikita screams and the crowd of the coffeehouse turns and claps for Nikita. She sits down and Walter laughs.

"Ok.. then why the need for my exit today?" Walter asks and Nikita stares back down to her cup of tea.

"Walter, we have some very difficult decisions to go through, and until today... we didn't even look at them." Nikita says softly as her fingers lightly circle the rim of the cup.

"Like?" Walter asks and Nikita looks up. She smiles softly and then goes back to looking at her cup.

"Well.. for the time being, Michael has a reason to check in on me during the night.. but that's going to change.." Nikita says and Walter crosses his hand to touch Nikita's.

"Make the best of what you can get, sugar." Walter says and Nikita nods her head.

"I never thought I would find you... and you were right under my nose!" Walter says as he pulls his hand back. Nikita looks at him and everything he wanted to question was answered.

"The only thing I wonder about is how did you get your big heart? How did you manage to keep a soul? How did you?" Walter asks and Nikita shrugs her shoulders.

"Maybe because I knew it would be useful." Nikita says as she pulls the cup for another sip. And in that one sip, Walter watches all the answers of Nikita become zipped up behind her body.

***********

Matthew walks down the Section One hallway and stops at Madeline's office. He looks away and then back at the door. He was willingly walking into a situation he didn't want to be in.

"Hello, Madeline." Matthew says as he walks in. Madeline looks up from his desk and stares at him lightly. Matthew makes a quick inventory of what is on her desk and what isn't on her desk.

"Did you have a nice night last night?" Matthew asks and Madeline blinks her eyes three times. She shifts in her chair and stares at Matthew.

"Your dream... with me in it." Matthew says and Madeline clears her throat. Matthew internally smiles.

"Honestly, yes." Madeline responds, knowing that a lie was useless. Matthew smiled and sat down.

"Madeline, you know that I still care for you." Matthew says as he sits down. Madeline's eyes graze across his skin and Matthew can feel them. He looks at Madeline in the same manner.

"How am I to know that?" Madeline asks and Matthew smiles.

"I just do." Matthew says and Madeline leans back.

"What do you want?" Madeline asks and Matthew smiles. He folds his hands on his lap and looks at Madeline.

"I need to get to St. Louis for a few days." Matthew says and Madeline shakes her head.

"How did I know that was coming?" Madeline asks and Matthew stands up.

"You must be getting some of my powers." Matthew says and Madeline stares into his eyes. Madeline can distinctly remember the last time she kissed Matthew.

"When do you want to leave?" Madeline asks and Matthew nods his head.

"In a little bit." Matthew says and Madeline raises an eyebrow.

"Matthew, if you needed to leave for St. Louis, because of Nikita.... why aren't you leaving now?" Madeline asks and Matthew looks at Madeline. He extends his arm and brushes Madeline's cheek softly.

"Because Nikita doesn't need me right this second.... and I have to worry about you too." Matthew says as he looks at her chin and then lightly kisses at it.

"It must be hard since you broke it off with Birkoff." Matthew says near Madeline's chin.

"Yes. He was good to me." Madeline says softly as her hand rubs against his chest.

"Well... I don't think you ever complained about me." Matthew says softly as he nips at her chin and runs a hand down her back.

"You are doing this for Nikita... what has she done this time?" Madeline asks as her hand nestles itself underneath the shirt.

"Her and Michael.... just let it be....." Matthew says as his hand starts to pull at Madeline's shirt.

"Why?" Madeline asks.

"It would be the best for all parties..." Matthew says as he moves his mouth to Madeline's ear and lightly sucks.

"And me?" Madeline asks.

"We can get back to better business relationships." Matthew says and Madeline rips at his shirt.

"OH, Matthew.. I love you... I always have..." Madeline says in between kisses.

***********

"How are you feeling?" Nikita asks as she walks into the medical room the next morning. The girl, who is named Trisha, looks at Nikita and rolls her head away.

"I need to know.. you are feeling better?" Nikita asks as she moves slowly towards the girl. Dorothy had done a thorough check up and it appeared that Trisha was luckier than Nikita had been. Dorothy had no reason to believe that Trisha had been abused like Nikita had been. It still didn't make the current injuries any less painful.

"I've felt better." Trisha spits out and Nikita sits down next to her. Her face has bruised a little bit but not too bad.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Nikita asks softly as she sets the chart on the table and fiddles around with the blanket. Trisha watches her hands and then looks at Nikita.

"It was because I borrowed money from Dominic. I tried to work at McDonald's so I could pay him back. I just couldn't stay afloat. I would pay him off and then need to borrow more just to get through the week. I ate scraps from garbage. I was trying to be save..." Trisha says as her body starts to tremble.

"You are safe here." Nikita says softly and Trisha shakes her head no.

"I still owe Dominic.. I owe a lot." Trisha says and Nikita turns her head in thought.

"Dominic Hurntz?" Nikita questions and Trisha's eyes roll up in tears and fear. Nikita soothes the girl hair and looks towards the door.

"Is that all you ever did for him?" Nikita asks softly and Trisha's mouth opens up in horror.

"HOW COULD YOU?" Trisha asks and Nikita shakes her head softly.

"Did he ask you too?" Nikita asks and Trisha turns awake. Nikita has gotten to the truth. Maybe Trisha did owe him some money, but that wasn't why she was beaten up.

"You turned him down." Nikita says and Trisha nods her head. Nikita holds the girl's hand and waits for a while.

"Don't worry... Trisha.. you are safe here with Walter... and Michael.. and me..." Nikita says softly, hoping to stop the girl's tears. She wanted to tell Michael what she had learned, but she first thought of Trisha.

"How do you know this!" Trisha calls out and Nikita sheds a soft tear.

"Walter protected me many years ago.... and Michael... he protects my soul everyday... You just have to trust me on this one." Nikita says softly and Trisha looks at Nikita's tear.

"Please... I want this to be over... I want to go home!" Trisha calls out and Nikita smiles bravely.

"I'll start working on that, ok?" Nikita asks as she stands up. Trisha lets go of Nikita's hand and nods her head.

Nikita pauses at the door and looks at brave Trisha.

"I'm proud of you, Trisha." Nikita says before she turns to find Michael and Walter.

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

The plan that Michael, Nikita, and Walter devised was quite simple. Trisha was told to be back to the same corner that she was dropped off on the next day around three. Instead of Trisha going, Nikita would take her place.

Nikita now stood there on that corner. Waiting.

She watched cars pass and she watched people walk pass. She felt like she had retreated back to the years that she herself had spent on the streets. It was eerie reminder that she was still kind of 'safe' in Section. It may not be the 'safe' that Nikita dreamt of, but it was still three steps higher than the streets. And with Michael, about ten steps.

"YOU!" Dominic hollers as he steps out of a black limo and Nikita looks around and then at Dominic.

"Where is she?" Dominic hollers and Nikita smiles softly.

"She won't be coming with you today." Nikita says softly. Nikita pauses and waits. Michael was to take him out by now. Nikita looks to the building and sees nothing.

"Oh, she isn't?" Dominic asks and Nikita smiles brightly.

"Nope." Nikita says and Dominic steps back and looks at Nikita.

"You are to well dressed for these streets..." Dominic asks and Nikita nods her head. Nikita is nervous. Michael was too late for comfort. Nikita didn't like it. Of course, Michael was positive that there would be no problems, that he ordered that Nikita would not take a gun.

"You look vaguely familiar..." Dominic says softly as he opens his trench coat. Nikita gets over the momentary fear of him pulling a gun and just looks at Dominic. He rifles through some papers and then pulls out one.

Dominic holds it out and then holds it next to Nikita's face. Nikita tries to find out what it is from the corner of her eye. Fear runs through her body.

"So... Nikita... still living off of my father's brother's money?" Dominic asks and Nikita's forced smile drops quickly away. He turns the picture to Nikita and she stares at herself.

"I don't know what you are talking about." Nikita says softly and Dominic smiles.

"NIKITA! HEY OVER HERE!" Michael screams out from across the road. He is trying to get her attention, but proceeds to identify Nikita. Dominic twists Nikita's arm and throws her into the limo.

The gun is placed right at her throat as the limo speads away.

***********

Matthew runs into the homeless shelter and three operatives turn their heads. They all stand up and move towards Matthew. They were all alerted about what had occurred with Nikita as Michael and Walter held up in the office trying to plan their next move.

Matthew walks to the back, each operative silently telling Matthew were Michael and Walter were. He opens the door and looks into the office.

"Michael.... there was a delay." Matthew says as he enters and closes the door. Michael looks at Matthew and shakes his head.

"Did you know this was going to happen?" Michael asks and Matthew sits down.

"Michael.. I have never had predictive abilities. I knew something was wrong and I saw this Dominic in my mind. I had no idea that it did not occur yet." Matthew says calmly and Michael shakes his head.

"Well.. let's see what you may know." Michael says and Matthew nods his head.

"Why would he want Nikita?" Walter asks and Matthew looks to the both.

"Because his father's brother was the man Nikita took the drug money from." Matthew says and Michael stands up.

"Is she alive?" Michael asks hauntingly.

"Michael, of course Nikita is alive!" Walter says and Matthew looks at Michael.

"I don't know." Matthew says and Michael pulls Matthew from the chair and slams him against the wall.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T KNOW!" Michael screams and Matthew looks around.

"I'm not sure. I just don't know, Michael." Matthew says and Michael drops the man.

"Michael... when we get her back..." Matthew starts to say and Michael shakes his head. He cannot believe this is occurring. Michael pauses and stops for a moment. He goes back to Matthew and pulls him up to his face. He leans his head down into the collar of his shirt.

"No." Michael says as he steps back and Matthew stares at him. How did Michael know? How could Michael know?

"You were late because you spent time with Madeline." Michael says and Walter stands up.

"HOW STUPID CAN YOU BE?" Walter hollers and Matthew looks at the two.

"It was the only way I could assure something." Matthew says and Michael starts to shake his head.

"Assure what? That she wouldn't mess around with Birkoff?" Michael says rudely and Matthew stands waiting.

"To assure that you and Nikita would be allowed to continue as long as it wasn't seen on the Section One level." Matthew rushes out spitefully. Michael stepped back and looked at Matthew. What he just said and the implications meant so much to Michael.

"Really?" Michael asks and Matthew nods his head.

"My life is basically over.. and if I spend the rest of it with Madeline so that Nikita can go on.. so you can go on.. so that you two can go on together... I would do so." Matthew says and Michael shakes his head.

"Now... best plan.. is to attack the house. Dominic has no idea who Nikita is now." Matthew says as he walks out of the room.

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

Nikita patiently walks in front of Dominic as he holds the gun into her back. She waited in the limo for the right time, but ended up gathering all the information she needed. Dominic had four guards and all four would meet him at the door.

Nikita saw the guards and internally chuckled. All she needed to do is to get Dominic to place the gun down for two minutes. Nikita studied the house carefully as Dominic pushed her into the den. Nikita looks at Dominic as he stands in front of her and shakes his head.

"I would have never found you if you didn't come back here. Stupid, stupid, girl." Dominic says and Nikita looks away.

"DON'T YOU LOOK AWAY WHEN I AM TALKING TO YOU!" Dominic hollers as he backhands Nikita. Nikita keeps her composure, knowing that she could get of the situation now, but it would be risky.

"Tell me... why did you take my father's brother's money?" Dominic asks as he sits in front of Nikita with the gun still pointed to her head.

Nikita sits there, staring ahead at Dominic. She wasn't about to tell Dominic that. It was none of his business. But Dominic wanted to know. Dominic slammed Nikita's head forcefully against the desk and Nikita withered in pain.

"Ok...." Nikita lets out and Dominic looks at her.

"My mother was no good... I was given to her boyfriends to fill their needs..." Nikita says softly, trying not to identify with the emotions.

"Ahhh.. poor girl. You are so stupid!" Dominic says as he sets the gun down on the desk and reaches up for the phone. Nikita identifies all four guards in the room. Three of them are standing next to each other. The fourth one was behind Dominic.

"My father will be so pleased.." Dominic says as he lifts the phone. Nikita grabs the for the gun and shots the three guards, ducks and then kills the fourth. All four headshots.

"WHO ARE YOU?" Dominic says as Nikita trains the gun on him and he drops the phone. Nikita places it on the receiver and digs into the desk. She finds a large silver gun and pulls it out. She checks the gun and smiles.

"You are right.. I am the Nikita." Nikita says as she smiles at him. She sees the computer and knows that she will have to destroy the tapes of the day before she can leave.

"Who do you work for?" Dominic asks and Nikita smiles.

"Do you really think I would tell you?" Nikita asks and Dominic shakes his head.

"But you were a street rat!" Dominic says and Nikita sits back down.

"What does that mean? I took your father's brother's money because he would screw me for hours and then beat me up. He was a no good scum who then in turn killed my real father." Nikita says softly and Dominic looks at Nikita harshly.

"What kind of person would kill me now? I can do things for you and whomever you work for!" Dominic says and Nikita shakes her head.

"We have no use for you." Nikita says and Dominic's eyes open wide.

"Section One..." Dominic mutters as Nikita pulls the trigger and lodges the bullet in between his eyes.

Nikita drops the gun and moves to the computer.

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

Michael and Walter jogged to the door and slowly entered the house. Walter saw a man laying on the floor and then two more.

Michael looks into the room where he sees the dead Dominic and the other guard.

"NIKITA?" Michael whispers out as he steps in. He looks and finds Nikita at the computer.

"Nikita... are you alright?" Michael asks and Nikita half smiles and half laughs.

"Of course. Very simple." Nikita says as Matthew now walks into the house. Nikita pulls a disk out of the computer and hands it to Michael.

"Looks like I hit the jackpot with his files.. he just recently transferred all of his money accounts to one. I transferred it to a Section account and copied his other files." Nikita says as she stands up. She turns slightly and Michael can see where Dominic slapped Nikita and the bruising of when Dominic held her head to the desk.

"And the tapes?" Michael asks and Nikita smiles brightly.

"I destroyed them right away." Nikita says as Matthew walks into the room. He steps over the bodies and looks at Nikita.

"Nikita..." Matthew says and Nikita nods her head slightly.

"Don't worry, Matthew, me and Michael are taking a different flight home tomorrow." Nikita says and Matthew nods his head.

"You will be safe, Nikita. No worries." Matthew says and Michael nods his head in appreiciation.

"Well.. I have somethings that I have to get back too." Matthew says as he turns.

Michael watches Matthew walk away and still can't understand what he has given up for Nikita. Michael knew if it meant Nikita's life, he would do the same. But Matthew was getting nothing out of this with Madeline.

Michael wrapped his arm around Nikita and smiled.

"Go out you two... I know nothing about were you are!" Walter says and turns away.

"Let's stay in tonight." Nikita says with a gentle smile.

"Let's." Michael says.

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