"Come in Michael and Nikita," Operations said as he lead them to an office they both had never been in. Nikita looked around the warm wood room, and Operations sat down at the huge cherry wood desk.

Michael sat down, and then Nikita. Nikita continued to look around, glancing at pictures where a few of the people she knew...even one of a young Madeline and Operations.

"I've been debating on changing your roles in Section." Operations says as he stares at Nikita for a reaction. Operations knows that now, this is the biggest fear. Nikita stared back at Operations.

"It will be a change here...you two have become almost an exclusive husband/wife team...for very clear reasons." Operations says raising an eyebrow.

"We have noticed this." Michael responds.

"I realize now that this asset has made it easier to plant you two into a situation. Let's not call it a promotion...but a change of description." Operations says pressing a buzzer.

Madeline walks in, and hands out thick booklets.

"In a quick description, you two for now are our only offical husband/wife team. For the extremely easy missions and the extremely difficult. But in this, you two will begin to train other couples of operatives to become husband/wife duos. Along with this reponsibility...Nikita will be training with me to become if needed, my back up and you, Michael, will continue your training with Operations." Madeline said as she sat on the edge of the desk.

Nikita thumbed through the booklet, she knew that there was now a lot more given to her.

"Would we be allowed to help with decisions on who we work with?" Michael asked without opening or even touching the booklet.

"You will most likely be working with Birkoff and Walter, of course." Madeline says. "We are exploring other ways on furthering this operative duo relationship."

"Like how?" Nikita asked with a hint of nervousness.

"It may be easier for the two to live together, one phone call. The two need to know everything about each other...how fast their heartbeat raises when nervous, or how they breath differently around animals." Madeline said.

"But not yet?!?" Nikita said in almost a demand.

Michael glanced at Nikita, he rolled his eyes away.

"Not yet." Madeline said. Operations stood up.

"We have files on some operatives that seem to have a special connection...find a couple and train them." Operations says.

Michael stands up and Nikita follows his lead. After walking back to Michael's office, Michael turns Nikita towards him.

"They were giving us permission to live together, Nikita. Didn't you want this?" Michael asked.

"It's too much, too soon." Nikita said turning away. In fact, the relationship between her and Michael had developed to quickly again.

She wanted some time apart, just to think. Now, she was going to be stuck to Michael like glue.

"Nikita...you don't want me to be living with you?" Michael asked as Nikita still stood away from him.

"I do want you to live with me..."(just not now) Nikita said and thought. "So, if we are a duo now...do we share the office?"

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

"I can't believe that this is your office..." Birkoff said as he stood in a office twice the size of Michael's old office. He was on the floor linking up the computer.

"It's our office, Birkoff." Nikita said as she walked in with a box in hand, filled with files and books.

"How was your meeting with Madeline?" Michael said as he looked at the box. Nikita set it down on her retro desk.

"I have homework....I guess I get cancel if I don't turn it in!" Nikita joked as she pulled out a book.

"I'm almost done here!" Birkoff yelled up from underneath Michael's desk. Soon he popped up.

"It's a special link between your computers...you'll have fun with it." Birkoff sighed and he left.

"Abnormal Psychology...ohh...now that is heavy." Michael said as he walked over to the pile of books Nikita was arranging on a bookcase.

"What is heavy is trying to select a duo of operatives..." Nikita complained, sitting down on her chair.

"I think Essevy and Groad seem to be a good candidate." Michael said touching Nikita's hair.

"But you never hear rumors about them!" Nikita pointed out.

Michael looked into her eyes.

"You have to know about that, Michael..." Nikita said when Michael didn't respond.

"What..." Michael said. Nikita tossed her hair behind her right shoulder.

"We were the most talked about in the rumor mill." Nikita informed Michael. Michael looked at her blankly.

"We were everything from long lost lovers to well...being adventurous on Operations' desk." Nikita further.

"OHHH.." Michael said with a chuckle. "Anyone on the rumor mill that is on our list?"

"Yes, there is."

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

"Come in and sit down." Nikita said cooly as Rita and Rick entered the office of Nikita and Michael. Michael glanced over at Nikita. He watched Nikita for a few moments...she seemed so much like Madeline at that instant.

"We will be continuing with your training." Michael said with the same cool tune as Nikita. Both Rita and Rick sat down, both with looks of fear in their eyes.

"What kind of training?" Rita spoke up. Nikita turned her head towards Michael. A chill ran up her spine...they were acting like Madeline and Operations...it scared her...but it also seemed right.

"Duo training." Michael answered.

"We've had our 'partner' training." Rick finally spoke in his deep voice. Nikita noticed the two glance at each other quickly...like she had done with Michael so many times before.

"You two have been chosen...for more specialized training." Michael said as he folded his hands on the desk.

"Is this punishment....We never did anything...we've just done what we've been told to do..." Rick raised his voice.

"I'm sure you've had thoughts...remember Section has changed." Nikita said standing up and walking behind Michael.

"Training starts tomorrow, six o'clock. You will be staying within Section during this training period." Michael said. They silently stood up and walked out.

"I'm monitoring them." Nikita said after they closed the door. She sat down quickly, shaking her head.

"I need some air." Nikita finally pronounced, as she stood up and left. As she was walking out, Walter walked in.

"Promotion not going smoothly?" Walter asked with a tilted head.

"It was eerie." Michael said moving from his chair.

"How so? She's Nikita...you have everything..." Walter started but then stopped when Michael didn't even nod.

"I looked over and she...was like Madeline...and then I wondered if I was like Operations to Nikita..." Michael said in a dreamy voice, like he meant to think to himself.

"I'm sure you will always be Michael to Nikita."

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

"No...this room will not do." Nikita announced at six o'clock in the morning as she walked into the Section room that Rita and Rick now shared. The two were still pulling themselves together. Nikita walked into the common area of the room and noticed not a candle or other notion of romance around. She walked slowly into the two bedrooms, both had been used, one by Rita and one by Rick.

"Nikita. I think I will call for the crew." Michael announced as he watched Nikita walk around the room. She looked calm and cool, something he hadn't seen in Nikita in a long time. He leaned out into the hallway, and waved his hands to the operatives who were going to do the heavy lifting.

"Why don't you take them to our office, Michael...I'm sure there is a lot they don't know." Nikita said, turning around and giving Michael a sly smile as the other operatives entered the room.

"How are you going to change the room? I like it the way it is now!" Rita spoke up. Nikita stared at Rita, passion ran through the girl's body, Nikita thought. Then she looked at Michael and wondered if she looked the same.

"Rita will be right along." Nikita said, and with that Michael lead Rick to their office.

Nikita moved closer to the girl, and she had a reaction of fear. Nikita's eyes softened.

"You still believe this is a bad thing." Nikita said as she sat down on the couch. Rita looked at Nikita. Rita had heard the rumors...Nikita had been 'canceled' but saved...Nikita had been given Michael..or was that Michael was given Nikita...Rita knew a little of Nikita's kidnapping..and Rita finally sat down.

"How is this good?" Rita asked looking around as the operatives removed both beds.

"I had information that you and Rick were closer than co-workers."

Nikita said looking straight in the girl's eyes. Nikita knew the instant that Rita tried to turn her head away, that the rumors had been accurate.

"Section may have changed for you...but I still fear if I say the wrong word that I will be canceled." Rita hissed in a deep voice.

"Rita, by tonight, you will believe that Section just gave back you your heart." Nikita said standing up.

Rita stood up. "Michael is waiting."

Rita left. Then Nikita supervised in the remodeling of one of the rooms into a masterbedroom, and the other, the new living room, and the common area was arranged into an elegant dinningroom.

Around 9 o'clock, Madeline stopped in.

"Oh, so maybe for you it will be rooms and not clothes." Madeline said with a smile. Nikita turned around with a bright smile.

"Oh my, you are a happy one." Madeline commented. Nikita continued to add more candles.

"It's only the beginning...I'm sure somedays I will hate it." Nikita said.

"How is the reading?" Madeline asked. Nikita continued to move around.

"It's ok...kind of dry..." Nikita commented.

"Good. We meet tomorrow." Madeline said and left. Suddenly, Nikita's smile went to a frown.

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

Nikita sits at the desk in her apartment. The dimming sunlight comes through the cracked balcony doors. Nikita sits straight as she is half way through one of the ten books she had piled up on the desk.

"Nikita...do you want to go to Quintero's tonight?" Michael asks as he walks past Nikita.

"Can't...you can..bring me something..." Nikita mutters as she continues on her reading. Michael sits down restlessly. He watches Nikita flip page after page.

"We need to talk about Rita and Rick..." Michael said, hoping to bring Nikita back to paying attention to him.

"Michael...I have to finish this...why don't you come back later?"

Nikita said, not even her eyes leaving the page.

"I'll bring you back dinner." Michael said as he frowns and leaves.

+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_

"Nikita...I thought you would like some pizza...pizza was always a good study food!" Michael says in a fake happy voice as he strides in with a box of fresh pizza. Nikita is now sitting on her legs, but still reading at the same desk. It is a new book.

"Why don't you take a break?" Michael asked as he set down the pizza.

"MMM.." Nikita says as she stands up with book in hand, picks up a piece of pizza and walks back to the desk. Michael looks down at his shoes.

+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+__+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_

"Nikita...I'm going home." Michael said standing up from watching the television. He glances at Nikita, who is still reading. She glances over towards him.

"I knew it wouldn't be an exciting night for you." Nikita says and she turns back to her books.

"Good night." Michael says, leaving without a kiss or hug.

+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+__+

Nikita jumps up as an hand softly touches her shoulder. Turning violently, she is ready to fight.

"NIkita...you slept in." Michael said watching her carefully. It was something that Nikita hadn't done in a while. He looked at Nikita's darkened eyes.

"How long did you sleep?" Michael asked, knowing she did fall asleep at the desk.

"What time is it now?" Nikita asked, blinking her eyes.

"Almost ten." Michael said and Nikita flew into action.

"I meet Madeline at 12...then I'll be down to work with Rita and Rick at 1 and then Birkoff wanted to test some new hearing device or something like that around 2...Then I'll be back to Rita and Rick until 7 maybe 8" Nikita rambled on as she pulled on a cool purple suit, and pulled up her long blonde hair into a bun.

"Nikita...what about me?" Michael wanted to scream. He watched her as she opened the apartment door and when her face scowled when he was slowing her down.

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

"Madeline..you can take this promotion and shove it!" Michael screams about four days later. Madeline looks at Michael with no expression.

"Why? Nikita seems to have adjusted to it quite well...she is a quick study." Madeline questions.

"Adjusted her...screw the rest of her!" Michael rages as he starts to pace back and forth.

"Michael...you may just have to try harder." Madeline said as she watched Michael move like watching a tennis match.

"Madeline...she may have slept three hours this week...that's it!" Michael fumed, not stopping.

"Michael...you have to slow her down." Madeline said firmly. Michael stopped in his tracks.

"I...can't make that decision...she's been stunning here...but with that...she may have muttered two words to me not related to Section."

"Maybe she got the wrong message of my reading assignments." Madeline said, backing off her real feelings, knowing something else was up.

+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_

"We have to test them. We know they have been intimate...but can they stand each other when it's bad." Nikita said in their office. Her hair was down for the first time since the promotion.

"I sense you already have an idea." Michael said standing up.

"It wouldn't be dangerous to make them sick...let them care for each other..." Nikita said standing up and heading towards Michael.

"True love and commitment." Michael said. Nikita suddenly didn't look tired anymore...she bent down and kissed him.

"Oh, Nikita..." Michael sighed and then he ran his fingers through her hair.

"Michael...I think we need half day today." Nikita said, getting Michael to stand. Michael wrapped his arms around Nikita's waist.

"We haven't christened our desks yet." Michael said with a growl of need. Michael deepened his kisses of Nikita.

"Nikita...Michael..." Birkoff said as he walked in and then quickly out. Breaking the embrace, Nikita went after Birkoff.

"Birkoff, what is it? We were about to take off for the day." Nikita said jogging after the fast moving Birkoff.

"Operations has approved of the 'bug' program." Birkoff said handing over the paper.

"Birkoff...we haven't had each other's company...." Nikita tried to explain.

"Try putting a sock on the door the next time!"

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

"Nikita..." Michael said as he rolled up to see Nikita's in the bed they were sharing more often.

"Yes, Michael." Nikita answered as she felt Michael's arm brush against her.

"I hope you were wrong about this." Michael said as he kissed her bare shoulder.

"About what?" Nikita muttered softly.

"You said you didn't want this to be all the time." Michael said.

"I wasn't wrong. I think we are better when we aren't together all the time." Nikita said sitting up with the blankets. Michael looks blankly at Nikita.

"Michael...I still have some real bad days...I emotionally feel like Rita and Rick feel right now. We both have so much of this...what would happen if we both hit it at the same time...I mean...it's better this way." Nikita stummered as she pulled a blanket around her and walked away.

A light flickered on. "Books!" Michael muttered and got up to dress.

"Night 'Kita." Michael said and left.

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