Nikita walked into Operations' office with a soft click of the heeled boots she wore. The rest of her outfit seemed to mimick Michael's ususal wear.

"I needed to speak to you Nikita." Operations says softly, turning around in his chair. Nikita looked around.

"What is it, sir?" Nikita asked with tightly held in lips. A straight line, no emotion.

"You will be sent on a mission with you and Birkoff." Operations says with the same expression as Nikita.

"Why not Michael?" Nikita asks as she stares at the empty desk infront of Operations.

"Michael has already been identified by this person. I can not risk it." Operations says folding his hands on top of the desk.

"You can't risk it...isn't it Section who can't risk it?" Nikita questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"Nikita, I don't have time for your games." Operations says firmly. Nikita finally looks upon Operations more gray face. Circles have appeared under his eyes.

"Birkoff? Sounds like you are sending me into a hopeless situation." Nikita challenges. Operations continues to grind his teeth.

"You have done fine in situations similiar to this one." Operations says.

"So who is it this time? Another son? Maybe a daughter?" Nikita says. Operations abruptly stands up. He looks away and then back at Nikita.

"Stephen." Nikita says as she looks into Operations eyes.

Operations slowly nods his head.

"So he didn't take my advise."

"Nikita, he is out to find me." Operations says sitting back down.

"Would that be so bad?" Nikita asks quietly.

"He is working with some upper end dealers. He is starting to make contacts with groups such as Red Cell and others like that." Operations says again firmly.

"We should have brought him into Section." Nikita says firmly back.

"That is out of question!" Operations screams. "Go get Birkoff. I'll brief you."

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

Nikita walked into the apartment. She silently started to put in a small bag her toothbrush. All else, would be packed by Madeline. Michael stood in the doorway watching.

"Are you going to tell me why?" Michael asked as Nikita moved mechanically.

"Michael, I'll be back in a few days." Nikita said quietly. Michael continued to watch Nikita.

"I believe it hard that they are sending you out with just Birkoff." Michael says again in a challenging tone.

"It has to be that way." Nikita says in short words. She zips up the bag loudly. Michael finally steps into the room and hold her shoulders.

"You do not want to do this." Michael states. Nikita turns around with fire in her eyes.

"I have to do it." Nikita said and then she pulled away from Michael. Bag in hand, she walks towards the apartment door. She fishes something out of her jacket pocket. A CD disk, that shines brillantly in the late afternoon sun.

"Here. In case something happens." Nikita says laying the disk on the table. Michael stares at the rainbow of the disk and then runs towards Nikita. They share a tender and lingering kiss.

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

"Hey, Isabel, can you try to open this for me. It seems to be in some kind of code." Michael says knocking at the door of an older woman. She motions for Michael to come in. She sits down at the her computer and starts to type.

"Does this deal with Nikita and Birkoff in a mission together?" Isabel asks as she pulls up the screen.

"I have no clue." Michael says in a soft whisper. Isabel clicks her mouth.

"Can't do it Michael." Isabel says. Michael stares at her.

"Why not?" Michael questions. Isabel looks at Michael.

"Well, it's on a lock command." Isabel says. Michael glances around the room.

"Can't you tell me what the lock command is? Is it a date or a time?" Michael says in a whisper.

"Don't worry, Michael, they don't actively monitor me anymore." Isabel says as she starts to type again.

A few moments pass and Isabel pulls the CD disk out and shuts the computer off.

"Well?" Michael questions. Isabel stands up.

"You're not going to like this." Isabel says as she walks towards her kitchen.

"I don't want beating around the bush." Michael says slamming his hand against the table.

"It won't open until the date of death is added onto Nikita's Section file."

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

Nikita sits at a table shuffling cards back and forth. The chair she sits in is facing away from the door. The entire room is black. Keys are heard at the door, and then Stephen walks in.

"Who the hell..." Stephen starts as he begins to pull a gun out of his jacket. Birkoff shuts the door and points a gun at Stephen's head.

"I don't think you want to do that." Nikita says keeping her back to Stephen, and continuing to shuffle the cards. Birkoff pushes Stephen to move forward. Soon, Stephen is pushed into a chair at the table with Nikita. Nikita leans over and turns the table light on.

"Seems you've been a bad boy, Stephen." Nikita says without looking at the boy.

"YOU!" Stephen spits out as he slams his hands against the table.

"Did you think I'd let you continue on playing with big toys of terror?" Nikita asked as she shuffled the cards hard.

"I have to make a living." Stephen says angerily. Birkoff continues to stand behind Stephen with the gun.

"Ever think of being a waitor?" Nikita asks sternly. She looks at Birkoff. He leans over and fastens something to Stephen's shirt.

"What's this?" Stephen asked looking at the object.

"Oh, it could become explosive if you don't play in my game." Nikita said with a small laugh. Stephen continued to stare at the blonde's face.

"Why didn't the other man come with you? He would have been more dangerous." Stephen questioned as he sat back into the chair.

"Ah, Birky here is a lot more fun. Plus he knows more." Nikita answered. Birkoff moved and placed a computer on the table and sat down.

Stephen stared at the computer and then back at Nikita.

"Stephen, we have a lot to talk about." Nikita said starting to deal out five cards.

"Why? The reasons haven't changed. I'm going to find my father, if it is the last thing you do." Stephen angerily yells.

Nikita deals the last card. "What if I told you, I know about your father?" Nikita said picking up her cards.

Stephen stared down at his full house, Kings and Queens. "I'd only believe you if you beat my hand." Stephen said, throwing down the cards and smiling.

"Ah... a gambling man." Nikita said, laying down her four aces. Stephen leaned forward and stared into Nikita's eyes.

"I'm interested in knowing how much you really know." Stephen said sternly, sounding like Operations.

"Do you really?" Nikita questioned with her first look at Stephen. Birkoff stood up with some pills and a glass of water.

"I think you better sleep on it." Nikita said as Birkoff forced the drugs down Stephen's throat. Birkoff then lead Stephen to the bedroom.

"So how much are we going to tell him?" Birkoff says.

"We'll be monitored, Operations will tell me when it is too much. We have to scare him even more than Red Cell can." Nikita said as she stood up.

"Nikita, what did you do with that disk I helped you create?" Birkoff questioned as Nikita headed towards Stephen's kitchen.

"It was nothing, Birkoff. Don't worry about it. Better contact Operations and find out where our location is going to be." Nikita said plainly, staring out the window.

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

Michael paced just outside Madeline's office. His hands pressing against each other. He only thinks of what Isbel told him as he left her apartment.

"Michael, only two people at Section can place a date of death on Nikita's file." Isbel warned.

"Madeline and Operations." Michael said spitefully. "Operations already put one on once, but I'm sure he knows the entire mission."

"Michael, I would trust Nikita." Isbel warned as she sensed his train of thought.

"She gave me the disk in case she dies in this mission. That tells me that with only Birkoff, she is three men too short." Michael said about to storm out the door.

"And having you as a renegade operative would help?" Isbel asked back. Michael mouthed the words thank you and walked straight to Section.

His pace quickened as he thought of the situation. Anger flew threw every muscle of his body, until he couldn't take anymore and he punched the wall with his fists.

"Michael, I sense you need to talk?" Madeline said opening the door as Michael shook out his aching hands. Michael walked through the door trudgily, but then become full of anger as the door shut.

"Where is Nikita?" Michael demanded. Madeline sat down.

"Honestly, I don't know." Madeline answered.

"You must, she didn't pack her clothes." Michael said leaning over Madeline's desk.

"Operations came in and told me to pack a bag for Birkoff and Nikita." Madeline said standing up.

Michael sat down hard.

"Why are you so worried?" Madeline asked. Michael looked up.

"Just a feeling..." Michael said. He stood up, and walked to a corner.

"Could you do me a favor?" Michael said softly, biting his lip as the sentence came out.

"A favor? We aren't about favors." Madeline said in a slight amused voice. She stared at Michael's back.

"Enter today as Nikita's death date." Michael said plain as day.

"What?" Madeline said amazed, almost loosing her cool.

"It could save Nikita's life." Michael said turning around.

Madeline stared at Michael. Worry was written across the man's soul. "It would be against Section to do so." Madeline said.

"When has Section ever played by the rules?" Michael asked as he heads towards the door.

"I'm believing if I have the death date down for a couple hours that you can access what you need. 7 o'clock till 9." Madeline said, walking towards the door.

"Thank you." Michael said. Madeline smiled and closed the door. She leaned against the coolness. "What is Operations up to this time?"

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

Music from DREAM THEATER...LIFTING SHADOWS OFF A DREAM

Stephen starts to moan on the bed. It is different from the one he fell asleep on. He looks up to see Nikita with her back to him, just starting to pull down a t-shirt. Four huge purple scars, maybe bruises run across her back.

"What happened?" Stephen asks, and Nikita hurriedly pulls down the shirt.

"It's common when someone works for your father." Nikita said calmly.

"You work for my father!" Stephen yells trying to stand up, but then finds the chains around his feet.

"I must tell you, and show you more about what your father has meant for me." Nikita says with a wicked smile.

HE SEEMS ALONE AND SILENT...THOUGHTS REMAIN WITHOUT AN ANSWER...

Michael sits at the computer as it hits 7 o'clock. Hitting enter, the file opens.

Michael, let me tell you how much I regret that I was not able to tell you this, how much I regret not spending more time with you, how much I regret not being with you right now....

AFRAID AND UNINVITED...HE SLOWLY DRIFTS AWAY...

Nikita sits on a chair in front of Stephen. She swings one long leg over the back of the chair and she leans into the corner.

"I was taken from my home to be 'placed' with your father." Nikita says hard. Stephen swallows hard. "Since then, I've become an mean killing machine, killing anything that your father wants dead."

MOVED BY DESIRE AND FEAR... BREAKING DELICATE WINGS...

Operations has a son, Michael, his name is Stephen. I 'killed' him about a year ago, but Operations made me keep him alive. I'm there to save Stephen again...

Michael punched at the down key with much force, reading the screen of Nikita's words and thoughts. Enough here to almost free her...Michael thought. He paused, thinking about not having Nikita, and then continued down the screen.

"Your father is evil...I've been raped and beaten. I have been shot numerous times, to see if I have the strength to continue. I can be killed at anytime." Nikita said watching Stephen's body shake with fear.

"Is he going to kill you for telling me?" Stephen asks in a waving voice. Nikita laughs outloud.

"He wants you to know what he does." Nikita says with the laugh, but sick to her stomache.

LIFTING SHADOWS...OFF A DREAM ONCE BROKEN....

We will then move the young operations to a section safe house and enlighten the boy about the man who is his father. With this information, we hope that Stephen will lead us to the Red Cell leaders he has been dealing with.

Michael switches to the Section part of the computer, accessing the list of safe houses. Only three are being used, two within the city. Michael quickly scribbles the addresses down, types a letter of thanks to Madeline and runs out the door.

SHE CAN TURN A DROP OF WATER...INTO AN OCEAN....

"Would he kill me?" Stephen asks. Nikita stand up.

"Not if you tell me everything about the people you are dealing with." Nikita says sweetly. Birkoff enters the room and Stephen looks up.

"He'll have us kill you if you don't tell us now." Birkoff says in a surprizingly deep voice.

TEARS OF SORROW WASH HIS MIND... DRIFTING WITH THE CURRENT...THIS STREAM OF LIFE FLOWS ON...

Michael stands in the dark, outside a tall brick house. 'This one has to be it' Michael thinks to himself as he slowly raises a mirror up the side. Quickly he sees Nikita and Birkoff. Pulling it down just as quickly, he walks back to his car and waits for the morning.

HE SEEMS ALONE AND SILENT...WAITING ON HIS HANDS AND KNEES....

"Will I be taken in after this?" Stephen asks as Nikita helps dress the man for the meeting later today.

"Not if things go as planned. Me and Birky are the only ones to know other than your father. He'd kill us first before bringing you in." Nikita says as she opens the door. She is dressed in a yellow and purple floral print, and the leather jacket. She knew putting the outfit on that Madeline had no idea of what was happening.

"That doesn't comfort me." Stephen says walking down a stair.

"It wasn't suppose too." Nikita said, following close behind.

THE CHILL OF WINTER'S DARKNESS SITS QUIETLY... MOVED BY DESIRE AND FEAR...HE TAKES A FEW STEPS AWAY...

Michael slips out of the car, when it becomes appearant that the threesome will walk. He stays behind, ducking behind objects as the boy looks around with wild movements of his head.

LIFTING SHADOWS... OFF A DREAM ONCE BROKEN...

"I don't like this." Stephen says as he continues to check around him.

"Walk." Nikita says firmly. She looks over at Birkoff. 'Useless' she thinks to herself.

SHE CAN TURN A DROP OF WATER...INTO AN OCEAN...AND SHE LISTENS OPENLY....

Michael realizes the street begins to open up more, and moving not to be notice becomes difficult. So he tries to walk ahead as casually as he can.

HE POURS HIS SOUL INTO THE WATER...REFLECTING THE MYSTERY...

"Hey, isn't that the guy from before..." Stephen yells out as he sees Michael. Nikita and Birkoff turn around, but continue walking.

"Nikita...did you tell him?" Birkoff asks angerily.

"Birkoff, let it go." Nikita says sternly. She looks over her shoulder, staring right into Michael's eyes.

SHE CARRIES HIM AWAY...AND THE WINDS DIE SLOWLY...

Michael stands still as he locks with Nikita's eyes. In one second, she knows all that Michael has done and why. And she is right. But Michael continues on, not trusting the situation that might occur.

LIFTING SHADOWS...OFF A DREAM ONCE BROKEN....

"Nikita, I have to turn our units on soon." Birkoff hisses.

"Birkoff. Would you like to go into this alone, or have someone behind you that you know." Nikita says harshly. Birkoff nods.

"You will not mutter a word about him." Nikita says, taking Stephen's chin tightly in her hands.

"If you do, I'll kill you myself." Nikita says letting Stephen go.

SHE CAN TURN A DROP OF WATER...INTO AN OCEAN...

Michael sighs as he sees the empty pier appear. Nikita has just roughed up Stephen. Michael squirms inside, knowing that it was a warning about him.

"Don't worry, you have backup." Michael says as he runs down the side to the pier with his gun drawn. As he starts, Nikita notices his movement. She flashes a smile and continues on.

LIFTING A SHADOW OFF A DREAM

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

Madeline walks into Operations office and sees him with his head down on the desk.

"GET OUT!" Operations roars. Madeline stops in her steps. She cocks her head and stares at the man whom she loves.

"No." Madeline answers softly. Operations raises his head, looking about to roar, but then stopping. A tear forms at his eye.

"Will you tell me about this?" Madeline asks as she steps forward to comfort him.

"I can not." Operations says turning away. Madeline puts a hand on his shoulder.

"This is about the mission Nikita and Birkoff are on." Madeline says insightfully. "It's a personal mission... an enemy?" Madeline tries to guess, but feeling she is wrong.

"My son." Operations says seconds later. He turns to face her and she grabs him into a hug, which places his face near her stomache. She lightly rubs his back.

"I know what your father did to try to keep you out." Madeline says. "Is that what you are trying here?"

"God, I don't want him to have to come in. And it's not because of me...he is too much like me." Operations says in anger pulling away from Madeline.

"He likes trouble?" Madeline asks softly.

"Stephen would made a deal with the devil if it gave him information on me." Operations says.

"Stephen...didn't Nikita kill him?" Madeline asks again, as the pieces start to fall into place.

"I wanted to get him away, no...didn't do that...he started trading information with Red Cell!" Operations says angerily.

"Second strike."

"Going to give him three tries? That's more than what Nikita and Michael got." Madeline says sharply, moving away.

"I...Michael isn't taking this well...but...if those two knew...." Operations says with a lack of words.

"They couldn't do anything if you would bring Stephen in." Madeline said sitting down.

"I was brought in after my first mistake...I don't want Stephen to come here." Operations says as the screen flickers indicating Birkoff has turned on the com units.

"And what is so bad about here? Haven't things changed? Isn't Stephen walking the tightrope between life and death now?" Madeline says as she walks out.

Operations stares at the shut door and then walks over to the computer. "Start the meet." Operations says, pushing away emotions.

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

Nikita walked up the pier with Birkoff and Stephen. The five men stared to nervously move around.

"Who are these people?" the man in the middle screamed out.

"Hey, Chuck, they are my information supply." Stephen called out without effort. Birkoff looked at Nikita...'too much like Operations' both thought.

"Hey, I'll leave if you want me too." Nikita said, starting to turn around.

"If she goes, I take the program..." Birkoff says starting to follow Nikita.

"Is this why your asking price is so high?" Chuck laughed. His men lowered the guns.

"Yeah, and because my father is a leader of some anti-terrorist group..." Stephen joked.

"Birkoff, you didn't.." Operations starts through the com unit.

"OH, Stephen, my oh my, aren't you the funny one!" Nikita laughed. Soon the Red Cell people were laughing.

"The only group that brave is Section...and they aren't that dumb!" Chuck said and all of his men laughed loudly.

"So, have the money?" Stephen asked.

"Yeah." Chuck says throwing the briefcase over. Stephen picks it up and check it quickly. He nods and Birkoff send over the briefcase with the computer/bomb.

"Fine doing business with you." Chuck says with a laugh. Stephen turns and then Nikita and Birkoff start to turn. A few steps away, all three duck for cover and the explosion rips through the man holding the briefcase. Not a big enough explosion, Nikita quickly realizes as the other men start to fire. Nikita jumps up quickly and shots the closes man through the heart. Ducking down, she motions for Birkoff and Stephen to take cover further back. She turns and fires on the men again. A groan is heard behind her.

"Stephen's been hit!" Birkoff calls out.

"Body shield him if he is living!" Operations yells through the com unit. Birkoff immediately piles his body over Stephen.

Nikita pulls out another gun and kills another. More of Red Cell men jump onto the pier. CLINK CLINK..

Nikita looks slightly above her, and Michael, hiding in a crease on the shelter, throws down a machine gun. Quickly, Nikita kills all the men charging.

"Machine gun?" Operations questions.

Once Nikita sees no men are continuing with their charge, Nikita motions for Birkoff to run out of the pier. Nikita backs out with the machine gun ready to fire.

"Send in housecleaning." Nikita says tearing off the com unit, and hiding the machine gun under her jacket.

"Nikita...explain..." Operations yells through the com unit with no response.

Several blocks down the street, Birkoff has Stephen looking drunk as they head towards the house. Michael jumps out of a bush.

"Thank you." Nikita says as Michael starts to walk with her. Her face is cold, upset.

"The machine gun was Red Cells. I stole it." Michael says, running back into the bushes.

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

"How is he?" Operations says as he enters the safe house.

"Unconscious now, but should be fine. The walk back here wasn't any help." Nikita reports as he walks into the bedroom and looks down at Stephen.

"I still don't understand how you got the machine gun." Operations says softly.

"It flew out of the man's hands when the explosion went off. I didn't see it until the pier was being charged." Nikita explained. Madeline walked in the front door.

"Does he go into Section now?" Madeline asks. Operations turns around.

"No." Operations says. Stephen mummers,..."dad?..." Operations walks into the room, rubs Stephen's cheek.

"I'm not your dad son." Operations says, and he walks out. Nikita following close behind.

"You know he sees you everyday." Nikita says accusingly.

"Nikita, how?" Operations says. Nikita pulls out a picture of Operations before Section.

"He looks in the mirror and sees you." Nikita says throwing the picture at Operations.

"Nikita...I was brought into Section by my father when I killed most of my unit in the war. Stephen has done what he has done because of me. I can not punish him for that." Operations says firmly.

"Oh...so I get punished...and Birkoff gets punished...Madeline gets punished...We all never had a chance. Chuck said the name Section. How long until Stephen makes the link?" Nikita yells.

Madeline walks out into the room.

"Why don't you go back to Michael, tonight." Madeline says to Nikita.

"How many more children do you have that I will have to protect?" Nikita asks as she gathers her own bag and slams the door.

"You are taking a chance that Red Cell wasn't monitoring the situation...they could see the resemblence between Stephen and you. I couldn't tell the difference." Madeline says handing the picture back to Operations.

"24 hour monitoring. Two operatives following his every move. If something strange happens, I'll bring him in." Operations says. He glances over his shoulder at the tossing figure in the bed. He walks over to the some paper and jots a quick note down. Son, I'm proud.

"Warn him of the fact of we'll be watching him." Operations says as he heads towards the door.

"It won't do any good." Madeline says, but Operations doesn't listen

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

Nikita walks into the apartment and walks immediately to the bedroom. Michael looks up from the couch. After several moments, he walks in.

"You don't trust me." Nikita said, looking at the disk that she had given to Michael.

"You would have done the same." Michael said.

"I said not to worry, that I'd be back." Nikita said angerily. THe dark hides her face.

"You needed that gun." Michael points out. Nikita turns sharply, the tears glisten in the moonlight.

"Me and Birkoff still had explosives on us. I didn't need that gun." Nikita says loudly and then turns back to her orginal position on that chair. A few seconds later, she throws a leg over the back of the chair again, leans her chin down on her knee.

"What else is wrong, Kita?" Michael asks as he comes closer.

"I'm fine." Nikita mutters.

"Nikita..." Michael pushes as he comes closer, now Nikita can feel his breath on her body. Nikita bites her lip.

"I wonder if I look like my dad..." Nikita mutters. Michael stops instride.

"He never knew about me..and I only knew that yes I did have a father." Nikita continues. Michael leans down to watch her face.

"I don't look a thing like my mother...thank god for small miracles..." Nikita said trying to smile.

"Nikita..." Michael says rubbing his hand on her hanging calf.

"I'm searching for a father I never knew...Stephen...he knows about his father and still wants more..." Nikita cries. Suddenly she stops. Michael smiles at Nikita.

"You'll be fine." Michael says.

"Sometimes I wonder if I love you because you seem to be a father to me...protecting me...saving me... I wonder if I love you for all the wrong reasons.... sometimes you seem like a brother... not...not..." Nikita says as she quickly rises and runs to the balcony.

Michael stares out at the ball on the balcony. He rubs his hands through his hair. Slowly he walks out.

"And with you feeling this way, do you question why I love you?" Michael questions painfully. Nikita looks up.

"Am I just a replacement for Simone?" Nikita asks. Michael sits down on the balcony. They sit back to back, but are in two different worlds

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