"Nikita, I'm going to do some source digging." Michael says as he enters the office.

Nikita looks up from her results of Rita and Rick's latest exercises. "Anything important?" Nikita says without looking up.

Michael taps her desk. "Nothing to worry about. Just that this informant will only talk to me." Michael says with a half smile. "I should be back tomorrow night."

"Ok." Nikita says looking up.

Michael walks over and gives Nikita a quick kiss.

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

"Hello, Joy." Michael says as he emerges from a hotel into an allie.

"This isn't your typical meeting place."

"No longer good at my house." Joy says twisting her long black hair.

"Then what's going on?" Michael asks. Tires squeal, and a blue van turns the corner quickly. Michael tires to pull Joy out of the way, and Joy, hits Michael over the head with her own gun.

"We will leave you alone now." A young man with a purple beret on his head says as his other men drag Michael into the van.

"He will certainly be bugged." Joy says as she backs up.

"Check the man before we pull out." the young man orders. Soon, many of Michael's clothing is being pulled off and thrown into the allie.

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

"Again!" Nikita says loudly to Rick. Rita stands next to the wall. The lasers start to shot at Rick again, but his reaction time is slow still. Nikita watches him in his movements. Nikita shakes her head.

"He can't keep on balance." Rita says worriedly. Their recovery has been slow and tedious, with Rita actually healing faster than Rick.

Both Madeline and Nikita believed that Rita would be still be in emotional wreck phase. Nikita looks at the festy woman, and sees much of Michael in her.

"Stop!" Nikita calls out as Rick falls. The exercise ceases.

Nikita walks out as Rick picks his body up off of the floor.

"It's this one knee..." Rick starts to explain.

Nikita looks at him. "Stand up straight and relax." Nikita orders.

Rick stands up straight and takes several deep breathes.

"Now sense your body and point to the center of your body." Nikita orders. Rita gasps as Rick's hand moves well to the left of the middle.

"Look at your hand." Nikita orders as she holds the hand, so that Rick won't move it.

He looks down in horror.

"Everything has shifted but your mind. This is your center...move everything from there." Nikita says letting go of his hand.

A tap at the window takes Nikita to the door.

"Operations needs to see you." one of the older operatives says.

Nikita glances over to Rick.

"Practice some, moving from that center." Nikita orders.

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

"Nikita...it seems that Michael has been captured." Operations says after Nikita has sat down. Madeline stands not far behind Operations.

"How do we get him out?" Nikita asks calmly. Madeline nods her head and walks to the door.

"Be sure to send us lunch and dinner...and plenty of coffee." Madeline whispers.

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

"Joy was Michael's informant, a damn good one." Operations says as he passes the photo to Nikita.

"Was?" Nikita questions Operations.

"We canceled her after she told us. She set Michael up because her family was in danger. Yet, she gave us some valuable information about where Michael is." Operations explains.

Nikita stares at the picture of the young woman, no older than herself.

"Where?" Nikita asks without hesitation.

Operations nods at Nikita's one track mind. He knew then, that if anyone was going to rescue Michael it would be Nikita.

"This is the leader, his name is Jonathan Rytch. HE is the leader of a group he named HH4G, we do not know what it means, if it means anything." Operations says as he passes another picture over.

Nikita looks at the picture. "God, he is so young." Nikita says in surprize.

"Expecting someone older?" Operations asks. "Actually Jonathan is your age."

Nikita nods her head.

"HH4G has been a growing force in terrorism, but has been well established in many other fields for many years. From our intelligence, Jonathan established HH4G while he was in high school." Operations continued.

Nikita rubbed her head. "How do I get in?" Nikita questions.

Operations pulls up the transparent screen, and a picture of a building is seen. "We had been monitioring this building, but recently stopped. From our tapes, the only people who come and go who change are these women." Operations say as he rules the tape.

Going in and out are many women.

Nikita leans back and shakes her head. "I'm going to have to be one of those women." Nikita says sternly.

"From what Joy told us, Jonathan has sent in four to ten women, from which he selects one." Operations says. "Joy also found out that when Jonathan selects the women, that the women usually displayed infront of the prisoners. Sexual torture."

"I'm going in by myself, right?" Nikita asks ignorantly.

"A back up team will be place well out of view, and the only thing connecting you will be maybe a bug in your shoe. We can't place it anywhere else." Operations says.

Nikita stands up. Her face is now flustered. "I...need some air..." Nikita says walking out of the room.

Madeline looks at Operations as he slides down into his chair. "It will be a miracle if she pulls this off." Madeline says as she sits down where Nikita had been.

"There is no other way to get him out. She will do it." Operations says firmly.

"It is expecting alot...many variables, what if Jonathan doesn't torture the prisoners by parading her around....what if he doesn't select her..." Madeline starts to ramble.

"We are all scared...all we can do is to prepare Nikita for this."

Operations says firmly as he reaches out for Madeline's hands.

"I will have to talk to her extensively, it will be very difficult."

Madeline says looking out the glass window. She sees Nikita walk to Walter, and the two exit.

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

(Michael's thoughts are heard)

Michael sits in a dark and damp cell. So far, other than the hit over his head, he has not been tortured. He stares at the man sitting in the room that is purposely set up for the prisioners to see.

The man stands up and leads a lady in. He walks her back towards the cells. "Look at her, gentlemen, Don't you just want to grab hold of her..." the young man laughs as he starts to undress her infront of the four cells. Michael is the only one who has a cell to himself.

"I got to get out of here..."

The young man leads her over to the bed, the other men prisioners are starting to pant, looking on.

"They are going to send Nikita..."

Michael glares out the one small window. Trying to remove himself from the surroundings.

"They can't do that to her...it would totally distroy her...I just got her back..."

Michael then looks down at the bed he is laying on. He lays down on his back, staring at the ceiling above, concentrating on the one block, trying to chip away at it with his mind.

"Madeline knows how this would affect her....she would never risk it..."

The noise is becoming unbearable, and Michael can only focus his thought on what Section is planning right now.

"But Operations would give 20 people's sanity to get me back.....But I will lose mine if they make her...I couldn't just stay in this cell and watch...or listen...Just couldn't..."

Suddenly, the room is quiety. There is some heavy breathing.

"Please...anyone else...there are plenty of beautiful girls in Section..."

The young man dress, and then walks over to Michael's cell. "Don't you like watching?" the young many snarls. Michael concentrates his vision on objects behind the boy.

"Maybe you'd like a boy for yourself." the young man says and the other prisoners laugh. Michael continues in his stare.

"I'd strangle this pee-wee if I had the chance....but then...what is Section doing...if I do something will it affect thier plan...."

The young man walks away, laughing. Michael has not budged from his bed.

"God...Nikita...I hope she knows that I love her....I can see her face....smile....eyes...lip...smile..." Michael turns his head back to the window. "Nikita...come save me.... it will eat me alive...but I need out...."

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

Nikita walks side by side with Walter, endlessly circling the tiny park they had visited so many times before. Her hands deep inside her coat, her face is cold as the day, maybe even colder.

"So what's this about?" Walter says breaking the silence. He looks at Nikita, who doesn't break her intense stare straight ahead.

"You know about Michael?" Nikita says almost not asking.

Walter again, tries to face her. "Yes. I'm working on some 'weapons' when we were leaving for this here walk." Walter says in a low voice. The wind blows and Nikita's hair is whipped around wildly.

"They will be for me." Nikita says into the wind. Walter looks at her, he had known it all along, even if Madeline and Operations didn't tell him.

"Then, what is bothering you?" Walter asks as he touches her shoulder.

"What I have to do to get Michael out... is something than me and Michael do very well together..." Nikita says in well spaced breaks.

Walter looks at the ground.

"Most likely, he will have to watch the entire thing.... I don't think I can do it." Nikita says choking back tears.

"Michael will understand, Nikita. We all know that we do things for Section that we wouldn't normally do." Walter says as he looks at Nikita's vacant stare.

"I'm not doing it for Section, I'm doing it for Michael." Nikita says firmly as she looks at Walter, finally.

"He will be grateful." Walter says with a nod.

"Walter...I can't do it...not after...I can't..." Nikita starts to break down.

Walter sees a bench nearby and sits her down. "There is no question here. You will be the only person sent in for Michael. If you don't go, he stays. It is that simple." Walter says firmly, not trying to make things seem better.

"It...just the thought...I feel sick...I can't..." Nikita continues on, not able to finish one sentence in her pain.

"You have to block everything else out. The man, don't think about him, think about Michael. Say in your head over and over again. YOU HAVE TOO!" Walter says even more sternly.

Nikita looks at the sky, and wipes her eyes. "Michael, I'm coming." She thinks. Standing up and turning around.

"Let's get this over with." Nikita says as she starts to walk faster back to Section.

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

"I think this outfit will get more attention than that black one," Nikita says in Madeline's office as she holds a bright pink bodice up, with the leather miniskirt she had become use to wearing.

"If you want too." Madeline says as she puts the black tube top back down. She stares at Nikita as she continues to look through the rows of clothes.

"What about shoes?" Nikita says looking up at Madeline.

"Walter has them right now." Madeline responds. They had finished another two hours of briefing and practicing with Nikita.

She was given line after line to use to entice Jonathan, and during the last two hours rarely did the name Michael come up.

"Nikita, I think we have to discuss the emotionality of this mission for you." Madeline says pulling the outfit out of Nikita's hands.

"I'm going in to get Michael." Nikita says firmly as Madeline walks back to her desk.

"Your going to be with someone else, other than Michael...we both know your past...let's not beat around the bush." Madeline says a bit insensitively.

"My past, I didn't have a choice....I'm going to do 'it' with this man so I can have my Michael back. This is a choice. Do it or lose Michael. No where near the same as my PAST!" Nikita says firmly as she squares her shoulders to Madeline.

"Fine." Madeline says now sitting down. "And what about the nightmares or flashbacks....you must be aware that it could occur during the mission."

"I know." Nikita says efficiently.

Madeline looks at her with a tilted head.

"I am prepared...all I can do is push my mind to Michael, and not think about what my body is doing."

"Nikita, that takes years to learn." Madeline says standing up.

"I'm going to have to learn it in one shot." Nikita says.

A knock at the door and Walter enters with a pair of 3 inch high black heels.

"We will put explosives under here," Walter says turning the shoe over. On the sole is a empty area for the explosives to be place into.

"You have to get close enough to the bars so that Michael can grab it."

"That will be no problem." Nikita says with a smile, but worries about what Michael will do. "Where is the bug?" she asks.

"In both heels, but they aren't really good." Walter says. Nikita looks at the shoes.

"Couldn't we do the hollow thing with the other shoe and put a com unit into it?" Nikita questions.

Walter looks at Madeline and smiles. "That would then at least give Michael a unit," Walter says with a nudge of his head.

"Yes, good idea. I don't like these bad bugs." Madeline comments and looks at Walter.

"Everything else I have is going to be noticed on the clothing." Walter comments.

Madeline looks at Nikita.

"What if you implant on?" Nikita says with a swallow. Walter looks at Madeline as he shakes his head no in horror.

"It's out of question." Madeline says firmly. "If problems occur, you can always use the com unit in your shoe."

"Yes." Nikita looks down at the floor. "Do you mind if I get some sleep?" Madeline nods her head and Nikita exits.

"I'll go and put that com unit in." Walter says leaving in a huff.

Madeline dials Operations quickly.

"We're going to get Michael back."

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

Nikita walks into Walter's work space. She taps him on the shoulder.

"Come for the shoes already?" Walter questions Nikita, who looks like she just rolled out of bed.

"I didn't come for those yet." Nikita says with a curious smile.

"Then what did you come for?" Walter asks as he puts down a couple of his tools.

"I want another bug." Nikita says firmly. Walter is drawn by her intensity.

"Sorry, sugar, Madeline said no." Walter finally says.

"She said no to the implant." Nikita reminds Walter as she starts to circle around. "I'm sure there are other ways we can place one in my body so that it wouldn't be seen."

"Nikita, where? You will be...in your birthday suit!" Walter says with a little burst of anger.

"Couldn't we hide on in my mouth?" Nikita says and opens up her mouth wide.

Walter looks into the mouth, seeing a gap.

"When did you get that gap?" Walter questions. Nikita closes her mouth.

"I have always had it." Nikita says with a smile.

"Sugar, you swear to me you didn't pull that..." Walter starts to say.

"Walter, I didn't. I had it pulled several months ago, thinking it might become important some day." Nikita explains quietly.

"Go get ready, you'll have your fake tooth." Walter says with a bit of sarcasm.

When Nikita has exited, Walter sighs in relief, this bug would be the one clear signal they might need.

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

"Hurry, before Madeline comes in!" Walter says as Nikita enters the work area in her 'uniform'.

Nikita immediately opens her mouth, and Walter slides the white bug in.

Closing her mouth, she smiles.

"Get the shoes and we are heading out!" Madeline says.

Nikita opens her mouth in delightment, Madeline is in a field uniform.

"I will be the communication person. I think...it is necessary." Madeline explains. She exits.

"Then who has this bug?" Nikita says pointing to her teeth.

"Birkoff and I will be monitoring it here. If Maddie has any problems she'll be begging for Birkoff's help." Walter says with a smile. "Good luck."

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

Nikita stepped into the line of five different girls. Most wore more clothing than Nikita. She shook her long blonde hair around, and smiled at one of the men. She looked him up and down and licked her lips.

"Blondie...what do you do for fun?" a guard calls out. Nikita licked her lips again.

"I do with it, and I do without it." Nikita answers in a husky voice.

The other women stare at her. Some have already turned around.

One man, whispers to another, who continues the message down the line.

"How many men can you handle?" the man at the end of the line asks.

"How many of you are there?" Nikita questions back with another toss of her hair.

Soon, men are escorting the other women out, Nikita looks around and thinks that that was easy.

"Good working Nikita," Madeline thinks in the van, as she continually moves dials to help pick up the bugs in Nikita's heels.

Nikita is grabbed by two of the men and is roughly tossed inside a room. A bit disorientated, Nikita takes a second to notice the cells on the left wall.

Then Jonathan walks over to her. He runs his hand across her heaving chest.

"MMM...I have plans for you." Jonathan says as he pulls Nikita in tight.

Nikita not fighting, lets Jonathan clench her buttocks, but then he pulls away.

"Do you like to play games?" Jonathan asks. Nikita looks at him and grins.

"Games are part of my job." Nikita cracks.

"What if the games were with three instead of two?" Jonathan asked.

"The more the merrier!" Nikita laughs back. Then, in the third cell, she sees Michael. He is sitting with his back against the wall, and glaring through the bars. She continues her smile.

"Who are these men?" Nikita questions Jonathan. He laughs and grabs her hard.

"Let me introduce them to you." Jonathan says as he leads her to the cells.

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

Michael sits on top of his bed, staring at the naked mass on top of Jonathan's bed. He breathes deep as his mind can only see Nikita coming down onto Jonathan so easily, like she had down with Michael numerous times before.

"Stop thinking about that....she got you the com unit and the explosives..." Michael screams at himself. The com unit was the first to be passed.

Jonathan had slammed her back against the bars of Michael's cell. Quickly, she had slide her leg between the bars and there in the hollow of her shoe was the com unit.

Michael touches the com unit which he now wears. Madeline had given him some words of strength, but listening to Madeline tell you that it would be alright when watching Nikita with Jonathan, he turned it off.

The explosives slide into Michael's cell about the same way. Jonathan was torturing the men by continually displaying Nikita to them.

Before Jonathan dragged her to bed, he slammed her back to the bars again.

Michael held onto the small explosive, knowing only an outside command would set it off.

"I wish it would blow me up now" Michael thinks as he watches Jonathan lean over and kiss Nikita passionately.

"I wanted to scream...NO! She is mine...but she just went on like it was nothing...am I nothing?...NO...Nikita loves me..." Michael's tormented mind fought with itself.

Jonathan looked over to the cells and smiled at Michael.

"Bring Michael to my private room...Nikita here likes a multiple situation and I have just the man for her!" Jonathan smiled.

Michael rubbed the com unit off of him, knowing it would be spotted if he continued with it.

"Come Nikita..." Jonathan said leading Nikita away, ahead of Michael.

She wore only the leather coat over her body.

"This isn't happening...he wouldn't make me...I can't do this...how can I ever look at Nikita again...this isn't right...it's not right..." Michael screamed inside himself as he was placed into heavy handcuffs.

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

"Birkoff, I have lost all contact with them!" Madeline panics from inside the van.

Birkoff sits inside Walter's office space.

"The com unit should be working fine." Birkoff responds as Walter paces around the room.

"I believe Michael turned it off." Madeline says in the same upset voice. The pounding on keys and nobs is heard easily.

"Birkoff!" Madeline screams.

"Madeline, we have the information." Walter says as he comes onto the line.

"How do you have the..." Madeline starts and then finishes. "She had you implant a bug on her!"

"No, just placed one were a tooth should have been. It has been giving us perfect reception." Walter explains. Birkoff attaches their reception box to the computer.

"You should be hearing it soon." Birkoff says. A crack is heard and then some giggling.

"I think it will be an interesting sandwich..." Nikita says with a loud giggle.

"That Michael boy needs to have some fun...and I love to let my girls have fun..." Jonathan says laughing back. A door is heard shutting hard.

"Here you go boss." a man says and the dropping of heavy chains is heard.

"Thank you. Why don't you strip this man Nikita and then handcuff him to the bed." Jonathan says with a laugh.

"Madeline...let me send you some backup." Birkoff interupts.

"We can't chance it." Madeline responds, finally calmed down. "Nikita will be creative and find a way out from here."

Clothing falling to the floor is heard and then the tightening of handcuffs.

"I want you to face him...so he can see the beauty of your face when you are totally pleased." Jonathan says. A slight slap is heard.

Birkoff stands up quickly. "I can't listen to this..."

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

Nikita is on the bed handcuffing Michael to the headboard.

Michael is staring hotly into her neck, trying not to think of her blunt nakedness. Nikita hands the key over to the helper and he leaves.

"Oh, I want you to face him, so he can see your beautiful face when you are totally pleased..." Jonathan echos again.

Nikita backs off of Michael and takes a hard swallow.

Jonathan, not liking that Nikita has backed off, slaps her across the back of her head.

Nikita comes down on to Michael, turning her head so she doesn't have to look at Michael. She winces and then Jonathan licks Nikita's neck.

She is bitting her lip fierce, and squeezing her eyes close.

Michael closes his eyes, and a few seconds later a single tear forms on the right on. Jonathan pulls Nikita's head up by her hair.

"You are such a good girl..." Jonathan says letting her go.

Nikita looks down and focuses on Michael's single tear. Shock ripples down her face. Several tears have formed in her eyes. Knowing that Jonathan would know something was up, Nikita rubs her tears dry off on Michael's chest.

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

"Madeline do something!" Walter screams through the line to Madeline.

She sits in the van shaking as she listens to the events unfolding in that bedroom.

"Walter, we never thought of this." Madeline says in a shell shocked voice.

"What! We're going to let this continue and ruin two of our best operatives?" Walter says as he bangs his hand against the work table.

"It's out of my hands now. We have to trust that Nikita, despite her emotional state, can use all the training we have given her...and Michael the same." Madeline echos.

Nikita is trying to hold back more tears, her lips are trembling more, as Jonathan is screaming in pleasure and delight. Nikita presses a clenched hand into Michael's.

Slipped to Michael is the real key to the handcuffs. He looks at her and slightly nods. They will take advantage of Jonathan's high with pleasure. Nikita takes the key back and quietly unlocks Michael's first hand.

He gentle rubs the free hand across Nikita's tear streaked face, which causes more tears. Trembling, she unlocks the other hand.

Both know that they must flip Jonathan down into the handcuffs.

Michael mouths the words..."ONE...TWO...THREE".

THe three move rapidly, and suddenly, Jonathan is bound to the bed.

Michael stands up quickly and ties a heavy piece of cloth over Jonathan's mouth.

Nikita stands, but Jonathan's legs aren't tied down yet. He kicks at her violently, hitting twice in the back and one just above the knee.

Michael is pulling on his pants as Nikita slides his shirt over her now shivering body.

"Let's get out of here!" Michael says taking Nikita's hand.

She steps away, limping slightly from the kick Jonathan applied.

Out in the hallway, no one moves. They look both directions, wondering which way to go. Nikita goes to the left, leading, Michael notices how short his shirt is on her, as her buttocks, red with bruises is exposed.

"Nikita, let me get your jacket..." Michael whispers, trying o pull her back to the room.

"NO!" Nikita says pulling Michael down the hallway.

"You're going to catch your death!" Michael says loudly.

"It's explosives!" Nikita says equally as loud. Michael looks at Nikita and they start to run down the hall. When they come to a closet, Nikita ducks into it with Michael.

"What?" Michael asks.

Madeline hearing that Nikita has taken shelter in a closet, pushes the button that activates the jacket to explode.

The explosion is loud and shakes the entire structure. Nikita opens the door a crack and watches the men run towards the room that Jonathan had been in. Once the rush has stopped, Nikita pulls Michael out. They rush down a stair case and bust through a door to the outside. Michael watches Nikita start to run into the woods. He follows.

She is jumping over logs, but the weak leg gives out. Nikita falls down in a heap. Just as Michael goes down to help Nikita up, another explosion, much more massive than the first rips through the building.

Nikita looks back, with numerous tears running down her face.

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

Michael pulls Nikita up from underneath her arm. Nikita stares ahead, and limps quickly. At a huge oak tree, she turns to the left.

Michael ducks underneath the leaves of the oak, and there was a black van. The headlights turn on, and the side door opens.

"Let's get out of here." Madeline says as she reaches a hand out for Nikita.

Nikita goes in quickly and sits down on the first seat she can.

Michael comes in and sits opposite from Nikita. Madeline hits the wall, and the van pulls away.

The only thing heard is the movement of the van. Nikita looks at herself, and lifts a leg. Her bare feet are now a bit bloody. She stands up to grab a towel.

Michael noticing the same thing starts to go for the towel. Nikita's body shakes as she touches Michael's hand. He lets go of the towel and goes back to his seat.

Madeline looks on as Nikita carefully removes parts of twigs and rocks from her feet. Madeline looks further up, and sees the red splotches that will certainly be bruises soon. Nikita rubs the towel up her leg, and violent cletches her stomache.

Michael moves to go to Nikita, but Madeline pushes Michael away.

Michael pounds on the wall. The van stops. Michael steps out of the back and gets into the front with the driver.

Madeline rubs Nikita's head as she continues to clench her stomache. Madeline knows that Nikita wants to throw up terribly, but will not.

Soon, Nikita becomes a quivering mass of tears. Madeline looks up to the ceiling of the van as Nikita grasps at her like a life vest.

Walter is waiting at in the hallway, waiting for the incoming van. He paces back and forth. Soon, emerges Michael, then Madeline and Nikita.

"Let's get that checked out..." Madeline says as she supports Nikita some. Nikita shakes her head back and forth. Michael has stopped nearby to Walter.

"I never felt this bad." Michael says and he quickly leaves the area.

"Madeline I'm going to be fine." Nikita protests as they continue down the hall.

"Nikita, we have to check other things too." Madeline says softly.

Nikita looks at the woman's face in horror.

"Please, no. I just want to forget this...please." Nikita starts to beg. Madeline turns away from Nikita's face.

"It's for the best." Madeline says. She looks at Walter. He nods at Nikita.

Silently the two lead her two Medlab.

Madeline walks out of the room in Medlab. Walter stands in the hallway.

"She will be out in a few minutes. She will have bruises..." Madeline announces in tense words. Walter watches as Madeline's tough exterior tumbles. He walks over and touches Madeline's arm.

She lifts her head with two tears running down her face. Her arms are hugging around her.

"That had to be the worst for Nikita..being with Michael and that..." Madeline starts to say. Footsteps are heard from down the hall. Madeline wipes away her tears quickly.

"Any damage?" Operations asks as he appears.

"A bruised knee, and many other bruises, but not breaks or internal damage." Madeline says looking at the wall behind Operations.

"And emotionally? Both of them?" Operations asks.

Madeline looks at Operations with anger. "What do you think?" She rages and leaves quickly.

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

Music lyrics from Dream Theater...THE SILENT MAN

Nikita walks into the empty church. Ahead of her is a brillant stain glass window, with the sun directly behind it. It lights the church in different colors. Nikita steps ahead, with a very slight limp. On the carpeted floor ahead of her, lies Michael with his face looking directly at the stain glass window.

A QUESTION WELL SERVED...

Nikita walks down the carpeted foor, and sits down next to Michael. He does not move. His body is split in different colors, some red, some blue, some brillant blue. But his face, is wear there is a huge metal ornament, so his face is shadowed with darkness.

'IS SILENCE LIKE A FEVER?'

Nikita lays down on the floor like Michael. She is then carpeted with shades of red and blue also. She stares ahead and then closes her eyes. Her breathing calms, and then she looks over at Michael again. His eyes staring straight ahead, not moving away from that.

'A VOICE NEVER HEARD?'

"I did it for you." Nikita says quietly, hoping that Michael would look at her.

His eyes stay focused on the stained glass window.

Tears are just brimming at Nikita's eyes, but she blinks them back.

'OR A MESSAGE WITH NO RECEIVER?'

Nikita looks again at Michael, nervously. Her body begins to shake. "I need to know that you understand this..." she says slowly.

No response.

PRAY THEY WON'T ASK...

Madeline enters the church and quietly sits down in a pew. She had followed Nikita as she exited Section, hoping she was going to Michael. She looks down on to the floor, at the two who were so close, but seemed so far away.

BEHIND THE STAINED GLASS...

"I would do anything to get you back... and I did. And it is eating me up...because you don't speak.... Please Michael..." Nikita begs through her now flowing tears. Not a response.

Madeline closes her eyes as she hears the pain in Nikita's voice.

THERE'S ALWAYS ONE MORE MASK...

"Don't hate me...don't shut me out...Michael...please...PLEASE!!!!!!" Nikita says in a loud beg. It echoes through the church. Through the bells and then back to Nikita. She stares at Michael, watching for some response, but only sees Michael's chest moving up and down for his breathing.

HAS MAN BEEN A VICTIM...

"I wanted to find another way...but you should know that there wasn't.... the only people to came and go to him was his women.... I know you understand this..." Nikita continues. She looks back at the stain glass.

OF HIS WOMAN, OF HIS FATHER?

"God...I only did this for Michael...only for Michael... and it hurt every second that I pretended... and now my punishment is this!" Nikita cries out to the glowing stain glass.

Madeline stands up, and steps two pews up. Her face is drawn tight, as she stares at Michael and Nikita. Then she sits back down, hoping that Nikita can ease her pain by drawing Michael back.

IF HE ELECTS NOT TO BOTHER...

Silence echoes the church.

WILL HE SUFFOCATE THEIR FAITH?....

Nikita looks back at Michael. She searches his face, around his soft lips that had kissed her so many times...up to his eyes, cold and distant, just like before they had each other. Nikita closes her eyes.

DESPERATE TO FALL... BEHIND THE GREAT WALL...

"I wonder if you truly love me....I'm suffering just as much as you are...and you are locking me out because I gave myself up to save you!" Nikita screams as she rolls over on her side to observe Michael.

He doesn't flinch at all.

THAT SEPARATES US ALL..WEHN THERE IS REASON...

Madeline bows her head with the words. She then looks up at the ceiling, and again closes her eyes. Madeline thinks, "what have I done?"

TONIGHT I'M AWAKE...

Birkoff stands outside the church, watching for people who may disturb. He looks at the door and wonders why Michael had chosen here..."What to clean their souls?" Birkoff thinks.

A person starts to approach.

"You can't go in there." Birkoff says as the woman is about to open the doors. "This church is always open." The woman says.

Birkoff pulls out a gas company identification card. "There is a gas leak." Birkoff says and the woman runs the other way.

WHEN THERE'S NO ANSWER...

Nikita looks away from Michael. "Please... I doubt everything... I doubt that you love me... that this wasn't a Section plot..." Nikita cries.

Madeline flinches when she hears that Nikita believes that this could have been a Section plot.

"I doubt myself....and I doubt YOU!" Nikita screams.

ARRIVE THE SILENT MAN...

Nikita turns back towards Michael. The sun has shifted and the shadow has lifted from his face. A single tear is running down the side of his face. Nikita takes a deep breathe.

IF THERE IS BALANCE...TONIGHT HE'S AWAKE...

"Michael...don't push me away....we need each other... you have said that so many times... WE NEED EACH OTHER." Nikita begs for Michael to roll over and hold her.

IF THEY HAVE TO SUFFER...THERE LIES THE SILENT MAN...

"I'm going to lose my mind if you don't talk to me.... my whole body feels sick...not because what I have done...but because I can still lose you!" Nikita cries out.

Madeline covers her mouth lightly as she takes a deep breath.

SIN WITHOUT DECEIVERS...A GOD WITH NO BELIEVERS...

Michael's hand closest to Nikita reaches out and touches Nikita's hand.

She takes in a sharp breath. "Please... let me be your support... and you be mine."

I COULD SAIL BY... ON THE WINDS OF SILENCE...

Michael squeezes Nikita's hand slightly. Another tear runs down his face.

AND MAYBE THEY WON'T NOTICE...

"Michael...I hurt so bad... because I hurt you... but I can't imagine the hurt if I had lost you..." Nikita says staring at the stained glass window.

BUT THIS TIME I THINK...IT'D BE BETTER IF I SWIM...

"I feel like that window...many pieces barely held together... and you are what keeps me together..."

WHEN THERE IS REASON...TONIGHT I'M AWAKE...

Michael reaches out with his other hand and pulls Nikita towards him. Her tears make his shirt instantly wet.

WHEN THERE'S NO REASON... ARRIVE THE SILENT MAN...

"I did it for you.... I did it for you.... I did it for you..." Nikita mutters as she cries. Michael closes his eyes tightly.

IF THERE IS BALANCE...TONIGHT HE'S AWAKE...

Michael curls his head down against Nikita's chest now. With one huge breath, he starts to sob uncontrolably... Nikita wraps her hands around his head and sobs with him.

IF THEY HAVE TO SUFFER...

Madeline stands up and walks to the very back of the church. She bows her head to the stain glass window and opens the door and lets Birkoff in.

Birkoff hears Michael's and Nikita's sobs echo through the church. Down on the floor, they rock together...no words but tears.

THERE LIES THE SILENT MAN.

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