Nikita is walking through as small mall, looking for what else but sunglasses. She looks through her own red ones, and stares at the milling people.

"Are they staring at me?" Nikita thinks to herself. She shakes the thought out of her head and continues down towards the store she had been to before. Then someone giggles and points at her.

"What is wrong with me?" Nikita thinks as she touches her nose. She pats down her hair, nothing is stuck in it. Seeing another person point at her, she detours into a closeby restroom. Staring into the mirror, all is right. She turns her back to the mirror, wondering if someone had attached a sign to her back. Frowning into the mirror, she leaves.

"It's just my over active imagination." Nikita thinks as she enters the main lobby again. She glances to her sides continuously, and is sure people are watching her.

"HEY IT'S NIKITA!!!" some teenage boy yells as he points at her. A group of three boys look at her and turn red.

Nikita looks at the three, wondering if this was a decoy by some terriorist group.

"I'm overreacting." Nikita says to herself. She gets in line for a soda, and the man at the counter looks at her.

"Boy, you do look like Nikita." The man comments.

"May I ask you what you are talking about?" Nikita says with a polite smile.

"That new game F.G.H. ComputerBugs has. You look exactly like that Nikita woman." the man says handing Nikita the change and the soda. Nikita now frowns.

"He is just drawing conclusions." Nikita thinks to herself as she sips her soda. But the worry consumes Nikita. She soon dumps the soda into a trash can and heads over to F.G.H. ComputerBugs. Standing outside the door is a cardboard cut-out of the computer store's newest heroine, and Nikita is looking at a computer generations of herself.

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

Nikita shuts the screen of the desktop computer down and pulls out her cell phone. Hitting the number one, the phone dials quickly.

"Michael." Michael says in an emotionless voice. Nikita looks at the window.

"Need to come to the apartment." Nikita says with a voice equal to the lack of emotion found in Michael's.

"Nikita, this isn't..." Michael starts but then stops.

"Come now." Nikita orders. There is a pause on the phone as Nikita holds the cover to the game in her hands, staring at her own image.

"What is wrong?" Michael asks. Nikita looks at the game.

"Come here now. Bring my old woman costume." Nikita says hanging up.

-------------------------------------------------

"Nikita, what is a matter?" Michael asks as he opens the door.

Nikita is sitting at the computer with her head in her hands. She throws the box of the game to Michael.

"God...is this Birkoff's game?" Michael says as he stares in horror at the box.

"It's a nightmare." Nikita says shaking her head yes. She points at the screen. "She changes her hairstyle, sunglasses, weapons...fights the group known as Blue Cell... Oh, but she always passes the guy that looks like you for the computer nerd!" Nikita rages. She looks at the bag which Michael had brought.

"He wouldn't do this..." Michael says looking down at the screen.

Nikita stands up and walks to the bag, and puts on the gray wig.

"You have to take me in....We both saw this game, when Birkoff accidently gave it to us...This is the ultimate." Nikita says with tears in her eyes. She starts to place the old woman 'chest' on.

Slowly, Michael watches Nikita transform into a grandmother. He nods his head. He is trying to maintain a calmness, but he wants to strangle Birkoff.

"Ready?" Michael asks as he stands up and holds a cane out for Nikita.

Nikita pops the CD rom out of the computer, and places it in the box. Placing the game into her grannie purse, she starts to trudge out of the apartment.

-------------------------------------------------

"I'll get Madeline and Operations." Michael says as soon as they enter Section.

Nikita is pulling off the wig and walking in a trance. "How could Birkoff be so stupid..." She thinks over and over again.

She brushes against the wall, and finally leans against it in horror.

"I'm going to be stuck in here until this mess is over!" Nikita yells within herself.

There is a comotion near the computers. Nikita rushes ahead and sees Michael holding Birkoff up by the collar of his shirt.

Birkoff's feet aren't even touching the floor. Nikita stops. She glares at Birkoff, who actually has the nerve to look at Nikita for help.

"I never thought you would stoop this low....Nikita's life was in danger!" Michael yells.

"Stop it Michael." Walter says as he enters the area. Nikita looks up and sees Madeline and Operations leaving their perch from above.

"Nikita, get him to stop." Walter says walking over to Nikita.

Nikita holds up the box. "Why should I?" Nikita says through clenched teeth.

"MICHAEL!" Operations yells from the stairs.

Michael lets go of Birkoff, who stumbles onto the floor.

Walter now glares at Birkoff.

"What is the meaning of this?" Madeline asks.

Michael's face trembles in anger.

Nikita steps forward and tosses the game to Madeline. "My life was in danger...Birkoff breached my identity!" Nikita says in anger, but yet in control.

Madeline looks at the box, and looks at Operations.

"How do you know that it was Birkoff?" Madeline asks with a raised eyebrow.

"He accidently gave me and Michael the game a couple missions back." Nikita says, without looking at Birkoff.

"I've played the game...exactly the same name and computer graphic." Walter says.

Madeline looks sternly into Birkoff's eyes.

"Take him to briefing room 3." Madeline says.

Birkoff opens his mouth to protest but is at a lost for words. He pleads with Nikita with his eyes.

"Oh, Birkoff, only in your dreams would I kiss you like that!" Nikita says harshly as the Torture Twins drag Birkoff out of the room.

"Nikita, Michael, you two will not leave Section. NO Matter What!" Operations says taking hold of the game and heading back to his office. "Devon, come with me." One of the other computer whiz kids jumps up and follows Operations to his office.

Madeline has yet to move.

Michael's body is still trembling with anger.

Nikita is standing in disbelief.

"Michael, go work out." Madeline orders. He glances at both Madeline and Nikita and leaves in a light jog.

"You will be joining me in the briefing room." Madeline says as she turns.

"I can't do that! I...I...I...trusted him like a brother!!!" Nikita immediately responds.

"Sooner or later you need to do this kind of interview. Today you will, you may be able to get him to confess." Madeline says and she leaves.

Nikita stands in the middle of Section, feeling so alone, like she did when she first picked up the game.

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

"Why?" Madeline asks as she walks into the room in which Birkoff is cuffed into a chair.

"I lost that disk a while back, while going from a date back to here." Birkoff says through chapped lips.

"Why?" Madeline asks again, as she stares intensily into his eyes.

"I would have never done this. Nikita is like a sister to me!" Birkoff yells as he moves against the restraints.

Madeline circles around Birkoff. "Devon has found your mark in the program." Madeline states tapping on the back of the chair.

"I did write the game, but I did not sell it!" Birkoff says. Madeline stays behind the chair.

"Are you trying to get back at Nikita?" Madeline asks. She walks around to stare at Birkoff again.

"Why?" Birkoff asks loudly.

"You've had a crush on her before. Maybe seeing her with Michael is just too much." Madeline says raising an eyebrow.

"We all thought she was dead once before, and I would never do anything to put her life in danger again." Birkoff says in a deep, low voice.

Madeline glances out the window.

"Maybe then it's Michael you're trying to hurt... still mad at him for what all has happened to Nikita." Madeline says as she folds her hands and turns back around.

"Madeline, I didn't sell the game. I did not sell the game!" Birkoff says loudly.

Madeline walks towards him, but then turns back towards the door.

"That's all for today. I think you are holding something back. If someone took the disk, we need to know who." Madeline says as she opens the door and shuts it tight.

-------------------------------------------------

Madeline is walking down the hall in which Michael's and Nikita's office is located. Only the night lights are on. She looks at their office door and notices that it is open. She pushes open the door.

Upon entering, in the back corner a little cot is noticable, and with a tiny nightlight, Madeline sees Nikita fitfully trying to sleep. She walks over to the cot and touches Nikita's shoulder.

Nikita's body jumps before waking up.

"Why aren't you in quarters?" Madeline asks as Nikita sleepily pulls her body up.

"Me and Michael... well we agreed to rotate everynight." Nikita explains as her eyes drop from the need for sleep.

"Nikita, it has been several weeks since you..." Madeline starts but Nikita puts her hand to Madeline's lips.

"This is the only way I get any sleep." Nikita says as she starts to slide down to her pillow. "If you don't mind, I do get less hours to sleep when I'm here... YOu can't imagine how many times that phone rings during the night." Nikita says yawning and placing her head on the pillow.

Madeline stares at Nikita, who is closing her eyes, trying to get rid of Madeline quickly. Madeline stands and starts to walk immediately to quarters. -------------------------------------------------

The lights are turned on in one quick blindly white light. Michael covers his eyes and blinks hard as he just starts to make out Madeline.

"Don't you ever sleep?" Michael questions crankily. Madeline stares at him.

"Where is Nikita?" Madeline questions him. Michael sits up in the bed.

"She is sleeping in the office." Michael says, still shielding his eyes from the white light.

"Why? Is it you or her who is having the problems?" Madeline questions as she bends down at the knees to look Michael in the face.

"It's Nikita." Michael says as he starts to twist the covers in his hands.

"Then why aren't you with her." Madeline questions as she pulls the covers out of his hands.

"She feels she has betrayed me... and no matter how many times we say she had to.... it doesn't stop her from feeling that way." Michael says mysteriously, almost breathlessly.

Madeline drops the covers.

"Michael, you've been here a lot longer than Nikita.... but remember at one time you were about just as troubled as Nikita is now." Madeline says standing up straight.

Michael nods his head.

"Would you have wanted us to leave you alone?" Madeline questions as she turns and leaves, swiping the lights off, leaving Michael alone in the dark, once again.

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

"Birkoff." Nikita says as she enters the room, wearing a black suit.

Birkoff looks a bit relieved that Nikita has walked in.

Nikita tries to focus her eyes away from him, as anger burns inside her.

"Remember, you will be using his feelings as you as a sister to get the truth." Madeline said just prior to Nikita stepping in.

Nikita now looks out the glass window, where Michael and Madeline stand, waiting.

"Nikita...please.... know... I didn't..." Birkoff says. His chapped lips start to split as he talks, leaving little streaks of blood running down his chin.

Nikita talks a small bottle of water and pours some down his throat.

"I'm here because I need to know why." Nikita says staring into his eyes. She trembles as she realizes she speaks the truth from her heart also.

"Nikita...I made the game as a joke." Birkoff says softly.

Nikita cocks her head and stares at Birkoff again.

"A joke?" Nikita questions innocently. Birkoff stares at Nikita's hair.

"Do you think I like listening to you and Michael, panting and moaning!" Birkoff yells.

Nikita continues her hard stare.

"It's your job. Do you think I like giving my body to some other guy to get Michael back!" Nikita fires back.

Birkoff drops his head.

Nikita walks behind him, but then back around.

"Why haven't you said something before selling the game?" Nikita questions as her hand brushes against Birkoff.

"I NEVER SOLD THE GAME!" Birkoff screams but then becomes instantly quiet.

Nikita bends down at her knees to look at Birkoff straight into the eyes.

"I'm trying to help you.... you have to tell me more..." Nikita says with millions of words in her eyes.

"Nikita..." Birkoff starts to protest.

Nikita stands up and walks towards the door. "They will cancel you. There are others who can take your place." Nikita says firmly. "I don't want that.... I want to protect you.... you're like the family I never knew." Nikita says as she wipes her eye.

"Sharon Burns.... 345A Goldlinger Street... she was my first, Nikita..." Birkoff says with a stream of tears.

Nikita looks at the window out of the corner of her eye to see Michael walk off.

"So, you wanted to protect her because of that?" Nikita questions as she comes back towards Birkoff.

"I did want to hurt you. You found love.... and I had to beg a woman to....." Birkoff leaves off.

Nikita takes his face in her hands. "You will never beg again." Nikita says with tears in her eyes. "No relationship is easy." Nikita places a tender kiss on his cheeks and walks out in a hurry.

The door has barely shut when Madeline tries to catch up to Nikita.

"Nikita!" Madeline calls out. The blonde hair keeps on flowing as Nikita picks up into a light jog. Michael comes up from behind Madeline.

"Sharon Burns has been taken care of... her bank account shows the money came from a Gannon Games." Michael says as he looks at the last strand of blonde hair disappear.

"I'm not worried about the company, they knew nothing. Phase two will start when I speak to Operations." Madeline says, now turning towards Michael.

He looks at her eyes, and takes off in the other direction.

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

"Michael!" Madeline says in a sleepy but angry voice as he stumbles from the make shift bed over to his office phone.

"UH?" Michael groans as his upper leg hits the chair hard. He now tries to sit in it, but ends up almost falling down to the floor.

"Birkoff can't sleep." Madeline says firmly. Michael looks around the office and shakes his head.

"Birkoff can't sleep...how is this my problem?" Michael questions as he pushes a stapler down onto his foot. He grabs the foot and bites on his lips. It landing right on his little toe!

"It seems Nikita is having a SEVERE nightmare." Madeline informs Michael.

He pushes his hands up over his face to push the hair out of the way.

"She usually sleeps through them." Michael comments as he is about to put the phone down.

"Michael! I watched the video.... she is thrashing around pretty violently." Madeline says.

"I don't think it will help her if I go." Michael responds in annoyed voice.

"GO NOW! THIS IS AN ORDER!" Madeline screams and hangs up the phone.

Michael sets the phone down. He stands up and looks down at himself, making sure that his black pajamas were still on. In bare feet, he walks out of his office and heads for their shared, but yet not shared, quarters.

"Michael...please...I'm trying to sleep." Birkoff says as he notices Michael passing. Michael goes back to Birkoff's door. He has looked at the surrounding rooms, which are luckily unused.

"Go to our office. It will be peaceful." Michael says and he exits in machine-like motion.

-------------------------------------------------

"NO!!!!! LET ME IN!!!! LET ME IN!!!!" Nikita screams as she is clawing at the walls. Drenched in sweat, Nikita looks ghostly white, but yet red from activity.

Michael looks around at the mess. Several broken vases, which appear to have been thrown. He picks up a chair as he tries to reach Nikita.

"HERE!!! TAKE ME!!!! I'M ALL YOURS!!!!" Nikita screams as she tumbles hard into the bed.

"Nikita..." Michael says softly as he reaches out for his hands.

"NO!!!NO!!!! YOU'RE HANDCUFFED....NO REACHING FOR ME!!!!" Nikita screams as she stand up on the bed harshly.

Michael kneels on the bed, trying to bring Nikita down.

"GO TAKE A FLYING LEAP.....YOU TOLD ME THAT SO MANY TIMES!!!!! HERE I GO!!!!" Nikita yells as she jumps off the bed, and ends up landing on a circular object and falling to the floor.

Michael rushes over to her.

She open her eyes and looks at Michael.

"Have I lost it?" Nikita asks Michael as he reaches a hand down to her.

"No." Michael responds as she takes his hand.

"Have I lost you?" Nikita asks.

Michael cocks his head to the side softly. "No.... this isn't going to drive me away..." Michael says as he brings her to the bed.

"But things changed when I had to... you know with Jonathan..." Nikita say softly.

Michael closes his eyes. "Yes, things changed...because I realized how much you love me." Michael says softly.

Nikita sighs and leans against him. "Stay with me tonight." Nikita says as she tightly holds onto his pajama top.

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

"Good Morning, Nikita!" Michael says in a happy voice as he places a tray of papers infront of Nikita on the bed.

"What? Paperwork for breakfast?" Nikita says with a hoarse voice. She hasn't even looked down at the papers yet.

"Actually, it's almost lunch time." Michael says sitting down on the bed. He is wearing a uncharacteristic red shirt with the standard issue black pants.

"You're wearing my favorite color..." Nikita says as she reaches out and touches the cotton shirt.

Michael slowly redirects the hand down to the papers.

"THE REAL NIKITA EXPOSED!!!!" The New York Times rang out in bold blue letters. A picture of a lady, many years older than the real Nikita is shown. Nikita smiles and looks down at the next one. "NIKITA LIVES IN DETROIT!!!" the next paper yells in bold print.

Nikita runs her hands through about the other twenty newspapers in the pile, and a brillant smile spreads across her face.

"There are more...Do you need to see them?" Michael says in response to the smile.

Nikita shakes her head no slowly.

"What happens to Birkoff?" Nikita asks as she swings her legs out of the bed.

"He is back in his own room, after spending the night in our office, and will be back at the computers tomorrow." Michael says as he stands up. He looks at the fresh-wakened Nikita, and realizes how long it has been for them to enjoy just being near each other.

"Will he be with us?" Nikita asks as she steps up, but then sits back down.

"What's wrong?" Michael asks when Nikita scrunches up her face.

"It feels like I had a calf cramp last night...you know, that one spot about the size of a dime that throbs..." Nikita says rubbing the spot.

"Do you even remember last night?" Michael asks, heading back towards Nikita.

"Oh, yeah..." Nikita shrugs off in a slightly embarassed manner. She turns back to Michael and kisses him on the cheek. "SO? Will Birkoff be with us?"

"He has requested to be moved off of the detail that is includes us." Michael says backing up, knowing Nikita was walking right to Birkoff's room.

-------------------------------------------------

"Why?" Nikita asks as she shuts the door to Birkoff's room. She walks over to the CD player and turns it off. "WHY?"

"Nikita... I think you understand." Birkoff says without rolling on his back to look at Nikita.

"No, I don't. I thought you liked the missions you have had with me and Michael a lot more than the other ones!" Nikita yells as she walks around the bed.

Birkoff stares ahead, which gives him a view of Nikita's knees. He starts to raise his eyes, but then shakes back to the conversation.

"I can't listen to you two anymore! I joke about it all the time... because it hurts me so much. It's like each mission your rubbing my face in it!" Birkoff says as he sits up on the bed.

"But, I'm not. You're like a brother to me!" Nikita says softly.

"Well, I'd be telling a lie if I told you I thought about you as a sister." Birkoff says as he pulls away.

Nikita looks stunned.

"Please leave."

-------------------------------------------------

"Nikita..." Michael says as he moves to embrace her as she enters to office. She side steps to the side and sits down in her chair.

Madeline shakes her head as she turns off the monitor. A knock is heard on the door. Soon, a lab technican walks in.

"I have those reports you needed." the technican says handing over the green file folders. Madeline only glances at them.

"Are we ready for operative test runs?" Madeline questions.

"It is the perfect time... do you know which operatives you will be using?" the technican asks.

Madeline walks to her desk, and looks at the pad of paper. "RICK.... RITA...." the pad says. She picks up the pen and writes in "NIKITA".

"We'll be starting with Rick and Rita.... It will take some doing to bring Nikita in, but she is the one I believe will benefit the most from these experiments."

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