Nikita leans against the wall as she sits in a chair just outside the office that she shares with Michael. She presses her aching, hot muscles against the cool wall. Michael walks out of the office, wiping the sweat off the brows of his eyes.

"The heater won't turn off... looks like we are stuck out here for the time being." Michael says as he sits down in the chair next to Nikita. Nikita looks down the hall, and sees a totting Madeline walk down the hall. Nikita can't pull her eyes off of Madeline's eight month pregnant figure.

"Why don't you talk to her?" Michael says as he looks at what Nikita has intently watched.

"There is nothing to say." Nikita says softly, but her eyes to not leave Madeline. Nikita's heart screams out with the self afflicted torture Nikita is imposing. Her hands fall to her stomache instinctly, holding around it, without realizing it. Michael glances down out of the corner of his eyes. He silently sighs as he notices that movement has become more common for Nikita.

"I'm going to see if I can set up shop with Walter, while our office becomes the sauna." Nikita, says standing up. She pulls down the skirt. Michael grabs her hand.

"Don't you have to change out of that?" Michael says, hoping he could force Nikita to see Madeline face to face.

"I think it is more important to find a place to work." Nikita says, and she walks off. -------------------------------------------------

"How are you feeling, Madeline?" Michael says as he walks into Madeline's office. Her usual swivel chair has been replaced by a giant overstuffed chair.

"Fine. How is Nikita?" Madeline asks softly. Michael sits down in front of her desk.

"I'm not going to lie... each time she sees you, it's harder." Michael assess. Madeline bits her lip.

"She acts like I did this on purpose to hurt her!" Madeline finally reacts. Michael raises an eyebrow, and Madeline takes a deep breath. "Sorry."

"She has been holding her stomache.. I don't think she even realizes." Michael informs Madeline. As Michael comments about the positon, Madeline pulls her hands away from their resting spot on her stomache.

"And with missions like todays, it gets worse?" Madeline asks. Michael stands up.

"We all get affected when we can't save the lives of hundreds of children, but protect the man who killed them all!"

Michael says loudly. "She's still in her outfit... she'll be by."

Michael heads towards the door, and hears Madeline mutter no.

"Don't you want to see her?" Michael asks quickly.

"I have mixed feelings." Madeline responds. Michael looks at her and shrugs his shoulders. "What happened to you...your hair is all wet?" Madeline finally asks.

"They made our office into the Section Sauna." Michael says and he exits.

=================================================

"Madeline." Nikita says as she walks in and heads towards the dressing curtain. Madeline doesn't move an inch as Nikita changes, and reappears in some khaki pants and a navy shirt.

"Nikita... you will be having to take some responsibilities over in about four weeks." Madeline says, hoping to get Nikita to sit down.

"I know." Nikita says as she continues out of the room.

The phone rings and Madeline answers it. "I'll be there in ten minutes." Madeline responds and she hangs up. Very slowly, she pushes herself up off of the chair, and starts her hobbling steps out of the office.

She glances briefly at the dress Nikita had just returned... wishing she could be wearing it.

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

"Nikita?" Michael asked as he entered Walter's work area. Nikita was sitting on a stool, in a tiny corner that Walter had cleared out for her. Michael walked further in, and Walter stepped in front of him.

"This isn't your office, so don't get any funny ideas." Walter said, breaking the tense silence in the room. Nikita looked at Walter and smiled.

"What is it Michael?" Nikita asks as her eyes focus on Michael. From the look of his face, she understands that this visit is purely business. She quickly thinks back to the man named Golden that they had brought this morning. The man who blew up over a hundred kids, and laughed while their screams could still be heard.

"Operations wants to see you." Michael says in a metered tone. Nikita stands up, and her heels make a light click on the floor.

"Any idea?" Nikita asks as she steps towards Michael. She pushes his damp hair off of his forehead.

"I can't speculate." Michael responds. He stands still as Nikita leaves the room, in a leisurely pace.

"You know, Michael, I'm sure I can clear out a space in here for you too." Walter says as he crinkles his nose while looking at Michael.

"Do you have any space?" Michael asked, looking around Walter's collection.

"I always have space for the one who makes my sugar happy." Walter says as he walks to the corner that Nikita was set up in and starts clearing more away. "Is it time for Nikita to sub in?"

"It could. But, I have a hard time even mentioning Madeline to Nikita anymore." Michael says uneasily.

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

"Nikita, here is all the information we have on Golden. You will be breaking him for the information in the morning."

Operations says as he pushes a disk infront of Nikita.

"Why isn't Madeline handling this?" Nikita asks as she looks at the rainbow reflecting off of the disk.

"Nikita, she is eight months pregnant!" Operations says in a disguised tone.

"I didn't realize she was that far along." Nikita responds without blinking her eyes.

"That's because you haven't talked to her!" Operations says firmly.

"Because she manipulated me and made me an addict again, when all I wanted was a FRIEND!" Nikita hollers back.

Operations looks into Nikita's eyes, and sees all of Nikita's pain and anger in her eyes.

"LOOK!" Operations says as he pushes the screen around to show Madeline in with Golden.

"Who hired you?" Madeline asked as she slowly swayed back and forth.

"Who was crazy enough to knock you up? Your boss need it bad some night! Was he drunk?" Golden spits out at Madeline.

"Heat the room up. No water." Madeline announces and leaves the room. Operations pulls the screen back.

"If you need a hot place, why don't you just take him to mine and Michael's office." Nikita says sarcastically. Operations looks at Nikita.

"We are trying to fix the problem. If you like, you can use this office." Operations offers, wishing Nikita would say yes and that he could accidently send Madeline in.

"I've set up in Walter's workspace." Nikita says, reaching over for the disk. With a toss of her hair, Nikita walks out of the room, in a quick, deliberate stride.

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

"Nikita will be taking over with Golden tomorrow." Operations says after he sits down in Madeline's office. He has been visiting her office often, to make sure she doesn't overdue.

"I don't think that that is necessary." Madeline immediately replies. Operations clasps his hands together.

"He is using your condition to ruffle your feathers." Operations says after a pause to think of a nice way to tell Madeline.

"I am not losing my cool." Madeline reacts immediately. Operations stands up.

"Nikita is taking it over." Operations orders again. Madeline looks up at him.

"He blew up 124 children. Nikita can't look at me, how is she going to deal with him?" Madeline challenges Operations.

Operations leans over the desk and stares closely into Madeline's eyes.

"She will use whatever it takes to make him break." Operations says softly, but firmly. Madeline closes her eyes.

"Fine. I better get all the information we have..." Madeline says as she starts to type at her computer.

"I have already made the disk for Nikita." Operations says, standing straight up.

"She'll need some source material..." Madeline says, as she starts to slowly stand up to look at some books. Operations puts a hand on Madeline's shoulders and Madeline sinks down.

"You need to rest." Operations says. Madeline nods her head.

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

Nikita walks into her makeshift area, and sees Michael now set up next to her computer. The click of her heels on the floor make both men turn around. Walter turns back to his work as he sees Nikita's face a bit paler than before.

"So?" Michael softly asks as Nikita sits down at the computer.

"I take over Golden." Nikita says with a harsh, stern face. She slides the disk in and starts reading the files.

"You don't like him." Michael says as he looks at her face.

"Makes this all the much easier." Nikita says as she pulls her hair up into a ponytail. "I won't be going home tonight."

"I knew you wouldn't. Our quarters are ready." Michael says as he stares at his computer screen. While waiting to hear if Nikita was going to talk, he forgets to stop pressing the letter t, and several row of t's appear on the screen.

"I don't know if I'll even make it there." Nikita says as she starts to merge with the text she is reading.

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

Madeline is standing right outside Walter's workspace, she can easily see Walter working with a new toy, Michael typing away, and Nikita reading the text on her computer. Madeline glances up to make sure Operations isn't staring down at her. As she looks away, she realizes most of the operatives are gone... it must be later than she had thought.

"What is this? A computer lab?" Madeline says loudly as she enters the workspace. All three operatives turn slowly at her words, but then Walter springs to action, pulling a chair over. Michael touches Nikita's hand tenderly, and then looks at Madeline.

"I'd like to speak to Nikita alone." Madeline says. Michael gets up and walks out without a word. Madeline nods, knowing Michael suspected this would happen.

"Hey, they are just visiting me here!" Walter says joking. Madeline just looks at him, and he drops his head. "Maybe I can help maintence fix the heater..."

Nikita turns the screen off and turns around on her stool and looks at Madeline.

"You should be asleep." Nikita says in a cold voice.

"I wanted to speak with you about Golden." Madeline says with an equally cold voice. Nikita looks at the table Walter had been working at.

"There is nothing to speak about." Nikita says again, equalling the coldness of before.

"Nikita, he is a rough man, he will attack you." Madeline says firmly. Nikita stands up and moves to the table.

"But Madeline, I'm use to being attacked, it has happened most of my life." Nikita says in a smart alec tone. Madeline almost sees Nikita smile.

"He will find your weakness." Madeline says immediately, trying to wipe the smug look off of Nikita's face.

"I've had all my weaknesses thrown in my face many time before." Nikita says. She picks up a hammer. "But no problem if I expose his first."

"Golden has none." Madeline responds. Nikita shakes her head no as she sets the hammer down.

"Operations is right, you need to rest." Nikita says as she flips the screen back on.

"Please tell me what you plan to do." Madeline says, in an almost begging voice.

"I'm sure you'll watch it." Nikita says, turning her back, and going back to her work.

"Nikita, I don't know what I did..." Madeline says as she stands up.

"You made me doubt myself... and I'll never allow you to have the opportunity to do that again!" Nikita yells without turning around.

Nikita stares at the reflection of Madeline turning and leaving in the glass of the screen. As Madeline disappears from the area, Nikita finally looks over her shoulder. Walter is standing there.

"Nikita... couldn't you have been nicer?" Walter asks as he reenters. Nikita turns back to her computer.

"Why? Because she is pregnant? TO lie? Lying would have been worse." Nikita says as she stares at some childhood pictures of Golden.

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

Nikita walks into the room which Golden is being held. She takes a bottle of water and gives Golden a sip, so he can talk. She places a stool in front of him, and sits down.

He looks at Nikita, who is dressed in a deep navy blue dress suit. She crossses her legs slowly.

"Why did you blow up 124 kids?" Nikita asks. She stares into Golden's eyes.

"Because I wanted to, sweet cake." Golden says, winking at Nikita.

"Do you hate children?" Nikita continues, not recognizing his comment.

"What do you think? Can I lick you all over, honey?" Golden counters.

"I think you have some serious problems... what is it, DEREK?" Nikita says. Golden immediately loses the smile with the mention of the name Derek.

"So, Derek, I think I know why you hate children." Nikita says standing up. She pulls out a picture, and holds it infront of her eyes.

"We found this." Nikita says. Golden looks away.

"I found that in the street, wanted to find who it belonged too." Golden starts to lie.

"Don't lie to me... it makes things much worse." Nikita says, holding a flame up to the picture. The flame is about to catch the picture on fire when Golden yells out.

"A picture of you before you baby brother came, 14 years after you." Nikita says, placing the picture back in her pocket.

"You hate children because you had to babysit, and play, and be with this kid you hated." Nikita says.

"NO... NO!" Golden yells out. Nikita walks back and sits on the stool.

"The run away child returns one night and kills the brother..." Nikita continues, not stopping.

"I did no such thing..." Golden yells out. Nikita stands up again.

"Tell us who order the hit." Nikita says firmly.

"NO!" Golden refuses. Nikita walks towards the door and closes the door. Her words are seen, but not heard.

She reenters and the Torture Twins drag in a huge television screen.

"Your punishment is to watch children play... now that should really eat up a guy who killed his own baby brother."

Nikita says. As she shuts the door, the room goes black, and the movie begins.

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

Madeline flicks off the screen and softly smiles. SHe sighs, wishing she could tell Nikita good work. Michael walks in as Madeline sighs.

"SO?" Michael asks without sitting down.

"Tell Nikita that she did a great job... she caught something I didn't even see." Madeline says softly.

"I think it would mean more if it come from you." Michael says as he starts to leave again.

"I really mean it... she was wonderful."

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

"Thanks for coming here Birkoff." Nikita says as Birkoff sits down in Walter's work area.

"I can't wait for them to fix that heater!" Walter says sharply, as he watches the three younger operatives talk in the corner.

"I was hoping that Golden would have given us the information before now. I'm starting to think he was acting alone." Nikita says as they watch the screen.

"Nikita, I don't agree." Michael says, and Nikita hits Michael with a sharp look. He moves his head away, and rolls his eyes.

"If you don't want to help, you can leave." Nikita says shortly. Michael looks again at Nikita. "I know you agree with Madeline, and if you can't see things my way, then leave."

Michael sits shocked. Walter looks over, hearing Nikita's comments. Michael slowly stands up and walks over to were Walter is standing.

"I think we have to do some role playing in front of Golden there." Nikita says to Birkoff with a smile.

"And I was who you thought of?" Birkoff responded. Nikita puts a hand on his shoulder.

"You do have a pogo stick... and the monster face ball... and many other 'toys'..." Nikita says continuing with her smile.

"I'd love too." Birkoff finally says with a large smile. The two of them stand up, and quickly leave the area. Michael looks over his shoulder at the door, and takes a deep breath.

"I can't believe you didn't help her." Walter says without looking up from his work.

"I don't agree with the approach she is taking." Michael comments.

"I can't believe that your letting Nikita think that your taking Madeline's side." Walter says, again, without looking up from his work.

"I'm not taking sides. I think both of them are acting childish." Michael responds as he walks back towards the computer.

"I won't comment." Walter says as he looks up at Michael.

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

Michael stands outside Golden's room, and watches the actions of Nikita and Birkoff. Nikita has put her hair up in pigtails, and is wearing an outfit like a school uniform. Birkoff is bouncing up and down on the pogo stick.

"STOP IT!!!" Golden yells out.

"Does Derek want to play?" Nikita teases. She can see the emotional pain on his face. She just wished she could have gotten Michael in with this.

"STOP IT!!! NO MORE!!!" Golden continues to scream.

"Birkoff...." Nikita says, with a toss of her hair. Birkoff walks into the corner and pulls out a poster size picture.

"We computer generated the baby pictures of your brother... so you can see the man that you destroyed...." Nikita says.

Birkoff turns the picture around and Golden sees an image like Michael. Nikita smiles at Golden's horrified look. She, of course, had no such thing done, but also knew, that Michael, being the protector he usually is, would be standing outside the room looking in the window.

"IT CAN'T BE!!!! THAT'S NOT HIM!!!" Golden screams out. He glances at the window and sees Michael. Golden points out violently at the window.

Michael takes a step back as Golden starts to point and yell at him. Michael turns his head in confusion.

"You don't want to destroy men... but all children grow up..." Nikita says as she looks at Golden.

"Michael, stay there." Madeline says as she walks down the hall. Michael continues to look confused.

"What is going on, Madeline?" Michael asks as Golden continues to scream.

"Nikita, is good." Madeline comments as she looks into the room.

"Who made you do it?" Nikita asked again to Golden.

"I don't know what you are talking about!" Golden yells as he begins to cry.

"Birkoff, start bringing in the other pictures..." Nikita says. Birkoff walks towards the wall again. Of course there are no other pictures.

"We have computer imagining of all the children you killed..." Nikita says. Pausing, she moves closer to Golden. "Who paid you?"

"NO ONE!!!! I WANTED TO KILL THEM ALL!!! I'D BLOW THEM UP FIFTY TIMES IF IT WOULD KILL MY BROTHER!!!" Golden yelled out. Nikita dropped the picture, and turned and walked towards the door. Birkoff opened the door, and Nikita walked out.

"I think we can dispose of this boy now." Nikita comments to Madeline as she walks down the hall.

"Thanks Michael for being so predictable."

Michael watches Nikita strut down the hall with confidence he rarely saw in Nikita.

"Kill him." Madeline said to one of the Torture Twins. "Why don't you help me to my office, Michael?"

=================================================

"Nikita has a knack for this..." Madeline says as Michael helps sit her down.

"I never thought that she was that good." Michael responds as Madeline lets go of his hands.

"Michael, don't try to fix what is going on." Madeline says as she holds on to one of his hands.

"I'm not trying to be on a side here." Michael says, pulling his hand away.

"Michael, I need you to be on Nikita's side." Madeline responds. Michael blinks his eyes.

"We are all on Section's side." Michael responds and Madeline shakes her head hard.

"Michael, I need you to worry about her... let me worry about what is going on between us... Nothing is going to come easy." Madeline says again. "This baby is very hard on her... and it must be on you, too."

"It does not affect me." Michael immediately reacts, and when Madeline smiles softly, he realizes that it does.

"You lost your child too." Madeline reminds Michael. Michael slowly leaves.

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

Michael is walking down the halls of Section. He stops briefly in the sauna office, seeing the work crew still pounding away. He only looks inside Walter's workspace. His face shows that he is lost in his feelings.

"Can I even tell Nikita how much it hurts to see Madeline like this?" Michael thinks as he looks into the darken living quarters.

"Do I tell her how badly I wish Madeline's kid was mine?" Michael thinks, and he turns the corner to the rooms that usually were close during the night. Almost no one trained this late at night.

Music becomes louder. (Fush Yu Mang----Walkin' on the Sun)

IT AIN'T NO JOKE I'D LIKE TO BUY THE WORLD A TOKE...
AND TEACH THE WORLD TO SING IN PERFECT HARMONY...

Michael glances into the room and sees Nikita swaying to the upbeat song. Her tank top and shorts cling to her sweat moistened body, and her hair flies around her head, with every move.

AND TEACH THE WORLD TO SNUFF THE FIRES AND THE LIARS...
HEY I KNOW IT'S JUST A SONG BUT IT'S SPICE FOR THE RECIPE...

Nikita dances with her eyes close, and Michael enters the room, forgetting about the dreads he was just thinking about.

He smiles with the music and can feel his body wanting to sway up close to Nikita's.

THIS IS A LOVE ATTACK I KNOW IT WENT OUT BUT IT'S BACK...
IT'S JUST LIKE ANY FAD IT RETRACTS BEFORE IMPACT...

Nikita pulls her long blonde hair up and above her head and slowly let's it fall. She bends at the knees and twists slowly to the ground and back up. Michael stands back and wonders how he can join with her.

AND JUST LIKE FASHION IT'S A PASSION FOR THE WITH IT AND UP...
IF YOU GOT THE GOODS THEY'LL COME AND BUY IT JUST TO STAY IN THE CLIQUE...

Nikita slides backwards, does a little spin, but still with her eyes close. Michael wonders if she even knows he is there.

SO DON'T DELAY ACT NOW SUPPLIES ARE RUNNING OUT ALLOW, IF YOU'RE STILL ALIVES, SIX TO EIGHT YEARS TO ARRIVE AND IF YOU FOLLOW THERE MAY BE A TOMORROW BUT IF THE OFFER IS SHUN YOU MIGHT AS WELL ME WALKING ON THE SUN...

Nikita turns and jumps as she sees Michael. She jogs over to the CD player and turns the volume down.

"Sorry... but what were you doing?" Michael says as Nikita takes a sip of water out of the bottle.

"It may not seem like it, but doing that to Golden stressed me out... this is relaxing." Nikita says, and takes another sip of water.

"So this isn't about Rick and Rita leaving?" Michael asks looking at Nikita.

"No. I'm glad they are getting reassigned to Hong Kong... get them away from us... they were being choked by us."

Nikita says with a smile of approval. She looks closely at Michael, knowing there was more to what he was trying to say.

"I want you to know that I'm with you..." Michael says awkwardly. Nikita smiles.

"Michael, I understand that we aren't always goign to agree. And it's good that we don't." Nikita says.

"Nikita, I would do anything for you." Michael says. Nikita places a hand on his shoulder.

"We both know this. We've proven it... so why do you feel like you need to say it time and time again?" Nikita asks. She puts the bottle down, and pulls Michael towards the CD player. "Dance with me... relax with me..." Nikita says as she turns up the music.

SO DON'T DELAY ACT NOW SUPPLIES ARE RUNNING OUT ALLOW, IF YOU'RE STILL ALIVE, SIX TO EIGHT YEARS TO ARRIVE AND IF YOU FOLLOW THERE MAY BE A TOMORROW BUT IF THE OFFER IS SHUN YOU MIGHT AS WELL BE WALKING ON THE SUN...

Michael quickly picks up Nikita's sways and they move happily together. Michael smiles into Nikita's face, and Nikita reflects the smile back.

Madeline stands outside the room, looking in.

MIGHT AS WELL BE WALKING ON THE SUN...

Madeline starts to walk away. She realizes that Michael will be there for Nikita as he has been before, and as Nikita has been there for him. Push, come to shove, Michael would be on Nikita's side.

And as Madeline walks into her darken office, she wonders if Operations would ever be there for push, come to shove.

MIGHT AS WELL BE WALKING ON THE SUN...

"Hey, I think we should reclaim our office..." Nikita giggles into Michael's ear. He looks at her wet body and inhales her scent.

"Then we'd be walking on the sun?" Michael says as he turns the music off.

"We'd be doing more than walking!" Nikita says again as she turns off the lights.

"Maybe we'll just stay here..." Michael says as the bumps of bodies hitting the wall is heard.

MIGHT AS WELL BE WALKING ON THE SUN....

(split screen)

Nikita and Michael kissing in the darkened practice room, and Madeline sitting, staring towards Operations' perch.

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