Nikita walks into Walter's workspace with a slight bounce in her feet. She is wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. Walter turns towards her.

"Sugar, you shrunk!" Walter says with a smile. Nikita laughs and lightly hits him with the paperback book she is holding.

"Walter!" Nikita says. She hands him the book and starts to look around the area, at Walter's new toys.

"So, sugar, what did you think about the book?" Walter asks as he shoves the book into a drawer.

"Mmm... Les Miserables... I couldn't get certain images out of my mind." Nikita comments as she picks up a pen and starts to turn it around.

"It's just a pen!" Walter says grabbing the pen out of her hand. Nikita leans against the table.

"I didn't know Michael was attached to that book. Did you know?" Nikita slyly asks. Walter looks away.

"I don't play Madeline's games." Walter says softly. Nikita stands up straight and touches Walter's back.

"I didn't say you did. I just wonder if you knew..." Nikita asked again. Walter looked at her softly.

"That is were is was from... don't forget that." Walter says. Nikita goes back to looking at the table.

"So, do you have another one?" Nikita asks as she starts to fidget with her hair. Walter looks around the room.

"What? Am I your supplier of books now?" Walter asks with a smile. He opens another drawer and slides another book out. "It's more modern."

"The Lover, by Marguerite Duras... another French one." Nikita says looking at the book.

"I need to give you something French, now don't I?" Walter says and then blows Nikita a kiss.

"Walter, Madeline wants to see you." Birkoff says as he pokes his head in the door. "Hi, Nikita!"

"Hi, Birkoff. How is Melissa?" Nikita asks immediately as she slides the book underneath her shirt.

"Her shift changed...we see each other maybe once every three or four days." Birkoff says shrugging his shoulders.

"Maybe you should start living out of Section." Nikita comments.

"Or at least out of my workspace!" Walter says, ushering the two out, and closing the door.

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

Walter walks into Madeline's office with a smile on his face. He is hoping that this is about his request for a vacation.

"Walter, I have a mission for you." Madeline says, and Walter's smile evaporates.

"I was hoping this was about my vacation." Walter comments as he sits down. Madeline frowns and starts to turn around her monitor so that Walter can see it.

"Sorry. We need you to go to this mountain and rid the area of the rebels that have been using it as a gathering area."

Madeline says. Several pictures of the mountain appear, and then a picture of several mobile homes.

"Why?" Walter asks keeping a strong face.

"We want to build a retreat/training post there. My adventure in the wild with Operations has made me rethink that our wilderness training lacks a lot." Madeline says folding her hands.

"And who are these people?" Walter asks. He is leaning up towards the screen.

"We aren't sure if they are all in the same group or are several groups. I do have some pictures of their members, but of course, they aren't on the computers." Madeline says. She pushes over a PDA to Walter.

"So, who else is going?" Walter asks as he takes hold of the PDA and leans back.

"Only you. And if you can't talk them to leaving the mountain.... you'll destroy them all." Madeline says softly.

"Explosives?" Walters says with a raised eyebrow. Madeline nods her head with a small smile.

"I'm beginning to like the sounds of this mission." Walter comments as he looks at Madeline.

"You're cover is that you are surveying the grounds to build a camp for underpriledged children." Madeline continues.

Then she pauses.

"It's all in the PDA." Madeline says and she stands up. Walter smiles, thinking it must be time for Anna's meal.

"I'll read it all." Walter says leaving.

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

"Hey, sugar, I'm going to be gone for a few days, maybe longer." Walter says as he walks into the office. He looks for Michael, and when he doesn't see him, Walter sits down.

"A mission?" Nikita asks without looking from her computer.

"Yes. I hope it won't bother you." Walter says. Nikita looks away from her computer.

"Why would it? Me and Michael are on task of finding another couple." Nikita reveals with a smile.

"Nikita, don't try to anaylsis that book too much." Walter says standing up and heading out.

"I don't think I'll have time to read, we have a deadline." Nikita says with a smile.

Walter walks down the halls, thinking 'Yeah, right Nikita. I know your going to take that book the wrong way!'.

Walter walks into his area and starts looking at the PDA. A picture of an older woman appears, with soft gray hair now, and soft gray eyes.

"No." Walter mutters as he looks at the picture.

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

Walter sits at the helm of a smaller mobile home. A small smile is creepy across his face as he looks out the window to the woods in front of him.

"On the Road Again..." Walter suddenly sings out in a deep voice. Hearing his voice, he gives a laugh and shakes his head. Slowing his speed, he takes the next turn, knowing soon he would be on the rebels.

Suddenly, four men cross the street, blocking it so that Walter has to stop.

"Who the @#$! are you and what the @$#! are you doing here?" A young man with flame red hair yells out.

"I should be asking you that question... I work for the government who owns this land!" Walter yells out, shoving his id out the window. The red head man nods over his shoulder and one of his men walks over and looks at the id.

"It's real!" The man yells back in a feminine voice.

"Damn!" The red head man says starting to walk off the road, so that Walter can pass.

"They are thinking of building a camp up here." Walter says driving slowly past the man.

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

"You are not welcome here." the gray hair and gray eyed woman says approaching Walter. Her voice is tense and loud.

Walter does not turn.

"I'm government. I belong here." Walter says not turning.

"I don't care who the #$%! you are..." the woman says as she kicks one of the boxes that Walter has placed outside the mobile home.

"You might, Katherine." Walter says turning around. Her face suddenly softens but after a breath, it becomes hard again.

"I don't care." Katherine restates again, but with a less tense voice.

"What are you doing out here?" Walter asks as he leans against the wall of the home.

"I should be asking you the same thing. I thought you died." Katherine says with a small smile.

"Ah, so did you." Walter says standing up. "I'll be here. My government has me working on surveying for a new children's camp here."

"They'll try to run you out." Katherine says putting her hands on her black jeaned hips.

"Would you want to try to run me out?" Walter asks with a dark look. Their eyes connect, and then Katherine turns and leaves.

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

(Walter's dream)

Walter is sitting on a edge of a pond, watching the beautiful blonde swimming around the warm water. He glances briefly at the pile of clothing left in the short green grass.

The blonde haired girl turns and he sees it is Nikita. "Ah, sugar..." Walter mutters as he looks at the blonde hair glisten in the morning light.

Nikita looks up and sees Walter.

"I'm coming up!" Nikita calls out with a large grin. Walter licks his lips and waits as Nikita swims in some, and then starts to slowly walk in.

The water slow drops and reveals the white skin of her defined shoulders.

Walter sits up further, anxiously waiting to see Nikita walk out of the water.

Nikita takes a step more forward and Walter is about to see his entire fantasy.

"Walter!" Katherine calls out as she touches Walter shoulder. Walter squints, trying to keep his dream alive.

"What are you doing!" Walter berates Katherine as he opens his eyes, and sees the gray woman standing over him.

"I want to know why you are here, for real." Katherine says sitting down.

"You pulled me out of the dream I have been trying to have for months for this!" Walter complains as he sits up.

Katherine blinks her eyes. "You always had terrible timing."

"I wanted to tell you sooner, Walter. I didn't know they were planning my death." Katherine says softly.

"I don't work for them anymore. My people, they are more deadly than you can believe. I suggest you just leave." Walter warns as he looks down to see what exactly he is wearing.

"But, I guess they have a good looking gal or two." Katherine says with a smile. Walter immediately turns red.

"And I've seen this girl turn into a quivering pile of nothing... they are ruthless... and would not think twice of killing you since you know me." Walter says in a whisper.

"We are on the same side. I'm trying to get rid of these thugs just as you are." Katherine says standing up. "What's hidden in the false wall?"

"I don't think I have to tell you." Walter says softly.

"C4?" Katherine says with a wink. "Boy, you are in with some bad guys."

Silence holds between the two. A little beep goes off from his computer.

"I better leave. But I have to tell you all, before I lose that chance for the second time." Katherine says, leaving quietly.

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

"Walter..." The screen read out in blue letters as Walter sat down at the table.

"Who is this?" Walter silently types. He opens a bottle of water and takes a drink.

"Sugar." Nikita responds, typing each letter slowly.

"How did you find me?" Walter types as he smiles.

"Birkoff told on you." Nikita types back. Walter laughs and knows Nikita must have bribed him with some sort of junk food.

"Oreos or Twizzlers?" Walter questions with quick moving fingers.

"A pizza." Nikita's words pop up equally as fast.

"What do you need sugar?" Walter types out, believing she needs help understanding the novel he gave her.

"Wanted to know how you are... and who is Katherine." Nikita types out.

"Greg's place... 25 minutes." Walter types and turns off the computer in haste. Damn, where are those bugs! Walter thinks as he paces around the home.

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

"That was how everything started for me-with that flagrant, exhausted face, those rings around the eyes, in advance of time and experience." Nikita's voice quoted as she picked up the phone.

"Only page 9, I'm surprized, sugar." Walter says as he paces infront of a pay phone.

"Who is Katherine?" Nikita questions again. Walter's pacing stops.

"First, how did you find out?" Walter asks nervously.

"Birkoff came to me and Michael. No one else knows, yet." Nikita says as she paces in front of her pay phone.

"We go way back... before Section... we both worked for a government. I thought they killed her, and she thought they killed me." Walter explains quickly. He looks over his shoulder and sees the red head man walking towards him with about five other guys. He smiles.

"Walter...this isn't good... stay out of the home with her!" Nikita warns lightly.

"I know. I have to go, hon." Walter says as he hangs up the phone. "I wouldn't walk any further."

"Why you @#$!ing man?" the red haired man yells out as he taps a baseball bat in his hand.

"You just have to watch were you step." Walter says, and the man takes another step, and a brillant explosion lights up the air. By the time the sudden light as stopped wrecking their vision, Walter is standing at their trucks.

"Better count him out." Walter says and he quickly slashs all four tires to the three trucks.

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

"Not in there!" Walter whispers as Katherine sneaks up to the mobile home. She looks in the shadows and quickly spots Walter.

"I see you haven't lost your touch." Walter comments as he leads her into the forest.

"What is going on? I heard out Reddie." Katherine says in harsh whispers.

"I told you. MY place is ruthless. Luckily, I have some friends who are going to protect you." Walter says as he pushes her down next to a huge oak tree.

"Walter!" Katherine says loudly. Walter, looks down at her hard.

"They wouldn't pretend to kill you." Walter says harshly. "I always wanted this day to happen...but it's just so wrong."

"I never wanted to tell you that I loved you the day I died." Katherine says softly. Walter sits down and stares up at the stars.

"Then leave when dawn breaks... I'll be clearing the area." Walter says in a whisper.

"But, that leaves only now..." Katherine says in a breathless whisper.

"That is all I ever have." Walter says calmly, touching her hand. "I have those who are inside, and not even one nights with those who aren't... and I regret that." Walter admits as he continues to look at the stars.

"Then, I think I'll take the one night." Katherine says as she reaches her free hand over to pull Walter's face towards her.

"And after tonight, you have to believe again that I died... and I have to believe that you died those many years ago."

Walter says as he searches her eyes.

"But I know I can't." Katherine says. She looks around the woods, into the darkness.

"Can you leave your work?" Walter asks softly, looking out at the same darkness.

"Yes." Katherine says without emotion.

"My bosses are going to build an outpost up here. IT would need a country store or something." Walter hints hard.

"How often would you be up here?" Katherine asks, seeking more than she knows she will hear.

"I can never guarantee anything. Counts on how bad the world is being at a given time." Walter says as he rubs her neck.

"I'd take that chance." Katherine says as she finally leans over and kisses Walter.

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

"Built your place about a half mile from here. You'll see a little exclusive cabin unit being built. That will be us. Do not ever question them. Just accept and go on without thinking." Walter whispered to Katherine as they stood by the road.

She stood beside her motorcycle.

"Wouldn't you still be monitored?" Katherine asked with a worried look on her face.

"We are allowed to have a personal life, just not when the person knows your past." Walter says with a small smile. He rubs her cheek again.

"Get out of here. Don't want you nearby when it blows." Walter says as he leans over and kisses Katherine's smooth cheek.

"That big?" Katherine asks as a tear runs down her face.

"Get as far as you can." Walter says again as he pulls back from her. The roar of the motorcycle starts up, and she slowly rides down the road.

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

"Wow! Now that was an explosion!" Walter laughs as he hits Micheal's side in the Section heliocopter.

"One of the biggest I've seen." Michael comments with a vacant look. Walter gives a thumbs up sign and looks back down at the charred grown below and the hundreds of small fires in the trees.

"Birkoff are you scanning anything?" Michael asks through a unit.

"Only racoons and some squirrels." Birkoff sarcastically remarks.

"Leave." Michael says firmly, and the hovering heliocopter pulls away, flying quickly away.

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

Katherine sits in a diner, drinking a coffee, listening to the conversation of the explosion.

"I'm glad that all those rebels died... too bad that government offical had too." a man behind the counter commens again for the tenth time.

Katherine easily remembers the image of being about ten miles down the mountain, and seeing the ball of smoke rise up and the ground seem to shake. She saw a glint of a heliocopter and smiled, knowing Walter had safetly gotten out.

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

"Walter, I have your book." Nikita says loudly as she bounces into his section quarters. She sighs as she sees the slight mess that has been there since she had taken up a rest there.

"Just put it on the table." Walter says in a sad tone, not looking up from the rare television in Section.

"You usually ask me how I liked it." Nikita says walking over and turning off the television.

"Nikita, not now." Walter says harshly.

"WHy? Because you see your life as that books!" Nikita says harshly back. Walter glances at Nikita.

"I really loved her, but I had..." Walter starts to say, but Nikita looks around, reminding him that almost no one is safe from bugs that hide everywhere.

"I didn't take it the wrong way." Nikita smiles with a wink. "That could have been me and Michael, if we never admitted stuff."

"Sugar," Walter starts and Nikita hands down a piece of paper.

"You admitted, therefore you aren't that book." Nikita's handwritting reminded Walter.

"I think you're still shocked with that explosion." Nikita says with a laugh as she sees Walter smile again.

"It was quite a big one." Walter chuckles.

"I'm taking a break from the books, so think of a good one!" Nikita says bouncing out of Walter's quarters. Walter slowly stands up and thumbs his way through the book Nikita had dropped back to him. Sitting at the table he started again.

"One day, I was already old..." the words started.

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

"But there is no one up there, Katherine!" a younger man in a blue suit complained.

"There will be an interest now with the explosion. I just want some peace and quiet in my age now." Katherine says. The man shakes his head slightly and hands over the papers.

"We will build your place right away." The man promises as he stands up and shakes Katherine's hand. "You were one of the best."

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

"Walter has cleared the retreat spot," Madeline speaks on the phone as she holds Anna in her arms.

"When can we start building?" Operations asks quickly back.

"Right away. Walter was kind enough to clear out the trees also." Madeline says with a soft smile.

"Give Walter his vacation." Operations says with satisfaction.

"Actually, he pulled out his request for vacation." Madeline says.

"Kiss Anna for me." Operations says and softly hangs up. Madeline leans over and kisses Anna.

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