Michael moved across the cold kitchen making a pot of coffee. The shower ran in the bathroom, as Nikita is taking a shower before they head in for the briefing.

Michael starts to clean up the mess that Nikita left on the counter top. He touches the scrapbook that Nikita has started to make about her fake father. Michael's eyes whince in pain as he gently lifts the album to wipe the counter.

The shower has stopped running and Nikita emerges with her wet blonde hair pulled up in a pony tail.

"Did you see how much I found on my father?" Nikita asks with a smile as she takes the cup of coffee out of Michael's hand.

"I won't play this game with you." Michael says softly. "What did you do with the report?"

Nikita opens the album and looks at one of the many newspaper articles she printed from microfilms at the library the previous day.

"He went door to door in neighborhoods to make sure each child had a warm coat for winter..." Nikita says softly as she lightly fingers the page.

"Where did you put the document, Nikita?" Michael asks firmly as he shuts the album on Nikita's fingers.

"On top of the left cubboard." Nikita says looking away. She finger-combs her hair as Michael reaches up and touches the report. "Come on, we'll be late for the briefing."

Michael drops his hand like a dead weight. "Since when did you care about being on time?"

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

Operations looks at the van that is pulling out. His face is cold as ever. Madeline stands about five feet away.

"Where did you transfer him to?" Madeline asks as she turns to walk back towards the offices.

"He is going to Moscow." Operations says as he walks with Madeline, but yet, far apart.

"Do you think he gave Nikita his copy of the document?" Madeline asks as she cups her hands together.

"No." Operations says. "We gave her a father, and she will be happy with that."

"I don't know if I can accept that answer." Madeline says walking away quickly.

Madeline turns the corner and hears Anna crying. She enters the room to find Walter holding the frantic child. Madeline smoothly takes Anna and starts to soothe the child.

"Madeline, is there something wrong?" Walter asks as he heads towards the door.

"Nothing." Madeline says in a cold lie. She knows that it wouldn't pass Walter.

"I guess that Stephen has taken all of Section by surprize." Walter says closing the door.

"Oh, that's only part of the rabbit in the hat." Madeline mutters as the closed door darkens the room.

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

"This is the Sunset Cruiser..." Operations says as the transparent screen shows a picture of a moderate size cruise ship.

"We have intelligence of a terriorist group that placed some chemicals on board. This would not be a problem had Hurricane Erica hadn't developed."

"Hurricane Erica is heading in a direct path to the Sunset Cruiser. It is one of the most powerful hurricanes in this Gulf of Mexico region since the likes of Hurricane Andrew." Birkoff supplies the information as the screen pops to radar of the Hurricane.

"Michael and Nikita, you are going to get on the boat as rescuers. On top of everything, the Sunset Cruiser has lost the power in all engines. Basically, they are adrift." Operations says.

"It will be hard to secure chemicals in this weather." Michael states as he looks at the stats of the Hurricane.

"You'll place it into a special box and rocket it down to the ocean floor. Once the storm has past, we will send another team to retreive it from the ocean floor." Operations supplies.

"How close is the Hurricane going to be to us?" Nikita asks. Birkoff pops up another radar screen.

"It appears that the storm is starting to turn towards the Florida coastline, which would mean that it is turning away from the boat. United State Coast Guard Cutters haven't been able to make an attempt at getting any passengers off yet."

Birkoff says.

"We've packed your supplies, you are leaving now." Operation says. Nikita and Michael stand up and walk out.

Operations looks at the album that Nikita has left on the table. A few moments later, Nikita jogs back in for it.

"You have found out a lot about your father?" Operations asks as Nikita clutches the album close to her chest.

"Yes, and there is much more." Nikita says with a small grin. "I better get ready."

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

Michael and Nikita hold on tightly as they approach the cruise ship. They have wetsuits on and then Coast Guard jackets on. The rain and surf has already soaked them to the bone. Although it is relatively warm, in the 70's, for Nikita, she is near shivers.

The tiny boat bounces hard up and down on the waves as Michael and Nikita struggle to grab hold of the railing, to pull themselves aboard. As they walk up the ladder, a lifeboat is sent down.

"They must be taking on water!" Michael calls out over the howling wind. A face pops over the side and reaches a hand out to help drag Nikita on board.

"We are taking on water." the man says as Michael struggles over the top.

"Are any of the floors covered?" Nikita asks as she tries to asset the damage. The man starts to lead them away from the edge.

"Not yet, about a foot of water. But all that is on that level is the engine room, and all of those things were moved out."

The man supplies.

"We have to check the ship." Michael says as the passengers start to notice the pair. Nikita is carrying the bag with the rocket that would send the chemical to the bottom of the ocean.

"Sure. Everyone is on this deck." The man says.

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

"Level two is clear, Michael." Nikita calls out as she runs up the steps. The boat dips violently and she slides down several steps. Regaining her balance she continues up to the third level. She starts to methodically sweep the rooms with the devices Birkoff have given them.

"Nikita, I'm clear on this end." Michael says over the com unit. She hears the beeping on his tool right behind her. She enters the room further and her instrument turns a bright green.

"Michael!" Nikita calls out immediately as she actively searches for the container. She pulls back a cushion from the couch, and there stands a small canister with the skull on it.

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

"How are Nikita and Michael?" Operations asks as he paces infront of Birkoff's station.

"They have retrieved the chemical. It's about to be shot down to the ocean floor now." Birkoff answers without looking up from the screen.

"And the Hurricane?" Operations asks as he stops and leans over Birkoff's shoulder.

"It's turning away, but the ship is already sinking. The Coast Guard has sent several ships out to pick up the rescue boats." Birkoff says as he shows the screen of the radar.

"Do we know if one of ours is on one of these boats?" Operations asks as he starts to pace again.

"Running it now..." Birkoff answers as he pushes some keys.

"BIRKOFF! WE'RE READY TO SHOOT!" Nikita's voice echoes over the speaker.

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

Nikita stands at the edge with the rocket in her hand, and Michael holds the box.

"Ok, you can drop it into the water." Birkoff says. Both let go of the items together. The waves pick it up, and it starts to float.

"When is is away from the boat, trigger it." Birkoff commands. Nikita looks at Michael and then at the box. Michael shrugs his shoulders, not knowing what Birkoff meant by away. Nikita pushes the button, and without a sound, the rocket plunges to the bottome.

"All done. Now do we get off?" Michael asks. No response. He tries again. "Mission completed... now do we get off?"

"Birkoff, Michael's com unit is down.. mission completed. Now can we exit this water drenched mission?" Nikita asks as they move away from the side of the boat.

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

Birkoff looks at Operations for a response. Operations gets on the line.

"You will stay an assist in the evacuation. One of the Coast Guard boats will have one of our people on it... will give you the intel when we figure out who." Operations says and walks away.

Madeline quickly approaches Operations.

"Worried about your daughter?" Madeline asks. Operations grabs Madeline's arm harshly.

"We will not talk about this out in these hallways. Do you understand?" Operations demands as his grip tightens.

"I wonder if I should just send Anna away now, so you can start denying that she is your child!" Madeline responds as she pulls her arm out of Operations grip and trudges off.

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

Nikita stands against a wall, and Michael blocks her body from view from other passengers. Nikita freely speaks to Birkoff as a Coast Guard boat approaches closer.

"Birkoff, the boat is here. Who do we contact?" Nikita asks nervously.

Birkoff types at his computer. "I need the identifing number, Nikita."

"It's US234." Nikita says. There is no response from Birkoff. "IT'S US234!" Nikita tries again almost yelling.

"Ok... hold on." Birkoff says as he runs through the data base for the name of their person.

The cruise ship jumps in the waves and Nikita is knocked into Michael. He holds Nikita until she regains her footing.

"Your contact will be Jeremine. He only is called that name by high ranking Coast Guard, so anyone on that ship will take you to him, thinking you are high ranking." Birkoff supplies as the Coast Guard boat docks and starts to take off passengers quickly.

"Jeremine." Nikita whispers into Michael's ear. Together the move over to were the boat docked. Only the captain of the cruise boat is left on deck. The captain nods for them to go ahead of him.

One of the personal gives a stiff salute. Michael and Nikita nervously return the salute. They walk closer to the man.

"We need to see Jeremine." Nikita says in a deep voice. The person nods and starts to lead them were the other passengers were taken inside.

"Jeremine said to give you some warm blankets and then take you to him." The man says in firm words. He takes two blankets from the pile and soon Nikita is snuggling within the warm blanket.

"This way." The man says and the trio walks out of the room.

"Thank you, Harris. Go back to the passengers." Jeremine says as they enter a private office. The door closes and Nikita and Michael sit down.

"Seems like you've had quite a mission." Jeremine says with a smile. He looks at the wet pair, and smiles even more.

"It was successful." Michael says sharply, not sure if he could trust this man. Jeremine pulls out a small laptop computer.

"I heard that your com units didn't hold up well in this weather. Why don't you speak with Operations to find out what happens now as I turn this ship around to land." Jeremine says as he stands and leaves.

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

"Send them up to me when they have returned." Operations says firmly as he turns away from Birkoff.

"I won't be here." Birkoff says in a soft voice. Operations turns and looks at Birkoff. "I'm going out with your daughter.

Operations immediately thinks of Nikita, and then soon remembers that Birkoff is going out with his other daughter, Melissa.

"Treat her good." Operations says walking to his office.

He sits in his office, thinking of Nikita. He smiles as he realizes that his daughter, Nikita, has one of the most passionate men he ever knew. He pulls up a screen and looks at the picture of Nikita, the only one he has. Operations dreads that if Nikita ever finds out the truth, how that may wreck everything she has with Michael. Pulling the file, he erases and overwrites the file that contained the test 1000-1 on it.

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

Nikita and Michael walk into Section, yawning and holding onto each other for support. They walk slowly.

"Do you want to stay here?" Michael asks as he covers his mouth as he yawns.

"I'll be lucky to make it that far." Nikita says as her eyes droop. Walter sits at Birkoff's computer. Nikita looks at him with her tired eyes.

"Better stay awake a bit longer. Operations said to debrief with him now." Walter says. He lightly smiles as he watches the two struggle to maintain balance as they turn and walk to the office.

"Sit down." Operations says as the two enter. He tries not to notice the weariness on their faces.

"I'm concerned about what happened to the com units out on the field." Operations says.

"Too much water." Michael responds dryly.

"They should still maintain functioning." Operations challenges.

"But mine was fine." Nikita says a bit defensive.

Operations looks at the sudden fire he has lit in Nikita's eyes. He glances at a file to the left in a blue folder.

"Ok. Maybe it was a one time thing." Operations says. Michael begins to stand and turn to help Nikita up. "I take that you are staying here."

"Yes." Michael says without looking at him.

"I'd like to speak to you, Nikita." Operations says. Michael just drops his arms and walks out of the office.

"Please, tell me that this is not about a child of yours!" Nikita immediately reacts. Operations smiles inside, knowing that this is totally about a child of his.

"I found some more information on your father that you won't find in a library." Operations says handing over the file.

"You aren't monitoring him, are you?" Nikita immediately reacts as she holds the file close to her heart.

"He has not an inkling of you, so he does not pose a threat to us." Operations says, admiring how much she cares about her 'father'.

"I'm ready for bed. Thanks." Nikita says as she stands up and leaves.

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

Nikita sits in the room. Michael is in the bed sleeping. Tears form in her face as she turns the papers that Operations had painstakingly produced.

"I will not feel anything for Operations... he is my boss... he will kill me if I don't do as he says... he is my boss... he is my boss..." Nikita says as she flips through the pages.

"He can take away the life he gave me." Nikita says suddenly aware of her position.

Michael looks at her through wide opened eyes. Not once had she looked over at Michael as she glanced at the pages.

Michael worried more each day of how long will the lies continue. He worried that it would take Nikita being on her death bed for Operations to admit, and for Nikita to admit, Michael shutters as he cannot image what would make Nikita say she knows that Operations is her father.

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