Nikita sits in the office in field blacks as she finishes off her tight french braid. Michael walks in as she pins the long braid up in half.

"Are you going on a mission without me?" Michael asks as he unbuttons his suit jacket. Nikita checks the hair for any strays.

"No. But Madeline said we would be leaving immediately after the briefing." Nikita says as she shakes her head to see how strong the braid is in. It does not move, and she stands up.

"It must be important." Michael says as he walks over to Nikita.

"Madeline was wearing field blacks, and I heard rumors that Operations was also." Nikita says exiting the office. Michael quickly closes the door and jogs off to change into his field blacks.

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

Birkoff sits in Operations' office as Operations and Madeline stare at him.

"You will be left here in Section, alone. Basically, you will be in charge." Operations says firmly with a cold undertone.

"Must be an important mission." Birkoff says with wide open eyes.

"You will be monitoring it, as Michael and Nikita run it on the field side." Madeline says and Birkoff frowns.

"Why aren't you running the mission?" Birkoff asks immediately.

"Our last adventure proved to us that we are more than a little bit rusty." Operations says with a faint smile.

"Birkoff, there will probably be several operatives going down, it is a difficult mission. Until me or Operations have returned on site, you have all calls on treatment." Madeline says as she hands a list to Birkoff. Birkoff looks at the list, starting at the top, there is Operations, then Madeline, then Michael, then Walter, then Nikita, and then his name.

"So Walter is on this mission with you?" Birkoff asks, immediately knowing that this list represents the chain of command.

"We are taking a large amount of explosives." Operations responds. "I want to make it clear, that whoever resumes the leading position, needs to possess full capacity... an example, if Michael is seriously injuried, Nikita would not maintain power. Understand?" Operations asks sternly.

"Yes, Sir. Are you expecting it to be that bad?" Birkoff asks softly.

"We hope not... we just had to cover the bases." Madeline says as she pats his shoulder. She nervously looks at Operations and gives a half smile.

"We must brief." Operations says.

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

Operations looks into the room filled of high performing operatives, all dressed in field blacks.

"We have found a strong remant of Red Cell." Operations announces and the whole room takes a deep breath. He pulls up the transparent screen, and shows the outlines of a large compound.

"We are on destroy only. No hostages, no retaining their intelligence. A pure, set the explosives and blow them up!"

Operations says with a raised voice.

"You all will be carrying enough explosives to destroy the entire compound. There are five places that if the explosives are placed, will destroy the entire compound. The more that get placed, the better that we smash them into smaller pieces." Walter informs with a face filled with hate

Operations points to the five points that the explosives can be placed. He then points to secondary targets.

"If you go down. LEAVE THE EXPLOSIVES AND GET BACK TO POINT!" Madeline says in a deep and powerful voice. Michael looks at Nikita with a stone cold face.

"They will be heavily armed, but we must complete this mission." Opearations says as the screen goes down.

"We will be moving in pairs. Michael and Nikita will be running the mission." Madeline says and the room takes another deep breath.

"Why not you two?" Michael asks after a moment of shock.

"We believe that you and Nikita are better prepared to run this mission." Operations says. "We leave in ten minutes."

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

"Ok, Michael and Nikita. You will be in constant contact with me. Then to communicate with the entire team, channel three." Birkoff says as he stands next to his computer.

"Will Madeline and Operations have this capability also?" Michael asks as he puts a hand on the computer.

"No." Birkoff responds sitting down. Michael takes Nikita's hand and starts to walk to the van loading bay.

"I don't like this Michael." Nikita says in a worried tone.

"We can't show that we are worried." Michael corrects Nikita quickly. Madeline and Operations walk by quickly.

"But they show it." Nikita says as she walks up to Madeline and Operations.

Michael looks back at Birkoff and Birkoff gives him the thumbs up sign.

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

The van pulls up to a tiny bunch of trees on a new moon night. The doors open without a sound and operatives jump out and start running to different points. Madeline and Operations jump out and continue into the bunch of trees.

"Enter." Michael commands the operatives as he closes the van's door. Nikita has moved in just behind Madeline and Operations. They start to move quickly across the open yard. Michael watches the operatives move quickly.

"Nikita, there are at least fifty guard in that compound." Birkoff reports as Nikita looks at handheld unit of the house map.

Little dots sprinkled the screen.

"Fifty plus guards." Nikita tells the operatives. As soon as she says the intel, guns start firing.

"I'm down!" an operative yells out.

Michael takes aim with a sniper gun and takes out a few guard.

"Michael, Nikita, we are swamped!" Operations yells out. A sudden burst of gunfire errupts right in front of the position Madeline and Operations held.

And then silence.

Silence.

"Operations! Madeline!" Nikita calls out. She switches channels. "Birkoff, Madeline and Ops are down."

"Walter is down also. Another operative is dragging him back." Michael says.

Nikita makes a cutting motion with her hand.

"Have them retreat... the guards will see the retreating people and we can charge in." Nikita says.

"Nikita, it's almost suicide." Michael says softly.

"Michael, we are the best. And I don't want to face Anna when she grows up and tell her that I didn't even try to help her parents." Nikita says as she grabs her gun.

"Full retreat! Give us cover, but don't help." Michael orders as he picks up his gun and starts out across the yard.

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

Nikita moves over the yard and comes across Madeline's bleeding body. Quickly she sees the Madeline is breathing.

Nikita pulls the explosives off of her.

"We'll be back." Nikita says as she moves away from Madeline.

Michael looks down at the body of Operations. He tries to grab Michael's arm. Michael reaches down for the extra explosives.

"Be good to Nikita." Operations whispers as Michael stands up.

The two sprint for the walls. Nikita feels for the door and kicks it open. Michael kills the three men that stood behind it.

They enter quickly. Moving to the left and then straight back.

"These is the spot." Michael says as he looks out for guards. Firing guns are still heard. Nikita quickly places her and Madeline's explosives on the beam. She then grabs the two Michael has and places them on.

"Let's get out of here." Nikita says.

With a few broad strides, the two are back on the yard. A few operatives continue to fire from the trees.

"I'll take Ops." Nikita says as she bends down and starts to drag him with one arm and firing with another.

"Go! Operatives.. status?" Michael calls out as he begins to drag Madeline is a similar fashion.

"We are all down... most not serious.. Walter is bad." an operative reports. Michael is further back from Nikita, and one of the guards shots him in the arm. Dropping his gun, he hurries off dragging Madeline.

Michael whinces in pain, but turns to help Nikita. He sees Nikita take two shots in the upper leg. Energized by the shots,

Nikita pulls Operations out with a quick burst of energy.

"Blow it!" Michael commands. The operatives shield their eyes as the entire compound explodes in a bright ball.

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

Nikita tries to drag her leg up into the van. She looks down at the blood and pushes her hand against it. She looks at the seats, were Madeline, Operations, and Walter lay, all unconscious.

Michael walks over to Nikita and watches her sit down as he clings her arm.

"Are you ok?" Michael asks. Nikita pulls out a fake smile.

"It's a graze... a flesh womb.. worry about those three." Nikita says, nodding her head towards the bleeding trio. "I coordinate with Birkoff."

"Nikita, Medlab is on full alert... what do we have coming?" Birkoff asks.

"Walter seems to be the worst... shot in the back. Then Opertions and then Madeline." Nikita says as she pulls at a medical kit and motions for a multi-wombed operative to sit by her. She applies pressure to the leg womb as the operative attends to the arm.

"And you and Michael?" Birkoff says. Nikita swallows hard, trying not to register how bad she truly is.

"You have to save Madeline and Operations... they have to be there for Anna." Nikita says firmly.

Michael pounds on the van's door.

"FASTER! FASTER!" Michael yells out. Immediately, the van speeds up. Before he goes back to Operations, he stops briefly at Nikita.

"You look very pale... are you all right?" Michael asks. Nikita lifts her head. She sees out of the corner of her eye, the bleeding chest of Madeline.

"I'm fine." Nikita says sternly. Michael moves back to Operations.

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

Birkoff opens the van door. Immediately, operatives that aren't hurt to badly, move Walter out to the door. Medlab doctors quickly move Walter down the halls on a stretcher.

"Get Operations out of here!" Michael calls out to Birkoff. Michael leads the team, moving Operations. Madeline follows behind.

Michael steps back on the van.

"Come on, let me help you." Michael says reaching a hand out for Nikita.

"Go with them!" Nikita says, fighting off a dizzy spell. Michael moves out without a word.

Nikita stays sitted until the van has emptied. She tries to stand as Birkoff walks on. She lefts her hand and notices the vast amount of blood that runs down her leg. Realization spreads across her face.

"Tell Michael I love him." Nikita says plainly to Birkoff as she begins to collaspe to the floor.

Birkoff grabs her limp body and starts to scream for help.

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

Birkoff runs along the side of Nikita's gurney as the medlab staff runs pass numerous operatives.

"We need blood now!" Birkoff yells as he holds Nikita's hand. "You are going to tell Michael yourself." Birkoff orders

Nikita, who is pale as the sheets on the gurney.

They turn the corner into the half destroyed Medlab. Setting up in the first spot, they rip the field blacks off of Nikita's leg and Birkoff stands back in horror.

"Birkoff.. who goes in.. we have three OR rooms and four that desparately need surgery." The head of Medlab asks the quivering Birkoff.

"How would you rank them?" Birkoff asks firmly. The head looks around and looks at Birkoff. "As in medical condition."

Birkoff clearifies.

"Walter, Nikita, Operations, Madeline." the head quickly recites. "Actually, Nikita is almost worse than Walter."

"Walter, Nikita, and Operations." Birkoff says without a blink. The head rushes off. Birkoff starts to watch as they move Walter off to an OR. He checks on some operatives, most that only need minor repairs done.

"Have you seen Michael?" Birkoff asks one of the nurses who is digging out a bullet in the leg of the man Nikita helped.

"He has been with Madeline. She has regained some consciousness." the nurse replies as the man screams out in pain.

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

Birkoff walks into the area that Madeline is being retained at until the first possible OR is opened. Michael jumps up as Birkoff enters.

"Who took Madeline's Operating Room?" Michael demands. Birkoff takes a deep breath.

"Nikita." Birkoff says. Michael sits back down.

"She wasn't bad..." Michael tries to protest. Birkoff closes his eyes. Michael reaches an understandment with Birkoff's gesture.

"She wanted me to tell you that she loves you." Birkoff chokes out and then leaves.

Michael takes a deep breath and stands up to look at Madeline. Her eyes are wide open.

"She is the future, I'm the past." Madeline says hauntingly. Michael grabs hold of her hand.

"And you both are the present." Michael says as his heart pounds quickly.

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

Birkoff runs back to his computer. He looks at the small crowd.

"A situation calling for a couple intervention." the computer girl fills in Birkoff.

"We have to pool our resources, and not allow a panic throughout the entire Section." Birkoff says calmly. He pulls up a screen, and sees the Rick and Rita are not currently on a mission.

"Reroute this mission to Rick and Rita. Create a phony mission for Michael and Nikita to be working on. Rick and Rita can handle this." Birkoff says. The operatives nod and Birkoff runs off.

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

Michael watches Madeline be carted off to an OR as a doctor starts to dig out the bullet.

"Take the medication, Michael." The doctor says firmly. Michael shakes his head firmly no.

"Take it, Michael." Birkoff says as he sees Michael. "Operations made it clear that the person in charge of Section will not be affected by a close one injuried. You need to be here for Nikita." Birkoff explains.

"Do we know anything?" Michael asks after he swallows the three pills.

"They are fighting to save her leg. They have to restore blood flow first." Birkoff says. He holds onto further complications to Nikita's condition, like damage to her right ovary... there was no reason to tell Michael quite yet.

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

Birkoff stands next to Operations' bed as Operations comes out of his drugged state.

"Status?" Operations dryly asks. Birkoff takes a deep breath.

"All operatives went down. Walter, Nikita, and Madeline are in surgery." Birkoff summarizes briefly.

"Walter?"

"Bullet wedged into his spine... hopeful for full recovery after swelling goes down." Birkoff supplies like a machine.

"Madeline?"

"A bullet to the lung." Birkoff says and watches Operations face soften even more.

"Nikita?"

"Two bullets to the pelvis area.. lost over half of her blood, may lose her leg, damage to several systems, nervous, and including trama to one of her reproductive organs." Birkoff says steadily.

Operations takes a deep breath.

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

Michael stands outside the OR that they work on Nikita. He clearly remembers Operations words to him on the field.

"Take care of Nikita."

Michael looks into the room and takes a deep breath. He knows in his heart that Operations fully well knows that Nikita is his daughter. He also knows that Operations will not remember a second of what happened from the time he got till after his surgery.

"Her leg is saved." a doctor announces as he exits the room.

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

Operations sits in a chair outside of the packed therapy room in Medlab. He looks into the room as the doctors clear it out so they can work with their two hardest cases. Birkoff walks over to Operations.

"Feeling better, sir?" Birkoff asks as he sits down to the pale faced Operations.

"Better." Operations says.

"Well, that infection really knocked you a few good ones." Birkoff says seriously and he looks into the room. "They are clearing out for Walter and Nikita."

"I heard that Nikita is doing surprizingly well." Operations says with a smile on his face. Birkoff tries to think about why he was smiling now.

"Yes. But that was also because they kept her sedated for the three days." Birkoff says as he watches Michael push Nikita' wheelchair in the room.

"I was surprized that Michael didn't want to take over, when I got the infection." Operations says softly. Birkoff looks behind him and stands up.

"Madeline, you look fabulous!" Birkoff says. Madeline smiles back.

"I just saw Anna." Madeline says with a soft voice. She sits down and Birkoff leaves.

"Birkoff has done a great job." Madeline says as Walter is wheeled into the room.

"Yes." Operations says, as he is intently watching Michael plead with Nikita.

"Are you ever going to say it... your daughter saved your life." Madeline pushs as she catches Operations gaze.

"Nikita, saved my life." Operations attempts to clearify.

"Nikita, your daughter... they are the same person." Madeline says sighing and leaning back.

"They are the same person... but I have to keep them separate. I have too. Nikita deserves better than me." Operations says as he looks as Michael strokes Nikita's blonde hair.

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

Michael strokes Nikita's soft blonde hair. She smiles at his touch.

"Let's get you out of here." Michael says as he pulls back. He reaches a hand out for Nikita. She takes it and gently stands up.

"Then let me help Walter. I think he needs some modivation." Nikita says with a smile as she lets go of Michael's hand.

She gingerly walks over to Walter's wheelchair.

"Hey, Sugar.. you looking good." Walter comments trying to force a smile. Nikita leans in, but not to far.

"I'll let you walk behind me." Nikita says with a raised eyebrow. Walter's eyes sparkle briefly.

"You never let me do that, sugar... all because.." Walter starts and stops.

"I'll let you walk behind me... and I'll throw in a Lucina's pizza with everything on it." Nikita says standing back up straight.

Walter thinks for a moment, and pushes himself up out of the wheelchair. Nikita walks ahead five steps, trying to be as sexy as possible. Walter moves a half a step. Nikita looks over her shoulder.

"Come on, Walter... I'll even pay for Michael and Birkoff to come along!" Nikita says with a laugh. Walter struggles to shuffle off five more steps. The therapist pushes the wheelchair behind him.

"Ok. You win!" Nikita says with a smile.

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

The walking injuried, that being Michael, Operations, Madeline, and Nikita, and the one wheeled, Walter, gather around Birkoff's station.

He is busy with some incoming messages, and a few moments past until he looks up.

"Good job Birkoff." Operations says, and the others clap. Birkoff starts to turn red.

"We're taking you out of here... Lucina's everything in the kitchen pizza!" Walter announces and Birkoff smiles. "'Kita's treating!"

Madeline looks at Operations and pushes his elbow.

"If there is anything you want, a vacation, more money, a car..." Operations starts to say and Birkoff puts his hand up.

"I want an apartment. I need an outside apartment!" Birkoff says firmly and Nikita smiles at him.

"Fine. Michael and Nikita will help you move. Is tomorrow too soon?" Madeline responds.

"No. I'm just glad that Operations is taking all of this off of my hands." Birkoff says pushing a pile of papers towards him.

"And what is all this?" Operations says in an almost angry voice.

"Bills." Birkoff says and he walks away from the station. "Now, about that pizza." Birkoff says as he pushes Walter along.

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