"Again!" Nikita calls out as an out of breath couple stands at Nikita's feet. They start to trudge up the hill. Mylo is trying to maintain his balance as he slides down the steep hill, with Julie on his back. Julie jumps off as Mylo tips off to the side.

The two laugh a little as they struggle to gain their footing in the wooden hill. Nikita walks to them and stands above them.

"Do it again." Nikita says firmly. Mylo stands up, brushing off the dirt as Julie sits on the ground in pure exhaustion.

"Nikita, we have done this twenty times now..." Mylo starts to protest. Nikita puts her hands on her hips.

"Fine. To the lake." Nikita calls out, and the other two couples leisurely jog down the hill. Nikita sees the sun reflecting off of the lake's shimmering water and is reminded of the abnormal coolness in the air. The three couples look at her as she motions for them to go in.

"No way!" Demetri yells as he looks at Nikita. Nikita shots him a glare and he bows his head.

"What if you had to swim a lake in this exact weather to get away from the bad guys." Nikita states rudely.

"I'm sure if and when that situation occured that I'd swim the lake." Demetri says with a soft response.

"Nikita, just because you are all alone, doesn't mean..." Julie starts to say and Nikita grabs the girl.

"I am in charge here." Nikita says in a soft growl that only Julie can hear. She lets go of Julie, thinking that the girl learned her lesson. Julie slumps back, but then resumes her confident position.

"I can't even see you as an individual.. you seem hopeless without Michael!" Julie finally yells and starts to run. Nikita shots a glare at the other two operatives and then at Mylo.

"Julie..." Nikita calls out as she follows the girl. Nikita gains ground fast and is about to grab hold of her light jacket when Gannon stops the running Julie. Nikita jumps to stop from running into Gannon and the other operatives are not far behind.

"What is going on here?" Gannon asks Julie and Julie looks at Nikita with an intense stare of hate.

"She is worse than Madeline, than Operations... God, please bring her lover up here so we can take a deep breathe!"

Julie spouts off quickly. The other operatives try to walk away, but Gannon looks at them, and they stand still.

"It doesn't matter, I still wasn't caught!" Julie teases Nikita. Nikita shakes her head no and smiles. Gannon drops his head, hoping he could avoid a cat fight.

"I would have caught you sooner if I wanted too." Nikita said contemptuously. Julie looks at Gannon to see if Nikita was telling the truth. Gannon nods his head yes and lets go of Julie. All three couples trudge off to the retreat halls.

"Maybe you need to call Michael." Gannon says as he starts to walk with Nikita.

"No reason to, there is no privacy." Nikita says as she looks at the trees.

"Maybe then a trip to the convenience store... doesn't sound like much, but to get you away from them." Gannon tries to suggest. Nikita kicks at a stone and stops in her path.

"Do they sell boots and sunglasses?" Nikita ask. Gannon smiles and nods yes.

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

Nikita looked at the outfit that she had tried on at The Big Outpost. The shirt was a plain gray button down blouse, but made out of a heavy material. And she wore black leggings and a pair of new hiking boots. Nikita slipped on the red skiing sunglasses and stepped out.

"Katherine.. do you have a book on speaking French?" Nikita says as she turns the corner to find Walter extremely close to Katherine.

"Sugar!" Walter calls out as he exits from Katherine's side and give Nikita a big hug. Nikita, knowing the relationship between Katherine and Walter, smiles.

"What are you doing up here?" Nikita says as she pulls back from Walter's hug. Walter looks at Katherine. She smiles and moves towards the door.

"I might have one in my personal stash." Katherine says and she leaves the two operatives alone.

"Madeline sent you." Nikita says firmly as she walks away from Walter's gaze. She fingers a hat lightly.

"I was scheduled to come up... she just pushed it up to a sooner date." Walter says softly. Nikita turns around and forces a smile.

"I'm glad you are here." Nikita says and she moves back to him. "So what do you think?" Nikita asks and she models the outfit.

"Nice.... so how are the rooms?" Walter asks, knowing the evil trick Madeline had pulled on Nikita.

"Small." Nikita answers and she turns to look at herself in another mirror.

"I guess you call Michael every night." Walter says, trying to gather were Nikita operating from.

"No. No private phones. For me to call Michael I have to go down a floor." Nikita says and she sucks in her cheeks.

Katherine enters with a book with the France flag on the cover.

"This should start you off." Katherine says with a smile. "And that will all be on your.. charge?" Katherine smiles. All of her sales are by charge, and she never asks any questions.

"I'll be by, Katherine." Walter says as he gives Katherine a peak on the cheek. The two walk out of the store. Walter looks at the supply van he is driving and then over at the Jeep that Nikita had rustled up.

"I brought some books for you, sugar." Walter says as Nikita pulls up close to the van. Nikita gives him an ok sign and she pulls away in a cloud of dust.

"Missing a french lover?" Katherine asks as she slips out of the empty store.

"Touche." Walter says as he closes his door and starts off behind Nikita.

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

Nikita stands on the moonlit balcony with a yellow blanket covering her head and body. She stares off to the trees that surround the retreat. She bows her head as she tries to push off thoughts of running back to headquarters.

Gannon steps around the corner onto the balcony, knowing someone had broken curfew. He steps softly, knowing only Nikita had a yellow blanket.

Cautiously he moved closer.

"You're breaking curfew." Gannon says loudly.

"So even that applies to me." Nikita says gently as she lets the blanket fall from her head. Gannon approaches lightly.

"I didn't know you were out here." Gannon says as he stands next to the rail. Nikita looks at the sky again.

"Is there a reason why Walter's room is three times the size of mine?" Nikita asks softly. Gannon kicks at the rail with his foot as he sighs loudly.

"It was the only available room." Gannon lies as he looks at Nikita's face. It didn't resemble the brightness in the pictures he had recieved before Nikita's arrival.

"And a private telephone... Gannon, I've been in Section too long to know that this was someone's doing... and I think they are playing in this game together." Nikita says with no emotion. "But I don't care about the room."

"Why don't you? You are an individual before you are a part of a couple." Gannon says softly. Nikita looks at Gannon and he sees her white face.

"I..." Nikita stampers and looks away. Gannon holds her shoulders and starts walking her inside.

"I knew Simone..." Gannon starts as he unlocks a door to another room.

"I don't want to hear this... we have moved past that.. it's us." Nikita says softly as she looks around the large room.

Gannon sits her down on her bed.

"This was the room I was going to give you. Madeline said it would pain you too much.. with you being away from Michael." Gannon explains.

Nikita leans back and snuggles against the pillows.

"My feet don't hang off the bed." Nikita mutters as she holds her eyes together tightly.

"Nikita... anyone could fall in love with you..." Gannon mutters looking at her beautiful body. "But, it takes a special person to fall in love with Michael."

"Gannon, I just want to sleep." Nikita says with tears rolling down her face. She stands up and walks out of the room.

"This is your room!" Gannon calls out. Nikita stands in the hallway, snuggled in her blanket.

"To you, maybe... to Madeline and OPerations..that cubicle is."

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

Michael walks into the office and sees a tape sitting on his desk. He looks around the office to see if anyone else was there. Once he is sure that he is alone, he shuts the door.

In the dark room, he places the videotape into a VCR that he has no memory of ever using.

Michael sits back as he watches a tape of Nikita and Gannon. It had been edited. It shows Gannon holding Nikita's shoulders and walking her back to her room.

"No, she told me she had a tiny room.. her feet hung off the bed..." Michael says in a tense voice as Nikita curls up with a pillow. In the corner sits a phone. Michael clunches his hands into fists and pulls the tape out. He searching his desk frantically as he searches for information about this tape. Finally he turns on his desk light and sees a handwritten note from Operations.

"Thought you'd like to know how Nikita is doing."

Michael rilps the note off of his desk bloater and storms out of the office.

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

"I want a number to talk to Nikita, NOW!" Michael demands as he enters Madeline's office, slamming the door.

Immediately, Anna starts crying and Madeline crosses her eyebrows in disguise.

"Michael, she doesn't have a phone." Madeline says softly as she tries to soothe the crying child. Michael places the videotape hard onto Madeline's desk.

"Someone here is playing games." Michael says firmly. Madeline looks at the anger in Michael's eye and calls for the nurse to take Anna.

She quickly watches the video and sighs.

"I can give you Walter's number." Madeline says and she writes the number down. Michael snatches it out of her hand.

"And so who's room was that?" Michael asks as he retrieves the tape from Madeline's hands.

"It was to be Nikita's, but I decided to give her a smaller one." Madeline says with pressed lips.

"HER FEET DON"T FIT ON THE BED!" Michael says sternly.

"Michael, I wouldn't take this the wrong way. Nikita was probably seeking a friend." Madeline says softly as she stares at a picture of Operations and Anna.

"There was Walter." Michael says as he walks out of the office in a huff.

Madeline beeps Operations office, but he is at a meeting.

"Leave him a message... his hobby of dubbing tapes is getting old and may cause a major war if he doesn't butt out." Madeline tells the computer sectatary, and slams the phone down.

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

Nikita sits in the dinningroom, holding the French book that Katherine gave her. Her plates hold the entire breakfast untouched.

Walter walks in a hurry to her empty table. He looks at Mylo and Julie, wondering why they aren't with Nikita.

"Bonjour" Nikita stumbles over the accent as she sees Walter.

"I have a private phone and someone who wants to speak to you." Walter says softly, looking to see if the scum Gannon was around.

"N'est-ce pas?" Nikita says slowly consulting with the book. Walter slams the book down out of Nikita's hands.

"YES..IT IS SO!" Walter says as he takes her hand.

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

Nikita sits in a chair and picks up the phone. Walter shuts the door and leaves.

"Nikita?" Michael asks as her breath is heard over the line.

"Oh, Michael... your voice is..." Nikita starts but is soon interupted with Michael's anger.

"How close are you with Gannon?" Michael demands.

"Michael, I don't know..." Nikita tries to say.

"I saw the tapes!" Michael screams into the phone.

"What are you talking abo.." Nikita tries to slide into Michael's angry questions.

"So, do we mean nothing?" Michael says with a large breath.

"Michael!... I love you!" Nikita reacts, shaking her head in confusion.

"But you were in Gannon's arms!" Michael says firmly back. Nikita's mouth hits her chest in shock.

"Because all I could think of was you! Where did you find this stuff from?" Nikita asks as she tries to straighten the mess out.

"A tape was left on my desk." Michael says with anger still in each word.

"From whom?" Nikita says slowly.

"Operations." Michael says and Nikita lets a giant breath of air out.

"And you believe that?" Nikita says in shock, now becoming angry with Michael herself.

"What am I suppose to believe! We haven't talked at all...." Michael reacts to Nikita's tone.

"Now, you can't trust me. What more can I do... wear a steel gurdle with a lock and give you the key!" Nikita says angerily. Her face is turning red with thoughts of what Operations has done this time.

"Nikita!" Michael yells back.

"Have you ever known Operations to be truthful...ever!" Nikita yells back. "Forget the tape, and let me deal with Operations!"

The phone slams back onto the table and Walter walks in, but ready to leave if Nikita was on attack.

"This is the last straw!" Nikita mumbles as she stands up and starts pacing.

"What's wrong, Sugar?" Walter asks.

"That damn father of mine!" Nikita says and she walks out of the room.

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

Nikita slams Gannon's door wide open without knocking. Gannon glances up from the computer in shock, since the retreat is a relatively calm place.

"Gannon, we have to talk." Nikita says firmly as she walks to the computer. She glances down at the screen and smiles.

"I guess you are already talking to the person."

Gannon glances down at Operations image on the screen and then looks at Nikita.

"Nikita, this is very important business." Gannon says trying to get Nikita to leave them alone. Nikita lets a chuckle out.

"I'm sure Operations here wouldn't mind you listening to what I have to say to him." Nikita says as she smiles to the screen. Operations narrows his eyes.

"Gannon, it is best if you leave us alone." Operations finally says after moments of silence. Gannon stands up and slowly moves from the computer. Nikita is about to sit down.

"Next time Gannon, be sure you want to screw with my life before you take orders from him." Nikita says in tense words. Gannon walks out of the room confused.

"Nikita, he had nothing to do..." Operations starts to say but stops once that she has folded her hands.

"You already control where I live, where I go, who I kill, and who I save. You can't control who I love." Nikita says in a controlled voice. Operations glances away from the screen and Nikita hears him say to someone in his office that it is not a good time.

"I'm trying to look out for you, Nikita." Operations says. Nikita chokes in surprize.

"Unbelieveable... what, a while back you had me and Michael married.. without telling us!" Nikita says loudly, wanting to shove her hands through the screen and choke Operations.

"I assumed you want to cool things off. Why else did you take the position up there." Operations cuts back at Nikita.

Nikita closes her eyes.

"I could have left you to Michael's hands, but I figure I can put a better squeeze on you." Nikita says as she opens her eyes, looking amazingly calm.

"Nikita, I worry about you..." Operations says with no emotion.

"Funny, you never cared about me before... remember you were going to cancel me!" Nikita says with fire on her tongue.

"Stop caring about me... you are nothing."

"Nikita." Operations says with the expelling of air.

"Operations is who you are and who you will ever be." Nikita says sharply. She blinks her eyes.

Operations sits still as he looks at Nikita blink a tear back.

"I just hope that you learn that everyone owns their own heart, so that you won't try to control every aspect of Anna's life too." Nikita says sharply, and before Operations can say anything back, she turns off the transmission.

Nikita sits at the desk, shaking in anger and in disguise as Gannon reenters the room.

"He said you had nothing to do with it." Nikita says without looking up at Gannon. Gannon bends at his knees, and holds onto the desk, to look at Nikita's face.

"I still don't know what you are talking about." Gannon informs Nikita softly.

"Michael recieve a tape of last night, dubbed and taken out of context." Nikita says as she looks at Gannon.

"Oh... that would make Michael..." Gannon starts to say and Nikita smiles.

"It did. It is just part of the game Operations play with me.... trying to control everything..." Nikita says softly as she stands up.

"Why?" Gannon asks. Nikita bites her lip as she is tempted to tell Gannon that Operations is her father, but then shakes the thought away.

"Merci." Nikita says softly and leaves.

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

Operations sits at his desk. Hours had passed between the conversation with Nikita and the present time. Operations looks up as the door opens and Michael walks in.

"Michael." Operations says as Michael sits down. Michael sits there without moving a muscle.

"I'm going to tell you straight out, I don't like you with Nikita." Operations says. Michael strains to stay calm, because after another conversation with Nikita, he knew that this was going to come. Nikita begged for him to stay quiet, because if he didn't it would ruin her plan.

"I think you have infected her with your coldness... I don't think you work as effectively now." Operations says, hoping to make Michael react. Michael is sitting still, staring at Operations, while actually he is staring at the wall directly behind Michael.

"Of course, I don't have any support of these feelings from Madeline, who... for some reason believe you two are stronger." Operations continues.

"GET OUT! I'D CANCEL YOU MYSELF IF MY DAUGHTER DIDN'T WORSHIP THE GROUND YOU WALKED ON!" Operations yells and Michael exits without a word. He closes the door and takes a deep breath. He looks over at Birkoff.

"He is making a call right now." Birkoff confirms as Michael starts walking.

"Outside of headquarters?" Michael questions.

"To the retreat." Birkoff answers. Michael turns and walks to Madeline's office.

"Michael?" Madeline asks in surprize. "It has been a difficult day for you."

"I know the situation. It was Operations doing, the dubbed tape." Michael say calmly as he sits down.

"Then why are you here?" Madeline asks softly, surprized that there hasn't been a fight between the two stubborn men.

"Nikita asked me to give Operations no response. She begged it." Michael says as he rolls his neck back and forth.

"I feel that Nikita knows what she is doing." Madeline says as she moves over to Michael's back and starts rubbing the neck. "Whoa... every muscle is as taunt as can be."

"Did you know it was Gannon who worked there?" Michael asks softly.

"Yes." Madeline responds as she pushes Michael's head down and works on his neck muscles.

"Why? Why even send Nikita?" Michael asks softly.

"She wanted too, and she is a real good outdoors person." Madeline says as she rubs Michael's neck more. Michael maintains his quietness as Madeline rubbing continues.

"Madeline?" Operations says over the intercom.

"Yes?" Madeline says as she moves over to the intercom and puts a finger to her lip to Michael.

"I have another tape that I need Michael to see." Operations says firmly.

"You are going to lose her." Madeline says immediately.

"I'm leaving immediately to the retreat. I won't be emotional bowled over by my own daughter." Operations says. "I left the tape on Michael's desk. Make sure he comes in tonight and sees it."

Madeline stands at her desk and looks at Michael. He holds his eyes shut and quietly shakes his head no.

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

"Bonjour" Nikita says as she lifts her head from the French book once Operations entered her room. She knew that Operations was coming from the immediate phone call she receieved from Michael, and at that point, she took her place in the larger room.

"There is only one lesson that must be taught!" Operations says angerily as he looks at Nikita.

"We both have millions of lessons left... and only a few will be taught between us." Nikita says with a smile. She sees the anger in Operations anger building.

"DAMN YOU!" Operations yells. Nikita shakes her head in disappointment.

"I guess I am like you." Nikita says as Operations calms down.

"You're too much like me. Stubborn." Operations says.

"So why are you trying to ruin me and Michael?" Nikita asks softly. Operations leans against the door.

"For time." Operations says in a soft and emotional voice, that takes Nikita back a few steps.

"I don't understand." Nikita says. Her plan is going nowhere, as Operations is yelling and screaming at her.

"Maybe I was hoping if you and Michael fell apart that I might have a chance to know you." Operations says. Nikita takes a breath and decides that this is just another manipulation of Operations.

"I don't believe. You never wanted to know me... so don't start now." Nikita digs in with a harsh voice.

"Nikita." Operations says immediately.

"C'est la vie!" Nikita says. Operations turns and leaves.

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

"You told Operations that 'that's life?'. Don't you ever want to come back to headquarters!" Michael almost screams as Nikita relays the conversation.

"Actually, I said, C'est la vie!" Nikita says with a slight smile spreading across her face while holding the phone.

"Ma chere, merci beaucoup." Michael responds with a smile crossing his face.

"Madeline won't let it happen." Nikita says softly.

"It seems so long." Michael says softly.

"Mmm, but Valentine's day is coming." Nikita says dreamingly.

"Yes it is." Michael says with a broad smile.

"And I have a private phone now." Nikita laughs.

"Yes, you do." Michael says with an evil laugh.

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