Operations sits in the briefing room, mulling over new intelligence. He studies as he waits for Michael's and Nikita's arrival. Madeline walks in and sits down. Operations does not even lift his head.

"They will be a few moments. We just got in." Madeline says. Operations now looks at Madeline.

"WE?" Operations asks. Madeline softly smiles with his reaction, knowing she knew this was going to occur.

"You should be happy. Valentine's day was a good day for your daughter." Madeline baits Operations. His face begins to turn red.

"Nikita.... how many times do I need to remind you, that she is Nikita." Operations says through tensed teeth. Madeline smiles back and says not another word.

No more as Operations gone back to his intelligence, Michael and Nikita walk in. Operations drops the intelligence and looks at the two. Immediately, he notices the ring and glares at Madeline.

"This is Marius Toussaint." Operations starts without another word. "He is a Frenchman, who now lives in Puerto Rico. And he is one of the major finicial backers of many terrorist groups."

"Puerto Rico has a fantastic dance circuit, and of late, many of the couples have been found murdered. We believe that Marius Toussaint is the link, since he has created all of the contests, and gave finicial backing to the couples."

"Paris and France." Michael says during Operations' pause for air.

"Exactly. We have modified the profile of Paris and France to more suit explainations for why they dropped off of sight. First, they changed their first names. We did this so you can call each other Michael and Nikita. Second, Paris and France retired because they got married. You will be playing the honeymooning couple."

"That won't be a problem." Nikita says in a soft whisper and Michael smiles. Operations pauses and then continues.

"We gave them a family background, since Marius is a French man, he would expect Nikita to speak flawless French. We all know that this will not occur. So Nikita was her original name and when she ran away from home she changed it to Nicole. You were born in France, Your mother was a German, and you were raised in England for 14 years." Operations recites off quickly.

"When do we leave?" Nikita asks, trying to register all of the information.

"Late tonight. You must have two dances ready." Operations says. Michael nods and grabs the PDA's. The two silently stand up and leave.

Madeline walks over to the glass window and watch the two. Nikita shows Birkoff her ring and Madeline smiles.

"Why didn't you tell me that they are now acting as the married couple they are!" Operations demanded as he joined Madeline at the window.

"Because they aren't. They are engaged." Madeline says firmly.

Operations stands and watches Michael and Nikita, although more than twenty feet apart, carry on a conversation without words. Both grabs some tapes and exit.

"I want them reevaluated when they finish this mission for their psychic powers." Madeline says turning away from the window.

"Why? They have none." Operations says. Madeline turns and smiles.

"They had an entire conversation there without speaking... I guess that is nothing!" Madeline says and she walks out gracefully.

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

Michael and Nikita are in the gym area, dancing slowly. The music is just a basic latin beat. The moves are sharp and tense.

Nikita rolls her hand up Michael's back as he rolls his hand down to her buttocks. Nikita's hair sway back and forth as they intensely stare at each other's eyes. Gracefully, Michael swings Nikita in a back bend and then hard back up to his mouth.

Madeline watches from the door, holding the music that they had selected for the mission. They had decided not to practice with it now. Madeline smiles as the closeness between the two is felt in the room and anywhere the two could be observed. Madeline looks up at the camera in the room, and knows that Operations is watching in his office.

Nikita rolls her shoulder back, and picks her breasts up further towards Michael's mouth. He lightly kisses the material of her shirt near the breasts and squeezes tighter on her buttocks. Then he spins her out. On the way back, Nikita's body collaspes without warning. Michael is close enough, and grabs Nikita's back and pulls her up close to him.

"Nikita?" Michael asks, as she tries to focus her eyes on him. She shakes her head and laughs.

"I lost my footing!" Nikita says with a smile. Michael lets go of his tight grip and smiles back. They both walk over for some water and to wipe off the sweat.

"I approve of the music selection." Madeline says as she enters with the tapes. "Nikita, we have to go over clothing."

"Sure." Nikita says with a smile. Madeline presses her lips.

"The clothes are going to complicate the situation. Since it is in Puerto Rico... the ladies only wear bikini's. You won't have a gun, a comm unit, nothing." Madeline says smoothly. Operations enters.

"That is very true." Operations says. Nikita bows her head in thought.

"I don't like this.... I think it's a set up." Nikita finally says. Michael stares at her intensely as do Madeline and Operations.

"That not even a possibility." Operations says. Nikita drops her water bottle.

"They just start asking for Paris and France... Then tango couples start to die... That would get Section's attention... and two of their operatives out in the open!" Nikita says loudly.

"Nikita... how could you even think of that?" Michael asks. Nikita stares at him. She leans a hand on the wall and looks at him and walks out.

"I hope this is because she is still tired from your day of fun yesterday!" Operations says angerily, and follows Nikita out.

Madeline nods Michael over to the other side of the room.

"She didn't lose her footing." Madeline says softly. Michael closes his eyes and tenses his hands.

"She is tired.. and her leg isn't still a 100%. And we really haven't eaten since breakfast yesterday." Michael says coming up with excuses.

"Michael." Madeline says firmly and Michael looks at her.

"Nikita is fine." Michael says and walks out quickly.

Madeline stares around the room. With no one else in it, it feels extremely large in size. Madeline quickly leaves.

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

Walter walks into his room in the retreat and picks up the ringing phone as he sits down.

"Walter here." Walter says as he leans against the bed's backboard.

"Walter, we need you to come back to headquarters." Madeline says as she is on the phone in her office. Walter sits further up in bed and immediately thinks of Katherine.

"Is this necessary?" Walter asks and then whinces his face up, knowing that this was an order.

"Yes. Michael and Nikita are going on a mission tonight, that will test their abilities." Madeline says as she looks at the tiny pile of clothes that will be Nikita's.

"I won't be back in time to see them off..." Walter says softly, hoping to get some more time with Katherine.

"We will be short here." Madeline says softly. Walter stands up and starts throwing stuff into his duffel bag.

"When do they leave?" Walter asks as he quickly empties drawers.

"At nine." Madeline says. Walter sits on the edge of the bed.

"Please send a plane or a heliocopter for me." Walter says. Madeline closes her eyes and smiles gently.

"Walter, that will draw attention." Madeline says. Walter pulls out a map and looks for an airport nearby. He points at an airport and tells Madeline.

"Walter... we don't need them to send them off." Madeline says again softly.

"I want to see my sugar. Plus, if this is a difficult one.. I want to make sure everything works." Walter says with a smile as he zips up his bag.

"There won't be that much. Nikita will not be able to have a comm unit, let alone no weapons." Madeline says with a bit of anger.

"What... Are you sending her in with a bikini!" Walter says angerily, thinking that this must be Operations doing.

"In fact, yes. They are going to Puerto Rico." Madeline says in spite. Walter sits down and stands back up.

"I'll be at the airport in twenty minutes." Walter informs Madeline and she hangs up.

She looks around her office, trying to analysis herself with what she has done. She had just recieved intelligence from the retreat that Walter had developed an attachment for the lady who ran the outpost, named Katherine. Without thinking,

Madeline immediately sent for Walter. Not a thought about what he felt, and not a thought about what he would like.

Madeline looks at the sleeping Anna and sighs. She closes her eyes and tries to stop guessing why she sent for Walter.

She needs him here, and she smiled when she imagined what Walter's reaction would be when he found out about Nikita's Valentine's gift.

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

Nikita walks down the hall with her bag slung over her shoulder. She is wearing a green and yellow flannel over her bikini top. Although they were heading to Puerto Rico, both Michael and Nikita, dressed to face the harsh weather outside of Section's doors.

Walter heads in the door and starts jogging towards his workspace, the last stop of Michael and Nikita on the way out.

Madeline heads him off half way there.

"They haven't left yet." Madeline says and Walter smiles broadly. He slows his pace and walks the rest of the way to his workspace. He uncharacterically opens the blinds wide open and Madeline sits down next to him. Madeline looks up at Walter's smiling face as he first sees the two walking down the hall.

"What happened between those two.. I never saw them so close?" Walter softly asks Madeline. Madeline shrugs her shoulders and turns her attention to the couple.

Nikita turns her head and laughs at Michael as they walk hip to hip. But, suddenly, her body starts to collapse again.

Michael swiftly wraps an arm around her waist and balances her.

Nikita looks at Michael, finding it hard to focus on him. Michael looks at Nikita with worry. When she turns away from his face, he smiles and tries to push is worry away.

Madeline frowns as Walter laughs.

"Good way to get in Michael's arms." Walter laughs. He looks ahead and sees the wide smile of shock when Nikita finally sees him. She leaps from Michael's arm and jogs into his workspace.

"Sugar!" Walter says as she enters the door. Immediately, her ring is shoved up into his face. Walter takes a breath and hugs Nikita. Michael enters the room, and Walter winks at Michael as he hugs Nikita.

"It's about time this big lug did that!" Walter says as he lets go of Nikita.

The chit-chat continued as Walter gave what little equipment that was going with them. Madeline sat at a computer, pulling up all the recent tapes of Michael and Nikita. Nikita's collapse had not gone unnoticed, as Nikita hoped it would.

Suddenly there was a tap on her shoulder.

"Peaking at our dance?" Nikita says with a huge smile. Madeline flips off the screen and turns to Nikita.

"I appreciate how talented you and Michael are." Madeline says as she stands up.

"We have to go." Michael says. Nikita turns and starts to walk out. She kisses Walter's cheek softly and then turns around.

"Kiss Anna for me!" Nikita says, and before Madeline could say yes, the pair is gone.

Madeline goes back to the computer, and Walter walks up behind her. He looks at the screen and sees the tape of Nikita's other collapse. Walter touches Madeline's shoulder as he leans down.

"So it's not a one time thing?" Walter asks and he feels Madeline's shoulder tense up. He unconsciously starts to massage it.

"No." Madeline says as she exits the tape. She drops her head and lets Walter massage more. "But Michael is the best judge of it. If he felt it was more than Nikita being tired, he would have said something."

Walter stops and clicks his tongue. Madeline turns and watches Walter. Suddenly, he slams his hand to the work table.

Madeline knows that he is upset that he had no change of getting any equipment that could have been hidden on Nikita.

Madeline silently walks out as Walter trudges around the room.

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

THe warmth of the air immediately hit Nikita and Michael as they first stepped off the plane. Within minutes, Nikita had taken off her flannel and tied it around her waist, and Michael took of his sweater showed an uncharacteristic white t-shirt.

Michael and Nikita stood close together, with their bags at their feet. They stood taking in the sun, taking in being with each other, and knowing that Marius was watching them. Paris and France did not know who Marius was, so they stood easily as two lovers, waiting for the man to introduce himself.

"Buenas dias" the frenchman said as he approached the two. Michael looked at him in confusion.

"I thought we were meeting a french man?" Michael says in English. Marius broke into a wide grin.

"Paris and France, I presume?" Marius says, extending his hand.

"Yes. And it's Nikita and Michael." Nikita says as Marius kisses Nikita's hand lightly. Michael keeps his hold around Nikita's waist.

"I've read so much about you, yet, you've done so little." Marius says as he motions for two of his men to take the bags.

Marius starts to walk, and Michael and Nikita follow behind, staring at the palm trees.

"So, did you two have a nice honeymoon?" Marius asks with a wide smile. Michael smiles and winks. Nikita playfully slaps Michael.

"We went to Aspen." Nikita answers. Marius looks at the two, and inspects Nikita's bikini.

"First time you have been to a warm climate, hey?" Marius asks. The two nod in the easy lie.

"Let's get you settled."

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

Marius leads them to his hotel were the competition will be held at and they will be staying at. Marius keeps up the talking, as Michael and Nikita are able to ignore most of it, being newlyweds.

Michael grasps Nikita's waist a little tighter as he feels her body go limp as they enter the hotel. His eyes hit hers, and she looks away guiltily. Marius, and his men do not notice, as they walk in front of the couple.

"The whole field of competition is talking about your performance, and it expected to be the highlight." Marius says as he opens their hotel room's door.

"We can only hope so." Michael says as he brings Nikita in for a passionate embrace. Marius looks at the two and smiles.

"We'll leave you alone." Marius says and he leaves. As the door closes, Michael grabs a device and scans for bugs and cameras, just in case it is a set up.

"We're clean." Michael says outloud for Birkoff and he hears Birkoff typing on the keys. Michael stares at Nikita as she leans back on the bed, looking tired from the plane trip, although she slept most of the way. She looks up and stares into Michael's eyes.

"Birkoff.. me and Nikita need to have a private conversation." Michael says, and he hears Birkoff stop typing.

"Fine... but not too long." Birkoff says. Michael immediately turns off the comm unit.

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

Lyrics from Madonna's DEEPER AN DEEPER

Michael leads Nikita onto the patio dance floor the next afternoon. She is wearing a black bikini, and some make-up easily covers the scar from her bullet injury. Michael is wearing a white tank top and a pair of short black shorts.

They assume the typically tango position, and within two steps, move away from the position. Their hands slowly start rubbing up and down each other's arms.

I CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVER...
I FALL DEEPER AND DEEPER THE FURTHER I GO...
KISSES SENT FROM HEAVEN ABOVE...
THEY GET SWEETER AND SWEETER THE MORE THAT I KNOW...

Michael pulls Nikita roughly into his arms and the crowd of elites start to cheer with hoots and hollers. The men groan as Michael's hands rub across the bare buttocks of Nikita.

WHEN YOU KNOW THE NOTES TO SING...
YOU CAN SING MOST ANYTHING...
THAT'S WAHT MY MAMA TOLD ME..
ROUND AND ROUND AND ROUND YOU GO..
WHEN YOU FIND LOVE YOU'LL ALWAYS KNOW...

Nikita roughly pulls Michael from her buttocks and place her hands in Michael's. They quickly move across the floor in the summer light and soon, Michael's tank top is thrown into the crowd.

I LET MY FATHER MOLD ME...
DADDY COULDN'T ALWAYS BE WRONG...
(I'M NOT GONNA LET YOU SLIP AWAY, I'M GONNA BE THERE...)
AND MY MAMA MADE ME LEARN THIS SONG...
(YOU'RE GONNA BRING YOUR LOVE TO ME, I'M GONNA GE YOU...)
THAT'S WHY...

Michael pulls Nikita's hair and draws her neck back. He places hungry bites at her neck and then continues down her neck. She wraps her hands to the front of his waist. The crowd is on their feet, with their mouth opened wide.

I CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE...
I FALL DEEPER AND DEEPER THE FURTHER I GO...
THE KISSES SENT FROM HEAVEN ALONE...
THEY GET SWEETER AND SWEETER THE MORE THAT I KNOW...

Nikita jumps up and grinds her legs into Michael's. The music cuts and the crowd becomes dejected as Michael and Nikita take their bows. Michael has his hand loosely around Nikita's waist, when again, she collapses. Michael handles the situation, but several of Marius' men are there, along with other competitors.

"Michael.. what is going on?" Birkoff demands through the comm unit.

"Are you alright?" Marius asks Nikita as he makes way to the chair that Michael places her in. Nikita wipes the wet hair out of her face.

"I'm not use to the heat." Nikita says with a smile. Marius stands up and looks at Michael.

"I'm sure no other woman would stand up to that heat either." Marius says with a wink and leaves.

"YUCK! YUCK! I WISH YOU COULD PUNCH THAT MAN!" Birkoff screams. Michael pushes the small crowd that is hovering around Nikita.

"Enough." Michael says to Birkoff and the crowd.

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

Madeline walks in firm footsteps from Medlab into her office, holding a white sheet in her hand. Quickly, she sends for Walter and Birkoff for a meeting in her office in ten minutes. Madeline then sits down and secures the line with Michael, not wanting Operations go over the top with what is going on.

"Michael, we need to talk." Madeline says. Michael appears in the hotel room. He stands up from the chair next to the bed where Nikita lays sleeping.

"Nikita is sleeping." Michael informs Madeline. Madeline turns her chair away from the door.

"I just spoke to the doctors in Medlab." Madeline says as Walter opens the door a crack. He is about to leave until he hears Madeline say, "We need to bring Nikita in for a full physical exam."

"So what is going on?" Michael softly demands as he stands as far away from Nikita has he can. Madeline looks down at the sheet of paper and leans back.

"The collapses are what they call, cataplexy, which is recurrent, sudden collapses without loss of consciousness."

Madeline reads from the paper.

"And do we know what is causing it?" Michael say with an annoyed tone.

"That's why we need to examine her, because it could be as simple as a bad diet..but the list of what it could be is long."

Madeline says looking at the list, most of which is worse than she wants to think about.

"Madeline?" Michael says, knowing that she is hiding more.

"It could be a genetic defect, prostration, diabetes, cancer, poisons, and the list goes on." Madeline says in an upset voice.

"What is prostration?" Michael asks as he looks back into the bedroom.

"Total exhaustion." Madeline says with a slight smile. Walter steps into the room, with a genuine worried look on his face.

"And the mission?" Michael asks. "You know it hasn't gone as planned yet."

"Marius is the bad guy, and you must complete the mission, but the sooner the better." Madeline says as she turns around and sees Walter standing there.

"But I can't be holding Nikita constantly." Michael says with a bit of anger. He softly walks back into the bedroom. "And what if this is a set up?"

"Michael, we have back up on the island, but don't worry." Madeline says. "I would have you already out of there if I believed that Nikita's condition put you two in danger."

"And what does Operations think?" Michael asks as he touches Nikita's soft arm.

"He doesn't. Actually, I am really putting my head out on a platter here. He wanted me to leave you guys go on this." Madeline says softly. She looks up at Walter and shrugs. "Michael, I must go."

Madeline breaks the communication and turns it back to a regular line. Walter walks behind her and starts to hold her shoulders.

"So, my sugar is bad." Walter says tenderly and Madeline shuts her eyes.

"We can't judge that." Madeline says. The door opens and Birkoff enters.

"I wish you would tell me when you are going to secure a line like that!" Birkoff says angerily as he sits down. Madeline frowns at Birkoff.

"I don't have too, and you know that." Madeline says. She looks briefly at Walter and then smiles. "But let's keep that between us."

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

Lyrics from Rain by Madonna

Nikita walks infront of Michael towards were the competition dancefloor had been moved to. Michael looks ahead, and frowns because Nikita is being her normal headstrong self.

Marius shows Nikita the new dancefloor and Nikita smiles. The floor has been placed right infront of a giant waterfall that feeds into the pool, which the dancefloor has been placed over. "I thought that this would help you with the extreme heat." Marius says with a smile.

Soon, Michael and Nikita are on the dance floor. Nikita smiles at Michael and Michael goes to whisper something into her ear.

"Guys, we have a change in our dance." Michael says and Birkoff starts to go off the handle.

RAIN...
FELL IT ON MY FINGER TIPS...
HEAR IT ON MY WINDOW PANE...
YOUR LOVE'S COMING DOWN THE LIKE...

The music is soft and sweet, compaired to the other songs that Michael and Nikita have danced to before. They stand apart, and sway back and forth lightly. Their fingertips barely touching each other. They move in the traditional tango step with only the fingertips touching.

RAIN...
WASH AWAY MY SORROW...
TAKE AWAY MY PAIN...
YOUR LOVE'S COMING DOWN THE LIKE...
RAIN...

Finally, Michael grabs Nikita's body and brings it close to his. Her black biniki is just three pieces of floss, as Michael is in black shorts that come to his knees. Nikita moves her hands to Michael's waistband and pulls.

WHEN YOUR LIPS ARE BURNING MINE...
AND YOU TAKE THE TIME TO TELL ME HOW YOU FEEL...
WHEN YOU LISTEN TO MY WORDS...
AND I'VE KNOW YOU'VE HEARD...
I KNOW IT'S REAL...

Nikita leans her head back as Michael gently nips at her neck and travels down to her neck. Nikita pulls on the band again, and soon Michael is standing in black speedos. Nikita moans lightly as they sway with the soft and slow music.

RAIN IS WHAT THE THUNDER BRINGS...
FOR THE FIRST TIME...
I CAN HEAR MY HEART SING...
CALL ME A FOOL BUT I KNOW I'M NOT...
I'M GONNA STAND OUT HERE ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP...
TILL I FEEL YOUR...

Nikita smiles at Michael, and quickly they leap into the waterfall. They continue their dance their, with the water falling down over thier bodies. Nikita kisses Michael's chest hard, and he picks her up by the waist and slings her around his body.

Their wet bodies slap hard together.

RAIN...
I FEEL IT ON MY FINGERTIPS...
HEAR IT ON MY WINDOW PANE...
YOUR LOVE'S COMING LIKE...

The bell rings for the dance to end, but Michael and Nikita continued as planned. Nikita drops to her knees and starts kissing up Michael's leg, heading up quickly.

RAIN...
WASH AWAY MY SORROW...
TAKE AWAY MY PAIN...
YOUR LOVE'S COMING DOWN LIKE...
RAIN...

Marius has the music cut off and he jumps into the waterfall and pulls out the two breathless lovers. The crowd is cheering and chanting. Nikita kisses Michael and laughs.

"MICHAEL!!!! I am going to get you for this one!" Birkoff screams through the comm unit. Michael smiles at Nikita.

"Let me go get us some towels." Nikita says, and she leaves before Michael could protest, or try to join her. Marius smiles and looks at Michael.

"I have to talk to the judges about that.... at least your a crowd favorite." Marius says patting Michael on the back.

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

Nikita bounds to the room quickly, knowing that in Marius won't be far behind her. She opens the hotel door and immediately collapse. Nikita crawls in to the room as Marius comes up the hall.

"Now Madeline won't like that!" Marius says as he pulls Nikita up and pulls the door close.

"What are you talking about?" Nikita says, realizing that it was a set up.

"Now, Nikita... we know you're not the stupid one in the family, that would be your father who sent you on this mission."

Marius says with a smile. He throws a towel at her and smiles with an evil grin.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Nikita asks, raising an eyebrow up. She stares right into Marius' eyes and does not flinch.

"Josephine... you should make sure that you blow up the entire complex next time... before saving your father." Marius says with a laugh. He puts a hand on her side and runs his hand to the scar.

"I heard you almost lost your leg." Marius says. Nikita steps back, and almost falls again.

"I tore a muscle that had to be surgically repaired." Nikita answers back fluidly.

"Only a tore muscle, and they kept you sedated for three days! How horrible!" Marius says and he grabs Nikita again.

"You and your partner Mikey... do you actually do everything I've heard... are you that active?" Marius asks as he grabs Nikita. Nikita tries to stay in the role of the tango dancer and not of the operative who wants to kills this man right now.

"I have no idea what you are talking about!" Nikita says loudly as she half struggles to get out of his arms. Marius laughs and pulls a gun.

"I'm not that stupid to play games with a trained killer... how many innocents did you kill... eight, ten... or did you stop counting..." Marius says as he pulls her arm. "You'll wave to Michael and you will come to my room with me... understand?"

Nikita nods and struggles to keep her legs underneath her.

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

Michael starts to pace in the warm sunlight as his hair is starting to dry. He walks from one edge of the pool to the other edge, constantly looking for Nikita through the thick crowd.

"Michael, what's taking Nikita so long?" Birkoff asks for the hundredth time. Michael scans the crowd again, and lightly swears into the air.

"Birkoff, get Madeline for me." Michael says softly as he turns and is immediately mobbed by some of the fans. The ladies swoon over Michael, rubbing up against his still drying body, but he looks past their heads, searching for Nikita.

"Michael, what is it?" Madeline asks as she enters the line. Michael excuses himself and walks to a empty spot.

"Nikita hasn't returned... these collapses, they wouldn't get worse would they?" Michael asks as he looks towards the last spot he say Nikita. He pauses and scans for Marius.

"We can't determine that." Madeline says nervously, as she stand in the middle of the Section nerve center, with Operations watching her every move.

Just as Michael is about to walk to the room, Nikita emerges with a smile on her face. Then Michael sees Marius with his arm linked in Nikita. Michael smiles brightly at Nikita, a response that he forces as he want to kill her for doing this. Nikita waves lightly and smiles brightly back.

"Something is wrong." Michael mutters as he bottles the urge to run after Nikita. His eyes locked with Nikita's and he feels that Nikita is handling ok, but also scared. Scared of what? Michael thinks as he searches her eyes, but Marius soon leads her away. Scared of dying? Scared of Marius? None of that sounded like Nikita. Scared of her collapses... now maybe that was the ticket.

"Michael? Michael?" Madeline calls out and breaks Michael from his thoughts. He smiles at some passing people.

"It's a set up. Marius has Nikita." Michael immediately says. Madeline closes her eyes and feels Operations' glare from above going through her body. Madeline smiles at Birkoff and writes something down and leaves.

Once out of sight from Operations, she breaks into a jog to her office. Walter sits there watching Anna.

"Michael! I had to change position... I'm sending back up in." Madeline says hurriedly as she flys around her desk. Birkoff walks in and goes to her computer.

"What shall I do?" Michael asks as he picks up a glass of water from a waiter. He takes a sip and looks around the crowd.

"Anything you do may endanger Nikita's life even more." Madeline says as Birkoff sends orders for the backup team to close in.

"Channel C" Birkoff says to Madeline.

"Monitor on Channel C." Madeline says and Michael fidgets.

"We don't know how Nikita is!" Michael says like a growl of a dog. Madeline closes her eyes.

"Nikita is creative. You have to trust her on that." Madeline says as she sits down.

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

The door opened, and Marius shoves Nikita into the room and slams the door shut. His one hand holds onto Nikita's shoulder tightly and his other hand holds the gun.

"Let's dance." Marius says, and he pulls Nikita in tightly to him. Nikita feels her right eye twitching and she struggles to keep her body in the upright position.

"It will be the Danse Macabre... the dance of death!" Marius laughs as he pulls her hair with his free hand as the hand with the gun rests on Nikita's chest, with the gun pointing towards her face.

Nikita doesn't concentrate on his words, but rather on how to keep her body up. She closes her eyes as he runs the gun around her face.

"I don't know if I want to kill you and Michael, or just you, and watch Michael slowly kill himself..." Marius laughs loudly into Nikita's ear. Nikita turns her head, trying to get her situations clear. No windows, and only the one door. In the corner sits his desk and computer, but in the middle it is wide open.

"Walter is probably killing himself over the fact he didn't repair the tooth for this mission!" Marius laughs again, and NIkita smells the banana on his breath.

Quickly, Nikita collapses into a heap on the floor. Her hair falls all around her head, and she sways back and forth, trying to regain her balance.

"Oh, such a bad way..." Marius says as he stands above Nikita. Nikita looks up, and jumps up and bites Marius animally in his 'family jewels'.

"YYYYYYYYYikees! My My my... SHHHHHIIII!" Marius screams in pain as Nikita gets to her knees and before Marius can finish the swear word, slams her fist in a bone-breaking uppercross. Marius' body flies backwards and Nikita gains her feet, and dashes over to the desk. She easily finds the disk, which Marius stupidly labeled... "Section.. Friends and Foes".

Nikita grabs a shirt from Marius' closet and places the disk in the shirt pocket. She glances down at Marius' unconscious body. In a moment, she realizes unconsciousness is too nice of a stare for this animal. She bends over the body, and sways for a second. "Danse Macabre..." Nikita mutters as she snaps Marius' neck.

Quickly, she drags him into the closet, hoping that it will give her and Michael enough time to escape. She pauses at the brink of opening the door, to steady her slow moving legs. Nikita closes her eyes and swears. Then she opens the door, out to find Michael.

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

Nikita walks out into the pool area, and immediately grabs a glass of water. She looks for a private spot, and spits the water out. She cringes as she thinks more of what she did, more exactly, what she bit.

Michael suddenly looks over and starts to move quickly to her. Nikita slowly moves, not because she didn't want to be in his arms, but because any quicker, she'd end up on the floor again.

"Nikita!" Michael says happily as he wraps his arm around her waist.

"Michael... is she with you?" Madeline asks as she jumps out of her chair.

"Let's get out of here." Nikita says softly, and Madeline sits back down, in relief.

"We have to finish..." Michael starts to say, but Nikita puts two fingers over his mouth, and taps the pocket. Michael looks into the pocket, and sees the disk.

"And Marius?" Michael asks as he slowly moves the two towards their room to gather their bags.

"Danse Macabre..." Nikita says lightly with a small grin. Michael smiles back with understandment.

"How?" Michael asks, and Nikita stares at Michael in puzzlement.

"Snap!" Nikita says as she motions with her hands what she did to him.

"The humane way." Michael says as he opens their hotel room door.

"Michael, back up will take you and Nikita to the waiting airplane, immediately." Madeline says as Birkoff informs the back up team. Madeline sits, wondering what else Nikita did to get out of the situation.

"Oh, he felt some pain!" Nikita flashes a bright smile across her face and Michael looks at her as he slings the two bags over his shoulder.

"I don't think I want to know how." Michael says after he locks with Nikita's eyes.

"Damn... I can't find out anything as long as they don't talk with words!" Madeline mutters and Walter smiles. He leans against the desk and whispers, "Twenty bucks that Nikita used her teeth."

Madeline turns back to the line, listening to the quiet line. She hears some stumbling and a little laugh.

Michael, tired of holding Nikita by the side, sweeps her up into his arms. He cradles her and walks out the front door. The back up unit opens the door to a van marked... Airtrans...

Michael settles Nikita in the van and sits next to her. Her eyes drop from weariness.

"Nikita, we need this checked." Michael says softly as he puts his hand on Nikita's knee. Nikita nods, but keeps her head away.

"I'm just tired." Nikita says as she closes her eyes.

"I hope that is all." Michael mutters as Nikita already drifts to sleep. He leans her head on his chest.

She stays that way, and does not wake as they move to the airplane.

"I hope that is all." Madeline says as she turns off the line, and chases Walter and Birkoff out of her office.

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

Madeline stands in the hallway, waiting for Michael and Nikita to arrive back. She hears Nikita's forceful steps before she sees the blonde. Nikita smiles, withdraws the disk from her shirt pocket and hands it over to Madeline.

"Good job." Madeline says with a slight nod of her head. Michael is finally joining the crowd.

"Of course." Nikita says with a small smile. Operations walks down the hall, with Walter and Birkoff. He snatches the disk out of Madeline's hand, hands it to Birkoff and walks away, with Birkoff running ahead.

"Well, if you don't mind, I do leave in five hours for the retreat..." Nikita says as she starts to move away. Michael stands still infront of Madeline as Walter slowly walks down the hall with Nikita.

"She seems well." Madeline says. Michael looks down the hall at Nikita, who is now laughing at something that Walter said.

"She slept the entire way back." Michael informs Madeline and Madeline nods her head.

"So it was because of prostration." Madeline says with a slight smile. Michael drops his head with a smile.

"HEY! Someone help me here!" Walter calls out. Both Madeline and Michael hurry down the hall before even registering a limp Nikita being barely held on to by Walter. Her head rolls around like a rag doll as Michael graps her up in his strong arms.

"MEDLAB." Madeline orders as she sees Nikita trying to focus on her face. Michael steps out quickly, with Walter not far behind.

Madeline slowly walks down the hall to the nerve center, shaking her head in disappointment that it wasn't just prostration.

"How long has that been going on?" Operations asks as he steps up from behind Madeline.

"Why should you care?" Madeline shots back and quickly exits the area.

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

Madeline stands in the same spot that she did five hours previously. Walter stands off to her side as they watch the last few moments that Nikita has with Michael, before she goes to finish her duties up at the retreat.

"Clean bill of health?" Walter asks as he looks at the couple.

"Yes. They gave her some vitamins, told her to eat more often and better, and sent her on her way." Madeline says in an uniform manner.

"That's good to hear." Walter says without much emotion.

"Yes it is." Madeline says and she turns to leave. -------------------------------------------------

"Nikita...." Michael says as he stares deeply into her eyes.

"MMM?" Nikita asks as she stares back in the same intensity.

"It's not as bad as before...." Michael says softly as he pushes a strand of hair away from her face.

"It's not like I'm leaving you...." Nikita says with one of the softest smiles Michael has ever seen.

Michael softly rolls her back into his chest, and places his chin on her shoulder. Nikita lifts his hand up to her mouth and kisses it lightly.

"I have to go." Nikita says, pulling away as the driver motions for her. Michael deeply kisses her, and Nikita moves away.

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

Operations turns off the screen and looks at one of the Medlab doctors.

"So, everything is fine?" Operations asks as the doctor stands infront of him trembling.

"Yes." The doctor replies with a squeek in his voice.

"And you wouldn't hide anything from me?" Operations asks. The doctor shakes his head no.

"Nothing was wrong with her, I swear!" The doctor responds and leaves in a hurry.

Operations sits down, and leans his head into his resting palms.

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