Nikita opens the door to the apartment and turns on the light. She closes the door and throws the keys on the counter. She takes the beret off of her hair and swings her head free, feeling the need to blow off some steam. Nikita opens the freezer door hoping to find some Chunky Peanut Butter Chip Chocolate Ice Cream, but is only met with at box of baking soda. Nikita shuts the door and sighs, not really wanting anything else but ice cream.

She walks over to the CD player and turns on the CD that is in, but quickly turns off the Gloria Estefan CD. She turns on a local radio station and goes to change her top.

Nikita opens the dresser drawer hard as she thinks of what Operations did. He had her rope weakened, knowing that Michael would save her.

She clenches her teeth as she pull off her black sweater and pulls on a light pink tank top. She pulls her hair up into a pony tail and sighs.

Nikita walks back into the kitchen and fills a glass with some water. She drinks it quickly, but her thirst is not gone. She opens the refrigerator's door and looks into the bare space. Except for the box of baking soda.. there is only a half of a jeroboam of Merlot. Nikita closes the door and takes another glass of water.

For a few minutes she paces around the living room until she pushes the couch to the wall and gives herself a giant room to move about. Nikita takes some deep breaths and quickly slips into some t'ai chi movements. Nikita moves smoothly and slowly until a sweat is built up.

She stops and thinks back to her want for something else but water to drink.

Nikita shrugs her shoulders and heads for the refrigerator and pulls out the Merlot. She pours a nice size glass and sips it slowly as she opens the cubboards, but does not find any food. Nikita debates going to the store for some food, but decides not to since she doesn't want to change again.

Nikita sits at the couch sipping the Merlot healthily as her hand starts to tap to the music of the radio. Nikita tells herself that this will be all, and she'll do some more t'ai chi movements and then put her tired body to bed. But with each sip Nikita starts to feel more alive and forgets her promise to herself.

Madeline looks at the computer and is surprized to see Nikita indulge herself with a drink. Other than when Nikita is with Michael, Madeline has never seen Nikita drink. Madeline draws herself closer to the screen, wondering if this is the beginning of the breaking of Nikita's self-imposed coldness. Madeline quickly leaves that thought and decides to go with the thought that this is probably a reaction to the actions of Operations. Madeline then starts to dwell on Operations, who can't decided if he wants to stay out of Nikita's life or control it. Madeline jots something down on her notepad and brings her attention back to the screen as Nikita stands up, now looking much more relaxed and heading back to the kitchen. Madeline smiles as she receives a message from the sensor on the balcony that a visitor, identified as a Section personnel has taken a position on the balcony.

"Hello, Michael." Madeline mutters as she sits back in her chair and wishes she had popcorn.

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

Nikita swings her head lightly back and forth, feeling waves of freedom swimming over her body. She holds the glass in her hand as she starts to dance lightly. A couple dance moves, and Nikita's swinging hair is dipping into the Merlot. "I'm free... ahh..." Nikita mutters softly as she pulls the hair out of the Merlot and not wanting to waste Merlot, she sucks the blonde hair dry.

Michael hides on the balcony, and the rain falls on his head. The small overhang does not provide much more protection from the rain. Michael watches carefully, but making sure that Nikita will not see him.

"Damn it, Nikita.. why the Merlot?" Michael mutters as he sees Nikita dancing lightly. She looks pretty well gone, and Michael is happy when he sees that the glass is empty.

"An empty glass! Ha..ha..ha.. Michael would have me quit.... BUT NO MICHAEL HERE!" Nikita laughs. She skips over to the counter where the bottle is. She starts to pour but then stops. "No one to share with.. what the hell!" Nikita says as she downs the partial glass and then picks up the bottle. Now, moving back to the livingroom, the song on the radio becomes faster and faster. Nikita sets down the bottle and thrashes her body along with the music. Her hair whips around in the air and she stumbles quite often.

"Nikita... stop..." Michael moans outside in the rain. He wants to walk in and talk the wine out of her hand and her possession. Michael knows that Nikita really needs some coffee, that Nikita gets extremely emotional when she gets this drunk.

"Ahhh... Bathroom..." Nikita says, and she runs to the bathroom. She barely makes it into the toilet and is quickly back in the livingroom, drinking and dancing.

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

Madeline sits her office, continuing to watch the drama unfold itself in Nikita's apartment. She could see the subtle hints that Nikita's good mood is starting to leave. Madeline touches her hair as she shudders at the thought of Nikita being a mean drunk, and Nikita would be a handful. Madeline laughs at her own thought... Nikita is a handful to start with. Madeline sees the screen blink that Michael has shifted his position. "Michael will not fail on this mission." Madeline says softly and she turns the screen off. When Michael entered the apartment, she would be notified.

Nikita moves to the mantel and sees a picture of Michael. With one thrash of her hands the picture goes flying across the room. "Go to hell, Michael!!!" Nikita screams, trying to ward off the bad feelings.

She wanted to be happy. She goes to the bottle and finds it almost empty. She takes another sip from the bottle and then slams the bottle down. "I don't need you... I don't need anyone... I didn't need anyone when I was on the streets.. why would that change now!" Nikita starts to mutter loudly, screaming at the walls.

Michael closes his eyes as he listens to Nikita's screams. Somehow, although they were mutterings of Nikita's drunken state, some of them held the truths. Michael wonder each day why Nikita trusted him. It was so stupid of her to do so. Michael turns his back, feeling bad about this situation. He was the one who was causing Nikita to do this.

"Screw you Operations... do you see me... do you see me... SCREW YOU FATHER!" Nikita screams at a corner where a camera is. She is flinging her body around towards the camera. She hits herself in the chest and gives several fingers to the camera. "I HATE YOU!!! I HATE YOU!!!! I Hate you more than Michael!" Nikita screams and swallows hard as she needs to throw up. She dashes to the bathroom, and knocks the radio off.

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

(Lyrics from Foolish Games by Jewel)

Nikita steps from the bathroom and turns on the radio lightly. She moves around the apartment, trying to find an emotionally neutral place, but Nikita finds it hard, because they had been so *active* in all places of the apartment. Nikita turns towards the balcony and is tempted to walk out in the rain to catch some fresh air. The lightening flashes and Nikita swears she sees Michael.

YOU TOOK YOUR COAT OFF AND STOOD IN THE RAIN...
YOU WERE ALWAYS CRAZY LIKE THAT...

Nikita shakes her head and really starts to feel the spinning world. She moves to the livingroom and closes the scrapbook. She moves it to the shelf and looks away. She closes her eyes and concentrates on not following apart totally.

I WATCHED FROM MY WINDOW...
ALWAYS FELT I WAS LOOKING OUTSIDE LOOKING IN ON YOU...

Michael moves into the shadows and further into the rain as Nikita moves back near the balcony. He holds his breath as he looks at Nikita as she stares at the lightening.

YOU WERE ALWAYS THE MYSTERIOUS ONE...
WITH DARK EYES AND CARELESS HAIR...

Nikita opens the door and steps out into the rain. She spins with her hands up in the air. "I LOVE YOU MICHAEL!!!!!!!" Nikita screams as she leans against the bar of the balcony.

YOU WERE FASHIONABLY SENSITIVE, BUT TOO COOL TO CARE...
THEN YOU STOOD IN MY DOORWAY, WITH NOTHING TO SAY...

Michael looks at the now broken down Nikita and walks into the apartment and turns off the music. He waves to the camera and knows that Madeline will roast him in the morning.

Nikita is passed out on the balcony when Michael lifts her in his arms. He makes the decision to place her on the couch, because then she would never suspect that he was there.

Michael picks up the Merlot and takes a small drink of it himself, thinking he might as well have some. Before he leaves back through the balcony, he looks down at Nikita and sighs. "I love you too." Michael whispers and closes the balcony door.

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

Nikita stirs her head as she hears an unfamiliar knock at the door. A headache throbs but Nikita runs her fingers through her hair and runs to the door.

"Hello." Birkoff says pushing a cup of coffee into Nikita's hand. Birkoff comes in and Nikita shuts the door.

"Why are you here?" Nikita asks as she pulls her hair up into a loose bun.

"Madeline said that you were out of coffee and to bring some over for you. I never second guess Madeline." Birkoff says as he moves into the kitchen. "Merlot?"

"It was an old bottle sitting around." Nikita says as she looks down at her clothes and notices that they are still wet. She tries to piece together the pieces.. she swears Michael was there.

"When did it stop raining?" Nikita asks as she turns to Birkoff.

"About an hour ago." Birkoff says and Nikita shakes her head, trying to figure it out, but believes that she was asleep for more than an hour. Birkoff moves towards the balcony and notices the drenched floor.

"What did you do Nikita... have a wet t-shirt contest without me?" Birkoff asks and Nikita's head snaps up quickly.

"Since when did you start to talk like Walter?" Nikita fires back.

Birkoff places his hands up and sits down to wait for Nikita to get ready.

Michael walks into Madeline's office and sits down. Madeline stares at Michael. "Do you know why I sent you there?" Madeline finally asks after the long silence.

"I'm not quite sure." Michael admits easily as his eyes still want sleep.

"To show you that although Nikita is pulling away from you.. that she still loves you.. a lot." Madeline says with a soft smile. "She drank alot of Merlot."

"Yes." Madeline says as she stands up.

"And you know what I had to do." Michael says as he turns his head away from Madeline.

"You had to do that. I realize that." Madeline says as she touches his shoulders. "I want you to get some sleep. Take the day off."

"A day off just gives me more time to think about her." Michael says in a faint voice.

"Michael.. you are in the position you placed Nikita in for a long time... imagine if this continues for a couple months... maybe a year.... I don't think I have to tell you how this made Nikita to who she is." Madeline says.

Nikita stares at the couple working out but can only think about what happened last night. She shakes her head as she imagines screaming on the balcony during a storm. Nikita smuggles a smile and then turns back to the business at hand.

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