Birkoff sits at his computer, but his eyes are not on the computer. In following his glance.. no his gaze.. no, his stare, it is easily seen he is looking at the exotic young woman sitting diagonial to Birkoff at another computer.

Birkoff is lost in her long smooth black hair and the golden honey brown of her skin. He is in a trance with her smile of the sun and her eyes that twinkle like diamonds are inside.

Birkoff is so much in the trance, that his fingers barely touch the keyboard as his head does not move from it's target. She glances over every once in a while, and Birkoff quickly turns his own head away. But slowly, starting from a position down near his chest, Birkoff turns his head back to the image of the exotic woman.

"Hey there Birkoff.. do you have that intel?" Walter asks as he pats Birkoff's back and Birkoff jumps up in his chair, breaking his contact with the woman.

"Walter?!?...What was that Walter?" Birkoff asks neverously as he reestablishes a look at the computer. Walter looks over at the young lady and smiles. He looks at the screen and sees that it hasn't moved since he was here ten minutes earlier.

"Why don't you just ask her out?" Walter whispers and Birkoff starts to move in his chair like there were ants in his pants.

"Who? What? I don't understand..." Birkoff reacts quickly, and Walter begins to laugh heartily.

"Elana... you've been watching her for ten minutes." Walter says as he watches Birkoff steal a look at the woman.

"I don't know what you are talking about... what intel did you need again?" Birkoff asks as he finally touches the computer's keyboard.

"Latest intel on the IRA.. remember?" Walter says as he leans down near the computer.

"You know Walter... it's been a mad house here since the Stephen thing.. and now Maddie is in charge.. and somehow Michael and Nikita got the day off.." Birkoff says quickly, trying to change the subject.

"You might get a day off if you HAD someone!" Walter says as he stands up straight again. "Hey, just when you're finished playing peek a boo with Elana there.. I need that intel." Walter says and he turns and leaves.

Birkoff sighs and leans back in his chair for a second and sees Elana slam her hand agains the keyboard.

"Are you having problems?" Birkoff asks softly as he walks over to Elana. Elana looks up and Birkoff takes a deep breath as he looks at her computer screen.

"I'm on a cross training pattern... they want me to learn this communications stuff but still be in Medlab...go figure!" Elana says with a soft feminine laugh. Birkoff struggles to maintain his eyes on the screen to fix the problem.

"You hit F4 and not F5.. that's all." Birkoff says with a slight smile towards Elana.

"Weren't you in Medlab a while back?" Elana asks with a raised eyebrow.

"Uhhh mmm .. not... mmm.. uhh.." Birkoff stutters around the answer.

"I know you.. Michael really let you have it... did you get your test results yet?" Elana says with a loud laugh and then a snort. Birkoff quickly leaves from the her computer and back to his. Soon he dives head in into the intel for Walter, trying to forget the laughing beauty who know all about the one stupid thing he did!

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

Birkoff walks behind Elana on his way to hand Walter the intel he was looking for. Birkoff looks at her screen and sees that Elana was heading for problems and sooner than later. Birkoff looks over his shoulder to see if any other operative was not busy to help Elana, but with Madeline going crazy with two jobs, all were busy.

"You need to escape out that screen..." Birkoff says nervously from five feet away from Elana. Elana looks over her shoulder at Birkoff and then back at her computer screen. She hits escape and moans as another image appears that she does not want.

"Or you could just through the keyboard into the screen and me over with it... Madeline would never let you touch another computer." Birkoff pipes up as he notices Elana's anger. Again she looks over her shoulder at the approaching Birkoff before she turns back to the computer.

"Here..." Birkoff says, leaning down and hitting the control button and then the F1 button. It takes Elana back to the main screen. "It will take you back to this screen anytime."

"Thanks." Elana says sharply and then looks at Birkoff with her eyes shimmering. "Good to know you know something about computers.. you know how to protect them from virus but not yourself!" Elana says loudly, and some operatives around the area snicker, and Birkoff walks quickly to Walter's workspace.

"Here is your damn intel!" Birkoff yells and slams onto the desk and is about to leave when Walter grabs him by his arm.

"Now, what is wrong?" Walter asks with a glare in his eyes. Birkoff glances out at the floor, were an operative is giving a high-five to Elana for the comment.

"I will never have any respect here... one mistake and it is held against you forever..." Birkoff says and Walter begins to laugh.

"Girl problems..." Walter laughs and Birkoff starts to turn red.

"No... I just wish 'Kita was here..." Birkoff says and Walter looks up from his desk and at the pile of work that Madeline had shuffled off onto him.

"I wish she was here too... but it is only for one day!" Walter says with an exaggerated stress on the ending of the sentence.

"I have to go get some air... can you cover for me?" Birkoff says as he shoves his hands into his pockets. Walter drops his hands onto the counter top and look hard at Birkoff.

"And how am I suppose to cover for the computer genius of Section? I think it will be noticed!" Walter says as he shakes his head, but with a look knows that Birkoff was going to brave the wild and go interrupt Nikita and Michael on their day off. "Be careful... they are animals..." Walter warns Birkoff has he pushes him out of his workspace.

"So you'll cover for me?" Birkoff asks with a smile.

"You went on an double stuff Oreo run... Madeline will believe that one!" Walter says, and Birkoff starts to run down the hall.

"I won't be long.. I promise..." Birkoff calls out. Walter turns and walks back into his workspace, shaking his head.

"God... if Operations was here, he'd have my head." Walter mutters as he pulls up the intel that Birkoff dropped off.

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

Nikita opens the door and rolls her head as she sees Birkoff. "Doesn't anyone understand what the words 'Day off' mean?" Nikita says as Birkoff enters. Nikita's hair is pulled up in a pony tail and she is wearing black jogging pants and a light pink shirt. Birkoff looks at Nikita, and notices that she had neglected a bra. "Stupid! It's her day off!" Birkoff screams in her head.

"Which brother or sister of mine now?" Nikita asks as she closes the door, and Birkoff looks at Nikita totally confused.

"I needed... ah... your advice.." Birkoff says slowly as he heads for the livingroom. Nikita follows behind him and watches Birkoff sit down on the couch.

"Girl problems?" Nikita asks with a smile and a raised eyebrow. Nikita's smile continues into laughter as Birkoff starts to turn red.

"I knew it... is it Elana?"

"How did you know?" Birkoff says loudly, but also wondering were Michael is. Nikita stands up.

"I have my ways... do you want something to drink... as in soda, milk, juice, coffee?" Nikita asks with a broad smile as she pokes fun at Birkoff's mishap a while back.

"I am so sick of that!!!" Birkoff comments as he looks at Nikita. "Do you have ginger ale?" Birkoff asks with a smile. Nikita nods her head and goes to the kitchen.

"Nikita.. hon..." Michael says loudly as he walks out of the bedroom holding only a towel on his wet dripping hair. He immediately sees Birkoff and jumps back in the room. Nikita clenches her teeth and runs to the bedroom.

"When did he get here!" Michael says as he starts to pull on clothing.

"Just a few minutes ago.." Nikita says with eyes begging forgiveness.

"God, Nikita.. you could have told me..." Michael says as he quickly pulls on a shirt.

"I know.. and I'm sorry... really..." Nikita says and Michael leans over and kisses her on the cheek.

"He needs to learn what a day off means." Michael says and Nikita smiles. She walks back to the kitchen and retrieves the pop.

Birkoff looks very embarassed as Nikita hands him the ginger ale.

Nikita sits down next to Birkoff and Michael enters the room, with his blank stare.

"So, what do we have this pleasure for?" Michael asks Birkoff, and Birkoff is taken back by Michael's totally composure. Birkoff swallows hard, not wanting to talk about his love life problems with the king of sauve and smoothe moves, the Section's Don Juan.

"He has girl problems.. Elana!" Nikita says with a grin on her face.

"Get out, Nikita." Michael orders and both Nikita and Birkoff become nervous.

"No.. he came to see me!" Nikita says as she sits up straight on the couch.

"Yeah!" Birkoff pipes up.

"Get out.... he needs a man to man..." Michael says as he looks over at Birkoff.

"HEY! I've had all the tests!" Birkoff defensively says while raising his hands. Michael looks at Nikita, and she stands up. She gathers her coat and kisses Michael lightly.

"I have to go to the market... I'll be back in a half hour.. for..ah.... well.. I'll be back." Nikita says and then she leaves. Birkoff looks at Michael and starts to sweat.

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

Michael sits down in the chair and looks at Birkoff, and Birkoff's worry continues until Michael's lips slightly turn upward.

"Elana... she is very.. pretty." Michael says slowly, and with those words, Birkoff's worry washes away, at least some.

"I can't stop staring at her... but.." Birkoff says and then stops.

"But what? She is very intelligent." Michael says, hoping to bring Birkoff out of the shell.

"She's been hitting 'below the belt' of sorts." Birkoff says with a roll of his eyes. Michael nods and smiles.

"Inserts foot into mouth before thinking?" Michael asks with a glint of a laugh in his voice.

"Exactly... especially about.. well.. you know.." Birkoff says slowly, hoping not to drudge up the recent past.

"All woman do that.. so do all men." Michael says as he looks over at the door and then back at the window. Michael knows Nikita too well, and know not to tell anything about them to Birkoff, that he hasn't already told Nikita.

"But... she... she doesn't... she doesn't even give me a chance." Birkoff says as he starts to pull at his pants.

"Catch her when she is having a bad spell... when things are going totally wrong.. just happen to be there when things go wrong." Michael says and Birkoff half smile and then looks away.

"I heard we are expecting some late season snow... Elana walks to Section... mmm... what if you are so busy... you forgot to post the weather?" Michael asks with mischievious eyes, and Birkoff's mouth falls.

"That's bad!" Birkoff finally says shaking his head. Michael moves his mouth to the side and looks up at the ceiling and shrugs his shoulders, causing Birkoff to laugh.

"Offer to drive her home... and most important.. no lies." Michael says as he stands up and looks at the balcony. He shakes his head, hoping Nikita just went to the market, and wasn't prowling around. He moves to the closet and looks at the coats, and he knows that Nikita took the coat she would never climb in.

"Is that what you did with Nikita?" Birkoff quietly asks. Michael raises a finger to Birkoff and opens the apartment's front door and peers down the hallway. Michael's movement is causing Birkoff to laugh, and Michael returns to the living room.

"You never know with Nikita.... really... I fell in love with her before I even knew it... and maybe I did some of these things.. but she drove me up the wall..... Man, she was.. she is... an emotional roller coaster... a lightening bolt.. she is pure energy one hundred percent of the time... and I'd never change any of that." Michael admits to Birkoff. It was abstract enough that if Nikita was listening, that she would take it good, and Birkoff, would hopefully realize that Michael wasn't going to reveal much about his relationship with Nikita.

"The truth?" Birkoff asks as he stands up. Michael looks at Birkoff and Birkoff digs his hands back into his pockets. "Starting with the Stephen mess?" Birkoff asks and Michael shakes his head no.

"From Melissa.... no doubt Elana knows about her... not saying anything about her... is a cue that your not ready for a new relationship." Michael says slowly as Birkoff moves towards the door.

"But... I'm not ready... I just want to go out..." Birkoff says shaking his head, and Michael slaps his shoulder.

"Then say, 'Want to have coffee?'.. it's no big deal." Michael says as he opens the door. Birkoff looks at Michael and totters down the hall.

Michael is alone in the apartment for no more than five minutes before Nikita arrives back.

"Were you on the balcony?" Michael asks as Nikita hangs up her coat with a smile on her face.

"You know me... I don't climb in that coat!" Nikita says with her smile still on her face as she moves towards Michael. "Now.. can we get rid of these clothes..." Nikita purrs.

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

Birkoff looks up as Elana walks down the hall, stamping off her feet and shaking her long black hair out from the snow that had gathered from it.

"Is it snowing?" Birkoff asks, looking up from his computer, trying to hide his smile.

"There are three inches out there! Didn't you check the weather?" Elana asks with a little whine in her voice.

"It wasn't priority today." Birkoff answers as he looks back as his computer, and Elana walks towards him.

"What was priority today? You went out for a while... was that priority?" Elana asks as she looks over his shoulder.

"It was classified." Birkoff answers as he looks up at Elana's beautiful coal black eyes. "I can drive you home.. I'll be done in three minutes." Birkoff offers as the printer next to him starts to print.

"I'd appreciate that... what will take you three minutes?" Elana asks as she glances over at the printer. Birkoff moves with her eyes and smiles.

"Operations first communication since getting to Moscow.. these are the transcripts." Birkoff says as he tears the sheets of paper off.

"Madeline wanted them ten minutes ago." Birkoff says and Elana laughs.

"She always wants stuff ten minutes ago." Elana comments.

"If you want to stay here... we can get some coffee before I drop you off..." Birkoff answers and is rewarded with a bright smile.

"I'd like that." Elana says as she bows her head with a slight blush. She watches Birkoff walk off to Madeline's office and Walter comes over to her.

"You be nice to that boy." Walter says with a tense tone. Elana looks at him surprized.

"He is only driving me home." Elana counters, but cannot hide her surprize of Walter's comment.

"Look... I protect those that I like..no rather.. love.. and that boy is one... so don't hurt him." Walter says turning away. Elana watches Walter move back to his workspace and doesn't see Birkoff walking down the hallway with his coat in hand.

"Ready?" Birkoff asks and Elana turns and smiles.

"Sure!" Elana smiles and they walk out of Section with a mutual smile.

"Nikita, you did great child." Walter says into the phone, after several rings.

"I'll be sure to tell her that... I say that often.. but usually skip the child part.." Michael comments as he holds the phone in the bed with Nikita bitting at his neck.

"I won't go there." Walter says, and smiles as his mind has already been there.

"Good night, Walter." Michael says and hangs up the phone.

Walter leans back and immediately Madeline enters, with her hair in shambles and her face glowing mad.

"Did Birkoff leave?" Madeline asks angerily.

"Yes.. with Elana.. why?" Walter asks as he stands up and tries to pull Madeline into a hug.

"We're short again in communications.. don't ask me how.. but giving Birkoff an outside apartment was the worst thing we ever did... Fine.. call in Michael and Nikita." Madeline says, and she begins to leave until she heards Walter clear his throat.

"It would take them quite a while to get here." Walter says as he looks at Madeline.

"What? They are animals.... rabbits in heat.. give them one day off..." Madeline starts to rant and rave, causing Walter to lightly laugh.

"It's snowing... three inches." Walter says, and Madeline's shoulders slump.

"Damn, Birkoff...." Madeline continues to mutter as she walks out of Walter's workspace.

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

"Well... Yes.. I do really like oreos.. and they do keep a special stash for me." Birkoff admits as he sips the Swiss Chocolate Coffee in a empty coffehouse, a block from Elana's place. Elana is sipping some tea.

"A special stash?" Elana says with a broad smile and a sweet little laugh, much nicer than her snort.

"Yes.. for when there is a crisis... I eat them by the bagful during those." Birkoff says with a smile back to Elana.

"You're very interesting... can't say I am." Elana says as she looks down into her coffee.

"Where did you grow up?" Birkoff asks softly, and this question brings a smile to Elana's face.

"Hawaii... it was so pretty... wore shorts everyday.. didn't know what pants were until I hit here." Elana says with smile on her face.

"Now, I say that Hawaii is very interesting..." Birkoff says with a humble smile, drinking in the presense of Elana.

"Ah... I have to ask you... did you date Nikita's sister?" Elana asks and Birkoff lets out a long hiss.

"We didn't know when I started dating Melissa that she was Nikita's half sister.. only that she was Operations daughter." Birkoff says slowly and looking quite uncomfortable. Elana puts a hand on Birkoff's arm and smiles.

"So how many kids does Operations have?" Elana asks with a light laugh, which brings the smile back on Birkoff's face.

"I have no exact idea.. there is Melissa, Nikita, Stephen, and Anna.. out of them.. only Melissa is out of Section.. for now." Birkoff says and his beeper starts to beep loudly. Birkoff pulls at it and shakes his head.

"Sorry....but it's Madeline. It's going to be hectic around Headquarters while Operations is in Moscow..." Birkoff says as he starts to pull his coat on. "Let me take you home." Elana stands up and starts to pull her coat on. Once she is zipped up she puts a hand on Birkoff's chest.

"I understand.. I enjoyed this.. next time, my treat?" Elana says with a broad smile.

"Sure." Birkoff says, and he gently takes her arm and leads her out of the coffeehouse and into the snowy spring outside.

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