Nikita walks into Section with a whisp of laughter as Michael carries a bag of fresh bagels in his hand that his not wrapped around Nikita. Nikita shakes the snow off of her hair and procedes to swipe away the snow from Michael's hair. Michael leans down and gently kisses Nikita as they hear two footsteps run towards them.

"Nikita.. Michael.. Madeline has been yelling for you two for over an hour," A short but muscular woman with short, curly, red hair says. Michael looks at Nikita, not sure of who this girl is. Michael looks behind her and sees a tall man, taller than he is, but lacking the pure muscles.

"Billie... Madeline knows we eat breakfast out when we come in from our day off... is there a briefing?" Nikita says and Michael finally remembers that the couple is the new couple they are suppose to be training.

"I don't believe.. she was saying something about you have to handle the debriefing of Keith Urangy and his men..." Billie says as she starts to walk down the hallway with Nikita.

"Ah... but I don't do *that* kind of debriefing.." Nikita says nervously, and then she stops in her tracks along with Michael as they turn the corner and view the nerve center of Section. There are operatives running around, bumping into each other, papers flying everywhere, and Birkoff screaming at half of them.

"Was Birkoff here all night?" Michael asks the John.

"No. Madeline brought him in when she found out that Operations was sending to us massive intel." John says, and Michael stares at the man and then back at the mess of operatives.

"MICHAEL!!! NIKITA!!! MY OFFICE!!! NOW!!!" Madeline's voice booms from above, and they look up at the ceiling. Birkoff sees Michael's and Nikita's confusion and waves to them for their attention.

"Madeline made me patch everything to the loudspeaker.. so she doesn't have to chase operative from room to room..." Birkoff screams over the increasingly loud mess of Operatives.

"Why don't you two work on a kata or two while we get straighten what has to be done?" Nikita says to the couple. They join hands and fight to run through the mess. Michael looks at Nikita and they start to push through the mass of operatives.

"Michael... this is crazy.. they are sending me on a death mission!!!" Greg calls out and pushes towards the couple.

"I don't have time... It seems Madeline has wanted us for an hour and forgot that we come in late today." Michael says as he looks at the paper that Greg flies infront of his face. Nikita glances at it, and smiles.

"Your missing page two..." Nikita points out, and Greg looks at the top corner.

"Damn it.. were is that intel operative... everything is crazy with Operations trying to maintain totally control of Headquarters while in Moscow." Greg complains and stomps off to deal with the operative that gave him the paper.

Nikita looks at Michael with open eyes as Madeline's order for them to go to her office is boomed over the loud speakers again. Michael and Nikita try to clear a path, but are stopped by various operatives with various mess ups. Just as they are about to break through the mass of operatives, Walter steps infront of them.

"I have never seen so many operatives in the nerve center at once!" Walter says with a broad smile.

"Walter, we don't have the time..." Nikita says tensely.

"Watch out.. she is a witch today.... no sleep..." Walter says as the two break free from the nerve center.

"Did they not serve decaf today at breakfast?" Nikita questions Walter as the three of them walk quickly down the hall towards Madeline's office.

"NO! NO! NO! NO! I can't send that team out on three missions at once!" Madeline's scream is heard still a good 300 feet away from her door.

"Let's go home..." Nikita says as she stops in her tracks. Michael places his hand on her shoulder and they continue down the hall to the lioness' den.

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

"You two finally come... what... one day off isn't enough!" Madeline screams as Michael and Nikita enter the office. Her hair is a mess and circles are under her eyes. Nikita reaches for the bag and steps forward.

"Bagel?" Nikita asks as she pulls one from the bag. Madeline snaps her head at her and Nikita steps back. Suddenly, Madeline reaches for the bagel.

"Give me that!" Madeline growls and she starts to pull of parts of the bagel and eat it quickly. Nikita swallows hard and Michael finally is next to Nikita.

"Ok.. here is the game plan... there are three men that have to be debrief before we cancel them... the files are.... the files are..." Madeline starts to say to Nikita as she picks up piles of paper from her desk and looks for the file. "Here, these are the files. The debriefing needs to be done because you two are in briefing in two hours.. no make that an hour and a half." Madeline says and Nikita looks at the files.

"Madeline, I don't do these." Nikita says without a blink. Madeline's eyes meet Nikita's eyes and Nikita looks back down at the files. "I guess I better learn."

"Michael... until the briefing, I need you to cover the massive intel for use with a possible couple situation.... find one that we can do after this small mission." Madeline says and Michael looks at Nikita.

"What about the new couple, Billie and John?" Nikita asks, and Michael shakes his head a little bit.

"What about them.... can they go on a mission together.. god knows I can use them.... let's see..." Madeline starts rumbling through the files again.

"No... they haven't had training for a long time with us." Nikita says, and Madeline's hands stop moving about the piles of paper.

"Then, they can go out on the 1 o'clock mission today... they are good operatives and can work apart on this one." Madeline says as she looks at a list of mission for the day. She turns her head and sees Walter still standing in the doorway.

"Don't you have supplies to be putting together?" Madeline snaps at Walter.

"I'm out of supplies.. until some come back from the earlier missions today, we are out!" Walter says and Madeline slams her hands on the desk.

"Then change the supplies to what we do have!" Madeline roars and both Michael and Nikita start to inch away from the desk. Nikita looks at the files in her hands and looks at Michael.

"I better go do these... no reason to tie up those rooms..." Nikita says and then she dashes for the door and the free hallway.

"I better get to Birkoff and check out this intel..." Michael says and makes a similar exit, but runs to Nikita and pulls her arm.

"Michael... I have to do these in 90 minutes..." Nikita says nervously as she holds up the files.

"You won't have 90 minutes... Madeline will be calling for you in 15 probably... use the medicine and be over with it." Michael says and Nikita stands in the hallway and hears the screams of Madeline again.

"She needs some sleep." Nikita says and starts to walk down the hallway. Michael watches Nikita leave and finally turns and goes towards the mess of operatives.

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

Nikita steps out of the last debriefing room and the torture twins enter. Nikita moves to the videocamera and pulls the video tape out. She pushes her hair out of her face and is about to go write the reports for the three debriefings when an operative starts running towards Nikita.

"We have injuried incoming... one, girl operative... pretty bad." The operative rambles off and Nikita just looks at them with a blank face until they start to stare back.

"Why are you telling me this?" Nikita asks with several blinks of her eyes.

"Madeline told me that you will handle the girl operative..." The operative responds and Nikita turns and starts to walk towards Madeline office in quick strides.

"Here.... I don't have time to type the reports you'll want in five minutes..." Nikita says as she throws down the tapes on Madeline's desk before she has a chance to look up at Nikita.

"Nikita.. I need that in WRITTEN form!" Madeline calls out before Nikita can make her exit to the Medlab.

"I was told to deal with the female operative in Medlab." Nikita says in short curt words and Madeline shakes her head yes.

"I forgot... oh, can you and Michael handle the briefing on the mission you are going on?" Madeline asks as she hands over the file. Nikita glances at the file.

"Why not? It is only me and Michael going." Nikita answers as she sees the list of operatives.

"Good." Madeline says and she dives back into another file.

Nikita tries to push herself through the crowd of operatives around the nerve center and reach Michael is standing behind Birkoff, who is downing oreos as quickly as he can type.

"Michael!" Nikita calls out, and Michael looks at the waving Nikita. Michael motions Nikita towards him and Nikita tries to wade through the operatives.

"If you don't belong here.. get out!" Nikita roars at a housekeeping operative who is standing in her way. The operative steps to the side and lets Nikita through.

"Our mission." Nikita says as she hands the file over to Michael. He opens and looks at it, and frowns.

"No backup?" Michael asks and Nikita nods her head and starts to walk away. "Don't we have to go over this?"

"I have to go to Medlab about the injuried operatives... orders via Madeline." Nikita says as she steps back into the swamp of Operatives. Nikita mutters to herself as she wades slowly through the mess, that this must be worse than Wall street.

"Nikita!" A voice shoots and Nikita looks around until she sees the waving John coming towards her.

"John, we are quite busy right now." Nikita says sharply.

"This is unreal... someone messed up the orders and I was given this to wear..." John says as he holds up a female black field clothing. Nikita rolls her eyes and sighs.

"Then go fix it... I don't have time for this..." Nikita says as she closes her eyes and feels the headache starting to build into a thumping band inside. Nikita looks back at the mess and wishes someone would step up and take charge.

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

Michael walks down the hall with mud caked on his field blacks and pieces of grass still sling to his chest. Nikita, only three steps behind, is in a similar condition, but her hair, her hair is now a dirty shade of brown, and a stick is tangled in the left side. The rumble of the busy operatives are heard before they turn the corner. Micheal stops and waits for Nikita to take the three tired steps to meet his arms.

Together, they take a deep breath and turn the corner to see the mess to be worst than what they had left it. They stand on the fringe of the nerve center, and most of the operatives do not notice their weary figures in the shadows. Yet, Greg was watching the hallway like a guard of some sort. He stands up, also still in his field blacks, and walks to them.

"Madeline wants to see you." Greg answers and Nikita looks at him and straggles out a small laugh.

"Am I still in my mud caked field blacks, Greg?" Nikita asks with a calm, but smoldering voice. Greg nods and Nikita continues to stare at him.

"Does my hair seem to be filled with dried mud in it, Greg?" Nikita says with words that are starting to become more tense. Again, Greg nods yes.

"Is there still a stick tangled in my hair, Greg?" NIkita says in a low rumbling roar. Greg nods yes again and looks at Michael.

"Do you think Madeline wants to see me like this, or that I would see Madeline like this, Greg?" Nikita finally yells loudly, causing several operatives to turn and look at Nikita. Michael takes her arm protectively and pulls her away from Greg.

"Ni-kita... we should just go to Madeline." Michael says and Nikita immediately pulls away.

"Look... we had the worse mission in ages... no backup and then had to wade through a swamp because of incorrect intel... I'm taking a shower... and if Madeline can't wait for that... She can cancel me." Nikita says and storms towards the lockerroom. Michael watches Nikita part the crowd of operatives, who although are busy, don't want to touch the dirty Nikita.

Michael creates a similar path as he heads to Birkoff.

"Damn, Michael.. don't you know what a shower is?" Birkoff complains as he moves his head away from the field blacks.

"That bad?" Michael questions as he looks down at the incoming intel.

"Were is all of this coming from?" Michael asks as he points to the screen.

"Don't ask me.. but there is so much I don't even have a chance to see if it's correct or not. Operations just keeps sending stuff to us... I think some of this mess is meant for other substations, but he just isn't thinking." Birkoff says, and he wrinkles his nose again.

"Please.. go get a shower."

"Michael.. Nikita.. My office NOW!" Madeline screams over the entire Section. Michael rolls his eyes.

"Take the shower... Madeline would kill you with her bare hands if you go into her office like that!" Birkoff says.

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

Nikita walks into Madeline's office, wet hair still dripping and wearing a tank top and very short pink shorts. Madeline looks at Nikita and frowns.

"Do you think this is appropriate attire?" Madeline says with a hoarse voice.

"Do you think it is proper to neglect sleeping for two days?" Nikita counters, and Madeline drops her head.

"There is too much going on. I don't understand what is happening." Madeline says with a big sigh. Michael enters with black short and a black tank top on. He looks at Nikita from the distance, and then wraps his arms around her as he stands infront of Madeline.

"I need for the reports to be done tonight... the debriefing.. this mission.. the new couple... all of it." Madeline says tensely.

"I have to go check in at Medlab, Madeline... that will take me quite a while." Nikita says slowly as she tries to keep her anger within herself.

"Madeline... we didn't have a proper mission... we needed backup, the intel was incorrect, and the weapons were not correct!" Michael says firmly while Nikita delivers her Medlab line. Madeline holds up her hands to the two.

"Of course things are wrong... you two didn't prepare for the mission correctly..." Madeline says, but the two operatives hold each other back from strangling Madeline themselves.

"Madeline... we had no backup!" Michael screams.

"Madeline... we waded through a swamp that we were told was a field!" Nikita screams.

"Madeline... we had four guns to their twenty guards!" Michael screams.

"Madeline... be glad I stole the explosives.. or me and Michael would be dead." Nikita says firmly, and Michael whinces with the comment.

"Stole... stole explosives! Were was your mind Nikita? What were you thinking?" Madeline roars as she stands up, but Nikita continues to face Madeline with her chin up in the air.

"I was making sure me and Michael had backup. Those explosives gave us time to make it to the swamp!" Nikita says coldly as she looks directly into Madeline's eyes. Before Madeline can respond, an operative slams into the room.

"Operations on line 5." The operative says and starts to walk away.

"Wait... why did you come and give me that message and not buzz me?" Madeline asks.

"Oh... you overloaded the system and the intercoms are down." the operative says with a shrug of his shoulders and leaves.

"Michael, work with this problem while Nikita goes to Medlab.. you have an hour before you are writting all of your reports... on my desk by Midnight!" Madeline orders, and Michael and Nikita run off quickly as Madeline slides down into her chair, and lightly bounces her head off of the desk.

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

Nikita walks into Medlab and walks over to the private room were the female operative is on the bed, with her head on her pillow. Nikita takes a deep breath and prepares herself for the girl.

"How are you feeling Leslie?" Nikita asks softly as she walks in and picks up the chart on her bed. Nikita tries not to stare at her, and concentrates on the chart.

"Ok..." Leslie answers softly. Nikita swallows as she looks at the doctor's report.

"It seems the reconstruction surgery went fine." Nikita says as she places the chart back down.

"Yeah, everything is fine... just fine... let's have your breast cut off you and see how you feel when they put a fake one on!" Leslie screams from her here position from the bed. Nikita looks at the girl and sits down next to her bed.

"I meant, you will live.... and isn't that most important?" Nikita asks as she tries to dry the girl's tears from her face.

"Madeline said that it is most important that I can return to a fully function operative as soon as possible because she doesn't have the time to rehab an emotional distraught operative." Leslie says softly, and Nikita pulls away from Leslie in anger.

"When did Madeline see you?" Nikita says as she remembers that her visit was not noted on the chart.

"Right after the surgery." Leslie says. Nikita stands up and rechecks the chart.

"Look, don't listen to Madeline... she is a little off her rocker right now..." Nikita says as she almost slams the chart back on the bed.

"I'm tired." Leslie says while her eyes struggle to stay awake. Nikita nods her head.

"I'll leave." Nikita says and with that Nikita walks out of the room. Nikita pulls the first Medlab operative she can to the side.

"All visits, by any.. ANY person is suppose to be logged!" Nikita says, and the operative is shaking.

"ATTENTION EVERYONE... AS OF NOW... WE ARE ON A CLOSE QUARTER STANDBY!" Madeline's voice booms from above. Nikita looks at the operative and hurries out of Medlab, heading towards Madeline's office.

Michael is jogging towards Madeline's office when he hears Nikita calling out for him. He slows a bit until Nikita catches up.

"What is going on? Have we been breached?" Nikita asks nervously, as they open the door to Madeline's office.

"No... there are too many missions that need to be finish... and trying to wrap them up is impossible." Madeline says as she rubs her eyes.

"Why don't you send them to some of the substations?" Michael asks as he looks over Madeline's desk.

"They have been sent to here." Madeline answers simply.

"I talked to the substations.. they haven't had one mission in two days.... don't you think we could be receiving all the intel so we can relay it?" Michael challenges Madeline.

"Michael.. please..." Madeline says with a tired voice. Nikita watches her, and then to the ceiling.

"Madeline, you need sleep." Nikita says slowly, but Madeline nods her head no quickly. Nikita storms out of the office heading towards the nerve center, wishing for the first time that Operations would have cancelled Stephen.

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

Nikita walks towards the nerve center, and operatives swarmed around her, yelling about the close quarter standby. Nikita tries to explain to them that it is because of the massive overload of intel. Michael enters and sees the crowd around Nikita as she struggles to get to Birkoff's desk.

"Nikita... I have a mission in three minutes, what is going on?"

"Nikita... we are out of food... can we get something?"

"Nikita... Why aren't we allowed to go if we aren't on a mission?"

"Nikita... I want to leave... I've been here for two straight days!"

The operatives screamed and screamed at Nikita. Nikita looked around and saw Michael standing in the shadows and Birkoff typing away while downing more oreos.

"THAT'S IT...EVERYONE SHUT UP!!!!" Nikita roars and throws her arms in the air. The operatives step back, but continue to throw the massive complaints, questions, and problems at Nikita. Nikita steps on a chair and then up onto the desk.

"SHUT UP! SHUT UP NOW!" Nikita roars again, and the room silences and looks at Nikita. Nikita turns around and stares at Birkoff, and he stops typing. Michael leans against the wall, interested in what Nikita was going to do.

"We cannot leave, we can get more food, and we have to deal with this in a better way!" Nikita starts out, and hears a few rumbles. Nikita takes a deep breathe and then stares at the loudest operative. "I can arrange your cancellation." Nikita says directly to the operative and he quickly stops talking.

"We must be receiving all of the intel for the entire Section One. Birkoff, devise a way to split the missions according to geographical location and forward it to Moscow. Send some of these missions to other substations." Nikita says as she turns on the table and looks at Birkoff. Birkoff nods and starts to type.

"Michael and Myself will cover all goings of any couple missions, and will personally take the priority intel to Madeline. Greg, you are to take charge of all other missions, and split up leadership were deemed." Nikita says as she points to Michael and then to Greg. He looks at Nikita and nods.

"Walter... you have weapons of course... but keep tabs on housekeeping for me... Gannon? Your still here, you can watch over all other live support staff... food, utilities, and ect." Nikita says pointing to the two men.

"What about debriefing targets?" Birkoff chimes up. Nikita turns and looks at Birkoff.

"I will be handling that for the time being." Nikita says and then turns back to the mass of operatives. "Only go to the operatives directly above you, and let them deal with the problem... Only severe problems need to go to Madeline, and those will be sorted by me and Michael!" Nikita says in a strong voice.

"What if you and Michael are on a mission?" another operative from the back of the room asks.

"We'll deal with that when that occurs." Nikita says. She steps off of the desk and turns to Birkoff.

"I need a line to Operations now... and a copy of the map in my hands by the time I get to my office." Nikita says as she starts to walk away. The operatives start meeting in their groups and the crowd starts to dwindle. Michael walks over to a computer and starts to handle the job that Nikita had delegated to himself.

"I can't believe she wants me to get a line with Operations... You don't think she thinks that Operations will actually take a call with her?" Birkoff lightly complains. Michael looks over at Birkoff with a hard glance.

"Are we forgetting who Nikita is?" Michael says in a harsh whisper.

"Oh..." Birkoff says and turns back to his computer.

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

Nikita walks over to her desk and turns on the computer screen and is greeted by Operations face. Nikita turns and takes the paper of the division of substations and glances at it before turning her full attention to Operations.

"I thought you would like to know that there was a hostile takeover here." Nikita says smoothly as she sits down in her chair.

"What? Who? What is going on?" Operations immediately reacts with anger.

"It was me... Are we receiving all of the intel for Section as a whole?" Nikita asks without waiting for Operations reaction to her statement.

"You! Why would you take it over?" Operations screams at the screen.

"We needed organization... it had gotten quite erratic around here... are we receiving all of the intel for Section as a whole?" Nikita asks again.

"Yes... you should be splitting it and sending it off." Operations says, after taking a deep breath.

"Well, it wasn't being handled that way until about five minutes ago... we had handle ever mission.... Birkoff's counterpart in Moscow should be receiving this..." Nikita says as she holds up the map. "This is the way we have divided which substation gets what, with priority still heading to us."

"Good." Operations says.

Nikita looks to her door as Michael walks in.

"We have priority mission for a couple..." Michael says softly. Nikita nods her head.

"I'll be there in a few moments.. Michael, decide how to fill in for our departure." Nikita says. Michael doesn't nod, and just leaves in silence.

"I think you should talk to Madeline.... this transition was not smooth at all." Nikita says turning back to the screen.

"I'll do it right now." Operations says, but Nikita stops him.

"I believe she is finally sleeping.... she is a working single mom." Nikita digs in and Operations stares at her. "How is Stephen?"

"Not so good, but a bit better." Operations says with soft eyes. Nikita pauses for a second.

"That's good to hear. Any guess when you'll be back to Headquarters?" Nikita asks.

"I'll be there in a month for a meeting." Operations says and Nikita nods, and looks at the door and sees Michael pacing in front of it.

"I have to go... Michael has a mission for us." Nikita says, and is about to turn off the communication.

"Nikita... did you do this, or was it you and Michael?" Operations asks.

"I guess l like father, like daughter.... I have to go." Nikita says and turns off the screen.

Operations stares at the screen and mutters 'good job' to the black screen. He touches his pajamas and heads back to his bed. He lays down, but sleep does not come to him.

Nikita walks out into the hallway and Michael is soon by her side.

"This came in... We should brief with a team and leave tomorrow at noon." Michael says. Nikita nods as she starts to look over the intel. They walk towards the briefing room, but Nikita stops in front of Walter's workspace.

"Walter... Madeline is asleep in her office.... you may want to put a blanket on her... and check Anna." Nikita says with a smile.

"Sure, sugar... boy, sugar, you're hot today!" Walter says with a huge grin, and Michael is thinking the same.

Send suggestions and comments to ranma.
OR
If you would like to send a comment to Nikita507, click HERE!!