Nikita walks down the hallway with Madeline at her side. Nikita is looking away from Madeline, as Madeline continues to question Nikita. "Nikita.... I know that the last mission was difficult." Madeline says as she looks at the blonde hair floating in the air.

"Madeline, it was actually quite fun." Nikita says with a large smile, and she turns her head away again. Nikita smiles inside herself, knowing that she is just pushing the right buttons on this day.

"Nikita... have you discussed any of this with Michael?" Madeline pries a bit more.

"We were too busy doing other things to talk, remember, you wrote the profile." Nikita says and she takes a quick detour to the left.

"KIT!!! KIT!!!! KIT!!!!" Anna yells as she leaps out of Michael's arms and runs to Nikita.

"ANNA!" Nikita giggles as she picks up the little bundle of energy in her arms. Anna leans her head back, closes her eyes, and leans forward to kiss Nikita. Anna giggles as Nikita kisses her forehead.

"Iyce Cream.... me want iyce cream..." Anna says as she runs her fingers through Nikita's hair. Madeline lifts an eyebrow at Michael. Although, Michael likes Anna, and is Anna's godfather, it is not like Michael to willingly volunteer to watch Anna without Nikita. Michael smiles softly.

"Anna... your mommie wants me to go to my meeting..." Nikita says softly, with puppy dog eyes. Anna mimicks the look and looks at Madeline.

"Your probised... you probised...." Anna stutters, near tears.

"Oh, Anna.. I know I promised to take you for ice cream..." Nikita says softly as she strokes her brown hair.

"Me like chocolate... you strewberry..." Anna says with her little finger pointing to herself and then Nikita.

"I know darling... and what kind does Michael like?" Nikita asks with a little laugh.

"That's what we... find...out..." Anna cries, and Nikita looks at Madeline, who is melting by the display.

"Well... only if your mommie would let the three of us go..." Nikita baits Madeline easily, and smiles at her.

"Nikita, this mission briefing is very important." Madeline stresses, but Anna slides out of Nikita's hands and walks towards Madeline. She stretches her hands up to Madeline, and Madeline picks her up.

"We go iyce cream... me...Kit...and Mikhel..." Anna says with large wet puppy eyes. Madeline looks at Michael, who keeps his straight face, and then Nikita, who shrugs her shoulders.

"Yes... you can go for ICE CREAM!" Madeline says. Anna kisses Madeline and jumps from her arms.

"We go iyce cream... we go iyce cream... we go iyce cream!" Anna yells while jumping up and down.

"Michael, Nikita, remember the rules. Comm units, NOW!" Madeline orders and the two operatives roll their eyes. "And back immediately. This mission can only wait so long." Madeline says, turning and leaving. Michael bends down and scoops Anna into his arms.

"Anna... can you say that surprize we have for Nikita?" Michael says softly, and Nikita walks to the duo.

"Ok.... I luv Ni-kit-a." Anna says slowly, and Nikita leans down and kisses Anna.

"Between us, you can still call me Kit!" Nikita whispers into Anna's ear.

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

Anna walked between Michael and Nikita. She skipped lightly, while Nikita walked casually, and Michael, like always, walked in his forcefully, full stride.

Anna smiles at the ballons at the corner, and looks at Michael and Nikita. She reaches for both of their hands.

"SWING ME!... SWING ME!" Anna giggles in delight. Michael looks at Nikita with a raised eyebrow. Nikita nods her head to a couple who is swinging their child. Slowly they start.

"One.... two... THREEEEEE!" Nikita says as Michael plays along with the game.

"Gain! Gain! PLEAZZZE! KIT GAIN!" Anna calls out as she tugs at their hands.

"Michael, we could always take the long way to the ice cream place..." Nikita says with a slight smile.

"Nikita... Madeline needs you back in quickly." Birkoff warns through the comm units. Nikita immediately rolls her eyes.

"Birkoff, can you look at Anna's puppy eyes?" Nikita challenges Birkoff. She hears tsk of Birkoff.

"I'll tell Madeline that there was a crowd... not to long." Birkoff says. Michael shakes his head lightly.

"One.... TWo...." Michael calls out as he starts to swing his arm.

"WWWWHHHHHEEEEEEEE" Anna calls out as she floats between their arms.

*

Nikita shakes her arm out as Michael reties one of Anna's tennis shoes. Nikita smiles, and pushes a strand of Anna's hair out of her face.

"My! You two have quite a lovely child." An older woman says as she sits at the other end of the bench.

"Oh.. she is our godchild." Nikita says softly.

"GODCHILD! My! My! I could swear that you were her mommie... and he is definately the daddie type." the old woman replies, which makes Nikita smile. Michael continues to tie the shoe, trying not to pay attention to the comments.

"Well, you must love her very much!" the older lady says as Michael picks Anna up in his arms.

"Who wants ice cream?" Michael asks.

"ME! ME! ME! ME! ME! ME! ME!" Anna calls out next to Michael's ear. He smiles and turns to Nikita. Nikita says her goodbyes to the lady and walks down the path with Michael and Anna.

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

"Birkoff, I need all the reports and tapes on Mission M2345*N." Madeline orders as she walks towards the computers. Birkoff spins to his right and starts to type.

"Wasn't that the mission to the church Michael had while Nikita was 'dead'?" Birkoff asks softly. Madeline looks at Birkoff, and says nothing.

"Have you heard from the ice cream party?" Madeline asks as Birkoff starts to create the disks that Madeline has requested.

"They decided to go to another place.. the place looked real dirty..." Birkoff says looking at Madeline. Madeline stares at Birkoff, and grabs the disks out of Birkoff's hands. Birkoff looks at the screen and sees the flashing message.

"Madeline, there is the top level classified information on that... if you punch your code, I can access it." Birkoff says, and Madeline turns and stops.

"I already have that, Birkoff." Madeline says softly, and retreats to Operations office, to await his phone call.

*

"I disapprove of this mission." Madeline says again as she goes through the disks that Birkoff has give Michael.

"I need this done. We have proof that this father is using the intel he is gathering from his 'parish' to feed the terrorists groups. We degrade his name in the community... he will lose his life from one of the odd groups that use him." Operations says slowly.

"Do you realize how similar this mission is to a prior one?" Madeline asks as she looks at Michael's report.

"Madeline, I am not following you." Operations says immediately.

"A mission that Michael was involved with before she came back... a father selling secrets... we know how emotional it made Michael..." Madeline says softly.

"Michael only hurt a few operatives in exercises... It was not that important." Operations says and Madeline pauses. "They took Anna out for ice cream..." Madeline says slowly.

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

"I eat all! I eat all!" Anna cries out in excitement as she takes the last crumb of the ice cream cone and pops it in her mouth. Nikita smiles, and takes a bit into her cone.

"Yes, you did." Michael says and looks at Nikita. "And Nikita is going to wash you up!" Michael says.

"After I finish my double strawberry, right peanut butter Michael?" Nikita says with a bright twinkle in her eye.

"HA HA HA HA HA !" Anna giggles at the comment. Both of the ladies believe Michael was heading to the Cappucino Ice Cream, and for a little bit, Nikita thought he was going to take the Pineapple Serbet, but Michael looked at the server and easily made his request.

"I learn new things about you everyday." Nikita says as she licks some ice cream up on her tongue and grins at Michael before she bring it in.

"Now, I know why you are so good." Michael says with a straight face, and Nikita's face lights up in delight that Michael said such a thing.

"Kit is good... she luv me!" Anna screams, and with this brings Michael and Nikita away from the minifliration session.

Nikita looks at Anna quickly and realizes the mess Anna has made. There is not a clean place on her face, and she is sticky on her face and hands.

"Oh.. I can't finish... Anna... let's go powder our noses!" Nikita says as she picks up Anna in her arms. "Hands out to the side!" Nikita calls out before Anna's hands get into her hair.

Michael throws away the part of the ice cream cone that Nikita didn't finish, and polishes his off quickly.

Anna squeals in delight as Nikita washes her face off with the wet towel. Then Nikita goes to work on her hands.

"All done!" Anna says, trying to pull the hands away from Nikita.

Nikita looks at Anna, and she puts them again in front of Nikita. Nikita grabs Anna, and is about to carry her back to the patio, were Michael waits for them.

"Me walk! Me walk!" Anna cries out. Nikita lets the toddler down, and holds onto her hand as they open the door.

Michael is still a good eight feet off when he smiles at Nikita.

BANG! BANG!

Shooting starts, and Michael sees Nikita push Anna down.

"GET DOWN!" Nikita screams as she starts to take cover, but seeing Anna curled in a ball, unprotected, Nikita moves to the side, and falls over her, leaving her open to a bullet to the shoulder as she goes down.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! And then the sound of a speeding car leaving.

"Michael! Michael! What is going on!" Birkoff screams in terror.

Michael picks his head up, sees Nikita moving slightly.

"There was a drive by. Send a team out to pick us up. We will be leaving shortly." Michael says.

Birkoff stands and sends the orders. A team dressed at medics immediately run out the door. Birkoff looks at Operation's office, and Madeline who is busy at work. She was not going to like this.

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

Birkoff pauses at the open door shortly, but because the door has now been opened, Madeline hears the noise from the hallway.

"You think Michael planned this? Madeline.... Nikita played you like a fiddle." Operations says as Madeline turns towards the door and hears the noise.

"Birkoff what is going on?" Madeline asks, and Operations, in Moscow, frowns lightly. It has been one of the few times that Madeline and him at spoken on friendly terms.

"AteamisgoingouttogetMichaelandKita...nothingtoworry about." Birkoff says very quickly and turns to leave. The door automatically slams in Birkoff's face.

"What was that, Birkoff?" Madeline says more firmly.

"There has been a drive by.... at an ice.." Birkoff says softly and slowly.

"WHAT! WERE ARE THEY? IS ANNA OK?" Madeline screams as she jumps up with the phone in her hand.

"What? Drive by? Does he mean the Michael and Nikita... and Anna?" Operations questions, but the question goes unheard.

"I believe they are fine, because Michael said they will be leaving the area.. and will meet with the team up the road a bit..." Birkoff says, and Madeline starts to pace the room.

"I AM GOING TO KILL THEM!" Madeline mutters.

"We sent the medic team just in case.. I wouldn't worry Madeline." Birkoff says.

"WOULDN'T WORRY? WOULDN'T WORRY! THAT IS MY KID!" Madeline screams and motions Birkoff to leave. Madeline slides down into the chair and holds on to the phone.

"I am sure Anna is alright. Our best operatives were with her." Operations says softly, feeling the anger of Madeline's through the phone line.

"THIS IS ANNA WE ARE TALKING ABOUT!" Madeline screams angerily through the phone.

"Madeline, let's be reasonable about this.... it was a random act..." Operations says.

"Let's think about this. I am worried for Anna's life, and you are thinking that this is a random act of violence.... Maybe if you spent more time with your youngest kid, who still needs to grow up, you won't have to spend time with her in twenty, twenty-five, thirty years from now like you are with Stephen!" Madeline says firmly and hangs the phone up. She looks at the phone, and then walks quickly out of the office, down to the floor below.

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

Michael moves quickly to Nikita, and hears the cries of some others. He looks down and sees the red spot on Nikita's white shirt. He touches the other shoulder and Nikita sits up.

"Did it go through?" Michael asks. Nikita looks down and nods. She sits up a little bit, and lets Anna some room to breath.

"Kit! I'm scared." Anna says. Nikita drops her head a little bit.

"Don't be, Anna... we will protect you." Michael says as he takes his coat off. "We are going to try to meet the team two blocks away." Michael informs Nikita as he drapes the coat over her. She quickly moves her arms inside the coat, and covers the wound. Now with the wound covered, Nikita sits back further and lets Anna out.

Anna immediately turns and clings to Nikita. She is hugging on the wound, but Nikita swallows the tiny pain and looks at Michael.

"If needed... they did send the medic team... we could wait." Michael says softly. Nikita looks around. She sees a mother pounding on the chest of her little boy, trying to get his to breath again. Nikita sees the blood over on the window.

"We leave, now." Nikita says quickly. Michael reaches down for Anna. Nikita stands up and moves against Michael. They huddle together and start to move towards a crowd that has gathered.

"You must stay if you saw something." one of the men in the crowd calls out. Michael pulls Nikita closer to him.

"The only one on the patio was my wife, and she is blind... we saw nothing." Michael says, and the crowd opens for the sad couple, letting them pass. The crowd does not watch them leave, the crowd does not see Nikita avoid the boy rollerskating down the street.

"MADELINE IS OUT FOR YOU!" Walter says as he opens the van. Michael walks in with Anna, and Nikita follows.

"Let me see that, Nikita." Michael says as he tries to pull off the coat.

"Michael... not infront of Anna... Medlab can take care of it." Nikita says softly into Michael's ear. Michael looks at Anna, who is cuddled against Walter. Walter looks up at the duo and shakes his head.

"I don't think we'll ever go out for ice cream again." Nikita says sadly.

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

"ANNA! DARLING! ARE YOU OK?" Madeline says happily as Walter carries Anna out of the van. Madeline grabs Anna and kisses her check.

"Michael likes peabut butter iyce cream..." Anna says with a huge smile. Madeline kisses Anna again, out of pure shock of what Anna said first. Michael and Nikita step out of the van, and try to walk down the darken wall. Madeline spots them, and hands Anna back to Walter.

"You go with Walter... he has a new toy for you." Madeline says. Anna skips down the hallway with Walter.

"I will never never forgive you two." Madeline says firmly. She turns to Nikita, and grabs her by the shoulders. "What were you thinking? Didn't you check the crime stats for that location? What were you thinking?" Madeline screams at Nikita as she squeezes and shakes her by the shoulders. Michael steps in and pulls Madeline's hand away from Nikita. Madeline looks at her hand and sees the red tinge of blood. But Madeline should have noticed the red anger in Nikita's eyes.

"ME! ME! You allow Anna to play in Walter's workspace.. were there are guns.. explosives... rocket launchers... uzi's... Don't lecture me on safety!" Nikita screams and stomps down the hallway.

"Madeline, she knew she was shot, and made sure none of that blood got on Anna, so we could get a clean getaway." Michael says softly.

"A drive by! A drive by!" Madeline screams, and Nikita hears and turns back around, almost running at Madeline.

"We left... as a 16 year old boy died... another girls head was left splattered against the glass window. IT was more important that we left right away.... I'm sure you thought we probably should have stayed for the medic team." Nikita spits out, and Madeline looks away for a split second. Nikita shakes her head, and starts to turn away. "I'm going to get patched up and I'll be up for our important briefing." Nikita says as she walks down the hall with her back to Madeline.

"She wouldn't allow me to check the wound in the van, because it was infront of Anna. Nikita did everything she could possible do to make this experience less harsh on Anna...." Michael says and he turns to go with Nikita.

Madeline turns to the phone and calls Operations.

"All is ok. Mission leaves tomorrow." Madeline says plainly.

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