Birkoff walks out of the bedroom, worn to the bone. He barely walks straight enough to get to the refrigerator. He opens it, and the light from inside, blinds Birkoff momentarily.

"Birkoff... we have oreos in here!" Elana calls out from the bedroom.

"Dispite popular belief... after that.. I need some real food." Birkoff calls back to Elana. He rubs his head and pulls out a chunk of roast beef from last's night dinner, and eats it quickly.

Birkoff sees his imagine in the reflection of the microwave, and smiles lightly. Elana is quite a lady.

Birkoff pauses though, if by some force keeping him in the kitchen for a few more minutes. Just as he is about to walk back to the bedroom for round 9... the doorbell rings. Birkoff quickly slides on pants, in case this is a Section call, and walks towards the door.

"Nikita... when I am at home.. I am not here to help you!" Birkoff calls out as he starts to open the door. The only person who has ever knocked at his door has been Nikita. Birkoff peeps out the door, and his mouth hits the floor.

"Melissa?" Birkoff says in pure shock. She has colored her hair to a light brown, but Birkoff could not forget her beauty. Instantly, Birkoff realizes the situation that could happen. "What are you doing here?" Birkoff asks quickly.

"The job didn't work out, because I missed you." Melissa says as she stretches her arm out and touches Birkoff's face.

"Why don't we go out for some coffee... I was about to head to work." Birkoff stampers around. Melissa smiles and moves closer. Birkoff allows her in and he runs towards the bedroom.

"I'll only be a few minutes.. I have to call Nikita..." Birkoff says as he enters the bedroom. Elana looks at Birkoff and drops her head.

"It is her." Elana says sadly as she pulls her legs out of bed and starts to dress.

"Just let me get out of this situation... you must understand.. if Operations finds out that I hurt her.. I die." Birkoff says hurriedly as he starts to clean up a bit. He picks up the phone.

"Birkoff... is everything ok?" Melissa calls out.

"Just a few minutes.. Nikita is screening her calls!" Birkoff calls out.

"I'm not doing such a thing." Nikita says in a sleepy/annoyed tone.

"Melissa is back. I'm going to the coffee house..." Birkoff says and he hangs up before Nikita can say another word. Birkoff kisses Elana's head and exits the bedroom. He takes Melissa's arm and walks out of the apartment.

*

Nikita sets the phone down, and sits further up. Michael touches her shoulder and looks at her with his puffy eyes, with the need for more sleep.

"Nikita.. it can wait." Michael moans as he tries to pull her back down.

"Melissa is back." Nikita says slowly. She bites her lip and slides out of bed. Michael moans, and rolls over. She moves to the window, and Michael moans, and goes to join Nikita at the window.

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

Madeline slams Operation's office door open, searching for the annoying beeping that has been going off for several hours now. First, she tried to search the computers for a way to turn it off, but since she has no idea what the beeping is indicating, that failed quickly.

Madeline walks to the wall, and doesn't see the source of the ear piercing tone. Madeline works her way to the desk, and opens the drawer, and the beeping increases tenfold. Madeline turns the volume nob down, and sits down to look at this piece of equipment.

There are no labels, and the equipment is not a standard Section One item. Madeline picks it up and sees that she would not have been able to deactivate it from a computer, it is cordless. Madeline calls for Walter immediately, wanting to know what this item was.

"Hey... I can't believe you don't know something!" Walter says in a joking voice as he moves across the office. "Are you sure we are allowed in there?" Walter asks with a large grin.

"This thing beeped for hours... and I want to know why!" Madeline says firmly. Walter looks at it and smiles.

"I'm surprized you don't remember this beauty... it's the tracker on Melissa... she must be back in the area." Walter says matter of factly, but then stops his smile. He pushes Madeline to the side, and opens the computer. He dials Birkoff's cell phone.

"Hello? Nikita?" Birkoff asks and Walter hangs up, getting enough information to realize that Melissa has already re-established contact with Melissa.

"I thought Elana was spending the night with Birkoff." Madeline says looking at Walter, in an accusing matter.

"I thought she was too... but if Melissa was unexpected... well... it appears that Melissa knows nothing of Elana." Walter says shutting down the computer. He walks with Madeline to the door.

"Are you going to tell Operations that Melissa is back?" Walter asks Madeline. She pauses for a second in thought.

"I want to see if this is just a visit or a permanent thing... then I will make that decision. If you see Nikita, I need to see her." Madeline says and Walter walks away quickly.

Madeline sits down for several minutes, thinking of the best way to use the information she has at hand to protect the ones she needs to and to twist Operations a little bit more.

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

Nikita sits in her office as Michael is about the halls of Section, searching for a decent cup of coffee. It seems that the new recruits have been playing with the coffee.

Nikita stares at her computer, unable to focus her eyes. She taps her fingers lightly, and promises herself, that after this day, she will no longer drink coffee.

"Nikita... I need you to establish a location on Birkoff." Madeline says as she enters the office and closes the door.

"Did you check Elana's quarters?" Nikita asks sarcastically, but then pauses when she sees the seriousness in her face.

"You can track him using this." Madeline says, extending her arm and showing the tracker of Melissa's. "I suggest you keep the volume down low."

"Madeline, are you going to explain this?" Nikita asks softly as she holds the larger than normal tracking devise in her hands.

"I don't need to Nikita. Once you have a location on Birkoff, you will realize what must be done." Madeline says softly and exits. She nods her head as Michael is entering with two cups of coffee.

"Here.. I made it myself." Michael says as he hands Nikita the coffee.

She places the tracking devise on the desk and takes the coffee.

"'Kita, what is that?" Michael asks.

"My mission from Madeline... it's some sort of tracking devise on Birkoff." Nikita mumbles and then she takes a sip of the coffee and whinces. "A bit strong." Nikita comments.

"But, Nikita.. I swept Birkoff's place just the other day... his place was cleaner than ours." Michael says as he moves over to examine the devise. "This isn't Section issue either." Michael says as he turns the devise over. Nikita looks up to Michael and shrugs her shoulders.

"So Madeline has me doing a private mission instead of a Section mission, that doesn't change much." Nikita says as she gulps down some more coffee.

"Did she give you an objective?" Michael quizzes Nikita methodically.

"No. She said I would know what needed to be done once I established visual on Birkoff." Nikita tells Michael. Michael looks at Nikita, then back at his computer. He taps his fingers lightly on the desk, before turning back to Nikita.

"It does seem to be rather simple." Michael says, and he sits down.

*

Birkoff pulls the chair out at the coffeehouse for Melissa to sit down. They had walked around a bit, not talking much. Birkoff smiles at her, and he finds it hard to believe she had been gone for such a long time.

"So, why are you back?" Birkoff finally asks. Melissa smiles and grabs hold of Birkoff's hand.

"I missed you. Life wasn't good without you." Melissa forces out, with a fake smile. But Birkoff, in the happy euphoria of holding Melissa's hand, doesn't noticed.

"I missed you too." Birkoff says, and in his head calculating how much he could tell Melissa without her leaving again. "It just was wrong without you."

"But you told me to leave." Melissa laughs lightly. Birkoff tilts his head to the side and sighs.

"I know...but... now, work has changed." Birkoff says softly. And truly it has. With Operations gone from Headquarters and staying indefinately in Moscow, Birkoff can see a relationship between him and Melissa developing without his hassel.

"So, what have you been up to, Birkoff?" Melissa asks, happy that Birkoff never asked for the full story of what happened to her.

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

The firm steel pole finally stops Nikita in her movement of utter shock. The tracking devise is dangling in her hands, almost ready to fall. A person laughs and it brings Nikita back to her senses. She moves across the busy sidewalk, into a better position so that Birkoff and Melissa would not see her.

Nikita blinks her eyes at the site. At first, Nikita didn't realize who was sitting at the table with Birkoff. The long light brown hair had thrown her off, until Melissa threw her hair back in laughter. Nikita now stands, pretending to wait for the bus, but watching the newly reunited couple. Nikita gets caught up in the scene, that the ringing of her cell phone wakes her out of the trance.

"Nikita, have you found anything?" Michael asks softly. Nikita looks at Melissa and pauses for a moment. Madeline was playing a game, and Nikita was sure it wasn't with her. Nikita plays with her hair gently, and then nods her head.

"Melissa is back." Nikita says and closes the phone. Nikita looks at the crowd, and walks quickly over to the table.

"BIRKOFF!!!" Nikita says happily as she runs into the table. She then turns to Melissa, and opens her mouth in shock. "MELISSA???" Nikita asks.

"Yes, Nikita... Melissa arrived last night." Birkoff says tensely. Melissa just smiles at Nikita nicely. Nikita looks at Melissa and is puzzled, something had definately happened.

"I'm so glad you are back... Birkoff here had been sulking around.. do you know he got drunk because he missed you!" Nikita says, starting to run her mouth, testing to see how much Birkoff had admitted.

"Yes. Birkoff told me he learned his lessons well. It seems that your Michael is to credit." Melissa says while continuing to hold Birkoff's hand.

"Ah... Michael... we hope to get married some day!" Nikita laughs, and Birkoff joins in nervously, wondering what Nikita was truly doing. "Not married yet!" Melissa says in shock.

"Work... work does that to you." Nikita says with a smile. Nikita steps back a step and holds her hands out. "Why don't you two come over to our place for dinner tonight?" Nikita offers.

"I'd love too!" Melissa says happily. Birkoff looks at Nikita in horror, but once seeing Melissa's response. "Sure!"

"Now... we do have work, Birkoff." Nikita says softly. "I'll create something for a half hour, kay?" Nikita says and walks away.

Nikita pulls out the cell phone and calls Michael.

"Michael, what do we have for dinner?" Nikita asks quickly.

"I don't think I want to answer this. We haven't done the shopping. Why, Nikita?" Michael asks firmly.

"Ah.. we have dinner guests." Nikita says and hangs up to the protests of Michael.

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

Birkoff walks into Michael's and Nikita's apartment, holding onto Melissa's arm. He looks in the kitchen to see the comedy show in progress.

"Nikita...no, it has to flip like this.." Michael says, trying to pull the pan out of Nikita's hand.

"Michael! I know how to flip this!" Nikita protests poking at Michael's ribs.

"Nikita! NO!" Michael says firmly, as he takes another spatula from the drawer, and attempts to flip the item from other direction. Nikita pulls at the pan, and then Michael. Suddenly, Michael lets go of the pan, it starts to drop. Nikita reaches out with her other hand to grab it, and is instantly reminded of the scorching heat of the pan.

"OOOOWWWW!" Nikita screams, jumping back so that the pan does not land on her foot. Her elbow hits the pain on the stove, and that also proceeds to fall. "Damn! S#@!" Nikita curses as she sees her entire dinner on the floor.

Michael walks over to the refrigerator and grabs some ice out. He places Nikita's hand under some water, and then places the ice on it.

"I guess we didn't come at a good time." Birkoff says softly. Michael looks at Nikita, and smiles.

"Come with me, Birkoff... how about Chinese tonight?" Michael says. Birkoff nods his head in agreement, and soon the two men are out the door.

Melissa takes her light coat off and walks into the livingroom. Nikita follows behind, holding the ice tightly on her throbbing hand. Madeline was not going to take this one in a good way.

"So, why did you come back?" Nikita asks immediately. Melissa takes a breath and proceeds to tell Nikita the same lie she had told Birkoff. "The real reason, now." Nikita says as she slides into the chair. Melissa half smiles at being caught.

"I was having a bad time... harassed at work... being stalked everywhere else... I was constantly looking over my shoulder." Melissa says relatively calmly. Nikita maintains her composure, realizing that most of the reason why Melissa had come back was because the Section Operatives assigned to watch her, did a messy job.

"Is that why you changed your hair color?" Nikita asks softly.

"No... I didn't want to look like you anymore!" Melissa says with a loud laugh. Nikita joins in with the laughter for a while. "No, truly... I had a bad time without Birkoff. Living with his schedule is better than living without him."

"I guess I can understand that." Nikita says softly as she picks up the ice from her hand. Melissa leans over and whinces.

"It sure doesn't look pretty!" Melissa says, and Nikita breaks out in laughter.

"I'm pretty use to this.... Me and Michael can't cook in the same kitchen." Nikita says. "Are you planning on staying?"

"If Birkoff wants me too." Melissa says with a soft smile. Nikita nods her head.

"Well, if you ever need something, I'm here." Nikita says softly. Nikita's mind is running, she is talking to her half-sister... like sisters would. And this makes her happy but yet sad. And the thought that Melissa ran back to Birkoff because of the bad operatives, made Nikita upset but also glad.

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

Madeline smiles as she holds the phone to her ear. The shear torture she was about to inflict was giving Madeline a pure rush of energy. This was her favorite thing to do.

"Madeline, may I speak to Anna?" Operations asks firmly. Madeline's smile grows even larger. In order to draw out the torture even longer, she pauses.

"We have more important things to discuss." Madeline says in a metered tone.

"There are not many things that are more important than my own daughter not knowing me!" Operations roars in anger. Madeline is almost on the verge of laughter.

"Now, that was not my fault." Madeline comments, and can almost feel the steam coming from Operations' red face. "Melissa is back."

"What? When? Why didn't you tell me when she first arrived?" Operations demands, and Madeline pulls the phone away to hold off her laughter.

"I wanted to make sure how long this stay was." Madeline says.

"Is it shortterm?" Operations asks.

"No. In fact, it seems that she felt she was being stalked... I had the operatives incharge of watching her cancelled." Madeline says firmly.

"I arranged a good job for her. And they blow it!" Operations continues to roar.

"Well, the job wasn't that good. Better be sure of the men you place your daughters with.. this one sexually harassed her." Madeline says, twisting the knife of guilt further into Operations.

"And Birkoff is still with Elana?" Operations asks.

"No. It appears he has decided to continue with Melissa instead." Madeline says.

"WHAT!!!!!" Operations screams as Madeline holds the phone at arms length away from her.

"Are you done?" Madeline asks as his scream ends.

"I don't want her to love someone in Section.. he will only hurt her." Operations says firmly.

"Well, you can't control her heart... and the sooner you realize this... the sooner you'll be on better terms with all of your children." Madeline says and hangs up.

Madeline turns her head, as she hears screaming from below, she stands up to investigate.

*

"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU! I WOULD GIVE YOU ANYTHING!" Elana screams at Birkoff as she holds him against the wall.

"Elana... it was not meant to be!" Birkoff protests.

"I want you, Birkoff!" Elana says as she lets goes of Birkoff and steps back. "What does she have that I don't? You'll see me more often.. she is almost a carbon copy of Nikita! What is it!" Elana demands. Birkoff looks away and then at Elana.

"I LOVE HER!" Birkoff screams loudly. Elana stops all of her tears with the words.

"And me? Did you love me?" Elana asks with a haunted voice.

"No." Birkoff says, shaking his head lightly. Elana walks quietly away, and Birkoff hangs his head low.

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