The operatives file into the briefing room, and Nikita tries to find her way to Michael. The room is quite crowded, and Nikita tries to count the number of operatives while Madeline enters. She reaches the head of the table and sits down. She also begins to count the number of operatives. "31...32...33..." Nikita thinks to herself, as Michael stares at Madeline.

"Nikita, I have 33, is that your count?" Madeline asks Nikita. Nikita nods and Madeline motions for the door to be closed.

"As you have already noticed, this mission is quite an important and large scale mission. For some of you, it will seem like nothing, while others will sweat it out each second." Madeline says and she turns on the large holographic screen.

"This is the Mall of America... you all will expect to know the blueprints for this mission." Madeline says as Birkoff nods his head. "We will have to cover the entire mall, which will require operatives from this headquarters and several substations in the States. We will be the ones in charge." Madeline says as she pushes the button and the picture of the President of the United States is seen.

"The President is expected to make a speech there in two days. In attendence will be governments officals, along with the representatives of several nations, including Japan, Sweden, Italy, and Germany." Madeline says, and their perspective pictures flash on the screen.

"And we have the mall population itself." Michael states effectively.

"We expect that LECDER will be planting a bomb. Now, the area in which the President is speaking will be highly secured. What we deduced is that they will set the bomb off in the Mall of America, and in the panic to exit the building, they will hit the President and officals." Madeline says slowly.

"How will we be split around the mall?" Nikita asks softly. Madeline smiles softly.

"Some operatives will be placed in the larger stores, were they can spend hours without looking out of place. These stores will be were most of us will be located." Madeline says. Nikita and all of the operatives nod in approval.

"I will be coordinating with four other communication operatives to provide continual coverage of the mall. It will be important that all channels to be used in a uniformed manner. There can't be any personal chit-chat." Birkoff says, looking directly at Michael and Nikita.

"Who is in charge of the mission from the field?" Gannon pipes up from the corner. Nikita smiles, she hadn't personally noticed Gannon. He looked tanned, must have been on a mission.

"I will be." Madeline informs and entire room gasps. "Operations is returning to Headquarters tonight, and will cover all duties here until we return." Madeline says looking at each and every operative. "I will be positioned with Nikita, and we will not move out of the store until the bomb has been located, or action has occured." The entire room turns their heads towards Nikita and Michael looks at Madeline in shock.

"Why are we being split? We can look like the loving couple, lost in each other." Michael says quickly.

"The profiles have been written." Madeline says and smiles at Michael. "If there is any action, our main objective is getting the President, and then any officals out of the Mall of America safely."

Michael looks at Nikita, and knows that Madeline has assigned the Section's "save the innocents" to herself for a reason. If a bomb would occur, Madeline needed to force Nikita not to save the innocents but the officals.

"Learn the blueprints... learn the profiles.." Madeline says and she walks out of the room.

"I wouldn't mind a few officals getting blown up now and then..." Gannon mutters as he walks out of the room infront of Michael and Nikita.

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

Madeline leads Nikita through the Mall of America quickly, knowing exactly the location of the store she personally selected for the two to stay in. Nikita looks around her, in awe. A roller coaster... stores for as far as the eye can see. Nikita smiles as she hears the laughter of kids. Michael stands at their side, hoping to find out exactly what store they will be in, before taking up his location on the other end of the mall.

"Michael, say goodbye to Nikita, and get to your point." Madeline finallys says as she turns and stops.

"Which store?" Michael asks firmly.

"Store 345j2AT" Madeline responds with a smile. Michael frowns.

"The name." Michael says firmly. Nikita smiles and touchs his cheek.

"Don't worry, Michael. It's just any other store." Nikita says with a smile.

"Fine." Michael says angerily, and he turns. Madeline looks at Nikita, and sees Michael pick up a small map, trying to look like he avoided someone.

"Michael," Madeline says, speaking in the comm unit, "Don't waste your time cross referencing.. we have a bomb to find." Madeline says and Michael turns around and stares at the two woman. Madeline takes Nikita's arm, and they turn and walk away from Michael.

"That isn't going to stop him, Madeline." Nikita says matter of factly.

"He will get on the mission quickly. It shouldn't take Michael long to cross reference it, if he decides to go to point, and not follow us." Madeline says. Madeline nods to the next door, and sunglass store, and she looks out the door.

"See." Madeline points out, as Nikita holds up a pair of sunglasses and uses the reflection to see Michael in the hallway outside. He stops and turns.

"He knows that I wouldn't willingly leave this store!" Nikita laughs. She picks up a pair of blue metal sunglasses with little silver stars painted all over them, even the lens have the little silver stars.

"Might as well buy them." Madeline says with a smile, as she steps out of the store, and sees Michael turn the corner. She glances around herself before speaking to Birkoff.

"Birkoff, in an hour, tell Michael the name of the store we are located in, so he can focus on the mission." Madeline says as Nikita heads to the checkout. Madeline smiles at the young lady.

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

Madeline stops in front of a store named, "Lacey Things". Nikita raises her eyebrow and Madeline enters with Nikita in tow.

Nikita is immediately met with a large white wedding dress, and she again looks at Madeline, wondering what game was Madeline playing and why was she playing it now.

"Hello, Ladies, how can I help you?" an older woman, with gray hair, whose name tag indentified as Violet, said as she greets Madeline and Nikita. Her smile is huge and Madeline returns the smile.

"I'm helping my daughter-in-law-to-be select her wedding dress." Madeline says, and Violet claps her hands together like a seal. Nikita looks at Madeline with a nervous smile.

"SO, when is the blessed event?" Violet asks Nikita as she leads her to a rack of white dresses. Nikita looks at Madeline, and wonders if this is away that Madeline intends to drag the informations out of Nikita's and Michael's top secret marriage.

"We haven't decided. There are a couple dates we like." Nikita says and Violet winks.

"So, if the dress needs altered a lot, you can set it back... I like that!" Violet says with a wink, and she pulls out a white dress, all of lacy. "I think we should start here." Violet says as she pulls an empty rack, and starts to fill it with lots of lacy white dresses.

"I really like that one, Nikita!" Madeline says, pointing to a dress with layers upon layers of lace on it.

Nikita looks at Madeline, and knows of the game at hand. Madeline was going to make this waiting for the discovery of the bomb hell, unless Nikita revealed wedding information. Nikita picks her head up and smiles.

"Actually, I didn't think we were quite that traditional." Nikita says with a game of her in mind.

Madeline looks at Nikita, and knows instantly, this was going to be a battle of the wits. Nikita would hide the truth if she liked or disliked a dress to drive Madeline crazy.

"Let's start with these... most ladies spend hours after hours in here.. trying on every dress... One even tried on all the dresses twice!" Violet says with a huge smile. She pushes the rack towards the back.

*

Michael walks into his huge sports superstore. Michael looks around, and doesn't even know what he is looking for. Michael starts looking at the shoes and sits down and calls a salesperson over to retrieve some shoes.

"Status?" Michael asks softly.

"Madeline and Nikita have set up the post. Nikita will be the person to communicate." Birkoff says. Michael shakes his head lightly to the salesman as he pulls the shoe off and says it's too small. Michael presses his lips together, wondering what was Madeline's game here.

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

"Madeline!" Nikita warns in a deep voice as she steps out of the dressing room in yet another white dress. Madeline makes the motion with her hand, and Nikita responds in giving the two ladies a spin. Madeline cocks her head to the side and then moves it back up.

"I don't like it." Madeline says, and Nikita trudges back into the room.

"She looks beautiful in all of them." Violet comments. Nikita rolls her eyes as she slides out of the lacy gown.

"Can we try something.. not so lacey!" Nikita calls out as she steps into another lacy gown. "And maybe not white!"

"NOT WHITE!" Violet exclaims as Nikita steps out in the gown.

Madeline's eyes widen in horror of the dress. It had to be the worst dress she had seen in all of her years. The lace was not the same pattern all the way around, and it lookes three inches lopsided.

"Madeline, I think it is best that we stay away from the lacy." Nikita says with raised eyebrows. Nikita is trying to maintain the conversation with Madeline and Violet while listening to the constant chatter of Birkoff's.

"Oh, that means it's an outdoors wedding!" Violet says as she skips away, and soon brings an assortment of white satin gowns. Nikita looks at the two ladies and smiles.

"Birkoff, has anything occured at all!" Nikita says through clenched teeth as she hopes to get out of this nightmare as quickly as possible.

"Well, you are having the same response to you being at a wedding store that Michael said you would." Birkoff says with a chuckle.

"I thought there was to be no personal conversations, Birkoff." Nikita fires back as she slides down the white satin gown down. It is very simple. Cut in a box in the front, and hugged Nikita's body all the way down her long legs. There was a long slit, and Nikita knew immediately, that was going to be Madeline's objection to this dress.

"Well, since you have laxed your policy, I bet you ten bucks that Madeline doesn't like this dress because of th slit up the side." Nikita says.

"Bet!" Birkoff chimes in happily.

Nikita steps out of the dressing room, and Violet's mouth drops open and she places her hands on each side of the mouth. Nikita does the spin and Madeline clinks her teeth together.

"I don't like the slit." Madeline deems and Nikita walks back to try on the next one.

"Double or Nothing?" Birkoff calls out and Nikita smiles. At least Birkoff was keeping her sanity.

*

Madeline begins to pace the store, waiting for yet another dress for Nikita to appear in. Madeline knew the speech was pretty soon, and no sign of anything was driving her crazy. If nothing occured, Nikita was going to hate her for this one. Madeline was striking out. She had hoped to get some information about the top level wedding plans that Michael and Nikita have been making. Nothing, not an idea as popped in her head. Madeline shakes her head at another gown of Nikita's and the young lady wipes a strand of her blonde hair back and walks back. Madeline knows that Nikita is playing the game back with her, and Nikita was winning.

*

Michael steps out of the sports store... it barely had any customers at all. In his hand he has a pair of black tennis shoes, and he walks down to the next store, which happens to be a hardware store. He sees some movement to the side, near an entire row of nails. Michael raises his eyebrows. Now placing a small bomb in an entire row of nails would make a better statement, than a larger bomb in a row with basketballs.

"Birkoff, I'm entering store 123d4T." Michael says and he enters the store.

"Michael, have you spotted anything?" Birkoff asks immediately.

"Some curious motions near the nails... I'm checking it out." Michael says as he picks up a hammer and rolls it around in his hand.

Michael moves to the row, and peaks under the shelf the man had been at.

"Birkoff, I have spotted it. Half hour." Michael says as he moves away.

"Stay there. ALL TEAMS WE HAVE SPOTTED THE BOMB!" Birkoff alerts.

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

Nikita walks out of the dressing room in the jeans and t-shirt she wore in. Violet looks at her in surprize.

"Leaving so soon?" Violet asks in surprize. Nikita smiles.

"I'm truly considering running of to Las Vegas and getting married by Elvis! I'd be able to wear this, and be totally comfortable." Nikita says, and then laughs at Violet's serious face. "Actually, I'm quite hungry." Nikita admits.

"I would have to kill you if you got married in Las Vegas!" Madeline says seriously.

"Madeline, you know how I get when my blood sugar gets low." Nikita says. Madeline nods her head.

"Well, I hope you have a good lunch. I'll keep these pulled." Violet says and waves to the two woman leaving.

*

Michael moves around the store slowly, waiting to hear back from Birkoff something of the new plan.

"Darling!" Nikita calls out and she runs into Michael's arms. Michael kisses her and some of the men in the store look Nikita up.

"Did you find a hammer for me?" Nikita asks. Michael kisses her nose and leads her to the row.

He picks up the pink hammer, and Nikita giggles.

"And nails?" Nikita asks softly. Michael looks up and down the row, and then points under the shelf. Nikita nods and hands the hammer back to Michael.

"Get that hammer... I'm going to go get your mother so we can go to lunch!" Nikita says and she skips out of the store.

*

"Ok, send in team 15 as the gas company. Close the store and take the bomb out." Madeline says as she leans agains the wall, pretending to talk in a cell phone. Michael walks out of the store with the hammer in the bag. He kisses Nikita lightly and Madeline smiles.

"You've done some shopping!" Madeline comments at the two bags of Michael's.

"And you haven't." Michael says with a smile. Madeline smiles back at Michael. She looks at the pair and frowns.

"Can't you please tell me something?" Madeline asks in dispair.

"We are getting married." Nikita says and laughs. Michael cracks a smile, and at that moment, team 15 enters the store. The trio continue to talk, until the 'gas company' exits.

"Well, only another hour or two before all threat is gone." Madeline says and she sends all operatives back to their positions.

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

"You are not wearing a pant suit!" Madeline says with a firm and loud voice. Nikita turns the circle in the slightly off white pant suit. It is lightly embellished with sequins and lays gently against Nikita's body. Nikita nods her head and starts to undress.

"Birkoff, you have to help me." Nikita says under her breath. She looks at a pile of dresses that have been left by someone else, and sees a seafoam green dress. It's Nikita's size, and she begins to giggle.

"Nikita... you are up to no good." Birkoff says, identifing the giggle. Nikita starts to slide the dress on.

"Birkoff, this dress is like a figure skater's outfit!" Nikita laughs, trying not to let Madeline hear her.

"Michael is on his way to save you. Can't you just try on one more normal dress for Madeline's sake?" Birkoff asks.

"Birkoff, my wedding isn't for Madeline's sake!" Nikita spits out as she zippers the back up. "It would make a wonderful tango outfit." Nikita comments as she shuts the door.

Birkoff shakes his head.

*

"Where did you get that!" Madeline exclaims as she sees the dress that Nikita has on. She actually, kind of likes it, but is holding out, and hoping Nikita would pick something more traditional.

"We are the most unconventional couple you know, Madeline!" Nikita says as Violet shakes her head. Violet leans over to Madeline.

"She is close to the end. All the brides do this." Violet says in a whisper. Nikita read her lips and smiles. Behind the two ladies, Nikita spots Michael.

"NIKITA!" Michael calls out. Nikita looks up to the ceiling and thanks god for his quick arrival.

"Michael!" Nikita says, trying to act surprized.

"We were trying to select a wedding dress." Madeline says firmly, knowing that if anyone, it is Nikita who would leak information.

"Nikita, I would marry you if you wore your tattered and shreaded flannel nightgown." Michael says staring right into her eyes. Nikita nods.

"I know." Nikita says. She turns to show Michael the dress.

"It looks like it would be in a tango competition." Michael comments with a smile. "Nikita, honey, we are going out tonight, remember?" Michael says. Nikita nods her head and runs back to the room to change.

*

Violet watches the trio leave, and shakes her head. It is always the groom that interupts. She pulls dresses she believed that Nikita had taken an interest in. Believe it or not, Violet believed that Nikita would be back, without Madeline and Michael.

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