Madeline walks into Michael and Nikita's apartment with a finger over her lips. Michael looks at Nikita with a raised eyebrow, knowing that they had checked this morning, and all equipment was still off.

Madeline moves to the center of the room, and places a box sized scrambler on the coffee table and activates it.

"We have found the internal problem..." Madeline says as she sits down.

"Our equipment is not on." Michael says as he hands Madeline a cup of coffee.

"Gerger has found a way around that. It has taken us this long to locate what operative it was." Madeline says firmly. Nikita sits back on her heels and frowns.

"Is he the one who ordered the poisoned oreos?" Nikita asks softly.

"It goes further back than that. He was the one who gave Stephen the copy of the file." Madeline says, and Nikita closes her eyes.

Although she had destroyed the file about Operations being her father once all of Section was aware of the situation, she could visually see the file, staring back at her. Nikita trembles as her mind's eye brings the image back, the same font, the same size, the same tear streaked pages, the same words.

"Nikita?" Michael says, with a hand on her shoulder, and Nikita opens her eyes slowly.

"What do we do now?" Nikita asks looking directly to the side of Madeline's head.

"We must be careful. This is the only scrambler we know that right now can stop him." Madeline says pointing to it. "So, our timing and efforts must be very exact in movement and motive." Madeline says.

"WHy don't we just send him on a mission and blow him up?" Michael asks as he looks at Madeline.

"Because it isn't as much fun." Madeline say sarcastically. "This is the way Operations deemed it should be handled.. then we get to blow him up."

Nikita stands up and walks to the window. She pushes the soft floral curtains away from the window and stares out.

"So he knew... how?" Nikita asks.

Madeline drops her head and sighs. "That information is not important... the plan is." Madeline says firmly, and this comment brings Nikita back to her seat.

"What is it?" Michael asks as he sees Nikita sitting down.

"Stephen will 'escape', taking Nikita with him." Madeline says and Nikita's mouth drops to the floor.

"I WILL NOT DO THIS!" Nikita screams. Madeline half smiles.

"We will dress Michael up as Stephen. They are of the same height. This will help rest of the plan." Madeline informs slowly. Nikita looks at Michael with a smile of relief that Michael will be Stephen, but then worry.

"What is the rest of the plan?" Michael asks.

"Well, Gerger is doing this for a reason." Madeline says.

"He is insane?" Michael asks. Madeline nods no.

"He wants to take Section down." Nikita guess. Madeline nods no.

"He wants Operations dead?" Michael asks. Madeline nods no.

"What is it? He is in love with me, right?" Nikita says sarcastically.

Madeline nods yes slowly, and Nikita stares, without taking a breath. Michael taps Nikita's shoulder and she takes a breath in.

"Nikita, he is definately in love with you." Madeline confirms.

"How is Stephen taking me going to help us get him?" Nikita asks.

"Because it isn't what they planned. Stephen wanted to get into Section and be with his father, and in return, Stephen was to get you with Gerger." Madeline says.

"Did either of them think that I might have something to say about this?" Michael and Nikita say at the same time.

"I know it is a difficult situation.. but I can almost say that Gerger will go after Stephen, thinking he has gotten Nikita for him. That will give us time to access his personal computer and get the information we need." Madeline informs as she stands up. She presses the scrambler off and smiles.

"Madeline, I am not telling you any of my wedding plans!" Nikita says firmly.

"Nikita, there is no way we can say you two can go on your honeymoon without knowing when it is!" Madeline says firmly back.

"It's after the wedding." Michael says.

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

Birkoff typed away at his computer, looking around Section's hallways. Something was wrong, and Birkoff just knew.

When Madeline left yesterday, Birkoff had placed scramblers all the way down the hallway she took, when he could have just turned off the cameras. Now, it was Birkoff who was asked to stay over, and being the senior ranking, that had not happened in a long time.

He stared at his computer, and then moved away for a second. He grabbed one oreo, instead of the three he would have grabbed. A red light and a siren starts to flash, and Birkoff rolls back to his computer.

"STEPHEN GONE!!!!!!!!" the message flashed on the screen, and Birkoff stood up and looked at the operatives standing around him.

"Activate all scans of Stephen.. NOW!" Birkoff screams. He moves to the right to another computer. When the information that he wants does not appear, he slams his hand against the side.

"What is going on, Birkoff?" Madeline demands as she has arrived.

"Stephen is gone." Birkoff mutters as he moves to another computer.

"How is that possible.. Michael and Nikita went to Moscow to visit him." Madeline says. Birkoff stares at Madeline, and then turns his back to her.

"Count the operatives. I want to know where every single one is right this moment!" Birkoff orders, and he dashes over to his orginal computer.

"Don't you think that is uncalled for? I'm sure we are only missing Stephen." Madeline says. "We all know how unstable he is."

"Madeline, he disappeared from the substation... He was in his room.. and then Boom! He was gone!" Birkoff rattles off, as several operatives hand reports into Birkoff. He scans them quickly and places them on the desk.

"I have incoming message from Operations." an Elana says from the back corner. Madeline jumps up and heads to her computer.

"Madeline, what is going on?" Operations demands.

"You should be telling me that... you are at Moscow!" Madeline says angerily.

"The computers say that Stephen was not on a mission, but he was...." Operations says firmly. Madeline looks at the hunchedback Birkoff, and swallows hard.

"Did Michael and Nikita make it there yet?" Madeline asks firmly and loudly.

"No... when did they leave?" Operations asks firmly.

"They should have been there three hours ago!" Madeline screams which makes all of the operatives pause for a second. Elana stares as Madeline cuts the transmission and moves away.

"FIND MICHAEL AND NIKITA, NOW!!!" Madeline roars and moves away from the station.

Birkoff looks at the mess around him and the uneaten oreo, which he immediately pops into his mouth. The annoying buzzing continues.

"WILL SOMEONE TURN OFF THAT STUPID ALARM!!!" Birkoff screams as he attempts to find Michael and Nikita.

*

"Madeline, we have a signal on Michael, but he is in a hospital in Moscow." Birkoff says walking into Madeline's office a half hour later.

"And Nikita?" Madeline asks without turning towards Birkoff.

"We have no signal." Birkoff informs Madeline.

"And how is Michael in the hospital?" Madeline asks.

"He is critical... witnesses have said it was a carjacking.. but I can't see Nikita not doing anything." Birkoff says.

"Talk to the witnesses again... maybe it was Stephen." Madeline says, and Birkoff hurries out the door.

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

Gerger sits back in his room and rubs his hands together with an evil grin on his face. Stephen has escaped, and Nikita has not been found. Gerger laughed, internally feeling that Stephen had taken Nikita for him. It was time for the pay off.

Gerger leans forward and pushes a few buttons, and finds that he doesn't even have Nikita on scan. He pounds his fists down on the table. He should have never told Stephen how he scans for them. Yet, he still has Stephen on his scan, and Gerger wondered what game Stephen was playing.

*

Birkoff runs to his computer.

"WE HAVE INCOMING MESSAGE!" Birkoff screams and the entire headquarters stop and Madeline walks over.

"Hey, Birkoff... my sis wants to talk to you.. but I told her that wasn't a good idea!" Stephen says with a giant laugh.

"God," Birkoff gasps. "He has Nikita." Birkoff pushes away towards another computer as Madeline looks into the screen.

"Stephen.. can I please speak to Nikita?" Madeline asks.

"NO!!! NO!!! Rain rain go away... come back again some other day!!!" Stephen sings out, and dances in a small circle.

Madeline has to hold her tongue, with her knowledge that is Michael doing this little dance.

"Madeline... I can't track the message.. I have tried everything!" Birkoff says loudly and Madeline knows with that line, Michael signs off.

"We lost Stephen again." Madeline says as she pushes away from the black screen. "Operations is going to hate this."

*

Gerger pulls at his mouse and grins.

"I got you.. now it is time to get my Nikita." Gerger smiles as he pushes away and moves to the other side of the room. He starts to clean up. He wouldn't want to appear dirty on the screen when he sees his love.

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

Nikita sits on the chair with her hands appearing to be tied behind her back. In fact, everything is quite a rouse. Madeline had figured out the technology that Gerger was using, and the room that Michael/Stephen was holding Nikita was only two doors down from were Birkoff now stood screaming.

Michael/Stephen walks to the screen and crosses his fingers behind his back. Nikita hangs her head to the side, as planned and Michael/Stephen stands up straight.

"What are you doing Stephen and when can I get Nikita?" Gerger asks firmly.

"You aren't getting my sis.. I'm taking her to freedom." Michael/Stephen says with a smile.

"Freedom? We had a promise!" Gerger roars.

"Our freedom in a better place.. no Section." Michael/Stephen says as he walks over and rubs Nikita's cheek. "Doesn't she look like an angel?"

"Don't do anything to her. Let's talk out the terms." Gerger says softer.

"Mmm.. you like my sis. More than Michael?" Michael/Stephen asks.

"Michael may not be in the picture anymore... she can have me." Gerger says with a smile.

"Then find me." Michael/Stephen says and cuts the tranmission.

*

Michael pulls off the mask and moves to the shadowed corner. Nikita stands up infront of the chair.

"Stephen!!! What is going on here???" Gerger screams as he notices Nikita standing with no bounds and is nervous about the room.

"Did you like your wide goose chase?" Nikita asks, and Michael stays in the corner.

"Nikita, I love you." Gerger says and Michael struggles to keep himself in the corner.

"Will you love me after this?" Nikita says as she holds up a little PDA and throws it to Gerger. Gerger watches as it shows Michael, Birkoff, and Madeline going into his quarters and taking over his computer.

"HOW DARE YOU!!!" Gerger screams and Michael moves from the corner as Gerger starts towards Nikita.

"Latex is amazing..." Michael says as he holds up the mask. Instantly, Gerger stops and drops sadly. "Get rid of him." Michael says.

*

"How is the real Stephen?" Nikita asks Madeline before she leaves for the night.

"Nikita, there is no idea." Madeline says, and Nikita walks slowly out.

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