Birkoff shuts the door behind him and walks into the darkroom. A quick coldness runs through his body, Melissa was suppose to be here an hour ago. He sets his keys down on the little table to the right of the door and hears them click with keys already on the table.

"Melissa?" Birkoff calls out as he throws his light jacket over a nearby chair. He turns on the light in the livingroom/kitchen and moves towards the bedroom.

There she was. Sitting on the bed, with a couple solid tears sliding down her face. Birkoff immediately rubs them from her face and sits by her.

"Melissa, what is it?" Birkoff says.

"I don't lie to you.... I want to know where you work." Melissa says firmly. Birkoff turns away quickly and moves towards the doorway.

"I've told you.. with Michael and Nikita." Birkoff says, hoping that the answer will make her happy.

"And where is that?" Melissa demands. Birkoff turns his back to her.

"Should it matter if I love you?" Birkoff chokes out and moves into the livingroom. He knows that Melissa will come out, but not for a while. She had the power, and was going to use it. Birkoff immediately picks up the phone and calls Nikita. Not Michael, Nikita.

But Nikita does not answer. Michael does.

"Michael." Michael says plainly.

"You have so much personality. I need 'Kita." Birkoff says quickly.

"Not here." Michael says again plainly.

"Does she have her cell phone?" Birkoff asks, desparately wanting to talk to Nikita and not Michael.

"No." Michael says and Birkoff is starting to get upset.

"Then where is she? Is she in Section?" Birkoff whispers.

"No. Shopping." Michael says and Birkoff rolls his eyes, knowing he has no option in the matter.

"Then you will have to do." Birkoff states.

"I'm thrilled." Michael says slightly annoyed.

"Melissa is asking that question.. what do I do?" Birkoff says quickly, forgetting that he is speaking to Michael.

"What question?" Michael asks.

"This is impossible. Melissa is demanding to know where I work and I told her with you and 'Kita, but that didn't make her happy... what do I do?" Birkoff quickly explains.

"Don't tell." Michael says and hangs up. Birkoff holds the phone in a frozen state. Birkoff suddenly realises what he is doing and hangs up.

"Needing to talk to Nikita, again?" Melissa says from the doorway.

"Melissa... I'm doing this to protect you." Birkoff says slowly, hoping that somehow Melissa will understand.

"You are lying to me." Melissa says and walks back to the bedroom. "I don't want to see you until you tell me the truth."

"BUT THAT'S MY BEDROOM!! IT'S MY APARTMENT!!!" Birkoff calls out and slides into the chair as the door slams.

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

Birkoff stares at the door for a little bit, but stands up. He moves to the thin door and slams his body into the door.

Melissa looks up from the bed in surprize. Birkoff stands now in the doorway, and is a little sore in the arm, but is worried about what is next.

"I'm not going to allow you to hide from me... I need you to understand a few things." Birkoff says and he waits for Melissa to sit straight up.

"What?" Melissa asks in a hoarse voice.

"First... my job puts everyone I know in danger.. and that means you... the only way I can protect you is by not letting you know what I do.. where I do.. whom I work for.. but in allowing you to Michael and Nikita, who I really do work with, protects you more." Birkoff says in a strong voice.

"Birkoff, you are making me quite scared." Melissa says as she pulls the sheet around her now shivering body.

"It is because of this that I wanted you to go to the States and take that job. I didn't want you to go.. but I felt that it would be the best way to protect you." Birkoff admits.

"That doesn't help." Melissa says with a soft smile.

"Nothing I can say will help. There are things that must remain a secret... in your word... a lie." Birkoff says and he looks at the wall. "I don't like to do it... but I have no choice."

"And... what about me... I don't like this." Melissa says softly.

"What do you want to know... what are you fishing at?" Birkoff says looking at where the wall meets the ceiling.

"If your job is so dangerous... what if we break up... or what if we have a kid... or what if you get moved elsewhere... what happens to me?" Melissa asks. Birkoff moves out of the room, and pulls out a scrambler, the highest technology that he was able to smuggle out of Walter's workspace. He hides it against the dresser as he looks at Melissa.

"We.. were watching you before we first meet... that is why Michael and Nikita were in that lighthouse." Birkoff says, knowing that if he told her that her father was his boss of all bosses, would never occur.

"And I'd be continually watched..." Melissa says with some understanding of what Birkoff was trying to say.

"In the States you were followed... those people you believed were following you.. that was... us." Birkoff says tensely. Melissa stares into Birkoff's eyes with tears in her eyes.

"So, no matter if I learn to hate you... we are forever connected." Melissa says through her tears.

"Yes... and I suggest you forget about it." Birkoff says quickly.

"Forget about it! What if we want to get married... have kids..." Melissa says, and Birkoff shakes with the words.

"Melissa.. I'm not ready for that." Birkoff says with a shaking of his head.

"I'm not either.. but I want to know." Melissa says.

"I can't think that far ahead... I need to live each day... and take the phones calls, and follow orders... and then come here.. and pretend to have a normal life... Lies... that's all I have... and I want you to be part of those lies." Birkoff says almost near tears himself.

"Then I will be." Melissa chokes up. Birkoff turns off the scrambler, throws it underneath the dresser, and pulls Melissa into his arms.

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