Nikita watches furniture being moved around the living quarters of Section as she walks to the briefing room. She knows they are for Stephen and probably Ayn. She is still sifting through her feelings about Ayn, not sure if she likes her or not.

What Nikita realized with Ayn's presence is that with another psychological operative around, it could make things very difficult. Things that Nikita has been taking care of may be handed over to Ayn. Of course, Michael liked that, because it meant more time for them together, and that Nikita usually hated being the cold psyche. operative, and he usually paid for it.

Michael stands at the briefing room door and stares at Nikita blankly as she slows down her walk. Michael is never waiting for her. She stares into his eyes and knows that he is feeling uncomfortable in the room. She shakes her head slightly and kisses Michael on the cheek.

Upon entering the room she finds Operations and Stephen talking over the table. Nikita doesn't establish eye contact with either and goes to her seat. In that moment she decided that she had been too nice to Operations about her wedding. She is starting to frown and grind her teeth when Walter walks into the room.

"Sugar.... look what I finished!" Walter says as he moves to the far end of the table where Michael and Nikita sit. Walter places a huge book of picture infront of her. Nikita smiles brightly as she opens and sees the pictures of her wedding.

"Wow... it seems so long ago already, but then just like yesterday..." Nikita says as she runs her fingertip along the side of the picture. Michael puts his arm around Nikita and looks.

"Hey, sis.. You didn't wear white!" Stephen says, and Nikita closes the book and turns to find him standing directly behind her.

"It's none of your business!" Nikita says directly at Stephen.

"Nikita, he is only trying to see what you have been doing." Operations says.

"And I should have never allowed you there!" Nikita says loudly as Madeline enters. Madeline looks at Nikita, who is now protectively holding the photo album to her chest.

"Pictures?" Madeline asks and walks to the end, not wanting to deal with Operations at this time. With Walter watching the two men Nikita does not want viewing her pictures, Nikita starts to look through the album with Madeline.

Ayn enters and looks at Madeline, with Nikita and smiles to Operations.

"Hello Viktor... Stephen.... Nikita... my what a family event." Ayn says as she sits down. Nikita looks at Madeline.

"What is she doing here?" Nikita hisses.

"'Kita..." Michael says in a warning voice, hearing the anger in Nikita's voice.

"I just want to be friends Nikita... I just think you are excluding your family from you." Ayn says, and Nikita closes the book.

"No.. my family is right here...." Nikita says as she holds Michael's arm tightly.

"Nikita, you will be expected to work with Stephen whenever those times arrive..." Operations says firmly. Madeline half laughs out of disgust.

"Or when you force those times to arrive... like this time..." Madeline says firmly back.

"No, we need to continue to put Stephen out on the missions." Ayn says.

"But it does not mean we have to put him with Nikita and Michael." Madeline hisses back.

"They have the only mission tomorrow." Ayn fires back.

"Hey! Stop talking about me like I'm not here... my sis will learn to love me!" Stephen says, winking at Nikita. Nikita feels Michael's arm flinch and Nikita holds it tighter.

"I will never love you! And you better get use to them talking about you in this manner... it's a way of life when your father stops protecting you!" Nikita fires back.

"Nikita.. that is uncalled for. Stephen is trying to adjust." Operations roars. He looks at Ayn who mouths, "Viktor".

"AND FOR THE FOUR HUNDREDTH AND EIGHTY-SECOND TIME... MY NAME TO YOU IS OPERATIONS AND NOT *VIKTOR*!" Operations roars and the room looks at Birkoff who is just walking in.

"Oh... this is going well..." Birkoff says as he sets the disk on the table. "Here is the intel... are we going to brief or just yell across the table?" Birkoff continues.

The operatives start to stare straight ahead and alliances are easily seen by the positions where the people sit, and even within those positions there are stress.

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

Nikita and Michael are within the club, starting to draw the attention of the target. They dance slowly during the upbeat song, and Madeline smiles at the quickness they have already gathered the attention of the target.

"Team 2... target is being distracted... find the computer in the office." Madeline orders and she looks at Ayn, because Stephen is on Team 2.

"And Michael and Nikita?" Stephen asks.

"Are not your concern!" Madeline roars and Ayn shakes her head no slightly.

"Gather the computer first, and then worry about them." Ayn modifies the orders.

"Why did you do that?" Madeline asks firmly.

"Because he is concerned about Michael and Nikita... he cares very much for his sister whom you have brainwashed." Ayn says softly without blinking her eyes.

"I would be careful with what you say." Madeline says with a cold stare.

"I can not be scared of you Madeline... we both have tried to kill each other over Viktor... now we have chosen one of his kids to be close tooo.. along with having our own... I think I chose wisely." Ayn says.

"I could always tell him... and I don't worry about which kid will win... because I worry about Nikita for Nikita... not for Operations." Madeline says firmly.

"Madeline... the target is moving..." Nikita whispers softly.

"Heading to the office." Michael says, and Madelie turns to the computer.

"Team 2 position." Madeline orders.

"Not done." Stephen reports in and Madeline rolls her eyes.

"Pull out." Madeline says, but she can immediately hear the gun fire.

"Madeline!" Nikita calls out as the crowd starts to run around the club.

"Maintain a safe position, Nikita." Madeline orders.

"Why not send them in as the backup!" Ayn debates the choice.

"We will have to gain assess to the computer another time... we maintain them as a good cover." Madeline says.

"I think you are just protecting them!" Ayn fires back. Madeline has had it, she pushes Ayn against the wall.

"Look, Michael and Nikita are our best operatives! They have beaten each other up, given their bodies to people.. Nikita has been drugged and both have been in Medlab too many times to remember... and rarely.. RARELY do they fail on a mission themselves... if they fail it is because of the stupid and self-center ideas of them around them like sending STEPHEN in!" Madeline says and she pushes away from Ayn.

"Madeline... I thought he wasn't to take the computer?" Nikita asks softly.

"He was suppose to pull out." Madeline hisses again. She is going to have to do something.

"STEPHEN!" Madeline roars.

Nikita stands in a corner with Michael and Stephen runs to them with a computer in one hand and gun in another. Nikita looks at him in horror.

"We are to pull out...let's go." Stephen says and Nikita is ready to kill him with her own hands. Guards from the office start shotting towards Stephen and the crowd in the corner. Michael pushes Nikita ahead and they leave quickly.

The van door slams shut and Nikita slams Stephen into the van's walls as the van moves.

"YOU NEVER! NEVER! NEVER! DO that!" Nikita says as she pulls at his shirt.

"We were pulling out." Stephen says.

"Team 2 was pulling out... me and Michael were to stay... You put all of those innocents into danger!" Nikita says angerily.

"Innocents are not protected." Stephen responds. Michael pulls Nikita away from Stephen.

"I think you better rethink that." Walter says as Michael pulls Nikita as far away as he could from Stephen

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

"Nikita... may we speak?" Ayn says as she knocks at the new condo's door. Michael is upstairs, putting together the new dresser Nikita ordered from IKEA. Nikita lets Ayn in and moves her to the kitchen.

"Nice place..." Ayn says softly as Nikita grabs a couple glasses out of a box that still needs emptied.

"It was a wedding gift from Operations." Nikita supplies as she motions to the array of soft drinks to Ayn. Ayn choices the cream soda and Nikita pours that.

"What are you doing here, Ayn?" Nikita asks as she hands the glass over.

"Stephen does care for you... and we all know how unstable he is." Ayn says and Nikita shakes her head.

"I won't pretend that I like him... he almost destroyed Birkoff.. took me hostage... I don't like him." Nikita says firmly.

"Or is this hostility because Operations appears to show more feelings towards Stephen?" Ayn asks and Nikita sips her own cherry cola.

"I don't know if Operations feelings or attentions are a good thing." Nikita says softly.

"He spent months with Stephen... while once you were healed he left." Ayn says.

"No, he left before I was healed... Walter took care of me and Michael." Nikita says as she leans forwards on the counter.

"I find it best not to like him.... Stephen knew he had a father... Operations didn't want to admit me and created a fake father for me." Nikita says and Ayn shakes her head lightly.

"I would never agree with that." Ayn says as she turns away.

"Finally, you've said something that I can agree with." Nikita says, and Ayn turns around and smiles.

"I don't expect you to understand everything... but there is history with us... and I have known Madeline for years.... and Viktor is one man that will do whatever he deems best." Ayn says.

"His real name is Viktor?" Nikita asks and Ayn shakes her head yes. Nikita smiles.

"I don't know what I really think of you... but I don't like Stephen.. and Operations knows how to make me feel sorry... I wanted him at my wedding and then I didn't... and I can see the very advantage of that." Nikita says with a little wink.

"Madeline has trained you well." Ayn says as Michael walks down the stairs and looks in mild shock.

"No. She modified... Michael trained me well." Nikita corrects Ayn. Ayn nods her head.

"I know that you have created what you can call your little family... but now you have a real family, Nikita..." Ayn says softly.

"Yes. My real family lives in this house." Nikita says as she grabs Michael's arms. Ayn nods her head and sets the glass down.

"I'll let myself out." Ayn says and leaves.

"I don't like her, Michael." Nikita says after she checks the house to make sure that Ayn didn't drop off a tracker or bug.

"She is right... you have a family... and Operations won't let you ignore it." Michael says.

"How can I ignore you!" Nikita laughs. "Did I tell you that Stephen asked never to be teamed with us..." Nikita asks.

"Why?" Michael asks.

"It seems that I scared him so much... he... ah.. relieved himself in the van..." Nikita says with a laugh. Michael laughs hard and kisses Nikita.

"Now... about that family..." Nikita moans and Michael leads her up the stairs.

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